Stiff Sheet: October 1996

Tool
Aenima
Zoo Entertainment 

These guys are messed in the head like Giger dreams, like Tetsuo matter rot, and their poison’s another man’s sugar. Incredible album. Schizophrenic genius. Listen to it with the one you loathe most: yourself. —Capt. America 

Graham Parker
Acid Bubblegum
Razor & Tie 

Graham Parker is one of the most provocative, biting, sarcasm vendors of our time. After some of his below-par records, Parker comes back and hits hard on Acid Bubblegum with the same cynicism you came to expect from his earlier records. The only thing missing are the patented guitar hooks from ex-rumour guitarist Brinsley Schwartz. But you soon get over that as this record sucks you into its self-depravity. An in-depth study of “character assassination” from the master. —Mr. Pink 

Sheryl Crow
A&M Records 

Whether or not you liked Crow’s first record Tuesday Night Music Club, do not let it stop you from buying her BEST record, this one. Sheryl proves that she can do it all and do it well. She even produced this record, and did a great job. The strong point though, is her impeccable talent for songwriting, which is shown through the entire length of the CD. Not one bad tune in the bunch. Of course some outshine others, like “If It Makes You Happy,” “Sweet Rosalyn” and “Love Is A Good Thing.” But even the songs that are usually filler material are dripping with emotion and merit. What an album. If she got you even a little excited the first time, get ready to fall for Sheryl Crow all over again. —Maxx 

T.J. Kirk
If Four Was One
Warner Bros. 

This could be the coolest band alive in the 90’s. Way cooler than the other side of the pillow, T.J. Kirk grooves and grooves and grooves. So what makes this record nifty? They play the music of Thelonius Monk, James Brown and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. That’s ALL they play. And they do it like dancing on thin air. I love this band. Play this CD at my funeral… —Mr. Pink 

Terrell
Beautiful Side Of Madness
Pointblank 

I had the opportunity to sit down and speak to Terrell the last time he was in town. Unlike some of the local hacks I didn’t have my picture taken with him even though I did shake his hand and even though he is kind of a hero of mine. Sorry, but he didn’t change the way I listen to music after I purchased his first disc at Musicland because I have never purchased anything at Musicland and the way I listen to music was changed forever after I heard Little Richard singing gospel. 

In my mind Pointblank is a blues label. Checked out the new John Lee Hooker reissue or the new John Hammond disc yet? Terrell does fit because he is funky. Come on, don’t start thinking about that funk riff every guitarist in every Salt Lake City local band can play. I’m talking about funk with soul. What we have here brothers and sisters is blue eyed soul on a par with Delbert McClinton except not exactly the same. The band jams and Terrell sings/speaks/raps out his vocals of a life spent in the back seat of an abandoned car or in a tawdry motel room. The smell of cigarettes, booze, pussy and stale piss fills each and every song as life in Hollywood and a “warm gun” invites an early exit. The fucker is cool and if he ever consents to visit again go see him. Don’t expect the record to do much locally because this is Salt Lake City. He’s probably sharing stages with another stellar artist, James Hall, in New Orleans, dives while investigating the pleasures only an oriental girlfriend can offer. Just in case anyone would like to experience the “Fried Hokey Boogie” in Terrell’s shorter Hooker ‘n’ Heat version check into “Whitely Flats.” —Begging Tah 

Read more Stiff Sheets from the SLUG Archives:
Stiff Sheet: August 1996
Stiff Sheet: July 1996

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