|
Garbage (Interscope)
Honestly,
all this review needs to say is, “You’re a damn fool if you don’t buy this
album.” Beautifulgarbage finds the
electro-pop quartet at the top of their game as they deliver raw, edgy, pop
rock in its finest form. The tunes
that make up this spectacular disc are instantly catchy and memorable thanks
to the group’s employment of dancy tempos and candy-coated choruses. Beautifulgarbage is a brilliant piece of
work that highlights the band’s musical skills and sophisticated studio
techniques while spotlighting Shirley Manson’s impeccable talents as a
lyricist/vocalist. The album is a kaleidoscope
of textures and gestures in which upbeat playful tunes are balanced out by
heavier starker tracks. You’ll fall
in love with this disc right from the get-go with the alluring opener “Shut
Your Mouth.” “Androgyny” is better
than any of that rehashed crap Ms. Spears dishes out, and the hook-laden,
puck rock tinged “Till The Day That I Die” dredges up fond memories of
Garbage’s early days. The lovely Ms.
Manson even exhibits her sensitive side in “Cup of Coffee” and “Drive You
Home,” two tunes that tell tales of love and longing. The 50’s style back-up vocals on “Can’t
Cry These Tears” will take you back to the days of Phil Spector, and the
infectious “Cherry Lips (Go Baby
Go!)” gives off a playful, 80’s new wavish vibe. Without a doubt, this album is great. Garbage has not lost their touch. Beautifulgarbage is full of tasty gems that will sit warm in
your belly. -NIN |
Garrison (Revelation Records)
In Garrison’s Be
A Criminal, a sizzling stream of punk and hard rock snarls right out. The Boston based Revelation Records
artists bang out the straight-ahead rock, led by the dueling assault of
Joseph Grillo and Ed McNamara on vocals and guitar. Backing them on bass guitar and drums are Jason Carlin and J.
Morrissette respectively. Pretty pop
melodies interweave with dark dramatic themes on this mischievous
release. Not only is the album titled
Be A Criminal, the song titles read in order could imply encouraging a murder
plot. In order, the song titles are:
“Recognize an Opportunity”, “Choose A Weapon”, “Know The Locale”, “Focus,
Focus, Focus”, “Commit, Commit, Commit”, “Dump The Body”, “Don’t Feel Bad”,
“Cover The Tracks With Cash”, “Catch Your Breath and Have a Cigarette” and
“Accept What you Have Done, Accept Who You Are”. With lyrics such as “Commit's"
-
“my hands around your throat” and “Dump
The Body’s” - “I could point a finger, but I’d rather point a gun”, I
may be on to something. If I see
Garrison is playing in town, I’d get the fuck out of here. But, then again, who am I to read into
this? Their refreshing hard rock and
power pop melodies that occasionally veer into the dark side make for a very
cool album. - Brendan McMahon
|
Gryp
- Left
Behind (E.P.) (W.Recordings)
Gryp’s Left Behind E.P. doesn’t offer anything revolutionary in the way of aggro
infused metal, but the material on this disc reverberates with a conviction
that commands your attention. Gyrp, a
musical foursome from Fresno, lives by the D.I.Y. code of ethics and has
cultivated a global fan base as a result.
Left Behind is the band’s third communiqué – a teaser before the
release of their debut for W Records.
On Left Behind Gyrp meshes their fierce brand of metal with aggro
and industrial elements. There’s
plenty of punch and fury contained within each tune, but there’s also a good
amount of melody that never sounds out of place. This style is especially evident in “Left Behind,” the band’s
most commercially viable piece that calls to mind the likes of Professional
Murder Music. The quartet’s shinning
moment comes with “Resignation,” a
colossal track that demonstrates the level of destruction that Gryp is fully
capable of. Left Behind may not be
overly stellar but it rocks with a vengeance. -NIN
|
|
Half Empties
- Full
Bore (Out of Step Records)
The Half Empties
have half the equation right. Some
songs will have you pogoing around the room while others will bore you to
tears. The band gets a lot of mileage
out of the same standard four-chord progressions, which at times makes it
difficult to identify some songs from others. The vocals also leave little to be desired, which leads me to
ask, “Why?” -NIN
|
Headstrong (RCA)
Headstrong’s sound
summons hard rock’s emotive energy, hip-hop’s social consciousness, and
melodies that border on pop pleasantries.
The band’s self-titled debut meshes multiple styles of music into a
grand amalgamation of power and substance.
