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RE: VIEWS

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22 December 2023



Here\'s what we\'re listening to, watching, loving, and hating. Click on the artist\'s name to visit their website, and click on the title to buy it on Amazon.







ACETATE - THIS BAND MAKES ME FEEL (Sanctuary Records)


There are so many bands out there that could totally get an A+ from us if only they had a different lead singer. This is one of those bands. Acetate\'s Sixties\' garage band sound is laced with slight pop, but unfortunately it is somewhat hidden by their lead singer\'s annoying voice.


THE GRADE: A


- Bethany Shady


Acetate







BLOOD OR WHISKEY - CASHED OUT ON CULTURE (Punk Core)


These boys from Dublin, Ireland are another fine band that combines traditional Irish folk music with punk rock. They can definitely hold their own against the likes of The Pogues, Flogging Molly, and Dropkick Murphys. Cashed Out On Culture is a great new addition to your collection of Irish Punk.


THE GRADE: A+

 

- Sal Swayzo

 

\"Blood




 

BOURBON PRINCESS - DARK OF DAYS (Accurate Records)

 

I’m still beside myself with how goddamn good this is. Lead singer Monique Ortiz\'s voice drips thickly over sax and drums, creating a mood both as sexy as your first true love, and as dark and brooding as the end of the world. Bourbon Princess is one that never disappoints.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Wayne Chinsang




 


 

We get a lot of whiny-bitch, pussy rock sent to us. For a brief, ignorant moment, that’s what I expected this to be. (I blame the title.) Instead, it’s one of the most unique, amazing, and creative things I’ve ever heard. Think: the jazz-loving psychedelic love child of DJ Shadow and The Beta Band.

 

THE GRADE: A-

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

\"Caribou




 


 

Hip-hop classics turned into fully-orchestrated symphonic medleys? Yes. And somehow, the 60+ member daKAH does it without sounding gimmicky. Guru comes by to add to the cred power of this massive act, handling mic duties on the fly \"Jazz Thing\".

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

\"DaKah




 

DIG! (Palm Pictures)

 

This seven-years-in-the-making documentary shows the rise and fall of two indie rock bands grasping for rock stardom. In the late Nineties, after the heyday of grunge music and amidst boy band popularity, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols are trying to survive. This film follows Anton A. Newcombe-- the talented, obsessive leader of The Brian Jonestown Massacre-- and his friend (and enemy), the more well-adjusted Courtney Taylor of The Dandy Warhols. Director Ondi Timoner follows the bands through their music, heavy drug use, fistfights, shows, recordings, travels, and crazy antics. We also see the stress and love they have for their art forms as they fight the corporate hell that is the record industry.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Sal Swayzo

 

\"The




 

EDAN - BEAUTY AND THE BEAT (Lewis Recordings)

 

The title sums it up perfectly. This is beauty and the beat, and there’s beauty in the beat. Edan adds a cosmic notch in his musical belt, releasing an insane, wicked album as mark-making as something Jimi Hendrix or Prince Paul would make.

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

Edan



 


 

It’s only fitting that one of the greatest, most slept-on bands in history gets an equally superior documentary. The Ramones themselves-- Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee (before they died), Tommy, Marky, CJ, and even Richie (the fastest drummer The Ramones ever had)-- tell the bulk of the not-all-wine-and-roses tale in typical, brutally honest Ramones fashion. Family members, childhood friends, and every musician from Blondie and Joe Strummer to Thurston Moore and Lars Frederiksen show up to share neighborhood tales, make surprising revelations, and pay praises to the band that paved the way for countless legendary acts (The Clash, The Sex Pistols, etc.), but never got the big break they deserved.

 

THE GRADE: A+

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

Ramones



 

FANTOMAS - SUSPENDED ANIMATION (Ipecac Records)

 

Impossibly fast A.D.D. cartoon soundtrack for the month of April. One song for each day of the month. If you missed some of the psycho humor from early Mr. Bungle albums, this is a must-have. You’ll want to play it for your children, but please, for the love of God, don’t!

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Night Watchman

 

Fantômas




 

IDRIS GOODWIN - IDRIS GOODWIN (Naivete Records)

 

It wouldn’t hurt to have more artists like this in hip-hop, giving a balance to the spectrum, in the face of all the mindless party drivel. Goodwin gives you an English lesson over some intriguing musical compositions (by Snots, Seemore Perspective, and Alo), and adds another \"don’t-sleep-on-us\" notch to Chicago’s musical belt.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts




 


 

Magnolia Electric Co. is a very unique sound that resembles a marriage of Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young with its female and male lead vocals. They deliver a bluesy, country sound that well represents the down-home heartland.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Bethany Shady

 

\"Magnolia




 

MILLENCOLIN - KINGWOOD (Burning Heart Records)

 

I had no intentions of reviewing this because I wasn’t real crazy about their last few albums. But one run through the stereo and I was black-eyed and happy. Millencolin ain’t fuckin’ around anymore. And oh, how I love that artwork.

