Jet Black Crayon
Low Frequency Speaker Test
Function 8
Tommy Guerrero must be the busiest skater in the music business.
Right on the heels of his excellent Mo Wax release, A Little
Bit Of Somethin, comes this CD. He plays bass on this along
with Monte Vallier. Yep, two basses, hence the title. DJ Gadget
and drummer Tim DeGaugh round out the quartet. Like Somethin
this is instrumental, but JBC is more on the hip hop and electronic
tip, with some solid grooves. Both of these CDs are on my fave
listenin list and highly recommended. -JB
DJ Quik
Balance and Options
Arista 2001
Although a huge fan of the original DJ Quik album (now a decade
old - Quik Is The Name), I had doubts that this long time producer
turned intermittent M.C. had the gusto to turn out a decent
album in the year 2000. But the same knowledge of what it takes
to create a good hip-hop record from behind the scenes has allowed
him to shine equally well as the front man, and he has done
so for 10 years on four different solo albums. Musically, the
new album doesnt break any rules - it has a sort of Compton
meets Oakland (with a little dash of Vallejo thrown in) sound.
Though the lyrics havent improved with age, Balance and
Options will make you bop your head. I wanted to hear it again
and again, and I imagine you will too. Some notable guest stars
keep the lyric flow interesting, like Eric Sermon, Mausberg,
and Suga Free. Others will make you skip a few tracks, like
Humpty from Digital Underground (they couldnt get Shock-G???).
Never failing to give credit where credit is due, Quik dedicates
his remake of Easier Said than Done to Eric Easy-E
Wright, calling him the creator of gangsta rap music.
Easy-E got dissed more frequently than Hammer after the breakup
of N.W.A., but true rap music historians will appreciate Quiks
allusion to the departed rapper. This album has a good overall
feel, and I salute DJ Quik for keeping it honest, clever, and
funky. -Dave MargolisBluetip
Hot Fast Union
Slowdime
Im never sure what I like most about a Bluetip release;
the angular guitar driven rock music on the CD, or the graphic
design of the packaging itself by guitarist, vocalist Jason
Farrell. This solid 5 song CD-EP doesnt change things
any. 5 good songs and its beautifully designed. The CD
itself is the coolest looking CD Ive ever seen. -JB
Tracy Bonham
Down Here
Island
Way back in 1995, post riot grrrl, mid-Hole and Veruca Salt
but pre-Meredith Brooks, singer-songwriter Tracy Bonham was
in one of those enviable music industry positions. With a sharp
sarcastic wit and a razors edge voice, the Berklee School
of Music graduate was poised to reap the rewards toiled for
by such bitch-rock bands as L7, Bikini Kill and Seven Year Bitch
without seeming like just another Ive-always-been-this-pissed
perfectly coiffed tagalong rock chick. Indeed, Bonhams
first EP for CherryDisc records was a seething medley of fuck-you
songs including the scorching body-conscious anthem Im
not a Waif. A major label deal soon followed and Bonham had
a nice little radio hit with an appeal for independence Mother,
Mother. Now its the year 2000, and that whole woman-in-rock
thing is sooo tired unless youre talking about sex pots
such as Britany Spears and Christina Aguilera. Where does that
leave Bonham? Just as angry and confused. You say you
know me, sings Bonham on this second full-length album
Down Here, but you dont know me and in no way am
I a mystery. Produced by Mitchell Froom and featuring
some pretty, aching violin work from Bonham, Down Here is less
rock and more talk than her previous efforts. Some of the themes
are obvious - scorn for the picture perfect girl on Fake It,
the I-am-woman-hear-me-bore attitude on Behind Every Woman -
but even after a mere five years on the rock radar screen, Bonham
has definitely paid her dues and proved shes got a voice
that deserves to be heard. -Rachel Leibrock
The Dandy Warhols
Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia
Capitol
One of the things Ive always liked about The Dandy Warhols,
aside from the music itself, is the cockiness, sarcasm, and
the fuck you if you dont like it attitude.
Back when I worked at a record store I used to recommend The
Dandys to all the jaded patrons that thought their palates
were too good for the bulk of music out there and that Top 40
was a crime punishable by death. Thirteen Tales continues on
the same track but at some point music directors at stations
nationwide will clue into The Dandys on mass and leave
wanna be rock critics searching all over again for a new Messiah.
-HecklerGirl
The Darkest Hour
The Mark Of The Judas
MIA Records
At the Gates broke up, The Darkest Hour formed. End of story?
This East Coast five-piece has produced one of the better Swedish
meets hard-core sounding releases of 2000. Imagine the styling
of At the Gates/In Flames melding with the best hard-core (Converge,
Cave In, etc.) and you get an idea of what these guys sound
like. This is metal with progressive overtones with depth. Ryan
Parish is a phenomenal drummer and John Blakemore Henry knows
how to stylize vocal lines unlike any other today. Ive
heard rumblings about this band through the underground and
the hype was well deserved. Go see these guys if they hit your
town. -Eddie Jorgensen
Burial
Enlightened With Pain
Lost Disciple
How does one become enlightened with pain? Ask the five members
of Massachussetts-based Burial - they surely know a thing about
death metal, pain, and brutality. After seasoning themselves
by opening for bands such as Angelcorpse, Krisiun, Cryptopsy,
and others, Burial managed to create one of the better death
metal releases of 2000. Their sound is like Cannibal Corpse,
Suffocation, and early Deicide. Devin (singer) growls as good
as any other in his genre. The production is top notch, the
musicianship is there, and the band sounds as if theyve
been doing this for decades (theyve only been together
4 years!). This
is gory, blood-drenched metal that needs to be played at maximum
volume while operating large power tools. -Eddie Jorgensen
J Church
One Mississippi
Honest Dons Records
Because I had never heard of J Church until their fifth release,
One Mississippi, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. But,
after the third song, The Track, featuring guest vocalist Kelly
Green (also on Sunshine) I was more than impressed. The drumming
held strong through the entire album with rolls and change-ups
in the most unexpected places. It kept me trying to anticipate
his every move. Thumbs up to Kurt Schlegel for the production
on One Mississippi. He did a great job of letting the vocals
hang back when it was more important for the music to have the
upperhand. He also let them take over when vocalist Lance had
something to say. There were so many more aspects to J Church
that got me hyped, would have a hard time trying to put them
in words. I definitely look forward to hearing the other four
releases by these folks. -J Ian Williams
People Under the Stairs
Question in the Form of an Answer
Om
These guys are truly worthy hip-hop underdogs. Just two dudes
- Thes One and Double K - wrote, rhymed, scratched, sampled,
arranged, and produced the whole fuckin CD. This thing
is more D.I.Y. than any so-called indie rock record Ive
seen cross my desk. But D.I.Y. cred alone does not make any
group automatically listenable, thankfully People Under the
Stairs kick some of the smoothest rhyming and sickest beats
Ive heard in hip-hop since the early 90s. File this
CD next to groups like Hieroglyphics, Tribe Called Quest, Del
Tha Funky Homosapien, and KRS-One. But those are easy comparisons,
the aspect of PUTSs sound that really grabbed me were
the old school legit 70s funk breaks and samples that
used to be the bread and butter of the underground intelligent
hip-hop sound, but is now only really practiced by such brilliant
vinyl historians like DJ Shadow, Herbalizer, and Kid Koala.
So not only are these So-Cal DJ/MCs extremely talented
and truly independent, but they have done their research too.
Question in the Form of an Answer is the real deal. -Chachi
Jones
Kevlar
Let Me Worry Some More
The First Time
Kevlar sound a little like a poppier Jawbox playing Dear You-era
Jawbreaker songs. If youre a fan of Jawboxs less
abrasive material and maybe some Husker Du, than youll
probably dig this. Other than that these guys arent offering
anything you havent heard before. -Tom Minarchick
F.Y.P.
Toys That Kill
Recess
Toys That Kill is the final chapter in F.Y.P.s career
that has been upsetting the norms of society for the past decade.
I was fortunate enough to have seen their live show a few times
and their performances were always energetic, sloppy, and driven
in a beer fueled fire. Blag Dahlia, front-man of the Dwarves,
produced the album and Josh Freese of the Vandals sat in on
drums, which is probably one of the reasons this album sounds
comparatively polished to their previous works (but dont
let that distract you from picking it up). With the bands
fan base and the quality of music they have put out over the
years, I find it hard to believe that they never made it into
the mainstream. -Kevin Evinger
Silkworm
Lifestyle
Touch and Go
Silkworm make indie rock like indie rock still mattered. For
these Chicago legends, music is not a pose, not a fashion statement,
and not a way to be current and interesting. Instead,
with spare guitars, drums, bass, and voice, they make music
that is insistent, urgent, and compelling. When you hear the
voice repeat, Aint you ever been alone in your life?
and the guitars pound chords into your head, you feel like something
very important is happening, and maybe it is. -Ben Morss
Sin Ropas
Three Cherries
Perishable
With both Red Red Meat and Califone as resume entries, Sin Ropas
take folkadelic excursions in the decaying forests of aging
pop songs. Even the guitars in these environs sound off-kilter,
skewed, scattered like seedlings amongst the towering trunks
of still-standing dead wood. Growing up from the undergrowth
in shady areas, the fern-like mumblings, noodlings and faint
hearts create from mulch and moss the most earthy of tones not
from Will Oldhams pen. Backroad porches creak, as moonshine
stills gurgle and hiccup with tinny snare backing. The aged
leather-faced man in the oak rocking chair mumbles to himself
as the bass kicks in. He nearly swallows the corn-cob handmade
pipe hanging from a saliva drenched lower lip. Red Red Meat
began from these quiet dirt road psychoses and its good
to have them back along with all of the original narcotic p.o.v.s
and their new-found friends ambling along in the mud-formed
channels of the two-way corridor in a 49 Ford pickup.
