MUSIC REVIEWS:
RW#19-18
< 20-21 19-18 17-16 15-14 13-12 11-10 9-7 6-4 3-1 >
RW #19 (2003)
A18
foreverafternothing (Victory)
With song titles like, "Scars Upon Scars," and "Bury Me Breathing," suicide-themed
packaging, and a very cryptically written press release (which I didn't understand
any of) compels me to dub this A18 release the "feel bad album of the year."
It's like a thirty minute trip to Bummersville, man!—Irresistible Frank
THE ADVENTURES OF JET
Muscle (Suburban Home)
The concept of this record is muscle cars. Pretty tuff, huh? Kinda gets you
in the mood for flames shooting up the side and dual exhaust and ram rods and
what not. But instead of being a high octane, sideburned, rock and roll outfit,
AOJ is a keyboard driven pop band that is about as far from muscle cars as a
Yugo. If I had to listen to this CD in a car I would prefer that it was parked
in the garage with the engine running. AOJ make The Cars sound like freakin'
Motorhead—Joey Germ
ARMOR FOR SLEEP
Dream to Make Believe (Equal Vision)
Music for sleep, to make you sleepy, to put your ass to sleep—Muggsy "The Sandman"
McMurphy
ATOMIC 7
Gowns by Edith Head (Mint)
It's nice to hear something like this after hearing a bunch of modern day hardcore/emo
shit. No vocals, what could be better than that? Nuthin' I tells yah. Atomic
7 is a good old fashioned surf/country instrumental band in the vein of Shadowy
Men from a Shadowy Planet and even features Brian Connelly, a guitarist for
those fellow Canadian rockers. It's a nice change but I don't think I could
live on a steady diet of this either. Thank god for diversity, eh?—Malcolm
Tent
AVAIL
Front Porch Stories (Fat Wreck Chords)
One hundred years of Avail and counting. Back with more anthemic (not a word),
fistpumping punk/ hardcore, for the kids. Keep it comin' brothers—Irresistible Frank
BAD ASTRONAUT
Houston, We Have a Drinking Problem (Honest Don's)
Poppy, space rock (not really space rock but it keeps in theme with the whole
astronaut thing). Sounds at times like Lou Barlow in an in-the-bedroom kind
of way, and in the harder rockin' sort of way as well. The good kind of rockin'
downer—Jayne Wayne
BANG BANG
4 song CD (no label)
This is a little four song sampler from Chicago's Bang! Bang! From the tight,
paranoid guitar ala Gang of Four on "High Speed Romance" to the garage rockin'
hijinks of "Spank," Bang! Bang! give you some bang for your buck or in my case
for free—Joey Germ
BAYLIES BAND
Suicide Notes from the Underground (no label)
Baylies is presumably led by Eric Baylie and despite the lack of the possessive
's' on Baylies that seems to be the case. Sounds at times like the Lips way
back in the Here It Is days. With a creepiness and a Killdozer sense of humor,
Baylies tell tales and are not afraid to get theatrical or bring the drama.
They're out there, man—P.C. Jones
THE BELLRAYS
Raw Collection (Upper Cut Records)
"Punk and soul" is the best way to describe the music from this soul-styling,
punked-up rock band. This retrospective is subtitled, "A collection of 7", 8",
compilation tracks, and occasional stray dogs from 1995 to 2002." These "odds
and sods" typify a muscular, serpentine blend of the emotive (soul) and explosive
(punk). Rather than try to mollify this dynamic blend with nicey-nice vocals,
lead vocalist Lisa Kekaula deals it out just as unrestrained as the rest of
the quartet. Her husky delivery moves this band into the arena of the early
'60s Detroit/Ann Arbor rock-n-soul of MC5, The Rationals, and The Up. Take the
Maximum R&B of The Who's Live at Leeds crossed with The Stooges Fun House and
you have an idea of what Raw Collection is—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
BREAKER BREAKER
Out of Service (Marty)
Breaker Breaker break out five slabs of intense hardcore. Out of service? Not
today—Malcolm
Tent
THE BYGONES
Circles (Derailler)
Down home, knee slappin' urban altcountry, roots rockin' music with clever lyrics
and good songs that tell a story sometimes. It's catchy, it's good, it's from
Columbus—Otis E. Lee
C.D. TRUTH
Chemically Dependent (Foot In Mouth)
If you want the truth, the CD Truth that is, then I'll tell yah, Akron, OH's
CD Truth play some exciting rock music. Follow them to Akron—Gee Whiz
CONSUMED
Pistols at Dawn (BYO)
I've consumed a lot of pop punk rock like this in the last couple years: crunchy
guitars, check; familiar hooks, check; sing-along chorus, check; guitar solo
in the right spot, yep, got it. It's been done. It's been in my stereo—Joey Germ
COPELAND
Beneath Mediocre Tree (The Militia Group)
As the press sheet says "Copeland explore some pretty heavy emotional
terrain." That pretty much sums it up. And you know what? I'm just not strong
enough for it, physically or emotionally—Drunk Bill
COUNT THE STARS
Never Be Taken Alive (Victory)
Count the Bad Haircuts more like. Pop punk? Baby, you guessed it. I bet they
jump around on stage with a lot of energy and the girls really dig them. Good
for them. I wish them luck and better haircuts in the future—Joe "Bad Haircut"
Germ
CREEPY D
Workin' Tryin' (no label)
Lord, I gotta keep on creepin'! Creepy D and Crüe are back creepin' with a new
twelve song, full-length CD about tryin' to talk to your teacher whilst stoned,
raising your hand in school, getting it right (the first time) and just plain
old workin' and tryin' in general. You gotta admire their attitude and gumption
and the great hooks on this CD. Keep on creepin' Creepy!—Joey Germ
THE CUNTS
La La La (Disturbing)
The Cunts are back with another yeasty batch of garage/punk rock tunes. From
the 70s going forward the Cunts remain the pride of the Sout' Side. The album
cover is a painting of two pink poodles doin' it. Brilliant! A local rag recently
labeled the Cunt's name and choice of artwork as two missteps, yeah two missteps
in the right direction!—Jayne Wayne
DARKEST HOUR
Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation (Victory)
Don't know where Darkest Hour is from but I do know that they went to Gothenburg,
Sweden to record this record thus making sure their mix of metal and hard-core
was as authentic as their favorite dark bands. And it's dark all right, hit
the lights!—Malcolm
Tent
DAYCARE SWINDLERS
Heathen Radio (Go-Kart)
Fast, tight, hardcore from D.C.. Yeah, that's right, D.C. hardcore. Not generacore
with the same riffs and some dude barkin' pseudo political lyrics, just good
old fashioned, fast, at times melodic, hardcore punk rock from D.C.—Joey Germ
DEAD END KIDS
Demo #1 (no label)
These guys are literally kids and this is their demo CD-R, and on behalf of
Reglar Wiglar Magazine, I'm honored to have received it. Sadly however, it would
not play in my DVD player, nor would it in my CD Walkman, and alas neither would
my computer accept it as a worthy format. I am sorry things turned out so badly
for these guys but I can see now why they are called the Dead End Kids—Irresistible Frank
THE DEADLY SNAKES
Ode to Joy (In The Red)
This In The Red band has a similar sound to another band on that roster: Dan
Melchior and the Broke Revue. This guitar band offers a very melodic, song-oriented
sound compared to many of their neo-garage and alt-blues peers. Horns and an
organ add Stax soul as well as an upbeat, party atmosphere. There are a half-dozen
Canadians playing all those instruments in this Toronto large ensemble throwback
to the 60s. Much of this fully fleshed out music is ripe for fueling an all-night
keg party. Such an example of premium frat rock is the anthemic "Oh My Bride"—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
DEATH IN GRACELAND
Come on, Touch Me (Formula 47)
This is pretty aggressive, driving punk rock with a desperate vocalist. Reminds
me of the Murder City Devils in that respect. It's pretty engaging to mine ears—Chrispy
DECIBATORS
Get Some EP (Decirecs)
Get some? Already had some, thanks. Just kidding. I kid the Decibators and you
wanna know why? 'Cause the dBs ain't afraid to rock the 'stache...or the mullet
for that matter—P.C. Jones
THE DIPLOMATS OF SOLID SOUND
Let's Cool One (Estrus)
Oh yeah, I'm hep to this sound, baby. Brings me back to those crazy summer backyard
jams, eating pork chops and barbeque ribs right off the grill. Speaking of chops,
these Iowa City cats are down. Like a tall, cool drink. Dig that if you can.
Come on now—Smooth Daddy
THE DONNAS
Spend the Night (Atlantic)
Atlantic didn't actually send us a copy of The Donnas' latest record, Spend
the Night, but they did send a 60+ page press kit with pretty much every mainstream
press clipping they've compiled in the past two or three months (it being January
right now). I'm sure the record is brilliant. In fact, I wish they would have
sent a copy so I could form my own opinion about it. Anyway, I hope this review
of their press kit makes it into their press kit—Joey Germ
ELLIOTT
Song in the Air (Revelation)
Elliot is a rock band in the broadest sense of the term. They're a rock band
like Radiohead and U2 are rock bands, they go into the studio and throw everything
at a record and the result is a pretty good, if overly indulgent, record. Lot's
of stuff going on, and layered on, and on top of. Not my usual cup of tea but
it ain't too bad in a Rock Band sort of way—Muggsy McMurphy
ENON
Hocus-Pocus (Touch & Go)
Enon fuses trip-hop and breakbeat elements on this stylish electro-pop CD. The
title track is present in three different mixes spread out over the CD, which
gives an unfortunate repetitiveness to the album when listening all the way
through. The instrumental mix of "Murder Sounds" is a funky but noir bit like
dance music from Bauhaus. This standout track is also lightly seasoned with
dub elements. This enhanced CD contains three videos of songs off High Society—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
ESTROGENOCIDE
Estrogenocide (no label)
Kind of a one trick pony. Seven "shocking" and amateurish techno songs about
child molestation, mutilation and miscellaneous misogyny. Booooring—Drunk Bill
THE EXPLODING HEARTS
Guitar Romantic (Dirtnap)
This Portland, Oregon band has a great, skinny tie sound. Its power pop recalls
such post punk acts as Buzzcocks and The Only Ones. The two guitar quartet has
a full, dynamic sound that propels the group's vocals in a way done previously
by Teenage Head. Songs like the anthemic "I'm a Pretender" and the falsetto
"Thorns in Roses" are equivalent to the best in power pop by any group preceding
this top notch ensemble—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
FABULOUS DISASTER
Panty Raid (Pink & Black)
The four ladies of Fabulous Disaster have a big, meaty sound on this guitar
punk album produced by the master of the fat sound, Fat Mike of Fat Wreck Chords.
