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December 2002 Reviews by
About
E-mails | The babysue®
Store | General Info | LMNOP®
| Official T-Shirts | Review Policies
December 2002 Reviews by
RATING SYSTEM:
= GODDAMN!!!
= EXCELLENT
= VERY
GOOD
= GOOD
= FAIR
= SHITTY
December 2002 Comment Piece: Folly Lolly Doodle Holiday
Hey little lady and how do you do? The rake's in the oven and snoodle is snoo. The cornbread is ready to snuff up a candle...and Richard and Sandy have more left to handle. They handle their best but can't doodle their dandy. So all they can do is just ramble like Randy. But sing they as they must and sing as they do, Folly Lolly Doodle Holiday.
Their hair is all mushy and squirms like a poodle while Norma and Alvin get squashed in the toodle. Saint Nick is ready with picks and a hoe to spill all the weakness that steadies the show. But each little elf gets his snicker all taxed when he shivers and scratches the tenderest patch. But sing as they must and sing as they do, Folly Lolly Doodle Holiday.
The squishy old rabbit that sits on the barn is happy to think about nothing but yarn. He sniffs at his weezel 'til nothing gets fed and then gets on top of the hat of ol' Fred. As Fred starts to dance up a jiggety jig he looks down and sees that he's lost his brown wig. But sing as he must and sing as he do, Folly Lolly Doodle Holiday.
Oh Folly Lolly. The grand Folly Lolly. The Lolly gets lost and gets founded again. But that's just the Folly...the Folly of Lolly...as it rounds the Doodle again. The Doodle gets stuck in a corned beefy mush...and then Lolly comes 'round to save it. But Lolly gets sassy with Folly so prancy...she Doodles and Doodles all day.
Tick tock, tick tock. The groggy little baby goes, "Bock, bock bock."
A Gift From A Garden To A
Flower - A Tribute to Donovan (CD,
Darla, Various artists tribute)
Being longtime and devout followers of the music of Donovan, we approached
this disc with slight hesitation. Any doubts were quickly squelched by the
opening cut...an amazing cover of "Oh Gosh" by PAS/CAL.
The vocals are so right-on-target that at first we thought it was it was
Donovan himself singing (!). The recording sheds fresh new light on what
was already an incredible tune. Photon Band turns in a completely
credible cover of "To Sing For You" that effectively recalls the
original spirit of the tune. Alsace Lorraine's cover of "Sadness"
is particularly fascinating...and the updated sounds work wonderfully within
the context of the song. Probably most interesting is Lenola's lengthy
psychedelic cover of "Atlantis"...which provides fitting closure
for the album. As is the case with virtually all tribute albums, some cuts
are better than others. We're just hoping that this album has the effect
of turning on a new generation to the fantastic and often times underappreciated
songs of Donovan (particularly his later recordings which never seemed to
garner much of an audience despite the fact that, in our opinion, they were
superior to his earlier material). An interesting look back in time... (Rating:
4++)
Andre Afram Asmar - Race to the Bottom (CD, Mush, Middle Eastern/Jamaican
dub)
The constant merging of disparate styles of music is interesting to say
the least. A few years ago who would have thought we would be hearing a
hybrid of dub and Middle Eastern music...? Andre Afram Asmar has
taken it upon himself to make the two styles of music one...and the results
are surprisingly accessible and intriguing. The free-flowing tunes on Race
to the Bottom are heady and trippy...and slightly psychedelic. Asmar's
tunes are thick with all kinds of effects...giving the listener the feeling
of being light-headed or completely spaced out. At times the effects take
center stage...while the songs seem to bleed along haphazardly in the background
(!). While not for everyone, folks into dub music will want to check this
out. The music is foreign...and yet strangely inviting to the untrained
ear. Not your standard fare by any means... (Rating: 4+++)
Atomic 7 - ...Gowns by Edith Head (CD, Mint,
Guitar instrumentals)
Teetering on the totter that balances surf and spaghetti western music,
Canada's Atomic 7 serve up nineteen fun and feasty instrumentals
