RE: VIEWS

This movie answers that age-old question: \"What would Flash Gordon have looked like if he worked in a coal mine?\" Corey McAbee (from the cult band The Billy Nayer Show) writes, directs, and stars in this bizarre little gritty black-and-white space flick. It sure has received a lot of acclaim from various film festivals, but to tell you the truth, I’m still not sure I liked it. It does, however, have a train-engine spacecraft, barns in space, and sets that could have been somebody\'s basement rec room. Plus, it\'s got two old guys dancing in a bathroom. That\'s got to count for something.

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DA WHOLE THING - DA WHOLE THING @ VERSION CITY (Stubborn Records)

It\'s about fucking time somebody officially released this goddamn thing! I mean, the music was recorded over seven years ago! I\'ve been listening to tracks like \"7\" and \"Jakarta\" for years now, and I\'m glad Stubborn Records finally got on the ball and put this out. If you\'re not familiar with Da Whole Thing, you\'re a knob. The maddening personal project of the talented Patrick Carayannis, Da Whole Thing brings together musicians like Chris Murray, Victor Rice, Vic Ruggiero, and over ten other kids to create one of the most unique and thick sounds you\'ll ever come across. Oh, and the packaging features some pretty sweet artwork by some talented bull queer.

THE GRADE: A+

- Wayne Chinsang

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DOPE SMOOTHIE - GO STRIKE (Elitist Low Brow Records)

This album is genius. I love it! \"I\'m a drunk / I\'m a stoner / I wanna hump / I\'ve got a boner.\" Lyrics don\'t get any deeper than that. These guys are great musicians and know how to create a unique sound that finds its way to our ears through all the muck.

THE GRADE: A

- Bethany Shady

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EARATIK STATIK - FEELIN’ EARATIK (Gravel Records)

If this album is any indication of what the underground is bringing in 2005, everyone with a mainstream mic might wanna start getting scared. Celo, Abstruss Tone, and DJ Rude 1 add to the arsenal with this too-solid-to-be-a-debut debut.

THE GRADE: B+

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

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EL PUS - HOODLUM ROCK VOL. 1 (Virgin Records)

It\'s hard not to compare El Pus (pronounced El Poose) to Fishbone, so let\'s just get that out of the way first. Beyond that, El Pus is a hardworking funk \'n\' roll quintet that makes you want to bop your head to the beat while you tune your mind to the message. \"Days Of The BKs\" is a sweet little trip down memory lane, and \"Suburb Thuggin\'\" is, simply put, fucking hilarious in its brutal honesty. Dig on it now.

THE GRADE: A-

- Wayne Chinsang

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FRANK LENZ - CONQUEST SLAUGHTER (Velvet Blue Music)

Conquest Slaughter starts like a Granddaddy album, with the nasal vocals and experimental poppy electronic songs that made them famous. The strange thing is that when it starts to get old, the album switches to an almost dead-on Neil Young impersonation, only to switch back to sounding like Granddaddy again at the end.

THE GRADE: B

- Night Watchman

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JOHNNY CASH - THE MAN, HIS WORLD, HIS MUSIC (Sanctuary Records)

Simply put, this DVD is perfect. This documentary-- filmed at the height of Cash\'s career (from 1968 through 1969)-- is now re-released with a ton of extra stuff. See Johnny performing at prisons, in the studio with Bob Dylan, and at home with the family. For diehard Cash fans, it\'s tantamount to the Holy Grail; to the casual music lover it\'s-- at the very least-- a beautiful and intimate look at a legend.

THE GRADE: A+

- Wayne Chinsang

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MUNKEY JUICE - TEN UNDER SIXTY VOL. 2 & MOSCOW (Choose To Lose Music)

Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum. On the one hand, you have Ten Under Sixty Vol. 2-- another trip flipping through the minute-or-less musical channels of Munkey Juice’s creative television. And on the other, you have Moscow-- the two-disc soundtrack to the motion picture of the same name. Considering Munkey Juice ventures down a plentiful number of stylistic paths, it only makes sense that someone would let them helm an entire soundtrack all by themselves. Now, if only I could see the visuals this unique insanity accompanies....

