Music Reviews

KRS-One
Spiritual Minded
In The Paint Records
In The Paint Records, a refuge for major hip-hop artists such as Rza and KRS-One does for the genre what Portrait Records did for glam rock’s forgotten acts, Ratt and Great White. KRS-One, however, is still a viable force in the scene and continues to write raps meant to educate and uplift rather than brag about material excess. Following in the footsteps of Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy, KRS-One uses his power on the mic to express his disdain for the naysayers. On Spiritual Minded, KRS-One’s experiences post 9-11 can be found on tracks like Take Your Tyme and Good Bye, which mentions some his fellow fallen rappers. Sure, KRS-One is telling all on his 10th album but, hey, hasn’t that always been the case? BB Jay and T-Bone offer their services as well to add a gospel lean. Fans of KRS-One I Got Next or earlier works may be surprised at the religious themes. In any case, tracks like South Bronx 2002 show that Chris still got game. In the immortal words of KRS, “It’s the temple of hip-hop comin’ with a whole different flow.” -Eddie Jorgensen

Le Tigre
Feminist Sweepstakes
Mr. Lady
I thought the idea of feminism had taken the back seat to realism and had re-emerged as a less vocal version to counter the backlash that makes some of the strongest, most independent women I know detach themselves from the loaded term. Or, perhaps, I’ve adopted this idea because I’m not in college anymore and the vast majority of women just grit their teeth and take the bullshit. Le Tigre is vocal about their feminism. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has heard of Riot Grrrls, Bikini Kill, or band members, Kathleen Hanna, Johanna Fateman, and J.D. Samson. The album uses a base understanding of feminist ideology and politics against poppy, catchy, punk dance music. While the music is for the ladies and fags, by the band with the roller skate jams, I imagine their feminist politics and music is more of an identifier not making it much further than it’s audience. Their electro-clash sounds, however, are being embraced far beyond the socially liberal. This album is more hopeful than most politicized feminist music in that it is funky enough to get most rumps swingin’‚ rather than focused on gloom, analysis and emotional baggage. The witty fun Le Tigre has with being annoyed is enjoyable. Tres Bien! -Ruvan

Cypress Hill
Stoned Raiders
Columbia
The Hill is back with a vengeance on Stoned Raiders. This disc sounds fresh and is full of lyrical fire and brimstone. When B-Real spits a venomous line, no matter what he’s saying, you want to agree because it sounds so good. The D.J. team of the Soul Assassins come through again with some hard hitting beats and their trademark eerie loops and hooks. With Sen Dog back on board this album could be called their best ever. Spicing it up with guest M.C.’s like Kurupt, Method Man, and King Tee doesn’t hurt either. After the success of their Smokin’ Grooves tour, Cypress Hill could have just put it on autopilot and released a half-assed record and still cleaned up. Listen to Stoned Raiders though and you can hear it. The group is hungry again. They attack the mic and console like it was all out war. After selling 15 million records you think these guys might relax a little. But when you love Hip Hop you don’t just do it for the money. You just want to do it. -Drew Lawson

King Diamond
Abigail II: The Revenge
Metal Blade Records
From the very first Mercyful Fate album, it was evident that falsetto frontman, King Diamond, grabbed the bull – or should I say goat? – by the horns and exerted his control over his bandmates. On his latest effort, KD and his rotating band of metal gypsies – only guitarist Andy La Rocque remains from the original line-up - seem more focused than ever. As always, this album continues his concept album idea and features a family tree for his satanic minions to admire and gloat over. Abigail II: The Revenge carries on the story of a broken household marred by memory (and presence) of the stillbirth of Abigail La Fey. Like Anton La Vey’s heritage, the imaginary La Fey dynasty makes for an interesting story. Fans of KD’s earlier albums such as Them and The Portrait should headbang to the rapture made by the rhythm section of Hal Patino (bass) and Matt Thompson (drums). You got to give any man credit who can weave evil tales without sounding like W.A.S.P.’s Blackie Lawless in a vacuum. KD rules…. -Eddie Jorgensen

Strife
Angermeans
Victory Records
Los Angeles’ Strife had a lot to prove ten years ago. After all, the veritable output of that region equated to formulaic glam rock and incompetent funk rock spin-offs. Like their East Coast brethren, Earth Crisis, Strife gained a following through incessant touring. Four years after the release of In This Defiance, which gained the band worldwide recognition and featured members of Sacramento’s Deftones, Fear Factory (also from Los Angeles), and Brazil’s Sepultura. Angermeans finds the reunited band back at the helm of hardcore. Rick Rodney’s vocals are as passionate as his lyrics are poignant. From the blistering opener, Rise Again, to the anti-war anthem, Spill No Blood, it’s clear that these LA natives have an agenda to educate the masses. Strife’s message of solidarity and opposition are stronger than ever as evidenced on the title track and From These Graves, another anti-hate anthem for 2001/2002. -Eddie Jorgensen

