At The Drive In
Vaya
Fearless Records
I could talk about lyrical obscurity or the development of the
sound and screams that have become easily recognizable as those
belonging to At The Drive In and how they make you want to get
down on your knees and wish for Vaya to magically balloon from
a 7 song ep to a satisfying full-length, but instead lets talk
potatoes. Admittedly there’s those days when I reach for
the box of instant mashed potatoes. It’s easy and requires
little thought or effort. But on the days when I’m looking
for a real meal, not just something to fill the void; Those
would be the days I reach for At The Drive In. Homegrown, fluff-free,
original and incomparable to anything that comes in a fancy
package.
-Cyanica
Sumack
LP1: This is Junk Rock
Tainted
This CD was entirely recorded on 8-tracks and presents an awesome
case for home recording. Sumack is a little less hip-hoppy than
Beck and a little bit more sonically diverse than Cake, with
a vocal delivery that has similarities to both as well as Doughty
of Soul Coughing. Playing and writing within this playground,
it’s easy to fall on your face. Grooves and texture only
go so far if there’s no songs and melodies to hang them
on. Sumack has a closet full of hangers. -JB
Filibuster
Deadly Hi-Fi
Cornerstone / Skunk
I’ve known these cats for years. I’ve known them long
enough to know they’ve paid their share of dues. They’ve
had various line-up changes but at their heart and soul they’ve
always remained Filibuster. All the hard work seems to be starting
to pay off for these guys. Word has it they are embarking on
a second tour with the Skatalites. They just released this fine
recording recorded by non other than Steve Albini. Deadly Hi-Fi
is packed full of Filibuster magic with a nice blend of Ska,
R and B, punk, surf etc., just what you would expect from Filibuster.
Albini gives this recording a nice raw and powerful sound, and
these guys are extremely tight and talented. So grab your bong
and and prepare to dance the night away with this one. Cheers.
-Snake
Fernando
Old Man Motel
Crave Dog
This band doesn’t really sound retro, but if your CD player
has “Exile On Main Street” perpetually stuck in one
slot and you find the new Wilco more fascinating than the new
Chemical Bros. this band and Cd will more than hold your interest.
I swear that if Angelyne and In The End, the last two songs
on this CD, had been recorded 20 years ago by some famous band,
you’d be hearing them 40 times a day on the classic rock
station and on the hip skate vids. -JB
Vermont
Living Together
Kindercore
The first thing that struck me upon putting this into the boom
box was how strong the vocal melodies are. Quieter acoustic
songs with very minimal arrangements. I’m not always a
huge fan of this kind of thing as a lot of it tends to fall
into a morass of cutesy-ness and faux-naive pretension. But
this album’s songs really held my interest. It was only
with mild surprise that I later found out that this is a side
project from The Promise Ring’s Davey von Bohlen and .
That band is easily one of the best purveyors of catchy yet
unique melodies working the streets these days, so this album
is less of a surprise, but no less pleasant. If you’re
into the Promise Ring, or if you like quieter melodic pop then
you should definitely check this out. -JB
Tetsuo / Brass Knuckles For Tough Guys
Stunt
Class-B records
To make a comparison of what these two bands sound like, I would
have to say that they sound like each other - which is to say
that their musical styles are a very similar blend of heavy
metal and math rock. This is partly due to the fact that Andrei
Cabanban brings his talents and guitar to both bands. For Tetsuo,
who was together from 93-96, this album acts as an anthology
of sorts. It has both previously released and unreleased material
on it. Aside from Andrei, Tetsuo flaunts the talents of Eric
Bocek (Joan of Arc, Ghosts and Vodka) on bass and Scott Schellhammer
(Ghosts and Vodka, American Heritage) on drums. Tortoise’s
John McEntire also recorded and produced several tracks for
Tetsuo on this album. As for Brass Knuckles, this is their last
release due to their break-up. However, they have quite a few
impressive songs that appear on this album. Their sound is angry
and technical (similar to Tetsuo) with quick breaks and changes
in direction and speed. This may be best exemplified with their
song Fly High Ace which happens to be my favorite track on this
album. -Pat Bellanger
Ink & Dagger
Sensation EP
Minh Nrjo
This 2 song 7” released only in Europe is the kind of stuff
that embarrasses and pisses off a lot of other bands. Sullen,
advancing. inspiring, progressive dark. If you come across this,
buy it. The almighty Ink and Dagger have done it yet again.
-Aaron Sore
Down By Law
Fly The Flag
Go Kart Records
Dave Smalley to me is a punk legend. He’s gone from DYS,
to being the original singer for Dag Nasty, to being the original
singer for All, to his current and longest lived project, Down
By Law. Down By Law has put out five albums on Epitaph records
and their sixth one, Fly The Flag is released on Go Kart records.
A solid release recorded by Don Zientara at Inner Ear Studios,
which ironically was the same person and the same place where
Dag Nasty’s first album was recorded. This release is a
very Clash influenced sounding release with some other influences
added in. The song Automatic sounds like something that Devo
would write. Nothing Good On The Radio is a humorous song about,
well everything that’s booty on the radio. In my opinion
this should be the song they push on the radio. The only draw
back is that Dave has lost some of his singing energy that he
displayed on his earlier releases. Could age be finally catching
up to him? If you’re a Down By Law fan then be sure too
pick this one up. Cheers. -Snake
Chemical Brothers
Let Forever Be
Astralwerks
More of the same super-booty bouncing techno you’ve come
to expect from the Chemical Brothers. This one’s a three
song CD single with tracks from their recent full length Surrender.
Even if you already have Surrender this CD might interest you
for its alternate versions of The Diamond Sky and Studio K.
For any Oasis fans out there, the title track on this CD is
sung by Noel Gallagher, and in such a way that his singing actually
complements the music (something hard to pull off with most
techno). If you don’t already have Surrender, get it -
and if you really loved the hell out of it then spring the extra
five bucks to get Let Forever Be. -Donald Bell
Eyelid
Conflict’s Invitation
Indecision Records
Powerful hard-core from this So. Cal band. Since their last
release they have brought on vocalist Roa Jonathan. He adds
a great scream, talk/sing style that reminds me a lot of Deadguy
with a bit of Orange 9mm thrown in. The music on this release
is very tight and technical at points, and then turns around
and destroys while your guard is down. Interesting lyrics that
are a bit abstract make the lyric book a good read. Having only
four songs, this EP makes me wish it was a full length. -Chris
Sprouls
Bows
Blush
Too Pure
I know that bands hate it when you compare them to other bands,
but when you’re up against a deadline it’s the best
you can do sometimes. For what it’s worth, I’ve gotten
feedback from readers who like reviews that compare bands to
other bands; they’re as lazy a reader as I am a writer.
OK, here it comes: If you like Portishead and other bands of
the trip hop variety, then you’ll like this CD a lot. It’s
a little more upbeat than PH and has a bit more of dn’b
feel to it at times, but the ethereal female (as well as male)
vocals and lush/sparse electronic/ acoustic/orchestral arrangements
have a very similar sensibility to the PH stuff, but aren’t
a rip-off or anything. In fact in a genre that’s already
beginning to see some imitative staleness, this album is extremely
well crafted and original. Easily on par with the best of the
genre. -JB
Teen Cool
Skips School 7”
Mortville Records
Been waiting for the new Teen Cool 7” ever since I got
my hands on their split with the now defunct Room 41. Teen Cool
are three punk rockers from Austin, TX. who know how to write
snotty Rock n Roll songs that will kick you in the ass and make
it so you can’t sit down for a week. 77 style punk with
attitude! The song That’s Why will be your theme song to
the girl who just fucked you over and Fuck School is well...
the theme song to the place of higher education that just fucked
you over. Last but not least we have Wear Black which is about
looking bad ass. What more could you ask from a punk record?
