August 2002 CD Reviews

TRUTH RINGS OUT
s/t
FACE DOWN RECORDS

   Finally a band out of Sacramento that stays clear of the town's signature metal sound and chooses to follow a path of powerhouse street-punk/oi! Their sound is a high-energy mix of punk that incorporates the intensity of The Anti-Heroes, the youthful aggression of vintage 7 Seconds and the bravado of English upstarts like The Cockney Rejects and Boston's own Dropkick Murphys. This monster trio brings a fresh twist to the genre, leaving the poppy side behind and delivering a full barrage of in-your-face street-rock that satisfies and yet leaves you longing for more than the 13 songs served up here. Pick it up, pop it in, and raise some hell.
- Larry Lugz


ARMCHAIR MARTIAN
Who Wants To Play Bass?
MY RECORDS

    The latest release from this Fort Collins (Colorado)-based power-pop trio is a haunting, mystical experience that will never quite leave you once you've heard it. Usually I listen a couple of times to albums I've reviewed, maybe pulling the best ones out to hear once in a while. But I think I've played this album 30 times in the last two weeks. Guitarist and vocalist Jon Snodgrass has the vocal qualities of Tom Waits crossed with Van Morrison and a bit of Dylan. His gravelly inflections caress his words and turn the songs into something both heartfelt and memorable. Though many reviewers compare these guys to Husker Du, they are much more akin to the burgeoning roles of twang-core bands such as Son Volt, Wilco, and the Old 97's. There is a lot of crunching rock on this album, distorted guitars and buzz mixed in with the nearly perfect slow numbers. The band is good when they rock, but the most intriguing moments on this CD are the slow tunes. The chilling opening track, "Mexican Song", sets the perfect mood for this album with its sad and prophetic tone. If you've got a heart, give this one a listen.
- Dug

36 CRAZYFISTS
Bitterness The Star
ROADRUNNER

   36 Crazyfists is a seething new metal band that hails from a most unlikely place: Alaska. And while we thought that Jewel was the only musical export from that frigid state, this aggro quartet have recorded a gem of an album to help you steer clear of that notion. Imagine the finishing of The DeftonesÑespecially in the vocals ("Slit Wrist Theory")Ñmeshing with the sheer brutality of any self-respecting East Coast hardcore act ("Eightminutesupsidedown", "Chalk White"), and you've got one Molotov cocktail of a band. 36 Crazyfists also use the beauty of dynamics to their advantage, knowing when to devour your senses with a thick chorus ("Turn to Ashes") or a chugging riff ("Circle The Drain"). They're not limited to being balls-out, though, as they also showcase a lot of texture and grace, truly proving that they can write songs that can both be crushingly heavy and hook-happy ("An Agreement Called Forever", "Two Minutes from a Year"). Aided with guest spots from Nora's Carl Severson and Skinlab's Steev Esquivel, these heavy-hitters show who their friends are; and with musical comrades like these, you know that 36 Crazyfists are not only heavy as hell but pretty well-respected, too. 13 tracks of potent metal that will leave your jaw on the floor is what 36 Crazyfists deliver. If you're starving for the next big thing, this may be the band you're looking for. www.36crazyfists.com
-Mike SOS

SPOON
Kill The Moonlight
MERGE RECORDS

   The 19th release (that's right, 19) from this Austin trio is a faithful send-up of the eclectic, alternative niche they've created for themselves. After recording on such labels as Matador, Elektra, Saddle Creek, and several indie outfits, the band has moved to the somewhat stable environs of Merge Records (the label that handles bands like Superchunk, Imperial Teen, and And You Will Know Them By the Trail of Dead). While some of the songs on this album tilt towards alternative punk, several of the tunes sound as if they were recorded with a Casio and sound machine. The keyboard dominates many of the songs, giving the group a touch of Ben Folds Five without the commercial hooks. Most bands that have been together as long as Spoon (since '94) would have found the sound they were looking for; but although it is definitely intentional, the band gives the impression that they are still searching for the proper mix, experimenting with our conception of what a rock band should be and tweaking the noses of any band with the temerity to sign with a major label. If you like obscure bands and obscure music, this is a good buy. On the other hand, if everyone rushes out and buys the album, the band won't be an underground icon anymore. Damn, it's hard to stay hip.
-Dug