on this, their debut album. The band is headed by guitarist Brian Connelly,
who is joined by Clinton Ryder on double bass and Mike Andreosso
on drums. These guys' sound is full and energetic...particularly when you
consider they are a three-piece band. Some of the tracks on ...Gowns
by Edith Head remind us of Mark Brodie. Solid guitar playing
balanced over a tight and snappy rhythm section. Packaged in a brightly
fashioned digipak, this disc is one big ball of party FUN. Rockin' cuts
include "Chock Full O' Notes," "Her Sassy Kiss," and
"Mimi, Queen of Bathurst." (Rating: 5)
C'est Mortel - C'est Mortel (CD, Two
Sheds Music, Mostly instrumental/progressive rock/jazz)
C'est Mortel is the side project of Jet By Day members Tom
Naumann and Mason Brown and friends. The first thing we noticed
about this disc is that only two tracks were listed. But...thank GOD...this
is NOT a CD single...nor is it an EP. Instead, the debut album by C'est
Mortel contains two extremely lengthy tracks. The music is spontaneous and
extraordinary...incorporating elements from jazz, progressive rock from
the 1970s, and modern rock. This project is obviously an artistic endeavor...because
it is not likely that these two tracks will become popular on either mainstream
radio or even the ever-popular-tortured MP3.com
web site. The band themselves admit that their music is made first and foremost
to be played live. In concert, the members take the same approach as they
do on this album (i.e., they play one long extended song that is in and
of itself a "set"). The band is rounded out by Devin Brown
(guitar, vocals), Brett Griffin (bass), and David Specht (keyboards).
While the second track does contain some vocals, this band is mainly instrumental.
Heady, progressive, epic music for late night tripping... (Rating: 4+++)
Cigarbox
Planetarium - Cigarbox Planetarium (CD,
Oh!Tonito, Modern lounge music)
Pleasantly simple. Cigarbox Planetarium is the duo of Andy Charneco
and Deanna Pineda. Charneco plays guitar and drumbox, Pineda plays
organ and casio. And...that's it. No guest artists. No elaborate overdubs.
No thick layering of instruments. No elaborate mixes. This duo shows great
restraint in their approach to music...and the concept works marvelously.
These simple drum machine driven tunes are subtle and sparse. The keyboards
are matter-of-fact...and the guitar playing is strangely fluid and hypnotic.
We enjoyed the "lounge movement" that happened a few years back
and were disappointed when it seem to drizzle out into nowhere. These two
folks don't seem to be trying to reignite or reinvent the movement. Instead,
they are just producing puzzling and inventive modern mood music. We are
almost always impressed when people don't try too hard. Charneco and Pineda
don't have to. Their music speaks for itself. Well done. (Rating: 5++)
The
Cynics - Living Is The Best Revenge
(CD, Get Hip, Rock)
Whoever mastered this album deserves an award. The sound quality of this
disc kicks ASS (!). And this, of course, works perfectly in favor of everlasting
garage rockers The Cynics. The Cynics were reviving garage rock way
back in the early eighties...before every other band on earth decided to
take a similar path. About twenty years into their career...these guys can
still kick out the tasty barnholes. Living Is The Best Revenge is
chock full of charged up energy and great rock and roll tunes that get better
with repeated listenings. The band offers plenty of original tunes on this
outing and as well as covers of songs by The Satans and Thirteenth
Floor Elevators. After spinning this baby a couple of dozen times our
favorites ended up being "Turn Me Loose," "Making Deals,"
and "Shine." This is a great rock and roll album from one of the
all-time great garage bands of our time. Excellent. (Rating: 5+)
Demon
Hunter - Demon Hunter (CD, Solid State, Metal and pop
rock)
Combining elements of death metal with progressive pop/rock, the guys in
Demon Hunter are treading in some strange territories on this, the
debut album. In the course of the band's history thus far they have created
a remarkable buzz among writers and underground music fans. Prior to this
album's release, Demon Hunter were already hugely popular on MP3.com. The band's schizophrenic sound