BIS
Return To Central
Bug Music
Techno and Pop fuse to create a cool, flowing sound on Return To Central. Adding vocals adds a new dimension to what can normally be a tedious dance genre. This band has many similar elements as one of my favorite groups, Chumbawhamba. Identically the female vocals on BIS are rich and disarming over the hypnotic loops and beats. For this brand of music BIS ranks pretty darn high. Also the girl singer is cute in a kind of nerdy way, which I like! -Drew Lawson

Royksopp
Melody AM
Wall of Sound
The intro of the album has the feeling of waking up on a Saturday morning, a little curious, funky, a bit sleepy and light enough not to irritate the hangover. Some may be inspired to light the roach from the ashtray. Most of the music is instrumental, evoking similar feelings to early Air. As the album gets to the middle, the disco infusion one might have been expecting kicks in. Thus, Saturday morning’s weight is lifted up while vaguely reminiscent sounds ebb and techno pulses. -Ruvan

MI6
Lunchbox
Kung Fu
I’m sick of the term “Pop-Punk”’, so I am going to use something else instead. This band plays fast, fun, great sounding music that incorporates elements of both punk Rock and Pop music. Whew! They also might remind you of a band I am also sick of using for comparison. Let’s just say they’re name rhymes with “Stink One Eighty Poo”. O.K.? That is an unfair comparison though, since MI6 is like fine champagne compared to malt liquor. These guys are so good! Great vocals, lyrics that run from brilliant to the absurd, and musicianship second to none in the genre. The up-tempo speed mixed with singer Ken Peterson’s melodic vocals is like a five course meal for your ears. This is an enhanced C.D. also, which is a bonus in this case. Hats off to Kung Fu records for signing these guys. They rip. -Drew Lawson

Juliana Theory
Music from Another Room
Tooth & Nail
Juliana Theory is back with a nice little EP of unreleased songs. None of the songs were intended to be on this EP they were all just “sitting around” so they put them together and there you have it. A nice conscious effort on The Juliana Theory’s part for all their diehard collector fans, or a good contract filler with Tooth & Nail before they make the big leap in to the majors (Epic), you decide. -DK

Hayden
Skyscraper National Park
Badman Recording Company
Practically everybody put Hayden’s Everything I Long For in their top ten. Unfortunately, not even critical acclaim and well-attended shows were enough to keep Hayden from suffering the fate of major label shuffleboard. His latest album, on the San Francisco-based Badman, comes on the heels of a three year hiatus. Skyscraper… features a stripped down recording exuding the best qualities in Americana and folk music. From melodrama and confusion (Dynamite Walls) to self-assertion and knowing (see Carried Away), Hayden’s latest reads like an entry in his personal diary. What makes Hayden albums so entirely gripping, again, is his attention to aesthetics (the well-timed instrumental Tea Pad). What makes his albums special is the warmth and depth held within. If Lullaby doesn’t set the night on fire, nothing will. -Eddie Jorgensen

Lambchop
Is A Woman
Merge Records
Yearning for the day when Eddy Arnold, Chet Atkins, or Merle Haggard would lay down their guard and get introspective? Looking for an alternative to Tindersticks that won’t leave you feeling suicidal? The Lambchop collective, which boasts twenty members in their entourage, succeed in creating true ‘alternative’ country with drunken ballads such as My Blue Wave or Caterpillar. Led by Kurt Wagner’s brooding vocals, this Nashville-based ensemble redefines the genre and confuses the listener with occasional melancholy nods to Hank Williams Sr.Tracks like the quirky D. Scott Paisley simmer and showcase the many strata of instrumentation. From timpani to vibes, acetone to the Moog, Lambchop further escape any pigeonholing attempts. The secret’s in the sauce. -Eddie Jorgensen

JJ72
S/T
Columbia
Hailing from Dublin, Ireland JJ72 is the best thing to come from Ireland since...You guessed it, that other band with numbers and letters in their name...When I first heard singer Mark Greaney’s very feminine voice I swore bassist, Hillary was their singer...The vocal melodies will have you humming right along. The best thing about JJ 72 is that is the freshest thing I’ve heard to come from overseas in a while. You can hear hints of London Suede and Pulp, which will please any fans of those bands mentioned. Standout tracks are definitely October Swimmer and Oxygen. This stuff rules. -Shaun L.

