"Album Reviews"
Sponsored In Part By
Smartbomb - Smartbomb
Creativeman Disc
They may be just another power pop band from Southern California but these
guys possess strong melodies and hooks to back up their hyperkinetic grooves.
With their precise raucous guitars and catchy beats Smartbomb would fit
in well with the Warped Tour crowd.
- Eric Harabadian
Universal Stomp - 2296
Overcore Records
Detroit is a hardcore town, no bones about it. Many a life has met its
end in Motown, but it also has been a hotbed for great music of all kinds.
>From Barry Gordy's Motown sound to Ted Nugent's bad-ass boogie, D-town
has had it all. But where is the real hardcore? It's right here in Universal
Stomp's new release 2296. Hard as nails riffs and powerful vocals
bring to mind a modern metal version of Agnostic Front, with angry energy
flowing though songs like "No More" and "Find A Reason." Poly-rhythms and
some nice percussion highlight "Self Made," while "Me And My Own" has an
intro that would be right at home on Metallica's And Justice For All...,
only to genre-bust with some cool hip hop vocal stylings. Mosh it up!
- Brendan Hagin
Paul Schutze - Green Evil
Tone Casualties
In the liner notes to this ambient collection of musical pieces, spanning
a fourteen year period, Paul Schutze says: "In arranging these pieces together
I found myself thinking about the ways in which languages of sound develop
and evolve about the function and value of memory and about the persistence
of idea." For me, though, it just makes me think about those tinkling wind
chimes outside my front door. But I guess everybody’s different.
- Dan MacIntosh
Monty Holmes - All I Ever Wanted
Bang II Records
Monty, where are you, man? This album is super. Nashville must be hidin’
ya out ‘cause I sure would like to see ya live or maybe even hear ya gettin’
some radio play! Monty Holmes, a wonderful songwriter and singer, has written
hit songs for George Strait, John Michael Montgomery, Leann Womack and
others. Monty is from Lubbock, Texas. This album is fabulous -- great musicians,
great recording. I think this album has several hit tracks on it. Way cool
country rockabilly, Western swing style.
- Michael Hoadley
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Live From Steel Town
CMC International Records
Recorded live at Star Lake Amphitheater in Burgettstown, PA. Recorded on
site July 1997. Guys, I couldn’t make it, but my heart was there. Skynyrd
fans’ dream come true; these guys are the best rock and roll band in the
industry! Real rock and roll, Southern style.
- Michael Hoadley
Ruth Ruth - Are You My Friend?
RCA Records
Ruth Ruth’s writer and singer Chris Kennedy can’t seem to decide if he
wants to be a smart ass or just pout and wear his broken heart on his sleeve.
A song like "Think! Anatomic" simply drains all the beauty and poetry out
of intimate contact with its blunt description of a sexual encounter. Elsewhere,
though, as with "If I Can’t Have You," he comes off like an unrepentant
romantic. Maybe Kennedy is just too smart for his own good. Nevertheless,
there’s never a dull moment with a schizophrenic.
- Dan MacIntosh
Absinthe - A Good Day To Die
Llanas Records
Absinthe is a side project from Bodeans singer Sammy Llanas. But unlike
the Bodeans, which has the reputation of being a good time party band,
this very personal album speaks bluntly and autobiographically about Llanas’
childhood. Over subdued musical backing, Llanas tells his story with sincere
conviction. Beginning with a tale about the "Bully On The Corner," Llanas
unflinchingly recreates his earliest memories for the listener. It may
not be the right CD to enliven the party, but every word of it rings true.
- Dan MacIntosh
Kent - Isola
RCA Records
If Kent’s album tells us anything, it’s that Radiohead’s blockbuster album,
OK Computer, must have also sold a lot of units in this 5-piece’s home
country of Sweden. Singer Joakim Berg sings every line like it’s his last.