SOMEDAY I
Ref 4
OWNED AND OPERATED RECORDINGS

   Operating with band members such as Bill Stevenson (a founding member of Descendants and former Black Flag beat man), REF 4 is melodic and brazen at once. The band seem experienced enough to carry their sound from broken-chord rock runs to almost a dream-sequence atmosphereÑall in the same song ("Disease"). They also decide to throw in some ballads, before moving into some crunchy alternative. Either way, this is good "music" to hear.
- Darren Ratner

OUT TO WIN
Persist And Destroy
TRIPLE CROWN RECORDS

   Bust out the earplugs for this band. The third full-length release from Out to Win is another aural onslaught of razor-sharp metalcore. This Pennsylvania-based band takes no prisoners and offers no apologies for the mayhem they create. Formerly known as Mushmouth, the band could still use that title to describe the demonic vocals that are ground out with the blistering speed rock this album contains. Sal Lococo of Sworn Enemy does a guest vocal on the title track of this album, but with the volume and amperage of this stuff, it is tough to tell one screamer from another. The song titles aptly reflect the mood here: "Suffer", "Persist and Destroy", and "Trust No One" do a good job of rotting the innocent minds and hearts of anyone demented enough to listen to this musical S&M. If you donÕt love speed metal, avoid this one. On the other hand, if you want to piss off some neighbors, turn this one up to 11. Check out these twisted souls at www.triplecrownrecords.com
- Dug

THE MICROPHONES
Song Islands
K RECORDS

   The Microphones are responsible for strange and beautiful post-folk songs, like the chilling and authentic "I Can't Believe You Actually Died". Following this song of plain and simple heartache over a friend's death comes the bouncy "I'm a Pearl Diver". A vivid tale in song, its ragged rhythms make it sound like something out of the songbook of The Holy Modal Rounders. Phil Elvrum and his cohorts in the ensemble paint moving and compelling portraits from a basic spectrum of songwriting brevity, acoustic guitar, honest poetry and some rugged studio techniques. Each song is like the beautiful stones that can catch the eye of a child or can reawaken in us life-shaping events (as in "The Moon").
- Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

LOCAL H
Here Comes The Zoo
PALM

   Local H: remember them? They had a few hits in the grunge era...and hey, yeah, they're that band with only two guys whose sound filled arenas. Well, they've returned with a new, 10-track disc that can put them back on the map as being one of the more eclectic and original outfits. With a slew of guest performances (Josh Homme and Jerry Only, amongst others) helping this dynamic duo out, Local H crank up the rock and really let the listener have it, giving off some of the most organic stuff out there. From the tongue-in-cheek lyrics and stellar groove of "Rock 'n' Roll Professionals" to the driving rhythms and debauched chorus of "5th Ave. Crazy" ("Give me money, give me blow"), Local H show that they are here to stayÑand, more importantly, here to rock. If you missed out on what was good in the mid '90s and want to hear a band that understands the gift of rock, check out Local H's latest. www.palmpictures.com
- Mike SOS

JEFF TATE
s/t
SANCTUARY RECORDS

   Now Mr. Tate ventures out on his own. Yeah, this is the same Geoff Tate of Seattle prog-metal pioneers Queensryche. This time, though, he leaves the metal trappings behind and ventures off into territory more accustomed to the likes of Pink Floyd. The music comes across as very ethereal and trance-like, with layers of drum loops coupled with psyche-tripping piano and keyboards. At times the music is very Enya-ish, yet it stays true to Mr. Tate's signature caterwauling; high-pitched, over-emotional lyrical content; and dark, moody pitches that spin strange tales of self-introspection and turmoil. A standout number on this collection is "Helpless", a strange and sordid number that incorporates some flashy yet moody Spanish flamenco guitar work to give this piece a Latin-cum-trance type of feel. I may not be a fan of Geoff, but this release does have its merits and definitely goes beyond the restricted confines of metal (managing to stay clear of the hip-hop genre entirely) and just lets the music create its own soundscape.
- Larry Lugz