is characterized by the merging of harsh screaming with smooth and melodic
vocals. Hearing both simultaneously can be a bit unsettling...and this is
probably exactly the reaction that the band is striving for. But despite
the band's interest in the dark and evil side of things...their music is
surprisingly accessible at times. They're tough enough for the metal heads
out there...but melodic enough for folks who just want to hear some good
ol' cock rock. Intricate and complex at times, this is ultra hard rock for
the thinking listener. (Rating: 4++)
Dr
Pepper Family - Taco & Red Beans
(CD, Kinky Star, Rock/pop)
Incredibly fun and upbeat fuzz pop. Though Belgium's Dr Pepper Family
has been around since 1996, this is their first full-length release. The
tunes on Taco & Red Beans are melodic rockers with smart lyrics,
loud fuzzy guitars, and slightly ambivalent vocals. While the band's music
sounds familiar on many levels...on other levels there is an odd quality
to the music that is difficult to describe. Some of the arrangements are
fairly standard while at other times the band takes unusual chances. Some
tunes are on the poppy side...other others tend to rock out in a thick haze
of alternative abandonment. In the end, it is the band's simple and direct
approach to making music that makes this album such a great spin. Our favorite
tracks are "Wasteland," "Cast In Need," "Autograph,"
and "These Days." (Rating: 5)
The Figgs - Slow Charm (CD, Earsmile,
Pop/rock)
Despite the fact that The Figgs continue to release great albums
and tour to promote them...the band remains relatively obscure. We sure
as Hell don't understand this...because the band's material is always top
notch. The tunes on Slow Charm are super hummable and chock full
of nice thick guitars. This time around, the band's material seems to slant
more toward pop (thus the title?). Smart arrangements and exceptional vocals
abound throughout...making Slow Charm a true charmer indeed. If this
band's material could be heard by more folks...we feel certain they would
become hugely popular. Our favorites are "Back to Being," "Soon,"
"The Trench," and "Are You Still Mine?" (Rating: 5)
Sarah
Fimm - A Perfect Dream (Independently
released CD, Soft pop)
Smooth, dreamy, pensive music. Sarah Fimm has already garnered a
great deal of attention on the MP3.com
web site. This, her second full-length album, finds her in fine form. Ms.
Fimm's music is soft progressive pop with intricate arrangements and exceptional
melodies. But what stands out most are her vocals. This enchanting young
lady has a voice that is smooth and evokes the exact moods she strives for.
The sound quality is outstanding, particularly when you consider that this
is a self-released CD. But don't think Ms. Fimm is playing it safe like
most generic new artists. We were impressed right off the bat when we heard
her sing the words "Don't f*ck your best friend" on the first
track. Though many may compare her music to Tori Amos...we feel that
Ms. Fimm's music is much more effective and real. Enchanting and magical,
this is a highly entertaining album full of superb tunes for the mind and
body. (Rating: 5)
The
Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink
Robots (CD, Warner Bros., Pop)
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is the best Flaming Lips album
EVER. That's saying a lot, considering this band's impressive output. Longtime
fans may be put off or confused by the new "electronic ambient pop"
sound of these tunes...but they'll be completely missing the point. Our
favorite moments of Flaming Lips albums have always been those softer more
contemplative points on the band's rock albums. On this album those particular
points are emphasized throughout...showcasing the band's poignant and thoughtful
lyrics and heady, unforgettable melodies. Beginning with the pensive sound
of "Fight Test" right on through to "Approaching Pavnois
Mons By Balloon - Utopia Planitia"...these guys have really outdone
themselves. The title track is easily one of the best songs of the year.
We'll be playing this album into the ground, that's for CERTAIN. Strange
how some bands burn out after a couple of albums while others seem to get
better with age. The Flaming Lips obviously fit in the latter category.