Not a lot jackass! -Joel Jett
Randy
You Can’t Keep A Good Band Down
G-7 Welcoming Committee
This is some crazy pop punk shit. So good, very catchy, melodic
sing along music from some Swedish boys recently signed to the
Propaghandi affiliated label. To me it resembles the best of
Millencolin and Snuff, but imagine a bunch of classic rock guitar
riffs mixed in with skill to make the ultimate pop songs. Sure
to be one of those bands that get a lot of attention. And since
G-7 didn’t send us the last Propaghandi release “Where
Quality is Job #1,” I will go ahead and say it is super
good. Lots of good B-sides and live stuff. -Isacto
Def Leppard
Euphoria
Mercury
The band with the one-armed drummer is back. Euphoria is pretty
much picking up where such hits as Pyromania left off, only
more graceful. They’re getting old and this feel-good,
escapist rock ages well. Fans will either say this is the best
they’ve ever done or whine about too many “mellow”
tunes. The order of tunes kinda goes like this: rocktune/ballad/rock
tune/ballad and so on. There are a few wanker guitar pieces
that exceed the recommended five minute mark, but if you skip
over these and if the ballads aren’t your cup of tea, there
are still at least six pretty solid rockers here. The band is
obviously going for the “male” part of the audience
with the harder stuff and attempting to out-Beth KISS and out-Open
Arms Journey for the chick portion of the crowd that has always
been there. One song here, Back In Your Face, sums this latest
record up. They’re back, as in, up on that stage and boy
oh boy can they still rock. The question fans of Def Leppard
should be asking about this once they see it on the rack is,
DO they still rock? The answer is, fear not children. They certainly
do. Better than ever, if you ask me. -Reverend Ed
The Skatalites Meet King Tubby
Heroes of Reggae in Dub
Motion Records
Well, what more can you say about this? You have two of Reggae’s
biggest names, The Skatalites & King Tubby together on one
disc. King Tubby is literally the King of Dub and the Skatalites
are one of the all time greatest bands to ever come out of JA.
The music on this CD was recorded in 1975 over a 2 1/2 month
period at three different studios (Joe Gibbs, Aquarius and the
great Studio One) then mixed over a two night period at the
late King Tubby’s studio. This CD showcases both artist
at their peak, the Skatalites after their reformation and King
Tubby during the early stages of his mix mastery. The players
of instruments on this disc are unbelievable, Roland Alphonso,
Leroy “Horsemouth’ Wallace, Ernest Ranglin, Jackie
Mittoo, Ras Michael and the late Augustus Pablo (Augustus Pablo
recently passed away. His contributions to the music industry
and to life will be deeply missed, RIP) just to name a small
few. I truly believe that without the creation of dub, music
as we know it today would not exist. Listen to this and see
for yourself. -Robb Armstrong
Chris Cornell
Euphoria morning
A&M
Don’t you just hate it when they put the hit song as the
first track on a record? It totally blows it for me. The only
record that can pull that off for me is GN(f’n)R’s
Appetite. So I was never a Soundgarden fan. I always thought
Nirvana kicked them and Pearl Jam’s asses much too hard
and they just weren’t worth my time. For some reason I
was interested in hearing this. Before I even got the record
I heard it on the “world famous” hip radio station
here in LA. I could have sworn he was singing Black Hole Sun,
but whatever, it was kinda catchy. So now I’ve heard the
whole record and I actually like it. It’s a lot less heavy
than Soundgarden and more, but I’m really tired and I can’t
think of any good adjectives. I just couldn’t help thinking
that if I was the “other guys” in this band, I think
I would be pretty bummed, cuz you are just the guy out of focus
in the video. I dunno, it doesn’t matter. I really liked
When I’m Down and Flutter Girl a lot. But Preaching the
End of the World is hands down the best track on this album,
I keep thinking Elliott Smith joined Radiohead. If Radiohead
wasn’t the best band in the world that is. Maybe Radiohead
while they were writing their first record that pretty much
sucks compared to the others. -Travis Keller
Cleveland Bound Death Sentence
Lookout
Cleveland Bound Death Sentence is made up of members of The
Salteens, Pinhead Gunpowder and The Dillinger Four. The only
band out of those three I am a fan of is Pinhead Gunpowder,
and I don’t care how uncool this makes me but Billy Joe
sings way better than this chump. This guy isn’t the reason
kids are buying Pinhead Gunpowder records. CBDS is composed
of scratchy “punk” male and female vocals with melodic
dirty pop-punk surrounding it. Their press release said that
they are “reminiscent of The Buzzcocks at their most aggressive”
but that kinda made me laugh cuz I always thought the Buzzcocks
were just fat guys. This record doesn’t have the punch
I was hoping it would but there are a few really catchy songs
on it. Example: Drain. Oh and if you have any of their seven
inches and songs on comps, you are going to be bummed. This
CD collects both of the band’s previously released 7”s
as well as songs from various compilations. -Travis Keller
Fastbacks
The Day That Didn’t Exist
SpinArt Records
You can always count on them to be the Fastbacks and nothing
less. Kurt Bloch and the gang return once again with The Day
That Didn’t Exist. It sounds like the Fastbacks. High energy
power pop punk rock with female vocals, insane musicianship,
(especially for Bloch’s guitar wizardry), and great production.
Just for your info, these people have been doing this stuff
since 1980 give or take a year. They were SubPop’s first
band and have outlasted most any band on the label, and have
always stayed true to their trademark sound. This is their first
full length and it’s a winner. Cheers. -Snake
Radar Bros.
The Singing Hatchet
See Thru Broadcasting
Even though this CD grabbed my attention the very first time
I heard it, I’m still no closer to having enough of a handle
on it to really review it, despite having listened to it at
least 20 times since. I remember picking up this band’s
last album after reading about it. It had some good buzz and
was compared to early Pink Floyd, but it didn’t really
do much for me, which could have just been me. This one though,
has me really hooked and the connections to early Meddle era
Floyd are pretty clear, which is not to say this is derivative
or anything. Sparse and inventive in it’s arrangements
make the Floyd comparisons easy, but it’s the haunting
melodys that will stick with you, demanding repeated listenings
that will make this CD more than a guilty retro pleasure. These
guys spent nine months solid recording this in their garage.
I never would have thought this was a ‘home’ recording,
because it sounds so perfect. But, now that I think about it,
this kind of intimacy and perfection could probably never be
pulled off in any other kind of recording environment. -JB
Magnetic Fields
69 Love Songs
Merge
A 3 CD set, all about love, zebra’s, underwear, and anything
you can think of. I think this CD has a bit more of an experimental
feel to it than most of the MF’s other releases. But don’t
get me wrong, there are still plenty of the catchy country-esque
love songs that you’ve come to love from Stephin. If you
didn’t know already Stephin is a musical jukebox, his is
also in The Gothic Archie’s, the 6ths, and The Future Bible
Heroes. -Isacto
Aluminum Group
Pedals
Minty Fresh
While some bands believe they need to come screeching &
wailing out of your speakers to get your attention, there are
bands like, The Aluminum Group, on Chicago’s own Minty
Fresh label, who know that you don’t need to scream for
people to listen - especially when you have songs as beautiful
and melodic as these on Pedals. Beginning with a warm and fuzzy
but melancholy track called Rose Selavy’s Valise, the Navin
Bros. and Co. sing of hidden insides and the facades used to
disguise the lurking truth. Thought provoking songs continue
to radiate throughout this 10 track, 50 minute album speaking
of relationships, beauty, and even love. And, with guest performances
from musicians like Jim O’Rourke and Doug McCombs from
Tortoise and a variety of instruments ranging from the moog
and violin to saxophone and flute, Pedals is a must-have for
anyone who enjoys soft-spoken yet passionate works of music.
-Lisa Gunter
Sunset Valley
Boyscout Superhero
Sugar Free
There’s a very fine line to be walked when exploring retro
music in a clever way. Fall one way or the other and it becomes
a joke; listen once and you know the punch line. You’re
over it. Sunset Valley’s Herman Jolly never stumbles and
his non error instinct for hooks, melody and sonic inventiveness
is omnipresent during this entire album makes this CD something
you’ll want to listen to quite a few times. Slightly new
wave, psychedelic and early alt-rock but very much of this moment,
this is a band to keep an ear out for. -JB
C-Clamp
Longer Waves
Ohio Gold
After an excruciatingly long wait for fans, Chicago’s C-Clamp
has released their second full length and frankly, it’s
the best record of this year, with the Purkinje Shift’s
Five for the Road and One for the Ditch coming in a close second.