-Keith YorkGood Riddance
The Phenomenon Of Craving
Fat Wreck Chords
This little 6 songer EP is just what I wanted to hear from Good
Riddance. Kind of like a pissed-off a midget with a black belt,
Good Riddance is pure aggression wrapped up in a neat little
package that will sneak up on you and beat you down when you
least expect it. GR are the masters of writing thought provoking
songs about animal rights, homelessness, general confusion with
the world, and mans struggle to live in society. And,
oh yeah, songs about girls. Not since the Descendents could
a band write songs about girl problems that actually rock. No
weak ballads here, this EP is little firecracker soaked in gasoline.
Be careful. -Brad Gobdel
IDEM
Shoshin Sounds
Crashing upon cliff-born seashores, the ferocious cold white
water of the Atlantic wears away the centuries-old rock formations.
Sharing in the same intensity are four young lads from Nantes,
France who offer our coasts the chance to digest their energy.
With the assistance of their peers label, Shoshin Sounds
(run by Angers band Ky), IDEMs frenetic style(s) hits
your stateside disc player with surprising vigilance. Guitars,
drums, samplers and keys meld together into new fresh forms,
we egocentric Americans may have difficulty comprehending. Rage
Against the Machine guitars rock the boat settled on calm dub-inflected
tides as breakbeats create an undertow that even Quicksand,
Jesus Lizard and Baboon would struggle in. As the oceans have
many personalities, so too does the IDEM quartet - all of which
display Mother Natures strength and perseverance. -Keith
York
Elwood
The Parlance of Our Time
Palm
Elwood combines elements of funk, rock, blues, and hip-hop to
create their own style of music. On The Parlance of Our Time
each track is different than the one before it, so their sound
never gets boring or played out. The CD begins strong with Elwoods
cover of Gordon Lightfoots song Sundown, and they change
it up a bit with some hip-hop lyrics, beats, and scratching.
Next the CD switches to some acoustic, more mellow tunes only
to return to some more hip-hop/rock songs. The song writing
isnt bad either. Most of the songs seemed to be directed
at their struggle with love and life. Their rapping/singing
ability isnt bad as well. If you are into Sugar Ray, Everlast,
Sublime, or G-Love & Special Sauce then this is worth picking
up. -E-love
Duane Peters & The Hunns
Unite
Disaster
Duane Peters and The Hunns sound suspiciously like, ummm, Duane
Peters and The U.S. Bombs! But thats okay. Drawing from
a variety of old school punk influences, The Hunns provide a
kick ass sound track for Duanes nihilistic songs about
girls, conspiracies, the So. Cal. scene, living a hard life
and other punk rock fair game. Rest assured theres plenty
of drawn out, whiskey soaked singing and anthemic background
vocals. The best song on this album is, Blood on the Sun, with
its melodic chorus and catchy riffs. Fans of Rancid and
Swingin Utters will dig this. Another song I really got
into is Kickin Rocks . Its not about getting off
the crack, its about lost love and getting older. On the
track 2010 they rant about conspiracies and the end of the world.
Overall this is a pretty solid record. If youre one of
those people who like the U.S. Bombs then you will probably
like this too. And if thats not enough the drummer is
a pirate! -Big Chuck
Trans Am
Red Line
Thrill Jockey Records
I saw Trans Am w/ Brainiac at the now defunct Kilowatt in San
Francisco many years ago. They were all over the place- a little
rock, a little electro, and overtly frenetic. Imagine Six Finger
Satellite colliding with the Beastie Boys and Jesus Lizard.
This is synthesized rock with over-the-top drumming, great instrumentals,
and spastic vocals. Fans of Don Caballero and Five-style will
enjoy this record. This is indy-rock at its finest, recorded,
produced, and mixed by the band. Check out this if adrenaline-fused
electro-rock is your thing. -Eddie Jorgensen
Brokeback
Field Recordings from the Cook County
Thrill Jockey
Please take a moment to imagine a 35-year old Ennio Morricone-penned
spaghetti western style soundtrack for a documentary on cool
jazz bass playing recorded by Tortoise. Doug McCombs, John Herndon,
John McEntire and a group of noted luminaries (including Mary
Hansens - of Stereolab - vocals on The Great Banks) light
up a western out-on-the-range campfire around the bass guitar.
Not too distant from Stanley Clarkes jazz bass antics,
Doug along with Noel Kupersmith play soothing six-string lines
for jazz, and post-rock fans in movie soundtrack ebbs and flows.
The rising tide of heated bass guitar hits the shoreline where
the cowboys horse cools off and steam rises from the sand.
Once again proof theres (literally) something in the water
in Cook County. -Keith York
Pedro The Lion
Progress
Suicide Squeeze
If you just discovered the beautiful songwriting of Pedro The
Lions David Bazan on his Jade Tree release, Winners Never
Quit, then youll want to locate this four song EP. Simply
four more gorgeously stripped down songs, which I think might
be outtakes or demos, but the liner notes are pretty vague.
The first two songs are also on an incredibly packaged seven
inch from the same label that includes a story by Jen Buchenberger
with illustrations by Rob Patterson. Both of these are highly
recommended. -JB
40 Grit
Heads
Metal Blade
Many bands have come out of San Francisco sounding like Testament,
Exodus, or lame Machine Head imitations. Enter 40 Grit, Metal
Blades newest signing from the East Bay. Their new album,
Heads, is a well-produced, well-written, slab of metal. This
is polished metal (ala Machine Head and Skinlab) that works
well without sounding exactly like the before mentioned. Its
obvious these boys were weaned on a diet of Death Angel and
Bay area metal. Theyve written a cohesive piece of work
that flows from beginning to end. James Santiago has a great
voice and I love the dual guitar work with his counterpart,
Chris Anderson. Hats off to Juan Urtega for the great production.
-Eddie JorgensenB.B. King & Eric Clapton
Riding With The King
Reprise
I dont mean to diss these guys, they have nothing but
my utmost respect, but I hate to see the words Protools and
drum programming anywhere near a blues album. If you didnt
know, Protools is a computer software system that allows you
to do incredible things with music. Its a word processor
on steroids, but for music and even more powerful. The problem
is that people usually get carried away with it, eliminating
all the mistakes from the music and turning it into something
kind of lifeless and soulless. Maybe its just me, but
I dont think the words computer and blues
go together well. The first song, the ultra slick title track
is indicative of this. Mixed by pop sheenmeister Mick Guzauski,
this is as slick as the Backstreet Boys and too many miles from
the delta for my tastes. Im being kind of nit picky though.
The rest of the album isnt so slick, so I guess they just
wanted a radio hit. The stellar musicians are a whos who
of legendary session players; Andy Fairweather-Low, Doyle Bramhall
II, Nathan East, Steve Gadd, Joe Sample and Jimmie Vaughn. -JB
Charlie Hunter
Blue Note
Without a doubt Charlie Hunter is one of the illest performers
in jazz music today. His remarkable sound comes from his unique
ability to play the eight string guitar. In case you didnt
know, the eight string guitar is three bass strings and five
guitar strings. The sound unleashed from this beast is nothing
shy of amazing. Straying away from the traditional jazz sound,
Hunter and his band demonstrate a funky groove that is undescribable.
On this latest self-titled release, he incorporates other fine
musicians to contribute their funky jazz sound. Leon Parker,
a long-time friend and sometimes bandmate, keeps the beat flowing
with his amazing drumming skill. Josh Roseman also gets wicked
on the trombone for a different kind of sound. Just when the
groove reaches a peak of bliss, Hunter will bust out a guitar
solo while still keeping time on the bass. Unbelievable! If
you like Medeski, Martin, and Wood, Grant Green, or just some
funky ass tunes, then Charlie Hunter is well worth looking into.
-E-love
Mark Kozelek
Rock N Roll Singer
Badman
Fans of Kozeleks work with the atmospheric Red House Painters
will surely appreciate this seven song CD. Its the best
thing Ive heard from him since the last real Painters
album, Songs for a Blue Guitar. Its stripped down to just
acoustic guitars and vocals and it works really well. Theres
several cool covers as well, including one by John Denver and
three by AC DC. -JB
Ghoti Hook
Two Years To Never
Tooth & Nail
These x-tian kids have always been a favorite of mine. They
dont stray from the 3-chord punk progression too much,
but they sure know how to write one hell of a song and then
repeat the process for completely solid albums. What is clear
on their latest effort is the natural progression most young
bands learn as they grow up. There is this maturation process
that not only strengthens the song writing and playing, but
also lends itself to diversifying the bands sound. Sounding
a little like Pollen meets No Use For A Name on this one, but
still with that signature Ghoti Hook good time sound. Lullaby
shows their ability to write great radio songs (if only radio
would wake up!) You wish more people knew about them as you
listen to each song. Chevy Nova rocks over anything punk youve
listened to this week. Solidly produced and easily the record
that can take them to the next level, this album is why Ghoti
Hook is so damn good. -Che Brooks
Jets To Brazil
Four Cornered Night
Jade Tree
I thought the last Jets To Brazil was good, but this CD is amazing.