"Are you happy now?/Is there still time before it all ends" he sings on
"Before It All Ends." To its credit, though, Kent makes its sadness sound
eloquently beautiful. There is a warmth and sincerity that keeps this from
sounding too much like a rip-off of you-know-who.
- Dan MacIntosh
The Hunger - Cinematic Superthug
Universal Recordings
The heavy guitar drive of The Hunger’s sophomore effort sets this band
further apart from the throngs of industrial rock. This band is just a
damn good rock band; the techno stuff is just the icing on the cake! Vocal
harmonies and hooks that sit with you long after you heard them. Don’t
worry, they’re still slamming! And I’ll lay money that they’re still kickass
live!!
- Patrick Ondrus
Allen and Allen - A New Beginning
CGI Records
Allen and Allen are keyboardist Bruce Allen and saxophonist Allen Wiggins.
They call their music "inspirational jazz," and the duo has a nice way
of taking secular material like Earth, Wind and Fire's "Devotion," for
example, and blending it with their own take on the Lord's Prayer called
"Poetic Shepherd." Wiggins soars on the soprano sax throughout, a la Grover
Washington, Jr., as Bruce layers it all on a bed of smooth chords and complimentary
textures.
- Eric Harabadian
Godsmack - Not Final Mixes
Universal Recordings
This group is right on the fringes of the hard/alternative rock scene with
this batch of tunes. Definitely aggressive in taste and attitude, songs
like "Whatever" (the first single), "Time Bomb," and the opening track
"Moon Baby" exhibit a sense of frustration on the verge of freaking right
out. I bet these guys would be a real trip to see in a live atmosphere!
- The Wild Card
Jack Off Jill - Covetous Creature
Risk Records
Originality finally bares its lovely head; Covetous Creature is
a follow-up CD to the already unparalleled 1997 release Sexless Demons
and Scars. This concoction of mixes just brings the already enigmatic
songs to full industrial strength. Jessicka’s evil, mischievous vocals
bring the impish, exciting lyrics the vigor they need to put them in full
effect. The amazing mixes give each song a different and unusual personality
from its original version. The contributing mixers (to name a couple) were
Chris Vrenna (some of his works include NIN and Smashing Pumpkins), and
Synical, who has worked with L7 and Rob Halford’s new band Two, proving
this album has some amazing efforts and backup to empower its individuality,
controversy and lunacy! I highly recommend trying to get your hands on
this delightful CD. It puts the E back in EVIL!
- Lauren Faccidomo
Twist of Fate - New Skies
Cellar Records
This Detroit area band has been around since the early nineties and has
gone through many musical transformations. The result is a satisfying,
sophisticated, and well-crafted sound that evokes the spirit of progressive
and classic rock acts such as Styx, Journey, and Kansas. Painting their
aural canvas with splashes of color, variety and a unique perspective,
this band has a promising future ahead of it. With any luck, New Skies
should take these guys to new heights.
- Eric Harabadian
Soak - Flywatt
Rain Maker/Sire Records
Soak takes you far beyond the pabulum of the current alternative music
scene with their new album Flywatt. Hard-driving, mind-blowing,
and overpowering, Flywatt will MAKE you listen! You will have to
turn it up, LOUD! Resistance is futile. You will love this album whether
you like it or not. Just try to resist these pile-driving beats. This is
not an album for the weak, meek, or closed-minded. This is the REAL DEAL!
- Victoria Peterson
The Mysteries of Life - Come Clean
RCA Records
The Mysteries of Life deserve to be mentioned in the same breath with the
current crop of Alterna-country darlings such as Wilco, Son Volt, and Whiskeytown...
while their music doesn’t fit neatly into the box with the overdriven,
tremolo-laden strains of these bands (you won’t hear a ton of steel guitar
or fiddle on this record), the honesty of the delivery of these fourteen
tunes can’t be denied.
