RE: VIEWS (LISTEN) | Tastes Like Chicken

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22 December 2023

Here\'s what\'s making love to our ears this month. Click on the artist\'s name to visit their website, and click on the title to buy it on Amazon.

BENZOS - MORNING STANZAS (Stinky Records)

This album starts to win you over with a lot of lovely sounds. But it’s hard to listen to Morning Stanzas without thinking of a slightly less developed Radiohead. But even though it’s a few steps away from a totally matured, awesome disc, it’s still a nice and pretty listen.

THE GRADE: B

- Fphatty Lamar

COPELAND - IN MOTION (The Militia Group)

Rock \'n\' roll piano in the vein of Keane and Ben Folds provides a great soundtrack for late-night drives. The infectious pop melodies belie a greater depth that will keep you listening to this disc for a long time to come.

THE GRADE: A

- Night Watchman

COTTON JACKSON - COTTON JACKSON IS MY CO-PILOT (Self-released)

These Columbus, Ohio-based yokels will force you to rock out with yer cock out while simultaneously laughing your balls off. I could give you the straightforward review, but instead I\'ll just list a few song titles: \"I Kissed My Sweetie (With My Fist)\", \"Nudie Bar\", \"Hillbilly Guillotine\", \"Gimme A Beer\", and a sweet-as-fuck cover of \"Ace Of Spades\". If that doesn\'t win you over, you shouldn\'t be listening to Cotton Jackson anyway.

THE GRADE: A

- Wayne Chinsang

DOUBLE - THE STARVING ARTIST MIXTAPE (Self-released)

I wish I knew more about Double, but unfortunately the disc didn\'t come with a press release. Just know that this disc has a track where they rhyme over the theme song to Jurassic Park, skits that are riddled with brutal (yet hilarious) racial slurs, and a song called \"Lenny Kravitz Freestyle\". It\'s put together well, but above and beyond that, it\'s fucking hilarious. It\'s kind of like they gave a schizophrenic speed junkie some studio time. And yes, I meant that in a good way.

THE GRADE: B+

- Wayne Chinsang

DOVES - SOME CITIES (Capitol Records)

Manchester trio Doves continue the quiet business of making unforgettable records. Some Cities might lack its predecessors\' explosive centerpieces (\"The Cedar Room\" from Lost Souls and \"Pounding\" from The Last Broadcast), but there is no shortage of syrupy, insinuating melodies or understated, intimate arrangements.

THE GRADE: B

- Saiki Difrances

EMILIANA TORRINI - FISHERMAN’S WOMAN (Rough Trade Records)

My drawings are my babies. And if I had to hide them in the woods somewhere to keep them safe from danger, this is the album I’d want to raise them, and the voice I’d want them to hear to make them feel like everything will be okay.

THE GRADE: A+

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

$\"Emiliana$

FOETUS - LOVE (Bird Man Group)

The lumbering, crashing beats of Love mark the return of J.G. Thirlwell, a.k.a. Foetus. Back are the menacing vocals and trippy industrial soundscapes that have made Foetus one of the best and most original creators of dark music today.

THE GRADE: A

- Night Watchman

GREATER CALIFORNIA - SOMBER WURLITZER (Earthling Records)

A dreamy, Sixties-inspired trip down the coast of California that evokes the memory of a time that seems much farther away than it really is. The Beatles flourish, and glimpses of bands like The Doors and The Mamas and the Papas help to suck you into the heart of this wonderful album.

THE GRADE: A

- Night Watchman

$\"Greater$

HO-AG - PRAY FOR THE WORMS (Self-released)

Our good friend Tyler Derryberry-- formerly of the Rancid Yak Butter Tea Party-- has moved on to the wild world of the Massachusetts-based Ho-Ag, a slightly more subdued, yet tighter band. Ho-Ag is a multi-layered wall of a billion sounds, crashing and colliding until they crescendo into one huge, sheet-stained, audible orgasm. Every track on this seven-song EP pushes the vibe of the disc into a new realm, taking advantage of every creative opportunity it can.

THE GRADE: A

- Wayne Chinsang

JOHN DOE - FOREVER HASN’T HAPPENED YET (Yep Roc Records)

This is nice and refreshing, like a bowl of bran flakes after six days of eating Froot Loops; a home-cooked meal after eating at the dorm cafeteria for a semester; a nice shot of whisky after half a bottle of Mad Dog. This album is a great way to cleanse your musical palette and get back to simply good music.

THE GRADE: A

- Fphatty Lamar

$\"John$

KISSINGER - ME AND OTTO (WCI Records)

Kissinger’s Me and Otto album cover art (a hand with its fingers crossed, made from a lottery ticket) screams, \"Good luck liking this CD, sucker!\" Fortunately, I lucked out and got to listen to a fine rock \'n\' roll record. It soothes a longing for the good ol\' arena rock of the Seventies. I myself nearly reverted to banging my head and playing air guitar. Austin or bust, baby!

THE GRADE: A-

- Hellkat

L.E.G.A.C.Y. - PROJECT MAYHEM (Hall of Justus/6 Hole Records)

Somehow, L.E.G.A.C.Y. (with production from man-of-the-hour 9th Wonder, and DJ Khrysis) made an album so good you forget it’s something new and not a dusted-off classic. And even though the beauty and brilliance of my copy of the album keeps getting interrupted by copious amounts of, \"This is a p-p-p-promo copy,\" L.E.G.A.C.Y. still manages to make the masterpiece heard.