The Canadian outfit’s ability to incorporate unique timing sequences
and various tempo shifts into each tune makes this disc even more interesting. This intriguing album is filled with sticky melodies and
funky rhythms as exhibited in the Rage Against The Machine influenced “Get
In.” “I am For Real” gives
nods to 311, and “Do What You Feel Like” comes across as a ballsier
version of STP. “Open Season”
closes the album out with energy and attitude.
All in all, Headstrong’s self-titled effort grooves from beginning to
end. -NIN |
Hi-Standard - Love is a Battlefield (Fat Wreck Chords)
Hi
Standard writes fun poppy punk songs that aren't for the masses. This 4
song EP should tide fans over until their next full-length release. As
in their last CD Making the Road,
Hi Standard makes great use of their melodies and almost superhuman guitar
sound. If you like melodic punk or Japanese punk, add Hi-Standard to
your collection. -J |
|
Hoobastank (Island Records)
In their self-titled debut this California based quartet deliver their turn-of-the-century modern rock with youthful enthusiasm. The album starts off with “Crawling in the Dark, ” a tune that instantly calls to mind Incubus, so much so, that the average Joe might incorrectly assume it is Incubus. The remainder of the album hints that Hoobastank may have even been cut from the same cloth as Incubus, which isn’t an exaggeration being that both groups formed around the same time and originated in Southern California. And much like Incubus, Hoobastank have a knack for penning honest and emotionally stirring tunes, such as “Running Away,” which has all the makings of a hit single. “Pieces” shakes things up a bit with its jagged riffs and aggressive tone. The band’s most memorable tune is “Ready For You,” which is bursting at the seams with invigorating melody lines and sharp insistent hooks. If you can stomach another Incubus you’ll enjoy what Hoobastank has to offer. -NIN |
Jettingham
Mommy and Daddy have gone away to the Hamptons for the weekend; Let's get Jettingham to play! These lads have ingeniously succeeded in writing just the kind of music that would melt the panties off a lusty seventeen year old who just broke up with her beefcake beau. After I read that their first single “Cheating” had landed them a spot on the American Pie 2 soundtrack, it was all over. Images of drunk chicks, frat guys, and tons of unchaperoned fun filled my mind. How could I picture anything but? Jettingham's peppy upbeat sound makes them the perfect band to express uncontrollable pubescent behavior. If you like happy-go-lucky teen rock, then this is the album for you. Listen for them on KIIS FM ASAP! -CW
|
Kittie
- Oracle (Artemis)
Kittie,
the all-girl Canadian metal outfit, are a far cry from sweet and
innocent. In fact, these ferocious
felines wouldn’t think twice about reaching down your throat and tearing your
heart out, and the proof lies in Oracle. The eleven fiercely intense death
growling tunes that make up this disc spew forth venom with a brutal
passion. These girls don’t know the
meaning of dainty as each track is delivered with a bite that stings. Nothing is safe from Kittie’s razor sharp
claws. Even Pink Floyd’s “Run Like
Hell” is treated to a chugging death metal makeover. If you had any doubts about Kittie’s
authenticity they’ll be squashed after one listen to this post black-metal
offering. -NIN
|
|
Lifer (Republic/Universal)
Lifer
puts on a pretty decent live show; however, the band’s self-titled effort
lacks the creativity needed to set the group apart from all the other
nü-metal acts currently saturating the marketplace. The album lacks oomph and leaves little to
be desired, which is disappointing being that Alex Lifeson produced it. Some songs hint that Lifer is trying to be
the next Tool and when that doesn’t work they turn to rap-rock for
redemption, as seen in “Boring”.
“New” branches off into grunge territory, and “Parade,” which is the
most interesting track on the album, is reminiscent of Danzig meets Limp
Bizkit (two frightful combinations).