The Mysteries are the brainchild of vocalist/guitarist Jake Smith and
wife Freda Love (former Blake Babies drummer), who have seen the band through
from its beginnings in the Bloomington/Indianapolis scene through to this,
the bands’ third release. Bloomington-area native and Mellencamp alumnus
Lisa Germano cameos on the record, contributing vocals to "Southdowns"
(she had also appeared on their previous EP release, Anonymous Tip.)
This record finds them in good form, in both instrumental and songwriting
ability -- songs like "Downhill," "A Year Ago Today," and "That’s How Strong
My Love Is" take up quick residence in the area of your brain that governs
the "I can’t get that song out of my head" responses. The guitar-driven
music shimmers and undulates under songs that sound remarkably new at first
blush, and yet not unfamiliar as well.
The Mysteries of Life have managed to build on the foundations of pop
music -- an inspired moment, an emotional truth, a cleverly turned phrase...
and Come Clean is certain not to disappoint.
- Ron Jacobs
J Mundok - Artichoke
Jack Kettle Records
Much like the vegetable this album is named after, very little here is
edible for the listener. Mundok packs his CD with monotonous keyboard and
percussion programming, and then sails his whiny and nasal vocals over
this unappetizing musical salad. The songs have all the manic depression
of Gothic rock without any of the drama or musicality associated with that
bygone genre.
- Dan MacIntosh
Fiendz - Cole
Black Bumpkin Records
While the other fantasy rockers on his block were trying to get Eddie Van
Halen’s guitar hero pose down pat, Fiendz singer Jerry Jones must have
been standing in front of a mirror, holding his nose, and trying his utmost
to get that Elvis Costello sinus whine just perfect. Sounding like Costello
fronting Squeeze back in the "Get Happy" two-minute song era, Jones runs
this band through 15 short and sweet pop tunes. Now, if only Jones could
write like Elvis...
- Dan MacIntosh
The Mayfield Four - Fallout
Epic Records
Fallout is an apt name for The Mayfield Four, as it stands in the ashes
of the burned-out grunge era. Without a Nirvana or Soundgarden to sustain
it, grunge is simply no more. Nevertheless, this album is produced surprisingly
well by Jerry Harrison (known best for the funky music he made as a member
of Talking Heads). The Mayfield Four work up a pretty good head of steam
for band out of time.
- Dan MacIntosh
Social Scare - Social Scare
Radical Records
Guitarist Shawn (no last names, thank you very much) of Social Scare is
pictured in the CD booklet wearing a Clash T-shirt, and like that pioneering
punk outfit, this young hardcore trio plays with passion and vitriol. "Kids
Today" says of today’s youth: "They group us together with just one name/We’ll
be old enough someday/then they’ll listen to what we say" You can wait
until they’re older -- with beer guts and thinning hair -- or you can listen
now. The choice is yours.
- Dan MacIntosh
Corey Glover - Hymns
LaFace Records
Corey Glover is the former lead singer for the all-black rock band, Living
Color. Hymns is not, as the title may suggest, Glover’s entry into
the world of inspirational music but is, instead, a strongly spiritual
searching for lasting meaning in this oftentimes temporal world. This solo
effort allows Glover to step away from the restricting metal expectations
of his former band and bask in the joy of singing like Al Green one moment,
and then like his favorite Stax soul shouter the next. Living Color may
have appealed to the metal-heads of the late eighties/early nineties, but
I just knew there was a soul singer in there somewhere.
- Dan MacIntosh
Junior Brown - Long Walk Home
Curb Records
Junior Brown is a lot of things -- a superb guitarist, a witty songwriter,
and an adventurous artist who also respects country music’s traditions.
Long Walk Home may get some extra added attention from rock music
fans, as Jimi Hendrix Experience is featured on drums, but Brown certainly
doesn’t need any all-star help to gain an audience; his talent alone accomplishes
that. Brown fills this new release with mucho variety -- from the soft
ballad "Read ‘Em And Weep," to the silly "Rock-A-Hula Baby," to the retro
"(I’m Just) Looking For Love." With Long Walk Home, Junior Brown
continues his role as the most entertaining guy in country music, and stepping
over to the record store for a new Junior Brown is always worth the walk.