Tommy Guerrero
Junk Collector
Mo Wax
TG oozed style and soul as a member of the Bones Brigade. These days he’s still got the style and soul but now it comes out in his music. This is his second disc for the MoWax label and with a bit more of groove feel, it seems to fit the Mo Wax roster a bit more. Compared to his last disc, A Little Bit of Something, Junk Collector has more of an contemporary electronic sound with more samples and manipulations whereas Something had an almost retro be-bop jazz guitar feel with hip-hop-ish beats. I think they’re both great discs. Tommy’s also got great taste in visual artists. Something featured art by Margaret Kilgallen (RIP) while Junk Collector has a sleeve drawn and designed by Mark Gonzales. -JB

Karate
Cancel/Sing
Southern
Somewhere between jazz and rock; somewhere between structure and improvisation. This is where the three gentlemen who make up this Boston, MA trio known as Karate make their musical home. While this CDEP only has two songs, it still clocks in at over 26 minutes and feels quite substantial and worth the investment. I’ve seen this band play live and in my opinion they’re one of the better outfits in the independent music scene right now. -JB

Piebald
We Are The Only Friends We Have
Big Wheel Recreation
Piebald is one of those bands I’ve heard about from lots of people but have never heard until this release. Now I see what the buzz is all about. Working similar territory to bands that might get labeled as pop, punk or emo Piebald separates themselves from the pack with songwriting that is way above average, both lyrically and melodically. Produced by Paul Kolderie (Radiohead, Hole, The Pixies) this album makes excellent use of the studio in both it’s arrangements and sound without being overproduced. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if this was a breakout album for the band. Regardless, they should be proud of this disc and if you like well crafted rock n’ roll with a pop sensibility you should really check this out. -JB

Cub Country
High Uinta High
Jade Tree
This is a solo album from Jets To Brazil bassist Jeremy Chatelain that he recorded at home in his apartment. With some help from his friends in Jets as well as members from bands such as Rival Schools, Euphone, Lunachicks, Helmet and Orange 9mm, this is absolutely nothing like what you’d expect from the folks involved. I hesitate to use the word “country” but many of the songs are rooted in the folksier side of country, yet still fall into more of a straight ahead rock type singer-songwriter context. Whatever you call it, this disc is a lovely and heartfelt slice of music. It has a great, laid back feel and great songs that somewhat reminds me of the Beatles Let It Be, although I should make a disclaimer that I’m often thinking of that disc which I no longer own quite a bit lately, so I could be pretty off base here. Regardless, this is a great disc and I highly recommend that you check it out if you dig good songs. -JB

Flogging Molly
Drunken Lullabies
Side One Dummy
Unfortunately I’m too pretentious to just sit down and enjoy good music. In my case especially “Irish” music or an American hybrid version. After 20 years of living in Ireland, escaping Ireland and now having to endure the “keepin it real” or the “oh you’re from Ireland. I’m from Ireland too, my grandparents left there in 1875”. It’s not that I’m not patriotic, it’s just that the symbol has been dragged through every American pop culture, whim and trend du jour. I’ve had enough. Back to the band, Flogging Molly. Are they from Ireland, and does it matter. It does to me. If they are, they make me proud. This is some great drinkin’, rowdy shit. Shane MacGowan would feel this in his decrepit, drugged out, alcoholic body. If they’re not Irish (by my definition), they still make me proud. Who cares where they’re from, this music gets in under your skin; it’ll make an Italian try some fucked up river dancin. What ever country, you’ll love this. This has got soul (not the brotha soul), real down in your guts, heart beatin, pulse drivin balls out soul. -John Brady

Brandtson
Dial in Sounds
Deep Elm
Ten songs to tickle your sensitive side and calm your pop rock (not the candy) cravings long enough until you the shake for your next fix. Most of the songs are about a significant other but not in an annoying “I love you” fashion. The lyrics are tasteful and unique in a way that most people can relate to. Poppy indie style familiar to Death Cab for Cutie but more rock with subtle hints of a Modest Mouse influence. Good stuff worth finding, plus your friends will think you’re cool cause they have never heard of them before. -Dustin Klein

Watch it Burn
Radio Pollution
Rise Records
Everyone’s favorite band is back! As Watch It Burn make their return with their latest release Radio Pollution, they sound energetic, a bit refreshed and better than ever. Plus, they haven’t lost the good-times-and-good-friends vibe for which they have become notorious. Radio Pollution proves to be reason to celebrate. The CD gets off to a great start with the inevitable classic Dust. The re-dux of Magnify (which first appeared on the Lucky Split CD with Tenpin) sounds grown up and polished. On a personal note, my favorite thing about this CD is the hilarious irony that the title track IS a radio song (and a great one at that.) One of Many stands out as one of the highlights and is also a classic example of Led singing straight from his heart. He sings what we all think but don’t know how to say. 2nd Season is a ripping song. And what would a Watch It Burn album be without their best buddy and most-requested party song, West Up (which, by the way, only gets better with age.) Radio Pollution is a fun, rocking disc. The lyrics are easy to relate to and there are no frills, no desperate attempts at maintaining your interest. It does that enough on it’s own. -Jennifer Nobles

