Bite Me! CD Reviews G - R

Gemini Five – Babylon Rockets (Deadline)

If you miss the glory days of the Sunset Strip, Gemini Five will help you relive those memories via their latest release, Babylon Rockets.  Their music is sleazy, dirty, gritty rock n’ roll, and they even sport glam rock names like Tin Star, Hot Rod, Slim Pete & Snoopy.  You also get lots of tatts, eyeliner, and skin tight leather pants.  Oh weee, these boys have the glam rock look and the cock-rock sleaziness down.  Thankfully, they are a bit manlier.  You go boys.  Their sound is reminiscent of bands like Mötley Crüe, L.A. Guns, Faster Pussycat, and Hanoi Rocks and they even have the obligatory ballad.  Need I say more?  Oh yeah, the Swedish quartet also do a great cover of Dead Or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)”.  Babylon Rockets is one smoking hot disc of debauchery.  -NIN

Heiston Rifle – What To Do At Time Of Accident (Ernest Jenning Record Co.) 1/4

NY’s Heiston Rifle is not your ordinary band.  This foursome delivers their music via their instruments.  There are no vocals to be found and none are needed.  The melodic noise that drifts from your speakers is deep, unorthodox, and sonically advanced.  The group’s progressive and creative infusions drift from dreamy to heavy in one sweeping movement.  What To Do At Time Of Accident is nothing but 50 minutes of dark, musical tension.  -NIN

Ikon – Destroying The World To Save It (Static Sky Records) 3/4

Born out of the ashes of Death In The Dark comes Australia’s Ikon, which features Chris McCarter, Dino Molinaro, and Clifford Ennis.  This gothic darkwave unit is reminiscent of bands like Bauhaus and New Order.  On occasion, vocalist Chris sounds a bit like Peter Murphy, which is a plus.  Overall, Destroying The World To Save It isn’t overly stellar, but it does offer a few pleasant surprises.  Highlights: “Psychic Vampire” and “Father of Lies”  -NIN

Institute – Distort Yourself (Interscope)

It’s nice to see Gavin back in action.  The ex-Bush frontman avoids the pop route and comes on strong with this sonic and emotionally intense offering.  Distort Yourself begins with the ambitious “Bullet Proof Skin”, which gives way to the grunge heavy “Come on Over”.  The crushing “When Animals Attack,” the complex “Wasteland,” and the beautiful “Ambulances” are noteworthy tunes, as is “The Heart of Your Love”.  Rossdale’s distinctive vocals and razor sharp riffs compliment Institute’s heavy stripped down sound, which calls to mind Helmet (this can be attributed to the fact that Page Hamilton produced a majority of the album).  The band is rounded out by guitarist Chris Traynor (Helmet), bassist Cache Tolman, and drummer Charlie Walker.  Their intelligent craftsmanship makes for a fierce, straightforward rock album that delivers catchy songs with plenty of oomph.  Distort Yourself is heavy enough to appeal to those who like their music on the aggressive side yet tuneful enough for those who like to sing along to their favorite songs. -NIN

Jamison Parker – Sleepwalker (Interscope) 3/4

Remember Savage Garden? Well, this isn’t it.  The duo—comprised of Jamison Covington & Parker Case (hence Jamison Parker)—may look like they are a little late jumping on the S.G. band wagon, but their romantic pop sentiments state a different agenda.  A better comparison would be All American Rejects, but even that isn’t fair.  Sleepwalker is filled with bright and breezy pop hooks, but it’s the grandiose melodies and swelling harmonies that suggest this album was written with the hopeless romantic in mind.  Let’s just say that “Here’s Everything I’ve Always Mean to Say” is so sweet it will make you vomit, and “Emergency Room Romantic” says it all.  Perfectionists at heart, Jamison & Parker spent hours in the studio finding the perfect tones and textures for their creative offering.  I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who will appreciate the duo’s keen commitment to song structure.  -NIN

Marathon (Reignition Recordings) 1/2

Aren't Marathon already big label stars? Haven't I heard them in heavy rotation on Modern Rock & Pop stations for the last couple of years? I've heard this CD played from cars filled with teenagers all hyped up, particularly when the singer's yelling a perfectly placed "Fuck this, I'm going dancing." That's punk for sure. Am I confusing them with another band I came across on MTV? The performance ... quick, snappy, stuffed with Pop filling, the singers attack, damn I've heard that, haven't I? The singing is perfectly consistent with the avalanche of recent punk singers, I simply can't tell. They certainly got the production right, it's ready for prime time, do they cope the look too?  I honestly can't see what is holding this band back from being as huge as the rest of the recent surge of Power Pop Punk bands. They've got it just right. I kid you not. I'll be looking for them on Cribs soon. -Blava