Longer Waves is a sonorous sojourn on the back of aqueous guitar
melodies, rounded bass and tolling drumming that, when coupled
with the male vocalist’s handsome pipes, will take you
places you never thought possible. Absolutely brilliant in its
stunning beauty, ease and subtle complexity. Will surprise and
delight you with every listen. -Steve Brydges
Long Beach Dub Allstars
Right Back
Dreamworks Records
Finally, after two or three years (of hearing about this release)
and numerous shows, the Long Beach Dub Allstars have gotten
off their asses and released their long awaited debut album
Right Back. And as I or anyone else would expect, this thing
kicks ass! As Sublime did, so do the LBD Allstars. This CD has
a virtual who’s who of reggae with the likes of, Barrington
Levy, Tippa Irie, Half Pint & the Enigmatic HR (of Bad Brains
fame) sharing vocal duties on a major portion of this CD. I
really wish they would have released some of their cover tracks
(that have been released on various comps), mainly Operation
Ivy’s Take Warning and Half Pint’s Have A Little Faith
but beggars can’t be choosers and I am happily not. My
favorite tracks are Pass It On, My Own Life, New Sun and the
Barrington Levy classic Saw Red, (which most people know only
as a song that Sublime and that chick from No Doubt did). Like
many of the great backing bands of Jamaica (Roots Radics, High
Times Band and Sly & Robbie) the LBD Allstars are capable
of greatness, and that’s about all that needs to be said.
-Robb Armstrong
Sally Timms
Cowboy Sally’s Laments
Bloodshot
My friend and Heckler contributor, Scott Torguson, is one of
the most punk rock guys I know. He’s toured the US several
times in a van on tours he’s booked with various bands.
He’s poured most of the money he’s ever earned into
his record label, Sunney Sindicut. I really respect Scott, but
we only occasionally agreed on music we liked. But in the last
few months, I’ve noticed that we’d often review the
same bands like Chamberlain and Tom Petty. Now this didn’t
seem like Scott so I asked him what was up. “I’ve
actually been getting into old Hank Williams and older country
music,” he told me. This certainly made the old saying
that old punkers all turn into cowboys start to ring true. I
don’t really believe it, but look at Mike Ness’ last
album and the whole alt-country thing is going pretty strong.
Well this album is further proof of this theory. Sally Timms,
if you didn’t know, was in the Mekons who are at least
very punk in spirit. On this album which leans towards being
very traditional sounding, she both co-writes with fellow Mekon,
Jon Langford as well as covering tunes by the Handsome Family,
Johnny Cash, Jill Sobule and others. You’re either ready
for this or you’re not. -JB
Where Fear & Weapons Meet
The Weapon
Revelation
Good, aggressive Revelation hard-core with one hell of a name.
Where Fear And Weapons Meet (yes, that is the band’s name)
bring to the table what every other decent hard-core act brings;
fast, crunchy melodic riffs with tons-o-screaming and isn’t
that exactly why you like and buy hard-core? I’m not sure
where these guys hail from (I think maybe Florida?) but they
remind me a lot of some good East Bay hard-core, AFI (at least
old AFI), and Redemption 87. The production could be a little
stronger, but overall the band gets their point across. If you’re
looking for an up and coming hard-core act, this would definitely
be one to check out. -Robb Armstrong
Hefner
The Fidelity Wars
Beggars Banquet/Too Pure
After listening to this, my second outing with these Brits,
I sit dazed in awe. Showcasing remarkable improvements in both
songwriting and attitude, Hefner’s latest album (a tribute
to just being who they are) is stunning. Moving ever-closer
to sitting on the throne at the right hand of (pop)god(s) (i.e.
Oasis, Blur, Verve), Hefner’s sense of melody and passion
shines brightly through your speaker cones. Treading water in
the wake of passing ship HMS Buzzcocks, and the solo career
of helmer Howard DeVoto, Hefner heads toward a pleasantly-blinding
horizon of sun glazed pop. (Too Pure/Beggars Banquet 580 Broadway
Suite 1004, NYC 10012) -Keith York
John Linnell
State Songs
Zoë/Rounder
Sounds rather boring, doesn’t it? Sixteen songs about states?
Linnell, the non-Flansburgh John from They Might Be Giants,
has been threatening this project for some time now. But you
know what? It’s actually pretty good. The songs tend to
not really be about the states themselves; more often Linnell
uses a word like “Virginia” in a catchy way. And,
as a whole, this CD is much more rockin’ than typical TMBG
fare, especially “West Virginia” (with a ’60s/“Walking
on the Sun” vibe), “Montana” and “Nevada.”
“South Carolina”’s not too shabby, either. If
you like TMBG, then pick this up and enjoy it. If you’re
not so sure, maybe these songs will turn up in your next history
class. -Gooch
Tricky with DJ Muggs and Grease
Juxtapose
Island Records
Driving through Wyoming in the winter, it’s extremely windy
and old. Some stretches of the road are flat and barren, brown
wherever the eye can see. Mountains crop up gradually at first,
and then it seems that your car is huffing and puffing the whole
time, like when your chain-smoking roommate climbs up the two
flights of stairs to your apartment. The light is a little unusual,
a slightly stronger color, somehow. You’re wondering what
your destination is like, but you are not in a hurry to get
there. Driving through, wide awake, not worrying about what
time it is. Shift. A dimly lit nightclub, kind of early or really
late; the dance floor isn’t crowded. Candles light up tables,
where the curl of cigarette smoke can be seen rising over warmly
lit faces. A beautiful girl is alone, off to the side, a smile
of pleasure and seriousness, moving quickly and rhythmically,
fluidly yet athletically. A light sheen of sweat can be seen
closer up, as she dances to Tricky. -Patty West
Handsome Boy Modeling School
So, How’s Your Girl?
Tommy Boy
I hate to date myself too much, but most hip-hop I hear these
days just doesn’t move me. I really dug a lot of earlier
hip hop like Public Enemy and De La Soul, but Snoop Dog and
the Gangsta thing just didn’t move me. I hate to admit
it, but with the exception of artists like DJ Shadow and the
like, I’ve pretty much given up on hip hop. It seems to
have lost it’s musical progressiveness. (Think Puff Daddy)
But, when I put on this CD I was very pleasantly surprised.
To my ears anyway, this is one of the best hip hop albums I’ve
heard in years. The inventiveness and originality that I dug
in old school hip hop is here in massive abundance. As I took
a closer look at the liner notes, this wasn’t surprising
at all. This group is masterminded by Prince Paul and Dan The
Automator and has an absolutely stellar cast accom-panying them
like Del, Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto, Mike D of the Beasties,
Grand Puba and Sadat X of Brand Nubian, DJ Shadow, DJ Quest,
Sean Lennon, Money Mark, DJ Kid Koala, Mark Hayden of Spain,
Paula Frazer of Tarnation and Alec Empire of ATR to name just
some. This is an amazing record and is on par with the UNKLE
album. If you’ve ever liked hip hop you have to buy this
record. -JB
Gameface
Every Last Time
Revelation
Alright,I really like Gameface. Now after listening to “Every
Last Time,” their first record on Revelation, I love Gameface.
This record has slowed down the pace a bit( a change from their
last album with a rockin sound that captures more of the melody
these guys are known for). Its hard to really pick the choicest
cuts but “My Star” and “Mercury Dimes” stand
out the most. PS. when are you guys gonna play in Sacto again
-Mary Sertich
Heather Duby
Post To Wire
Sub Pop
It is immediately obvious upon first listen to this CD that
Heather Duby, is no post Lillith follower. This album is much
more musically diverse and just plain excellent, than most records
from women or men. Poppy and pleasant, but very experimental
at the same time. This ranks up there with the best of Mitchell
Froom produced Suzanne Vega, so it was no surprise to see that
Steve Fisk was heavily involved. Fisk is easily one of the best
and most under-rated producers of the decade. One ‘big’
record and he’ll be a household name, but since most of
his work leans toward the eclectic it may take a while before
the mainstream media catches up with him. Anyway, this is an
excellent record and kind of reminds me of the best of the 80s,
when the first roots of ‘alternative’ were developing
on the tail end of ‘new wave.’ Bands like Wall of
Voodoo, 80’s Anderson and Remain in Light era Talking Heads.
