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RE: VIEWS (LISTEN)

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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.

 


 

Void of even one boring second of sound, Alice Smith is my new favorite singer lady on this beautiful planet. She\'ll get the Macy Gray and Lauryn Hill comparisons because they\'re easy to make, but Smith seems much more grounded than the former, and a little more playful than the latter. I could go on and on about her beautiful voice, the sexy beats, and the great instrumentation, but instead I\'ll just say this: For Lovers, Dreamers, And Me is my favorite disc of 2006 so far. And the tracks \"Woodstock\" and \"Gary Song\" are fighting each other for the \"best song\" slot.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Wayne Chinsang

 


 

Pretty violins, pianos, male and female vocals... what\'s not to love? I love that they sing about Judy Garland. (Her life was a tragic mess.) This music is really different from anything I know of; almost like a theater musical or an opera. It\'s really laid back and melodic. Take a chance on this if you\'re a chance taker.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Eric Adkison

 

APATHY - EASTERN PHILOSOPHY (Babygrande Records)

 

Damn... I don’t know what’s better: the production, or the rhyming. Lyrically and musically, Apathy possess the kind of skills that remind you why you fell in love with hip-hop in the first place. (Too bad my listening experience was ruined by the \"for press use only\" drops. The music industry makes me sad sometimes.) I\'m glad the full-length is finally here.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

ARIEL KALMA - OSMOSE (Beta-lactam Ring Records)

 

Yay! Something to listen to while I do my yoga! (Yes, I do yoga. Shut up!) The undertone of outdoor sounds-- such as crickets and other bugs-- appears on every song. Organs, flutes, saxophones, and vintage drum machines all appear on this CD, too. There\'s just a really calming, relaxing feeling to this album, where you can isolate yourself and find your balance.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Eric Adkison

 


 

In my opinion, greatest hits collections are kind of pointless, in that the only people who would buy one of these collections are people who are already big fans of the group and already own the individual albums. And this disc seems extra pointless because two greatest hits albums for Blondie have already been released. Of course, this release does include a few previously unreleased songs, like remixes of \"In The Flesh\" and \"Good Boys\", and a bizarre hybrid track called \"Rapture Riders\", which mixes Blondie\'s \"Rapture\" with The Doors\' \"Riders On The Storm\". Don\'t get me wrong: this disc isn\'t bad, as I like almost every song on it. But you just really need to ask yourself if it was a necessary collection, a fresh Rock \'N\' Roll Hall of Fame induction or not.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Wayne Chinsang

 

BUZZCOCKS - FLAT-PACK PHILOSOPHY (Cooking Vinyl Records)

Flat-Pack Philosophy is the eighth studio album by longtime punk rockers the Buzzcocks. Founding members Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle hit the ground running almost thirty years ago, and their latest album shows no signs that they are slowing down. Although many may scoff at the pop-punk genre, the Buzzcocks have paid their dues and have the chutzpa to pull it off.

THE GRADE: A-

- James Dolata

 

COULIER - VIBIN\' (Stickfigure/Poop Duty)

 

A prog-fest of stop/start chugs and spacy intent that is thoroughly enjoyable. It gets a ratings upgrade from a B to a B+ for having naked girls on the front. Yeah, I’m that shallow.

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- Night Watchman

 

DJ FIVE AND PIZZO - DJ FIVE AND PIZZO PRESENT: BACKPACK THUGS (HipHopSite)

 

If you just plain love hip-hop, you’ll dig this megamix. Pizzo and DJ Five take their favorite underground and commercial hip-hop songs, mix them up, and present an album of reworks that has 50 Cent rhyming over Atmosphere\'s \"Smart Went Crazy\", and Ying Yang Twins doing their \"Whisper Song\" over Danger Doom\'s \"Mince Meat\". But the dopest of all? Atmosphere spitting \"Watch Out\" over the catchiest beat of 2005: Amerie’s \"One Thing\".