The Starting Line
With Hopes of Starting Over
Drive Thru
These guys look about 19 years old on average, which sickens me because they play like they are 45! This is a 5 song E.P., which is the bad part. The good part is that this is a really great band. Emo Power Pop that kicks butt on wussy pop groups. Kinda like At The Drive In, but more mellow. These songs connect both musically and lyrically. I am looking forward to seeing these guys live. The singer’s voice is always what makes or breaks a band for me. And The Starting Line’s Ken Vasoli sounds great. Check out www.drivethrurecords.com for this and other cool bands you WON’T see on MTV. -Drew Lawson

The Avalanches
Gimix Radio Mix Bootleg
Modular Records
What do Jimi Hendrix, Cindy Lauper, Deee-Lite, Michael Jackson, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Bob Dylan, Madonna, and Tribe Called Quest, and The Smiths have in common? This 45 minute bootleg DJ radio mix may be the most interesting of its kind. DJ Dexter and Robbie of the Avalanches have a special treat for you. The result of their creativity is so sick; it’s nothing short of amazing. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get a hold of this recording. Any music-lover must check this out...by any means necessary. If you haven’t sat down with headphones and listened to The Avalanches debut album, Since I Left You, you should do that sometime, too. -Ruvan

Daryll-Ann
Happy Traum
Excelsior
The Dutch are infamous for being neither here nor there. Their culture is socially progressive and chill as ever. The sound of Daryll-Ann is similar-warm and welcoming, just as one might expect the trip to Amsterdam to be. These Dutch homeys are rockin’ soft-core central valley style progressive indie rock that will definitely go over well on independent radio and with the majority of hip chicks. While songs like Desmond Don’t Go remind me of Brit-pop fun, other songs scream college rock in the early 90s sense of the term. There are elements of folk and hippiness in their sound, the guitar parts wonderfully crafted. The singer’s voice is warm, and when his Dutch accent creeps out, it almost sounds cute. -Ruvan

Liars Academy
No News is Good News
Equal Vision Records
How many times do you get a new album and you think that it is going to be the greatest thing and nine times out of ten it just ends up being nothing beyond average. No News is Good News is that tenth time. Liars Academy is amazing; they contribute the perfect blend of indie, rock, punk and hardcore all with a unique emotionally driven style. LA is going to be a reference point when describing this certain style of music in the future. Find, steal, borrow, no matter what you do it is well worth the time to find this album. -DK

Tomahawk
Tomahawk
Ipecac recordings
This brand new super group consists of members from Melvins, Helmet, Jesus Lizard, and of course one of the hardest workingmen in rock, Mike Patton. As maybe some could guess it sounds like a mixture of all of those bands. Lying heavily somewhere between Jesus Lizard and Mr. Bungle. Patton is in top form of course, showing that he is still one of the most influential singers. Jesus Lizard type grooves blend well with Patton’s minor sounding vocal melodies. Very worth the buck for any Patton fan. He won’t let you down. -Shaun L.

Finch
Falling into Place
Drive Thru
This 4 song by Finch is an amazing peek into what is to come from this refreshing four piece. A blend some where in between Boy Sets Fire and Jimmy Eat World, very melodic with screaming backing vocals that work quite well. If I am not mistaken this just might be the first band on Drive Thru that doesn’t sound exactly like Blink 182. -DK

Margo Guryan
Take a Picture
Oglio
Margo Guryan is one of those 60s chicks whose sound reminds me of free love and flowers. Her sounds range from jazzy to funk-rock to campy, her voice somewhere along the lines of the Mamas and the Papas and the chick from Belle and Sebastian, only she was pioneering the style. You can almost feel her long, hippie hair blowing in the wind as she runs through lowly pastures and such. Much of her music is orchestrated with string instruments, lyrically involving the finer things in life, like the sun, Sunday mornings, love songs, rain, getting rid of bed bugs, etc. Her voice is remarkable, which has caught the attention of modern rockers, like Shirley Manson of Garbage, who give Margo respect. After listening to the first two tracks, you’ll either start missing your loved ones or smoke some incredibly chill ganja and sway to the pillowy sounds. -Ruvan

Tosca
Suzuki in Dub
K7
Richard Dorfmeister is hittin’ it again with Tosca. In the album, Germany’s favorite stoner remixes some of his favorite tunes in a way that feels inspired by sex, drugs, and button pushing. While the album starts off sounding sexy, it moves into a lounge-like feel, and then stoner style takes over in the end. This is his drugged-out, feel-good prescription to those who like to fuck, chill and/or smoke mad weed. -Ruvan

