Air
- 10,000 HZ Legend
Astralwerks
Sometimes you just stumble across some music that helps you
to remember why you love music, and why you buy all those
CD’s, and why you will purchase the new limited edition
Bjork on colored vinyl even though you already have it on
CD and cassette, and why you will drive five hours to the
AC/DC show in LA even though you just saw them play in Marysville,
CA (Marysville? Yeah, it’s as good as it sounds). You
get my point. Air’s new release 10,000 HZ Legend is that
kind of music. The CD takes you through ups and downs by means
of simple, yet revolutionary lyrics, beautiful melodies, and
all around fantastic production. Each song flows right into
the next. Perfect. So maybe I am a little biased. Yeah, I
admit it, I love Air -so no matter what they put out, I’d
be at the record store on the release date, buying it on vinyl
and CD even though I already downloaded it from Napster, burnt
it, and play it daily. Still, I have to bet that if you heard
it, you’d like it. A lot. Trust me, I know these things.
Oh, and Beck makes an appearance on the record, which makes
it that much better. -CC
Earth Crisis - Last of the Sane
Victory
Earth Crisis will live forever! Last of the Sane has some
very interesting cover songs. First off, they absolutely nail
Hell Awaits by Slayer with metallic precision. Led Zeppelin’s
Wanton Song? I know everybody likes the Zep, but E.C. could
of picked a better song like Communication Breakdown. The
Misfits and Dead Kennedy’s covers were cool but Karl
sounds weird trying to actually sing Children of the Grave
by Black Sabbath. I was expecting him to scream the lyrics
and when I heard him it sounded pretty lame. The cover song
I thought ripped is the Rolling Stones Paint it Black. It’s
such a cool song and E.C. rips it up making it more heavy
obviously, and screaming the lyrics. The last four songs are
previous releases from various records. I think E.C. is on
hiatus* to riot the summit meetings. This release will hold
off the hardcore fans until they can get back into the studio
to record some more of the world is going down type anthems.
-RW *Editor’s note: Earth Crisis has broken up, R.I.P.
Diecast - Day Of Reckoning
Now Or Never Recordings
Imagine the vocal harmonies of Vision Of Disorder coupled
with the sludgy feeling of Hatebreed (complete with gang vocals)
and Turmoil. Add riffage ala Slayer, Pantera, and even Fear
Factory and you’re half way there. Diecast, a five-piece
hardcore/metal outfit hailing from Boston, Massachusetts,
have been tearing up the college radio charts and gaining
a sizable legion of devotees. Diecast speaks of worldly issues
(ala Vietnam, inner-persecution, and general paranoia) and
living within the confines of society. This is vengeful, intense
hardcore with a keen sense of melody. Although these polar
opposites seem to be of detriment to most bands (don’t
get me started), Diecast uses them to their benefit. New Jersey’s
Now Or Never gets major kudos for a fine release. If you can’t
find this in the stores, contact them directly at noworneverrecords.com,
ok? -EJ
Lars Frederiksen and The Bastards - S/T
Hellcat Records
Straight off the streets of Campbell, CA and into your stereo
are the heavy hitting punk rock sounds of Lars Frederiksen
and his gang of punk rock thieves. They all look pretty scary
on their inside album portraits, but this album is a wonderful
testament to the fact that straight-ahead honest punk rock
is alive and well in the new millennium and not going soft.
This is for the purists, the Rancid fans, and everyone else
who loves good fucking music. -BO
Thursday - Full Collapse
Victory
This is the record that you wait for every year. Sure, you
know which of your favorite artists will be releasing new
albums as you start off each year. But it’s those unexpected
surprises that make listening to music one of the best things
in life. Hailing out of New Brunswick, NJ, it’s amazing
that a band with such a clean sound can come from a state
that has the reputation for not being so clean. Thursday is
the emotional equivalent of a Mack truck racing at you doing
100 mph. Rarely do you fully understand what a band is saying
through its music and its words. There may be hidden meanings
or false feelings expressed just to make the song work. Thursday
would never be so shallow. Everything they do has honesty
and sensitivity behind it. Call them the thinking man’s
emo if you must, but labels only get in the way of music this
good. Every song features an inflection of thought, as if
nurtured from birth until it was ready to be recorded as an
adult. Harmonious of course, but they never forget the anger
that often accompanies sadness. The hardcore elements will
stand out in tracks like A Hole In The World and the rhythmic
Cross Out The Eyes, a song that is more narrative than written.
It’s message of memories you would like to forget are
full of real life emotions and images as fresh as those we
live out daily. Every song grasps at substance and holds on
till the bitter end. We are very fortunate to go along for
this ride. Those of us who recognized the genuine spirits
in bands like Far and the uniqueness of bands like At The
Drive In will only slightly realize the importance of new
bands like Thursday. Strong, melodic, truthful, honest, and
outstanding. -CB
Alkaline Trio - From Here To Infirmary
Vagrant Records
I was drinking like I normally do after the sun goes down,
passing the peace pipe with all my Native American pals, when
my friend Steve Borth, of the legendary Link 80, told me he
had a copy of the new Alkaline Trio album sitting in his ghetto
blaster. I was stoked. Super stoked. The only thing that could
have made me happier is if Emmanuel Lewis jumped through the
window and told me there was going to be a Webster sitcom
reunion. I got worried right before Steve pressed play; so
worried that I started to get a gassy stomach and buried my
ass deep in the couch to muffle it when I finally did fart.
