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February 2006 - Issue 206

31Knots
Talk Like Blood
Polyvinyl Records
Street: 10.11.05
31 knots = 15.9477778 m / s
The influx of non-sensical lyrics into our culture has essentially ruined the credibility of the modern song writer. Luckily there are still a few out there who believe in music as art and that lyrics are important at a personal level. Joe Haege of 31Knots has tapped into his soul when producing his songs and the result is an album full of mystery, suspense and beauty. 31Knots create non-traditional soundscapes that are as interesting as they are varied. They have successfully fused indie everything and prog everything else. Their melodies are lucid and the use of dynamics is unlike anything in the indie world. They have their heads in the clouds but their feet firmly planted on the earth. It would be foolish not to listen to this album. (Kilby Court: 2.03) Andrew Glassett

Acid Bath
Demos: 1993 - 1996
Rotten Records
Street: 12.06
Acid Bath = Down + Pantera + Goatwhore + Soilent Green
If you have never heard of Acid Bath, you deserve one swift kick in the face. The amount of bands that Acid Bath has influenced is phenomenal. Playing doomy dirges with outbursts of smashing brutality Acid Bath left other bands in the mud. The group left a lasting mark in heavy music even though they produced only two albums. Now for for the first time fans can get their hands on the demos that led to the groups debut album When the Kite String Pops and follow up Paegan Terrorism Tactics. The demos contain good sound quality. Also for the most part provide fans a glimpse of what led to the recording of the bands full lengths and displays the bands dynamic progression. - Bryer Wharton

Action Action
An Army Of Shapes Between Wars
Victory Records
Street: 1.24
Action Action = 80s New Wave synth-pop and electronica + The Killers with a dark emo twist
Who ignited this 80s revival that has overtaken the music industry? Was it The Wedding Singer? Was it VH1's I Love the 80s!? And on an unrelated side note, what the hell happened to Victory Records (Action Actions label) being a hardcore label? They should change the bulldog in the logo into a tiny, scared puppy. But maybe its not important whos responsible for the 80s revival or what happened to Victory Records, because ready or not, here comes the next installment of the 80s pop/new wave flashback. For those who dont mind the overdone 80s music comeback (I fit in this category), Action Action is a band to check out. An Army Of Shapes Between Wars will go nicely in between your Killers and Depeche Mode albums in your CD changer and will make you pull out your dance shoes, get out your eyeliner and put on your nicest black clothing. Thomas Kluepfel, vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist and songwriter, composed this record on his laptop while on tour, and thanks to some good natured people in Chicago who stole his laptop and all of his belongings, he had the joy of reconstructing what he could remember and start fresh on what he couldnt. The tracks are overflowing with brooding vocals and a buffet of keyboard-driven breakdowns. With lyrics like: I want to take my head and cut it open extra wide, want to examine all the thoughts that seem to circle inside. Electrocute my thoughts and put myself on standby. Im so over you, its impossible not to listen closely to each syllable and each pulsating beat. So go on and listen, satisfy the craving for yet more 80s influenced music. -Jeremy C. Wilkins

America Is Waiting
In The Lines
Wrong Records
Street: 10.4.05
America Is Waiting = The Kinison + At The Drive-In
Regretfully, the most impressive thing about America is Waitings In The Lines EP is the album art. Its hard to go wrong when theres a skull of some sort involved with a color scheme of black and red. The problem with this EP lies in that the vocals on most of the tracks come out muffled and half slurred under the overpowering drums and guitars, creating a mess of noise-and not so well-made noise. Its easy to get bored at some point within several tracks due to the repetitive blandness in the music and vocals. This album needs more salt and pepper to enjoy it, more songs like The Guns Are Shaking, Guilty and The Virus Is Airborne where the music and the vocals work together and dont fight each other for dominance. In The Lines is only a so-so release. Better luck next time. J C Wilkins

The Aristocrats
The Original Soundtrack to the Aristocrats
V2
Street: 12.6.05
The Aristocrats = a very brief survey of American standup comedy + a mountain of expletives
As tedious as hearing the same punchline about 35 times on one CD may seem, the producers of this audio accompaniment to the acclaimed documentary (was it really a documentary?) made it work. It feels as if a revelation is bubbling under the surface throughout the first half of the disc and eventually everyone seems to understand that the joke isnt a prize winner by itself. The value of this exercise rests in the ability of each comedian to lend an unpredictable and affecting flourish (typically via creative descriptions of rape, incest and myriad unheralded uses of bodily fluids). As it is hard enough to find decent comedy albums anyhow, you may as well bypass the congested Dane Cook section for once. Besides, even Jason Alexander delivers a good anal penetration joke. - #1 Stunna

The Autumn Offering
Revelations of the Unsung
Victory Records
Street: 01.10
The Autumn Offering = Slayer + Pantera + In Flames + As I Lay Dying
Rising from the music scene in Daytona Beach The Autumn Offering provide nothing new to feverish heavy music fans. Though the quintet does know how to bang some heads with their thrash inspired metalcore. The group quickly made friends and contacts including Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed who originally released Revelations of the Unsung in 2004 on his record label. Sweeping the music scene and hopping on high profile tours garnered the attention of Victory Records. Hence the re-release of the bands debut full length only one year later, with help from the label the band hopes to spread its darkened heavy message to the masses, which is something Jasta's Stillborn label couldn't provide. - Bryer Wharton