Some of the songs pick up a bright kick from keyboards added by one of the guitarists,
Lynda Mandolyn. This, coupled with the guitar focus and the group harmony vocals,
gives an 80s power pop feel to the music. Panty Raid! bridges the gap from the
first albums by The Go-Gos and the best albums by L7—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
FAIRVIEW
We'll Dodge It on the Way Back (Sidecho)
Not what you'd expect from Orange County, not what I expect from Orange County
anyway. This ain't no skate punk or ska. It's more on the pop side only kind
of melancholy and...maybe a little boring actually. Good news though, the one
sheet for this CD (under the heading "marketing/selling points") promises that
promotions for this record will include "tour shadowing," and "lifestyle promotions."
Now what on earth does that mean? I have no idea. Do I really need to know?
Should I even be made aware of the fact that Fairview is an "Aggressive Development
Artist" and this CD will be priced at $11.98? (priced to move, I think is what
that means.) I don't think, as an unthanked, unpaid, combatant in the indie
trenches, that I need to see what the top markets are or how, or to who, the
product is being targeted. I'd rather not know 'cause it kinda makes me hate
music. Anyway, I remain yours, irresistibly—Irresistible Frank
FAIRWEATHER
Lusitania (Equal Vision)
I got a sinking feeling about this band. GET IT? Fairweather are a little too
loose to fit into the emo genre and thank god for that because between you and
me and that tree over there I think we've all had quite enough. Fairweather's
music is a little more spread out and airy yet still maintains that element
of poignancy and earnesty (not a word) and-emotion(!) that makes emo feel so
important and so urgent—Joey Germ
FALL OUT BOY
Take This to Your Grave (Fueled by Ramen)
Cool packaging and slick production can't save this debut from Fall Out Boy
from slipping into the emo-pop-punk sludge pile. This sounds like so much of
the rest of stuff that has found its way into the review stacks around here.
This horse done been beat, ya'll—Muggsy McMurphy
FATAL FLYING GUILLOTEENS
Get Knifed (Estrus)
Get knifed. Yeah, let's get knifed tonight! Let's get totally fuckin' knifed,
man! Actually, I'm gonna pass on the gettin' knifed proposal, although I wouldn't
mind having my head lopped off, but only if it was done by the Fatal Flying
Guilloteens. Those suckers be flyin' man and if that isn't enough, well...it
had just better be enough—The Lopper
FEDERATION X
X Patriot (Estrus)
After repeated listens, I can't tell if Fed X done redesigned their attack and
refined their sound into a more groove-oriented beast or if it's exactly the
same as American Folk Horror. Either way, this B'Ham trio deliver the unmistakable
Fed X double guitar attack and serve up the fat chunky riffs that you can really
sink your tooth into—Otis E. Lee
THE FIRST STEP
Open Hearts and Clear Minds (Livewire)
Barking fast farking hardcore. Farking? The First Step is the last word in keeping
the 'core alive and keepin' it straight edge. Mostly live stuff on this sixteen
track LiveWire offering. If you miss the energy and positivity of your youth
spent listening to Minor Threat and the like, then take the first step—Joey
X Germ
5IVE'S
Continuum Research Project (Tortuga)
Really cool packaging. This looked cool, like some kind of sick prog rock but
alas, it arrived unprotected without a jewel case and was cracked and unplayable.
I hope you enjoyed this review anyway. Thanks for reading—Jayne Wayne
FLESHIES
The Sicilian (Alternative Tentacles)
More mayhem from Oakland's Fleshies. 133 straight days on the road probably
haven't made these guys any saner. Same spazz rock with a few surprises thrown
in to keep it interesting. I love the departures from the punk rock on tracks
#3 and #6. Check it out, yo!—Irresistible Frank
THE FORGOTTEN
Control Me (Hopeless)
These guys are so old school, they got a song on their CD protesting "The Social
Security Act of 1935"! It's called "Social Security." Now that's old school!
They may be throwbacks to another, perhaps "old school" era, when punk rock
belonged to the kids in the street, but they're not ashamed. Nope—Joey Germ
DAVID FRANCIS
David Francis (no label)
Not the standard Wiglar fare by any stretch of any imagination, i.e., it ain't
punk, pop-punk, emo, or hardcore, but we got no rules here. Francis is a New
York singer/songwriter in the folk-pop/balladeer tradition (see what I'm sayin'?).
Not without its charm and endearing in its own way and thus will be spared the
wrath of the Reglar Wiglar reviewers...this time—Management
GATSBYS AMERICAN DREAM
Ribbons and Sugar (Rocketstar)
GAD is on the literary tip taking their name from an American classiic, The
Great Gatsby (not that you needed help figuring that out) and writing a concept
album on the English classic, Animal Farm (not so obvious). Now if that's sounds
a little pretentious for you punk rockers out there, just hold on a second and
let's get to the music...pretty pretentious too actually, but I give 'em props
for being well read, or for having read at least two classic works of literature.
I've read the classics too you know. Ever read Get in the Van by one, Henry
Rollins? Brilliant—Joey Germ
THE GENERATORS
From Rust to Ruin (TKO)
Generators play some good melodic punk rock in the vein of masters, The Clash,
The Jam, Stiff Little Fingers, et al. The Generators smack of late seventies/
early eighties punk. A welcome relief in a blast from the past. Keep generatin',
eh?—Joey Germ
GOSSIP
Movement (Kill Rock Stars)
The second release from Gossip is a stunning gospel-soul-blues-punk ruckus.
Full of driving rhythm and undeniable energy this is as impressive a sophomore
effort as any. Movement is party music for when you do not care if something
gets broke and something gets spilled. Put this in your CD player and press
play, and you open a whole can of fiery blooze punk with a mean, primitive bottom
end—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
GRAFTON
Blind Horse Campaign (Dead Canary)
If there's a Columbus sound I think this might be it, or at least Grafton is
probably a good representative of the loud and heavy rock that has come out
of that town as of late. The Means being another good example of that brand
of bombastic heavy load. Grafton ain't afraid to get jiggy with it and go down
the hillbilly route in places. They'll make you forget what you're listening
to if you're not careful—Muggsy McMurphy
HOODS
Pray for Death (Victory)
Metalcore band typical of what you might find in the Victory stable these days:
tight blasts of hardcore with muted metal stylings thrown underneath aggro vocals
with lyrics concerning all the pain and suffering and bullshit in the world
(like we needed another reminder). Pray for death? If it was all Hoods and no
Beyonce? Every night—P.C. Jones
ICONS OF FILTH
Nostradamnedus (Go-Kart)
Good songs with raspy, off-key singing from British punk rock vets Icons of
Filth. It's been twenty years since the Icons first hit the crusty scene but
the passion's there, mate, the passion and the anger, because the more things
change, the more they...you know the script—Joey Germ
THE IMMORTAL LEE COUNTY KILLERS
The Immortal Lee County Killers (Estrus)
Immortal Lee County Killers is an explosive alt-blues ensemble that delivers
a bold-stroked version of the blues. Songs like "Robert Johnson" and "She's
Not Afraid of Anything Walking" have no soft curves here, they are all rough-edged
and jagged like broken concrete. Another side of ILCK is evidenced in their
take on Willie Dixon's "Weak Brain, Narrow Mind." Their measured, paced delivery
is in a deep soul groove. The group offers its own original as well as other
covers from 60s, like R&B giant Roosevelt Jamison's "That's How Strong My Love
Is" and on up to contemporary masters of the undiluted form, like R. L. Burnside
("Goin' Down South")—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
JEREMY
Pop Dreams (JAM)
I always thought the word saccharine had a negative connotation. Sure it means
sweet, but the sound and the look of the word has always reminded me of poison.
Probably because of sacharin which they used to dump into Diet Coke. It supposedly
caused cancer in lab rats. Anyway, this is pretty sacharine pop music. Really,
really sweet. It's up to individual taste whether or not that's a negative or
a postive—P.C. Jones
JETT BRANDO
Jagged Junktion (Go-Kart)
Yeah, so I haven't been able to figure out how I feel about this CD except that
I've listened to it quite a bit. That must mean I don't hate it, right? Yeah,
I agree. So I don't hate this, in fact I might even like it. It's good indie
pop. Sounds like it could be on K Records except this has a good voice—Jayne Wayne
KILL HANNAH
For Never and Ever (Atlantic)
I don't blame bands for their press kits, especially when major label marketing
masterminds are more than likely the source, but Kill Hannah's press bio says
that Kill Hannah is as exciting as Ziggy Stardust era Bowie. I was only seven
then but I hope that's not true. Kill Hannah have been around awhile and I don't
begrudge them their major label status and their alternative arena pop rock.
