The Fizz “Face Down in The Litter Box” Demo album P.O.B. 2688 Kennebunkport, ME 04046. The liner notes proclaim it to be “not a professional album,” but I see no need for the proclamation. The Fizz’s debut is not a bad effort at all. Presumably intended as a route: to a big record deal, the band has self released a decent record of well intentioned soulful rock songs. They lean towards the “tender” side of the spectrum. Actually they’re almost all on the lighter side of rock. This is in spite of the fractured cymbal on the back cover and hard edged name. The wet kitty climbing out of the pool on the inside liner notes, doesn’t look happy, and since I’m sure it was thrown into the water for the sake of the photo - I’m offended. I hope they didn’t sit there laughing and drunk but instead dried it off. (Nothing more unhappy than a drenched cat.) “Pig (Wussy Like)” is a funny song, because it’s kind of “wussy” itself. The best track is the first, “I think,” which has a nice hook. What more can I say?
Gerry Goffin “Back Room Blood” - Genes P.O. Box 7688 Silver Spring, MD 20907. If you like rock and roll and aren’t afraid to admit it, you could enjoy this CD. Goffin has written songs for a lot of well known names, as his name dropping liner notes will attest. Yet he remains virtually unknown to the typical radio listener. Carole King, Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin - all have sung his songs. Bob Dylan collaborates on several of this CDs tunes as well. You can hear all the influences in a good rock album. I think I like the piano heavy “Never Too Late to Rock and Roll” best, but some tracks at the end are pretty good, too. In the middle, a lot of odd ditties - “A Woman Can be Like a Gangster,” “Rough Theology,” “Death to the Printed Word” - you get the idea. I guess after 35 years, he wanted to put his own face on the cover.
Ian Brennan “Cheapskate” - Toy Gun Murder Records P.O.B. 410025 San Francisco, CA 94141. Mr. Brennan’s seventh self released effort proves what he claims; he has to make music. Best part of all, it’s pretty darned good. He writes, performs most instruments, and produces the tracks himself. Sort of what Matthew Sweet must have been doing ten years ago... So why has Sweet become so heavy (and popular) while Brennan has remained a Mental Health Specialist in the Psycho ER in Oakland, CA? Who’s to say? Preference? I doubt it. The tunes aren’t all as catchy as one might hope, but they are enjoyable. Most bizarre? - “Revenge of the Introspective Singer/Songwriter,” weighing in at 54 seconds. Good songs, good sound, nice production.
John the Baker with Slimy Penis Breath “Live” - Hollywoodstock Productions and Living Alternatives Records P.O.B. 251 Woodstock, NY 12498. This is a beautiful chorus: “... I spike your trees and piss in your gas... you can keep your quarter and kiss my ass. You’re like rats and roaches in this place.” Described as a 17 song rant from start to finish - this CD is the melodic punk rock your collection has been missing. It’s not the indecipherable fast and furious kind, more like the labouring mid-tempo agonizing stuff. The tracks cover a broad spectrum of social issues, each from a unique perspective. “Fist Fuck (the pope)” hits racism. “Crack Baby” is sung from the perspective of the cocaine craving newborn. Then there’s “Designated Driver,” “Woodstock Punks,” “Passive/Aggressive” and more. Purposeful and fun (and extremely low-fi. It was recorded live onto a previously-recorded-on-normal-bias-TDK cassette over a Guns N Roses album.).
Laibach “Jesus Christ Superstars” - Mute 140 W. 22nd St, Suite 10A New York, NY 10011. I’ll rest easy knowing these guys are still at it, although I’d be hard pressed to say exactly what “it” is. You can always count on them for overly affected and truly bizarre covers. For newcomers, and those of us who’ve heard of them but weren’t sure of the details, here they are Laibach is from Slovenia, a republic of war-torn former Yugoslavia. They protest politics, capitalism, and materialism. They also perform heavily orchestrated and mechanically rhythmic interpretations of classic pop songs like the title track, and others. I recall most vividly the six remix ep of “Sympathy For The Devil” This CD is less industrial and a little more rock sounding than earlier recordings. It’s got an almost heavy metal sound at times - as on “Kingdom of God,” which also has Ennio Marconie-esqe “ayee-ayee-yas” in the background. Liner notes suggest the CD is almost an answer to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s light hearted look at god; and the band is quoted as saying “We believe in God, but unlike the Americans, we do not trust him.” You just have to love these guys,
