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RE: VIEWS (LISTEN)

admin
22 December 2023


 


 

The hardest working crew in showbusiness is back with the next chapter in the book that is the Atmosphere catalog. You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having is what happens when a highly underrated storyteller and his highly underrated producer get together and just plain do what they do for the love of doing it. And it shows.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

BLACKALICIOUS - THE CRAFT (Quannum / Anti)

 

If you consider musicians like David Bowie, Miles Davis, or Marvin Gaye artists and innovators, you should start listening to Blackalicious. Like the afforementioned legends, Chief Xcel and Gift of Gab aren’t content following a formula in search of a hit. They just genuinely want to make good music, expand their capabilities, and challenge the medium they’re in. Every album is an experience, not just a listening session. And The Craft is their latest progressive next step en route to ranking right up there with the artists who changed music for the better.

 

THE GRADE: A+

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts
 


 

These fellas from Denmark make their United States debut with this, a disc of eleven songs that you\'ll find yourself shamelessly rocking out to. It\'s not the most groundbreaking music in the history of sound, but there is something quite addictive about this rock, kind of in the same way everyone loves that Franz Ferdinand song... or heroin. If you pick it up don\'t expect it to change the way you think about music, but do expect it to not leave your CD player for awhile. And since it\'s a DualDisc, you\'re not only gonna get the music, but also eleven music videos (one for each song) and a \"making of\" photo gallery.

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- Wayne Chinsang
 

CAGE - HELL’S WINTER (Definitive Jux)

 

Fuck a sophmore slump. Cage took his art to a next level, and has become a ridiculously fierce storyteller. Hell’s Winter is a nice novel to listen to, and the soundtrack’s got enough big guns to give the album balance (El-P, Rjd2, Jello Biafra and DJ-fucking-Shadow).

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts
 

CONCOMBRE ZOMBIE - DAYLIGHT COMES (Hairball 8 Records)

 

This psychobilly Austin trio likes to take psychobilly to new places. These guys add a heavy and death metal sound to their nightmarish, trance-like songs. This band certainly puts the \"psycho\" in psychobilly.

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- Sal Swayzo
 

CRANES - PARTICLES AND WAVES (Manifesto Records)

 

Oh my gosh, this is prettiness at it’s finest! Cranes\' Ali Shaw’s child-like voice is so out of this fucking world! I found this classic-influenced album so stirring that I used the track “Astronauts” in one of my video artworks (and then heard it on an American Express commercial).

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Hellkat
 

DIRTY THREE - CINDER (Anchors & Hope)

 

Instrumental albums usually bore me, since I have a small kitty brain. This freaking gorgeous record, however, is an exception. One moment I would roll over and let it rub my belly, the next I was dancing on the furniture. Bonus track: Chan Marshall’s vocal appearance on track 10.

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- Hellkat
 

IMOGENE - IMOGENE (Self-released)

 

Come on and get funky with Imogene! This CD is really uh, well, groovy. Its really laid back, but heavy enough to keep you interested. When you play this CD, sit in a room with shag carpet and turn on the lava lamps.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Eric Adkison
 

LE TIGRE - THIS ISLAND REMIXES (Chick on Speed Records)

 

Le Tigre breathes some more new life once again into their phenomenal album from last year, This Island. The remixes features some of the best songs from the album: \"TKO,\" \"After Dark,\" and \"Nanny Nanny Boo Boo\".