This disc is a MUST HAVE. (Rating: 6)
Bill Laswell - Sacred System: Book of Exit (CD, ROIR,
Dub/X)
The fourth in Bill Laswell's Sacred System series, Book
of Exit is a bit different from the previous three in that the album
incorporates a female vocalist into some of the tracks. Ethiopia's Ejigayehu
Shibabaw handles the vocals. Because some find her name a bit difficult...she
also goes by the nickname GiGi. Ms. Shibabaw's vocals merge perfectly
with Mr. Laswell's trippy dub music. Her voice seems to effortlessly float
over the compositions like fluffy white clouds. She sings with emotion and
conviction without ever sounding forced or contrived. The album is divided
into six tracks. The dreamy and subtle "Ethiopia" is haunting
and beautiful. "The Lower Ground" is a bit more upbeat...incorporating
an odd ambience into the mix. "Shashamani" has an almost funky
rhythm and is more typical of what we are used to hearing from Laswell.
"Bati" is particularly distinctive, with Ms. Shibabaw's vocals
drenched in effects and bleeding in and out of the arrangement. "Land
of Look Behind" is strange and haunting and features some mind bending
bass work. The album closes with the sparse and dreamy "Jerusalem."
In our opinion, Bill Laswell has never released anything than is less than
fantastic. This is yet another chapter in a book that never ceases to amaze.
Superb stuff. (Rating: 6)
Alan Lomax -
The Land Where the Blues Began (CD, Rounder,
Various artists/blues)
This CD is designed to the companion audio disc to the book of the same
name (published by New Press). The book was first published in 1993 when
Alan Lomax was 77 years old. Lomax's extensive studies of blues music
have apparently had a great impact on many people. He is credited with helping
artists such as Leadbelly, Muddy Waters, and others to become
household names. With so many phony modern blues artists out there at present,
it is refreshing and energizing to hear this compilation. This whopping
collection of 28 tracks features familiar and unfamiliar artists...and includes
several tracks that were previously unreleased. We particularly like the
rougher sounding tracks like "I'm a Soldier in the Army of the Lord"
by the Congregation of the Church of God in Christ, Clarksdale. While
the sound quality may scare off the casual listener, folks with a keen interest
in the birth of the blues will find this disc to be a real TREASURE. (Rating:
5)
Manda
and the Marbles - More Seduction (CD,
Go-Kart,
Rock/pop)
Sounding remarkably similar to The Go-Gos, Martha and the Marbles
are reinventing great girl pop from the 1980s. Fronted by impressive songstress
Manda Marble, this band provides solid feed for those who dig melodic
fuzzy guitar girlie pop. The tunes on More Seduction revolve around
ultra-catchy melodies with simple and direct lyrics. Ms. Marble is backed
by Mark Slak on drums and Joe A. Damage on guitars. These
three folks are tight...and they obviously enjoy what they're doing. Hummable
buzzsaw cuts like "Dangerous," "Wanna Go Home," and
"Sudden Attraction" are pure pop delights played with gusto and
just the right attitude. There's a touch of bubblegum in the band's tunes
that drives them all the way home...making More Seduction a home
run. (Rating: 4+++)
J Mascis & The Fog - Free So Free (CD, Artemis
/ Ultimatum Music, Pop/rock)
As difficult as it is for us to admit, many years ago hearing J Mascis
sing made us cringe. But after a couple of years something strange happened.
Instead of being turned off by the man's vocals...we suddenly became very,
very turned ON. The reason for the change in our reaction is irrelevant...but
from that point forward our interest in this man's amazing music has never
waned. Mr. Mascis' output has been amazingly consistent. Whereas most artists
have artistic highs and lows in their career..."J" has followed
a clean and direct path...putting out one exceptional release after another
(either alone or with his previous band Dinosaur Jr). Not surprisingly,
Free So Free is right up there with his best efforts. The guitars
sound stellar as always...and his instantly identifiable voice sounds remarkable.