Luckily, track numero uno Private Eye burst on the scene like
a breath of fresh air as I played ass horn and the lovely
gal sitting next me didn’t seem to notice and instead
smiled at me with approval for the fine musical choice. I
smiled, took a swig off my beer, and proceeded to play the
most aggressive air guitar I had ever played since I heard
Skynyrd for the first time. Hands down, this is the best album
of the new millennium. She pressed her bosoms against my washboard
stomach, and whispered, “What do you call this - punk
rock, pop rock, cock rock?” I replied, “Fuck if
I know, I’m drunk.” -BO
Guttermouth - Covered With Ants
Epitaph
Singer/Pastor Mark Adkins was having the magic cloth dream.
You know the dream, we’ve all had it. You’re onstage,
pouring your heart out for millions, stark naked, except for
the magic cloth clinging to your sweaty balls. Nothing is
holding up the cloth, except for the two lovely big-breasted
assistants standing to your right and left, when all of a
sudden the cloth drops and your manflower is visible to all
in attendance. The crowd goes wild; hell, who doesn’t
love nudity? The cloth is quickly brought back up and the
crowd bursts into an orgasmic frenzy. Just when the crowd
thinks they’ve seen it all, you play the disappearing
penis act; the lovely ladies drop the cloth, and the crowd
goes crazier than Buffalo Bill in Silence of The Lambs. After
more than a decade of debauchery and drunk-inspired nudity
across the nations, the era of good feelings ended when Mark
attempted to bring his visionary masterpiece, the disappearing
penis trick, to the corn fed masses of Saskatoon, Canada.
Sadly, they didn’t seem to get Mark’s foreskin shenanigans
and he was promptly tossed in jail after the show. No judge,
no jury, no Johnnie Cochrane, no easily swayed US. jury pool
to save him, Mark did the only thing he could while he awaited
trial; watch gay porn and write. Inspired by Martin Luther
King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Mark’s lyrical
prose became more focused and frightening than ever before.
Upon his release and eternal banishment from Canada, Guttermouth
regrouped for this, their sixth full length. Revitalized and
reborn, Guttermouth’s prison days behind them, a new
label, and crappy alternative stations starting to play them,
Orange County’s finest will once again make you cream
your pants like it was the first time.
-BO John Frusciante - To Record Only Water For Ten Days
Warner Bros.
John plays guitar for you know who, but they don’t sound
anything like this. Fifteen tracks of hauntingly soft, guitar
driven arrangements from John’s side of the moon. Drum
machines and spacey samples fill in the gaps, but there aren’t
many gaps to fill in and the tone of this album will make
you fall in and out of consciousness long before the CD stops
but that may be just the weed. -BO
Bouncing Souls - How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Epitaph
The Souls are back with their latest effort and probably their
best release to date How I spent My Summer Vacation. This
latest release has everything you look for in a punk band:
lot’s of catchy hooks, gang vocals, great bass tone’s,
and Greg’s vocals are simply kick ass! Songs like The
Something Special, Broken Record, Private Radio, and Gone,
are so full of that typical Soul’s energy that we’ve
all come to know and love, you just can’t get enough
of it. I’m sure these guys will be pumped all over the
air-waves this summer and will be in full tour mode to support
this release. If you haven’t seen them live I suggest
you do so, otherwise you’ll be missing out on one of
the most energetic live band’s around. I’m sure
a lot of us will be spending our summer vacations with this
disc being the soundtrack; it has a ton of energy and that’s
exactly what you would expect from a band named after a tag
on a boot. -RA
Hot Water Music - A Flight And A Crash
Epitaph
Well, they did it. Hot Water Music made the jump from No Idea
to Epitaph and the transition couldn’t have been smoother.
A Flight and a Crash, HWM’s latest effort, is nothing
short of brilliant. Chuck Ragan’s heart-felt vocals on
tracks like Swinger and She Takes It So Well are just f**king
awesome! HWM is putting out some of the best original music
out there and has the distinction of having one of the biggest
and most loyal underground fan bases out there since the Bad
Brains or Fugazi. Anyone who has had the fortune of seeing
one of HWM’s live performances can attest to that. I’m
not sure what they’re doing but they have definitely
found the formula for success. Album after album they just
keep getting better and better, while sticking to their unique
and diverse sound.-RA
Texas Terri And The Stiff Ones - Eat Shit
Junk Records
This album starts out with a phone message with the guitarist
calling Terri asking, “Is there even one good thing about
playing out ever? Let’s see? We don’t get any money,
we always go on for four fuckin’ people and they misprint
our name in the Weekly. No, there’s not even one good
thing. Ok, just checkin’,” as he lets it slide off
his back. This “We always get fucked over while enjoying
every moment of it” attitude kinda carries through the
whole album and it fucking rocks! But I must warn you, this
album is not for everyone. You gotta like female vocals ‘cuz
Terri is one crazy broad who doesn’t care who she offends.