It's because they're local Chicago dudes that I didn't chuck this cheap-ass
digitally cloned CD (which skips) right into the garbage—Joey Germ
LAMB OF GOD
As The Palaces Burn (Prosthetic)
Heavy and brutal in the Lamb of God tradition, only this record stretches a
little more than New American Gospel with increasingly intricate guitar parts
and short blasts of sick melody and guitar solos that sound like the death rattle
of our entire civilization! Another ass kicker from the L.O.G.—Muggsy McMurphy
LOST SOUNDS
Rat's Brains & Microchips (eMpTy)
The Lost Sounds, having ridden the Black Wave, further
explore the realm of their carnival goth, punk rock sound which some critics
have labeled "jump goth." Actually, I did a couple of issues ago, but now I
realize how dumb that sounds. Oh well, too late now. (As a parenthetical side
note, I'd like to apologize on behalf of Chicago for the individual who threw
beer on your gear when you played The Beat Kitchen last year. We gotta name
for those people here, we call 'em jag-offs and we try to stomp 'em when we
can.)—Irresistible Frank
LOOSE FUR
Loose Fur (Drag City)
With the caliber of players involved in this little side project (Jeff Tweedy
and Glen Kotche of Wilco and Jim O'Rourke of, well, Jim O'Rourke) you'd think
this CD would be untouchable from a critical standpoint- everybody's gonna love
this record! As much as I'd like to take a piss on the parade, this is kind
of a loose (and fury) innocuous, chilled out record. Not a bad hobby for some
dudes doin' some bigger and better, or at least some other things—Irresistible Frank
MANDA & THE MARBLES
More Seduction (Go-Kart)
Manda and the accompanying Marbles play a rockin' melodious 80's retro rock
that also fuses elements of some 50s balladeering to the overall structure.
I liked a lot of this. More seduction—Jayne Wayne
MANIC HISPANIC
Mijo Goes to College (BYO)
"They're brown, they're down and they're coming to your town." Manic Hispanic
are back with Latinized spoofs of sixteen punk rock classics from The Clash's
"Brand New Cadillac" retitled "Brand New Impala," Stiff Little Finger's "Barbed
Wire Love", now "Bario Love," and The Ramones "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" done
as "Creeper is a Low Rider". Great send up of the Descendents Milo record. Fun.
Funny—Jose Germcia
MIDNIGHT EVILS
Straight 'Til Morning (Estrus)
Garage rock has become as formulaic to my ears as pop punk and emo. Every riffs
been done, every lyrical subject matter explored. Brothers and Sisters, I have
officially had my fill of riff rockin' garage rock. No more guitar solos, please—Muggsy McMurphy
MINUS
Haldor Laxness (Victory)
While there's a certain laxness at play here, I don't know if it's a Haldor
laxness, but nevertheless... yeah, I know who Hald—r Laxness is, I read the
press kit, but I'm not telling you. Anyway, Icelandic Nobel prize winners aside,
Minus has been compared to Radiohead and Rage Against the Machine, but I don't
hear it on this record. This just sounds like a rock band taking itself too
seriously because they've been compared to Radiohead and Rage Against the Machine—Joey Germ
NINETEEN FORTY-FIVE
I Saw a Bright Light (Daemon)
Indie rock from Birmingham, Alabama, recorded in the basement. I was thinking
just the other night whilst watching the State of Alabamy get a good bashing
from Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, that Alabama can't be completely fucked
can it? Well, it's not completely fucked. nineteen Forty-five play the poetic
rock of the southland with male vocal leads, backed by female vocals. It's purty—Otis
E. Lee
NOISE RATCHET
Noise Ratchet (The Militia Group)
Jumping back between harder rockin tunes and pretty ditties, these guys don't
just ratchet up the noise they ratchet up the sensitive guy acoustic, rock which
don't always sit too well with me—P.C. Jones
NICOTINE
School of Liberty (Asian Man)
Seventeen songs of energetic, pop punk from a band that is not from SoCal. Nope,
they're from Japan, but you'd swear they're from SoCal but SoWhat? Just as good
though. Or just as bad. Depends on your feelings towards the genre. They do
steal a few metal licks from Metallica and some Iron Maiden vocals tricks which
kind of makes up for some of that—Drunk Bill
OPERATION MAKEOUT
Hang Loose (Mint)
Boy/girl/girl trio from the Canadian West Coast. The OM play a kinda poppy,
kinda punky brand of rock music that has a dark underlying subtext and while
I'm not really sure what that means necessarily, I still think it's true. Not
makeout music per se, more like angry at your girlfriend/boyfriend music. An
Operation Makeup could be in the future followed by an Operation Makeout but
it would probably have to be in that order—Jayne Wayne
THE ORANGES BAND
All Around (Lookout!)
This could put the youngsters in a funk not seen round these parts since The
Smiths. The Oranges Band definitely have a unique sound due in no small part
to singer Roman Kuebler, but the whole band has a jangly guitar pop sound down.
My beef would be that the vocal inflections don't vary much from song to song
and so OB may run the danger of becoming a one trick pony. But if you dig All
Around check out the On TV EP which sounds like this only more raw. That's my
advice to you—P.C. Jones
OZMA
Spending Time on the Borderline (Kung Fu)
I would imagine this band, this label and their fans are sick to death of the
Weezer comparisons, well hang on there people we got one more coming; yeah,
sounds a lot like Weezer. It's good rocking pop music but you know, it's like
a Weezer B-side and outtakes compilation—Irresistible Frank
PEARLENE
Murder, Blues, and Prayer (Dim Mak)
Oh Pearlene, yer so purdy! This is some raw bluesy shit from, among others,
Johnny Walker and Brian Olive from Soledad Brothers. It's down, it's downhome,
it's rock, blues and soul—T. Bone
PRETTYMIGHTYMIGHTY
Normal EP (Derailler)
PrettyIndieRock. Pretty like pretty, you know, like a flower. Tell no one I
said that. PMM is an Athens. Ohio band that have been performing together for
thirteen years. That's a prettylongtime—Jayne Wayne
RUNNING LIKE THIEVES
Same Time Next Year (Livewire)
Running Like Thieves play a mid tempo punk rock with Lemmyesque vocals. Nothing
that will reinforce your feelings about the punk rock either way. A decent punk
rock band nevertheless—Drunk Bill
THE SEA AND CAKE
One Bedroom (Thrill Jockey)
You can have your cake and your sea too. Mellow, groovy,
lush, SEXY! This disc sets the mood that gets me in the mood, know what I'm
sayin'? I think you do—Jayne Wayne
SILVERSTEIN
When Broken is Easily Fixed (Victory)
I was excited by the cover art (Martin Wittfooth) and even more encouraged by
the fact that these guys took their name from Shel Silverstein, but disappointed
to find out that these guys sound like a dozen other hardcore/emo bands that
do pretty much this same thing. Oh well, there's always the new Suess record
to look forward too—Jayne Wayne
SNAPCASE
End Transmission (Victory)
Sounding at times like Fugazi in the melding of the hardcore with the artcore
with the emo. For over ten years Snapcase has been doing this. Smartcore—P.C. Jones
SNOWDOGS
Deep Cuts, Fast Remedies (Victory)
Snowdogs? Was that a movie with Cuba Gooding, Jr. or am I completely fucked?
Anyway, these Snowdogs don't pull sleds, they play rock and roll pretty accessible,
possibly radio friendly rock and roll. Is Victory branching out? Produced by
the same dude that produced Wham!'s debut album Fantastic back in '83. This
page should be burning right now. Why isn't it?—B.S. Brown
STAIRWELL
The Sound of Change (Hopeless)
From OC. That's Orange County, dude. Not like the rest of the Hopeless roster.
Not pop punk. Just pop. Not bad. I can generally take this kind of stuff only
in small doses administered at six hour intervals and Stairwell is no exception,
I did make it through this CD three times over the course of a week and that
kind of pop deserves props for the hooks and shit—Malcolm
Tent
A STATIC LULLABY
...And Don't Forget to Breath (Ferret Music)
Oh I won't. Breathing is an involuntary action. But anyway, A Static Lullaby
play that emo/alterna-rock hybrid which features one velvetty, earnest male
crooner backed up by a guy who barks the lyrics. An interesting concept which
never ceases to drive me crazier than a shit house rat. Press sheet says to
file under rock/metal. Metal, hah! That's a good one, but I don't think so.
Call me old fashioned but the only thing I file under metal is metal—Malcolm
Tent
SUPAGROUP
Supagroup (Food Chain)
From the sneering press photo to the ridiculous band name, you would think I
would hate everything about this supa group, and I have every right too, but
it's just such ridiculous rock and roll. A band that promises to have your ass
kicked by the third song...that's awesome. Nothing original, just good old fashioned
rock and roll. What is garage rock really? Underproduced cock rock, that's all.
Supagroup is The Big Easy's big sleazy, big dumb rock band—Irresistible Frank
THE TESTORS
Complete Recordings 1976-79 (Swami)
The Testors is an underreported but messy, blatant little blotch on the New
York punk scene of the last half of the '70s. This 2-CD set of unabashed, unrepentant,
explosive punk rock from the group is among the best available from the period.