An interesting side note... Mascis' latest pastime is skydiving....and apparently
many of the tunes on this album were written in mid-air (!). Guitar rock
rarely gets better than this. Exceptional tracks on this album include "Freedom,"
"Set Us Free," "Free So Free," "Someone Said,"
and "Outside." Recommended. (Rating: 5+++)
Midstates - Shadowing Ghosts (CD, Mental
Monkey, Soft progressive pop)
Some folks may remember Novasonic Down Hyper Space. The band wrote
and recorded some absolutely mind-bending music...but were hampered by their
extraordinarily difficult band name. Rather than give up, Novasonic Down
Hyper Space opted to rename themselves Midstates...and continue in
their mission to provide heady and progressive soft pop to the world. Not
only is Midstates a better choice of names...but the material on Shadowing
Ghosts is just as good as their earlier stuff (and that's saying
a lot!). Many of the compositions on this album incorporate subtle elements
from jazz and classical music into well-produced modern-day pop with a difference.
These thoughtful tunes are inventive and strangely calming...and those breathy
vocals sound GREAT. Top picks: "Lost My Shadow," "Better
Go," "Be A Ghost." (Rating: 5)
Jeremy Morris - Kingdom Come (CD, Jam,
Instrumental)
One man recording machine Jeremy Morris returns with yet another
ultimately satisfying collection of tunes. Mr. Morris usually writes and
records pop music, but on occasion he delves into progressive instrumentals.
Kingdom Come is a fine example of the latter. These grand, sweeping
instrumentals features dramatic keyboards and Jeremy's mind-bending guitar
work. (This guy really is one of the great unknown guitar heros out there...).
This album is reminiscent of progressive rock from the 1970s...except for
the fact that twenty-first century state-of-the-art technology is driving
it. A beautiful collection of tunes that is epic in nature. We're wondering
how long it will be before Mr. Morris begins scoring motion picture music...?
(Rating: 5)
Moses
Guest - Moses Guest (Double CD, Aufheben,
Country/southern pop)
This is a mighty fine and a thoroughly impressive double CD set. Moses
Guest is a band with a genuine and sincere approach to music. These
four guys play tunes that are a mix of Americana, country, folk, and pop.
On this album, they hit their intended target with dead center accuracy.
The cover photo of four down home guys hanging out on an old front porch
is a good indication of the music inside. The band is led by an amazingly
talented singer/songwriter named Graham Guest. Mr. Guest is likely
to be a major force to be reckoned with in the years ahead. His sound and
style come straight from the heart...he's got a real knack for combining
words with pleasing melodies...and he's a fine lookin' feller to boot. In
some subtle ways the overall sound of this album reminds us of The Kinks
Muswell Hillbillies...but there are also some major differences.
The main difference is that these guys are 100% American...and sound like
it. Releasing a double CD is a big bite to chomp off...but Guest and company
are up for the challenge. They effortlessly provide sound and entertaining
music for the duration of both discs. Cool cuts include "Cellophane
Man," "Rag Doll," "Song for Dead," and "Take
Me." Highly recommended. (Rating: 5++)
Nirvana
- Nirvana (CD, Geffen,
Rock)
Funny. When Nirvana were at the height of their popularity, we were
bored by them. Now...many years later...we really dig the band's music (and,
swear to God, it ain't just because Curt Cobain had the courage to
kill himself--although we admit that we respect virtually anyone
who commits suicide). But back to the matter at hand... In the past few
months we picked up a couple of Nirvana CDs at yard sales and were surprised
at how good they sounded. Strange timing, then, that Geffen should choose
this holiday season to release a Nirvana retrospective disc. This isn't
just a repackaging of tunes you've heard way too many times before. The
folks at Geffen had the good sense to choose unreleased cuts and lesser
heard tracks rather than the hits. This nicely packaged disc allows the
listener to look back and appreciate how influential Mr. Cobain was both
as a musician and as an individual. Sheesh...this makes us wish we'd realized
how good the band was when they were in their heyday (!). Oh well...better
late than NEVER... (Rating: 5++)
Photon Band - It's a Lonely Planet (CD, Darla,
Pop)
Photon Band is the (virtual) one man band consisting of Art Difuria.