While she seems to do her thing pretty naturally, and that’s
mostly pissed off, she has this “You better fucking listen
to me” voice. Demon Boy lays down some down and dirty
guitar licks all over this album that Satan would die for,
gritty rhythms, diamond in the rough leads, some slide, and
I think I even heard pig squeals out The Paul all backed up
by the rest of the Stiff Ones and catchy backup vocal lines
that left me singin’ “eew aahh!” So if you’re
the kind a person who likes to go to your local bar, dodge
a few beer bottles and listen to rockin’ music, you should
probably go pick this up! -WM
The Drunken Cholos - Livin’ La Vida Loco
Hopeless Records
The Drunken Cholos consist of the original members of The
Queers so you know it’s gonna be good and fun. It’s
a little more raw, or should I say a not too serious recording
(drunk gruffy vocals and I think most of the guitar tracks
are the same), as they blast through seven songs in a little
over nine minutes. With song titles like Got Caught Smokin’
Pot, I Didn’t Jerk, I Spear the Rear, and the all too
funny I Want Chinese Food, you know it’s all about fun
with an edge! -WM
Murphy’s Law - The Party’s Over
Artemis Records
When CDs first came out, Murphy’s Law’s Back With
A Bong was the first CD I ever owned. While most NYHC bands
like Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags and SOIA were battling it out
to be the heaviest band, Murphy’s Law was doing their
own brand of fast, fun and melodic hardcore and that still
rings true today. Even though the only original member left
is singer Jimmy Gestapo, they’ve kept it going all these
years by putting out various comps, splits, and overlooked
albums. The Party’s Over continues the long journey as
this disk is full of everything Murphy’s Law has ever
incorporated into their music. From the opening tracks Maximum
Lie melodic sing-a-long style, while Stressed Out has ‘em
on the up-tempo complete with beefy breakdown and oh yeah,
these guys were blending the ska/reggae influence way before
you were cool as demonstrated here on Walking Alone. Not much
has changed except the faces so if you never heard ‘em
and like bands like H20 or OS101 you need to pay these guys
some dues. -WM
Betty Blowtorch - Are You Man Enough?
Foodchain
Imagine if Courtney Love from Hole replaced Gene Simmons In
KISS. What that would sound like? That would be a good starting
point for Betty Blowtorch. This all girl Rock-Punk band from
LA comes on strong. With their music and their attitude, these
chicks rock out something fierce, and they aren’t shy
when they want something. And what they seem to want most
of all, judging by the lyrics, is booze, and sex! And lots
of it. Songs like Shut up and F*ck!, and Size Queen leave
little to the imagination. This is a really good album though,
and mixes it up well. Songs like You’re Ugly And Integrity
show a great sense of humor, while tracks like Hell on Wheels
will have you heated up and wanting to trash hotel rooms like
a true rock star. Fans of L7 and Hole should appreciate what
Betty Blowtorch has to offer. -DL
Zao - (Self Titled)
Solidstate Records
The latest full length from this surprisingly Christian band
is some quality stuff. Blurring the line between black metal
and hardcore, songs jump over to acoustic ballads and Tool-like
grooves, then back again. Zao really gives your ear a workout.
Strangely enough it works quite well. Their press release
quotes vocalist Dan Weyandt stating he writes about “love,
God, and murder.” With titles like 5 Year Winter and
Witchunter my guess is that murder is playing a stronger role
than in previous albums. I certainly hope so I can’t
imagine this music behind screamed vocals focusing on the
Bible, but that’s just me. I like my metal evil. -CS
Takes You to The Bridge compilation
75 ARK records
Do you like to burn CD’s of all your new downloaded cuts,
mixing your favorite emcee’s with your ladies favorite
emcee’s, so that you have “Our” cd? Takes You
to The Bridge is a pretty sick compilation featuring Bay Area
heros Del via Deltron 3030 and The Coup. Also featured are
some guys signed to 75 ARK, Mista Sinista, Kool Keith, and
E-A-Ski. All the tracks are from the artists albums, so there
isn’t anything that is ultra-underground. But it is cool
to get a good compilation for once! go to the website 75ark.com
for more info. -MO
7L & Esoteric - The Soul Purpose
Direct records
When you think of Boston hip-hop, who comes to mind? 7L&Esoteric
have been paying dues opening for your favorite underground
crews as well as headlining all over the U.S. No one track
stood out to me, however their are plenty of hitters on their
album. Guests on the CD include Jedi Mind Tricks, Inspectah
Deck, and some other guys. One thing that was lame was the
phone ringing thing. This is put on some promo albums to prevent
bootleggin’, and is absolutly annoying. At first it sounded
like the sample DJ Premiere cut-up back in the day. Oh yeah,
not that it really matters these are some white guys. See
white guys can jump, or at least make you jump. -MO
M.I.R.V. - Dancing Naked In A Minefield
Poison Eye Records
Hailing from the South San Francisco Bay, M.I.R.V., not unlike
their close friend Primus, provide a quirky melange of surf,
rock, psychedelic, and rap-influenced grooves. Dancing In
A Minefield is an epic trip through the warped minds of rock’s
misfits giving further proof that rock n’ roll has always
been a parody of itself. -EJ
Ripple’n Twelve - Self titled Debut
The Crib
This is underground hip hop with a reggae flavor from the
Bay Area. Several things about this group really stand out
from the commercial fray. First is the aforementioned reggae
influence fused into these hip hop tracks. Ripple’n Twelve
accomplishes this in a way that sounds neither corny nor coerced.