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Sal Swayzo
 

LINDA PERRY - IN FLIGHT (Kill Rock Stars)

 

A moving collection of tunes from the former Four Non-Blonde-turned-producer. Perry’s smoky voice makes me think of Bloodletting-era Johnette Napolitano, and believe me, that’s a good thing.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Night Watchman
 

LIZ PHAIR - SOMEBODY’S MIRACLE (Capitol Records)

 

Liz Phair makes up for her 2003 self-titled album with her fifth release, Somebody\'s Miracle. Her classic sound returns here, picking up perfectly where whitechocolatespaceegg left off. With that being said, I can\'t help but miss her piss-and-vinegar attitude of yesteryear, when she\'d talk about being a nympho and getting eaten out, instead of reassuring someone that they can count on her love.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Wayne Chinsang
 

MEST - PHOTOGRAPHS (Maverick Records)

 

Tattooed California pop punk at its finest! Awesome, soulful lyrics that are really catchy and play on in your mind after the CD has ended. This album has a fire to it that screams at you,  \"live, before your life is over!\"

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Erik Adkison
 

MINISTRY - RANTOLOGY (Sanctuary Music Group)

 

Instead of releasing a greatest hits compilation, Al Jourgensen updates and remixes some of Ministry\'s best tunes. Consider it the ultimate \"I hate George W. Bush\" album, as Al mixes in new \"W\" samples and noises, as well as a preview of their upcoming album in the form of “The Great Satan.” Hrmmm, I wonder who he’s talking about there?

 

THE GRADE: A-

 

- Night Watchman
 


 

To honestly enjoy this music you have to qualify as 2 of 3 things:

 

1. A super Misfits fanatic!

 

2. One who is ultra-fond of 1960s television theme songs.

 

3. Have the purest love for the truly bizarre.

 

WARNING: If you are seriously NOT 2 of the previous stated 3 you will certainly hate this.

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- El Serrucho
 

MORCHEEBA - THE ANTIDOTE (The Echo Label)

 

This is one of those situations where you just say to yourself, “Damn, that sucks!” Although this album still has Morcheeba’s groovy music, they’ve unfortunately replaced the tranquil and succulent voice of Skye Edwards with someone new. Sky’s voice was Morcheeba. Now it’s something different; something just not as good. Damn, that sucks.

 

THE GRADE: B-

 

- Bethany Shady



 

MUGISON - MUGIMAMA, IS THIS MUSIC? (Ipecac)


Man, there must be something in the water over in Iceland. If you can imagine Tom Waits meeting Beck to make a sort of country album with Radiohead producing, you may get just an inkling of what this album is like. Unfortunately, that description only scratches the surface. By far the most original album I’ve heard in a long time. It’s experiments and chance taking are grounded in great songs with real emotion. Utterly amazing.


THE GRADE: A+


- Night Watchman




MY MORNING JACKET - Z (ATO Records)


My Morning Jacket\'s Z is a vital addition to my 2005 music collection. Cosmic, creative, infectious and unique, this album forms remarkable musical landscapes that can only be achieved by the most exceptional artists. Highly recommended for the serious indie music fan.


THE GRADE: A


- Hellkat




PILOTDRIFT - WATER SPHERE (Good Records Recordings)

 

Pilotdrift is what would happen it Thom Yorke, Combustible Edison, Danny Elfman, and Mike Patton had a baby that grew up and composed the score to a Frank Oz movie.

 

THE GRADE: A-

 

- Fphatty Lamar
 

PUPY COSTELLO & HIS BIG CITY HONKY TONK - BEER DRINKING SONGS (Self-released)

 

This Madison, Wisconsin-based band of hillbillies handles shit-kicker country better than all of the pansy-ass contemporary country singers out there today. This ain\'t no Garth Brooks, folks. This is Hank Williams... drunk on PBR... and on a bender. Filled with some originals and covers of classics, Beer Drinking Songs is a boot-stompin\' good time. Yee-haw!!!

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Wayne Chinsang





 

RYAN SHUPE & THE RUBBER BAND - DREAM BIG (Good Records Recordings)

 

I had no idea who the band was until I was about to listen to the album, and realized that this group already has a song playing on the radio. \"Dream Big\" (the radio song) is slower than the bulk of the tunes, but has a great beat. The rest of the album is alright-- sort of a mix between country and soft rock. The songs are easy flowing, smooth and mellow.