- Dan MacIntosh
Bruce Dickinson - The Chemical Wedding
CMC International
When Bruce Dickinson left Iron Maiden, he seemed to wallow in the mire
of metal ballads. Gone was the pure Metal of Maiden, replaced by glossy,
over-produced pap. Enter former Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith and new blood
Roy Z. (guitar), Eddie Casillas (bass), and Davis Ingraham (drums). With
this lethal line-up, Bruce is back with the heaviest record of his career,
echoing his Maiden days, yet expanding to feature the down-tuned crunch
of today's metal. "King In Crimson" kicks off the LP, chugging along in
true metal fashion, with a semi-Sabbath progression. So far, so good. Next
up, the title track, which has some cool hippie-vibro guitar work, and
a catchy chorus, but almost falls back to ballad crud. The classical style
lead saves the song though, showing some great chops and nice harmony interplay.
"The Tower" sounds like a missing track from Maiden's Piece Of Mind
but has a modern sound that gets your blood pumping.
Track number four, "Killing Floor," takes a stab at Helmet/Tool stop-start
riffs and odd timings, and the results are kickin'! Another classical breakdown
mid-song adds some flavor, showing the range of his players. "Trumpets
Of Jericho" breaks in with some Korn riffs, and tears its way along, injecting
some of Bruce's patented Sword And Dragon vocals. Roy Z. produced and wrote
a lot of the record, and with his influence and Bruce's still valid voice,
the future looks bright. Their live shows should be a blast, just be sure
to shave your mustache and leave the Camaro at home.
- Brendan Hagin
Pitbull Daycare - Six Six Six
MIA Records, Inc.
The back cover of this CD shows a picture of Pitbull Daycare’s shirtless
lead singer, Stephen Bishop, holding a beer in one hand and a flipping
the bird while holding a microphone in the other. His facial expression
makes him look just like a younger version of Ozzy Osbourne. Musically,
though, this group mixes techno, buzz saw guitars, and spoken samples to
create a scary, end-times, mark-of-the-beast scenario. Come to think of
it, that’s probably what old Oz would sound like, if he were young again.
- Dan MacIntosh
Sonia Tetlow - Reclaiming Beauty
Elbo Records
According to press from Tetlow’s native Atlanta, she often draws comparisons
to artists such as Ani DiFranco and Patti Smith... which must be drawn
from her live show, as that energy fails to materialize consistently on
this record. The uptempo songs like "The Song" and "Face of a Nation" (which
begins with possibly the most cliched lyric in history -- "Dear Mr. President")
come off as not much more than manic strumming. A notable exception would
be the song "Absence" which falls nicely over a tight groove and sports
some excellent violin work from Sheila Doyle of Big Fish Ensemble. The
irony of the lyric "...there is too much screaming" is not to be lost on
anyone, though.
The high point of the record comes in the back-to-back punch of the
songs "Steel and Stone" and "Six Years." The songs deal with rape from
a victims’ stance... the latter song carries a strong, positive, healing
message that should be heard by anyone who has been a victim of violent
crime. These gems, however, have an insurmountable task ahead in trying
to carry a record that contains songs about armpit hair and her cat Sasha.
Fans of Colvinesque vocal gymnastics and stellar instrumental work won’t
find much to appreciate here in Sonia’s world, but fans of the confessional,
Post-Indigo, Angry-Young-Woman camp will most certainly find something
to like about Sonia Tetlow.