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

DOUBLE & M DUBB - DOUBLE & M DUBB PRESENT: BEST KEPT SECRET - VOLUME 2 (Self-Released)

 

Jimmy Jesus God! Double can\'t stop making mixtapes! It seems like every time I get mail I\'m getting a new disc from him. Luckily, he hasn\'t disappointed yet. This volume feels a bit more dark and serious than his previous work. But don\'t let that fool you because, while he\'s good at his craft, you get the feeling that he still doesn\'t take it or himself too seriously. And because of Double\'s ability to laugh at himself, we\'re left with both a good and fun mixtape. The samples chosen are perfect, the production is hot, and the flow is unstoppable. Be sure to check back here next month, because by then Double will probably have made eight more albums.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Wayne Chinsang

 

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL - DEATH BY SEXY (Downtown Records)

 

What? No skinny kids dying their hair black and whining about some high school crush they had that fell apart? Fuck no! This is whisky, titties, and awesome! It\'s the kind of record more rock bands would make if they weren’t such fucking pussies. And it ends with-- can I call it a gospel hymn? Because that’s what it sounds like, all things considered.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 


 

The legendary X singer has created a great new punk album with her Original Sinners. Sev7en contains the sound that made Exene a legend, with tones of rockabilly and classic country.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Sal Swayzo

 

EYES OF FIRE - PRISONS (Century Media Records)

 

When your life turns to shit, turn this on... and up! Songs like \"Dead To The World\" and \"Blood\" can really be uplifting and spiritual! This music makes me want to tear my own face off, put it on top of yours, and then make out. This is metal!

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Eric Adkison

 

FOLLY - RESIST CONVENIENCE (Triple Crown Records)

 

This CD makes me wish I didn\'t make fun of those kids at school who listen to hardcore. I secretly like it. Every song on this CD was a kick in the eye. In the world of hardcore, I think that\'s good. Even though I liked this, I will still make fun of the testosterone windmill boys at shows like this.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Eric Adkison

 

GHOSTIGITAL - IN COD WE TRUST (Ipecac Records)

 

An Icelandic body wardrobed in a fury of disco and Eighties\' synth, bedazzled with frequent spurts of jackhammers.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Bethany Shady

 

GREGOR SAMSA - 55:12 (The Kora Records)

 

This is an unbelievably beautiful record-- the kind of lush, atmospheric music that brings inevitable comparisons to bands like Sigur Ros and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. But Gregor Samsa is less weird and more grounded than the former, and more emotionally diverse than the latter.

 

THE GRADE: A+

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

HEM - NO WORD FROM TOM (Waveland Records)

 

Hem is a collection of traditional American music backed with an orchestra, fronted by a beautifully talented female vocalist. The arrangements of No Word From Tom are sure to inspire you throughout your day.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Sal Swayzo

 

IAN LOVE - IAN LOVE (Limekiln Records)

 

This music is so pleasant, it’s hard to find anything wrong with it. The best description I can give is that the music feels like the CD packaging looks: a dusty aqua background with some nice collage of a person in saddle shoes, an airplane, a Victorian woman’s head, and, of course, tigers.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Fphatty Lamar

 

IN FLAMES - COME CLARITY (Ferret Music)

 

What has to happen to a child while they’re growing up that, when they become an adult, they decide to write screamo metal songs with such aggressive rage?

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Bethany Shady

 

JUNKIE XL - TODAY (Ultra Records)

 

I got one of them new Sirius Satellite radios, and sometimes-- when I get sick of listening to the Top 40 selection that infects even the more \"alternative\" stations-- I\'ll turn on the \"techno\" station just to zone out and drive. I do actually enjoy it, but sometimes I wish the music had more substance than it does. That channel (Area 33, by the way) should play Junkie XL\'s album over and over and over. Hypnotic, driving beats are all fine and good, but damn it\'s nice to have some other more interesting elements, just as Today does. Props from the Prophet.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Neogeo the Prophet

 

JUSTIN BECKLER - WAKE UP PROCESS (Ultra Records)

 

