Rock News: Music's high and low notes

SEA OF GREEN

Toronto-based rock trio Sea Of Green evokes an image from the Beatles psychedelic-era hit "Yellow Submarine," which reached No. 1 on the U.S. charts in the late 1960s. The band's recordings have been popular as television theme music on shows like MTV's "Road Rules," ESPN's "X-Games," "FOX Sports: Bluetorch TV" and others. The band's infectious brand of psychosomatic rock takes its latest turn on "Chemical Vacation."

The trio -- vocalist/guitarist Travis Cardinal, bassist/vocalist Eric Kuthe, and drummer/vocalist Matt Dowd -- has defined its sound on "Chemical Vacation."

"Stoner Rock is really an extension of Grunge," Kuthe says. "The new album is really getting back to our more recent roots. We're heavily influenced by Soundgarden and Alice In Chains, more so than we are of the classic Stoner Rock influences from the late '60s and early '70s, though that inspiration is still there."

Kuthe says "Chemical Vacation" is more straight-ahead rock than earlier works that hinted at psychedelia.

"Our first two records are more cryptic lyrically, but this one is about personal stories of emotion and real life -- our experiences," he says. "We're growing and changing as the band evolves."

BOX OF GHOSTS

Carl Finch, the mastermind behind Brave Combo, of Denton, Texas, is one of rock music's greatest conceptualists. Working from the basic premise all popular music essentially is dance music, Finch's band has carved a reputation for making such improbable connections as polka versions of Jimi Hendrix songs.

On Brave Combo's latest album, "Box Of Ghosts" (Rounder) Finch takes his conception in another direction, applying the band's dance groove to themes from the classical repertory. In the process he makes the listener re-examine the works in a kind of post-Pop Art expostulation. And why not? After all, these melodies made up the great popular music of their time.

With clever invention and gleeful abandon, Brave Combo disarms the classical canon on "Box Of Ghosts." The album includes "Rondo a la Turca" polka (Mozart); "The Gnossienne #3" disco (Satie); "Barcarole" lounge salsa (Offenbach); "Dance of the Hours, Parts 1 & 2" cha cha cha and polka (Ponchielli); "Musetta's Waltz" waltz (Puccini); "Polovetsian Dance" Latin reggae (Borodin); "Pavane for a Dead Princess" rock (Ravel); "Swan Lake" tango (Tchiakovsky); "Hungarian Ella" tarantella shuffle (Brahms); "Slavonic Dance" reggae rock (Dvorák); "Romeo and Juliet" salsa (Tchaikovsky); "Waltz in C Minor" jazz (Chopin); "William Tell Overture" polka (Rossini); "Fear (Air on a G String)" meditation (Bach) "Habanera" twist (Bizet).

KELLY WILLIS' TWIN PROJECTS

Americana artist Kelly Willis recently wrapped shooting a video for her rendering of Kirsty MacColl's "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!" The clip, shot in Austin when Willis was eight months pregnant with twins, was directed by Trey Fanjoy and Traci Goudie. Award-wining director Fanjoy has helmed videos for Allison Moorer, Patty Loveless, Brooks & Dunn, and others. "Don't Come The Cowboy With Me Sonny Jim!" is the second single from Willis' 2002 Rykodisc release, "Easy," which held the top slot on the Americana charts for two months and was named the No. 1 local album of 2002 by the Austin-American Statesman.

"I was a little nervous I would go into labor right there on the set," Willis commented on the shoot. "The plus side was that I would have gotten a really great home video of the birth. I loved working with Trey and Traci. Very talented and powerful women!"

Willis and her husband, singer-songwriter Bruce Robison, celebrated the birth of twins Benjamin James and Abigail Esme March 24. Robison penned The Dixie Chicks' recent No. 1 song "Travelin' Soldier."

NEW GUNS N' ROSES?

Scott Weiland and Sebastian Bach are rumored to be on the short list of prospects for lead singer of the Project, a new group composed of ex-Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagen and Matt Sorum. Weiland, the former lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots, is the most likely choice to replace Axl Rose, whose no-shows torpedoed the last attempt at a Guns N' Roses reunion. According to mtv.com Weiland is preparing for his new job with a 30-day rehab cleanup.

MONEEN ON VAGRANT

Canadian DIY heroes moneen have a new album, "Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now?" due out on Vagrant Records June 17. The Toronto band's previous album, "The Theory of Harmonial Value," on Smallman Records, scaled both the CMJ charts and the Canadian National College charts. moneen's sound fuses rich, sunny melodies with clever, thought-provoking lyrics layered into intricate song structures, in what the group calls "the collaboration of melodic influence." moneen cite artists such as Jimmy Eat World, Failure and Hum as influences. moneen has built a reputation as one of indie rock's most compelling live acts while touring with the likes of Taking Back Sunday, The Get Up Kids and Face To Face. The band will embark on a summer tour of the United States with Brand New and The Beautiful Mistake beginning July 1.