THE GRADES: B (FOR EACH ALBUM)

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

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NEW MONSOON - LIVE AT THE TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL (New Monsoon Records)

After listening to the incredibly talented New Monsoon\'s first-ever live disc, I’ll be more inclined to choose actually seeing their live show than listening to the disc again. The upbeat blend of groovy world percussions and Latin rhythms got me interested, but most of the vocals weren’t nearly as impressive (with the exception of the crazy mouth solo on “Velvet Pouch”).

THE GRADE: B

- Hellkat

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NIC ARMSTRONG & THE THIEVES - THE GREATEST WHITE LIAR (New West Records)

I absolutely fucking love the first two tracks of this disc: \"I Can\'t Stand It\" and \"Broken Mouth Blues\". Part Stones, part Stripes, and part Beatles, this 25-year-old English kid knocked me on my ass within the first six minutes of his debut full-length. Unfortunately, the rest of the songs on the disc aren\'t as exciting. That isn\'t to say they\'re bad tunes, but when you start your disc with your two strongest tracks, it leaves the listener anticipating the same level of excitement at the start of every song thereafter. Still, The Greatest White Liar is one hell of a strong debut, and overall not a bad package.

THE GRADES: A+ (FOR THE FIRST TWO SONGS) B (OVERALL)

- Wayne Chinsang

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ONE.BE.LO - S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. (Fat Beats Records)

If there’s a hip-hop bone in your body, a love for the music and the culture as an art form, then you need to buy this record. “enecS eht no kcaB” and “Propaganda” alone have me convinced it’s one of the best albums to come out in the last ten years.

THE GRADE: A+

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

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REGINA SPEKTOR - SOVIET KITSCH (Sire Records)

The Russian-born, Bronx-bred Regina Spektor has a goddamn captivating voice. In addition to that, she can play piano along with the best of them. She\'s got the instrumental sensibilities of a classically-trained musician, yet manages to keep her songs bizarre enough to hold the interest of even the most typical A.D.D.-riddled MTVer. In short, Soviet Kitsch is a refreshing breath into the corpse that is popular music.

THE GRADE: B+

- Wayne Chinsang

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ROBERT CAPRIO - ARE WE THERE YET? (World Wrestling Entertainment)

Ever wanted to know about the crazy shit that happens to wrestlers on the road? Well, then this is for you. It\'s 225 pages of short and funny anecdotes written by the wrestlers themselves. And while not all of the stories are that interesting, there are those that stand out. Like the story of the seven-foot tall, 470-pound behemoth known as Big Show having to literally bust a wall down to be able to take a shit in a Tokyo hotel bathroom. Yeah, stuff like that.

THE GRADE: B

- Wayne Chinsang

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ROGER MIRET & THE DISASTERS - 1984 (Epitaph Records)

Are you ready for some punk rock and oi, oi, oi? Roger Miret & The Disasters’ 1984 is a nice blend of bands like Youth Brigade, Rancid, and Swingin’ Utters. Not that The Disasters can\' spirit.

THE GRADE: A

- Sal Swayzo

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SCOTT FISHER - SCOTT FISHER (1 AM Approach Records)

Scott Fisher. Hmmm... interesting. This self-titled album definitely has more strengths than weaknesses. The music itself is the highlight, with Fisher’s voice a close second. Although the lyrics leave something to be desired, the overall feel of the disc is pleasant enough.

THE GRADE: B

- Fphatty Lamar

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SELF SCIENTIFIC - GODS AND GANGSTERS (Nature Sounds Records)

This is the kind of thing you don’t expect to hear in hip-hop: production as radio-commanding as Kanye, lyrics as fierce and narrative as Dead Prez or Talib Kweli, and a guest list that includes, no lie, Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr. And to think, this is only a mixtape.

THE GRADE: A

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

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SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS - NATURALLY (Daptone Records)

This is the shit you should be listening to, y\'all! For real! The Dap-Kings are an eight-piece funk and soul ensemble, and they provide a perfect backdrop to Sharon Jones\' sexy spirit. This album marks only the second collaboration between Jones and The Dap-Kings, but their vibe and sound will make you think they\'ve been making music together for decades. Especially considering most of it sounds like lost soul tracks from the Sixties. Simply put, this album is yummy.