Overall, Lifer comes across as a lost puppy. If the quintet can uncover their identity and nail down a
single sound they could be a band that finds success. -NIN |
Liquid
Todd (Right Stuff/EMI)
On
|
Lit – Atomic(Dirty Martini/RCA)
Despite my distaste for the new era of pop punk/rock culture, I actually found this album to be quite tolerable. Frontman Jay Popoff's nasal vocals delivered some seriously "sassy" lyrics. Overall, Atomic is a mix of both the hard and soft sides of Lit. -R-Lo |
|
Living Sacrifice (Solid State/Fly PR)
Living Sacrifice does metal the way a construction worker swings a sledgehammer. I think they're attempting some mixture of Fear Factory and the old Machine Head, without decent vocals (mmmmoooooo-AAAAHHHHHHH) or a double kick. Mix in some good old heavy as fuck solo guitar licks, and mom -- I'm in a band! Technically they're very proficient, but c'mon people. This is way 1995. Get over the past and let's move along, people. Nothing to see here. Oh, I forgot to mention - they're Christian extreme metal! Nice twist. Been done. -J |
Long Beach Dub Allstars (Skunk Records/Dreamworks)
This
is the first album that the Long Beach Dub Allstars have done where I can
truly hear Bradley Nowell's voice on it. His spirit is everywhere
on Wonders of the World - he should have sang "Sunny Hours"
(will.i.am does on this supurb ditty), "Life Goes On",
"Luke", and "It Ain't Easy". Shit. Makes me
sad, when this CD is so good. Nothing much more needs to be said.
-J
|
LostProphets (Columbia)
Take
Korn (who I like), mix them with early nineties UK act The Wonderstuff (who I
freakin’ loved), throw in a little of late 80’s Boston band, New Man (who I
also enjoyed) and you get Welsh sextet Lost Prophets. Vocalist Ian Watkins, guitarist Mike
Lewis, bassist Stuart Richardson, guitarist Lee Gaze, drummer Mike Chiplin
and vocalist/DJ/turntable-ist/sampler Jamie Oliver (all excellent musicians),
bash and pop through eleven songs and four “interludes” on The Fake Sound of
Progress. If these guys put their two
guitars upfront a little more, they would seem much less British and fit
nicely on American hard rock radio formats.
Needless noodling and interchangeable “interludes” slow down this
effort. “Kobrakai,” track five from
Fake Sound tries to rock out and then gets caught up in jazzy rhythms that
again soften their sound. “The
Handsome Life of Swing,” sounding nothing like swing music and everything
like late 90’s rock jumps though the speakers with passionate vocals of Jamie
Oliver.
-Brendan McMahon |
|
Machine Head (Roadrunner Records)
In this corner, wearing Raiders silver & black...Nu-metal! In that corner, wearing blood red with a mean double-kick & industrial/thrash attitude...Machine Head! Let's get ready to rumble! Umph, a punch from Disturbed producer Johnny K. Urgh - the soul of Jonathan Davis enters Machine Head's corner. The winner? Nu-Metal, of course! The loser? Us, the listener. In other words, buy Burn My Eyes, not this pile of regurgitated POD metal "for the kiddies". For the second time this issue, I'm saddened by a good band losing their way. Roadrunner - who's next, Slipknot? Oh yeah, they just sold millions. How about Fear Factory? Oh, wait, FF's last CD was really bad too. And Nickelback? WHY, why?? You bastards! -J |
Mad For The
Racket (MuscleTone Records)
Guitar wanking is an art. It's a serious art. A serious art that has a very niche marketing. Take two guitar legends and smush them together and you should be scared of the results. Imagine if Picasso and Dali decided to make a painting together. The idea of two masters putting their noodles together sounds good on canvas but would the results really be anything more interesting than the idea of the artists' names together? Thankfully, Mad For The Racket is not Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai attempting to out-noodle each other. Instead, we have gritty guitarists Brian James (The Damned) and Wayne Kramer (MC5) duking it out. To their credit, they mostly let one of them guide the ship per song to make it listenable and the solos are certainly worthy, but the songs are over baked and lack that true creative uniqueness you want from an album. The star spangled backup of Stewart Copeland, Duff McKagan, and Clem Burke gives the overall sound solid foundation. -Repojay |
Manipulated Slaves - The Legendary Black Jade (Worldchaos Productions)
|
|
Mayhem
-
US
Legions
(Renegade
Records)
The thing I don’t understand about Mayhem is why they practice some kind of strange southern rebel death metal, but they’re from Norway. It doesn’t make much sense. The boys think that if Satan were a redneck (ha ha), this is what he would listen to? With all this aside, “US Legions” isn’t in too bad of shape. About two-thirds of this release is recorded live during their Grand Declaration of War Tour 2000, and the rest are pre-production studio versions. This is Mayhem’s first release on the newly formed Renegade Records. You may want to hesitate on spending your soda-pop money on this one, kiddies. -Colin Bowel |