I listened to this over and over when I got it. Mostly because it was reminding me of something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Then it hit me. Sometimes, it’s all those well-crafted pop albums my mom would play me when I was little. But other times-- most times-- it was just a singer/songwriter who has his own style and sound, and utilizes them very well.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

LYLAS - LESSONS FOR LOVERS (Fictitious Records)

 

Lylas\' press release has this line in it: \"...suggests a soundtrack to a musical written by Morrissey and performed by Belle and Sebastian.\" Yeah. Well, Morrissey is a god to me, and just because some band sings sadly romantic songs in a way that makes you feel better doesn\'t mean they\'re as good as the Mozzer. However, Lylas does give the boys from Belle and Sebastian a run for their money. It\'s folk influenced, Elliot Smith-esque, and totally worth a listen.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Neogeo the Prophet

 

MARIA TAYLOR - 11:11 (Saddle Creek Records)

 

She’s sweet. She’s honest. She’s reflective and soothing. She’s Maria Taylor (of Azure Ray fame). Throw 11:11 in your player and be prepared to find your sensitive side-- but without any saccharin-sweet lyrics to choke on.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Fphatty Lamar


MC LARS - THE GRADUATE (Horris Records)

MC Lars\' full-length debut features the recent Stanford graduate sampling everything from Iggy Pop to the Tetris theme while rapping about Moby Dick, downloading music, and the questionable integrity of Hot Topic stores. The clever lyrics and diverse beats create a thoroughly varied and entertaining album. Quite simply, buy this album. Buy it now!

THE GRADE: A+

- James Dolata

 

MONDAY MORNING - FOOL\'S PARADISE (Selectric Records)

 

Time to bash Christian rock! I can’t wait! Monday Morning is just another boy band with guitars, trying to act like they are deeper than thou because they worship Jesus. Do Christian rockers really think God has such shitty taste? I for one know God is totally listening to Tom Waits or Nick Cave, and not your shitty album, Monday Morning.

 

THE GRADE: C-

 

- Sal Swayzo

 

MR. ANONYMOUS - MR. ANONYMOUS (KAB America)

 

I like albums with good stories behind them. This one follows original The Samples drummer Jeep MacNichol (best name ever) to Jamaica on a mission to record an album of creative, fun party music with his reggae heroes. The guest list on this thing is an eclectic \"who\'s who\" of the genre (and others), including English Beat\'s Dave Wakeling, Barrington Levy, dub legends Sly & Robbie, and the incomparable DJ Swamp.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS - STEPFATHER (Basement Records)

 

I\'ve always liked P.U.T.S. because of their consistency. Every album is excellent, and displays their unparalleled ability to rock a style at once old school, yet still totally their own. But this album takes the cake. They continue on with what they\'re best at, but add a slightly more progressive lean. Not in an OutKast kind of way; more in a Miles Davis kind of way. And check out a very fresh cameo from the grand pooh-bah of funk, George Clinton.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

POLYSICS - NOW IS THE TIME! (Tofu Records)

 

Polysics confirm my belief that the Japanese are mystical and magical, and also completely insane. They call themselves \"Technicolor pogo punk\" or \"Devo-inspired new wave techno punk\". Now Is The Time! will drive you insane... so insane that you will actually enjoy it.

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- Sal Swayzo

 


 

When I was seventeen and had all my youthful energy, I was drawn to bands that infused me with even more energy. Bands like Pennywise or Bad Religion had a seemingly natural potency. And while their songs weren\'t the most popular in the mainstream, they became my anthems. Enter: Ryan\'s Hope. Even though I\'m older now and don\'t have the same energy, this band makes me feel that same way. These guys are simply good. Power, energy, and talent. There couldn\'t be a better combination. Fucking fantastic job, fellas.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Neogeo the Prophet

 


 

You know that girl at the bar with the long stringy hair and the Skynyrd shirt who always dances funky? Well, this is what she would listen to! It\'s rock \'n\' roll from another time that blares like a siren and stings like a bee. Let\'s trip!