THE ROCKING HORSE WINNER
Horizon
EQUAL VISION

   The Rocking Horse Winner is one of those esoteric, female-fronted rock outfits that sound best in a scene from some melodramatic WB series. HORIZON's 10 tracks of dreamy vocals and fluffy music sounds kind of like rock, but really is more in line with pop (check out "Miss You"). It's not that their style is so unlistenable, it's just too damn airy and happy. This is almost like an updated version of The Magic Garden or a Brady Bunch album. Kudos to the pristine production, though, as it gives TRHW a mixture of a very 1970s Carpenters-esque feel (as with the poppy female warbling on "When Songbirds Sing"); as well as to the interesting instrumentation, which gives off a real jazzy tone that suits the lounge at times ("Tomorrow", "Christmas Day"). If you dig female-fronted pop music, you'll ooze over this; but if you're a little less sensitive than that, steer clear. www.equalvision.com
- Mike SOS

THE FARTZ
Injustice
ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES

   Another band with an extremely cool name, The Fartz are putting the hard in hardcore, while also leaving room for riffs. Just take a listen to "Apathy Is the Enemy" or "What Do You Stand For". INJUSTICE is also crisply recorded, which is saying a lot, since many labels leave groups like these with a muffled output. Silent but deadly? Nah, this passing wind is more loud and inescapable than anything else.
- Darren Ratner

BATTERY
Final Fury
SOUL FORCE

   Battery are a straight-edge Washington, DC, hardcore outfit whose career is chronicled on this 22-track import disc. Sadly, it takes an overseas label to bring us the fury and the power of this American hardcore groupÑbut that's the state of American music these days. Battery's music is solid and hearty, like a good can of soup: it'll fill you up and leave you satisfied. Good breakdowns; impassioned choruses; and, above all, a real-deal feel that Battery aren't cashing in on a sound but merely trying to hold it down and keep it real. Seven years of hard work with bonus tracks and a CD-ROM for your pleasure makes this disc a good buy for those of you that dig the East Coast straight-edge contingent. www.soulforce-records.com
- Mike SOS

TERROR 2000
Faster Disaster
NUCLEAR BLAST

   Terror 2000 offer up the usual chug-and-wank death-metal album that has become typical for the genre. There is little difference between this album and the band's previous output. FASTER DISASTER is nothing more than musical masturbation..
- Nitz

THE KAISERS
Shake Me!
GET HIP RECORDINGS

   To put it plainly and bluntly, The Kaisers sound like a Scottish version of The Beatles. In fact, they're so similar at times that I almost thought I was listening to the original Fab Four. While I don't think anyone can match or surpass The Beatles as a rock phenomenon, The Kaisers do a good job as a '60s pop/rock throwback band. Whether this band is The Beatles for our generation is yet to be seen: especially with the popularity of numetal, pop, and emo. While I wouldn't find myself listening to this CD heavily, it does make for a nice change of pace every once in a while. If you're in the mood for some melodic vocals and ringing, poppy guitar hooks, then give the Nubeatles a chance.
- Dane Jackson

RUINS
Ruins: "1986 - 1992"
SKIN GRAFT RECORDS

   Imagine a Japanese soccer fan at the World Cup with a really wacky face-painting job. Now imagine a geisha on acid. Give them a drum set, a bass guitar, and a couple of mics. If they can do an imitation of the B-52's vocals during a John Bonham drum solo, you'll have an idea what this album sounds like. I've never heard anything close. The "band" sites Zappa, King Crimson, and Debussy as influences, but I sure as hell couldn't tell. This insane mishmash of drums, screeching vocals, and speed bass is about as big a mess as you'll ever find anywhere. There are 23 "songs" of this on the CD. Who gives the green light for this stuff? I dare anybody to listen all the way through at high volume and not wind up in an insane asylum. This CD is a good buy for people who already have mental problems who you would like to finish off. Quick, I need an aspirin and a really stiff drink.
- Dug

GRACE FOR THE FALLEN
Field Of Blood
CLENCHED FIST

   Grace for the Fallen are one of those metal outfits whose religious beliefs are a platform for their musical output. On their eight-track disc, their brutal attack is low, deep, and bruising (as on "More Real Than Ever"), almost with machine-gun-like consistency. Containing a death-metal growl that barks Biblical lines may be a bit unsettling at first, but their positive message wrapped in a harsh musical package may just be the salvation some kids need to wake up. Sturdy bass lines help GFTF rise above the rest of the zealous metal troupes, and their disjointed guitars help them measure up to the more well-known underground metallers Washing of Regeneration. Even though they're given God's stamp of approval, GFTF are as hard and relentless as any metal band out today, implementing math-rock techniques with a flurry of hardcore goodness for an enjoyable listen, regardless of the religious overtones. www.clenchedfist.com
- Mike SOS