Four Cornered Night will end any comparisons to vocalist Blake
Schwarzenbachs old band, Jawbreaker. For that matter,
there really arent even any comparisons to be made to
punk rock at all, despite the band members roots there. The
one reference point I keep coming back to with this album after
at least 30 listens, is the Beatles, and specifically Let It
Be. I cant overstate how much I like this, and I suspect
Im still just easing into its richness. And although
Ive said it several times before, I have to give props
to Jade Tree for putting out some of the best pop music being
released
right now. -JB
Eve 6
Horrorscope
RCA
Its the return of the first band ever to make a hook out
of the words the lack thereof. Yes, Eve 6s
debut record rocked but gained its appeal from its strange and
complex lyrics, which made you have to keep listening to the
song to try to figure out them out. This album brings back the
formula that mixes talky, sing-songy, dance hall-influenced
lyrics with a big rock sound. It does make the minimal possible
accommodation with modern dance music, with a few vintage synths,
some four-on-the-floor beats. Strangely enough, when those elements
mix with muted guitars, the record sounds like a 1980s
new-wave record, maybe U2. In any case, Eve 6 makes lighthearted
pop thats superior to the usual radio crap, and it will
be fun to see if they can triumph over the general malaise hanging
over modern poppy rock. -Ben Morss
Brad Jones a.k.a. Alias
Uncivilized Poise
Knitting Factory
Steam rises from the streets openings. The sewer gratings,
act as the earths vents allowing for the release of molten
rock and subway noise alike. Alias, here represented as an octet,
release the passions of jazz musicians searching for the perfect
cross-over. Funk and RnB highlight the album with
vocals by DK Dyson and Beans, as the players and their sax,
trombone, guitars, drums and keys read one anothers minds
constructing one of the most organic jazz-pop records to date.
For those readers afraid of dipping a foot in the jazz ocean
for fear of rip currents, this is as fine a place (without being
a shallow baby pool) as any to start. -Keith York
Gluecifer
Tender Is The Savage
Sub Pop
Norways Gluecifer first rocked my world when they did
a split CD with my favorite rockers, The Hellacopters (featuring
Nicke from Entombed). These guys are the real deal. After releasing
several recordings on White Jazz, Sub Pop has now taken over
the reigns in the states. This is unabashed rock-n-roll that
chugs along at break-neck speed. There has been a wave of garage
rock-n-roll in recent years that has helped bands like Gluecifer,
The Backyard Babies, The Hellacopters, The Black Halos, and
many others get the recognition they deserve. This is meant
to be heard in a small, sweaty bar crammed with drunk blokes
and slovenly women who like it loud and hard. Standout tracks
include Ducktail Heat and Red Noses, Shit Poses. Get this album
and drive real fast around tight corners listening to it at
full volume. When the morning comes, you wont know what
hit you, but youll like it anyway. -Eddie Jorgensen
Of Montreal
Horse & Elephant Eatery Bar/None
This is a collection of early songs recorded by a band which
may not be well-known outside of the pop scene and Athens, GA,
but which happens to be my current favorite band in the entire
universe. They might be John Cusacks favorite band too
- their name appears on a poster in his apartment in High Fidelity.
On this record, you can hear their distinctive and wondrous
sound coming together, with Kevins charmingly tossed-off
double tracked vocals, the choirs of clarinets, the smooth but
medium-fi playing, even a song about a baby spider who is forgotten
about and dies which ends up being a more cynical rough draft
of Nickie Coco from the Gay Parade. Nowhere else will you hear
such complicated songs and interesting arrangements. This is
a must-have for anybody whos ever liked the Beatles -
you should buy the Gay Parade first, and then get this one!
-Ben Morss
The Convocation Of 12
GSL
This record is amazing. I couldnt stop listening to it
after I spun it the first time. The Convocation of is the latest
effort by Tonie Joy, previously of Universal Order Of Armageddon
and Born Against fame. Im usually a tad sketchy about
judging a band by a remix record, but the driving force behind
this recording is huge, mind numbing drums, and thick, gut wrenching
bass lines. This is easily one of the best records Ive
heard this year. -Aaron Icarus
Bluebird
The Two
Pacifico
Bluebird is one of the few bands today that really draws from
a lot of different sounds to create their own identity. You
can hear a lot of DC post-hardcore influence mixing with more
rock sounding structures and guitar sounds. Noise and volume
meet quiet and subtle melodies while every instrument bounces
off the other chemically. Most of the tracks lock into a drone
groove but then a track like 2 Friends will break through and
show Bluebirds punk roots. Just like the instruments,
the vocals are very versatile and alternate between soft lines
and an emphatic yell that has tinges of Rites Of Spring and
One Last Wish. You can tell from the tight sound of their live
show and this recording that the four minds that make up Bluebird
can really play off each other and gel. -Anthony Pappalardo
Aloha
Thats Your Fire
Polyvinyl
In a time where any whiny emo pop band can be adored, why cant
an amazingly talented, original, tight band playing luscious
pop music influenced by free-jazz, avant-garde, prog-rock and
downright beautiful pop be as big, or bigger than, bands like
The Promise Ring, Get Up Kids, Joan of Arc or even the so-called
experimental & legendary Capn Jazz? Does
Aloha sound like these bands? Not much really, but they do cover
all of the best qualities of these bands and take them to a
whole new level of credibility and talent. It seems that 90%
of the time self-indulgence is mistaken for experimental genius.
Not so with Aloha. Im completely positive that Aloha are
making records today that will be talked about in a decade.
Aloha have taken vibes, keys, and dynamic vocal melodies and
built them around the standard band elements of guitar, bass,
and drums. Lush, dreamy, intricate pop delights that are all
substance and no fluff. Every musician in this band is incredibly
talented and pushing the envelope of what defines a classic
pop song. The vocals are extremely versatile and melodic, weaving
in and out of the vibes, keys, and driving drumbeats. I can
honestly say that Ive never heard such an ambitious pop
oriented album that far surpasses its initial potential
and never once seems contrived or self-indulgent. Dont
let this album slip through the cracks and not become the classic
that it deserves to become. If youre open to any type
of music that isnt about the marketing and is all about
the substance, do yourself a favor and pick this up.
-Tom Minarchick
The New Rising Sons
Theives And Angels
GrapeOS
Usually when a cast of hardcore/post-hardcore all stars come
together, you can predict the result based on their prior efforts.
But, the New Rising Sons are far from just the sum of a bunch
of guys who have been cutting their teeth in the hardcore scene
for years. They are accomplished and versatile musicians who
have taken on pop music. With a forthcoming LP on Virgin Records
and an impressive string of live appearances with the likes
of Manic Street Preachers and Iggy Pop, it seems that The New
Rising Sons are well on their way. The sound of this EP is very
straightforward and deliberate. The melodies are thought out,
the structures flow and the instrumentation is layered but not
cluttered. You can hear echoes of Brit-pop acts like the Manics
and Charlatans mixed with the attitude and influence of their
roots, hardcore and otherwise. A nice teaser of whats
to come. -Anthony Pappalardo
Lengsel
Solace
Solidstate
Not one of Solidstates albums have ever sucked! Hailing
from the black metal capitol of the world (Oslo, Norway) Lengsel
proves that just because you sound evil does not make you evil.
But you sure can sound good pretending! These 3 young Norwegians
throw a metal sandwich at you so hard, you dont have any
choice but to take a bite. Its like if Dismember and Extol
founded an orphanage and let these youngins in and gave
them instruments. Ferocious guitar work from this trio with
lyrics in mostly English, there is no reason this disc isnt
sitting up next to your In Flames and Emperor discs. Beat your
friends to the punch and tell them about this new band. -Che
Brooks
Binger the Voyager
Sweet Taste of Nothing
Oxygen Music Works
Hidden behind the fresh face of optimism has to be something
stealthily evil in Binger the Voyager. Addictive like your favorite
sugary aperitif, Sweet Taste of Nothing, is nothing short of
unstoppable in its vitality, its energy, and its smile-inducing
seduction. Breakbeats bulge and burst open under massive internal
pressure as electro lines fuel the b-boys, and electro-pop synths
get the new-wavers excited. As versatile as New Orders
catalog, as coy as Sportsguitar, yet as inimitably vital amongst
the electronic set as Autechre, Q-Burns and U-ziq. If Afrika
Bambattaa were playing clown at a 5-year-olds birthday, hed
bring out a pack of 12s and start cuttin these beats.