Bad Wizard
Sky High
Howler Records
Street: 02.21
Bad Wizard = insert stoner rock band name here
Forming in 2000, the NYC group Bad Wizard quickly earned a reputation from playing live shows. Thus catching the attention of higher profile bands, leading to tours, and their first record which received critical acclaim but didn't quite make it into the fan acclaim area. Unfortunately Sky High will probably suffer the same fate. In the end most Stoner rock bands sounds like some time period of Black Sabbath. Not saying that sounding alike is a bad thing, it is a certain genre and there are stand outs and bottom feeders. Bad Wizard falls into the stand out category. I you haven't heard of stoner rock, you're a dolt. So for those whom are elite let your imagination do the work as Sky High plays or if it strikes your fancy light one up and trip out to some killer rock. - Bryer Wharton

BITTER:SWEET
The Mating Game
Quango Music
Street 3.7
BITTER:SWEET=Esthero + Black Box Recorder + Zero 7 + Moloko + Sneaker Pimps + Portishead + late Goldfrapp + a slew of other trip-hop
Its a problem when promotional information is all about the serendipitous story of the albums creation (Molokos storys better anyway) instead of the music. Bitter:Sweets (where do they got off using a colon like that anyway, damn) debut albums got soulful R&B, its got funky instrumental work, and its got a sense of humor. Really, though, thats all its got. I could put about 15 more bands in that equation up there and I would be so right. And all those bands are better, were released first and are less poppy. Yeah, I know, three strikes. But this album has a playfulness thats more genuine than Black Box Recorders gentle humor and that kittenish flipping of hair comes through. So, basically, if you want one more band in the ever-expanding canon of chick trip-hop, check it out. If youve already got two of the above bands, though, youll just be bored. A to the J to the Jepsen

Bleeding Through
The Truth
Trustkill
Street: 01.10
Bleeding Through = breakdown based melodic hardcore
Straight out of the OC Bleeding Through are back after touring their asses off in support of the acclaimed This is Love, This is Murderous album. The hardcore veterans have always been a staple in the scene always a leader, never a follower. At the same time pushing the boundaries of what hardcore is. For The Truth the ideal stays the same, progressing a bit, yet staying true. The Truth is an ominous vision into the future of hardcore. Incorporating much more melody than they have on any record, Bleeding Through have put their heart on the line, with realization that some fans may dislike the more melodic band than the chaotic version that they had come to know. Breakdowns and melody pepper the record, utilizing the most keyboards yet. Another bonus to the album is a couple guest appearances by Nick 13 of Tiger Army and Ben Falgoust of Soilent Green. The depths and intricacies of The Truth will set the stage for another massive round of touring for the band and leaves them poised to have one of the top albums of the year. - Bryer Wharton

Cholo
S/T
Self Release
Street: 09.01.05
Cholo=Sonic Youth + The B52s + Black Heart Procession + The Pixies
Just when I was beginning to give up on indie-rock as a genre, Cholo shot me full of Narcan, bitch-slapped me back into consciousness, and punched me in the throat for being a fastidious snob. Thank you, Cholo. This New York four-piece, comprised of musicians from Guam, Peru, Ireland, and exotic New Jersey have made one hell of a record, albeit brief (nine songs, 26 minutes). Highlights include a killer rendition of Shel Silversteins poem Rock and Roll Band, and 101, a hip song with female to male call-and-response vocals, trumpets, and tons of tremelo. If you like the raw indie-rock of the 90s, you will, most likely, love Cholo. One cant help but wonder why Cholo is unsigned; are they that independent? Regardless of their label status, Cholo is brilliant. (www.cholomusic.com) Ryan Shelton

Coffin Lids
Round Midnight
Bomp!
Street:01.10
Coffin Lids=Iggy and the Stooges + Dick Dale + The Buzzcocks + Legendary Invisible Men
Oh the horror of it all! A garage band that can actually play, but remains just as raw and fun as a horror movie on Halloweenwaitthats not horrible, thats fantastic! The Coffin Lids are a garage surf punk band with horror leanings that really pull all of that off. The opening track Frankenstein set the tone for the rest of record: spooky energetic organs, fuzzed out guitars, and rumbling bass lines. The Lids even introduce to their signature dance the Creepy Crawl, which youll need to know because this record forces you to dance. This is the best garage band Ive heard in long time. James Orme

Dimmu Borgir
Stormblast
Nuclear Blast
Street: 02.07
Dimmu Borgir = spikes + leather + corpse paint + some music
For all the Dimmu fans out there, take note this is not the bands new album. Through in a way it is new, the sound is still something from the bands back catalogue. The album is a re-recorded version of Dimmus classic second full-length album Stormblast with Hellhammer taking over drum duties. As to why the band did this I have no clue, there was nothing wrong with Stormblast, and the production on the album is fine. Mostly the sound and style comes off much better on the original than the newer polished version. Letting the record hang out on it's own, setting aside the history, to put it simply the work is a melodic black metal fans wet dream. This release should hold fans over until the spring when Dimmu plans to release their new full length. - Bryer Wharton

Euphondisson
Provisional
Scatological Liberation Front
Street: 02.19
Euphondisson= Tortoise + Bark Psychosis + Black Sabbath
Post-rock is a lot like 70s jazz fusion. That is, the formula looks pretty simple on paper -- grab a guitar, turn on a bunch of pedals, cycle through twenty minutes of noisy melodies -- yet so few actually succeed in making something other than boring rambles. Seattles Euphondisson was, however, one such act that took to the genre with ease and preternatural grace Im sure a great deal of practice was involved. Members of this now defunct act might have scattered to a brimming handful of other projects (Kount, Fistula, Brigham and Zdefekt, to name a few), but this final release serves as a reminder of the groups pioneering spirit, influence and synergy. Like their distant Canadian cousins (aka the Constellation crew), the group wallows in improvised, atmospheric guitars, smoked-out aggression, barely audible voices, droning and amplified violins, yet makes sense from a formal standpoint (i.e. themes, development, climax). From the ghostly first track (Track One) to the smoked-out aggression of the eleven-minute closer (um, Track Four), Euphondisson will hold you captive and leave you pining for a reunion tour. Dave Mode