This is the angry, seminal group that inspired many, never had a major record
deal, and spawned the career of Sonny Vincent. The CD set has 37 tracks of pure,
wild punk rock with an eight selection live section. This is the first time
on CD for a good portion of these tracks, many of which are previously unreleased—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
THROW RAG
Desert Shores (BYO)
This is that Sailor Rock you've been hearing about. Aye, that's what Throwrag
calls their brand of energetic, P-rock mayhem and who am I to argue? the closest
I ever came to sailin' was that riverboat in 'Nawlins summer of '90—Capn' Jeremiah
T. Germ
THUNDERCRACK
The Crack (Estrus)
On the CD intro this group has a technique of vocal reverb and clamorous alt-blues
that recalls The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. However, "Cheap Cosmetics" is
a fusion of hyperactive spy theme guitar with a shade of Elvis Presley in the
vocals. "Big Fat Lady" is thunder-soul from Thundercrack with a raw primitivism
that could be a side of one of the highly sought seven-inch albums from The
Gories. A wide spectrum of sound and roots in the best styles makes The Crack
a winning album—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
TOKYO SEX DESTRUCTION
Le Red Soul Communitte (Dim Mak)
I can't even begin to tell you how many bands I've heard this year that sound
a whole lot like TSD. Most of them. Eletecric, garage, as good as any of them,
but I'm officially over it—Drunk Bill
TORA! TORA! TORRANCE!
Get Into It (The Militia Group)
These guys are from the Twin Cities up dere in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Yah, hey
dere. Which may explain the Amp Rep sound. Sounds like Ye Olde Steel Pole Bathtub.
Anyway, I was expecting SoCal punk and I got Midwest noise, always nice surprise—P.C. Jones
THE UNSEEN
Explode (BYO)
Brutal, and yes, explosive punk from the streets of Boston. The Unseen have
been grinding a combat boot into the face of the punk rock scene for nine years.
Looks like nine more years comin'—Joey Germ
U.S. BOMBS
Covert Action (Hellcat)
West coast punk legend Duane Peters leads his band through rousing street punk
songs that beg a sing-along. It is amazing how after so many years U.S. Bombs
can continue to create such great, old school punk. The group is also political,
but covering topics most other political bands are not at the moment, as evidenced
by "Croatia Breaks" and the inflammatory Oklahoma City bombing song "Framed"—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
VARIOUS
Punk Rock is Your Friend (Kung Fu)
When surveying the neo-punk landscape I mostly see amplified mediocrity and
angst over melody. However, whenever I encounter a Kung Fu Records sampler,
I recall there is a whole label of peppy and upbeat pop punk that provides memorable
and worthwhile music. The eighteen tracks of music (Vandals "I Can't Wait" is
an unlisted bonus) are enhanced with six video tracks. As if this were not enough,
Neil Hamburger is on hand as "host," delivering goofy lines between most of
the songs. It is a great way to find out about new bands. My personal discovery
on this budget sampler: Tsunami Bomb—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
VARIOUS
Punk Seven Inch CD Vol. 1. 1988-1989 (Lookout!)
This is a pretty cool collection of early punk rock 7" released on Lookout Records,
a real treat for those who we're around the late '80s East Bay Scene and may
not have any recollection where their original seven inch collection went or
what they did with the money when they sold them. Also a treat for those who
were not there but who nonetheless appreciate such historical artifacts. All
the originalart work has been included and everything has been remastered by
John Golden from the original tapes mastered by...well, John Golden. Features
Yeastie Girls, Corrupted Morals, Isocracy, Kamala and the Karnivors, Plaid Retina
and Surrogate Brains. So there you go, have fun—Joey Germ
THE VON ZIPPERS
The Crime is Now (Estrus)
The Von Zippers play a laid back, bluesy, swoozy rock and roll. It's the garage
rock that ain't in no hurry to go nowhere and really, why should they? We got
the time and the crime is now—Irresistible Frank
7" Vinyl
BASSHOLES
Out in the Treetops dble 7" (Dead Canary)
One could call donuts the "missing centers" to describe them by what they are
lacking. So the garage and blues guitars/drums duo Bassholes is named after
the typical rock combo instrument it lacks. Bassholes reaches back to the primitive
blues duo combination used by such artists as Lightning Hopkins in the personnel
arrangement. Bassholes take us back to the juke joint days with its take on
"Stack O Lee" on this set of two 33 RPM 7" records. The group spans the distance
between Hopkins generation and today's electric alt-blues powerhouses like Jon
Spencer Blues Explosion. This recording set also resonates with the early days
of '60s power blues rock and Bassholes shows its affinity for that style with
clamorous covers of "Tattoo" (The Who) and "Raw Power" (The Stooges). Two additional
musicians flesh out the punk-styled rendition of "Raw Power."—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
GRAFTON
"Simbitch" b/w "Fine, Good, Go" (Derailler)
Two tunes from Columbus, Ohio's Grafton. "Simbitch" rocks like a sombitch and
"Fine, Good Go" is fine and good so go get it—Drunk Bill
GRAIN USA
"Catchy Like a Cold" b/w "Spread It Like a Virus" (Disposable
Pop Revolution)
Catchy yes, but catchy like a cold? Maybe not that infectious but "Catchy" is
a decent pop song. B-side, the instrumental "Spread," is a better one—Irresistible Frank
LYRES
"Tear You Up" b/w "Felice Noddydod" (D.U.I.)
Jeff "Monoman" Connolly continues to keep the first wave of garage revival alive
with his post-DMZ project, Lyres. Wonderfully loose and inexact, this seven-inch
is an organ-fueled frenzy of sloppy rock for pure fun. On the B-side the group
renames itself Thee Headkotexes and uses soundbites taking the pure fun of the
A-Side up another notch for an irrate phone conversation set to a smiling rock
instrumental. The song, "Felice Noddydod" is the garage rock analogue to Beastie
Boy's "Cooky Puss"—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
PARADISE ISLAND
Get Up 7" (Dim Mak)
Remember back in the mi-90s lo-fi days when bands would pretty much put anything
out on a record? This is like that—Drunk Bill
REAGAN NATIONAL CRASH
DIET
Sucktastic! dbl.7" EP (RoosterCow/Backward Masking)
Seems like RNCD are on a new kick...gone is the self defeat and urban despair
of "Ghetto Sled," replaced by the hip and oblivious swagger of "16," reminiscent
of a Foolish-era Superchunk with a Sonic Youth outro.Ê Somehow already fresh
in these fast days. However, the real gem is the final track,"Small Song." Picture
Exene Cervenka and John Doe actually on X. Brilliant...and by the way, it looks
like a million bucks—Duane Lee Hobbes
RW #18 (2003)
THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS
The All American Rejects (Dog House)
I hope these guys don't think that their self-deprecating band name will save
them from the wrath of the Reglar Wiglar Record Reviewers. That would be a mistake.
As it turns out, I'll be leaving the name alone in order to concentrate on some
other particulars. The AARs are a pair of Okie songwriters who write over-produced
pop songs containing the always-threatened "infectious melodies." It's basically
Weezer without the rock (I was gonna say without the balls but that didn't sound
right). Possibly teenage girls will get into this, but probably not the teenage
boys and certainly not old burnt-out hipsters (myself being included among the
later)—P.C. Jones
THE ATARIS
...anywhere but here (Kung Fu)
Anywhere but my stereo. Sorry, couldn't resist that one. Upper Management has
been trying to get me to tone down the negativity in my reviews since ad revenue
pretty much flat-lined around '96. Old habits die hard but you can teach an
old dog new tricks just like a watched pot always boils (if the burners on).
Likewise, I can change. Speaking of the late 90s, this disc was originally released
by Kung Fu in 1997 with little fanfare. Now that The Ataris have come into their
own as part of the massive pop punk army-a people's army if you will-this disc
has been re-released to the civilian population. So buy it again, buy it for
the first time, buy it for a friend, just buy it 'cause we could all use the
money—Joey Germ
AUDIO KARATE
Space Camp (Kung Fu)
Debut full-length from this Rosemead, CA quartet of young pop punkers. AK posses
better than average songwriting abilities in a genre that's been glutted for
quite some time (as should be evident from reading only a handful of reviews
in this magazine). AK do it a little better, due mostly to the vocals of Art
Barrios which are delivered in that raspy, crackly, urgent, bordering-on-emo
style. Tight, poppy, punk for the kids. Aiiii-ya! (that was a karate chop scream)—Drunk Bill
AVENGED SEVENFOLD
Sounding the Seventh Trumpet (Hopeless)
Heavy metal on a punk label? Yep. It's metal pretty much through and through.
Nothin' wrong with that. Nope. I likes metal. The problem is Avenged Sevenfold's
attempt to mix genres by taking the double bass drum, the growling vocals and
the muted metal riffs and then throwing in the occasional burst of metal-style
crooning ala the late Layne Staley is cause for nothing short of a brain hemorrhage.
(and not the good kind!). Queen is the last band I know of to be able to pull
off this much fucking around per song. The question is, does Avenged Sevenfold
pull it off? Not for me they don't, but I like Weedbrain so go figure—Malcolm
Tent
THE BEAUTIFUL MISTAKE
Light a Match, for I Deserve to Burn (The Militia Group)
Somebody light a match! This is one of those slow-tempo emo bands that, in addition
to the emo vocals, also have some hardcore dude barking shit on the choruses.