THE GRADE: A

- Wayne Chinsang

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SUNSHINE - MOONSHOWER AND RAZORBLADES (Custard Records)

The name Sunshine belies the strutting swagger of this modern rock quartet. Equal parts past and future, Sunshine is a blend of PiL, Ima Robot, and Nineties-era U2. Packed with driving energy and a familiar sound, but with a totally new twist.

THE GRADE: B+

- Night Watchman

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THE CURTAINS - VEHICLES OF TRAVEL (Frenetic Records)

You know that kind of laid-back and chill music they played during the Seventies on PBS shows for kids? You know, kind of that minimal and jazzy soundtrack they play behind some narrator talking about how you shouldn\'t bully other kids, or how to cope when mommy and daddy fight? Well, The Curtains\' Vehicles Of Travel is kind of like that, but with vocals. It\'s sleepy Sunday sounds, with cymbals that crescendo butted up next to synthesized blips and bleeps. In all, not my cup of tea. It\'s definitely original, and for that I give them credit. But short of that feat, it doesn\'t do much for me.

THE GRADE: C

- Wayne Chinsang

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THE FOXYMORONS - HESITATION EYES (Heatstroke Records)

Catchy folk rock and soothing vocals will best define Hesitation Eyes, and listening to The Foxymorons make me feel really, really pleasant. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go buy a hammock and an acoustic guitar.

THE GRADE: B

- Sal Swayzo

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THE MATTOID - ETERNIFINITY (Cleft Records)

The grit of Nick Cave, the bizarreness of John Lurie, and the I\'ll-fuckin\'-knife-ya-in-a-bar-brawl nature of Tom Waits all rolled into one. This six-song EP single-handedly created a new genre of music I like to call \"creep rock\". And just when you think you\'ve got it figured out, the poppy goofiness of the fifth track, \"Blow\", bops into your ears. Just plain weird, man. But in a good way.

THE GRADE: B

- Wayne Chinsang

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THE RESIDENTS - ANIMAL LOVER (Mute Records)

Like the soundtrack to a high school musical directed by David Lynch. The rhythm tracks to Animal Lover are based on animal noise mating patterns. I wish I could say that I understood what this album is about, but then again maybe I’m better off not knowing.

THE GRADE: ?+

- Night Watchman

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VARIOUS ARTISTS - DRIVE-THRU RECORDS AND PUREVOLUME.COM (Drive-Thru Records)

This two-disc set has 145 tracks (25 tracks, plus 120 additional MP3s) on it from just as many bands. Yes, you read that correctly: 145 tracks. And, granted, when you have 145 different songs on two discs, there are gonna be a few turds in the batch. However, it features acts like The Juliana Theory and Halifax (and 143 other bands, both signed and unsigned), so there\'s bound to be something you like on it, too. Get the most bang for your buck, and pick it up.

THE GRADE: B

- Wayne Chinsang

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VARIOUS ARTISTS - HOLIDAY IN DIRT (New West Records)

Premise: 14 short films set to the music of Stan Ridgway, each by a different director, with a budget of $500 each. Result: An interesting mix of ideas and styles that keeps your interest, even if you have no idea who Stan Ridgway is. My favorite is the faceless band video.

THE GRADE: B

- Night Watchman

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VARIOUS ARTISTS - POLICIA! A TRIBUTE TO THE POLICE (The Militia Group)

A great collection of Police covers by some fine punk/hardcore bands. Kudos goes out to Copeland for reinventing and owning “Every Breath You Take”. The only track I’d remove here is “Wrapped Around Your Finger” by Underoath, which is remarkably the only casualty. A great reintroduction to a great band.

THE GRADE: A-

- Night Watchman

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WOODY WHATEVER - THE GREAT POP (Ionik Records)

There’s nothing better than when an artist sums up the record perfectly in the title. Woody Whatever paints a great new-pop picture with their latest releases, adding programmed drums this go-round. “Cherry Fountains” is still one of the best pop songs ever, and “When You Get Home” is a whole other review itself.

THE GRADE: A

- Vinnie Baggadonuts