Grand National
Kicking the National Habit
Sunday Best Recordings
Street: 02.21
Grand National = LCD Soundsystem + New Order + The Police
Put on this album if you want to get the girls dancing. It has already been played in European clubs for over a year and is just going to be released in the states. The English duo combines indie pop hooks, house, and early eighties ska. The production is one of the standouts on the record. Its full of dreamy club reverb, synthesized vocals and slick electronica loops. There is also an excellent trance remix at the end by fellow Brit DJ Sasha. All of the tracks are multi-layered and highly polished. Who says pop music has to suck? And all of this is coming from two guys that used to be in a Queen cover band. Theyre sure to get attention when its released here. Its one of the best party albums Ive heard in a while. Spencer Jenkins

Hayseed Dixie
A Hot Piece of Grass
Cooking Vinyl
Street: 1.24
Hayseed Dixie = Your favorite rock & roll songs + bluegrass
According to Hayseed Dixie all good songs have four elements, drinking, cheating, killing and hell. Its no wonder that they chose AC/DC as the band that they would pay tribute to with their mandolin and banjo. In case you havent heard, thats what they do. They take rock song and turn them into bluegrass songs. On A Hot Piece of Grass, the band takes a stab at some rock and roll classics like Motorheads Ace of Spades, Black Sabbaths War Pigs, and Led Zeppelins Whole Lotta Love. My personal favorite was their version of Van Halens Runnin with the Devil. I never knew Barley Scotch could hit those notes. Philip Lee

In Flames
Come Clarity
Ferret Records
Street=02.19
In Flames=In Flames
At the end of the original edit of Return of the Jedi there was the yub-yub song and ghostly images of an old Anakin, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi standing guard. Then George Lucas took out the yub-yub song and replaced it with a new crappy song and slick CGI for the reissue of Return of the Jedi, and then just this past year on the DVD release he changed the ghostly images altogether. I can still watch the newest incarnation of Return of the Jedi, its alright, but damn do I miss the yub yub song. Thats kind of how In Flames is. There was Whoracle, then Colony & Clayman-era, and now the latest three releases. Theyve moved to Ferret Records (which probably suits them better since many metal purists shy away from them now), seemingly in the hopes of making it bigger by appealing to a different crowd. Its no secret that In Flames music has been changing over the last three albums or so. This CD has some decent riffs, but the song structures become repetitive (standard verse/chorus/verse stuff). In Flames finally ran out of ideas, this whole record becomes a blur after a while. Its not much different than the past few releases, so if youve heard those you know what youre going to get. The production quality is great, but In Flames is going MOR on this one, I assume to garner radio play. Not an altogether atrocious release, but giving it a miss isnt inadvisable either. Peter Fryer

Jel
Soft Money
Anticon Records
Street: 2.28
Jel = Controller 7 + Boom Bip + Used Chevrolet Car Salesmen wearing a little tie
Drum machines, samplers, and a slough of hand-me-down instruments are all mastered by this Anticon resident beat head. On the usual Jeffrey Jel Logan release, hes shown splicing beats and puzzling them back together again with his trademark crackling SP-1200 sound. Rather, on Soft Money, hes up in the air surveying a vast musical landscape as a linguist. Yes, you read it right. Jel is no longer the rusty hued tunic clad lad whose silent voice bellows through his instrumentals, but on top of them as well. In other words, he rhymes on this album. Accompanied by the likes of Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers and Steffi Bohm of Ms. John Soda, the creepy and surreal tracks that make up Soft Money delve deep into the human psyche and re-writes the rulebooks on hip hop revival with idiosyncratic finesse. Full of uncluttered grime and progressive grit, this album is ingenious. Lance Saunders

A Tribute To Smashing Pumpkins
The Killer In You
Reignition Records
Street: 1.31
TKIY= Smashing Pumpkins + popular screamo/emo
I always give my friend Blake a hard time for being the only Smashing Pumpkins fan that I know of, so I guess I got a handful of karma shoved down my throat when I got this CD to review. But I had to laugh because the Pumpkins were more or less the soundtrack for my eighth grade school year-a time in my life I would just assume forget. I mean lets face it, those middle school years were pretty strange and awkward, which is why most of the time Id rather take a heavy sniff of ammonia than listen to the Pumpkins and be reminded of adolescent Hell--nothing against the band of course. Anyway, listening to this tribute brought me back and helped me remember why I used to listen to the Pumpkins. Smashing Pumpkins were a band that could change music genres and try new things and no matter what it seemed to work. The Killer In You shows the versatility of the Pumpkins music with a great track listing. The cast of bands includes: Poison The Well, Emanuel, Armor For Sleep, Eighteen Visions, A Static Lullaby and others. 32 Leaves cover of zero is phenomenal. If youre a fan of the screamo/emo scene or the Pumpkins, this is worth checking out-just watch out for those middle school flashbacks. J C Wilkins