Armand Van Helden
Repro
Armed Records
This remix album, in short, proves why Armand Van Helden is one of the most sought after remixers with ladies on him like flies on shit in and out of the clubs he packs so matter-of-factly across the globe. While his last original release had the self-indulgency of a masturbation session, this release is like him making love to other people’s songs. On the album he remixes the likes of New Order, Sneaker Pimps, Sagat, Daft Punk, Nuyorican Soul and Faithless. The album should come with a “Warning: House Music” sticker. -Ruvan

Tenacious D
S/T
Epic
The first time I heard Tribute, the third song on The D’s debut masterpiece, I was floored. Neo-famous film actor and physical funny man Jack Black and his elderly cohort Kyle Gass are armed with acoustical wizardry and lyrical genius. This is a rock record. If you grew up on rock, and take yourself seriously, yet are still ready to laugh your fuckin’ balls off, this is the best record of the year. With influences from Queen to Weezer, The D deliver 21 tracks that will have you in stitches and still banging your head. The album is produced by The Dust Brothers (B Boys, Beck, Tone Loc) and has guests ranging from Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo’s) to Warren Fitzgerald (The Vandals) to kiwi jazz/world/Celtic master Steve McDonald and the list goes on. This album rules, everyone should own it. -SM

Scratch Soundtrack
Transparent Music
Transparent Music
Under ordinary circumstances, I try hard to stay away from movie soundtracks, especially when they bare the horrible caveat “music inspired by the film.” It’s bad enough that some bullshit fucking film company is churning out an inevitably shitty movie, but the fact that they feel the need to produce an equally shitty compilation of random songs, many of which weren’t even in the goddamn movie, just to swindle poor young fools out of an additional 15 bucks, is some seriously sick, fucked up, corporate bullshit. One of the biggest let-downs I’ve experienced was learning that Deftones were on The Matrix soundtrack and waiting the whole fucking movie to hear My Own Summer, only to find out that not only wasn’t the song actually in the film, but that they chopped the shit out of Wake Up, my favorite Rage song! Later, when I saw The Matrix soundtrack in a music store, I noticed that goddamn evil little phrase printed in tiny letters above the title. To tell you the truth, only a select few soundtracks have been worthy of my attention, including that of The Crow, Rushmore, Mallrats, Boogie Nights, and Requiem for a Dream and a few others, which I am inevitably forgetting. Fortunately, I can now add another disc to my list, The Scratch Soundtrack. Although this disc features music entirely inspired by the film, the situation, in this case, is entirely different. Scratch is a documentary film on the evolution of the Hip Hop dj and his (rarely her) role within the genre. The soundtrack consists of performances from a variety of influential Hip Hop djs spinning and cutting up a variety of poignant and influential tracks spanning Hip Hop’s constantly evolving existence. Featuring performances by Rob Swift, Faust and Shortee, Babu, DJ Shadow, Grandmixer DXT, Qbert and Mixmaster Mike, the Scratch Soundtrack is nothing short of a true Hip Hop aficionado’s dream mix. From Old skool to New, the tracks, interspersed with short interview bits from the djs themselves, flow like crazy ass rhymes from Biz Markie’s mouth. If you know anything about Hip Hop, then you know that the list of names featured on this disc means nothing but the craziest scratching this side of a DMC Championship. And if you don’t know anything, then pick up the Scratch Soundtrack and educate ‘chaself chile! -Andy Barrett

The Philadelphia Experiment
S/T
Rope-a-Dope
Topaz
The Zone
Velour
If you are under the impression that jazz is dead, then I’ve got two discs for you that will certainly make a strong argument to the contrary. First, we have a disc from The Philadelphia Experiment. Regarding The Philly Experiment’s line up, the oxymoron “jazz power-trio super-group” immediately comes to mind, but there are no two ways about it: this band is overflowing with talent. If there was another way about it, even though I said there wasn’t, it would be the way that low-end monster Christian McBride, accomplished ivory-tickler Uri Caine and soon to be legendary rhythm machine Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson of The Roots fame utilize their individual talents in combination to achieve that classic tight-but-loose feel that jazz is supposed to be about, while simultaneously showcasing their individual musical personalities without being painfully eccentric or making it obvious who contributed what to what song (read: Oysterhead). Grooves? Deep, but ever flowing and constantly changing sounds? Crisp, analog, warm; barrowing from but never really copying the masters. Philly? Born and raised, this disc is essential for anyone who considers themselves up on the times, jazz or otherwise. However, if acid is your jazz of choice, then perhaps you would be better suited ingesting some Topaz. His new disc, The Zone, will undoubtedly transform your chill pad into a giant chill elevator. When this happens, you will inevitably be alarmed, more by the fact that you’re listening to something that could be classified as Acid Jazz, than the startling morphasis of your room. But fear not, my young friend, for many of the same qualities that we observed from the Philly boys are present here too. Garnished with tight horn lines courtesy of Topaz, the sax-wiz and leader of the band himself, the only thing better than listening to The Zone is definitely seeing the band perform it’s craft in a live setting. Drummer Christian Urich’s drum “solos” are easily some of the best and most entertaining (for lack of a better word) entities involving the drums I’ve ever seen, and are worth the cost of admission alone. One of the most interesting things that I’ve noticed about both this disc and that of the Philly Experiment is the effect that they have on the scene of a party. So next time the ale is flowing, the smoke thick and the masses are throwing down, try putting on either of these discs and sit back and watch as your ordinary shindig begins to ooze with a newfound style and class that was never before present when Back that Azz Up was dominating the stereo. -Andy Barrett