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Eric Adkison

 

SOME BY SEA - ON FIRE! (IGLOO) (SideCho Records)

 

This band sounds a lot like The Postal Service, but without the synth. It blends a more natural melody with piano and cello. Even so, the vocals are comparable to The Postal Service, and the lyrics are poetic, thoughtful, and sometimes quirky. It\'s a breezy little pop composition-- nice for a Sunday drive (or not, if you drive like me).

 

THE GRADE: B+

 

- Neighbor Girl

 

TALKDEMONIC - BEAT ROMANTIC (Arena Rock Recording Company)

 

Lucky for me, almost everything that comes into the office goes past me first. Otherwise, I may never have heard Talkdemonic. This Portland-based duo makes some of the most interesting music to enter my ears in awhile. Kevin O’Connor lays down a thick field of sound-- playing everything from drums to banjo to accordion-- and then Lisa Molinaro rests beautiful viola compositions on top of it all. A beautiful creation of instrumental hip-hop, neo-folk, and indie-rock classical, these two are responsible for not just a good album, but also a new sound.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Wayne Chinsang
 

 


 

I love me some Talking Heads! Let me rephrase that: I love me some David Byrne! So when I found out that all eight albums were being remastered and reissued in a Dual Disc flip format, I was excited. Usually I\'m not into reissues, but in addition to some great digital remastering-- which does sound amazing on my stereo-- you get a nice amount of new stuff. True Stories comes with three bonus tracks, and the DVD side features music videos for \"Wild Wild Life\" and \"Love For Sale\". Naked comes with one bonus track, and the DVD side features music videos for \"Blind\" and \"Sax And Violins\". And both discs feature 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Stereo Surround Sound versions of the albums on the DVD side. And those sound even better than the CD side. Oooo... yummy. So while I don\'t agree with most album reissues, this one gets my shining stamp of approval. Whatever that\'s worth.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Wayne Chinsang

 

THE ARK - STATE OF THE ARK (EMI/Virgin)

 

Definitely radio hits... fun, Queenish. I bet the stage performance would rule. Glam rock!

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Bethany Shady

 

THE CAMPBELLS - POUND ON YOUR BOXES (Wall of Spikes Studio)

 

J. Campbell (the group\'s namesake) spent seven summers on an Indian reservation in South Dakota. It\'s the idea that Pound On Your Boxes addresses issues connected to his time there that makes the disc interesting. So, conceptually, the right idea is there. But the band\'s sounds are very much the sum of who they are inspired by (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Buffalo Tom, R.E.M.) and not much more.

 

THE GRADE: B-

 

- Fphatty Lamar

 

THE CRASH DAVIS SPECTACULAR - THE CRASH DAVIS SPECTACULAR (Self-Released)

 

This is the album you have to play when your robots get out of line and you want to calm them down. An album of songs so symphonic in their funkiness, you start to wonder if they’re actually scores to a bunch of really dope movies you missed. \"How I Try\" and \"Headfirst\" are easily my favorite original compositions, but the remixes included are equally robo-fresh. Email Crash here and tell him you have $8 for your very own copy.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts





THE HOLY FIRE - IN THE NAME OF THE WORLD (The Militia Group)

Detroit trio The Holy Fire\'s In The Name Of The World stands out with its intensely raw sound, which surprisingly doesn’t cross over into abrasive. Almost every song on this EP could potentially be a single, as it finds a way to remain gritty while producing hooks that could easily generate mass appeal.

THE GRADE: A-

- James Dolata




 

THE LITTLE WILLIES - THE LITTLE WILLIES (Milking Bull Records/EMI)

 

It opens with one of the sweetest covers of Fred Rose\'s \"Roly Poly\" I\'ve ever heard, and continues on respectably paying homage to an era of country music not heard enough these days. \"It\'s Not You, It\'s Me\" is the best of the originals, and if the female vocalist sounds a lot like Norah Jones to you, that’s probably because it is.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 


 

This is nostalgic Eighties with enough modern sound to not sound like a total Eighties repeat. This is Devo and Talking Heads-inspired music with dynamic guitars and keyboards.