- Ron Jacobs
Dr. Ring-Ding & The Senior Allstars - Ram Di Dance
Moon Ska Records
Dr. Ring-Ding may be on a label with Ska in its name, but from the opening
song ("My Sound") this outfit makes it clear that it’s a group that has
its feet planted firmly in reggae’s roots. Unlike many of the so-called
Third Wave ska bands these days, Dr. Ring-Ding is not interested in spicing
its sound up with punk guitars and hardcore tempos. Instead, it’s a band
that has most certainly listened to its share of Skatalites recordings,
and has learned well from these listening experiences.
- Dan MacIntosh
NOTE: Due to space constraints, the following reviews were not included
in the print edition of Geoff Wilbur's Renegade Newsletter. These
reviews are only available here in the online edition.
Indigo Swing - Indigo Swing
Welt & Placket Recordings 2130 Leavenworth #5, SF, CA 94133
The late 1990s have become the late 1940s with this excellent sendup of
swing by San Francisco quintet Indigo Swing. You'll feel the urge to get
up and dance the jitterbug with the LP's opening track "Pink Cadillac."
Things slow down to a smoky crawl with "Please Tell 'Em," then crank back
up during "I Can't Stop It." With the sudden influx of swing bands peppering
the nation, it's hard to set groups apart unless they deliver the goods
in a live setting. Catching their act a few times myself, I can say that
these "cats" kick it live. Check it out, daddy-o!
- Brendan Hagin
Mensclub - Comin' To Take You Away
Bar None Records
Think back (if your old enough!) to the early 1970s, when "Dude-Rock" was
in full swing. Grand Funk Railroad, MC5, and Iggy Pop were crankin' it
out, bare-chested and in your face. Well, Mensclub rekindles that spirit
with this fine debut that makes the chicks swoon and the guys j. The 12
tunes on this CD rock with reckless abandon, hitting full stride with "Ass
Grass or Grass," bringing to mind that bumper sticker that was on all the
tricked-out Kozy Kar vans. Check out the killer opening track "Comin,"
complete with drum solo, for pure '70s satisfaction! Live, Mensclub tears
it up with endless jams and tons o' energy, playing anywhere that will
have them. NEWS FLASH!: Recently, this San Francisco trio called it quits,
but you never know when they may resurface, because the worlds need more
bands that flat out ROCK!
- Brendan Hagin
Idiot Flesh - The Nothing Show
Rock Against Rock Records
Turn on The Muppet Show and listen to Frank Zappa backwards while on LSD,
and you may get close to what Idiot Flesh sounds like. Famous locally for
their outrageous stage shows and costumes (a puppet show is the norm),
these guys are also excellent musicians and display their chops well on
this CD. The Nothing Show is a theatre performance put down to disc,
complete with an "Intermission before Act II." "Puppet Theater" sounds
like a cartoon theme song from Hell, while "Black Sand" features some nice
acoustic guitar melodies before ripping apart in freak-out mayhem! Idiot
Flesh hails from the Bay Area, where things get a little weird and wild,
but that's how we like it! Recommended for listeners with an open mind
and acid flashbacks.
- Brendan Hagin
Lorrie Morgan - Shakin’ Things Up
RCA Records
Well, I got this album before it hit a lot of radio play. I knew there
would be one or two hit tracks after the first time I listened to it, but
if it was up to me, they’d all be hits. Lorrie, you rock, girl. Great melodies.
Very tasty musicianship. Way cool recording.
- Michael Hoadley
Drain S.T.H. - Horror Wrestling
The Enclave/Mercury Records
Hailing from Stockholm, Sweden, the all-female (sorry, had to mention it)
Drain S.T.H. slows the pace down to a heavy crawl while showcasing fine
chops. "I Don't Mind" kicks off the LP with some serious power and cool
as hell harmony vox, leading into the wah-wah laced "Smile." Their slow-core
cover of Motorhead's "Ace Of Spades" is a refreshing break from by-the-numbers
homages. Concert dates with Megadeth and Monster Magnet should help spread
the word nationally. A little Seattle-ish throughout, Horror Wrestling
is a well produced platter that sounds great cranked up to 11. Don't let
anyone tell you girls can't kick ass, because this is proof in da puddin'!