THE GRADE: A+

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

MATISYAHU - LIVE AT STUBB\'S (JDub Records)

Imagine putting KRS-One, Doug E. Fresh, and Bob Marley on the same stage. That’s this. Now imagine them being a Lubavitch Hasidic Jew who incorporates the elements of his own culture into it. That’s Matisyahu. Not a gimmick. Just amazing.

THE GRADE: A

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

MIKE DOUGHTY - HAUGHTY MELODIC (ATO Records)

It shouldn\'t come as a big surprise to you that I love Mike Doughty’s new album. The disc reflects everything he is: soft, quiet, and brilliant. There are a few classics I already love (\"Madeline And Nine\", \"Grey Ghost\"), and a few new ones I\'ll love soon (\"Sunken-Eyed Girl\", \"Unsingable Name\"). If you\'re already a fan of Doughty, you already own it. If you aren\'t, learn.

THE GRADE: A

- Wayne Chinsang

$\"Mike$

PORCUPINE TREE - DEADWING (Lava/Atlantic)

Combining the best of Tool meets Yes-style progressive rock, with CSN&Y soaring harmonies, Porcupine Tree defies the notion that prog rock is sterile and emotionless. It\'s beautiful music that will haunt your CD player.

THE GRADE: A

- Night Watchman

$\"Porcupine$

SCOTT COMANZO - WOMEN’S BODY PARTS (Self-released)

This self-released album combines the best parts of Zappa, Beefheart, and modern alternative college radio. Better yet is the website where the whole album can be downloaded, in addition to regular updates featuring new songs for free. That\'s right: in today\'s world of living paycheck to paycheck, Comanzo is out there busting his hump in the Big Apple to give the people what they need.

THE GRADE: A

- Franklin Furter

SECOND SUN - INSIDE OUT (System Recordings)

Finally, someone in this country has mastered the European dance club sound. Inside Out takes you on a quick, ecstasy-induced trip to Ibiza, where you\'ll dance all night to its electronic club sound (which beautifully bleeds into Eighties pop). You\'ll feel dehydrated just from listening to this album, so drink plenty of water.

THE GRADE: A

- Bethany Shady

$\"Second$

THE UNSEEN - STATE OF DISCONTENT (Hellcat Records)

I love bands like The Unseen. Their new album really keeps the hardcore punk rock spirit alive and well! Screaming vocals against fast-paced rhythms always makes me want to crank up the volume! Hardcore \'til the end!

THE GRADE: A

- Das Bork

$\"The$

TIGER BEAR WOLF - TIGER BEAR WOLF (Hello Sir Records)

Tiger Bear Wolf is the perfect combination of Seventies punk rock and modern day punk, but manipulated into a sound all their own. Their self-titled album is filled with phenomenal guitar licks and deep rhythms-- simply put, it\'s great rock \'n\' roll.

THE GRADE: A

- Sal Swayzo

US3 - QUESTIONS (Us3 Records)

I knew Us3 had been making records all these years, but Questions is making me kick myself for not buying them. And while they do refresh our memories with two new remixes of their 1994 mega-hit \"Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)\", it wasn’t necessary. The new material is hot enough. Especially with Mpho and Reggi in tow.

THE GRADE: A

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

VARIOUS ARTISTS - ARMY OF ME (One Little Indian Records)

Prompted by the tragedies that occurred last December in Southeast Asia, Icelandic songstress Bjork decided to take to fellow musicians and fans for help. The result is a 20-song album called Army Of Me, featuring cover versions and remixes of her most popular song. The results range from electro-punk to country twang. And with all proceeds going directly to UNICEF, you can rock out knowing you\'ve helped in some small way.

THE GRADE: A

- Wayne Chinsang

VARIOUS ARTISTS - IMPEACH THE PRECEDENT (Kajmere Sound Distribution)

The official sequel to 1999’s aptly titled The Funky Precedent is a mix on a mission: revolution, through funk, true soul, and hip-hop. It’s the spirit of the raised-fist Sixties, with the fire of 2005, courtesy of everyone from DJ Shortkut and Roy C. Hammond to Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.

THE GRADE: A+

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

VCR - VCR (SideOneDummy)

Das Bork says to me, \"This is the weirdest music, ever.\" Yes, Bork. Yes, it is.

THE GRADE: B-

- Sal Swayzo

Z-TRIP - SHIFTING GEARS (Hollywood Records)

Sometimes you just want to have fun listening to a record. That’s why the first half of Shifting Gears is as good as gold. The second half gets a little more serious, though, and after a whole half of fun, the comparative darkness is a little harder to get through. That is, until you get to Grandmaster Caz’s closing speech.

THE GRADE: B

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

ZZZ - SOUND OF ZZZ (Howler Records)

zZz is the best new shit I\'ve heard all year. This duo from Amsterdam have created a sound so unique, I can\'t put my finger on one second of one song, let alone their sound as a whole. Consisting solely of drum, vocals, and heavy organ work, zZz is like The Black Keys, with the crunching guitar replaced by sweet, grinding organ.

THE GRADE: A

- Wayne Chinsang

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Compiled by the staff of TLC

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vol 7 - issue 09 (may 2005)

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