 

THE GRADE: B

 

- Sal Swayzo

 


 

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a live album where the crowd is so loud that they should be listed as a band member. But it’s not a post-production trick. It’s just testament to the international influence and legacy this band’s had in its decades-long existence. A legacy especially appreciated outside of these Clear-Channeled United States. Even with a slew of new members replacing some of the originals (sadly lost to time), the band sounds as sharp and feisty as they did all those many years ago.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 

THE WEEPIES - SAY I AM YOU (Nettwerk Records)

 

Awww, this duet just makes you want to skip through a spring meadow while carrying an armful of orphaned kittens. They\'re that cute. Not in a nauseating way either, but in a perfectly talented sort of way. The music is clean and refreshing, and the vocals are \"innocent folk\" at its best.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Fphatty Lamar

 

TWO GALLANTS - WHAT THE TOLL TELLS (Saddle Creek Records)

 

This isn’t folk music. Fuck folk music. This is a goddamn thunderstorm-- frequent, brutally loud displays of violent, majestic crashing, balanced by the calm, soothing peace of dark skies and rainfall. Two men, nine songs, and a far more superior listening experience than most rock records made today.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 


 

Dave Chappelle is a walking Make-A-Wish Foundation. I mean, I know it’s his dream concert, but to see all these artists on the same stage is my dream come true, too. Pulled from the musical half of the same-named documentary (minus all traces of Kanye), Dave Chappelle’s Block Party soundtrack features some of the most noteworthy performances, including The Roots doing \"Boom!\" with Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap; Mos Def and Talib Kweli as Black Star; Mighty Mos doing \"Umi Says\" with Fred Hampton, Jr.; and Jill Scott and Erykah Badu sharing the mic on \"You Got Me...\" My only gripe is that I didn\'t get a ticket to the actual show.

 

THE GRADE: A+

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 


 

El Canto De Las Sirenas... just saying the name will put you in the mood to listen to this collection of Latin torch songs. Most of the tracks make you feel like you’re strolling through Latin America with Carmen Miranda herself. It’s a great album filled mostly with songs that ooze a smoldering kind of class. There are a few that are a bit too modern for my taste-- too smooth. But overall, it’d be a great addition to any music collection.

 

THE GRADE: A-

 

- Fphatty Lamar

 


 

This isn\'t the soul music you can hear on your local FM oldies station. This is the stuff you listen to before you fall asleep, so you can wake up cooler than Don Cheadle! The stuff that compels even the most rhythmically deficient among us to dance as if the legs of James Brown were suddenly attached to their bodies! The stuff that appeared when God said: \"Let their be funky.\"

 

THE GRADE: A+

 

- Vinnie Baggadonuts

 


 

Sub City Records have released a great volume of their annual compilation Take Action! This two-disc set contains the hottest bands of pop-punk, emo, and hardcore. Five percent of the suggested retail price goes to the Kristin Brooks Hope Center, which works to raise mental health awareness and give hope to people in crisis.

 

THE GRADE: A

 

- Sal Swayzo

 

WE ARE THE FURY - INFINITE JEST (Unborn Media Records)

 

Somewhere between Bowie and Ima Robot, We Are The Fury are kicking ass and taking prisoners. This EP gives just a glimpse of what this band has to offer, and it will leave you wanting more.

 

THE GRADE: A-

 

- Night Watchman

THE ABOVE REVIEWS ARE WEB-EXCLUSIVE. BUT YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO ORDER PRINT ISSUE #8, WHICH CONTAINS A TON OF OTHER REVIEWS, AND MORE!

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Compiled by the staff of TLC
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Above image by <A HREF='http://www.ellagraph.com' target='_blank'><u><b>Kathrine Berger</b></u></A>
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issue
vol 8 - issue 07 (mar 2006)
section
entertainmental
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