Lots of electronics and varied instrumentation, but still very
organic. -JB
Piebald
If it Weren’t for Venetian Blinds it Would
be Curtains for Us All
Big Wheel Recreation
I didn’t know what to expect. I’d heard some earlier
stuff on a split with Cave-In, but that was quite a while ago,
and I don’t remember liking it all that much. I was pleasantly
surprised. This has become the soundtrack to our late-night
drives down crowded streets hanging out cars yelling metal band
names at innocent victims. It’s plain fun. Some of the
songs are kinda fillers, but over all this record rocks. The
hits are If Marcus Garvey Dies, the Marcus Garvey Lives, Mess
with the Bulls, and We Believe in Karma. Good lyrics, it rocks,
and you can still convince your stupid girlfriend they are a
“good” band. -Travis Keller
The Refused
The New Noise Theology EP
Honey Bear Records
The best record of last year belonged to this band. It was called
The Shape of Punk to Come. It was just that. The Refused broke
up soon after releasing that masterpiece, and this is what was
left over. Not anywhere near as good as the full length, but
still worth having. My favorite band as of right now never disappoints
with their progressive and chaotic music. The Refused are already
a legend. Four songs, one off the record, one remix, techno/hip
hop, and two unreleased, one of those kicking the balls out
of the sack. It whoops the llamas ass. -Travis Keller
The Butchies
Population 1975
Mr. Lady Records
I guess the band name should have given this away, but it flew
right by me. I later found out from their press materials that
this is a ‘dyke’ band and was formed by two former
members of Team Dresch. Sexual politics aside, this in one of
the best rock records I’ve heard in a very long time. Both
vocally and musically, this is really impressive. Great melodies,
lots of harmonies and aggressive, inventive guitar parts, solid
drumming and a punk but not even sloppy feel. This rocks way
harder than most of the tattooed macho bands on the Warped tour
in my opinion. -JB
Powerman 5000
Tonight the Stars Revolt
Dreamworks
Forget that the singer is the brother of Rob Zombie. Powerman
5000 have updated their sound and incorporated electronic music
to make one of the most kick-ass records in the genre. The lead
single, When Worlds Collide, is one of the best active rock
tracks around. They’ve been on the OzzFest, toured with
everybody and their mother, and have leaned down the band to
a four-piece (is that how they’re gonna tour?). Either
way, Powerman 5000 will cater to the Static-X, White Zombie,
and even, dare I say, Orgy. -Eddie Jorgensen
Oneida
Enemy Hogs
Turnbuckle Records
This record rocks. It’s not all slick and polished in an
obvious way, with big guitars, big drums or some ‘punk’
thing; Oneida have a gritty, scary, multi-instrumental sound
which touches sloppily on a few rock genres and always seems
to run the risk of (gasp!) playing a note that might not be
‘perfect.’ It’s a vaguely psychedelic trip worth
taking. -Kenan
Lonely Kings
What If?
Fearless
Immediately after I popped this one in I thought of The Cure,
however, they made a smooth, very quick tranny into some righteous
(kinda slower than I’m used to) punk. Mr. Desrocher’s
combination of powerful vocals and talent on the sometimes crunching
guit-fiddle (guitar) joined with strong bass and drums make
this CD a must have. -Lee
Chester
Ryko
This five song EP is a collaboration between Josh Rouse (music,
vocals) and Kurt Wagner (Lyrics). Wagner is the head honcho
in Lambchop and Rouse released what was one of last years best,
but somewhat overlooked, ‘alt-country’ albums, Dressed
Up Like Nebraska. One critic called Nebraska “A middle
American companion to OK Computer.” Wish I’d said
that. This CD, like Nebraska, was recorded on Rouse’s 8-track.
This is a great little EP, at once casual and classic. -JB
Gardenian
Soulburner
Nuclear Blast Records
This In Flames side project has turned out to be much more than
I had expected. If you are a fan of the Gothenburg sound, you
will love this. This is melodic metal with some great background
accompaniment. Gardenian weren’t able to tour because of
their guitarist’s commitments to the aforementioned band.
Gardenian were included on and were the highlight of the Wicked
World compilation. In Flames are supposed to come stateside
and, hopefully, they’ll tote Gardenian along as their opener.
I’m a sucker for musicianship and Gardenian has all the
right ingredients to blow up. -Eddie Jorgensen
Cooter
Looking Up
Fastmusic
Poppy-sounding punk. Kinda like Blink 182 meets Face to Face.
That is until you listen to the lyrics. Sounds like some pretty
bad personal relationships. However, it’s blended together
well with a P.M.A. (Positive Mental Attitude) like in tracks
Dawn to Dusk and Underrated. As the title says, Looking Up has
a very confident feel to it. With the stuff they’re talking
about, it probably could’ve gone the depressing route real
quick but these guys didn’t take the easy way out. They
took some things that could put you in crappy mood and put new
spin on them. -Lee
Sharks Keep Moving
Full Length Album
Status
This is one of those rare records where the music, lyrics, and
artwork all fit together perfectly to convey an overall feeling.
Sharks Keep Moving play a sort of quiet Fender based indie-rock,
although they deserve more credit than that description implies.
What I like the most about this band is that they don’t
feel the need to get loud all the time; they can actually write
a song that is quiet throughout and stays interesting, not unlike
Karate. But while Karate goes for a more bluesy feel, Sharks
Keep Moving have a bit of a country influence, especially in
the song Join Up. The lyrical melancholy is the perfect compliment
to the music. The words “Over the great plains she falls
to pieces and plane parts fall like rain,” from the song
Jet’s Jets end the album. My only complaint is that half
the songs are instrumental, and suffer somewhat in comparison,
because the vocals are really good. I also recommend checking
out their Desert Plains and Drifters EP on the same label. -Scott
Torguson
22 Jacks
Going North
Side One Dummy
This one surprised me a little. Side One Dummy has some very
cool punk bands (7Secs, Suicidal Tendencies) and I expected
more of the same from 22 Jacks. What I heard here leans more
toward pop and rock than to punk. That’s not meant as any
criticism either, because I very much liked what I heard here.
It’s punkish, but don’t go expecting any hard-core
sounds. It definitely rocks though, and that’s all that
matters, right? I liked most of the songs here. There’s
a good sense of structure and melody running through the tunes,
something too sadly lacking in many bands these days. If 22
Jacks are going north, I’m going with them. -Cary Rodda
Satyricon
Intermezzo
Nuclear Blast Records
This Norwegian based black metal band broke major ground with
their Nemesis Divina album on Century Media Records. This new
EP will be more than enough to whet the appetite of Satyricon
fans. The new EP features a track using a drum machine (gasp!)
at 251 BPM (try to figure that out!). Intermezzo is very short
(roughly 20 minutes), but grabs the listener with great songwriting
skills. File under Bathory on speed. -Eddie Jorgensen
Nine Inch Nails
The Day the World Went Away
Nothing
This 3 song EP is just a teaser to the full length NIN album
that’s supposed to come out in 1999. Trent Reznor is known
as a perfectionist though, so even though I saw ads for his
new album last January, I wouldn’t be too surprised if
it’s still not out this January. At least he got this teaser
finished up. Keep in mind that although Reznor has put out quite
a few things, this will only be his third full album, in what
amounts to nearly a decade. I have an EP that has 10 different,
and I mean really different, versions of Closer on it. In other
words he recorded it 10 different ways until he was satisfied
enough to release the final version. This EP is nothing new,
which isn’t to say it’s not good, it’s just that
if Reznor’s got something entirely new up his sleeve, and
I suspect he does, then we’ll have to wait and hear it
in the context of the album. These three songs do show that
his song writing and production are continuing to evolve to
a craftsmanlike fine point, it’s just that they’re
familiar territory which may be why he released them early.