Difuria's music is unpredictable and unique. This man is obviously fond
of incorporating trippy and imaginative electronic twists into his tunes.
The compositions on It's a Lonely Planet have a smooth and classic
sound that bounces sideways in a peculiar manner due to the strange arrangements
and obtuse sounds. But as you weave and scrape through the sweepings peculiarities...it
becomes obvious that Mr. Difuria is a master craftsman. His pop tunes are
smart and feature wonderful melodies that are reminiscent of some of the
best British artists of the 1970s. The vocals are exceptional throughout.
This is a disc that will hold up to repeated listenings for years to come.
Our favorite cuts are "It's a Lonely Planet," "If It's a
Beautiful Day," and "Closer." Great stuff...! (Rating: 5+)
Porcupine
Tree - In Absentia (CD, Lava, Progressive pop/rock)
In Absentia is a superb progressive pop rock album. We had to spin
this one a few times before it sunk in (which is usually a sign of a great
recording). This British quartet makes music that incorporates elements
from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s into their complex and mesmerizing brand
of rock. The band's tunes are range from soft to quite loud...but no matter
what volume they're at these guys manage to maintain quality at all times.
This is a very well thought out album from start to finish. The songs feature
wonderful melodies and spectacular vocals...and the harmonies are unbelievable.
This is an "album band" for certain. Instead of coming up with
one decent tune and then rounding out their album with "filler"
material...these guys have created a masterpiece from start to finish. This
was obviously a labor of love...and there was obviously a great deal of
labor that went into making this. Excellent lyrics complete the picture...making
Porcupine Tree one of the best new progressive bands we have heard
in quite some time. Compositions like "Blackest Eyes," "Trains,"
"The Creator Has A Mastertape," and "Collapse the Light Into
Earth" are thoughtful, genuine, and unforgettable. Recommended. (Rating:
5+++)
Martin Rev - Martin Rev (CD, ROIR,
Electronic/pop)
Martin Rev's long lost debut solo album has finally been reissued
on CD. Originally released in 1979, the album influenced numerous bands
and artists over the years. We still have our original vinyl copy of this
album but hadn't listened to it in years. Hearing this album again after
so long it sounds as fresh and vital as it did when it first came out. Rev
was, of course, half of the original punk electronic duo Suicide.
Suicide virtually defied commercial acceptance. On Rev's first album, he
chose to make more accessible music. The tunes are more than slightly influenced
by Kraftwerk. Analog synthesizers bleed in and out of the tunes,
electronic percussion drives the music...and the overall sound is subdued,
repetitive, and haunting. This reissue contains the original six tracks
on the album plus two bonus tracks ("Coal Train," "Marvel")
and three additional bonus tracks that were never released before now ("5
To 5," "Wes," "Daydreams"). This is a great piece
of history made even better by the additional of extra cuts. Marvelously
heady. (Rating: 5)
Sheavy - Synchronized (CD, The
Music Cartel, Rock)
The first thing that stands out about this band is vocalist Steve Hennessey.
The man has a voice so similar to Ozzy Osbourne that you'd almost
swear it was the man himself. Synchronized is the third album from
this Canadian band...and it is chock full of hard driving rock tunes that
pick up where Black Sabbath's Vol. 4 left off. Dan Moore's
big, thick, meaty guitars compete with Hennessey's vocals to grab the spotlight
while bassist Keith Foley and drummer Ren Squires keep the
ball moving with steady accuracy. While the band's sound is frightening
similar to Sabbath, there are enough differences to keep Sheavy from
being mere copycat imitators. Kickass rockers like "Firebird 350"
and "The Time Machine" are good solid stoner rock that should
please just about any ol' Ozzy fan across the land... (Rating: 4+++)
Spiritual
Beggars - On Fire (CD, Koch,
Hard rock)
Excellent hell raisin' hard rock. Led by Swedish guitarist Michael Armott,
Spiritual Beggars is a band that has recently become red hot due
to the addition of vocalist JB. JB, formerly of the band The Grand
Magus, is most certainly one of the best damn hard rock masculine rawhide
screamers out there. Combine Armott's mind-bending guitar work with JB's
vocals...and you get a hard rock band that swims circles around the rest.