- Brendan Hagin
Monster Voodoo Machine - Direct Reaction Now!
Dr. Dream Records
A few years ago, this band seemed poised to make it big as a techno-metal
band, along the lines of, say, Fear Factory or a heavier Nine Inch Nails.
After leaving their major label home of RCA, the band has dropped most
of the techno and stripped down to reveal some slammin' metal jams! Sounding
a little like recent Corrosion Of Conformity, MVM has those chunky chords
that pump up ones energy and forces a pit. "Stealth M.F." kicks off the
LP with a serious groove, shifting back and forth to mid-tempo beats. Track
3 "Every Filthy Angel" has a heavy Sabbath progression and some cool guitar
effects, while the record picks up speed with the manic "Thorn", featuring
some killer basic riffs right out of Metal 101. These guys should make
a mark with this release, and with dates on the 1998 Ozzfest, they should
add fans as well as sell a few units. Voodoo baby!
- Brendan Hagin
Korn - Follow The Leader
Immortal/Epic Records
Korn has returned with a new platter to serve up but fails to satisfy my
hunger for heavy music. I loved their first record, featuring some innovative
guitar stylings, Scottish bagpipes, and angry yet passionate vocals, all
layered over hip hop beats. Their second release, Life Is Peachy,
seemed tame in comparison, and with Follow The Leader, they continue to
go downhill, although ever so slowly. The LP begins with 12 tracks of silence,
cleverly bringing the noise with track number 13 (a reference to the 13th
letter of the alphabet, M, for marijuana perhaps?) "It's On!" "Got The
Life" is already being tagged as their breakthrough radio hit, but with
its disco beat and pointless bass popping, I can't see it a being another
"Smells Like Teen Spirit." I was excited to hear they were including a
hidden cover version of the classic Cheech & Chong track "Earache My
Eye," but the result, even with Cheech Marin himself contributing vocals,
comes out average. Guest star Ice Cube saves the trippy "Children Of The
Korn," while the bagpipes return in the 15 plus minute "My Gift To You,"
but the whole record sounds like one long song -- not a bad idea if you're
ELP or King Crimson, but boring in the metal ranks. It's hard for me to
trash Korn because I liked their style and concept when they first arrived,
but they need to branch out a little and try something different.
- Brendan Hagin
Monster Magnet - Powertrip
A&M Records
This LP funkin' rocks! Monster Magnet get better with each release, producing
some of the coolest retro-hard rock sounds this side of MC5. Album opener
"Crop Circle" sounds like Iggy Pop circa The Stooges 1970, while the title
track starts with a little Bo Diddley beat guitar and drums, then kicks
up some dust with a catchy chorus and spacey lead work. Main man Dave Wyndorf
has really matured in his songwriting, blessing us with tunes like the
heavy-acoustic flavored "Space Lord", which has become a minor hit on mainstream
rock radio. Track 10 "Tractor" rocks with reckless abandon, all the while
proving less is more with its repetitive guitar progression. Put on some
headphones and crank up "Goliath And The Vampires," then look up at your
blacklight posters and your catapulted back to California Jam '74. As always,
stripped down guitars and basic riffs rule this MM record, making it easy
to get down and keep on truckin'!
- Brendan Hagin
Institutional Radio Mass Choir - After The Rapture
CGI Records
I'm not religious in any way, but there something cool about gospel music,
regardless of what faith you may follow. Gospel is well represented here
with this well produced release. You feel like gettin' up and dancing as
the LP kicks off with the title track, and it doesn't let up with "Go With
It," featuring the excellent vocal stylings of Marie Bohanon. I swear the
backing band sounds like Fishbone, with a monster drummer and some tight
bass work. Bringing to mind the James Brown church scene in my favorite
movie The Blues Brothers, "He Did It For Me" tears it up with some super
fast beats and unbeatable energy. Slower pieces like "Look Into Jesus"
are a little too urban contemporary for me, but the song does feature some
funky jams. The narration pieces are uplifting, telling us folks things
do get better, all you need is faith. I'm not about to become a born again
Christian or anything, but this CD really gets my spirits up and makes
me feel like cuttin' a rug! Marilyn Manson would love it!