Mi6 (Kung Fu Records)
As their Kung Fu bio says, if you don't write amazing songs, you're not on Kung Fu. Once again, that is truly the case with Mi6. Here's the unfortunate part…they sound EXACTLY like The Ataris and Lagwagon. It's not that I can only like 2 bands in the melodic punk genre, but gosh, did it have to be so identical? Damn, they're good though. So I'm torn. Do I like them 'cuz they're good, or do I hate them for being so derivative? -J
|
Michael Schenker Group - Be Aware of Scorpions (SPV)
|
|
Midge Urge - Move Me (Koch Records)
This album would have been 10 times better had it been completely instrumental. The music on this album is an amazing mix of strong percussions and earthy new age progressive beats. The overall tone of Move Me is pretty mellow. I enjoyed listening to it. -R-Lo
|
Millencolin (Burning Heart/Epitaph)
With their So-Cal punk influenced sound Millencolin is Sweden’s answer to Bad Religion. The melodic hardcore punkers’ latest release is a twenty-two track collection that combines the band’s first two E.P.’s, (Use Your Nose & Skauch) with hard to find B-Sides and songs previously contained on various compilations. Millencolin’s signature swift riffs and pop melodies are packed into every crevice of The Melancholy Collection. And for kicks, the wacky Swedes threw in an amusing version of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5”. Fans will be very pleased with this disc. -NIN
|
Misfits (Roadrunner Records)
It doesn't take a genius to know rarity albums are bogus contract fillers only for the diehard fans who need to own every single piece of product an artist produces. And, who don't even need that with the advent of online music trading. These compilations when done from less than desirable artists well past their prime are even less worthy of recommending. So why am I flying in the face of tradition and recommending the Misfits album that does just that? Because I'm a fuckin' contradiction, ya dig? And even though I haven't done any single Misfits album in the time period this album covers (1996-2001), this disc is a lot of fun. Partially because nearly half is demos that have fun ringing out of every corner as opposed to overproduced pretentiousness of the full-on studio recordings. The unreleased and rare cuts which everyone seemed to nix every chance (Wes Craven not accepting "Scream", the hockey team not liking "I Wanna Be A NY Ranger") are a whole lotta fun to hear and experience. Then there's some righteous covers of Iggy Pop ("I Got A Right") and Black Flag ("Rise Above") around some entertaining liner notes and you've got an energetic, ghoulish treat that's just too fun to resist. -Repojay |
|
Mortiis (Earache)
I’ve never cared for Mortiis’ past works so I was not looking forward to reviewing this disc and, believe it or not, it’s not half bad. The Smell of Rain marks the beginning of a new era for Mortiis. The album finds the eccentric artist melding the medieval essence of his old material with faster and more rhythmic tempos. The goth rock beats of “Parasite God” kick off this disc and set the tone for what’s to follow. The album gives nods to the electronic drakwave realm presenting elements of Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, and Enigma in each tune. “Marshland” dips into aggro territory with its machine like rhythms. “The Stargate" falls into the realm of atmospheric music, and the epic closer, “Smell The Witch” is an impressive piece that deserves an applause. Sometimes change is a good thing and The Smell of Rain proves it. [Editor's note: see the Mortiis pic in our Bizarre section that was in the promo pak from their last CD. Hahahahaha. Glad to hear they don't suck anymore. -ed] -NIN
|
Morsel (Small Stone Records)
Morsel is a gutsy little band, based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who has been delivering their unique blend of noise and beauty since 1992. The recent switching of bassist Brian Hussey to drums has changed the dynamics of the group’s overall sound, and this change is evident all throughout Para Siempre. Morsel’s latest offering is comprised of rhythmically driven, melodically shaded songs that dance around chopped beats and fractured rhythms. The band’s employment of unconventional sounds and solid structures give the electronic/organic compositions a warmer and upbeat feel than those found in past releases. -NIN
|
No Doubt - Rock Steady (Interscope)