 

THE GRADE: A-

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

Millencolin



 

MOBY - HOTEL (V2 Records)

 

It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Hotel is just not that good. The first disc is long, slow, and dull. Moby sings over keyboard beats on almost every track, and the only stand-out is a cover of New Order\'s \"Temptation\" (with guest vocalist Laura Brown). The second disc is much better, but only because it is completely instrumental. It was supposed to be a way to bring the listener back down after the \"intensity\" of the first album-- a cool idea, had the first disc had one truly intense moment on it. Alone, the second disc is ambient and hushed. Unfortunately, both discs together make the longest 126 minutes of your life.

 

THE GRADE: D-

 

- Wayne Chinsang

 

Moby



 

PATRICK WOLF - WIND IN THE WIRES (Virgin Records)

 

This is the type of album that it takes intelligent, creative artists like Peter Gabriel lifetimes to create. Even more amazing is the fact that this is only Wolf’s second album. Mature and creative combinations of instruments and arrangements gives him a wise, worldly, gypsy feel with a little electronic mixed in.

 

THE GRADE: A+

 

- Night Watchman

 

\"Patrick



 


 

Have you ever wanted to hear bad-but-upbeat ska/punk/pop/whatever music vocalized with never-ending and annoying complaining? Well, then Reel Big Fish is your band. Message to Reel Big Fish: Orphaned, Third World children who are starving, riddled with disease, and don\'t know if they will see tomorrow in their war-torn countries would love to switch problems with you. Seriously.

 

THE GRADE: D

 

- Sal Swayzo

 

\"Reel



 


 

A pulsing dose of pure rock. The vocals remind me of that droning creepy voice that Marilyn Manson uses, mixed with a little Scott Weiland backed by Baby Chaos. Just when you think rock has lost all its coolness, along comes a band like this to prove you wrong.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Night Watchman

 

Stereophonics



 


 

Almost eerie, Phil Spector-ish sounds and a sleepy Sixties atmosphere give Summer At Shatter Creek an addictive new sound that I can\'t get enough of. They have a melancholic air that\'s similar to Coldplay and Mazzy Star.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Bethany Shady

 

\"Summer



 


 

This is for anyone who is interested or a lover of old school punk rock bands like Fear, Black Flag, Agent Orange, or, of course, The Adolescents. This album of old demos is punk to the core with scratchy, undigitally-mastered sound. They don\'t make punk rock like this anymore.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Sal Swayzo

 

Adolescents



 


 

The Blue Van is admittedly inspired by music like that of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Also admittedly, they are not influenced by the decades of music between that heyday and now. And undeniably, their music sounds like Paul McCartney performing with his balls in a vice.

 

THE GRADE: C-

 

- Fphatty Lamar




 

THE BRAVERY - THE BRAVERY (Island Records)

 

Heavily electronic melodies topped with seductive vocals influenced by post-punk sounds can best describe New York\'s The Bravery. The Bravery isn\'t ordinary mainstream tunes, but it is certainly catchy and instantly likeable. Think New Wave rock that\'s very danceable.

 

THE GRADE: A-

 

- Sal Swayzo

 

\"The



 

THE CAPSTAN SHAFTS - UNRECONSTRUCTED LO-FI WHORE (Asaurus Records)

 

This six-song EP came in a white cardboard sleeve with no return address or artwork, save for the band\'s name stamped repeatedly on the inside cover. Quite the enigma. So is the music it contains. Singer Dean Wells\' voice trudges roughly over simple guitar and drum work, occasionally getting buried by the instruments. And, oddly enough, that\'s what I like about it.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Wayne Chinsang




 


 

The Crystal kids are back with the mixtape sequel Community Service II. Kirkland and Jordan know their shit, handling everything from their own past material to The Doors\' \"Roadhouse Blues\" to Smashing Pumpkins\' \"1979\". If you want to hear what happens when two talented DJs mix dance-club electro with Sixties rot-gut blues, dig it.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Wayne Chinsang

 

\"The



 


 

Lapsteel blues mixed with down-home country twang! Tambourine smacking over female backup vocals! The age-old ideals of folk music interwoven with the lyrical delivery and mentality of hip-hop and gospel! The John Butler Trio has a bit of everything. And they\'re great at each and every thing they do.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Wayne Chinsang

 

\"John



 

KILLER METERS - A TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF THE METERS (Fastlife Records)

 

This is more than just a mere cover album; it\'s a labor of love, with a splash of obsession for the notorious New Orleans funk band The Meters. Can you blame them? This album covers ten of The Meters\' best songs flawlessly, and features the superb vocals of Karine Kendra, which will make you want to make love.

 

THE GRADE: A-

 

- Hellkat

 

\"The



 


 

Don\'t let the name and cover fool you. The Tuna Helpers are not a goofy trio, but rather makers of haunting and strange melodies. I\'ll Have What She\'s Having is filled with catchy goth rock and an odd background orchestra. They would be the perfect house band for Hogwarts.

 

THE GRADE: A+

 

- Sal Swayzo

 

\"The
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Compiled by the staff of TLC
Old Image
7_8_entertainmental.jpg
issue
vol 7 - issue 08 (apr 2005)
section
entertainmental
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