Moms, kids and family-dogs alike would groove to this amazing
vibe. -Keith York
98 Mute
Slow Motion Riot
Epitaph
After two albums on Theologian Records, the boys from 98 Mute
have stepped up to the big leagues, and knocked one out of the
ball park with this one. This album is by far the heaviest thing
theyve ever put out. It is a little slower and thicker
than their previous stuff, but Slow Motion Riot is downright
angry. Dipping more into the hardcore sound, 98 Mute delivers
a collection of songs about social strife, soured friendships,
and the hardships of life. This album is a powerful blend of
angst and intelligence. -Brad Gobdel
Holiday Flyer
You Make Us Go
Darla
On their third album, following singles, and compilation contributions,
the trio of John, Katie and Verna let loose more of their quiet
spirits for the rest of the world to hear. For fans, the expected
strummy summery pop highlighted by the Conley brother-sister
vocal interplay is again present, while the other instrumentation
added on their Rainbow Confection album extends its reach -
piano, flute, cello, organ, bass and trombone make for a fuller,
richer sound - one that has escaped the frailty of their songs
in the past. Album highlight is actually a cover (rare for Holiday
Flyer) of a little known Sacramento duos (Situation 5)
song Guts which is likely the best song written since the death
of Ian Curtis. A must-have for every member of your extended
family, community, or network. -Keith York
Kisswhistle
Steady as She Goes
Lil Red Wagon
Years ago as northwest love-rock reigned supreme, the nation
was much more relaxed. The Yo-Yo compilations, the focus on
Olympia, labels like K and Harriet releasing 7 vinyl on
what seemed like a weekly pace, reminded us all of the virtual
community bonding like-minded indie kids together across the
country. I believe it died a few years ago in the wake of Mp3
files, college graduation forcing record collecting to take
a back seat to bean counting. Kisswhistles defining moment,
their anthem, Role Model Glue presented here recorded anew reminds
us of the innocence of the days we fell in line to see Tiger
Trap, Beat Happening, and Wimp Factor 14. Timeless pop songs
for those deconstructing the last six or seven years of your
life wondering why everything seems so serious nowadays. Rejoice
in Cranberry, Pennsylvanias latest export.
-Keith York
Secret
Hate
Pop Culture Vomit
Cornerstone / Ras
Mixing punk sensibilities with old fashion rock and roll decibels,
Secret Hate comes out swinging on its first full length
CD. Hailing from the tight knit surf community of Huntington
Beach, CA., these five guys know how to have a good time and
tear shit up! Taking inspiration from personal experiences,
Secret Hates songs are like strange stories, transformed
into powerful music. The bands sound covers a sonic
range, that goes from fast - driving hardcore, to a pulsing,
hard rocking style. They make the transition smoothly, making
each sound genuine, and inspired. Singer Mike Davis is on
fire, and brings an infectious energy to each track. From
start to finish, this is a solid record that really rocks!
-Drew Lawson
Tram
Heavy Black Frame
Jetset
These songs weigh heavy upon my small frame. Like those decisions
that rattle your brain and clam-up your palms, those that
wreak havoc on your heart rate, unsettling your sleep patterns
and raise your temperature - Trams soft-spoken tones
cant hide feelings of despair. Trams slow-mo (think
Nick Drake, Belle & Sebastian) mode is comforting, making
it the perfect music to mull over the details, to think over
the outcomes, to ponder the fruits of your labors - in short,
its music to discover your capabilities by. -Keith York
The Maulies
On Holiday with the Maulies
Hub City
This three song 7 charmed me from its opening song,
Rude Limey, which is about a British guy who the singer liked
at first but who she now cant stand. She oozes with
attitude, We used to call him our favorite British import/But
now we call him Satans cohort. The combination
of bouncy tunes and rude, crude attitude reminds me of Barcelonas
song about guessing someones computer password. A fun
and sassy record. -Ben Morss
Kings of Convenience
Kindercore
How can these two Norwegians be so sad when they write such
great songs? This record has ten songs all arranged the same
way - one or two clean guitars with occasional drums and one
or two fairly low voices, and it would get monotonous except
that so many of the songs are so, well... theyre really
good. You can tell that the lyrics were written by Scandinavians,
yet theyre sensitive and effective. I was even moved
to compose a verse in their honor, Their names may contain
Os with slashes/but these sad little pop songs kick
asses! -Ben Morss
Sweep the Leg Johnny
Sto Cazzo!
Southern
I havent heard anything this amazing since I dont
know when. STLJ mix the best pieces of Mr. Bungle, Godspeed
You Black Emperor!, Rocket From the Crypt and straight ahead
groovin rock into their own remarkable sound. Their
songs are nothing short of sonic masterpieces. Guitar, bass,
voice, sax, cello, piano, vibraphone and a whole lot of creativity
make this a classic the first time your ears are blessed with
its awesome power. Any fan of real music should own
this. -Tom Minarchick
Wolfie, and the Coat and Hat
Kindercore
This six-song EP is more power-pop than youd usually
expect from Kindercore. Someone let the loud guitars in to
live with some doubled male and female vocals and vintage
keyboards! My favorite result of this musical cohabitation
is the song Calvin Grove, in which each part ends with this
killer three-note riff that made me want to jump up and yell,
All right! So I did. -Ben Morss
A Planet For Texas
You Can Still Rock In America
Diaphragm
If the Supersuckers had grown up in the cornfields of Ohio
rather than the deserts of Hell City, Hell, and listened to
more Motley Crue and Ramones than Ozzy and Willie, they might
have ended up sounding like A Planet For Texas. If samples
referencing Ohio from the flick Heathers doesnt convince
you these guys are full of cornfield pride, the chorus of
Cowtippin will. Other highlights include an ass kicking cover
of Tommy James Crimson and Clover, song titles like,
Stop Looking at My Girlfriend, and sing-a-long Red Sweater
featuring the heartwarming chorus, Dont fuck me
over. Dreamy. The players have names like Diamond
Ike Midnight, the Gunn Bros, and the greatest name in rocknroll
since Ziggy Stardust, Reasonable Steve Texas.
As if all of this isnt enough to get you to mosey on
over to the dark side, APFT even have their own theme song
Now that is cool. -Karen Graves
Ativin
Summing the Approach
Secretly Canadian
Ativin pull the listener along on marionette strings as they
force us, almost as if we were hypnotized, to follow their
lead. The trio of guitars and drums lead us to the fourth
and final movement in their clandestine seduction - and what
we find is something of an umpteenth wonder of the world.
Let the noise be your guide as the subtleties of Summing The
Approach may not hit you for several minutes after the disc
has spun down and then you are left naked, starving and cold
on the floor of your apartment. -Keith York
Pinehurst Kids
Viewmaster
4 Alarm
Like a string of fireworks, the songs of Viewmaster explode
in quick succession. Quick footed 4/4 rock n roll
of the Superchunk variety is well established in the neighborhoods
across the country but it seems only during the holidays do
we break out the special equipment and rejoice with parades,
and loud bangs. Like the tiny photographs of a ViewMaster
itself, each song encapsulates a time and place for a stereoscope
to replay to solo onlookers. The Pinehurst Kids snapshots
are loud, vibrant and presentable year round to in-laws, out-laws,
and indie rock kids across the land. -Keith York
A-Set
7
Southern
This is one of those records where the novelty aspect of it
really overshadows the music. Not that the music is bad -
its actually reasonably catchy mellow pop somewhat similar
to Karate. But the record itself has two songs on each side
that each have their own separate groove, so after playing
the first song on side A, the record ends and you have to
keep setting the needle down to try to find the second groove
for the second song. Same with side B. Its a pain in
the ass, and Id never do it with one of my bands
records, but the musics cool nonetheless. Plus its
on blue vinyl. -Scott Torguson
Bonfire Madigan
Saddle the Bridge
Kill Rock Stars
One time Tattle Tale singer-songwriter Madigan Shive returns
with her second Bonfire Madigan outing. Drawing on a numerous
influences, most notably fellow Northwestern songstress Jean
Smith, Bonfire Madigans music works as low key drama.
There are no screaming matches here and few accusations. Rather
Madigans voice shivers with ache and longing. The songs
here are sparse, but not slight. Flanked by Sheri Ozeki on
bells and whistles and Tomas Palermo on percussion, Madigan
crafts her songs on the cello, letting that instruments
deep, moody voice resonate with emotion. Whereas many singers
in her age group and demographic seethe with fury and resentment,
Madigan calls her wits to arms, making observations with keenly
sharp Wrap her up quarter to three, lay her here right
next to me, she sings on Where the Sky Meets the Sea
Above. I cannot look at anymore bodies, David Lynch
your films are killing me. Like much of Madigans
lyrical approach, its a poignant charge that knowingly
places the blame back on herself. -Rachel Leibrock
Wesley Willis and the Dragnews
Shake Your Piggy Bank
Coldfront
For those of you who dont already know the story - Wesley
Willis is a schizophrenic, 300 pound black man from Chicago
who somehow acquired a keyboard and decided that he was a
one-man rock and roll phenomenon. Eventually signed to Alternative
Tentacles, he became famous for his whimsical ditties about
kicking the asses of super heroes and sucking on convenient
appendages of various animals. And although he somehow has
changed labels, the 25 songs on this record are more of the
same. Each song follows the same format: Wesley talks for
a few seconds over a Casio-style beat, (this is the verse)
and then half-sings a phrase like Lick My Dobermans
Cock (this is the chorus). Then there is a long interval
where nothing much happens at all except for Wesley occasionally
pressing the Fill button. This can be a less than
exciting part of his live shows, but here the producers liven
things up by putting in random sound effects like that of
barnyard animals. Then comes verse three, chorus three, and
a corporate slogan (dont ask me why, cause I dont
know), and its over. Every song is the same tempo and
almost the same length. The rest is up to you. -Ben Morss
Mr. Scruff
Keep it Unreal
Ninja Tune
Hands down one of the most entertaining discs out there today.