This band's music is a well-articulated assault on the senses. Rather than
present a samey wall of blaring noise, the band's tunes are intensely inventive
and intricate. There's a touch of stoner rock in the band's tunes that we
find most appealing. For hard rock, you won't do better than Spiritual Beggars.
These guys are the real thing. They're tough. They're loud. They're tight.
And their songs absolutely KICK ASS. We are blown away by cuts like "Street
Fighting Savior," "Black Feathers," and "Look Back."
This album is chock full of KILLER material. (Rating: 5+++)
Theselah - Nice International (CD, K.O.A.,
Pop/rock)
This band's last album (No Sleep More Fun), released in 2001, was
an interesting experiment in home recorded lo-fi pop. We were intrigued...although
the band seemed to be slightly lacking in direction and the material varied
wildly from cut to cut. Since that time this obscure New York-based outfit
has made great strides in their songwriting and, particularly, in the quality
of their recordings. Great sound quality does not necessarily mean better
music...but in the case of Nice International...it most certainly
does. This is a marvelous collection of tunes that range from soft and plaintive
to fuzzy underground pop. The tunes are focused and memorable and the vocals
sound wonderful. But the melodies on this album are what impress us the
most. The tunes are unusual and yet sound strangely familiar. This album
is consistently entertaining throughout, presenting one smart and inventive
track after another. Ten killer cuts including "Middle of Summer,"
"Trunk," and our favorite, "Piece of Mind." (Rating:
5)
U2
- The Best of 1990-2000 (CD, Interscope,
Pop)
We have always been amazed at how popular U2 has become. When the
band's first album came out we were slightly amused for about a week...and
then lost any and all interest in the band. Since that time, the band's
music has become more and more mundane and average...and with each and every
release they seem to become more and more popular and sell more and more
CDs. This says something about consumers. They don't want the best. They
want things that are easily digestible and average. And that is exactly
why U2 is so popular. Even though this is a "best of" collection...we
had never heard any of these tunes before now (due in large part to the
fact that we have tuned out completely on music videos, commercial radio,
and music publications). Listening to the band's "hits" of the
past decade, they don't really sound all that bad. In fact, there are a
couple of cuts that sound pretty darn good (Electrical Storm" in particular).
Our only gripe is that...with so many other exceptional artists and bands
out there...why on EARTH would everyone gravitate to this one? No, this
ain't all that bad...but there's a whole helluva lot BETTER to be
had. (Rating: 3)
The
Witches - On Parade (CD, Fall of Rome, Rock/pop)
We are quickly becoming intent fans of Troy Gregory. We were impressed
as hell by his album Sybil, a wild rockin' album that was highly
entertaining and chock full of crazy rock energy. Gregory's image and voice
reminds us in many ways of long lost "shoulda-been-a-rock-star"
Bruce Joyner. The Witches are a great garage rock band. The
band's guitar driven tunes rock...but they don't speed by like greased lightning.
When these folks start a song they create a groove and stay in it...and
the melodies unforgettable. This material might now blow you away the first
time you hear it. But take our word for it, repeated listenings will make
you want to hear this baby over and over and OVER again. Excellent heady
rockers include "(What Is Yer Preferred Device) IT," "I Luv'd
Wrong," "Everything Been Cool." (Sheesh...even the SONG
TITLES are killer!) Highly recommended stuff. (Rating: 5+++)
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