DIVIT
Broadcaster
NITRO RECORDS

   Just a few months short of their fourth birthday, the members of Divit: Mike Leonard on vocals and guitar, Rich Brinkerhoff on guitar and vocals, Danny Kain on bass, and Nick White on drums; have released a full-length record of pop/punk sounds. Hailing from Northern California, the group has toured with NOFX and MxPx, establishing themselves as a great live band. BROADCASTER mixes strong vocal harmonies with catchy tunes, creating a sound that would fit nicely on the radio next to songs by other pop/punk outfits like Feenix, TX, New Found Glory, and Blink-182: although Divit comes across as more mature in their lyrics and a little closer to rock/punk than pop/punk. I really liked "William", which was a little harder and had a great guitar thing going; and "Hello Me", with its catchy chorus. Also, I can attest that the band really does put on a great live show. Check Divit out.
- Tekolote

AMPLINE
The Choir
TIBERIUS

   Ampline let the music do the talking: literally, as their eight-track offering is completely instrumental. This Kentucky quartet mix the sounds of the garage with an indie-rock feel and a good old dose of rock 'n' roll to create a mix of tunes that interlock genres and collide stylistically (such as "Drawn and Quartered"), almost like At the Drive-In sans screaming ("Texture of Regret"). Thanks to the use of a vibraphone, their already spacious and lush arrangements are given that extra push ("Typewritten") to be left of center. Ampline also employ musical build-ups with expertise and precision ("About Being Quiet"), overpowering the listener not by volume but by building and repetition (a la Tool). If you dig The Cancer Conspiracy, Ampline is the next logical choice to pick up and adore, as both bands share a common goal: taking over your senses gradually, not by force but by feel. www.tiberiusrecords.com
- Mike SOS

98 MUTE
After The Fall
EPITAPH

   Produced by resident punk madman Fletcher from Pennywise, 98 Mute's 13-track disc has got that good old punk-rock feeling all over it. Total SoCal action, from the group shouts to the running guitar lines and censorious lyrics (whose topics range from the punk scene's demise ("Same Old Song and Dance") to the self-reliance of the human spirit and the dangers of drugs ("Injection")). While the lyrical content gets a bit preachy at times, the music behind it packs a punch and can be moshed to at any given moment (check out "Ultimate High"). For a lesson in punk rock California style, check out the latest from 98 Mute. www.epitaph.com
- Mike SOS

THE MEKONS
Oooh! (Out Of Our Heads)
QUARTERSTICK RECORDS

   Mekons embrace the basic catharsis of pure punk while evincing a wide range of musical knowledge and ability. This cerebral group cannot merely express angst but reaches for eloquence. The effect "when it all works" can be quite majestic, as on FEAR AND WHISKEY (1985) and ME (1998). Unfortunately, this album, upon initial listening, has islands of that unique genius intermixed with portions that sound tired and hollowed-out. Are Mekons tired? Have key members spent too much critical energy on side projects? Perhaps Mekons just ask more of us now. Listening to the album several times, and it asks you to, greatly increases the realization of its scintillating beauty. It's yet another singular example of post-punk sophisticated pop to come from the group.
- Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

FIRST GRADE CRUSH
Our Time Down Here
JUMP UP! RECORDS

   The sophomore release from this Bloomington, Illinois, seven-piece band is a more mature take on the hard rocking emo/metal/ska style they showcased on their debut. With the eerie wail of a theramin in the background, the band rocks their way through 11 quick, sarcastic ska tunes reminiscent of Less Than Jake. From the hardcore pace of "Group Therapy" to the orchestrated arrangements of "Whitetailed", FGC showcase an amazing ability to slip flawlessly from one genre to another. There's a raucous feel to this album, as if the group were really enjoying themselves as they recorded it. Passion is rare in music today, but FGC wear their hearts on their sleeves on this one. Check it out if you can stand really fast horns and that eerie wail of...what the hell is a theramin?!
- Dug