I’m not always down with Reznors’ image and dramatic
lyrics, but musically I think he is a genius and I can’t
wait to hear the full length. I hear that David Carson is working
on the CD graphics for the new CD as well, which should be an
interesting collaboration between two of the most influential
artists of the decade. -JB
Jethro Tull
J-tull.com
Fuel 2000 Records
The latest offering from Tull showcases material that sounds
a lot like their Rock Island days on Chrysalis. Ian Anderson,
Martin Barre, and co. have created a radio friendly album that
everyone could embrace. This is an even-tempo album that flows
well. Given that the band will be touring in October (when you
read this), you will have the chance to catch the Tull spectacle
one last time. They are no longer with Chrysalis (thank you,
lord) and now have the chance to explore their internet options
(see title of album). Jethro Tull has more songs than Aqualung
and Cross-eyed Mary that demand your attention. J-tull.com is
a welcome album that will probably not fall into any one format
easily. If radio develops, this could be the one that puts the
Tull back on top. Besides, Metallica didn’t deserve that
Grammy award anyway. -Eddie Jorgensen
E-Town Concrete
F$ck The World
Resurrection A.D.
This is a follow up EP to a full length on the same label. To
put this into todays metal-rap category would not do these guys
justice. They do play a little of both with more emphasis on
metal but with no turntables, no electronic gimmicks coming
out their guitar amps and no wimpy-ass rhyming. You’ll
find hard-core style in some spots that will make you wanna
fuck shit up to raps over off beats that will have any head
bobbin’ and killer guitars that will make any metalhead
proud. The only beef I have is that it’s an EP and it’ll
make you beg for more. Now ya know, don’t say I didn’t
warn ya! -Young Mitch
Dead Moon
Destination X
Empty Records
This record is downright pitiful. Poorly recorded and laughably
performed by musicians that redefine mediocrity, it is more
“punk” than 99% of the so-called punk bands out there.
Destination X is a must listen for every punk band in the U.S.A.,
especially the ones about to go into some expensive studio to
record some slick piece of shit. -Kenan
Arcwelder
Everest
Touch and Go
I really like louder, heavy music, but most of what I hear these
days just seems too dumb to listen to. I mean I’m not into
Joe Satriani and Queensryche or anything, and I know rock music
falls on top of itself with too much cerebral processes aimed
in it’s direction. Nonetheless, a lot of today’s heavier
bands seem like they should have their own Saturday morning
cartoon show or something. I guess if you’re just kinda
vacant up there, it comes through in the music and if you’re
not (Think Page Hamilton of Helmet) then that comes through
as well. Suffice it to say that Arcwelder seems to have something
going on between their ears. This reminds me just a teeny bit
of Adrian Belew era King Crimson in some of the vocal melodies.
Uh oh, that’s a pretty cerebral reference. -JB
Skycycle
Ones ans Zeros
MCA
Positive, up-beat, pop-rock music with loads of hooks, great
players and some downright charming vocal performances. Skycycle
is about good tunes and good energy and they pull it off with
an engaging sincerity that never sounds preachy or pushy. Two
thumbs up. -Kenan
Air
Premiers Symptomes
Astralwerks
Absolutely chill. If I was somehow abducted by Barbarella and
strapped down to a fur covered surgical table, Premiers Symptomes
is the CD she would play to relax me before inserting the anal
probe. This is hyper-galactic instrumental bachelor pad make-out
music from the future - today. Premiers Symptomes catalogs the
early instrumental 12” singles produced by Air for the
Moon Safari album. This is perfect for guys like myself who
feel that the vocal tracks on a lot of music ruins what could
have been perfectly good songs. This is the perfect CD to wake
up to, fall asleep to, fuck to, smoke illegal substances to;
it is essential. If you’ve never heard Air then is a great
introduction; they’re nice guys, they’re from France
and they know how to chill. I’m not going to waste my time
trying to convert you, you either get it or you don’t.
Personally, I don’t mind if Premiers Symptomes is my little
secret and the rest of you go out and buy up some hacked-out,
cliche’, pretty boy “pop-punk-emo-ska-metal”
garbage shit. Just don’t say I didn’t give you chance.
-Chachi Jones
Beth Custer
In the Broken Fields Where I Lie
BC2
This CD was a big lesson in not judging a book, or in this case
a CD, but it’s cover. My first reaction to this was, ‘Oh
no, another post-Lillith singer-songwriter.’ Now, before
you call me sexist I need to point out that I’ve reviewed
quite a few female singer-songwriters in these very pages. But
I’ve heard way too many bad female singer songwriters pass
through my CD player in the last year, and a bad singer-songwriter
is just plain dreck, male or female. There are way too many
Jewels and not enough Kristen Hershs. Beth Custer however is
none of the above. This CD is contemporary challenging music
that has more in common with the Lounge Lizards than Lillith
Fair. Not entirely jazz but in the same adventurous spirit of
the best jazz and definitely influenced by it. The music is
performed by multi-instrumentalist Custer and guests The Clubfoot
Orchestra, Joe Goode Performance Group, and others on a variety
of instruments including things like Savart’s wheel and
saw blades along with more normal instruments. This is for people
who are passionate about music, not people who listen to music
as a fashion accessory. -JB
311
Soundsystem
Capricorn
Back with their 5th album, the boys from Nebraska continue to
expand on their rock meets reggae meets rap sound. 311’s
first two releases, Music and Grassroots were great albums.
Both compelling listens from beginning to end. The melding of
rock and rap seemed effortless for the band and their stock
rose quickly as MTV and the radio stations leached on to the
bandwagon. In 1995, out popped the blue album. Sure, it had
a few good tracks on it, but the creative wheel seemed to have
stopped spinning. It seemed like 311 was standing in slow motion;
playing the same song over and over again. The same spell seemed
to reverberate throughout their 1997 release Transistor. Could
the 311 of old reemerge and bounce again? Fans need not worry,
their latest effort, Soundsystem, returns to the day’s
of old, bring back the sounds reminiscent of their early works.
Super heavy guitar tracks, laid back rhythms, and the lyrical
duo of Nick Hexum and SA Martinez on the microphone never sounded
so crisp. This will get the naysayer’s rockin’. -Brad
Oates
Bruce Cockburn
Breakfast In New Orleans
Ryko
I’ve always wanted Bruce to return to the era of Dancing
In the Dragon’s Jaws. With this new album, he has returned
to the Bruce we all loved and adored. For those not familiar
with Bruce, he is equal parts spoken word and folk. Bruce plays
a lazy blend of folk-rock that fits best into the AAA format,
yet Bruce never really achieved the success he deserved. His
last live effort was an EP, his last studio album went virtually
unnoticed, and his last date in this town was far too long ago.
Bruce is a craftsman that deserves ranking with poet laureates
such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, although not as brash.
Pick this gem up when it hits the streets and experience some
real cerebral music. -Eddie Jorgensen
Wheat
Hope and Adams
Sugar Free
Sublimely strange, spacey, loosely strung together songs. I
imagine watching from far away as a little clump of indie rockers
standing around a few guys playing on a stage in the middle
of a giant empty field. “Your love is a parking lot with
pot holes and faded lines and the kids don’t hang because
the cops just chase them out.” More music for the end of
a millennium. -Ben Morss
Cyclefly
Generation Sap
Radioactive
Very radical music with a lot of computerized bits, but a whole
lot of gritty “meat and ‘taters” style guitars,
bass and drums to keep the groove grounded in humanity. It’ll
get you moving and/or it’ll get you thinking; something
for everyone. A worthwhile investment. -Kenan
Blinker the Star
August Everywhere
Dreamworks
Truly a remarkable record. When I first put it on, I was stunned
by the sheer sound of the thing. It’s like XTC but with
better writing and a lot more emotion. The voices, strings,
guitars, and keys are all smoothed out, such that you can’t
always tell what you’re listening to. And the songs are
beautiful and mystical. Canadian band leader Jordan Zadorozny
hits a high point in the middle of the record with songs like
I Am A Fraction, There’s Nowhere You can Hide, and Your
Big Night, Sandy!. This kind of stuff risks being too smart
for its own good, but Jordan pulls through on sheer ability
and lots of feeling.