The two musical styles are blended together in a way that
really compliment each other. The rootsy reggae segments are
done with lots of soul and would even make Bob Marley proud.
And the hip hop itself is very raw and has a spontaneous feel
to it, like a great freestyle session caught on tape. The
other unusual thing about this group is all the members are
Polynesian. Lots of lyrical skill and a variety of rap styles
from the multiple M.C.’s keep things interesting too.
My only criticism would be some tracks feel a little crowded
with too many lyrics. But it’s hard to put a group down
for being enthusiastic. This debut was actually self produced,
but has great production values and a real professional sound
to it. Those into the underground hip hop thing should check
it out. Find out more at www.ripplen12.com. -DL
The Dickies - All This And Puppet Stew
Fat Wreck Chords
What can I say about these guys that hasn’t already been
said? Four decades from their conception and countless releases
later comes their latest effort, All This And Puppet Stew.
Still going strong from their humble beginnings the Dickies
still have that magical punk rock touch that has inspired
not only myself but countless other musicians and bands of
all different genres. It’s hard to believe that this
band is still doing their thing and doing it a lot better
than some of their younger competition. Puppet Stew, almost
six years in the making features the Dickies at their best.
All the mayhem, craziness, and outrageous vocals that have
become the Dickies trademark over the years are here, only
intensified. Anyone who knows anything about The Dickies will
be hard pressed to say anything negative about this release.
If you’re a fan of The Dickies, which anyone who knows
or likes punk rock is, check out Puppet Stew. -RA
The Melvins - Colossus Of Destiny
Ipecac Recordings
The Melvins have come to the point where they no longer need
to write the typical full-length platter. After a stint on
Atlantic (which brought you Stag, Stoner Witch, and Houdini),
the Melvins found a home with Mike Patton’s (Faith No
More/Mr. Bungle fame) aptly titled Ipecac (formula made to
induce vomiting in children) Recordings. Even the bio wishes
the listener luck on making it through one listen. With the
addition of Cows’ ex-bassist, Kevin Rutmantis, Crover
and Buzzo (the surviving “original” members, if
that matters anymore), The Melvins’ Colossus Of Destiny,
is one track in length (59 minutes long) that literally tests
your patience. This assemblage of white noise, fuzz, and atonal
dabblings is enough to make anyone reach for the stop button.
If you’ve never seen the Melvins, you wouldn’t know
that this album is par for the course. They’re not out
to set the world on fire but, rather, your senses. If Prick
didn’t piss you off, this one will do just fine. One
must wonder if Buzzo ate some bad Mexican food the day of
recording and, literally, backed his ass up to a bunch of
room mikes. -EJ
One Time Angels - Sound of a Restless City
Adeline Records
Add another band to the great list of breakouts hailing from
the Eastbay. Have you ever been broke, bought a Lotto scratcher,
scratched it off only to reveal you had just won a hundred
bucks, and then ran around 7-11 like a little boy at Christmas?
Well that is how you will feel when you get the new CD, Sounds
of a Restless City. One Time Angels are Doug Sangalang (vocals
and guitar), Mickey Dunegan (bass) and Eric Alexander (drums).
This trio will blow your mind with musical grace and lyrical
genius. One Time Angels are guaranteed to be a heavy hitter
for Adeline Records in the years to come. This twelve song
debut will inspire thoughts and emotions in you that only
pure and harmonically gifted bands do, much the same way you
feel after listening to Jawbreaker. There is a feeling of
truth in their songs that can only be described as non-pareil,
which Webster’s defines as “one that has no equal”,
or in this case it is One Time Angels that has no equal. -JM
Tricky - Blowback
Hollywood
Maybe he saw Moby turn into a millionaire, or maybe he’s
just tired of being tagged as eclectic, but whatever the case,
with Blowback, Tricky’s aiming at nothing less than MTV
and VH1 pop stardom. Rob (Greenday) Cavallo is even credited
as co-producer. In some artists, this would be annoying as
hell, but Tricky’s still got lots of sonic shit up his
sleeve, so even his mainstream CD is a damm good listen. The
‘trip-hop’ influence is mostly gone, surprisingly
replaced by a pop sensibility that’s almost always on
target. His guest list is like a who’s who of big name
pop stars. The lead off track, Excess, is co-written with
Alanis Morrisette and could easily be the first single. It’s
got a cool Strange Cargo era William Orbit vibe with vocals.
Live’s Ed Kowalczyk adds vocals to the second track,
Evolution Revolution Love. The Red Hot Chill Peppers guest
on several tracks. #1 Da Woman, sung by John Frusciante, sounds
better than anything on his solo album or the Peppers, Californication,
and will probably be all over the radio by the time this hits
the press. Ambersunshower and Cyndi Lauper also make vocal
appearances, and Tricky’s Jamaican friend, Hawkman is
on quite a few tracks. One of my favorite tracks is a dark
version of Nirvana’s Something In The Way, the album’s
sole cover song. If only all mainstream pop was this good.
-JB
Darryl’s Grocery Bag - A Simple Idea
Meter Records
I had showed up at my friend Anthony’s house like I normally
do on Saturday mornings: to pick him up so we could go snowboarding.