Lamb of God
Killadelphia
Sony
Street: 12.13
Lamb of God = Slayer + Metallica + Pantera
I remember just as Lamb of God's As the Palaces Burn album came out, The Heavy Metal Shop had an in-store and about 20 or 25 people came. Eat it suckers I got As the Palaces Burn, New American Gospel and Burn the Priest all signed. Anyway, now the band has toured the world, with every show played the fans just grow and grow. Us media types are calling it the new wave of American heavy metal. Regardless metal is experiencing an insurgence in it's fanbase. I guess that means there are quite a few angry people out there. Killadelphia is a live disc recorded obviously in Philadelphia. The disc is the audio equivalent to the bands Killadelphia DVD release, another hunk of merch. For the band to peddle. Production quality is as good as it gets for a live album. The band covers a hefty portion of songs from Ashes of the Wake and As the Palaces Burn leaving little room for tunes from New American Gospel and Burn the Priest. Unfortunate, even though the band has tightened up their sound and playing the older material still stands out as a raw taste of brutal metal. Listening to singer Randy Blythe rant almost as much as Phil Anselmo does is amusing. We all know who will be picking this disc up - Bryer Wharton

Liars
Drum's Not Dead
Mute
Street: 03.21
Liars (circa now) = Liars (circa 2004) + Radiohead
Drum's Not Dead plucks the last pinky finger from the cliff's edge and sends, hurtling into the abyss, any hopes that the Liars' departure from their original dance punk sound was only temporary. Frontman and the increasingly apparent creative commander of the band, Angus Andrews, followed the leads of Bowie and Lou Reed, moved to Berlin and recorded his strangest sounds to date. Drum's Not Dead loosely skirts a narrative revolving around static characters that symbolize the excitement and turmoil of the creative process. The music mostly drones over heavy percussion and beneath high-pitched vocals. A couple chanting, ominous tracks sound slightly reminiscent of They Were Wrong So We Drowned (2004), but the album as a whole is hardly comparable. An accompanying DVD with three videos for each of the tracks is art school at best, but reflects the creative lengths the Liars will span to produce a truly original product. Nate

Make a Rising
Rip Through the Hawk Black Night
High Two Records
Street: 6.7.05
Make a Rising = Need New Body + Henry Cowell + Flaming Lips B-sides
I am going to call this orchestral saloon pop. I am also going to assume that a small handful of Make a Rising fans will stumble across this statement and throw their SLUGs across the room (or laptops if reading the website) and proclaim that I misunderstand the new Philly sound. But with all the jangling piano work, the skronked out interludes and atmospheric warble lent to the vaudeville-ish vocals, I cant help but call it as I see it. To placate the aforementioned nincompoops and speak of Phillys scene, I must say that this seems a little heavy-handed on the experimentalism, even for the City of Brotherly Love. It would seem that songwriting and composing cannot coexist without the utmost attention to detail and when youre busy lovin on your brother all day, how are you supposed to make a cohesive record? Philadelphia, dont kill me. - #1 Stunna

Mary J. Blige
The Breakthrough
Geffen Records
Street: 12.20.05
Mary J. Blige = Aretha Franklin + MTV
Try to picture yourself in a committed relationship with Ms. Blige: she loves you so much, cant live without you. But you want to have a billiards night with your crew and she starts wailing that she doesnt need your drama, cant even believe you put her through this. Such is life. You say, Baby, your pipes are second to none, but why must your tracks be six minutes long? Why are you singing a U2 song? What are you the MVP of? Im not saying I dont love you with all my heart, though. She will look at you for about 30 seconds as if she understands (which she does) and walk right out the front door anyhow. Such is life and such is this record. Blige has finally perfected the delivery of arrogant, profusely contradictory, self-empowering martyrdom. The result is somewhat moving, profoundly listenable and unintentionally hilarious. -- #1 Stunna

Nagg
S/T
Dollar Record Records
Street: 08.03.05
Nagg = The White Stripes + The Donnas + ACDC
If the Donnas had rocked a little harder and whined a little less theyd sound a lot like Nagg. Many of the songs on this album blur together into a garage rock mush, but a few manage to stand out of the crowd. Some of my favorites were Beauty of the Bitch, Shes in Love with You, and Another Day. Amy Wards raspy vocals, which sound like she has smoked one to many cigarettes, is a good match for the muted guitars and bass. This album was damned hard to listen to all at once, but taken a few songs at a time it isnt bad. If youre a fan of The Hives or any of the bands that sound like The Hives youll probably like this. -Jeanette Moses

Nausea
The Punk Terrorist Anthology Volume 1
Alternative Tentacles Records
Street: 01.24
Nausea = All Systems Fail + Extreme Noise Terror + Filth
If I believed in Satan he would sound like Al, the male singer of Nausea. This 22-track album contains the majority of their album Extinction and many of their singles. Although the songs were all written in the 80s they are still very relevant to our situation today. In essence, Nausea did what Crass did: dual male/female vocals and lyrics that they were anti-war, pro feminist, animal rights and anti-racist. But they did it faster and angrier than Crass did and in the US. This album is the perfect combination of metal, thrash, experimentation and punk rock. It combines socially aware lyrics with guitar solos that have a tendency to sound like gunshotsnot sirens and drums. Not to mention, this is probably the best thing to listen to when wrapping Christmas presents. -Jeanette Moses

Okay Paddy
The Cactus Has a Point
Prison Jazz Records
Street: 02.28
Okay Paddy = Nada Surf + early Weezer + Pavement
Okay Paddy come from Scranton, Pennsylvania, a place with such a crappy name that it's only proper the equally-crappy American version of The Office is set there. I am not saying The Cactus Has a Point is quite that lame, although I would be hard pressed to say it's amazing, great or innovative. It's really nothing more than a handful of non-threatening, enjoyably sweet pop songs that sit downwind of early Beatles, with hints of NRBQ and, of course, Weezer (but not the bad stuff). The standout track is the catchy, loveable "Gas Money," and the album layout is an intriguing psychedelic mural, complete with a John Lennon-style weirdo essay in the liner notes. Altogether, a pleasing, but not astonishing, album. Jamila Roehrig