-Ben Morss
Royal Crown Revue
Walk on Fire
Side One Dummy
This music is crazy. Not crazy in the sense that it’s insane,
but crazy in the sense that it makes no sense that I’d
like it so much. I am not even a Lindy Hopper. I laugh at Lindy
Hoppers really. I actually laugh at most swing dancers and their
music because to me, the fifties are very much over. However,
I give it up to the Royal Crown Revue because they have this
kind of Nordstrom piano guy, late night lounge, garage singing
dad thing going on. I liked it. It’s not typical CD player
fodder for the average “alternative” chica/chico,
but you know, it works in a very weird way and is totally worth
the purchase. You could bust this out at random times in the
car and shock and amaze your passengers with your musical acumen
and exceptional taste! -Miss M
Snapcase vs. Boy Sets Fire
Equal Vision Records
This split CD/EP contains two songs from each band. Snapcase
delivers their traditional sharp metal hard-core, and the songs
are quite good, better than the last Snapcase full length. Their
second song is a excellent cover of Truth Hits Everybody by
the Police. Good stuff. What can I say about Boy Sets Fire...
they are one of my favorite bands and continue to blow me away.
Unspoken Request has a more emo feel and Channel has the powerful
screamed vocals that BSF does so well. It’s refreshing
to hear a band push ideas and politics into every song. Channel
rage... channel anger... channel hate... into change. -Chris
Sprouls
The Icarus Line
Red and Black Attack
New American Dream
Finally. The dark sound of anger is bellowing from the city
of angels. The makers are The Icarus Line. This is their second
release (and New American Dreams first), their first being a
four song seven inch on Hellcat Records. Red and Black Attack
was recorded during the same session, but with help from the
Dwarves and a few digital tools, the songs on this sound ten
times better. Not to mention the better song writing. The whole
record just sounds huge, full, and just plain crazy, which is
just how their music sounds. Punk rock the way it should be.
You are stupid if you don’t understand this record. -Travis
Keller
Guided By Voices
Do the Collapse
TVT
God, I hate record reviewers, especially the smug, confused
bastards that write for little `zines. They’re all gonna
(once again) tell us how Bob Pollard and company sold out by
going into a fancy studio (Electric Lady) and recording a record
with Ric Ocasek (ex-Cars). What a bunch of knee-jerk morons.
They can’t seem to pull their indie-cred stained earplugs
out and actually listen to anything anyway. This record rocks,
it sounds good when you crank it up and it’s one of the
few records from the ‘90s that I’ll be listening to
in ten years. Remember, lo-fi wasn’t a style, it was a
necessity. -Larry “Hi-Fi” Crane
Falling Sickness / Dysentery
Sub City Records
Good solid hard-core from two bands, what more could you want?
This split CD featuring Falling Sickness and Dysentery is great!
Although I’ve never heard Dysentery before, I love Falling
Sickness and was eager to review it. The problem I had as far
as a review is concerned is that I stuck to the Sickness portion
without giving the rest of the disk a chance. But I have to
say that I came around and although I can honestly say that
the Sickness portion brings more to the table for me, Dysentery
do have the tools of the trade, good fast hooks and enough screaming
vocals to get anyone’s underwear into a bind. But the heart
of the review goes out to Sickness, this group is SICK! Any
fans of good solid hard-core (these guy’s can play the
fuck out of their instruments!) should definitely check it out!
This is a disc that a true hard-core fan can not go wrong with,
both bands have the skills and I highly recommend this disk!
-Robb Armstrong
Plankeye
Relocation
BEC
I heard one song on the new Tooth & Nail sampler from these
guys that made me want to hear more. I am an absolute sucker
for these kinds of perfectly written and constructed pop gems.
Along similar lines as Jimmy Eat World, you know if you like
these kinds of things or not. The slickness of this recording
and packaging may turn off some people, unless you’re a
red blooded young woman (or young man who likes other young
men) in which case you’ll be pining for the two cuties
who make up this band and have photos of themselves all over
the CD booklet. -JB
Red Stars Theory
Life in a Bubble Can Be Beautiful
Touch and Go
Touching. Two fingertips connecting across a candle-lit dinner
table, arms extended fully. Stretching. Soft sonic tones float
from the hi-fi in the neighboring room. Cellos float above the
salad, Lois Maffeo’s vocals swim in the shared arm-entangled
wine glass sip. The waiting staff of a Northwest super-group
extending beyond the outer perimeters of their homebases serve
tables occupied by lovers. Multiple coarse of relationship tensions
are served on platters of gold and silver in a glistening glass
restaurant. Watched, like a fishbowl, by one’s peers, one
is never alone in love or music. -Keith York
United States Three
Watergate
Flat Earth
In the last two weeks I have worked over 140 hours, stopping
only to sleep a little. Besides doing the design and production
along with some talented interns, I’m responsible for this
reviews section. I’m really burnt out and the mail just
keeps bringing more CDs. But, it is one of the pleasures of
this job despite the stress to have a little nugget like this
show up at the last minute. Little indie releases like this
one are what gives me faith in the music business and the power
of real artists to rise above it. It’s a testament to this
Indiana band that they can so easily break through my stupor
and a testament to how deep that stupor is that all I can do
is quote from their press release: “For fans of Elvis Costello,
Buddy Holly, The Beatles, Mies van der Rohe, French pop, the
Velvet Underground, the Embarrassment, Elliott Smith, Serge
Gainsbourg, Godard....” Check it out. -JB
Zenith
Flowers of Intelligence
The Music Cartel
Crunchy, distorted drum machine beats smothered with creamy,
heavily reverberated synth textures. Very similar to Aphex Twin’s
Selected Ambient Works Volume 1, and a little like a heavily
drugged and viciously beaten BT. Flowers of Intelligence is
definitely mood altering music, it creates an atmosphere that’s
very detached and dreamlike but with enough distorted industrial
beats to keep you grounded or keep you from getting so damn
relaxed you fall asleep. A good blend of harsh and soft textures,
with a healthy dose of alien atmospherics. This is the shit
Fox Mulder puts on to get his groove on with Scully. -Chachi
Jones
Huntingtons
File Under Ramones
Tooth & Nail
This is an album of 20 pure, unadulterated Ramones tracks. Straight
out of the beautiful state of Delaware, these four lads genetically
dissected the Ramones sound to a tee, toyed with it a bit on
their instruments, and set it free to the world. I love every
minute of this release. For full nostalgic affect wear your
crusty, black leather jacket while listening to this, or attempting
to purchase this album. I’ve never owned a black leather
jacket, but hey, the Ramones always seemed to do it and these
guys do too, so it must be the in thing. I think the only time
I’ve ever seen people wear those types of jackets are people
in bands. This is helping keeping good, clean fun rock alive
into the next millennium. Rumor has it the Huntingtons are set
to release an album of originals shortly. Keep your ears posted.
-Brad Oates
Headcase
Mushiness
The Music Cartel
Don’t let the pastel tones on the cover fool you for a
minute, listening to Headcase is like watching a midget have
sex with a Samoan - it’s overwhelming and scary. Headcase
is the alias of Dean Garcia from Curve, whom I haven’t
heard, but now I’d like to. Mushiness is a lot like Future
Sound of London, it’s dark - filled with caustic atmospherics
and blown up breaks that fade in and out of the mix while thumpy,
resonant bass synths keep a steady throb or dive into your head
from out of nowhere. Parts of Mushiness touch on DJ Spooky’s
“illbient” style, while other parts are a little less
organic and sound a bit like the Chemical Brothers on heroin.
Bottom line, this is a pretty innovative and interesting release
with no weak tracks, and no indulgently long and repetitive
shit (which automatically separates it from 75% of all the electro-rave
shit that clog the shelves at my local record store). -Chachi
Jones
Step Kings
Let’s Get it On!
Fantastic Plastic
It’s rock! It’s rap! No, it’s rap-rock! Not again,
you cry, or, since you’re a Heckler reader, you probably
don’t cry at all; you go, Coool! Fortunately, these guys
stand above your typical hard-rock-rappers. The grooves are
hot, the band is impeccable, and there’s these neat little
tuneful choruses. This truly rocked me. -Ben Morss
Rammstein
Live Aus Berlin
Mercury
Before famed film director David Lynch put a couple of Rammstein
songs in his 1996 thriller, Lost Highway, little was known about
the East German band. Already a huge hit in their homeland,
with the 1997 release of their gritty industrial album, Sehnsucht,
they quickly became a success across the Atlantic. This is Rammstein’s
first foray into the live album phenomenon, and while it may
lack all the fire spitting and pyrotechnics associated with
their live show, the music and unintelligible German lyrics
don’t suffer one iota. I can’t speak German, so I
have no idea what the singer is saying. A must have for any
Rammstein fan. -Brad Oates
Hanayo In Panacea
Mille Plateaux
Like getting hit in the face with a giant sledgehammer and then
having a power drill shoved in your ear, in a good way. This
CD is a collaboration between Panacea, Germany’s most hard-core
drum and bass producer (he could eat ATR’s Alec Empire
and shit him out in less than a minute!) and Hanayo, a Japanese
girl who sings like she’s being beaten and tortured. In
fact violence and torture seem to be a running theme, Hanayo
is pictured on the cover and all throughout the booklet in various
bloody and broken situations. The music is an unfriendly, distorted,
screeching assault that will leave you breathless at the end.