 

THE GRADE: A-

 

- Rachel Vogel
 


 

A lot of bands these days are struggling to create that \"80\'s\"synthesizer dance sound, but She Wants Revenge puts an almost gothic spin on poppy \'80s music that makes you want to dance till you\'re drenched in sweat.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Bethany Shady
 

SI SE - MORE SHINE (Fuerte Records)

 

Ohhh, this is interesting. More Shine sounds very nice all around. Although its pace makes the album feel a little clubby, the delightful use of instruments (viola, bass, and a variety of percussion) keep the songs from blending together. Si*Sé has come up with something that makes you want to pay attention, rather than let your music fade into the background.

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- Fphatty Lamar
 

SPLASH - THE RIPPLE EFFECT (Amp Records)

 

Hopefully, the fact that 9th Wonder produced most of this album won’t overshadow the fact that Splash is a damn good MC. The kind of good that makes your brain feel smarter, and your soul feel fed. This is where the Native Tongue torch got passed.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts
 


 

Every other CD that falls in my lap is either a genre revivalist record, sounds like another band, or is a cover album. Stellastarr did well to continue this trend. Nevertheless, I still rocked my body out to it. If you like the over-the-top hipster bands and worship the splendor that once was the crazy \'80s, buy the CD and relive your destiny.

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- Hellkat
 


 

It would be hard to believe that a Suicide Girl wouldn’t already have all these tracks, including “Cities in Dust” by Siouxsie and “One Hundred Years” by the Cure. But these were hand picked by Dave Ogilvie, and the disc includes “VX Gas Attack” by Skinny Puppy and a cover of the Sister’s of Mercy classic “Lucretia” by Alkaline Trio, so really, how can you go wrong. Did I mention a Suicide Girl’s poster inside? Sold!

 

THE GRADE: A-

 

- Night Watchman
 

THE CANKLES - GODDAMN!! (Shinfoot Records)

 

Man, I\'m very grateful to my good friend Ryan Waxenberg of FormulaWerks for sending me this disc by The Cankles, because it\'s one of my favorites of 2005. Blending hip-hop, funk, and rock into one ten-track gem, this sextet is responsible for creating more sound than... well, almost anyone really. Parts are smooth and melodic like RJ. Others are fast-paced and grooved out like Z-Trip. But all of it, and I do mean all of it, is amazing.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Wayne Chinsang
 

THE KISSERS - GOOD FIGHT (Skeptic Rock Records)

 

This Celtic-rock quintet’s Good Fight is a mixture of rocked-out traditional Irish songs, and opinionated, but fun, original tunes. Starting out as a Pogues cover band, they\'ve evolved into their own and continued to make great music on this second album.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Sal Swayzo
 

THE MUTTS - LIFE IN DIRT (Fat Cat Records)

 

Being only in my late 20s, I missed out on bands like New York Dolls, X, and The Ramones in their hey day. That is why I am glad that The Mutts exist.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Sal Swayzo

THE TOSSERS - THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH (Victory Records)


You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll stop comparing them to The Pogues, because they’ve transcended that with this record. The Valley of the Shadow of Death is catchy, passionate, and just beat up most of the records I thought were the best of the bunch this year.


THE GRADE: A


- Vinnie Baggadonuts




VIVA K - VIVA K (Stinky Records)

 

I’ve never heard anything quite like this record. Dude, it’s Middle Eastern rock-out sexy! I never thought that sitars and punk guitars were so hot! Don’t even get me started on her voice!!!!! I definitely have to add this to my “listen while you\'re fucking someone” collection.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Hellkat
artid
3353
byline
Compiled by the staff of TLC
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Header design by <A HREF='http://www.ellagraph.com' target='_blank'><u><b>Kathrine Berger</b></u></A>
Old Image
8_2_listen_header.jpg
issue
vol 8 - issue 02 (oct 2005)
section
entertainmental
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