The Anniversary
Your Majesty
Vagrant
Wow. A hauntingly beautiful second release from the Lawrence five some. Someone must have stuck a knife in emo because watching bands like The Anniversary and Promise Ring continue to morph into their current states is a surprising yet wonderful departure from the bland and boredom of today’s independent music scene. These songs are rich with the ghosts of rock past and could easily play on any classic rock station smack dab between Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd. It’s loud enough to shake you but mellow enough to make your mother proud. The songs are timeless and the band plays as if they’ve gone platinum a million times over. The signature harmonies and keyboards are still there, but the new wave has evaporated. Who needs it? This could be a classic. -Brad Oates

Farm Crew
Revenge of M.C. Banana
Hermit
They started the Farm Crew for the ladies because they found out that rap stars get all the honeys. At first, I thought this album was going to be tacky art-schoolers doing Rap. Surprisingly, the beats and mixing are fun and make the head nod. The lyrics are witty, educated, unpredictable, and often hysterical, “Last week I called Bill Gates a strange freak…but then I got beat up on the street by a group of computer geeks…orthopedic shoes, acne and thing glasses…buncha fuckin’ spazzes, pants pulled above they asses…stabbing me like Jigga with they Star Trek figures…got bashed with laptops by those fuckin mouse clickers.” Somewhere between The Pharcyde, Eminem, and Princess Superstar, these boys are the goofy younger cousins. Check them out. -Ruvan

Once11
Once11 Versus the Pyramid
The Agriculture
Producer, Once11, is a Brooklynite transplanted to Barcelona, where he comes up with these dubby, dream-filled soundscapes that will have you bobbing your head back and forth. This instrumental album utilizes a variety of sounds, water dripping, motorcycles, accordions, upright bass, pianos, synths, and an occasional guitar. Once11 is clearly influenced by the ganja, ska, reggae, and the likes. I imagine his idea of a good time is loungin’‚ and skankin’‚ as his music is complimentary. -Ruvan

The Movielife
Has A gambling Problem
Drive-Thru Records
East Coast Rockers, The Movielife, are back with a new label and a brand spanking new E.P. entitled, Has a Gambling Problem (as in the Movielife has a...). If you’ve never heard of the Movielife you’re missing out. Good solid punk rock with a hint of emo and some steady song writing make this a very nice debut for Drive-Thru Records. They’ve released a ton of stuff over the past two years and every single release that I’ve heard just rocks the s**t out of me! This five-song gem is exactly what I needed to hear at this point in my life and I thank the guy’s personally for writing such great songs. -Robb Armstrong

Lovage
Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By
75 Ark
So you want to try something new tonight? Spice up the love making process. The candles don’t work anymore and fucking incense gives you a headache. Every position has been done and the old lady ain’t into you poking the poop shoot tonight. Your fucked is what your saying? It takes so many things to make love last and in this fast paced world of one night stands and cock teases it’s very rare that you have a friend on your side, besides the date rape drug, GHB. Put Lovage in your stereo and blue balls is a thing of the past. Dan The Automator, Mike Patton of Faith No More Fame, and Jennifer Charles will help keep the romance fresh and the premature ejaculation to a minimum with their blend of silky smooth musical revelry chalked full of drum & bass, sensual vocal uproars and the accompaniment of a guitar here and there. It’s a devastating concoction that will have the ladies swooning and the men in awe. Get this, the most fuckable album of the year. -Brad Oates