Anthony and I were taking bong rips in the living room when
I asked him who all the blokes sleeping on the floor were.
He replied, “Oh, that’s Darryl’s Grocery Bag
from Canada.” They looked like swell lads and all, and
if they would have awoken I would have offered them a bongrip,
but they slept right through our morning ritual and we were
on our merry way towards endless freshies in the mountains.
I got this CD a few weeks later and the first thing I really
liked was all the strummy melodic bass lines that reminded
me of early Ned’s Atomic Dust Bin or Chesire Cat era
Blink-182. More power chords about pussy and the best melodic
punk rock out of Canada since Tom Green’s Vagina Song.
-BO
Executive Lounge
75 ARK records
Straight out of the Northern Cali, Executive Lounge blasts
off sick on their self titled album. Not only are they some
of the illest in the underground, but their label is droppin’
ill shit left and right. Produced by Architect; Encore, Grand,
Turbin, Halekost, and Dave Dubb come together and bring 12
gems worthy of hip-hopers praise worldwide. Beatnuts meets
the Hiero crew for a silly comparison sentence. Smooth Lyrics
over hype cali-funk-beats+tight production=Recommended. -MO
Redman- Malpractice
Def Jam
Yo I found Reggie Noble, or Redman, or whatever you want to
call him. He’s been in the studio with DJ Kool, Scarface,
Treach, George Clinton, Keith Murry, and of course partner
in crime Method Man. Working with production coming from Erick
Sermon The Green Eyed Bandit, this is your typical Redman
album: skits, dope beats, and of course Reggie Noble’s
rough, rugged and raw lyrics. There were a couple of beats
that were just wack. I’am not sure if they were tyring
to do some bling bling shit or what. If you’re a Redman
fan buy this album, If not burn it. -MO
Urbanites - Pure Pressure
Fluid Recordings
This CD has 7 cuts, so it my be an EP. If this is an EP, then
it has to be one of the most impressive I’ve heard since
the Beatnuts had that one a long time ago. The second track
“Rock tha spot” slams shit to the celling. Really
all 7 of the tracks will have you searching Napster for more
of their tracks. Rhettmatic steps to the final cut for a producing
cameo. L.A. should be proud of this underground gem of a crew.
Find this album. -MO
Frenzal Rhomb - Shut Your Mouth
Fat Wreck Chords
The strapping lad’s from the land down under, Frenzal
Rhomb, are back at it again with their second Fat Wreck Chords
release, Shut Your Mouth. This is by far their best release
to date, and although they touch upon the NOFX vocal/song
structure more than previous outings, this is an awesome,
awesome release that is sure to catch the attention of anyone
in the know. These guy’s have progressed a lot from their
last Fat release A Man’s Not A Camel and should make
strides in gaining popularity world-wide with this release.
Songs like Home Made Video, Cheer Up, and Don’t Let The
Bastards Keep You Down, really show how far these Aussie’s
have come. For all you little nose-pickers out there who want
to have something new in the disc player this summer, go buy
this even if you have to save your allowance do so. You won’t
be disappointed. This is A-Number-One-Shit! -RA
Sensefield - Tonight And Forever
Nettwerk
Please, please, please don’t make me review this CD again,
as this is the third time I’ve done so. Don’t get
me wrong, I love this band, and this album is fucking great,
but it needs to be released so the rest of the world can hear
it besides a few rock critics and hardcore fans who’ve
found previous un-released versions on the internet. I was
worried that these guys had broken up, and I’m really
glad to be proven wrong. This is a strong progression from
Building, their last for Revelation. Nettwerk: Don’t
let me down and don’t fuck this up. This band is great.
Make sure the rest of the world knows that and help spare
us from Fred, Brittney and Christina. -JB
Fairweather - If they move…kill them
Equal Vision
First off this album rocks! It doesn’t just rock, it
rocks on a whole new level. This is one of those records that
after you get it, a few months later, everyone and their mother
is talking about how damn good it is, which is what you have
been trying to say the whole time. Anyone who is a fan of
Saves the Day and Alkaline Trio is going to love Fairweather;
that is if you haven’t heard of them already. They don’t
waste time getting things going and seem to apply a little
bit more of a hardcore influence to their music than a lot
of other emo/pop bands. These guys definitely know what they
are doing musically and their lyrics are very fittingly just
about girls. Great record that I’m sure everyone will
hear about within the next year whether they want to or not,
so get ready sucka!! -DK
Megadeth - The World needs a hero
Sanctuary records
I was in the record store the other day and I looked into
the used bin for Megadeth. I was surprised to see so many
records I have never heard of. The last one I can remember
was Youthanasia. They were riding a peak back then coming
off of Symphony of Destruction, a great record. That was a
feat in itself as alternative bands were cashing in. Most
metal bands had faded except Slayer and Metallica. It seemed
like Megadeth became more radio friendly and was touring every
year. I saw them twice. So back to the used record bin. I
think Dave Mustaine has flooded his audience with too many
forgettable records and songs that were probably written overnight.
The World Needs a Hero like it needs another Megadeth record.