Meat Beat Manifesto- At the Center (Thirsty Ear Recordings Inc.) 1/2

Artsy, jazzy, eclectic, new age atmospheric, and psychedelic all sum up Meat Beat Manifesto's At the Center.  To fully enjoy, be prepared to be adventurous, open up, and set the proper mood. This CD, without sounding hackney, is truly a journey.  A fan of dub, electronica, jazz, trance & new age could all appreciate the diverse sounds and musical explorations of MBM.  At times, listening is a challenge.  However, on the other hand, the sounds filling the room can bring alive different odd sensations, which stir longing feelings within.  Listen for yourself and realize this is more than just some generic trippy description.  -BLava

Mutant Radio- Crash N Burn (Copy Cats Media)

Mutant Radio…I want to say right off, this CD will become a permanent fixture in my collection.  I instantly wanted to turn up the volume, put the window down, and let it out.  Crash N Burn's got a street feel, yet an air guitar freak can let his hair down, which is a rarity these days.  Yes, the CD fuses rap & rock, which is nothing new.  There are touches of Chili Peppers circa Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic and other parts are Rage Against the Machine, but Mutant Radio take it elsewhere.  It’s street tough for sure with the use of scratching throughout, but Mutant Radio impressed me with their dexterity, strong musical ability, and their top notch sense of melody & soul.  The first two songs "All American Gut" & "Fallen" bleed right into each other.  These tracks are downright foot tapping - more rock than rap, more melody than Detroit beats…I think this is what separates Mutant Radio. You could slide this in with dance tracks and yet its still rocks. This disc will please rockers and rappers - all tough tasks that only real songwriters can tackle, all while keeping their street "cred."  To say the least, Mutant Radio deserves to be heard.  From solid funk rockers such as "Three Feet from Gold," to sing along shuffles like "Where Will You Go," Mutant Radio has got right what a band like Incubus has steered wrong. -Blava

MXPX – Panic (Side One Dummy) 1/4

I’ve never been a huge MXPX fan, but I’ll admit that these guys have a formula that works and they aren’t messin’ with it.  I’ll be honest, out of all their albums (the band already has 6 under their belts) I like Panic best.  Now I’m sure some die hard MXPX fan will give me shit for this but, like I said, I wasn’t a huge fan to begin with.  Panic veers away from the Sesame Street sound of days past and picks up on a more mature level.  The band’s sound is predominately pop punk, but now it is less immature and more confident.  Panic also has a raw, heavy feel, as the band mixes in a little more metal and hardcore punk into the formula.  Maybe it was the group’s venture back to indie land that assisted in their transformation.  Regardless, as a unit they are tighter and more aggressive.  Truth be told, after thirteen years it’s about time MXPX was taken seriously.  -NIN

The Myriad – You Can’t Trust A Ladder (Floodgate Records) 1/2

Back in the day I used to walk into J’s apartment and say, “What da hell is this crap?”  Of course it was something she was reviewing.  Now my guy comes in and says, “Is this the band you hate?”  “Oh, which one would that be my dear?  There are so many.  Are you referring to Muse?”  “No”.  Well, in this instance I was listening to The Myriad, and for the record I don’t hate them or Muse either.  Selectively, The Myriad does bear a slight resemblance to Muse and Interpol.  Their dark alt-pop musings are moody at times and there are plenty of soaring melodies to be found.  If you dig that sort of stuff then pick this disc up.  -NIN

Nural – The Weight of the World (Hopeless) ¾

Strangely, the lead singer of Nural sounds like Cher.  I kid you not.  He does have quite a range, but it really bothered me after I figured this out.  Everything sounded like “Halfbreed”.  So Cher has a guitar-driven rock band with both a Christian and semi-punk meets Lifehouse blend.  There’s some Faith No More in there, but not enough to redeem Cher and Creed.  The kids’ll love it.  And maybe they’ll learn not to go near the serpent!  -J

Paranoid Social Club (Con Entertainment)

Rising from the ashes of Rustic Overtones come Paranoid Social Club.  Vocalist/guitarist Dave Gutter and bassist Jon Roods stumbled across drummer Marc Boisvert and a new union was formed.  Reminiscent of Smash Mouth and Beck, Paranoid Social Club’s cool funk and laid back attitude is perfect for those hot, lazy summer days.  The smooth rhythms give the album an easy going flow.  However, the band’s appeal lies in its ambitious experimentation.  Listen closely and you’ll hear a bit of blues and soul mixed into select tunes.  The song’s themselves are ripe with vivid imagery and comical observations, as seen in “The Cable Hookup”.  A bit of Aerosmith’s bluesy jams creep in on “Evolution”.  This self-titled effort features tracks from the band’s two previous releases in addition to a few new tunes.  Overall, it’s an enjoyable album that features songs that everyone can relate to.  The lyrics are also down right amusing, and the band’s dub-influenced funk rock makes for a good time party album. -NIN