Not a beautiful mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. Let's nip this particular
music trend in the bud—Joey Germ
BLACK WIDOWS
Stops a Beating Heart (Initial)
Don't let the metal name fool yah, these guys play the punk rock music. I say,
don't let the name fool yah, 'cause the cousin of a friend of mine back in high
school was in a band called Black Widow. This was circa The CrŸe's Too Fast
for Love, and they weren't bad as far as friends' cousin's bands go, know what
I mean? Hold up a sec. Now I can't remember if I just made that whole thing
up or not... no, it's true. I think. Anyway, these Black Widows are the punk
rock equivalent of a mid-Eighties, CrŸe-worshiping metal band from Wisconsin...
or a spider. Sorry if I'm not making sense, I really haven't been sleeping that
well lately—Malcolm
Tent
BLOOD RED
Hostage (Initial)
The members of Blood Red share a mutual admiration for the rock and roll band,
U2. An indie punk band that openly admits they like U2 and is influenced by
U2 gets automatic props from me. It's not easy coming out, but doesn't it feel
good? No more lies. Anyway, this Long Island band is the result of the merger
of two other L.I. bands, Silent Majority and Inside, (also known for their melodic
brand of hardcore music). While I'm not ashamed to admit I like U2 better than
I like Blood Red, I'm still giving them props for liking U2 (The Alarm would
have been different story altogether)—Jayne Wayne
THE BLOW
Bonus Album (K)
Oh, what a smart-ass, shit rag record reviewer couldn't do with a band called
The Blow. The mind boggles at the possibilities... I won't go there 'cause I've
been there, ok? It's too easy. It's a coward's way out and I'm a Record Reviewer
goddamn it! Kids look up to me. The Blow is kind of a quirky weird pop band
and by band I mean Kaela Maricich who sounds not unlike fellow K recording artist,
Mira, at times. The Blow also covers that "Jet Ski Accidents" song about Hüsker
Dü that I was telling you about in my Wolf Colonel review which I know you read
(and if you haven't go read it now). Kinda freaky, huh?—P.C. Jones
BOUNCING SOULS/ANTI-FLAG
BYO Split Series Volume IV (BYO)
Perhaps the most solid of the BYO Split Series (although I must admit to missing
out on II). Two evenly matched, tight, quality punk bands bring some new tunes
to the table as well as covers of classic punk songs by Buzzcocks, Cocksparrer,
and Anti-Flag (courtesy of Bouncing Souls, of course.)—Drunk Bill
BRATMOBILE
Girls Get Busy (Lookout!)
Despite (at least one) breakup in the last ten plus
years, the B-Mobile is still mobile, still in commission and still on a mission
to deliver a cynical yet positive message to the youths of today. With their
own blend of monotone vocals delivered over pared down surf-tinged punk, the
Brats beat back—Toad Anderson
THE CHERRY VALENCE
Riffin' (Estrus)
I gotta tell ya, with some of the people I've had the displeasure of sharing
living space with over the past dozen or so years (many who've had questionable
taste in music) an album titled Riffin' might as well have a big yellow sticker
on it that says: DANGER! HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE! PROPERTY OF YUCCA MOUNTAIN-DO
NOT OPEN FOR 24,000 YEARS, etc. Does anyone know where I'm coming from on this
one? I mean, let's not riff and say we did, ok? But this ain't no album oriented
rock recycled from the 70s via the 60s. Riffin' makes it cool to riff again
and who amongst us can't understand why we need that? Seems like a different
sound from their self-titled Estrus debut, from what I remember. They seem to
have tempered the garage rock in favor of, well, in favor of some riffin'. A
logical progression. Whiskey not included—Malcolm
Tent
CHIMERA
The Cost (Lookout!)
If the holy firebreathing beast of post-emo came home to roost in the corpse
of a decaying post-rock fantasy, it would probably sound something like this,
whatever the hell that means—Irresistible Frank
COCO
The Coco Sound (K)
Minimalist dance music from Chris and Olivia City of Olympia. Did I get up and
dance to it? No, like many white people, I can't dance. If I could dance, would
I have gotten up and danced to this? I might have tried after a few cocktails.
While I don't have a problem with dance music necessarily and while I appreciate
the simplicity of the drums and bass sound, this was neither engaging to my
brain nor did it arouse my booty and inspire it to shake—Drunk Bill
THE CONTROL
The Forgotten EP (Go-Kart)
Four blistering bits of throat-wrenching hardcore
that you could listen to ten times in ten minutes which is why this review took
ten seconds to write. Hardcore is about brevity. From Buffalo. Buffalo gives
you wings—Drunk Bill
COUNTRY TEASERS
Science Hat Artistic Cube Moral Nosebleed Empire (In The Red)
Billy Catfish told me about these guys a few months ago and said I needed to
have them in my life. I'm glad he did, because now I do. Truly, truly, truly,
effed-up garbage. If you like the Fall and/or Billy Childish (yes, Jim, I'm
talking to you), you should like this. If you don't like those things, I suggest
you flush this magazine down the toilet right now. And don't forget to wash
your hands—Al Gore
CRAW
Bodies for Strontium 90 (Hydra Head)
Craw? Craw? Craw? Remember Milkmine, Morsel, Jaks? That early nineties, Midwest,
AmRep sound? Is this the same Craw? Sounds like the same Craw. It is the same
Craw. Same heavy fast attack. This takes me back to a place that I don't know
if I wanna go to? Oh hell, gimmie a forty (that was my drink back in them days)
and I'll tip it for my homies. That's when I first started writing record reviews
for this magazine. Christ, I was young then. Full of piss and vinegar and forties
of... whatever. You couldn't tell me nothin' back then. I remember this one
time when a buddy and me went to- (We interrupt this record review in order
to spare you, the reader, from reading any more of this sickening nostalgic
reminiscing of days probably best forgotten. We now return you to the review
still in progress. You're welcome.) -that stain never did come out!—Muggsy McMurphy
CURLUPANDDIE
Unfortunately We're Not Robots (Revelation)
I'm guessing that the title of this CD is a line from a movie but I could be
mistaken. I just gotta come right out and say that, while I dig the music, I
have a real low tolerance for this style of screaming-bloody-hell vocal delivery.
You think that makes me a pussy? Then try to lick me. See you in the pit—Muggsy McMurphy
D+
Mistake (K)
"There must be some mistake! I couldn't have possibly gotten a D+" How many
times have you heard yourself desperately scream that question? I've been there.
D+ may have been there too and that's how were going to segueway into this record
review. D+ is somewhat of a super group of laidback and understated indie rockers
consisting of Bret Lunsford (Beat Happening), Phil Elvrum (Old Time Relijun)
and Karl Blau (Captain Fathom). It's pretty sparse and minimal crooning by people
who don't necessarily have what you might call "good" singing voices. But if
you like mellow, sitting-around-the-living-room-on-a-rainy-day-strumming-a-guitar-and-singing
music, then make no mistake, you've earned a D+—Jayne Wayne
DAG NASTY
Minority of One (Revelation)
The Godfathers of Emo return after a ten year absence. I kinda missed out on
Dag Nasty. Never really listened to a Dag Nasty record 'til now. Having said
that, this ain't a bad introduction. Yes, they do blend punk rock aggression
and rock melody together. Yes, I can hear that they've influenced more than
a few bands. Yes, they do indeed seem to do it better than most of their predecessors.
Yes, it does rock pretty hard. Yes, yes, yes—Drunk Bill
DEAD TO FALL
Everything I Touch Falls to Pieces (Victory)
Everything I touch turns to shit too, man, I know what it's like. This is the
debut release from Chicago death metalheads, Dead to Fall. It's pretty heavy,
it's tight enough, and I like the guitar shit but it seems like the whole thing
could stand a heavier treatment with louder drums and bass, and I wish there
was some knob on my stereo which would turn down the vocals, but what are you
gonna do?—Malcolm
Tent
DILLINGER FOUR
Situationist Comedy (Fat Wreck Chords)
I really, actually, truly, sincerely like this fucking band and this record...alot.
Why do I feel the need to stress that point? I don't know, so many bands try
to do this, but D4 do it with so seemingly little effort and do it so well and
in the grand tradition of Minneapolis (don't forget St. Paul) bands that know
how to rock. I just don't think I need to expand anymore on this topic so I'll
leave you now—Joey Germ
DIVIT
Broadcaster (Nitro)
Divit is one of those bands with "pop and punk sensibilities." I don't really
get the punk part of that from this CD but I'll take a press sheet's word for
it any day. Divit are actually a pop band, and as such, they do their duty and
serve their genre by writing songs concerning various emotional situations and
feelings. Most of the twelve songs on Broadcaster tend to blur together into
one mid tempo song with the exception of "Plan B" which breaks out of the mold
a little bit and would probably be the single in another time and a different
industry—Joseph Germs
THE ENEMIES
Seize the Day (Lookout!)
With enemies like this who needs friends? If you want a good punk rock kick
in the pants then seize this CD!—P.C. Jones
FLESHIES
The Game of Fotbol (Adeline)
A touching tribute to the game of fœtbol from Oak-land's crazed hooligans, Fleshies.
Both fascinating and funny, and coming out as it did at the height of World
Cup Fever (or in this country World Cup Warm Fore-head) Fleshies get another
wet thumbs up the cooch for Fœtbol. The title track is simply beautiful and
had me weeping in my pint. Also released as a ten inch picture disc featuring
a futbol. Can't wait for rugby season to start!—Joey Germ
THE FLIPSIDES
Clever One (Pink & Black)
Clever, poppy, punky Bay Area three piece fronted by singer/songwriter (not
in the bad way), Sabrina. Reminds me of the 80s (in the good way)—Jayne Wayne
THE 4-SQUARES
Steve's Hamper (Quincy Shanks)
Not a barber shop quartet despite the name. In fact, they probably don't get
to the barber shop too much. Nope, they probably just shave their heads in the
sink (just like Mom used to do). Heady, heavy hardcore with a metal edge and
a dual spit-fire vocal attack. Not unlike Suicidal Tendencies. Are they really
squares though?—Joey Germ
THE GLORYHOLES
Knock You Up (eMpTy)
I just got knocked up by the Gloryholes...hard—Joey Germ
GORE GORE GIRLS
Up All Night (Get Hip)
These Motor City Gore Gore Girls mix a little 50s doo wop, a little 60s R&B
and a lot of garage rock into what would be a trip down memory lane if I wasn't
only a twelve year old kid, but I'd still let them be my mommy any day (wink,
wink)—Jimmy the Twelve Year Old Record Reviewer
NEIL MICHAEL HAGERTY
Plays That Good Old Rock and Roll (Drag City)
Pretty far out, man. One song here, "Shaved C*nt," almost makes me cry every
time I hear it. It's a song about a woman who was treated unfairly early in
life, but who finally found the love and admiration of others via the Internet.
