SHORT REVIEWS
FOR FEBRUARY 2007
A.M. INTERSTATE- S/T- RAINBOW QUARTZ- Hey, nice to see a Portland band on the mighty fine Rainbow Quartz label. This trio mixes a slew of influences from 70’s singer-songwriter gunk to later 1980’s/early 90’s indie noise (Sonic Yoof, MBV, etc ) into one gauzy stew that is quite intoxicating. ( www.rainbowquartz.com )
ARTICHOKE- NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, HERE’S THE SEX PISTOLS- GREEN RECORDS- Now here’s a concept we can all sink out teeth into. The entire Pistols debut record (ummm…their ONLY record) done up all flowery n’ folk style. 2 guys on acoustic guitars and a gal on accordian and all sing. I mean, it’s weird as hell but unique ( www.artichoketheband.com )
WENDY ATKINSON- PINK NOISE- SMARTEN UP & GET TO THE POINT- Interesting low-end rumble from a gal who loves (and I mean LOVES) the bass guitar (ever meet Mike Watt or Kira, Wendy ?). A bit too esoteric for me but certainly a record made for the pure love of music. I enjoyed “Life in Canada”, probably the poppiest track on here. ( www.myspace.com/wendyatkinson )
DRAKE BELL- IT’S ONLY TIME- UNIVERSAL/ MOTOWN- Former child actor Bell (who deserves props for, if nothing else, appearing in an episode of SEINFELD) has unleashed his debut 11 song cd on us. Tho’ he looks like something off of AMERICAN IDOL this isn’t bad. Solid Beatle-esque pop for someone who has good taste in music, he just needs to find his own voice. ( www.motown.com )
BIG D AND THE KIDS/ BRAIN FAILURE- FROM BEJING TO BOSTON- BAD NEWS (split cd)- 2 bands, 6 songs each. Boston’s Big D and the Kids crank out some fun ska-punk with gravelly vocals that’s catchy as all get out. Brain Failure, on the other hand ,hail from China and know the importance of melody and sing in English ! ( www.badnewsrecords.com )
BLIGHT- DETROIT- TOUCH & GO- When Tesco Vee got bored (just for a minute) of doing the funnypunk thing with the Meatmen he formed his noise band, Blight. There’s11 umm…..”studio” track and a handful of live cuts too. As noisy and discordant as Flipper only with better vocals. Once again, I repeat my chant, Tesco for President ! ( www.touchandgorecords.com )
BLOODY & THE TRANSFUSIONS- S/T- BLACK &BLUE- GG Allin’s old pal Bloody Mess grinds out mid-tempo punk that’s average at best with absolutely ridiculous lyrics. This really wasn’t very good. ( www.blackandbluerecords.com )
BRACKEN- WE KNOW ABOUT THE NEED- Nice, tweaked electronics meets rock from ex-Hood guy Chris Adams. You remember Hood, right ? The UK band that Mike “Slumberland” Schulman and maybe 5 others truly appreciated. Everything but the proverbial kitchen sink and I even think that is in there too. (www.anticon.com )
CHRIS BRUNI- WATCH ME BURN- REALIZE- The male Tracey Chapman ? Only Chris is white…and not that good. ( www.realizerecords.com )
ANDI CAMP- MAGNETIC- GRAFTON- Ex-Ribbon Fix gal Andi plays piano and sings (beautifully) while the drummer drums (that would be Ryan and a guitar player pops up too) but these are Andi’s songs. She is an amazing talent and songs like the shuffling, catchy “Billy” or the warmer “Offhand’ make me wonder why she is not more well-known ? Cool packaging too ( with a magnetic to close the cd case ) ( www.nokarma.com )
THE CAMPBELLS- THE KID FROM GILLETTE, WYOMING- AMERICAN CHEESE- Mpls quartet led by the enigmatic J. Campbell who crank out mid-tempo rock in the Wilco/Buffalo Tom/ Neil Young vein. I like the ballsier tunes a bit more, like “Remember When” tho’ Campbell is nearly as good on the more tender, “Dangerous Days.” ( www.campbellsrock.com )
MARLON CHERRY- ANCIENT SOUND, MODERN DANCE- FANG- Funky/spiritual/world music bongo n’ guitar player (the bongos are prominent on this record) Cherry , who has apparently played with Jayne County, among others, bored me to tears on this nearly hour-long record. (www.fangrecords.com )
CRANEBUILDERS- SOMETIMESYOU HEAR THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE- AZRA- Liverpool, Uk band who apparently have been around for awhile but this the first I have heard them. Leader Tom Roberts has a smooth, low croon that reminds me a bit of Stuart Staples (Tindersticks) or slightly like Mr. Nick Cave while the band is more than competent . This has 12 songs from the record plus 8 bonus cuts for this U.S. release. ( www.azrarecords.com )
DAWN OF MAN- IN THE BRONZE AGE- POST FACT- Angular post punk with more melody than I expected and even some dancey material in case you….well, wanna dance ! That first song, “A-Z” was pretty amazing and while nothing else on here tops that’s it’s still a worthwhile way to spend 12 and a half minutes (4 songs). ( www.postfact.com )
FEROCIOUS EAGLE- THE SEA ANEMONE INSIDE OF ME IS MIGHTY- 54 40 OR FIGHT- Two guitarists who both sing and a drummer who was probably tapping on his desk since first grade grind out 12 songs of pure…something. They sound like they simply love to play (imagine that ) and would great on a bill withother like-minded nuts like Deerhoof . ( www.fiftyfourfortyorfight.com )
THE FUCKING CHAMPS- VI- DRAG CITY- Instrumental metal from a few guys who have been around long enough to know what’s metal and what ain’t. Best song titles too: “Fozzy goes to Africa”, “A Forgotten Chapter in the History of Ideas”, “Column of Heads.” Is that the Sahara Desert on the cover ? ( www.dragcity.com )
FULTON LIGHTS- S/T- ANDROID EATS- Andrew Spencer Goldman has spent many long, lonely nights in his NYC apt. pondering the music of the two Johns (Cale and Cage). With some help (including Rob Christiansen ex of Eggs among others) he has crafted a soothing (not really tho’) late night self-restraint. Beats, strings and the like. Nice. Real nice. ( www.androideatsrecords.com )
MIKE GAITO- BEARD OF BEES- GAITOPLEXICON- Folk rock with occasionally bursts into Zappa-esque prog rock. The bottom line is I kinda like it minus those spazzy prog parts ( I HATE prog rock) but when those appear I just wanna toss it. ( www.mikegaito.net )
THE GOLDBERGS- HOOKS, LINES & SINKERS- SELF-RELEASED- Hooky ( ha ha ) mid-tempo pop-rock that is not gonna break any new musical barrier or shatter any records. Nope, just good singalong tunes that you can either play in the car or while cleaning the house. Should be on the Not Lame label. ( www.myspace.com/thegoldbergs
THE HANDFUL- SECOND HAND SMOKE- BOULEVARD- “A thinking mans’s Molly Hatchett.” Yes, it really said that in the press release. ( www.thehandful.com )
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