I’m not sure what to say to Megadeth’s fans. I think
they should judge for themselves. They can always sell it
back. -RW
Ken Ishii - Flatspin
Sony Music Japan
Ken Ishii’s work in his native country, Japan, cannot
be overlooked. This Japanese release is laden with hooks and
his signature style, a tribal/experimental blend of techno.
As a producer, DJ, and composer, Ishii separates himself from
the common four-on-the-floor techno work-outs. After releasing
several albums to great worldwide acclaim, Flatspin has great
depth and provides the kind of ambiance that could only be
found in a Japanese transit system. Sounding like a response
to his surroundings rather than just a mere hodgepodge, Ishii
does more for Japanese music than just set the standard -
he is the standard. Sony will be doing an import imprint that
will help artists like Ishii get a proper domestic release.
A couple of US dates would be nice...hint, hint. -EJ
Martyr AD - The Human Condion In Twelve Fractions
Ferret
What do you get when you take ex-members of Disembodied and
you set them loose with friends in the cold, dank city of
Minneapolis? The sound of the American youth! Is it just me
or am I on fire! Broken Mouth couldn’t have been any
more aptly titled as each guitar lick makes me feel like I’ve
been hit in the jaw with a crowbar. Maybe they just should
have called this album Music To Run Over People With. I would
love to have this one in my car as rush hour traffic took
hold. The shattering guttural noises that come out of Michael
Fisketti have the notion of intent with a deadly weapon during
every utterance. There are some similarities to the anger
of Hatebreed and the complete doom of Slayer throughout, but
it’s the attitude of the songs that is clear. Chaotic
hardcore has made a resurgence as of late, but Martyr AD refuse
to just sit back and ride the wave. Their combination of Euro
metal stops and starts, along with that local flare for hate,
makes this album so much more. Lyrically intricate and technically
sound, this record will clearly push us into the next musical
threat in the underground. Make sure and wear your flame retardant
jacket. This one may combust on contact! -CB
Further Seems Forever - The Moon Is Down
Tooth & Nail
As much as I try to stay on top of every new band worth a
grain of salt, when I miss something as good as this I get
bummed. It seems lead vocalist Chris Carrabba has been real
busy lately, as he not only has this new record by Florida
indie stars Further Seems Forever, but he has also started
a new one man project called Dashboard Confessional. But it’s
this latest record that has all the presents you asked Santa
to deliver last X-mas. It’s dynamic beauty is only overshadowed
by the superb song writing displayed in each and every song.
Anguish oozes from each syllable, wanting you to feel the
way he feels. In some ways it’s a shock that a band that
features members of Shai Hulud and Strongarm could write such
wonderful melodies but on the other hand, I can see it perfectly.
Shai Hulud has a knack for throwing that emo part in just
the right point of every song, and Strongarm was a melodic
masterpiece that few discovered. FSF combines what was great
about these bands with a brand new taste that goes down smooth.
Even better is that every single song is amazing. It’s
an album you will not soon forget as it’s quality only
progresses from song to song. By the time it’s over you
want to hit play again and start the journey all over. A well
thought out indie/emo record that you must check out if you’re
a fan of bands like Brandtson, Saves the Day, or Juliana Theory.
Pure genius. -CB
Dingees - The Crucial Conspiracy
Tooth & Nail
Gangloads of kids in suburbia will be riding around in their
Mom’s old Mercedes or ‘84 Mini Truck singing along
with Dingees’ singer Pegleg to lines like, “Experimental
aircraft chemtrails across the sky rain disease down on suburbia
burning lungs stinging eyes.” I happen to think this
is the most impressive release of the Tooth & Nail family
since MXPX and fans of the mellow punk/ska with reggae undertones
uprising will be pleased by the musical conspiracy. Get this
album and start plotting. -BO
Big In Japan - Destroy The New Rock
Honest Don’s
Straight out of the whorehouses of Reno, Nevada are three
clean cut gents ready to wage war on your stereos with their
$1.50 buffet style dark pop. In large doses this record could
lead to involvement with Elvis Costello, the old school Vans
low tops that were designed for people with flat feet, or
Camaro work on your front lawn. Small dose involvement will
only lead to mild hard on’s, or if you’re really
lucky the occasional handjob. In any case, enjoy! In a state
that can really only pride itself on its lax liquor laws and
its slutbarns, Big In Japan is a true gem. -BO
Small Brown Bike - Dead Reckoning
No Idea
With a name like Small Brown Bike I would assume these guys
to be really poppy punk with a lot of “Woohhs,”
and parts where the whole band could jump. I couldn’t
have been more wrong. These guys are total garage punk and
have no time to choreograph synchronized group jumps ‘cause
they are too busy putting their time into their music. SBB’s
rough scratchy vocals make them sound strikingly familiar
to Hot Water Music, but different enough that it doesn’t
get overwhelming. They also reminded me a lot of Dillinger
4 musically but not as poppy as D4. The CD Jacket is pretty
cool too, and you know its artsy when you can’t fold
the damn thing back to the original way it was before you
took it out of the case. -DK
Whiskeytown - Pneumonia
Lost Highway Records
Whiskeytown is basically the indie-country-rock band. Yeah,
you got your Wilco but really, if you haven’t heard Whiskeytown,
you really haven’t heard indie-country. Don’t fight
me on this one, I’m right. Seriously. And don’t
stop reading this review just because I used the phrase “indie-country.”
