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The Onion Taking its name from a Werner Herzog film about South America and African revolution, Cleveland's Cobra Verde doesn't appear to harbor ambitions as lofty as those of the venerated German filmmaker. Cobra Verde instead takes its cues from Roxy Music and David Bowie, both of whom warrant a few points off the band's impressive new Nightlife (Listen for blatant quotes from Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" and Roxy's "Editions of You.") The disc, the band's third, gleefully pilfers the past without becoming a hyper-stylized parody of glam-rock. In fact, Cobra Verde is an anomaly these days, putting the emphasis on the rock over the glam. Just ask Guided by Voices' Robert Pollard, who had the group back him on 1997's excellent Mag Earwhig! Cobra Verde's secret weapon is singer, songwriter, producer and NPR Balkan commentator John Petkovic, whose voice alternately recalls a more visceral Bryan Ferry and a less volatile Iggy Pop. |