"It's known around the world/ A picture of a woman/ From the belly-button to
the knees/ In a style some might call Chinese" and at the end, "You gave your
best to help them/ Though they never even saw your face/ You touched them and
you changed them/ And it will last forever." I can't help but feel a little
proud of the part I played in helping these lost souls—Soggy Sprinkles
INDK
Kill Whitey! (Go-Kart)
Kill Whitey? Fuck yeah, kill Whitey. Destroy Whitey, motherfucker! But don't
just kill Whitey, burn down Whitey's house too! Shut Whitey's factories down!
Interfere with the means of Whitey's production. Throw a wrench in Whitey's
financial plans. Fuck up his frickin' prospectus, man! Wait a minute. I'm Whitey.
Excuse me. INDK, features members of Leftover Crack and Choking Victim and address
similar social themes with an approach that fuses hardcore with some elements
of the more melodic oi and ska genres. The Lower East Side may be gentrificationifying*
but New York Hardcore is back!—P.C. Jones
*No, I didn't steal that word from
the President, but I'd like to say thanks to George Bush for making illiteracy
cool again!
INSENSE
Insense (This Dark Reign)
Look out! Oslo metal band comin' through! While Insense is heavy and hard in
a Lamb of God sort of way, it also turns a corner pretty quickly by slowing
down the tempo but without losing the intensity. It's good when an attempt at
versatility doesn't turn into the kiss of death but rather, a big slobbery kiss
of death metal instead—Malcolm "King of All Metal" Tent
JUCIFER
I Name You Destroyer (Velocette)
A very interesting juxtaposition of sounds and styles here. Sexy, hushed vocals
and screaming thunderous metal AND they named me Destroyer—Destroyer
LAMBS
Random Radio (Devil Doll)
Lay it down little lambs. Finnish Metal that is neither the church burnin' variety
nor the hair band brand. Random Radio is nothing glacier-shattering but it's
pretty decent. I didn't get my Lapplands in a bunch over it, but it ain't bad.
Definitely worth a markka or two, if you got it to spare—Tarja Halonen
LITTLE WINGS
Light Green Leaves (K)
There seems to be a healthy stock of feral singer/ songwriters running wild
and free in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, and K seems to have poached
a great many of them and got them to record. Little Wings is the brainchild
of Kyle Green and like many of his labelmates on K, he keeps it simple, mostly
acoustic and heartfelt. Light Green Leaves is an understated album of rainy
day, backwoods, front porch folk music and to add to the appeal of that, if
I am to understand correctly, this album comes in three different formats, CD,
LP and cassette with each format containing a different recorded version of
the songs, a novel idea—Jayne Wayne
LOST CITY ANGELS
Lost City Angels (Nitro)
Punk and rock: rock punk from Boston. LCA do it as well as any punk band and
better than many a Southern California pop punk band I've heard. Watch out for
track nine though. It can throw you for a loop if you're not ready for it—Joey Germ
MANIFESTO JUKEBOX
Remedy (BYO)
While I certainly don't dispute the Hüsker Dü comparisons that have been generously
heaped upon this Finnish power trio, I would like to offer the suggestion that
they sound more like Soul Asylum. Yes, Soul Asylum did have some punk rock soul
at one point in time and Manifesto Jukebox has it now. Was it Jon Stewart that
called Finland the "taint of Europe"? As hilarious as I think that is, Manifesto
proves that this tain't necessarily so—Müggsy McMürphy
MCLUSKY
Mclusky Do Dallas (Too Pure)
Mclusky is a three piece band from Cardiff (UK) with a record call Mclusky Does
Dallas which was recorded in Chicago (by Albini). My point? I have none. Just
trying to kick off the review with a fairly uninteresting geographical observation.
Hey, I've read worse so back the fuck off. Anyway this is some pretty good shit
comin' out of the UK. Mclusky is Bush's (the band) wet dream and they have a
pretty good fuck-all sense of humor as is evident from the wonderful "The World
Loves Us and is Our Bitch" That's tellin' 'em! So mind yer bollocks, mates,
Mcluskys here and they've got their boots on—Anthony Blair
THE MICROPHONES
Song Islands (K)
This is a collection of singles and songs from various cassette tape compilations-just
a bunch of sparse and quirky pop songs from The Microphones, a.k.a. Phil Evrum,
with help from his friends which include a bevy of K Recording Stars. It would
cost you a fortune to buy all these releases separately. In fact, it would probably
be impossible, but here they are for the discerning pop enthusiast—Sloppy Bill
MIDNIGHT THUNDER EXPRESS
Midnight Thunder Express (eMpTy)
I wouldn't necessarily say that MTE's attitude and high-powered rock makes up
for their apparent lack of originality, although this is many times the case
with this new breed of garage rock, but I must say that the New York Dolls took
care of all this almost thirty years ago, and they did it in heels—Irresistible Frank
MUDHONEY
Since We've Become Translucent (Sub Pop)
If rock and roll has a John Salley, it's Mudhoney—Soggy Sprinkles
NOFX
45 or
46 Songs That Weren't Good Enough to Go on Our Other Records
(Fat Wreck Chords)
The title should be 45 or 46 Songs That Weren't Good Enough to Go on Any of
Our Records Ever and that title should be on the one copy of a cassette tape
in the glove compartment of the tour van, way, way in the back. Kidding of course!!!
I actually enjoyed this, so I think the premise for this CD is silly. It should
be 45 or 46 Songs That Aren't Strictly Punk Rock So Some of You Fourteen Year
Old Punks Might Be Put Off By It—Drunk Bill
NO USE FOR A NAME
Hard Rock Bottom (Fat Wreck Chords)
More pop punk music on the seventh release from the band that has brought you
six previous pop punk releases—AutoReviewer 2000
OZMA
The Doubble Donkey Disc (Kung Fu)
This CD contains two EPs, The Russian Coldfusion EP and The Bootytraps EP, which
adds up to just over forty minutes of music! Reminiscent of the Weezer in more
ways than sharing the letter Z in their names. Ozma has an unabashed similarity
to that particular powerhouse pop band, but for as much as they sound like Weezer,
Ozma is not afraid to add it's own special flava and shake it up a bit by mixing
in some Russian folk dressing and adding the unlikely rock instrument of balalaika,
which makes for some interesting instrumental interludes. In the end it's the
power pop framework of Weezer that Ozma stick to. Fans of Weezer take note—Irresistible Frank
THE PAYBACKS
Knock Loud (Get Hip)
I pop CDs in most of the time without looking at cover art or looking at the
press sheet. Only later do I consult these tools to make sure I don't make any
assumptions about anything. I listened to this Paybacks CD once all the way
through thinking the singer was a dude with a really rock, if somewhat effeminate,
voice. It's actually a chick with a really rock, if somewhat masculine, voice.
Same shit. Works either way. Paybacks play classic 70s style rock in the Cheap
Trick vein. They'll have you checkin' yer assumptions at the door—P.C. Jones
PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES
Good Health (Lookout!)
I liked the name before I ever heard the band and then I got this CD and then
they played the Fireside the very next week and the three planets aligned. I
think I had a "moment" when they played "Speakers Push the Air," (thank God
pee stains wash out)—Joey Germ
ARCHER PREWITT
Three (Thrill Jockey)
Creator of the loveably naive Sof' Boy comic book character, guitarist for Sea
& Cake and (formerly of) the Cocktails, Archer Prewitt it would appear, is the
poster boy for Indie Rockness. Three is fourteen songs of pop music; ballads
ditties, and the like, in the tradition of Seventies soft rock balladeers. Not
my usual cup of tea, but quite enjoyable. Easy like a Sunday morning, I would
say, since it is Sunday morning and things have been pretty mellow so far—Irresistible Frank
THE QUEERS
Pleasant Screams (Lookout!)
Sounds like somebody beating the shit out of a bag of cats—Grandpa Pete
REIGNING SOUND
Time Bomb High School (In The Red)
Wow! What a record! Underground rock! Phooey! The Reigning Sound would much
rather go under the boardwalk. Greg Cartwright, a lifelong resident of my own
home state, Tennessee, doesn't seem to have a bad record, or a bad song, in
him. A modern Democrat through and through. I have access to the voting records
so I know. He picks his tunes carefully and considers and reconsiders all his
licks before he stumps them before the citizenry. As a member of the Oblivians,
Compulsive Gamblers, '68 Comeback, and briefly, Deadly Snakes, he's had a hand
in some of the best rock & roll (as it was practiced by the Founding Fathers)
records of the past ten years. But does the constituency care? Like his ideological
forebear Alex Chilton (an anarchist who has never voted-he's not even registered!)
Cartwright understands, "Ask not what music can do for you. Ask what you can
do for music", and likewise fills out his albums with obscure nuggets from the
forgotten past. As I said, there's not a bad tune on here and Greg and his crack
band burn through fifteen numbers in just under forty minutes. If only our own
elected officials could be so efficient. Sure, you could say that the title
track is three years late addressing the Columbine massacre, but that's not
the point. When's the last time Bruce Springsteen did a better Bruce Springsteen
song than "Time Bomb High School"? Listen to this and you'll know the answer
is "Never!" The ten other originals and four covers on this slab run the gamut
from the minute-and-a-half, back-to-the-wall perfection of "Straight Shooter,"
to the Stones groove on "Reptile Style," to classic tear-jerkers like "I Walk
By Your House," and "I Don't Know How to Tell You," to the just plain gorgeous
"I'm Holding Out." They manage to hit all points in between, simultaneously,
on the rest. If I still haven't convinced you that you should hear this, let
me put it this way: this is the album that you always wished Paul Westerberg
solo albums would sound like, and hit you in the chest like, but they never
did, and probably never will. Oh, and if you're ever in Memphis, be sure to
drop by Greg's new RECORD STORE: Legba Records, near the intersection of Cooper
and Young, for the best in rock & roll, blues, country, and folk! Tell 'em Al
sent ya!—Al Gore
REMEMBERING NEVER
She Looks Good in Red (Ferret Music)
It's
a binary universe, so let's decide this one with a coin toss. Heads, it's good,
tails, it's not..... Heads it is!-Soggy Sprinkles RESCUE Volume Plus Volume
(Dead Droid) I was sitting on the couch at Mike Sims' house, stoned on grass,
drunk on three-quarters of half the case of Busch I was splitting with Mike,
and he put a Richie Havens record on. I couldn't tell if it was the greatest
thing I'd ever heard, or if I was just too out of it to tell the difference.