Justin Robertson
Presents Revtone
NuPhonic
Justin Robertson’s release displays a savvy blend of 80’s New York style punk disco and Chicago house. This whole album is upbeat, light sometimes and hard at others. While the production quality is obviously of this decade, there is a sleaze factor and vocal quality, as in Everpresent, that feels very New Wavy. That combined with some of the older sounding percussion samples can make the music nostalgic at times. A few songs, like Ready to Depart, sound like they could be used in a chase scene of A-Team. In My Dark Places, Robertson lets us know that he can get mysterious and shady, providing less glitter. The darkness is lifted up with Sunshine Whatever, which brings it all back to the surface of disco loops with underwater vocals. The album ends with a pretty, jazz-infused tropical track celebrating all of his trademark sounds, Everyday Haunting. Perhaps because of his remixing of Suede, Manic Street Preachers, Stone Roses, Stereo MCs, Happy Mondays, Bjork, The Chemical Brothers and New Order, Robertson’s musical efforts are well received by ex-Brit-Pop heads. -Ruvan

Puffball
The Super Commando
Gearhead
The Dead Kennedys meet Motorhead to create a fast, wild sound with more grit than a sand sandwich. This is great driving music if you have a souped up muscle car and lots of open road. In fact Puffball is all about fast cars and living on the edge it would seem. All the songs start cold with no foreplay, then just rip. And they are all car related. Perfect for the gearhead in your life. Jumper cables not included. -Drew Lawson

The Undecided
S/T
BMI
As big as the “Pop- Punk” thing gets, I can’t help liking it. And this band is no exception. Fast and powerful, mixed with melodic vocals, this album is great from start to finish. With a sound something like Blink, The Undecided stands out in a couple of ways. Their lyrics have a real sense of maturity and show a positive direction, which is refreshing. And their songs really draw you into each situation and create a mood or ambiance that I really liked. The other point about this album is the band members are Christians. And while they do touch on the subject in the album, it is done so subtly, you rarely notice if at all. Most Christian music is about as subtle as being hit over the head with a brick. I’ve heard a good deal of it and it’s more marketing than anything. Jesus! Jesus! YA YA YA!!! Buy our C.D.!!! Frankly it pretty much blows. I am not against Christian music at all. Just BAD Christian music. Or any music that sucks for that matter. So on top of being a great Pop Punk band, The Undecided have earned more praise by showing a C.D. can have those elements and still appeal to lots of different people. Two thumbs up and a Hail Mary! -Drew Lawson

SUV
Desert Rose
Full Cycle Recordings
Coming from Roni Size’s Full Cycle crew, SUV is one of the last from the crew to release a full length. This will please any fan of the Full Cycle stuff but will also appeal to people that think Drum ‘n Bass is sometimes unlistenable or repetitive. A lot of guitar playing on this record, which seems to be somewhat refreshing for Drum ‘n Bass. One of the better full-length Drum ‘n Bass records I have heard in a while. Check it out. -Shaun L.

Metamatics
From Death to Passwords Where You’re a Paper Aeroplane
Hydrogen Dukebox
Lee Norris aka Metamatics investigates more of electronica’s deeper, emotionally melodic side in his latest effort, From Death to Passwords Where You’re a Paper Aeroplane. The sound is refined experimental, more accessible and dreamy than, say, Aphex Twin. It’s pleasant and the album’s consistency allows it to be played all the way through. -Ruvan

Norken
Spring Themes
Hydrogen Dukebox
You know the music that people play when they meditate, like you’re walking through a field of flowers and you get to a rock that overlooks the ocean and stuff? Well Norken/Lee Norris aka Metamatics takes this music and adds subtle beats, syncopation, and tech sounds to make an album that’s very relaxing, very accessible, very explorative, very sensitive, very enlightening and highly recommended for the stressed clubber, the upbeat New-Ager and the chill cat. -Ruvan

Wu-Tang Clan
Iron Flag
Loud Records
I have an ongoing conversation with one of my co-workers about hip-hop artist’s debut records always being so much better than their follow-ups. My co-worker’s argument is essentially “The artist has their whole life to make their debut record. They have years of inspiration and experience that they can concentrate into one single effort.” I think that’s one of the biggest crocks of shit I’ve ever heard. You mean to tell me you can only really be inspired once in your life? I won’t even begin my argument against that diarrhea of the mouth because I’m supposed to be talking about the Wu-Tang Clan. I’m happy to say the Wu-Tang is back! I’ll be the first to admit that the last 2 Wu-Tang Clan albums fucking blew. Then again anything you try to follow up 36 Chambers with is going to blow. What in the hell are you supposed to do when you put out a record that turns the hip-hop scene upside down and then slaps it around like a redheaded stepchild? So maybe my co-worker has more of an argument than I’d like to admit, but how do you explain Iron Flag? Granted, there is some total horseshit on this album but the rest of it is so damn good you quickly forget about tracks like One Of These Days or Babies. The opening track In The Hood could have easily been included on 36 Chambers. It’s minimal, it’s dirty, it’s menacing, and full of that big “fuck you and all your friends and their friends too” attitude that saturated the Wu’s best work. Flavor Flav’s appearance on Soul Power makes you wonder why the Wu hasn’t just made him part of the clan (ODB is locked up…they might as well get a new freak). Ya’ll Been Warned is another standout track. Method Man’s voice over The RZA’s damaged (to the point of just overloading the shit out of the drums) beats is darker than black. It’s just pure urban evil. The beats and loops on Radioactive (Four Assassins) sounds like a lost rhythm track from Public Enemy’s Fear of A Black Planet (the RZA is still the shit and his production on Iron Flag as a whole is “unfuckwithable”). We all knew The Wu still had it in them and they’ve proven it with Iron Flag. Granted, The Wu-Tang Clan hasn’t made a better record than 36 Chambers but they made a damn good record (even without the “lifetime of inspiration and experience” they poured into their debut). -Jacob C. Jordan