Last year, Ryan Adams (vocals) released a solo record entitled
Heartbreaker. Indie-country-rockers had a new hero. They placed
the record right next to Springsteen’s Nebraska and Buckner’s
Since. Yeah, I am being banal, but the record was amazing.
Cheesy as it is to say it, Mr. Adams put the “heart”
in “Heartbreaker.” Jesus, did I just say that? Whiskeytown
has just released a new, long awaited, full length record.
Ryan Adams had his hand in the writing of every song and it
shows. The album is just plum full of great country pop songs.
Good songs. Solid Songs. This isn’t a revolutionary release
by any means. Pneumonia is not going to impress you with it’s
ultra inventive guitar work, and it isn’t going to go
down in the books as most influential record of the year.
What makes Whiskeytown so great is that they don’t care
to be ultra-influential. They seem to be more worried about
writing songs that make you feel happy, that make you feel
sad, that are most appropriately played in bars while dinking
Jack Daniels with a bartender named Gar, and just, well, make
you feel human. Whiskeytown manages to do all these things
and more. Give them a listen -you won’t be sorry. -CC
Fall Silent - Six Years In The Desert
Revelation Records
These guys are probably Reno’s best kept secret. I heard
some good things about them and when I saw them live they
didn’t disappoint- band flailing around on a small stage,
crowd intensely singing along with every word, and the whole
house bouncing around in unison. Fast, heavy, and furious
with throat searing vocals is probably the best way to describe
them. They play on the boundaries of punk and metal, so they
fit in nicely on the Revelation label. Although the album
as a whole is pretty good I think the production is a little
thin and doesn’t do them the justice they deserve as
an intense band. The Sesame Street cover song also takes away
from that appeal too. But if you’re into stuff like Willhaven,
Inside Out or more straight up HC like the fine folks at Rev
have been putting out for years, you will most definitely
like this. -WM
Citizen Fish - Life Size
Honest Don’s
I gotta tell you I haven’t followed these guys’
every move so I don’t know if I’m an authority to
tell you how good this disk is, and I know how motherfuckers
take their Citizen Fish- serious! I’m not gonna get all
philosophical so here it is-this album is pretty damn good.
There are the good sing-a-longs, the awesome bouncy guitar
riffs you’d expect, smart yet fun lyrics, and when they
get it goin’ it brings back the sound that started it
all. The recording is well done and brings a richer, fuller
Citizen Fish than I remember. And this is their eighth release-no
wonder like it seems they are on a constant tour-so I better
go catch up on all the others I’ve missed out on! -WM
Kato - You’ve Seen Us, You Must Have Seen Us
Devil In The Woods
There’s a certain type of music buyer I’m
thinking of. You might know the type. Their collections are
full of obscure and bizarre albums you’ve never heard
of. Weird shit that may not even sound good. But it’s
Avant Garde. And the fact that you’ve never heard of
it just makes it that much cooler. That’s kinda how this
band is. Trippy, lounge-hop-rock with attitude. Imagine if
Cibo Matto took way too much acid, and never came down. It
might sound like Kato. Not really my cup of tea. But if you
are the aforementioned listener, you might want to go get
it. What? you already have it? Oh. I should have known. -DL
MxPx - The Renaissance EP
Rock City
Pure Punk Pop perfection. I love this band! MxPx has been
around for awhile, but honestly this is the first chance I’ve
had to hear them. But based on this album I plan to remedy
that and go out and buy a bunch more of their stuff. Reminiscent
of Youth Brigade or early Green Day when they were still on
fire, these guys have a killer sound. Not content to believe
that all punk has to sound bad to be good, MxPx redefines
the art of punk anthem writing. One listen and you will know
what I mean. Fast, super rocking songs combine with sick melody
and catchy catchy hooks that you will not be able to stop
singing. If you like bands like the Offspring or Bad Religion,
you might really like, MxPx. -DL
Acetone -York Blvd
Vapor Records
If you haven’t heard of this LA-based trio, you’ve
probably been in a musical coma for the last ten years. As
openers on such coveted tours as Mazzy Star, Oasis, The Verve,
and even Garbage(???), Acetone has garnered considerable press
and, in turn, gained a loyal following of “Acetoners.”
Blending lazy guitar rock with subtle harmonies and dissonant
chord structures, Acetone create a relaxed vibe on their latest
CD. Acetone are not necessarily of the slo-core ilk (a la
Low, Pedro The Lion, Novasonic Down Hyperspace) but do, similarly,
keep the tempos at bay. Taking some cues from the Velvet Underground
and Lou Reed’s early 70’s releases, York Blvd. retains
the bluesy feeling of early Stones and layers their three-piece
into a wall of sound. For a venture into dynamics and rock’s
subtleties, York Blvd works wonders. -EJ
Radiohead - Pyramid Song single
Parlophone Records (import advance single)
The single, originally titled Egyptian Song, was introduced
to the world as a solo piece featuring Thom Yorke on piano.
One musn’t palter with Radiohead these days, as they’ve
come into their own. This track, accompanied by a beautiful
string arangement, is complemented by the sparse drumming
and orchestral movements. If you’re looking for the direction
of OK Computer, you may want to revisit your back-catalog.