Have you ever loved an album so much you can’t stop listening to it? Well, No Doubt’s Rock Steady is one of those can’t stop albums – as in can’t stop raving about it and can’t stop listening to it. With its polished blend of Jamaican dancehall, hip-hop, and 80’s new wave Rock Steady is the Orange County based unit’s most satisfying album to date. Sporting a cover that is reminiscent of a Louis Vuitton handbag, Rock Steady is the ultimate party album that sees the band moving forward while acknowledging their roots. The multitude of catchy melodies and danceable rhythms that flow in abundance on this disc reflect a positive attitude and a loss of inhibitions. An all-star cast of producers (Prince, William Orbit, Ric Ocasek, Sly & Robbie, to name a few) adds flavor to this stylistically diverse effort. Like Tragic Kingdom, Rock Steady is filled with instantly accessible tunes beginning with the dance rock electro-fuzz of “Hella Good” and continuing on with the slamming dancehall beats of “Hey Baby.” The potent synth pop grooves of “Making Out” will tantalize your audio sensors, as will the Caribbean-influenced “Underneath It All.” Other highlights include the new wave tinged “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Platinum Blonde Life” in addition to the unabashed “In My Head,” in which Gwen addresses certain topics that boyfriend’s should never bring up – “Don’t talk about ex-girlfriends…Don’t talk about the past.” Rock Steady pushes all the right buttons. It’s addictive and delightful from beginning to end. -NIN |
|
Pressure 4-5 (Dreamworks)
Pressure 4-5 breathes new life into the alt-metal sound of the mid-90’s with their Dreamworks’ records release Burning The Process. The tracks that make up Burning The Process deliver uplifting messages while addressing issues of nonconformity, personal loss, and spirituality. This hardcore unit take you through a range of emotions by combining a whisper with a scream through lyrics that dig deep enough to stir up feelings that range from moody to explosive. The disc begins with an aggressive piece titled “These Hands” and ends with “Into Yesterday,” which is a moving and thought provoking tune. Keep your eyes peeled for this talented little band because this ambitious bunch have a knack for constructing well-crafted quality tunes that call to mind the likes of Paw, Helmet, and early Life of Agony. -NIN |
Puddle of Mud (Flawless/Geffen)
Puddle
of Mud’s Come Clean is a shift away from the today’s nü-metal stylings. However, the album sounds as if it has
been sitting on the warehouse shelves since 1993. For those of you who miss the Seattle scene, Puddle of Mud will
bring it back to life for you.
There’s nothing fancy buried in the mix. Come Clean is simply comprised of power rockers and power
ballads that are fueled by snarling melodies, sharp guitar hooks, and sing
along choruses. The band’s grunge
roots really shine in “Said,” “Control,” and “Drift.” “She Hates Me,” the album’s anthem, merges
80’s glam with 90’s punk. Unfortunately, this disc doesn’t quite live up to
all the hype. Strip away the
high-tech production techniques and you’ll find an average garage rock band,
which, in a nutshell, is all Puddle of Mud really are. -NIN
|
(Epitaph)
Pulley may have lost a guitarist (Jim) but they haven’t lost their touch. “Hooray For Me” the second track off the pop-punk band’s fourth release, Together Again For The First Time, pretty much explains why these guys are still around and still doing it their way. Not that Pulley needs to justify their existence because these boys have long since solidified their rep in skate/punk circles. This thirteen track offering perfectly embodies the essence of So. Cal punk. In fact, the two-minute hook-laden songs that make up Together Again For The First Time will have you chucking lesser artists of this genre by the wayside. So get of yer lazy ass and slip this album into your disc player and discover the enjoyable sounds of Pulley. -NIN
|
River City High - River City High Won't Turn Down(Big Wheel Recs./Dog House Recs.)
Maybe one day a new punk band will come around that doesn't sound like the Offspring. This is certainly not the time for River City High. This is a fairly young rock ‘n’ roll punk pop band whose lead singer, James Menefree, sounds like he should be poppin' some Riccola during his off time. His raspy voice is really more distracting than their poor lyrics. -R-Lo
|
River City
Rebels (Victory Records)
Thank God, it’s about time I’ve come across something I like. Punk rock with a twist of ska…how exciting. I love songs that sound more like good time anthems, which is just what the River City Rebels do. Like “Day to Day” and just about all their songs for that matter. Somehow, it reminds me of the Sex Pistols music of defiance and the happy-time vibe of Less Than Jake. This release brings us back to a time when punk rock was without flashy videos and hot shots on cell phones. The album portrays a youthful vibe mixed with the old school message of “hold your own” and “don’t worry what society thinks you should be.” With seven members, I can imagine their live show gets a little crazy, but I can only hope they produce as much energy live as they do on this album. I would have to say this is the best album I’ve heard all month. Playing to Live and Living to Play is 14 tracks of pure punk heaven. -Skye |
|