Deep Dish
GU21- Moscow
Global Underground
The boys at Global Underground have been working hard at getting club music to the masses on an international level. This release features Washington DC’s Grammy nominated DJ/Producer team, Deep Dish, capturing the best parts of their set from an appearance in Moscow’s Club XIII. The dance music is accessible, notably vocal and spanning in sound, most of it on the darker side with heavy, pounding beats. 16B vs. Morel’s Escape (Driving to Heaven) introduces the album in an introspective manner. Deep Dish remixes Dido’s Thank You and the result is the best version of the song I’ve heard. The 2CD set also includes Markus Shultz’s tweaked interpretation of Fatboy Slim’s Bird of Prey as well as a mix of BT’s dub-ish Shame. If you were wondering why artists like Madonna come knocking on Deep Dish’s door, this may provide some answers. –Ruvan

Comp. Reviews
Live Albums
Trent Reznor, the control freak a.k.a. Nine Inch Nails has released no less than three new projects this month on his Nothing label, all titled And All That Could Have Been. One’s a DVD of NIN’s last tour and one’s a live CD of the tour. I haven’t seen the DVD, but the live CD doesn’t do too much for me. Reznor’s genius lies in the studio in my opinion and his bombastic pretentiousness is a bit much on the live disc. The third disc subtitled Still is much more interesting with remixes of songs going as far back as the brilliant Pretty Hate Machine and several unreleased new studio tracks. If you like NIN, skip the live stuff and pick up the Still disc. Like The Fragile the sleeve design by David Carson is pretty cool and fits the cold NIN vibe. Reznor is musically brilliant and when he loses the angst and rock star vibe, he’ll make some amazing and timeless records. In the meantime we’ll have to make do with NIN. Duane Peters and the U.S. Bombs have put out Lost In America/Live on Disaster Records. This rocks and sounds good and fans will surely need to own it, but trust me, it’s no substitute for seeing the Bombs live if they come to your town, so make sure and go if they do. Continuing in their new tradition of cool live albums with a cool comic book to go along with it is Bracket’s Live In A Dive from Fat Wreck. This is a great idea and a great series. Feel the need for something a bit different?? Then check out the 1st Annual Upstate New York Harmonica Blow Off Live At Styleens Rhythm Palace on Queen Bee Records. That’s 1AUNYHBOLASRP for short. Antiseen also has a live disc, Screamin’ Bloody Live on TKO Records as part of their Ringside series. And finally Samhain Live 85-86 is out on Evilive Records. I had to arm wrestly Eddie Jorgensen for this one so you know it’s gonna be suitably heavy.
Soundtracks
The OST to The Mothman Prophecies on Lakeshore Records is very cool: two discs, one with the score by tomandandy and the other with songs from the movie by Low, King Black Acid and Glen Branca. Props to the filmakers for seeking out some good original music instead of the usual John Williams score or medley of lame TRL hits. The Scorpion King OST on Universal has 16 tracks from some of today’s best known loud bands like Godsmack, P.O.D., Drowning Pool, System Of A Down, Creed, Nickelback, Hoobastank, Rob Zombie, Sevendust, Coal Chamber and lots more.
Tributes
If I Was Prince is not only a great title, but it’s one of the better tribute comps I’ve heard in quite a long time. From Rex Records in the UK, this is also one of the most beautifully packaged CDs I’ve seen in quite a while. I usually don’t dig tributes, but this is done with love and care and even if you don’t like Prince, I think you’ll dig it. If you do like Prince, you’ll dig it even more. Instead of a bunch of big name cheese bands, If I has mostly underground bands (except Hefner) who obviously have an affinity to the man formerly known as....
Reissues
If you’re into the Psychedelic Furs, then you’re stuper stoked that their self titled disc along with Talk Talk Talk and Forever Now are all being re-released by Columbia Legacy in super fat expanded and enhanced versions. Wild Pitch Classics on Wild Pitch/JCOR has scads of classic and influential hip-hop from outfits like Gang Starr, The Coup, Ultramagnetic MCs and lots more.