Pearls and Brass
The Indian Tower
Drag City
Street:01.24
Pearls and Brass= Black Sabbath + Groundhog + Sir Lord Baltimore
Last year I had the opportunity to interview singer songwriter David Pajo who raved about Pears and Brass, calling them phenomenalincredibly tight. Pajo knows his shit. The Indian Tower is a powerful bluesy-rock record that, if released one month earlier, would have definitely made my Top 5 of 05 list. The guitar work on this LP is absolutely amazing: intricate chord progressions, ever-changing time scales, and the warmth of a good ole American Gibson will induce the kind of involuntary air-guitar seizures in listeners not seen since the release of Back in Black. From track to track, the record is smooth, sounding more like a jam-session than the over-rehearsed mathematical equations I hear on so many records these days. The last track, Away The Mirrors is a beautiful acoustic blues number reminiscent of John Faheys older work, and is the prefect way to end such a hard-hitting masterpiece of a record. Pearls and Brass first record was released in 03 on Doppelganger Records. Ryan Shelton

Pedro
Self-Titled
Mush Records
Street: 02.19
Pedro=Richard Devine + Autechure + Kid 606
Like other progressive artists on the Mush label (i.e. cLOUDDEAD, Daedelus, S.E.V.A.), Pedros music is for some reason classified in the hip-hop bin, yet its dimensions stretch oh so much further than the disc stacked behind it (that would be P. Diddy for those who cant alphabetize). Mastermind James Rutledges instrumental stylings will have you nodding at the beat, twitching at the cuts and clicks and feeling otherwise spaced out to the droney Eastern vibe -- culled from Rutledges arsenal of acoustic string samples. For every boom-bap and aggressively glitchy Fear & Resilience, you have a diced up The Books-like dulcimer orchestra (The Water Ran This Way Back and Forth) or a trio of toy piano, chimes and plug-ins (Dead Grass). The second of this exquisite two-disc features remixers Prefuse 73, Dangermouse and twee-tronica darling Four Tet -- the latter offering a 21-minute opus of jazz fusion and time-stretched wizardry. Rutledge and company offer a solid effort suitable for relaxing with headphones or a midnight pleasure cruise in the desert, and will most assuredly garner plenty of Myspace emails concerning, Dude, how did you make those sounds? (This ones on me: myspace.com/pedropedropedro). Depeche Madden

Random Touch
The Elegance of Falling
Roadnoise Productions
Street: 10.10
Random Touch = Frank Zappa + Miles Davis + outer space
This is what it would sound like if you were teleported to one of Jupiters moons. It seems that this jazz trio went into the studio and recorded the album without a plan. Between the psychotic Frank Zappa scales, the ambient space synthesizers and out of synch drums, you feel like youre shaking the hand of a seven-foot extra terrestrial with serious jet lag. In their world, all of our rules and conventions of music dont make sense. With the albums wide-open spaces and meanderings its like they made up their parts as they started playing. Then every so often they will converge on a single idea, which makes me suspicious that the chaos was somehow planned and designed. The appeal is entirely instinctual since youre not given anything familiar. Besides being interesting music you could also use this to frighten little kids in a haunted house. Spencer Jenkins

Randy
Randy The Band
Fat Wreck Chords
Street: 1.10
Randy = Bouncing Souls + The Briggs + Teenage angst and nonstop sing-a-longs
These Swedes sure know how to make a sing-a-long. On Randy The Band, their sixth release, they have a perfect record of 15 sing-a-longs out of 15 tracks. The 15 tracks are riddled with teen angst and driven by high school themes with songs like Punk Rock High, Teenage Tiger and Rich Boy. On the opposite side of Randys high school songs, is Evil, that sounds like the Misfits-complete with Danzig-like vocals-minus the cheesy chorus. But, potentially the best part of this album is that its an enhanced CD with three punk-worthy music videos, which showcase the creative genius that has made Randy popular in their homeland. The videos include: A Man in Uniform and X-Ray Eyes from their last album, Welfare Problems and Razorblade from this release. The video for Razorblade consists wholly of the band riding motorcycles, throwing and dodging razorblades. Upon hitting innocent pedestrians with these razorblades, they shake violently and turn in to one of the band members-oh, and did I forget to mention they are all wearing black suits with skeletons painted on them?! Razorblades video is Oscar-winning material. Randy The Band is simple and fun to listen to for anyone, but definitely centered toward a younger audience. J C Wilkins

Redworms Farm
Amazing!
Fooltribe
Street: 2005
Redworms Farm = Ex Models + Numbers + Liars
These guys keep up a break speed and realize epiphany after epiphany in only two-minute songs. They sound fresh like the Liars when they put out Monument, and are no less exciting. Theyre an Italian trio with two guitarists and a drummer and mostly sing in English. They are little known in the U.S. as of yet but released a split album with The Paper Chase in 2004. The entire record is only twenty minutes long. The songs start fast and fully realized. They begin where most bands peak and arent afraid to push it into the red. Along with the thudding drums and tight, snappy guitar punches, the album is both smart and a hell of a lot of fun to listen to. Spencer Jenkins