- Brendan Hagin
(hed) - Serpent Boy EP
Jive Records
By sampling "I Can’t Live Without My Radio" by L.L Cool J, and applying
it to the Rock Da Beat Mix on this EP, Hed opens itself for comparisons
to another rock & rap alchemist group, the Beastie Boys. Serpent
Boy may sound like a refugee from a traveling circus, but Hed is not
at all that strange and unusual. Perhaps one day, nobody will even remember
the days when the worlds of rock and hip hop were separated.
- Dan MacIntosh
The Sammy Bones Conspiracy - The Sammy Bones Conspiracy
Forget About Records
The Sammy Bones Conspiracy may not be Oliver Stone’s latest movie about
the Kennedy assassination, but it is an enjoyable listen, nevertheless.
It’s an easygoing blues-rock exercise that features the lovelorn songs
and raspy vocals of Tom Ciotti. His approach to matters of the heart sounds
not unlike a less hyper version of pub rocker Graham Parker. This music
may not catch the attention of conspiracy theorists worldwide, but it’s
guaranteed to bring down anybody who might be suffering from a speed metal
migraine high.
- Dan MacIntosh
Tyrese - Tyrese
RCA/BMG Records
Tyrese is an actor, model, songwriter and musician who also has a need
to be a love song balladeer. But much like the world of modeling, Tyrese
comes off as one to be looked at and admired, but not listened to, necessarily.
These songs of undying affection and love twinkle twinkle, like little
stars, without remaining long in the memory, just as shooting stars dash
out of sight and are soon forgotten.
- Dan MacIntosh
Voivod - Phobos
Slipdisc/Mercury Records
With songs titles like "Bacteria," "Catalepsy," and "Neutrino," Voivod’s
music implies that either these boys spend a little too much of their free
time reading the bottle labels at their pharmacist, or they have something
much deeper than boy-meets-girl stuff going on in their minds. To paraphrase
Johnny Lyndon of PIL, this is not an album of love songs. Angry vocals,
mixed with even angrier guitars, are surrounded by spooky effects to welcome
you into the web of Voivod’s nightmare.
- Dan MacIntosh
Grinspoon - Licker Bottle Cozy
Universal Records
Highlighted by tightly articulated guitar riffs and easily understood vocals,
this Australian group mixes the moodiness of a band like Faith No More
with a solid chunky sound. And with songs like "Champion," they even critique
the modern world’s broken ladders of success in the same manner FNM once
did. Grinspoon has the advantage over many other champions-in-waiting,
in that they can combine their accurate rock instincts with a keen intelligence.
- Dan MacIntosh
Doctor Hadley - Pro-CD 5+
Buzzchunk Records
Doctor Hadley attacks rock & roll with both the delicate hands of a
surgeon, and the reckless abandon of a mad scientist. This small medicinal
dosage packs the strong side affect of ringing ears and a nervous twitch.
Doctor Hadley will appeal to anybody who likes their hard rock with a Gothic
feel, or at least anybody who remembers bands like The Cult fondly.
- Dan MacIntosh
Little Feat - Under the Radar
CMC International Records
I thought this band was lost at sea, I hadn’t heard from them in so long!
Cool album, "people of the Little Feet tribe." My hat is off to you folks
for making American rock and roll at its finest! Nice album. This band
has always been one of my favorites.
- Michael Hoadley
Molly Hatchet - Silent Reign of Heroes
CMC International Records
Molly Hatchet fans, this band is back and soundin’ better than ever! These
guys don’t f*** around; this is one of the best Molly Hatchet albums. Way
cool guitar work. This album will definitely have at least one or two number
one tracks on it. Way cool Molly Hatchet album cover, too.