Keep it Unreal is all about focused diversity - from Plug-sounding
skittering breakbeats, to 80s house (shit, Swing Out Sister
remixes would be up Scruffs alley), deep house (Tracey
Thorn collaboration would fit right in), disco (look out Donna
Summer!), hip-hop (Dilated Peoples soundin funk) all
the way to strange shanty town lyrical wordplay about whale
fish (Pogues on acid?). No matter the destination, or the
stylistic choice, the songs are solid as steel and the sense
of humor is as crisp as the dollars outta the ATM. -Keith
York
C-Clamp
Longer Waves
Ohio Gold
Warm tones in warm rooms recorded by Dave Trumfio exist now
as a document entitled Longer Waves. During the Autumn of
98, Frantz, Tom and Nick came together as one unit with
a seven song agenda to capture the C-Clamp energies on drums,
guitar, keys, melodica and bass. The mural-esque circular
patterns that stare back from the jewel case swirl in your
eyes as the bass notes drop from the ceiling above. It was
already warm in here, and C-Clamp have now made it as hot
as a summer sidewalk. -Keith York
16 Horsepower
Secret South
Razor & Tie
In the world of the N Snyc, Brittany Spears, Blink 182
and the Backstreet Boys, this band makes absolutely no sense
which is why I like them. Sparse, atmospheric and dark moody
hillbilly music is the closest I can come to describing this
band. I saw this band in NYC and theyre still a mystery
to me. Thats a good thing. -JB
Paul Newman
Machine Is Not Broken
My Pal God
Unsure of why such a big dry land mass like Texas would produce
steamy, humid textural music like that of Bedhead, Windsor
for the Derby or Paul Newman, I keep digging my heels in the
dirt and listening like preparing for an oncoming storm. Instrumental,
insurmountable music done in the grand tradition of Dianogah
as well as the aforementioned fellow statesmen with mathematical
precision. As with their other releases, it seems Paul Newman
revel in quick turnaround song writing - practice and recording
for Machine Is Not Broken was somehow conceived and documented
during a two week span. Gushing as I always do when it comes
to Paul Newman (each of their Trance Syndicate releases are
must-haves), I feel odd in saying I cant imagine what
their music would be like if they all still lived near one
another year round and spent months or years writing
an album together. -Keith York
Wisdom of Harry
Stars of Super 8
Matador
Having spent some time last summer listening to the EP that
preceded Stars of Super 8s release, expectations were
high for this album to measure up. The breakbeat-pinned guitar
pop is as evocative and numbingly drugged as any fan (myself
included) of the lo-tech groove would expect. In the spirit
of low-key techno spiritualists like Looper, Land of the Loops,
Accelera Deck, and Remote Viewer (and the contributors to
555 Records compilations), Wisdom of Harry (Pete Astor of
the infinitely pleasurable Creation-label launched Weather
Prophets) as well as W.o.H.s alter-ego Ellis Island
Sound toys with micro-grooves, toy-like samples, slowly strummed
guitars and gentle voices that force you to lean in to the
speakers. As your nose approaches the output path, cheeks
pull back spreading your lips exposing the pearl-white smile
you have long hidden from others. When Third Eye Foundation
writes pop, it will be with this intonation and it will be
much too late to claim it as pioneering. This is that impressive.
-Keith York
764-Hero
Weekends of Sound
Up Records
Unlike other bands that seem to live by that live-fast-die-young,
its-better-to-burn-out-than-fade-away credo, Seattles
764-HERO appears to be content to let its sound mellow and
deepen with age. Whereas the bands previous efforts
seemed slight and secondary in both thought and execution,
Weekends of Sound, the bands third full-length record
since its 1995 debut, is a solid exercise in indie rock-mournful
lyrics, lilting melodies and a dash of irony. Singer-songwriter
John Atkins writes sad little tunes about love, loss and the
pursuit of happiness. Im so scared of ending it,
he sings on Out Like a Light. You wont let me.
Its your turn to listen, and you will. Originally
conceived of as a duo, John Atkins (guitar, keyboards and
vocals) and Polly Johnson Dickinson (percussion) are now permanently
flanked by bassist James Bertram. Maybe its the addition
of a third party that gives 764-Hero its new, more palpable
sense of being. Maybe its just maturity and experience.
-Rachel Leibrock
Sum 41
Half Hour Of Power
Island
If NOFX took on Blink182 what remained would be Sum 41. What
I Believe and Summer are the kind of stand out tracks that
could be found on any pop-punk sampler. -HecklerGirl
A-Set
The Science of Living Things
Tree
What seems like a parallel course taken by Her Space Holidays
Marc Bianchi, Albert Menduno has abandoned his family, hit
the streets, grown up and arrived home safely. Having left
his friends (including Bianchi) behind in groups like Mohinder,
Calm, Duster and Haelah, Menduno is striking out on his own
with A-Set. The Albert-Set is whimsical coffee house pretension-free
folk rock that has more energy than the Mekons discography.
Upbeat pop songs masterfully crafted by a man who has spread
his wings many times before, but has only now, with his most
recent project, found a nest to dwell. Soon after completing
The Science of Living Things Albert returned to the recording
studio to offer up two more song ideas (The Way it Used to
Be 7) comprised of his drums, guitar and lyrics. Honesty
can hardly be avoided, certainly not go unnoticed in the A-Sets
return home, and both documents are proof positive that the
truth shall set us free. Welcome home Albert. -Keith York
Victory at Sea
The Dark is Just the Night
Slowdime
Thinking of how Walter Cronkite moderated the black &
white footage of World War 2 in the television series Victory
at Sea, it is easy to imagine the tension and pacing of the
band who shares its name. Explosive, cannon-like snare and
kick hits break the stillness of the night with a thunderous
carefully crafted roar. Much like the unease presented by
Ruby Falls, the trio of Victory at Sea build-then-release
in a math-rock style rarely witnessed as beautifully outside
of Louisvilles rock bloodlines and perhaps Polvo. Much
like the television series in its umpteenth repeat on cable
television, with each new sitting, one gains more from the
experience as most other content becomes wallpaper. The Dark
is Just the Night, like good television and film, sucks you
into a fictional world and forces one to forget the troubles
of the day. -Keith York
Richard Davies
Barbarians
Kindercore
Few artists can bridge the gap between pop and folk as good
as Richard Davies. After a handful of solo releases, Richard
has developed a small but loyal legion of fans that understand
his quirky, off-kilter humor. Barbarians is an album filled
with life experiences, heartache, and passion. Amsterdam and
Great Republic are standout tracks. One listen to Barbarians
will make you think of driving in your car in Napa Valley
with the windows down. The music is personal, honest, and
moves me unlike any other in this genre. -Eddie Jorgensen
Steve Von Till
As the Crow Flies
Neurot
This is seven tracks of deeply haunting and beautiful acoustic
scores from Neurosis guitarist Steve Von Till. If you didnt
know Steve youd have a hard time figuring out that this
guy plays guitar and sings in one of the most loud and apocalyptic
metal acts there is today. As the Crow Flies is one of the
most mellow and ambient acoustic albums of the year, but I
probably shouldnt use the word acoustic because that
sounds like bland guitar work - this is more on par with symphonic
orchestration. Continuing to delve further into musical progression,
this is a must for any true Neurosis fan. Neurosiss
last album, Times of Grace, experienced some of the soft subtle
textures that are present on this release, but this album
is a solo effort and the unique atmosphere achieved here is
all Steves. Get this one and celebrate. -Brad Oates
Golden
Golden Summer
Slowdime
Golden are somewhat instrumental rock - meaning that whatever
vocals are present are used as instrumentation rather than
lyrical. Just so you get a visual, the cover depicts four
men wearing sunglasses and posing with their semi-vintage
equipment in a field with some mountains in the background.
In fact, three of the four graphic surfaces of this record
have these guys posing in sunglasses and three of the nine
songs contain the word golden. Now this only hints at the
sound, but the set up does in fact begin to shape what you
hear - a very fuzzed out sounding summer rock. The guitar
buzz of Blue Cheer meets the mathy-ness of Chicago instrumental
indie rock. There is a very garage vibe to the recording,
the instruments sound tubey and warm and I have to say that
Golden is really an adequate description. This is a lot less
dissonant or jazzy than most instrumental rock and there are
even some very interesting and bluesy solos that erupt from
time to time. -Anthony Pappalardo
Cars Get Crushed
Evolution to Thrust
Mod Lang
Lingering like daydream stares forcing the thoughtful to remain
still, Cars Get Crushed songs restrict movement and distraction.
Like any prescription mood stabilizer, Evolution to Thrust
curbs anxiety, depression and hyperactivity as it numbs the
spirits, slows the bodys hormone production while keeping
the patient on a level plane. The slightly atmospheric revisioning
of a shoegazer Slint hits the stereo with Polyfreeze and refuses
to give up until album closer Corsair. The daydreams evoked
by the passion in these guitars, keys and percussion are from
somewhere distant and at times appear blurry on the horizon.