I do know though, that this record isn't as good as the Richie Havens—Soggy Sprinkles
THE RESONARS
Lunar Kit (Get Hip)
The Resonars resonate like a blast of the past from the past to the past. It's
a musical model, a replica if you will, of a 60s garage/folk/rock/pop like you
might find somewhere on a disc in a Nugget's box set. Turn that reverb up, brother,
I can take it—P.C. Jones
ROTTEN APPLES
Real-Tuff (Durable Plastic) (eMpTy)
One rotten apple spoils the bunch. You've heard that right? Well, step into
Rotten Apples' orchard, pluck some fruit from the tree and take a bite out of
a delicious punk rock band from the Pacific Northwest. A rotten apple a day
keeps the doctor away—Jayne Wayne
RUINS
1986-1992 (Skin Graft)
Twenty-three early recordings from Japan's avant noise kings, Ruins. Rare, remixed,
and remastered by Tatsuya Yoshida, this is a good introduction to one of the
planet's most flipped drum and bass duos. It'll make yah a little crazy-crazy
like a rat!—Irresistible Frank
SELBY TIGERS
Curse of the Selby Tigers (Hopeless)
The Selby Tigers unleash thirteen snarly and mean slabs of rock that'll slash
yah if you stand too close- careful now! The Tigers go off like a crabby B-52s
playing dance music for kids who get up on the wrong side of the bed everyday
'cause they like it that way—Drunk Bill
STAVESACRE
Stavesacre (Nitro)
This record and this band sound like it and they should be huge. Right up there
with Creed and Puddle of Mudd, and Nickelback, et al. It's got a big alterna-rock
sound. They toured with POD and did the Vans Warped thing. Maybe this is it.
Maybe this is their breakthrough release. This is Staveacre's fourth album and
according to singer, Mark Solomon, it's "the hardest we ever worked at crafting
our songs." Maybe. I guess it just sounds, I don't know, too crafted?—Drunk Bill
SIXER
Beautiful Trash (BYO)
This reminded me of Ann Beretta almost immediately and for good reason, Sixer
contains two members of that fellow RVA band. This is some top notch, sing-along,
fist-pumping punk rock that'll kick you hard in the pants—Twelver
STILLWELL
Don't Face a Problem...Burn It (Forge Again/Hewhocorrupts)
That's always been my motto. Burn the fucker down. Math rock from Homewood,
IL. It's good to see that not every four kids who graduate from high school
form a pop punk band. That's not the only career path you can take, kiddies.
It just pays the best—Joey Germ
SUGAR SHACK
Spinning Wheels (Estrus)
Sugar Shack's fourteen-track Spinning Wheels is a hot platter of rejuvenated,
high energy garage rock. The Texas combo had this album produced by garage rock
revival sound architect, Tim Kerr. The sounds is that of the best of the early,
primitive Rolling Stones with the out of control blues punk of today's groups
like Speedball Baby. There's a lot of violence and angst in such songs as the
hyper-heartache of "Can't Get Past It." Such episodes on the album mark the
music as cathartic. Interestingly, most of the band's members are avid skaters.
It may be that frantic sport that gives Spinning Wheels its energetic, driving
tempo. However this is not skate punk. Eschewing the trebly, high-end sound
of that genre, Sugar Shack goes for a low-end embittered range of tonalities.
Rather than focus on melody, the group goes for a vital and obvious swing to
their music that makes Sugar Shack a hot-rod Flamin' Groovies. This is the throaty,
NASCAR version of the New York Dolls—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
SUICIDE NOTE
You're Not Looking So Good (Ferret Music)
Some pretty heavy shit from Indianapolis. Who knew? Hardcore bordering on metal
and not so much as a suicide note for an explanation. None of us is looking
too good these days. Must be the booze—Drunk Bill
THE TUFFETS
Jump on the Tiger (no label)
Don't let the name deceive you. The Tuffet's name might conjure up images of
Little Miss Muffet and curds and way(?) and all that fairy tale shit but this
Chicago trio leans more towards the metal side than Mother Goose's nursery rhymin'
ass. So jump on the Tiger, Miss Muffet, and go for a ride!—Malcolm
Tent
ULTIMATE FAKEBOOK
Open Up and Say Awesome (Initial)
Decent Weezer rock without any strong personality comin' through. You know,
it's just OK—P.C. Jones
VARIOUS
A Fistful of Rock'n'Roll Volume 9 (Devil Doll)
A fistful of cock rock is more like it. Nevertheless, this CD comp., which seems
to change labels a lot, does indeed rock from beginning to end and while that
will never go out of vogue in my book, it certainly seems to be in vogue now.
New Bomb Turks, Hellacopters and many, many (twenty-two!) more—Jayne Wayne
VARIOUS
Hopelessly Devoted to You (Hopeless)
Some released and some unreleased tracks from the Hopeless roster, like my faves,
Selby Tigers, Scared of Chaka and Atom and His Package and your faves, Mustard
Plug, Samiam and Weakerthans—Joey Germ
VARIOUS
Pop for Charity (Doubleplusgood)
A good balance of rock and rap on this benefit CD from Minneapolis label, doupleplusgood.
The benefit? Local musicians, naturally, but you the listener will be benefiting
from Spivey's, Dillinger Four, Non-Prophets and Buck 65 and the wonderfully
named, Congratulations on Your Decision to Become a Pilot—P.C. Jones
VARIOUS
Punk Rock is Your Friend (Kung Fu)
There aren't too many things that start with the letter "P" that you need more
than this album. So, if you've already got pants, peanut butter, Parcheesi,
a porch, parents, palms, Play-Doh, pajamas, a pup tent, plenty of prophylactics,
a parachute, progeny, a Ph.D., Plato's Republic, pus, perfect attendance, peace
of mind, Pine Sol, papers (to put your pot in, so you can puff it), Post Traumatic
Stress syndrome, a prostate, and a pussy, well, then, by all means, purchase
this, pronto!—Soggy Sprinkles
VARIOUS
MTV Road Rule: Don't Make Me Pull This Thing Over Volume
1 (Roadrunner)
Pull it over, pull it over, I wanna get off!—Jimmy the Geek
VARIOUS
Quincy Shanks Sampler #4 (Quincy Shanks)
A sampler from the Quincy Shanks label that features some quality punk rock
and hardcore from bands like Biscayne, 4-Squares, and Munition (that singers
got some pipes!) among others. Check it out, it's a beautiful thing—Joey Germ
VARIOUS
Sample This, Too (BYO)
The cover of this CD has a drawing of punk rocker punching a dude with glasses,
which made me think, "Wait! This is an anti-nerd record, not cool." Then I realized
that the punk rocker has breasts so I'm thinking, "Oh that makes it ok, I think."
Then I realize that this punk rock chick is punching a techno geek so it's all
good. Anyway, this compilation celebrates twenty years of BYO and features released
and soon-to-be-released (by now probably released) stuff by BYO affiliated bands:
Rancid, Anti-Flag, Youth Brigade, NOFX, and more!—Joey Germ
VARIOUS
Shipwreck Day (know-yer-own)
Is it Shipwreck Day already? Seems like only yesterday we were sitting around
the wrecked hull of the of the old U.S.S. Indie Rock reminiscing about the good
old days. This is a compilation from Anacortes, WA's know-yer-own label which
features the talents of homegrown Washington artists Calvin Johnson, Micro-phones,
Little Wings and others. If you're a fan of K Records and their catalog, you
will find a kindred soul in the know-yer-own label and this compilation—Irresistible Frank
VARIOUS
The Thing That Ate Floyd (Lookout!)
A blast from the past and a rerelease of a relic of punk rock history. Whatever
happened to Vomit Launch or Bitch Fight? Some recognizable names on this for
sure, No Use For A Name, Crimpshine, Operation Ivy, Steel-pole Bathtub. Seems
like a lot more creativity and diversity was going on back then. Seems like
these bands weren't afraid to do whatever the fuck they liked and screw they
punk purists. "Bananas Smell Funny Sonata in G" by Boo! Hiss! Pfftlb! and Eyeball's
"The Incredibly Blue Mustache of Mr. Tinselteeth" are good examples of the Dickies
inspired silliness that seems to be absent with today's studied and serious
young punk rockers. Or maybe I'm just old. That's probably it actually—Joey Germ
VOLUMIZER
Gaga for Gigi (Mint)
A rock band composed of a bunch of legendary, underground Vancouver musicians
who've played in various punk and new wave bands back in the 80s. Volumizer
is in no way as groundbreaking as the collective projects of the individual
members may have been "back in the day," but it's decent female-fronted midtempo
rock music—Jayne Wayne
VOODOO GLOW SKULLS
Steady as She Goes (Victory)
This is Tommy Lasorda's favorite album. This is Jane Wyman's second favorite
album. This is Andy Richter's third favorite album. This is Sammy Hagar's fourth
favorite album. This is Fred Grandy's fifth favorite album. This is Janet Reno's
sixth favorite album. This is Madonna's seventh favorite album. This is Marcel
Marceau's eighth favorite album. This is Les Lipschitz's ninth favorite album.