Rosolina Mar
Before and After Dinner
Robotradio Records
Street 12.15
Rosalina Mar = Captain Beefheart + Acid Mothers Temple + Rock + Noise - Voice
Since I cant read any Italian, the only information I had on this album was what the press release said, which had words such as deflagrate, anomalous, and irony which all mean absolutely fuck shit. It also had words such as evolution, refinement and enriched, which made me curious to hear the unriched album. That was stupid. Before hearing their first album, I liked this album a lot. Sure its a little predictable and that irony is just plain cheese most of the time, but the noise influenced rock sounds great and crosses rock genres like funk, blues and kraut. Hell, its like freeform rock and Im all for that. The sophomoric problem is theyve reined themselves in and stifled what could be ingenious. Its too bad. This is a great album for anyone into rock or noise. Its just a pity that theyve made themselves worse instead of better. A to the J to the Jepsen

Scarlet
This Was Always Meant To Fall Apart
Ferrett Records
Street:01.24
Scarlet=Dillinger Escape Plan all the good parts + cheesy emo vocals.
So the first Scarlet album, Cult Classic, may not have exactly lived up to its title, but it had some promise. There was no denying that the singer could scream his lungs out and that the musicians had talent. It was yet another hardcore cd that left me thinking Wow if they get rid of all that fluff and filler there could really be a great album here. Maybe theyll perfect it next time around. Well, it was wishful thinking I guess. This Was Always Meant To Fall Apart is great until the genuinely abrasive and impressive screaming turns into generic three-part harmonies mid-song. Why?! Why with the cheesy singing? Is it so much to ask that hardcore or grindcore or whatever you want to call it remains heavy? That's the point isnt it? Its not even that the melodies kick in every so often it happens in EVERY SONG and it's basically the same melody every time. Honestly that's the only bad part about the album, the music is still very technical and that dude can scream like nobodys business. Maybe it's a ploy to gain a bigger fan base by diversifying (a.k.a softening) their sound. Pretty much Ill pass along to Scarlet the same advice Id give other hardcore-gone-soft bands: Less singing more screaming! Jeskia Medici

The Society of Rockets
Where the Grass Grows Black
Underpop Records
Street: 06.04.05
The Society of Rockets = Rod Stewart & Faces at their worst + Flaming Lips at their most unrealized
Dear Society of Rockets,
To call your music boring would be an understatement! I thought I was in for a treat when I saw the psychedelic Day of the Dead-style cover art as it looks like something Arthur Magazine might endorse. Boy, was I wrong! Everything about your contrived, overproduced indie-drivel is just so... how you say... safe! What might pass for psychedelia on Where the Grass Grows Black, to me, seems no more groundbreaking or interesting than the new Lindsay Lohan album (and its just as raw). Im not really sure who it is youre trying to convince but it sure as shit isnt me! Youd do right by taking cues from The Gris Gris or other contemporary pysch-rock bands who havent forgotten what it means to be honest with themselves. I could go on but I have a word-count to adhere to.
Very sincerely,
-Jared T. Soper

The Sword
Self-titled
Kemado Records
Street: 02.14
The Sword = Black Sabbath + High on Fire + Red Giant
Although The Sword is more on the thinner, less guttural Suplecs/Fu Manchu vocals side, their less-metal-more-stoner riffs have as much tough conviction as High on Fires, and baby, thats saying a lot. Celestial Crown charges out of the gate like a bull from hell, a brutal minotaur waiting just around the next corner of the labyrinth. Heavy, droned, evenly spaced, heavily bent, mutated and manipulated riffs recall locals Hammergun, but with less Texas, more elves. Winters Wolves is like Paranoid-era Black Sabbath, and The Horned Goddess slides towards mystic, Acid-King stoner. Youre falling into the pit, and theres no bottom. Bottom ... get it? Um, yeah. Rebecca Vernon

Sworn Enemy
The Beginning of the End
Abacus
Street: 01.24
Sworn Enemy = Hatebreed + Sick of It All + Madball + Slayer + God Forbid
The title for Queens, NY metalcore act Sworn Enemy's latest album doesn't quite suite the future for the band. The group first released an EP on Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed's Stillborn label, leading them to a deal with Elektra thus providing their first full length which for the most part was standard metalcore, nothing to turn a head or give a nod to. Making leaps and bounds Sworn Enemy has put forth an album that is most definitely worth a shit. The difference in songwriting and playing on The Beginning of the End is miles above their past effort. Riffing and leads plow through the eardrum. Embodying the spirit of the NY hardcore scene Sworn Enemy is in a world of their own on this one. Congrats to the band for making a total turn around. - Bryer Wharton

T. Duggins
Undone
Thick
Street:01.10
T.Duggins=The Tossers The Dropkick Murphys + The Cheftians + Shane MacGowen
Anyone in the know about their Irish folk punk would know T. Duggins think Chicago/Irish brogue from Duggins usual running mates The Tossers, but hes stepped out on his own for this record. Although his fellow band members accompany him Duggins has truly stepped outside of what The Tossers have been doing. Leaving the punk side of things at home, Duggins shows his love of traditional Irish folk, with songs like I Wish I was Back in Liverpool, and Jimmy Wilson. He also sports his love for his hometown on The City of Chicago. This record might just get some of those punk kids to listen to actual Irish folk instead of just a punk band with bagpipes. James Orme

Tommy and the Terrors
Unleash the Fury
TKO
Street:12.15
Tommy and the Terrors = The Exploited + Agnostic Front + Toy Dolls
If you asked me for an example of American oi! I would have to point you towards Tommy and the Terrors. They have all the influences of the English oi! bands, but they also have that American hardcore brutality. For this, their second record, they enlisted friend Matt Kelly of the Dropkick Murphys to produce. The result has some harsh 77 style punk rock that isnt for the faint of heart. Blasting guitars and gravel-throated vocals are the order of the day on this record. This record is all torn up knuckles and broken noses. Blessed with the spirit of the streets, Unleash the Fury will get you ready for a fight. James Orme