Trace your own path from evolution to thrust. You can hear
it in here. -Keith York
Exist Dance
Transmitting From Heaven
Exist Dance
Dont judge a book by its cover. What on the surface
looks like the outside a compilation of 11 dance tracks from
a variety of different LA-based producers is actually the
work of the Exist Dance label owners - Tom Chasteen and Michael
Kandel. Recording under aliases Tranquility Bass, Eden Transmission,
Voodoo Transmission, High Lonesome Sound System, Up Above
the World and Tylervision (whose Purdy Deyenol was co-produced
by Kanel and Tyler Vlahovich), these sampler geniuses pull
out all the stops in their delivery of 4/4 dance-hall stompers.
Likely their most notable track is Cantamilla which still
resides in P.A. systems across the land. Definitely part of
your dance curriculum. -Keith York
Delta 72
000
Touch & Go
Rooted in late-60s rhythm & blues, the Delta 72 are poised
to deliver yet another high-energy album and lots of tour
dates. With a solidified line-up (former members have come
and gone in their 6-year existence), the Hammond-armed Rolling
Stones sound is prepared to split apart ear drums. With Mark
Boyce (Boss Hog) on keys and Royal Trux at the helm, Delta
72 unleash the blues equivalent of drug-psych-metal gods
Monster Magnet. Shedding much of their sound cloned from the
Make-Up, the mods & emo kids are gonna run scared as the
heavy Memphis-Philadelphia-Detroit sound is stacked up high
and staring vigilantly at Jon Spencers tight pants.
This is rock n roll like we used to hear blaring
from behind our older (hessian) brothers locked bedroom
door. -Keith York
Radio 4
The New Song and Dance
Gern Blandsten
Radio 4 are taking cues from bands like the Clash and the
Cure (among others). When bands are referenced to the Clash
its usually to their classic 77 punk sound, but
people dont seem to recognize that they also wrote amazing
pop songs. Aside from their revolutionary mixing of reggae,
soul, and straight ahead rock into the punk rock recipe, the
Clash were writing brilliant, stripped down pop songs. Thats
the influence youll hear in Radio 4s music. Just
catchy as shit pop rock that has that certain something thats
irresistible and rarely found in a respectable way that isnt
contrived. The Cure also (a long, long time ago) made great
pop songs before Robert Smith got depressed about having millions
of dollars and international fame. Three Imaginary Boys and
even Seventeen Seconds had great examples of how a driving
bassline and jangley guitar could create pop rock ear candy.
Take the previously mentioned influences, throw in a little
of the less chaotic Mission of Burma and a dash of the less
dance oriented Gang of Four and youre on your way to
having Radio 4. Im impressed that they were able to
not only choose such great influences, but to completely create
their own sound out of them. Highly recommended. -Tom Minarchick
The K.G.B.
Dreamworks
The K.G.B. mix it up with a tight, funky pop sound, and quirky,
unique lyrics. The singers voice is really cool too.
They remind me of Citizen King a little, but I like these
guys better. These guys will probably blow up, and get all
famous and shit! -Drew Lawson
Bangs
Sweet Revenge
Kill Rock Stars
Got no time for the broken-hearted, this here trains
gonna jump the track, coos Bangs vocalist/guitarist
Sarah Utter on Train Wreck, the third track on the Washington
trios sophomore album. With glossy-sweet vocals, classic
Sugar-Sugar guitar riffs and a snarling, girl-in-trouble ethos,
Sweet Revenge is a candy-coated collection of hot stuff rocknroll.
Rounded out by Kill Rock Stars publicity queen Maggie Vail
on bass and vocals and Kyle Ermatinger on drums, the Bangs
evoke a bittersweet sense of love-gone-wrong thats neatly
balanced by a pitch perfect pop structure (plus its
clear theyve done their pop homework - check out their
cover of Cheap Tricks Southern Girls). Lines such as
and now the rain is coming down and well never
be the same may read like a cliched teen angst ballad
on paper, but on record theyve fleshed it out into a
fully ripe, palpable set of angry, messy, very real emotions.
-Rachel Leibrock
Blackalicious
NIA
Quannum Projects
For those familiar with Sole Sides, DJ Shadow and folks like
Lyrics Born and Chief Xcel, NIA was on their shopping list
long before it makes its way to store shelves in blister packs
and shrink wrap. Deep in thought, these sinista beat
junkies deliver a numbing collection of skunk fueled beats
and rhymes to those headz living far beyond their NorCal HQ
perimeters. Taking plenty of opportunities to trick your mind,
Blackalicious drop experiments like scientists with petri
dishes. Bunsen burners flare up colorfully as the chemically
altered poetics hit the lab. Stand back, gear up, wear eye
protection and spark this one up. -Keith York
Ominous Seapods
The Super Man Curse
Palm Pictures
If you like stoney, quirky, psychedelic-tinged rock, look
no further. There has been a demand for the Grateful Dead
throne over the last ten years (Phish, Moe, Widespread Panic,
String Cheese Incident, etc). While many bands do have some
of the same followers, few carry the inherent vibe that is
so necessary to a good, grass-roots (hippie) band. Too Much
Fire On The Brain is a great rockin opening track that
is the perfect introduction to the Seapods. Ominous Seapods
are a rock-n-roll band that knows how to jam. This album is
a great follow-up to their last effort. If you enjoy the subtleties
of bands like Moe and the feel of a Cream or Blind Faith album,
this is worth checking out. -Eddie Jorgensen
Samiam
Astray
Hopeless
To me Samiam will always be a little secret passed between
friends. A smile exchanged when you catch someone humming
one of those unforgettably infectious pop-punk tunes or a
bonding moment of sing-a-long to a fully cranked stereo at
the end of a shift on a Friday night. Although time has passed
since we last heard anything from Samiam and the boys are
now back on an indie, Astray is exactly what you would hope
for it to be, a great record you want to share with your friends.
Full of songs with kind of heart you want to capture and make
your own. If youre a fan of old Samiam you can pick
up Astray with out hesitation or doubt. And if you dont
know old Samaim but enjoy pop-punk and looking for something
deeper that the shallow pond of Boy meets Girl that feeds
the bunk of bands out there then you need to check this out.
-Monica
The Up On In
Steps For the Light
Big Top
Anyone who has spent so much as five seconds talking to me
about rock and roll knows that my favorite band is Jawbox.
When this band called it quits a few years back I was disappointed,
but then I was rewarded with Burning Airlines a band that
featured that bands guitar players and vocalists. Rock
and roll! The Up On In is the new project of Jawboxs
former drummer, Zach Barocas, and I really wanted to hate
its pretentious, jazziness sans vocals, but I dont.
The musicianship is tight and complicated enough so as to
impress their fellow music snobs but still be accessible to
the rest of the world. -Karen Graves
Strung Out
The Element of Sonic Defiance
Fat Wreck Chords
The thing I like about Strung Out is the fact that they are
really an undercover metal band. I know what you are thinking,
Dude, there are no metal bands on Fat Wreck Chords.
Fat Mike wouldnt allow that. Oh yes he would,
and has done so for the last 5 years. Okay, so Im not
trying to say that Strung Out is the new Motorhead or anything,
but after listening to this eight-song EP I realized that
the dark lords of metal have this band in the palm of their
hands. And yes, that is a good thing. This EP is full of heavy
guitar riffs, the double bass pedal, and wirey guitar solos.
In other words - it rocks. Im stoked these guys went
full-on metal, the world needs more of that. Forget these
dorky boy bands, let the kids listen to Iron Maiden, Slayer
and... um... Strung Out. This EP gives me a good excuse to
put on my cutoff jean jacket and tie a bandana around my leg
at their next show. -Brad Hesh-Dog Gobdel
Towa Tei
Last Century Modern
Elektra
As a founding member of Deee-Lite, Towa Tei made a name for
himself early in his career of electronic music. Towa Teis
latest release, Last Century Modern, is one more progression
in his unique style of electronic music. Towa Teis first
release Future Listening had a very French lounge sound, whereas
his next release, Sound Museum was more on the house tip.