This is Gerald Ford's tenth favorite album. This is Fab Moretti's eleventh favorite
album. This is James Taylor's eleventh favorite album. This is Nancy Spungeon's
twelfth favorite album. This is Andre Salmon's thirteenth favorite album. This
is Jayne Wayne's fourteenth favorite album. This is Chef Boyardee's fifteenth
favorite album. This is the D.C. sniper's sixteenth favorite album. This is
Ray Romano's seventeenth favorite album. This is Rock Hudson's eighteenth favorite
album. This is Joe Six-pack's nineteenth favorite album. This is Steven Tyler's
twentieth favorite album. This is Earline Rickett's twenty-first favorite album.
This is Richard Simmons's twenty-second favorite album. This is Blaise Cendrars's
twenty-third favorite album. This is Reese Witherspoon's twenty-fourth favorite
album. This is Steve Stelling's twenty-fifth favorite album. This is Saddam
Hussein's twenty-sixth favorite album. This is Morton Downey Jr.'s twenty-seventh
favorite album. This is Mike Wing's twenty-eighth favorite album. This is Ann
Coulter's twenty-ninth favorite album. This is Mary Todd Lincoln's twenty-ninth
favorite album. This is Danny Panic's thirtieth favorite album. This is John
Madden's thirty-first favorite album. This is Chilly Willy's thirty-second favorite
album. This is Marlon Brando's thirty-second favorite album. This is Ed Ruscha's
thirty-third favorite album. This is Jim Derogatis's thirty-fourth favorite
album. This is Donald Trump's thirty-fifth favorite album. This is Pat Benatar's
thirty-sixth favorite album. This is G. Gordon Liddy's thirty-seventh favorite
album. This is John Fogerty's thirty-eighth! favorite album. This is Chelsea
Clinton's thirty-ninth favorite album. This is Hulk Hogan's fortieth favorite
album. This is Dan Rather's forty-first favorite album. This is Ted Falconi's
forty-second favorite album. This is Linda Lovelace's forty-third favorite album.
This is Axl Rose's forty-fourth favorite album. This is Anna Kournikova's forty-fifth
favorite album. This is Kelly Clarkson's forty-sixth favorite album. This is
Ed Bradley's forty-seventh favorite album. This is Jimmy Connors's forty-eighth
favorite album. This is Henry Rollins' forty-ninth favorite album. This is the
Tombstone Kid's fiftieth favorite album. This is Lindsay Buckingham's fifty-first
favorite album. This is Chi-Chi Rodriquez's fifty-second favorite album. This
is Bob Dylan's son's fifty-third favorite album. This is Susan B. Anthony's
fifty-fourth favorite album. This is Chuck Woolery's fifty-fifth favorite album.
This is Penelope Pitstop's fifty-sixth favorite album. This is R.W. McQuarters's
fifty-seventh favorite album! This is Todd Rundgren's fifty-eighth favorite
album. This is Tony Hawk's fifty-ninth favorite album. This is Belinda Carlisle's
sixtieth favorite album. This is Cardinal Francis George's sixty-first favorite
album. This is Tom Petty's sixty-second favorite album. This is Pauly Shore's
sixty-third favorite album. This is Alex Van Halen's sixty-fourth favorite album.
This is Sue Storm's sixty-fifth favorite album. This is Robert Blake's sixty-sixth
favorite album. This is Pele's sixty-seventh favorite album. This is my sixty-eighth
favorite album—Soggy Sprinkles
BEN WEASEL
Fidatevi (Panic Button)
Ben consitpatedly sings his way through fourteen tracks on his latest introspective
solo project—Joey Ferret
WEIRD WAR
Weird War (Drag City)
Wecords, I mean records, don't get much weirder than this one, Weird War, and
by weird, I mean, "Woah!"—Soggy Sprinkles
WOLF COLONEL
Something/Everything (K)
I've never read any reviews of a Wolf Colonel (Jason Andersen) record but I'll
bet you one thing, I'll bet he's sick to death of being compared to Rob Pollard.
Well, don't kick it yet 'cause I got one more: From the arrangements, to the
voice, Anderson's style, even the way the songs start, like "Sophomore" or "The
Most Delicious Part" for example, it's pretty GBV derivative. Maybe Andersen
has been primed by indie rock powers-that-be to step up in the event that anything
should happen to Pollard, kinda of like the Vice President or something. I must
admit that Andersen could fill those shoes pretty competently and with a sense
of humor as well, the evidence of which is on a song like "Jet Ski Accidents."
"And don't you think we should kiss while the HŸsker DŸ is playing/Do you like
Grant Hart's songs?/Do you like Bob Mould's songs?/And have you ever sung along
with New Day Rising? The answers are no, yes, yes, and yes. An indie rock troubadour
for sure—P.C. Jones
YESTERDAY'S KIDS
Can't Hear Nothin' (Panic Button)
This ain't yesterday's kids, these guys are still kids! I mean "young adults"
who play a pretty good brand of pop punk music and they're from Green Bay, Wisconsin.
I hear from their press sheet that they're the most talked about band in the
Midwest! I imagine that would be a very difficult thing to gauge. I personally
have yet to discuss them or overhear anyone else discussing them but that doesn't
make it untrue. Oh, yeah, one more thing, and this has nothing to do with YK
or their music but, PACKERS SUCK!—B. Urlacher
YOUNG AND SEXY
Stand Up for Your Mother (Mint)
I'm all for Young and Sexy. I support Young and Sexy rights, Affirmative Action
for the Young and Sexy, funding for the Young and Sexy... Anyway, this isn't
the usual fare we get doled out here at RWHQ, if it ain't punk rock I don't
know what it is, but this is some pretty, slow-paced, poppy indie rock from
Canada that makes me weep when I listen to it. Seriously—Frankie the Boot
YUME BITSU
The Golden Vessyl of Sound (K)
This is a pretty cool CD that not only has no song titles but very few vocals.
It's unchartered improv meanderings and free-form wanderings that sets the mood
for in-your-head space travel with nary a jolt or a bump or even a ripple in
the space time continuum to disrupt your journey—Ace of Space
7" Vinyl
THE CYNICS
"Doin' Me In" b/w "Last Day" (Get Hip)
Here The Cynics sublimate much of their famous vigor to deliver a heartfelt
rendition of the psych-ballad "Doin' Me In" from 60s rockers Gonn. On the B-side
the twelve-string guitar comes out for new, original tune of shimmering introduction
and Roky Erickson-like delivery—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
THE CYNICS
"Turn Me Loose" b/w "Never Had It Better" (Get Hip)
These legendary Pittsburgh garage rockers prove on this excellent new single
that they have stopped looking back. These tunes are a preview of the new album
recently completed at The Sweat Box Studio in Austin, TX, Tim Kerr producing
and Mike Vasquez engineering. The fourteen tracks were laid down in just three
days and that frenetic energy comes across here, especially on the primitively
psychedelic cover of the Electric Prunes tune on the B-side—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
DECIBATORS/REAGAN NATIONAL CRASH
DIET
"Burning Under the Sun" b/w "White Man" (decirecs/RoosterCow)
Everyone's in a band or has a friend in a band, and I could count the number
of my friends in a band on this record on my fingers and still have one left
over for you. In fact, I've been–um, intimate, with more than half of them
(kisses on the mouth to and from three of the four RNCDers, "Frenching" and
a little groping with Todd and Eric of the DBs). But! Don't think for a minute
that just because I like these people as, you know, people, that their music
automatically qualifies for the big thumbs up. I've had plenty of friends in
absolutely awful bands. Just ask me sometime about Magnetic Health Theater,
Eat the Document, Crabshack, the Steelers, or too many others to mention. However,
these two groups don't make bad music. The Decibators play hard rock that's
only distinguishable from the best classic Heavy Metal in that it's faster in
the tempos and shorter in the guitar solos. "Nash Crash", as their friends call
them, have always utilized an impressive array of rock strategies and tropes
that have impressed many rockers and eggheads, and confused the editors of at
least one local music sheet. On "White Man" a Tonto-in-the-jungle motif in the
verses gives way to an anthemic chorus worthy of Bruce Springsteen or Britney
Spears (or Billy Squire or Barbara Streisand). But Bruce isn't the kind of guy
I like to hang out with, and the time I made out with Britney her mouth tasted
like a fucking ashtray. Ptoooie!—Al Gore
THE MEANS
The Means EP (RoosterCow)
Swing to the left, swing to the right-POW- sledge-hammer in your face! That's
what you get for swinging. Let that be a lesson to all you swingers. The Means
mean business—Muggsy McMurphy
MONDO TOPLESS
"No More" b/w "Panty Sniffer" (Get Hip)
Out of Philadelphia, this garage rock group dabs extra Farfisa on both sides
of this single. The A-Side is almost menacing in its darkly punk rejection.
Nearly threatening in its stalker portrayal, "Panty Sniffer" is fuel for a drunken
frat raid escapade—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte
SALEM LIGHTS
"Barefoot in the Bathroom" b/w "Wolves Fear Sheep" (Funhouse)
A couple of bluesy rockers to kick off the morning. Makes me want to crawl back
in bed and rethink this whole "gettin up" thing. Wolves really do fear sheep
though, that's why they eat 'em like they do–Brunk Dill
THE SHAMS
"You Got It" b/w "Your Lovin' Man" (Deary Me)
Real '60s garage rock that sounds like it may have actually been recorded in
a garage. "You Got It" gots a real Velvet Underground feel, similar recording
techniques were employed I'd wager. Not a scam, sham or a shame even–Brunk Dill
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