Radiohead’s sound is evolving at an alarming rate, using
concepts of Autechre, Boards Of Canada, and even Oval (Thrill
Jockey’s record skipping prodigy). Kinetic uses distorted
drum programming and is largely dominated by keyboards. Fast-Track
uses a loop of Thom’s voice (also used regularly in Kid
A sessions) and breaks down with a rim-click beat. Feeling
much like the instrumental dabblings started on the OK Computer
import singles, it is driven by the multi-layered vocals (which
at times skip and modulate). If B-sides aren’t your thing
(especially the apparent outtakes), you may want to wait ‘til
June 5th (Amnesiac release date). Pyramid Song has the kind
of melody that permeates the skin, travels into the abyss
of our emotions and, unlike the obvious, it makes us realize
the past and future. If you don’t hear the magnanimity
of 2001’s greatest song, the potent and passionate Pyramid
Song, you may want to get your pulse taken. -EJ
No
Motiv - Diagram For Healing
Vagrant
Finally, the new No Motiv is here. It’s been a while
since ‘99’s release And the Sadness Prevails but
I can say their down time between releases has been well worth
the wait. Nothing new to report here, no new sound, style,
or anything of that nature, just pure in your face No Motiv
that fans have come to know and love. On their latest release
Diagram for Healing No Motiv brings the same steady emotional
guitar driven sound that bands such as Social Distortion and
Face to Face (by the way, Trever Keith of Face to Face fame
works the knobs on this release) have made a living on. Songs
such as Only You, Throw in the Towel, and To the Roots are
just awesome, awesome songs that cement No Motiv as one of
the up and coming acts to keep your eyes on. Seriously, if
you haven’t heard of these guys do yourself a favor and
pick up one of their releases to see just how good these guy’s
really are. Happy or sad it’s always a good time for
No Motiv. -RA
Wellwater Conspiracy - The Scroll and it’s Combinations
TVT Records
This is a great band. The premise is perfect. Two former members
of two great bands jammin and experimenting. John McBain of
Monster Magnet and Matt Cameron of Soundgarden. Matt and John
switch off playing drums and guitars which makes for interesting
songwriting. There are a number of guest appearances as well
by Kim Thayil, Ben Shepard, and Eddie Vedder to spice things
up. Many of the songs on this record remind me of early psychedelic
Pink Floyd with Syd Barret. Matt Cameron can sing and has
a good voice. If you’re looking for something different
Wellwater Conspiracy is for you. -RW
Leatherface - The Last
BYO Records
You gotta love a band named after a chainsaw wielding maniac
who sports a skin mask and is about 250 lbs. overweight, right?
As a matter of fact, Leatherface’s sound couldn’t
be any more different than that description. With songs about
the working class, fishermen and lost love, Leatherface writes
about things that obviously mean a lot to them. Leatherface
have been cranking out music since the late 80’s with
a break up or two in the middle but always bouncing back after
disaster has struck. The Last (on BYO Records) is a re-release
of LF songs that were recorded in the early 90’s along
with songs from one of front man F. Stubbs side projects called
the Popes. These guy’s are incredible in the sense that
their music never changes, maybe it’s Stubbs whiskey
soaked, heart broken vocals that make a recording such as
Cherry Knowle (LF’s debut release) sound as if it was
recorded at the same time as The Last and Horsebox (Horsebox
being their first full length release since their breakup).
While most bands that span a decade tend to alter/change their
sound, LF keeps true to their initial roots, and that’s
exactly why Leatherface can stare into the face of adversity
and keep smiling. Fans of LF have probably already picked
this release up but for the few out there who haven’t
yet heard F. Stubbs smooth songwriting and rough vocals, please
do so. -RA
Jim White - No Such Place
Luaka Bop
If I had to pigeon hole Jim White, I’d call him hip-hop
hillbilly. His debut CD was more hillbilly meets Americana
via Tom Waits, but on No Such Place, he’s added a new
flavor via collaborators like Morcheeba, Q-Burns Abstract
Message and Sohichiro Suzuki. The hillbilly white trash feel
is still present though with recurring lyrics like, “Got
a Corvair in my front yard. It hasn’t run in fifteen
years. It’s a home for the birds now. It’s no longer
a car.” In the tradition of early roots music, White’s
a storyteller and his songs are observations and vignettes
that take a look at the odd situations that life brings, but
in a much more sympathetic way than Jerry Springer. The other
thing I really like about White’s CDs is the accompanying
art and packaging, and No Such Place is no disappointment
in that department. When I bought this CD (nope it wasn’t
a freebie), it came with a special promo CD of White and Luaka
Bop owner David Byrne talking about White’s music and
a booklet with a true story by White, called Blessings and
Curses. It’s a good short story. White’s got a lot
of religion in him as well as a literary bent. Both are unusual
in pop music, and this is an unusual record. That’s a
good thing. -JB
Billy Bob Thornton - Private Radio
Lost Highway
Billy Bob’s a great director/actor and he’s got
good taste in music, as evidenced by Slingblade and it’s
score by Dan Lanois. But, this album is destined to be a classic
in the same way that William Shatner’s Lucy In The Sky
With Diamonds is a classic. Look for the re-issue on Rhino
in about 10 years. I guess one of the problems with being
rich and powerful is that nobody ever tells you ‘No.’
-JB