It’s the kind of CD you pull out immediately after it’s
finished because you can’t risk it coming on and killing
you all over again, but you’ll listen to it everyday. It’s
like a good ass-whoping that leaves you aching but full of energy.
The opening track I am Tomagotchi, rips with 200 bpm overblown
bass drums, a warped and wobbled TB 303, and Hanayo breathing
and crying and screaming into a heavily overdriven microphone.
Sounds like Digital Hardcore Records’ EC8OR, and Shizuo.
-Chachi Jones
The Frosted Ambassador
Kindercore
Fragments of nice poppy tunes, lovely bells, and cheezy synth-beats
mixed with real drum grooves, distorted guitars, banjos, cheap
keyboards, vocal harmonies, all tossed into a pleasing salad,
or a sample stew, or blended into a smoothie. Phones ring. Strange
voices appear in my ears. Bliss - I am happy! -Ben Morss
The Flaming Lips
The Soft Bulletin
Warner Bros.
Hey, remember the Beatles? You won’t after you hear this
record. Okay, so maybe you will. In fact, maybe this record
will immediately bring the Beatles (or Pink Floyd circa The
Wall) to mind because of its huge production values, orchestral
-but very rock- score, and profound and inescapably involving
lyrics (among the top of which are Race for the Prize, an oddly
touching story of two scientists killing themselves to be the
best, but underneath it all “They’re just humans with
wives and children,” and The Spark that Bled). Wayne Coyne’s
vocals tend to sound strikingly like Kermit the Frog at times
on this record (but in a good way), and somehow his passionate,
but out of tune, wailing makes him all the more endearing. A
much less complicated listen than the Lips’ last release
Zureeka, a four disc set designed to be played simultaneously
on four separate stereos, the Soft Bulletin’s true complexity
was revealed only in concert. Aptly, albeit ambitiously, titled
the Music Against Brain Deterioration tour, the live show features
backgroud films intricately edited to match and compliment the
live music, thus adding to it a whole new dimension, as did
the headphones handed out at the door to allow those in attendance
to listen to the show live, as well as, broadcast live from
an in house radio frequency. Weird. In short, these Oklahoma
boys have reeled themselves in a little on the Soft Bulletin,
even so, they remain light-years ahead of the music being produced
by their contemporaries. The Beatles wouldn’t have stood
a chance. -Karen Graves
No Knife
Fire In The City Of Automatons
Time Bomb
No Knife is back with another helping of some of the best “college/emo/poprock”
stuff. I saw this amazing band on tour last year with Rocket
From The Crypt. Like Rocket, No Knife hails from San Diego,
which is fast becoming the home to many great bands. This album
kicks off with probably the best track Academy Flight Song.
Every song rips at your heart, wanting more of the beautiful
tones that only No Knife can punch out. Favorites include Mission
Control and Minus One. Great band... live and on wax. Jim Atkins
from Jimmy Eat World even sings on a track. Great, uplifting
pop for all you fans of Sense Field, Jimmy Eat World, etc. -Don
Clark
Earwig
Perfect Past Tense
LFM
Columbus, Ohio is heaven on Earth for music lovers. Period.
Quit your job, sell your mom, and buy a plane ticket (or bus
ticket, depending on how much mom’s worth) for cow town,
now. If during your stay you even once get to see a trio of
hometown lads collectively know as Earwig play, consider yourself
in the presence of true musical genius as incarnated in frontman/
guitarist/label co-founder, Lizard McGee. If for some reason
you don’t want to sell dear old mom, maybe you could at
least pawn a couple of grandma’s ceramic owls and pick
up a copy of Perfect Past Tense, the follow up to Earwig’s
nearly flawless debut, Mayfeeder. Perfect Past Tense is a collection
of mostly new material constituting 13 gorgeously constructed
songs, laden with guitars, courtesy of Mr. McGee, that are often
simultaneously delightfully strummed to the beat of a broken
heart, and gnashed, pummeled, and pissed off at the world that
broke it- like a dog wagging its tail while trying to rip your
arm off. Understated and therefore effective drumming by Justin
Crooks proves more musical than mechanical, and Rich Cefalo’s
bass work is at least as vital to the album’s overwhelming
hummability as Mr. McGee’s plaintive singing and assorted
yowling. And the lyrics... the last time anything was so perfect
it was directly related to having bargained with the devil at
the crossroads. When I was lucky enough to catch Earwig last,
they proclaimed themselves to be, “More than just your
average sensitive guys,” (or, as Lizard wails in Cinema
East, “Don’t talk no bullshit to me, ‘bout my
insincerity,”) which is true, as nothing about these cats
is average. Highlights: 13 tracks of Earwig, pristine production
illuminates Lizards masterpiece. Lowlights: Only 13 tracks of
Earwig, and possibly the pristine production takes away from
the raw emotion of that sets Earwig apart from the shoegazers.
Due to Ltd. in-store Distribution $11 ppd. Earwig-LFM/PO B 9851/
Columbus, Ohio 43209 -Karen Graves
Biohazard
A New World Disorder
Mercury
Alternative grunt rock to make you go “GggggRrrr!”
They rock and they rock hard. Big drums, big guitars, bass like
a beached whale and some, no doubt, heavily tattooed dude shouting
a lot. It’s not a new formula, but it’s one that works,
so what the fuck? -Kenan
Spindoctors
Here Comes The Bride
DAS Records
Admittedly, I’m not a huge Spindoctors fan. Little Miss
Can’t Be Wrong was way too poppy and catchy for me. It
brought on Excedrin type headaches. However, this new CD is
much cooler! The song Diamond is awesome. I also really liked
Gorilla Boy, it’s funny. The song Siren Dress scared me
a lot because it’s very Grateful Dead and I can’t
have any of that in my life. It’s a very catchy bunch of
music that would work totally well at a party. That’s what
it is, the quintessential party background CD for tequila types
and beer drinkers alike, woo! Drink up and boogie down to Vampires
in the Sun. -Melisa
Momus
Stars Forever
Le Grand Magistery
When the British electronic musician who calls himself Momus
found himself in legal trouble recently over a song he wrote
about a certain transgendered Moog pioneer, he made a public
offer to make musical portraits of 30 different people if they
each paid him $1000. Thus this album, which features such “portraits”
of various people from around the world, a band, a record label,
even an e-mail list. It helps to already be a fan of Momus’
obsessions with cheesy synthesizers, explicit sexual content,
and the Baroque to like this two-album set. I wasn’t, but
I soon found myself completely drawn into his mysterious world,
the strangely catchy electronic Baroque marches, the fascinating
lyrics inspired by the various portraitees. I don’t even
find the last record’s 21-minute Momus interview to be
self-indulgent anymore. Especially fun are the eight Momus parodies
also included. If you have never experienced Momus, you should!