Pennywise – The Fuse (Epitaph) ¾

What is up with Pennywise and the “radio track”?  I swear, every CD they’ve made over the past 5 years has one.  The Fuse is no exception.  It pounds HARD, harder than Pennywise has done in years, and then BAM!  Radio track 7 (with edits, of course).  It totally ruined my rocking out.  I mean, yeah it kind of picks up again (not totally), but can’t they put that crap at the end and let my finish destroying my house first?  -J

Play Pretty for Baby EP (The Agency Records)  ¾

Earnest band Play Pretty for Baby tries to plough the parts of System of a Down that aren’t currently in use.  Play Pretty’s lead vocalist is appropriately growly, off key, yet in the groove while the musicians all back him up solidly.  Songwriting didn’t really do much for me – it didn’t pop or showcase the sum of the band’s parts.  It’s OK, but not great with room for much improvement, but a good start all together.  –J

The Prom Kings (Three Kings ) 1/2

The Prom Kings’ Self-Titled debut is one hell of an impressive debut.  The musicianship is solid and the songs are strong.  The L.A. based unit is quickly making waves in the hard rock community and rightly so.  The band’s self-titled effort mixes in a bit of the best of all the hard rock elements.  It’s a concoction of KoRn, Staind, Papa Roach, Saliva, Muse, and a whole lot of creativity.  You’ll find everything from party-hardy jams to hard rockin’ slammers.  The lyrics are full of real life experiences and gripping imagery.  The songs themselves are memorable and powerful.  The Prom Kings have a sense for what people are looking for.  Highlights: “Birthday,” “Alone,” and “Down” (which features The Game), and “Blow”.  -NIN 

The Pussycat Dolls – PCD (A&M) 1/2

It took the U.S. long enough to come up with an answer to the Spice Girls.  The scary thing is the Spice Girls were more original.  PCD (you couldn’t come up with a better title people?) contains twelve songs.  Two are covers (one which happens to be an awful version of “Tainted Love”) and the other ten sound like they have been done before, or are similar to what the featured guest artist would release on his/her own.  “Beep” features Will.i.am and sounds like it could be a B.E.P. B side, except for the fact that Fergie’s voice is better than all six of theirs combined.  Seriously, don’t bother.  Download “Don’t Cha” off i-tunes and save yourself a few bucks.  -NIN

The Rocket Summer - Hello, Good Friend (The Militia Group) 1/2

I was once a pop music crazed 9 year old, sucked in by the infectious hooks of the Bay City Rollers' “S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y Night” and the saccharine vocals of other pre teen idols such as little Michael Jackson.  I tried to relate while listening to The Rocket Summer's Hello, Good Friend.  I heard some catchy melodies, served up by 20 year old Bryce Avary's pre pubescent tinged vocals.  Still, I wanted to instantly dismiss this CD as another Avril Lavigne packaged just in time for summer vacation with more filler than cotton candy.  However, Avary proves to be more than that though.  Avary plays every instrument on the CD, as well as writing/arranging all the songs.  He also throws the listener a curve ball further into the CD with some funkier than Mall Rock rhythms on "Show Me Everything You Got".  Avary also displays some promising musicianship, as he ends the CD with an instrumental that is much more progressive than the rest of the disc would indicate.  With some maturation, The Rocket Summer could shed some of the teen spirit and become a stronger force.  The talent is evident. -BLava

RU 36 – Dumpster In The Sky (Ten Strip Records) 1/2

This Ministry inspired group makes some noise with their ferocious thrash metal style.  Unusual samples are randomly inserted between songs and the lyrics are vile.  RU 36 is definitely a niche band, as there is no mainstream appeal to be found in Dumpster In The Sky.  The production is a bit muddy and the songs are whack.  I would like to know if they are referring to Alex Zander in “MK Ultra – A Tribute to Yum Chum the Diabetic God of Sugar”.  A bit of Flogging Molly can be heard in “Wake Up You’re Dreaming A Lie”.  To say the least, RU 36’s Dumpster In The Sky is interesting.  -NIN

Rufio – The Comfort Of Home (Nitro) 3/4

It’s great when you can pop the new Rufio CD in your stereo and it sounds like, well, Rufio.  Albeit, the album is a little more straightforward in nature, but the pop punk undertones are still present.  The Comfort Of Home is a solid piece of work that comes compete with the band’s signature melodies and occasional pummeling beats.  “Questions and Answers” is just one in a handful of the melodic punk tunes that are just ripe for radio play.  The Comfort Of Home wins the MTV seal of approval. -NIN