Last Century Modern combines aspects of both albums and includes
even more genres of music to create an electronic masterpiece,
containing unique world music sounds from France, Italy, and
a few other distant lands. The CD starts out with a track
you might hear in a funked out Italian restaurant, then changes
it up a bit with a track more on the house tip, only to be
followed with some straight up drum and bass. The tracks A
Ring and Butterfly show Teis funky style with their
tight snares, wicked basslines, and smooth lyrics making them
standout tracks. The CD moves on between weird samples, house
tracks, and even some old skool funk. Last Century Modern
is Towa Teis best work yet. -E-love
Crooked Fingers
Warm
Eric Bachmann (ex-member of Archers of Loaf, solo recordings
as Barry Black) joins forces with Brian Causey (Man or Astroman)
in his latest foray into mature melodic song writing. For
those familiar with his resume, Crooked Fingers represents
the missing link between Bachmanns earlier efforts -
dissonant herky-jerky math-rock as well as quiet, slow meticulously
orchestrated pop, will find this album fitting comfortably
with their preconceived notions. With a great deal of flare
and confidence, Crooked Fingers harness the ability
to tip boats over, to cause wakes among placid pools, to shake
up the mind with keenly aware lyrics and instrumentation that,
like a sponge, pulls from the listener. -Keith York
The Explosion
Flash Flash Flash
Jade Tree
Remember when youd be hanging out with your friends
skating and listening to 7 Seconds or Operation Ivy back in
the day? Those were the good old days, right? Carefree days
with your friends that felt like theyd never end and
the feeling that youd stay that close forever. That
music was the soundtrack to those good times. Well, The Explosion
take that melodic punk and mix it with early Rancid or maybe
early Bouncing Souls. In the same vein of that unity-filled,
uplifting punk rock of the past. Nice to hear something so
new, yet so familiar. -Tom Minarchick
The Stereo
New Tokyo Is Calling
Fueled By Ramen
I thought Three Hundred was a great pop record right from
the start and even as my CD collection continues to expand
I find myself revisiting it quite often. This is a feat that
few manage to conquer. Standing the test of time is much more
difficult than putting out a piece of addictive ear candy
that loses its shine a few months in. New Tokyo Is Calling
is only an EP but J. Robbins steps in on production once again
and if you liked Three Hundred you wont be disappointed
by these 4 new tracks. Straight up pop/rock filled with the
kind of shine that doesnt fade away. -Monica
Masterminds
The Underground Railroad
Ground Control / NGA
The key to what makes this CD great can be found in the albums
name - Underground. While the title is a reflection of the
socially responsible flavor of the album, it is also a metaphoric
reference to one rung on the tall ladder toward hip-hop success.
On this rung, the underground rung, the Masterminds sit, resting
and waiting for the huge leap theyll have to make to
get to the next level. But if you ask many fans of hip-hop,
underground is the best place to be. Underground is gritty,
and underground is real. In an industry over-saturated with
pop-music and commercialism, youre better off being
where Oracle, Epoc, and Kimani are now. But try telling that
to any starry-eyed rappers today. Theyve climbed this
far, why are they going to stop now? Theyve got a great
album, and I think the Masterminds have that finely polished
sound it takes to make it. Not only is the record hard-hitting,
but it has just enough deflated ego thrown in to make it sweet
too. The New York trio sometimes sounds like the mighty Souls
of Mischief and at others like the Jungle Brothers. And the
rhymes come intelligent - topics include love and protection
of children, respect for wives, sisters, and mothers, and
genuine love for hip-hop music. Yet the lyrics are totally
devoid of excessive violence, drug abuse, and ignorance. Not
since we last heard from Jeru the Damaja (Heroz-4-Hire, 1999),
has rough-edged consciousness had such a clear voice. -Dave
Margolis
Fenix TX
MCA
If you like Blink 182 you need to check these kids out. I
got to see them open for big brother band Blink 182 and it
must be said that Fenix TX kicked their ass. They can actually
play their instruments live. Id say the record is 80%
solid material, which manages to carry the 20% filler. -Cyanica
Beneath the Surface
Subterranean
Celestial
When the blunt smoke clears, the swinging pendulum light bulb
& cord hanging from the ceiling appears. Shaking your
head violently to and fro, you try to force the wake-up. Your
ears lead you to throbbing PA output, as if infected with
narcotics. The downtempo kick drums revolutionize the dream-state.
Thankfully, O.D. (Omid Walizadeh) has produced the soundtrack
to your delusional half-sleep with vocals by MCs from Alien
Nation, Freestyle Fellowship, Of Mexican Descent, Darkleaf,
Dilated Peoples, Brothers Manifesto, Shapeshifters, Hip Hop
Klan, as well as Global Phlowtations. The noir-ish drama unfolds,
gets increasingly complex as the audience is never too sure
if the soundtrack or the dream is leading the other. Keep
an eye or two peeled around each dark corner. -Keith York
Green Velvet
F-111
Green Velvet explodes on the house scene with his latest release
simply titled Green Velvet. Velvet will undoubtedly be blowing
up dance floors with his pounding bass lines and driving beats.
Along with his hard house sound, Velvet mixes weird samples
over his beats. Most of Velvets samples are voices of
people talking about life and the situations they are dealing
with. Without a doubt Answering Machine is the best track
on this CD, and basically consists of his answering machine
being played over a super dope bass line. Every person that
calls him either gives him a hard time or tears his life apart.
If you are into some super hard house music, then Green Velvet
might be what you are looking for. -E-love
June
Panic
Horror Vacui
Secretly Canadian
During the three year void of new material since his last
full-length, The Fall Of Atom June Panic has been wrestling
with his relationship with god, and the resulting fear of
open spaces, as well as the void-filling anxiety humans
hold so close. Despite the ability to fill our emptiness with
consumables at the local strip mall, June took it upon himself
and his new backing band Silver Sound, to get at the philosophy
of God, mini-marts and dime stores full of empty souls. Recorded
with the assistance of a whole host of characters (including
members of Marmoset and United States 3), Junes songs
are now able to amble and breathe before they settle on the
floor. Crouched on the bean-bag chairs around a hooka are
young Neil Young, Syd Barrett and Bob Dylan staring up at
the stereo hearing a little bit of themselves. -Keith York
Hanson
This Time Around
Island
When a band follows up a multi-million selling debut with
something rather, um... different, there is a tendency to
either wish them well and hope for high sales or to giggle
and mock and hope they fall right on their asses. Many big
biz artists follow huge first albums with a repeat of the
formula in hopes that in playing it safe, the fans will hear
the kind of stuff they liked on the first record, theyll
like it even better the second time. (Why The Industry
feels that an audience would like leftover music any more
than theyd like leftovers from the fridge is beyond
me.) Not so with Hanson. Theyve taken a risk and decided
to venture into choppy surf. Theyve opted to play their
own instruments (gasp!). Ladies and gentlemen, the testicles
have descended! I never really paid too much attention to
Hansons freshman effort. Mmm bop? What the hell was
that? In the flood of boy bands that came out around the same
time, I just couldnt care less about the brothers. I
mean, I noticed that they played their own tunes and that
theyre a trio of ugly white kids trying for cute, but
that was about all. This time around will not be the embarrassment
that many folks are most likely hoping for. Its groovy
pothead music without the twists and turns. The lads clearly
have channelled the Jackson Five for the vocals and draw on
funky influences for the rest. It appears that the trio took
much of the control of the board themselves, which is a lot
more than most platinum sellers would do in attempting to
follow up such a monster seller. -Reverend Ed
Ultimate Fakebook
This Will Be Laughing Week
Epic
Major labels signing indie bands makes me wonder if this whole
scene will just become some big fad, like the whole third
wave ska thing, and the whole new metal crap. Lets hope
this scene will stay pure, and play honest music we all can
enjoy. One band leads always to another, whether its
similarities in tastes and music, or by the bands being close
knit friends. This is more pop punk than a lot of the emo
related CDs Ive come across. Who said the Fakebook kids
sounded like Weezer? I dont see it, but I can hear something
different vocally from these guys. I cant put my finger
on it, but it sounds like singing from the mouth, with high
pitched sounds, instead of projecting and singing from the
gut. Ultimate Bill rocks the mic with class though. Lets say
more pop rock, pop punk, or just fun. - fungus s t ar
Hopelifter
The Anthem EP
No Theory
The five songs on this Santa Cruz Quintets Anthem EP
remind me quite a bit of the music typically associated with
the east coast scene, namely DC and Fugazi. The vocals are
shouted rather than sung, often in a very Ian MacKaye cadence,
each track a seeming call to action. I refuse to assign labels
like emo or punk, so instead Ill just say that this
is a strong effort worth picking up if youre jonesing
between Fugazi records. -Karen Graves
Good Clean Fun
On the Streets Saving the Scene From Evil
Phyte
No, theyre not a Descendents cover band, but a fairly
new band from DC who, as their t-shirts state, are putting
the Ha back into hardcore. Whether it was ever there
in the first place is debatable, but this positively positive
Crucial Youth-like group pulls no punches in poking fun at
the oh-so-serious hardcore scene with songs like Victory Records
Sucks, Beat the Meat and the vegan hardline spoof In Defense
of All Life (Peaceful protest doesnt get the job
done/ so I wake for the rally, grab my soymilk and my gun).
Also worth noting is their decent semi-Youth Brigade cover
of Fight to Unite. Unlike a lot of other joke bands, this
ones musically tight live and on CD (produced by Issa,
the funny frontman). If its been a long time since youve
laughed hard, check GCF out for a stage-divin, finger-pointin,
youth-crewin good time. Not recommended for the humorless
or easily offended
(heythat rhymes!) -Shawna K.
Stephen Rand
The Blushing Bachelor
Wormco
Stephen returns to the indie rock/pop landscape after an extended
absence with his new backing band His Magic Ponies. Rand,
with former Caroline Know bandmate Spike Priggen, and members
of New Radiant Storm King and Deep Wound act as conservators
of an excitable pop estate. Not since his earlier releases
(aside from Caroline Know, he also was responsible for the
Loneliest Christmas Tree) on the Bus Stop label has Rand shared
his weird and wonderful song writing with the record buying
public. With The Blushing Bachelor we find Stephen and His
Magic Ponies dusting off the eccentricities of mid-80s guitar
pop on labels like Cherry Red, El and Creation, and adding
even more detail to the now whitewashed plantation house where
he sits rocking in his chair strumming an acoustic guitar.
