"Demo Reviews"
Sponsored In Part By
by Al Slavicsky...
Ballistic
408 Lehman St., Lebanon, PA 17046
In the vein of old Iron Maiden, Queensryche, or Testament, Ballistic have
continued that song into the 1990s. On their self released CD, the band
gives the world five tracks that all are worth the attention that they
deserve. Lyrically, Ballistic is not your average metal band, for they
try to have a concept throughout the compact disc. There’s almost a storyline
of how a person questions life via praying and making mistakes along the
way. Starts out with "Get It Right," in which the person questions his
decision-making in voting and praying, then goes into "Hear My Prayer:
Part 2 of 4," where the concept of praying is questioned. "Empty Again"
is about emptying one's burdens through prayer. "Man of the House" is about
a son becoming the man of the house. And the CD closes with the haunting
"Right Where You Want Me," about a person going crazy with life's problems.
Ballistic may not be a household name yet, but they do have a sound that
is refreshingly different, for it is old school metal.
Teenage Girls • Cheerleader Offerings...
c/o Stu, 1152 School St. #2, Indiana, PA 15701
Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Teenage Girls have released their
first full length compact disc and, in this writer's opinion, maybe the
most underrated CD ever released. The Teenage Girls sound better than some
of the material that is being released by major labels, and this was recorded
on a limited budget, but the production sound is awesome. There are 15
tunes which combine punk-metal-rap-hardcore-death in a unique fashion.
"Kooya Koombaya" reminds one of ICP mixed with riffs on Inner Circle's
"Bad Boys" and Suicidal Tendencies' "Institutionalized." The controversial
"Jesus Is Gay" is recorded from the demo CD and is brought to new highlights
with the additional vocals and raps. A surprise is included here on the
metallic influenced "PJ Would Return"... How this unsigned band managed
this is still hard to believe, but they did. Also, "Evil B" is one of the
best rapcore songs ever recorded. Overall, this young band proves to the
world that hard work does pay off, and this CD will be an instant
collector's item, for this band will be going places. So, labels and music
fans, get ahold of this release now, for it is awesome.
by Pam West...
Johnny Allen • Banana Wig
P.O. Box 20577, Ferndale, MI 48220
An amazing journey into psychedelic punk and Motor City rock. This
Ferndale, Michigan artist and his pals have produced a truly tasteful smorgasbord
of in-your-face Ugly Kid Joe meets Alice Cooper, The Sweet, and Hole.
The lyrics are well-crafted, tongue-in-cheek funny, and starkly human.
A wormhole ride! Pick hits the title track "Banana Wig" and "Live
for the Moment."
by Eric Harabadian...
Johnny Hogan • Michigan Snowbanks
Great Lakes Country Music, P.O. Box 756, Indian River, MI 49749
This album is the first of two solo ventures for the veteran steel guitarist,
vocalist and songwriter Johnny Hogan. Of the seven songs represented, five
were recorded in Michigan during the mid-nineties. However two vintage
tracks, "Custody" and "Buckhorn Inn," were cut in Memphis in 1972. This
recording offers a nice cross-section of material, from ballads to western
swing, that really shows the depth and range of this northern Michigan
treasure. If you're looking for the real deal in country music, look no
further than Johnny Hogan.
by Mike Farley...
Too Strange for Sisterdale • Out Again
Strange Parts Productions, 604 Uhland Rd, San Marcos, TX 78666
This group combines an array of influences ranging from country, blues,
pop, and jazz into an infectious collection of songs on their CD entitled
Out Again. A six-piece band of talented musicians and singers, they add
guests on fiddle, mandolin, pedal steel guitar, and sax and bring it all
together in a way that will have you singing along and shuffling across
the room.
by Vic Gemmingen...
Pat Cisarano • ah
happimusic, P.O. Box 310033, Brooklyn, NY 11235
On ah, super-talented Jazz singer Pat Cisarano criss-crosses several musical
genres -- blues, soul, torch, reggae, Gospel -- apparently effortlessly
and obviously impressively. A highly inspired and inspiring collection
of tunes featuring Ms. Cisarano backed by some of the Big A’s finest, including
the F Train Horns. Give it a listen, and you’ll be a fan in a New York
minute.
Jeniphoria • Jeniphoria EP
33 Whistle Stop Dr., Cartersville, GA 30120
Jeniphoria is currently getting heavy airplay in Romania with their first
EP. Fronted by Jen Chapman (who’s vocally similar to Heart’s Ann Wilson)
Jeniphoria does some nice Jane’s Addiction-ish rock on "Rape," dynamic
climacticisms on "mellowdic," and alt-radio-friendly tunesmith-ery on "$200
Song." In the process of recording a full-length CD and gigging regularly,
Jeniphoria also writes for other artists, including Atlanta’s Princess
Christi.
Gail Swanson • Sign of the Times EP
Sea Note Music, P.O. Box 613, Puunene, Maui, HI 96784
A sincere multi-talent, Gail Swanson sings well, plays acoustic guitar,
writes great songs, and plays flute. Yeah, plays flute. And it sounds wonderful
on these five catchy rock tunes in the league of Sheryl Crow ("Good Thing")
and Bonnie Raitt ("You’re Making it Rain"). Swanson has played with some
heavies, including The Doobie Brothers and Willie Nelson, and it’s easy
to hear why; if Shawn Colvin rocked, she would sound like Gail Swanson.