AUDRA
Going To The Theatre
PROJEKT RECORDS

   The second full-length release from Arizona's goth brothers, Bret and Bart Helm, is a beautiful, sullen work full of exquisite despair. It's a concept album, portraying the passage of ten characters from childhood to adulthood, but in reality it's a swansong for the desolate side. The music on this album is reminiscent of early Iggy Pop: all art and exploration. Although the Helm brothers aren't wild about the "goth" label, they're on a goth label (Projekt Records), and they play this style to the hilt. With songs like "There Are No Snakes In Heaven", "All Ghosts Spend Their Time Alone", and "Cabaret Fortune Teller", it would be hard to portray this music as anything other than a sultry, seductive journey into the heart of darkness. This is cool, high-quality stuff from a talented pair of musicians. One creepy bit of trivia: the Helms's grandfather, who they were very close to, died the day they received their recording contract. His name was Bartholomew Amil Impastato, and he played trumpet at the Chicago World's Fair in 1934 and 1944. Musical lineage doesn't get any better than that. Buy the album and check out their Web site at www.projekt.com
- Dug

MANOWAR
Warriors Of The World
METAL BLADE

   There's metal, and then there's Manowar's style of metal. Somewhere in between the ridiculous, the sublime, the patriotic, and lowest common denominator lies Manowar, who return with sword in hand for another round of power metal. This time around, the Manowar's timing couldn't have been better, for what language besides true metal speaks volumes in virtually any country, breaking communication barriers and helping to heal the world? Thankfully, these iron-clad warriors know this, and they pay homage to many things on WARRIORS OF THE WORLD, from the tragic victims of 9/11 ("The Fight for Freedom") to lead vocalist Eric Adam's mom ("Nessum Dorma") to those that have remained true to the cause across the globe. Hell, take the distortion and volume out of these songs and they could be ready for a Broadway production. Maybe that's next for Joey DeMaio and company? Well, hopefully the bright lights of Broadway are ready for codpieces and loincloths; but for now we'll take them in a club or festival near you. Like Motorhead, AC/DC, and any other A-list band whose music has stood the test of time, Manowar continue to carve their niche in the annals of rock history, proving that sometimes songs about warriors, Vikings, and being metal are still cool after all these years. www.metalblade.com
- Mike SOS

MC5
Human Being Lawnmower: The Baddest and The Maddest of MC5
TOTAL ENERGY

   Once again, John Sinclair uses Total Energy as his vessel for hard-rock gold out of the MC5 archive. This compilation focuses on the wild, unhinged energy of unrestrained live tracks and rare, explosive studio outtakes. Besides the violent title track of this compilation (largely representing 1968 material), THE BADDEST & MADDEST features such full-on aural assaults of psychedelic blues-rock as "Motor City Is Burning" and an early, tentative stab at "I'm Mad Like Eldridge Cleaver" that eventually spirals into Rob Tyner's free-form vocal orgy.
- Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

MONEEN
Theory Of Harmonial Value
SMALLMAN RECORDS

   Moneen bring us an introspective look at indie rock, with lots of melody and drive. These crazy Canadians have released a new album that is sure to spark your interest if you're a fan of the current "emo" movement. The CD is wonderfully recorded: probably one of the sharpest recordings I've heard from an underground band in quite some time. The song structures are a little experimental; they really try not to stick to a basic formula, so their songs tend to go all over the place. If you're a fan of Vagrant bands, then Moneen might be what you're looking for.
- ADF

THE BLACK KEYS
The Big Come Up
ALIVE RECORDS

   The Black Keys are an Akron duo who burn with frantic but focused bluesy, hard-rock energy ¯ la Jimi Hendrix. They add a hard and heavy garage-rock crunch that got them native respect in the juke joints of the Delta. This two-man powerhouse is 22-year-old Dan Auerbach (cousin to Akron's Ralph Carney) on vocals and Harmony electric guitar and 21-year-old Patrick Carney (nephew to Ralph Carney) on drums. Dan spent an apprenticeship in Greenville, Mississippi, jamming the area clubs with James "T-Model" Ford before recording this potent album.
- Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

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