Tom Ze
Estuando O Pagode
Luaka Bop Records
Street: 2.3
Tom Ze = Barney sing along songs + Menudo + Talking Heads
Este um album grande se voc falar Portugese. Entretanto, se voc gostar do hop do hip, no compre este album. Tom Ze ' traz alguns sons tabela de que eu me tenho ouvido nunca antes. Transcends o "polka precedente" que soa notas influenciadas espanholas e era realmente duro escutar. Vocals fmeas lanados elevados no alto circus-como de laos das guitarras, dos moracca, e de um slough de outros instrumentos. Estudando O Pagode foi nomeado aparentemente para um Grammy este ano e eu posso respeitar aquele. Tom Ze ' tem definitivamente que "vantagem da corte home" com esta. Veio tambm com uma chave do estudo para o pagoda (eu suponho que uma pera). Merda! Eu sinto como se eu no posso dar a este c.d. uma reviso "real" porque eu no posso compreender que qualquer coisa que esto dizendo. Assim, desequilbrio ou dominance? Um processo, ou um nico momento surreal da msica? O que quer que , diferente. Lance Saunders

A Tribute To Smashing Pumpkins
The Killer In You
Reignition Records
Street: 1.31
TKIY= Smashing Pumpkins + popular screamo/emo
Smashing Pumpkins were a band that could change music genres and try new things and no matter what it seemed to work, as proven by their success. It could be argued that the Pumpkins along with bands like Jawbreaker and the Cure are responsible for the screamo/emo music of today, which might be why so many screamo/emo bands came together to make this tribute. The Killer In You shows the versatility of the Pumpkins music with a strong track listing, although it could be better with the addition of songs like Bullet With Butterfly Wings, but is not unimpressive without them. The cast of bands includes: Poison The Well, Emanuel, Armor For Sleep, Eighteen Visions, A Static Lullaby and others. 32 Leaves cover of Zero is phenomenal, while Poison The Wells interpretation of Soma will lull any listener into submission. As far as tribute albums go, this one isnt good enough to start punching holes in your wall out of pure excitement, but it is quite good. The covers are Smashing Pumpkins enough to hold true, or close, to the originals, but are also different enough for the bands covering them to keep their own identity intact. Who wants to hear another bands version of a song if it is identical to the original anyway? On the downside, A Static Lullabys cover of The Everlasting Gaze ought to be thrown in the toilet and flushed. Aside from that, if youre a fan of the Pumpkins or the screamo/emo scene, this is worth checking out-just watch out for those middle school flashbacks. J C Wilkins

DVDs A GO GO

9 Songs (Director: Michael Winterbottom)
DVD
Tartan Video
69 Minutes
Street: Nov. 22, 2005
Remember that perfect summer fling from a few years back? You saw lots of concerts, had debilitatingly wonderful sex during every waking hour, snorted drugs and dawdled around the house all day in your birthday suit without a care in the world. It was so great, but lacked somethingah, substance.

24 Hour Party People director Michael Winterbottom took this premise and made a film just as empty as the aforementioned relationship. Sure, we see lots of explicit sex (from penetration to oral to a money shot) and concert footage from otherwise great bands (The Dandy Warhols, The Von Bondies, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club the token Classical guy, Michael Nyman), but there isnt much beyond that -- in fact the sex scenes get a little boring after the first few times, and the band performances are nothing special. The dialog in-between consists of awkward responses between Matt (Kieran OBrien) and Lisa (Margot Stilley) such as, Do you think well always use condoms? and Want to do a line before we go out? Yeah, its supposed to be symbolic of their youth, freedom and tenuous togetherness (hes English with a job as a glaciologist, shes an American student in the UK). However, the metaphors are too pointed, clichd and forced (i.e. the characters always engage in face-to-face sexual positions, Lisa is suddenly upset about sugar in her tea), OBriens narrated discussion about the Antarctic being like a relationship only reinforcing their heavy-handed nature.

Despite the directors intent to portray the intimate life of your average young sex-addled couple, the lack of character depth combined with the breezy plot results in a lackluster event not worth your 69 minutes (yes, cleverI get it). D motherfuckin Madden Bleeding Through
Wolves Among Sheep
Bleeding Throughs music, whether you like it or not, does move at a frenetic pace. This documentary does not. Orange County is seemingly being drilled into our collective subconscious these days and Trustkill is hopping on that bandwagon with this quasi-documentary. I say quasi because this is more a promotional video than anything else. Banal interviews abound, and such crucial topics as fights at Del Taco and practicing as a band (stop the presses!) are all here. The typical life was so hard as a punk rock kid in the OC are here too. Really? Life was hard as a punk rock kid? Its the same things weve been hearing for 20+ years now. The only good I can see coming from this DVD is the girls jeans and mascara wearing high school crowd may hear about bands like Unbroken, Integrity, Outspoken, Insted, and Chorus of Disapproval. There are some extras on the DVD, live show footage and a tour diary that are only slightly more interesting than the commercI mean documentary. Peter Fryer