- Michael Hoadley
The Jive All Stars - No Stoppin’ (single)
Jive Records
#1 can do without the "n" word. For the most part, musically very funky,
lyrically somewhat confused (themselves), but basically a positive message.
Slow down, guys.
- Susan Hirt
Cheap Trick - Live at Budokan, The Complete Concert
Epic Records
This is the 20th anniversary of the original release of this things, so
the band decided to add the other nine songs that were recorded at the
same show to the previously released stuff, and, man oh man, now we have
the complete concert!
"High Roller," "California Man," and "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your
Peace" definitely add to the overall excitement. Listening to all of this
makes me wanna go see Cheap Trick again. This stuff really kicks some very
serious donkey.
- The Wild Card
Gloritine - Cup Runneth Over
RCA Records
It’s not surprising that Gloritine thanks John Fogerty on the liner notes
here, because this Tempe, AZ band builds its chunky rock riffs around solid
songwriting, in much same way Fogerty does. Sonically, though, its modern
sound is more akin to a less feedback drenched Husker Du than it is to
Fogerty’s roots rock leanings. And like Bob Mould (of Husker), singer Tim
Anthonise obsessively airs his book of romantic regrets, in a most delightful
musical way.
- Dan MacIntosh
The Clay People - The Clay People
Slipdisc Records/Mercury Records
The Clay People is a band of Metallica-obsessed hard-rockers who specialize
in songs about the fear of technology ("Mechanized Mind"), the dark underworld
("Damien Grief"), and the dangers of the modern world ("Car Bomb"). Fat
guitar riffs and growled vocals are spiced up by tweaked keyboard effects
to give this release an eerie sound. Much of the time, though, this band
sounds like a clay idol imitation of its heroes, instead of the real thing.
- Dan MacIntosh
Elusion - Think About It
RCA Records
Elusion is a quartet consisting of two sets of twins who create a hybrid
of soft funk and hip hop, yet they can’t seem decide which of these styles
they want to be. The result is an uneven eleven song disc of repetitive
slow groves, saturated with a rapper’s attitude. There’s not enough singing
to show off the girl’s vocal skills and not enough rap to please any self-respecting
rapper. What’s left is a lot of questions about what this album could have
been, had Elusion only made up its mind.
- Dan MacIntosh
Babe the Blue Ox - The Way We Were
RCA Records
Charming is a word that often comes to mind when listening to Babe the
Blue Ox. Charming, but with a bite. Singer Tim Thomas writes with the clarity
of a poet and the sarcasm of a wry New Yorker. Whether he’s singing the
praises of playground basketball ("Basketball") or bemoaning the effect
lotteries have on the poor ("Lotto Train"), this smart ass Babe never fails
to charm the listener.
- Dan MacIntosh
9 Volt - 9 Volt
Crash Records, 102 S. River Drive, Suite 102, Tempe, AZ 85281
What a pleasant surprise for a debut CD. This three piece band has meshed
like many bands can’t after many years. The sound is a mix of today’s lighter
rock with a taste of a harder edge subtly sneaking in most of the songs.
All twelve songs are very excellent cuts. Lead singer and guitarist Andy
Mitchell has a very distinctive voice which makes you feel like you are
listening to him live at a concert.
- Tom DeMann
Green Devil Industry - Green Devil Industry
Firebowl Records/Caprice International Records
Ben Haynes, who wrote and produced this live recording of anger-filled
songs, doesn’t sound to be all that happy here. This eight song collection
(characterized by songs like "Speed of Stupid") is all guitar, bass, drums,
muddled vocals, and vitriol. It’s sometimes hard to figure out just what
Haynes is going on about, but he seems to be sincere in his rants. One
is hesitant, though, to ask this scary guy to explain what his songs are
all about -- or to babysit the kids, for that matter.
- Dan MacIntosh