-Keith York
Union 13
Youth, Betrayal, & the Awakening
Epitath
More kick-ass punk from these young L.A. gunslingers. On Youth,
Betrayal, and the Awakening, their third album, Union 13 show
off their more polished style. Although definitely still raw,
and playing for keeps, they deliver track after track of explosive,
heartfelt punk, the way mom used to make it. Reminiscent of
The Faction, or Code of Honor, this album has the familiar
feel of your favorite jeans, or old skateboard. One thing
that sets these guys apart from your average punk band though,
is that half of the album is in Spanish! Hardcore punk in
Spanish sounds awesome! But given that my Spanish sucks big
time, I cant understand a fucking word. But who cares,
It still rules. Their lead singer, who comes from Ecuador,
has the coolest accent. It is definitely the most exotic punk
you have heard in a long time. -Drew Lawson
Bomb Pops
Recommended for Diversion Seekers
Grimsey
Its difficult to comprehend that as many years have
passed (8 if youre counting) since much of this collection
was written and recorded. These are timeless beautiful pop
songs, making Recommended sound as if it were a brand new
release from a recently formed 3-piece outta Minnesota. Culling
from the trios archives, these songs draw together a
discography released on 7 singles by Audreys Diary,
A Turntable Friend, Bus Stop and Spin Art from a bygone era
in pop-song innocence. For me its easy to draw a connection
to their sound by looking at bands like Holiday Flyer who,
today, employ references to Bryan Hannas songwriting
craft. Akin to Honeybunch and Galaxie 500, the reverb guitar
floats in skeletal melodies as vocals plaintively tell stories
of who the Bomb Pops were and why. -Keith York
Krakatoa
Channel Static Blackout
Second Nature
Another fine product from the Second Nature label. Seven tracks
from a band that was once just a project, Krakatoa brings
hardcore to you with a sense of old school. The guitar is
structured like hardcore today, with the influenced sounds
of the metal weve come across earlier in the era: Iron
Maiden, and even bands like Metallica. Its nice to see
something different, a new twist to music that fuels us. Touching,
and filled with those old school lead riffs, which makes it
fun. Why did the singer remind me of Sean from Coalesce? Its
all good. -fungus s t ar
Nada Surf
The Proximity Effect
Mardev
This band got signed to Elektra in the post Weezer alt pop
rush, put out a good record had one hit, and then got dropped.
Such is the life of being a one hit wonder on a major label.
Nada Surf however is a good band, and hasnt let this
deter them. This is a great pop record, and theyre probably
better off on an indie label anyway. -JB
Claudia Malibu
Well Find You
Wormco
Playing shows with members of the Elephant 6 must have rubbed
off a bit. Claudia Malibu, featuring former members of New
Radiant Storm King and The Caroline Know, are a quirky bunch
of pop songsters seeking a 12-step program and a healthier
disposition. Delightful in it uniqueness, Well Find
You is for those trying to solve the questions surrounding
their known and unknown psychoses. A dose of reality would
really kill the wonderful vibe in these songs. For daydreamers,
inventors, and the silly at heart (which arguably is all of
us). -Keith York
Big Pun
Yeeeah Baby
Loud
Christopher Rios (a.k.a. Big Pun) first hit the scene on Funkmaster
Flexs Mix Tape Volume I. Big Pun then blasted the hip-hop
world with his 1998 latin-laced single Still Not A Player
from his debut album Capital Punishment, and became the first
Latino rapper to have an album certified double platinum.
Poised to blow up the scene once again with Yeeah Baby, Big
Pun suffered a massive heart attack and died. Yeeah Baby is
Puns legacy to his hard hittin vocal style, witty
lyrics and his Puerto Rican pride. -TR
Tiara
Again Cast In
Anyway
While some of their early 7 releases depicted Tiara
as a rather timid act featuring epic guitar work and shy,
muffled vocals, this is not the case on their second CD, Again
Cast In. Now becoming the amazing band their earlier releases
had hinted at, Tiara seem to be more comfortable being themselves
and the singer doesnt seem afraid of the sound of his
own voice anymore - an important step for any band. Sharing
Doug Martschs songwriting sensibilities, Tiara specialize
in textured soundscapes and beautiful lyrical images, bringing
to mind acts like Yo La Tengo, Silver Scooter, Modest Mouse
and, of course, Built to Spill. These guys just keep getting
better and better. I hope they breakthrough and reach the
audience they deserve before disc three. -Karen Graves
E Town Concrete
The Second Coming
Triple Crown
Why wont most wannabe rap/metal groups ever make it?
Because whiteboys just cant rap. You think the loud
chug chug will cover up your idiotic panting but it just wont.
Thats what makes E Town so good - lead singer Anthony
Martini can rap and the music backing him is raw and heavy.
Some moments these guys are headbangin and other moments
its straight Martini spitting off the mic, then it all
drops out into the sickest melodic metal tinged guitar work
youve heard in Jersey since Bon Jovi ran off to Hollywood
and became a rockstar. -Brad Oates
Sean Payne
Mind Bender
Peak Performance
Recoil in fear from the ferocity of war drumming. Battlefield
explosions come in the form of snare and kick. Dig in mates,
the bombing and strafing runs on the dancefloor are relentless.
With little time for the weary to rest, the 4/4 percussion
drives full speed ahead with the bottom-end torque of a tank
battalion. Hard acid trance is Seans weapon of choice,
as this SoCal DJ mixes up the latest vinyl platters in an
uncomprimising party set. -Keith York
The Jazz Cannon
Amateur Soul Surgery
f8
This is a side project of sorts from Billy Cote of the NYC
band, Madder Rose. While that band is a little more on the
pop side, this project is more experimental and moody. While
the instruments sound real, theres lots of processing
and electronic manipulation going on with the end result being
an atmospheric little slice of pop. It also gives Cote a chance
to collaborate with different musicians. DJ Gadget co-produces
and lays down some turntable grooves on several songs. And,
while Madder Rose vocalist Mary Lorson sings on two songs
and provides backgrounds on several others, the majority of
the vocals are handled by Don Greene and Gresham Taylor. I
should also mention the cool artwork by ex pro-skater Natas
Kaupas with type from Heckler contributor Elliott Earls. -JB
The Plan
This Time Is Not the Place
Matlock
The Plan sound like a supergroup made up of Sleepytime Trio,
The Monorchid and End Hits-era Fugazi. Quietly chaotic like
the Sleepytime Trio, occasionally schizophrenic in song structure
like the Monorchid, and grooving bass, high pitched guitar
and spoken/screaming vocals like End Hits-era Fugazi. I like
it a lot, but I also like all of the bands mentioned above
- if you them too, then go out and pick this up. -Tom Minarchick
Chachi Jones
Mode Switch
Chachi Jones is up for a challenge. Give him a sampler, some
free time, and tell him to blow your mind - and he does. In
skirting around several genre boundaries, Chachi and his software
piloting sound similar to Tom Jenkinsons Squarepusher
releases, but then again has the mutating personality of Luke
Vibert (Wagon Christ, Plug, etc.). Opening up the affair,
Funk Me Gently is the dissonant, skewed breakbeats and sinister
droning key line that Squarepusher and the drill n
bass followers love. Wen5 is Funk Me on steroids as the attack
pattern is more dramatic and drawn out. Gibolomo starts out
as a quiet little roller that toys with a groove without settling
on one of em - again Squarepusher theme is evident.
Funk Me Hard marries a Digital Hardcore gabber break with
acid-laced synths for one stirring little stomper. Muji drops
the mood to reverb-heavy dub sounds. Keeping the dropped beat
mode for another few minutes, Just Funk Me is a Mouse on Mars
IDM on lithium. The closer is the best reason for pursuing
a relationship with Chachi. 4555 is a structured, fierce drum
n bass track that once again switches modes and
keeps the feet movin. What could it hurt to jump on
that new fangled internet and give him a listen. -Keith York
www.mp3.com/ChachiJones
Luddie Clone
The Arsonist & The Architect
Relapse
New Jerseys Luddie Clone, featuring ex-members of Navi
and Angel of Silence, sound like Brutal Truth did during their
best Earache years. This is unabashed grind-core played by
seasoned musicians (Dillinger Escape Plan comes to mind at
times). This is different than most grind-core, as Luddie
Clone often change the mood with tempo changes and crashing
bursts. This is music that will interrupt you mid-thought,
make you forget what you were talking about, and leave you
gasping for more. Luddie Clone is urgent music for urgent
times. This re-release of their independent EP is welcomed
by fans of hardcore, hatecore, and grind. -Eddie Jorgensen
Capitol City Dusters / Aina
Split 7
Dischord
Indie rock seven inch style. I love the idea of sevens since
they just make you come back for more. The Capitol City Dusters
makes you want to just jump, and dance along with them. Its
too bad people are too accustomed to just standing with their
arms crossed. Aina closes the split with its really
radio friendly indie rock. I think its called college
rock these days. Just cause it sounds so rock. Well
done Dischord! - fungus s t ar
Rah Digga
Dirty Harriett
Elektra