Body Count
Live in L.A.
Escapi Music
Street: 11.18
Body Count = Ice-T plus metal mayhem
Notorious for 1992s Body Count album ending with the ever so controversial song Cop Killer. Ice-T and Co. began Body Count to be a metal band not rap/rock the concept wasnt even invented at the time. So breaking new ground along with front-man Ice-T original members, Ernie C., Beastmaster V, Mooseman, D-Roc, paved the path to become a highly influencing band. Flash forward to 2005. With a slightly new line-up due to tragic deaths of the original members, the band has released a preemptive live DVD to be followed by a new studio album. The show recorded at L.A.s Troubadour, showcases the bands new talent as well as the insane playing of guitarist Ernie C and an energetic showcase from Ice-T. All together the DVD captures the spirit of the band in a way listening to an album could. Body Count is back and in the house. - Bryer Wharton

Audio visual bomb shelter DVD
Cultrurama 666 Vol.2
Put together by Awol One & Peter Agoston
Awol One has his hands in almost everything when it comes to the underground hip-hop globe of responsibility and (more action than just talk) work. Responsible for exposing countless artists, Culturama and Audio Visual Bomb Shelter has continued their self proclaimed tradition with the second installment of dare and dope videos from artists like The Shape Shifters, Subtle, Visionaries, Abstract Rude, Busdriver, Josh Martinez, Opio & Pep Love, Pigeon John, Masta Killa, & Radioinactivejust to name a few. The production of each video ranges from highly experimental with a new genres sort of tip, to plain hi-8 rapping in front of the camera type video, to downright amazing animation. Its all pretty much a collection of videos by artists that influence the underground hip-hop culture today in America. Anyone who enjoys listening to underground hip hop can relate when I sayits funny; you can listen to an artist for years and not even know what he/she looks like. Now, with this video, you can put the face to the voice. Lance Saunders

Killswitch Engage
Set the World Ablaze
Roadrunner Records
Street: 11.22
Killswitch Engage = innovators of melodic hardcore
There is something confusing about a band with three records recording a live show for DVD. Regardless Killswitch has pulled it off rather well. Garnering much attention in 2002 for the Alive or Just Breathing album Killswitch have been rolling up hill ever since despite the departure of original vocalist Jesse David. His replacement Howard Jones known for his work with underground hardcore phenomenon Blood Has Been Shed compliments the band well and utilizes the old material and new better than most vocalists filling one anothers shoes. The show production is spic and span. Also included are a slew of the typical interviews, band history as well as all the bands music videos. Killswitch fans are sure to eat it right up. Bryer Wharton

A Quanie Cash Film DVD
Loyalty and Respect
Quanie Cash Productions
Here at SLUG, we dont get too many hip-hop related DVDs. However, when we dothey come by the truckload. Many mainstream rappers with nothing else to do with their royalties have been writing, directing, producing, and starring in films, whether they are big Hollywood productions or low budget slum stories. Loyalty and Respect is a slightly contradictive title, seeming that the whole movie was about disloyalty and disrespect. Its the ghetto life clich all over again! A drug dealer (C.E.O.) with a good life loses it all due to a friend (Quanie Cash) driven by jealousy (I know, edge of your seat drama and suspense). So, Quanie gets C.E.O. framed and takes over his empire and family in a pre-school field trip sort of way. No one is to be trusted and Quanie eventually ends up in prison. The last scene of the movie involves Quanie stating that, Ill be back motha-fuckas! The End. I laughed, I cried (from laughing so hard), then I laughed again. Apparently Nashville, Tennessee (a.k.a. Cashville) is a Mecca of drug lords and hardcore hustlers who kill or be killed. Oh, even the police have platinum teethI liked that part a lot. This movie has everything for the bling in all of us; people, gesture, moments, computer generated fifty dollar bills floating through the air, 20 minute scenes involving gangsters driving in their hoopty rides, bits of rapture, fleeting emotion! In short: The greatest story ever told. Lance Saunders

The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder DVD
Punk and New Wave
Shout! Factory
Street: 1.24
The Tomorrow Show = Conan OBrien + various states of mind
It seems like a wonderful idea to pull together hours and hours of footage about the progenitors of punk and new wave, but these DVDs show that there can be too much of a good thing. There is almost 8 hours of interview footage of various musicians including Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, The Ramones, Joan Jett, and The Plasmatics. Most of the interviews feature off the wall conversations with these drugged out musicians. Patti Smith talks about how death is a magical extension of being in love and Johnny Rotten explains how he is now part of a company and not a band called Public Image Limited. There are only 5 live performances on the entire collection which was a major let down. The Ramones performance is classic and Elvis Costello is quirky as ever. The DVDs would have been much more satisfying if it was just a collection of the live performances. Andrew Glassett

TQ DVD
Street Muzik
HUB Muzik Productions
I could dip into my grab bag of colorful language and all-encompassing vocabulary to describe/review this video, but it doesnt deserve it. Ive never plainly and unimaginatively written that an album or DVD clearly sucks, but damnthis video sucked shit! I inserted the disc and took a ride with TQ and the HUB muzik staff on a big ass bus and promptly wanted to get off. Street Muzik is an ego stroking, weak, masterbative look into the life of singer songwriter TQ and DJ N-VISIBLE MAN. The footage of girls, shows, parties, studio time, and rehearsals made me feel like I drank that bottle of Nyquil again. The apology on the back cover states that this movie shows people what it truly means to grind in the new millennium, what the fuck is that supposed to mean? The only redeeming quality this movie contained was the titties. Erik wanted me to describe the titties. Well, some were huge with nipples the size of Hostess Ho-Hos, some were saggy all the way down to the hips, and some just looked plainly unnatural, but I guess a titty is a titty, right? Dont buy, borrow, or rent this video.no, not even for those titties. Lance Saunders