-Ben Morss
Time in Malta
Construct And Demolish
Escape Artist Records
Time In Malta is from San Francisco, a city that doesn’t
crank out too many bands in this genre. These guys are definitely
worth the wait. Think Threadbare meets older Deadguy, with a
‘newer’ edge to it. As a 3 piece, these guys sound
tight and heavy as crap. Songs range from heavy-melodic to just
plain heavy and chaotic! This disc only has 6 tracks, so I can’t
wait to hear what they put out next. Pick this up if you are
a fan of hard-core or metal. -Don Clark
The Get Up Kids
Red Letter Day
Doghouse Records
Something To Write Home About
Vagrant Records
Following closely on the heels of the Promise Ring, Jimmy Eat
World and the like, The Get Up Kids are cranking out some of
the best super catchy punkish pop around. Don’t confuse
this with pop punk, though ‘cause the pop definitely comes
first. Both of these CDs are filled with songs that are still
going to sound really good 10 or 20 years from now. The Doghouse
release is an EP with a few songs from the the LP on Vagrant
plus some new songs, in a really nicely designed package. This
band has had a buzz for a while now and deservedly so. If you
haven’t already get at least one of these CDs and find
out why. You won’t be disappointed. -JB
Today Is The Day
In The Eyes Of God
Relapse Recordings
I was at a show, and the previous band was standard hard-core
fare. Kids in huge T-shirts and baggy shorts stand around the
room in groups waiting to see what’s next. Today is the
Day walks on stage. Steve Austin suddenly explodes...screaming,
spitting, crying and bleeding. The song ends. Silence. One timid
female voice is heard as the terrified crowd stands jaws agape,
“Oh my God...” Amazing. Evil. Powerful. Insane. Steve
Austin has done it again. Not only has he topped Temple of the
Morning Star, he’s taken everything he’s done before
and blown it to hell. This album takes the massive, overwhelming,
Steve Austin sound and cuts it down to smaller, but not any
less potent, doses. In The Eyes of God has twenty songs, and
each one has it’s own life and force. Anyone who hasn’t
heard Today Is The Day could not possibly prepare themselves.
I’m going to hell, and I’m enjoying every fucking
second of it. -Chris Sprouls
Dumptruck
Terminal
Devil In The Woods
As this century gets close to being over and music is increasingly
more electronic, it’s still somewhat refreshing to hear
a band hit, strum, pick and strike things in the time tested
strings and sticks format in a soulful and tuneful way that
keeps me listening. Dumptruck plays in a slightly countrified/psychedelic
style that echoes Neil Young and J Mascis. This CD has a slightly
loose punkish vibe and the songs are all very good. -JB
Gum Control
Mobster Records
First and foremost, you have to realize that this band comes
from a place where guns are banned (Amsterdam), so their play
on words is pretty funny. Unlike bands who are imitating rather
than emulating, Gum Control has so many layers of influence,
that it would be impossible to place a label on their music.
Out of the many, many pieces of favorite sounds and feelings,
the most audible influence seemed to be Helmet. I found that
fascinating as Helmet seems to have been forgotten in American
conscious-ness although they are rockers supreme. At any rate,
this CD is a great find. Since they have no distribution in
the states, the only way to get a copy is to e-mail them at
Gumcontrol@hotmail.com.
-Miss M
The Pilgrims
Songs About the Letter W
Spam Records
The Pilgrims are a Sacramento pop band. And by that, I mean
the traditional definition of the word pop. Song structure,
melody, sophisticated yet simple sounding. It’s all here
on this EP. Songwriter/keyboarder/guitarist Ben Morss creates
songs that are actually fairly complicated, yet they sound like
anybody could play them. He also pens some funny words, like
on Have I Told U that U Rock Lately which Morss actually croons
in a sleepy pop mode. He sounds like a Vegas lounge singer,
bringing back memories of Bill Murray’s classic bits on
SNL. That song is the highlight of the EP, but the rest of the
tunes are good too. The deft touch of the Dark Lord, David Houston,
can be felt as he produced the first 3 tracks, lending a real
pop feel to the songs. If you like pop music, get this disc.
-Cary Rodda
WestBam
We’ll Never Stop Living This Way
Mute Records
WestBam is best known as the guy who wrote the 80’s frat
anthem The Roof is on Fire. Aside from the few new samplers
or drum machine he’s picked up since then, you’d think
this guy still lived in the 80’s, and that might not be
so bad. WestBam sounds like the illegitimate white child of
Afrika Bambaataa, cryogenically frozen in the 80’s and
thawed out in 1999. This shit is so old school it’s actually
pretty good, a Roland 808 drum machine on every track and Kraftwerk-esque
synths making sparse bleeps and pings. If you miss the simple
block rock’n beats of the 80’s, look no further than
WestBam. -Chachi Jones
Sidecar
All Those Opposed
Fastmusic
Like just about everyone else, as soon as I get a CD I’ll
read the inside jacket; lyrics, shouts out, band ramblings,
etc… I think sometimes you can learn a little about the
folks in the band but sometimes it is just rambling. Well I
think I learned a little about these guys. They seem pretty
straight-forward and comical kinda NOFXish. And talented…
fuggetaboudit. With a sound reminiscent of Pulley, Bigwig, or
Cooter, Sidecar is some good fast punk. They did a gosh darn,
solid, good job producing and engineering this mutha by themselves.
-Lee
John Stuart Mill
Forget Everything
See Thru Broadcasting
This is some kind of spin-off project of Braniac, but it doesn’t
seem to sound much like that band. This sounds like it was recorded
at home pretty lo-fi but by someone with a good ear, ‘cause
all the mixes are good. Pretty sparse and eclectic and I think
one of the tunes is a Sonic Youth cover but I could be way off
base, as I can’t find it on any of the SY albums I have
and the advance I have of this has almost no info. Whatever,
that song sounds like SY to me anyway. A lot of this is acoustic
and reminds me of Hayden. Although just about every song on
this is cool, the CD as a whole is right on the border of being
really, really likable and too offhand and disjointed to really
have staying power, although you may like this aspect. -JB
Favez
A Sad Ride On the Line Again
Stick Sister
This is mopey, moody, sparse and dark. Lots of acoustic guitars,
but not folky or anything. I hate to use the emo word, but there
it is. If you like Elliott Smith, Radiohead and some of Jonah
Matranga’s (Far) solo stuff, then this is right up your
alley. I normally have minimal patience for stuff like this,
but like the above mentioned artists, this is really good and
easily holds my interest. These guys are from Lausanne which
is next to Lake Geneva in Switzerland. They recorded this live
in a church, and like the Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions, it
just oozes atmosphere and feel. This is worth tracking down.
-JB
Warlord
Rock The Foe Hammer
Solid State
Equal parts metal and melodic rock, Warlord has a sound that
resonates in your head long after you put the album down. This
is the first I’ve heard from this band and I’m very
impressed. Think of a laid back, more melodic version of Today
Is The Day and your somewhere in the Warlord field. The songs
on this release run the gamut from super loud and chaotic, to
slow and mellow. It’s a superb mix that keeps your head
in a constant state of bang. Resistance is futile, submit yourself
to Warlord now. -Brad Oates
Richmond Fontaine
Lost Son
Cavity Search
This Portland, OR band is somewhat known for being in the alt-country
genre, so I was a bit surprised how much this album rocks. It
still has some quieter more traditional moments, but overall
I really like the louder, faster harder feel of this record.
I’ve always really liked good country music, but this whole
alt-country genre is already getting filled with some pretty
worn-out and weary ass bands, so this album is a good thing.
-JB
Tom Daily
Happily Deceiving Culture
Thick
Daily used to be in the Smoking Popes and while this doesn’t
sound anything at all like the Popes, it does share that ‘Well
god dammit if I can’t help but sing along to this song’
thing going for just about every song. This was recorded by
Tom as well and has a slightly lo-fi sound but is very well
recorded and mixed. The organic production fits it well with
the result being a very enjoyable record. -JB
Showoff
Maverick Records
Showoff is four young chaps from Chicago who play a lot of punk
pop songs about chicks. These guys have only been around since
1997, (that’s two years, kids) and things seem to be moving
quite quickly for the band. Showoff’s self titled debut
is a fun listen; a good mix of pop and punk, and it looked like
John Feldman of Goldfinger turned the knobs on this one. Fans
of the Goldfinger/MxPx vein should really dig this. -Brad Oates
Other New Releases that we weren’t able to review: Stuff
that we got too late to review, but that should be in stores
pretty soon: Willhaven, Misfits, High Llamas, Incubus, Love
As Laughter, Type O Negative, Iggy Pop, Pavement, G Love, Josh
Wink, Boy George, Randy Newman, Santana, Richard Thompson, East
River Pipe, Folk Implosion, Los Lobos, Love As Laughter, Buffalo
Daughter, Hot Sauce Johnson, Fireside, Jimmie’s Chicken
Shack, Justin Clayton, The Hippos, The Bloodhound Gang, The
Atomiks, Rocky Votolato and Queensryche. What’s up Carnage?
