GitoGito Hustler We are Japanese Girls Band!! All are produces
for oneself itself. I want to send wonderful music. There is no
border in music. Happy!! Happy!! Happy!!. Sure the cover of this
demo disc the band gave me at CMJ reads like a bottle of Dr. Bronners
Peppermint Castile Soap, maybe without the Jesus babble. Cute
Motown covers by a band that rocks a lot harder live, is how Id
describe this quirky punk CD. Youll recognize Locomotion because
its all sung in English and sounds just like Locomotion. Beyond
that, youll enjoy the shooby doo-waas. You can hear the Ramones
influences in the beat, and the way the songs are slower than
youd expect them coming out of the studio, But really, I recommend
the live show. For more on this band, including a great Website
with quick-time flicks from their visit to the States, point your
browser to www.gitogito.org. - Ment
Candy Ass Orgy R.A.F.R. Records, Sudio City, Ca. I listened
to this disc a lot, when it first arrived and leading up to their
CMJ appearance at my least favorite NYC venue, Irving Plaza. Then
I didnt touch it for months. Maybe its a warmer-weather kind
of thing. Candy Ass runs the gamut to fair to great, all in six
quick songs. Maybe theyre trying to be too cute (police line-up
photo on cover) or (I Like) Brendas Boyfriend, maybe theyre
too authentically time-worn? Rings too true on Queen of the Crazies
Spend my life on a morphine drip ... dementia .... bla bla
bla. Anyway, waited a while to get into that Irving Plaza show,
then bailed when the goons insisted I check my bag. Do I look
like Osama? When will they close that club? Ive had two experiences
there in 20 years - Johnny Cash and the Ramones - which was supposed
to be the eve of destruction I need to see Candy Ass live in
a club that suits them, like Cbs. I think they even played the
Woodstock body art fest, but I missed that too. - Ment
Digital Underground, Playwutchalike, Tommy Boy/Rhino Did DU
establish itself as a clown prince of funk or relegate itself
to being regarded as a novelty act and forgotten? This collection
allows you to answer that question for yourself. Like George Clinton,
DU has balanced its goofy humor with juicy, beefy beats that get
dance floors broiling and definitely approaches the P-Funk ethos
of maximumisness. These Oakland based funk pioneers started dropping
science and playing with live musicians in the 1980s and still
hold up well in retrospect. EAK
El Centro, Prohibido! Finger Records These punk rockers on
Orange Countys Finger Records serve up high quality punk with
that Southern Cali sound we love at the Urban Rag. This disc will
surely please fans who love the punk versions of rockabilly offered
up by bands like Social D and the Paladins. - EAK
Karney All Connected Tangent Records, San Francisco, Ca. Influences from punk to rap, reggae, and middle eastern music
all find their way on to whats promoted as Karneys Latest and
Greatest recording. I hear a little Chrissie Hynde on All Connected,
when Karney hustles to get the lyrics in - though Im not sure
what Hynde would make of Drug War with Steffen Franz adding
a little vocals or My Little Bush also with Franz both commentaries
on the states persecution of basically harmful habits. Since
others have compared Karney to Edie Brickell, I listened for that
and came to the conclusion that the band can occasional sound
like New Bohemians, as in Something Like Eden, but recently
having landed my mitts on Brickells most recent solo effort,
I dont hear it any father than a certain acoustic melodic echo.
All Connected is best when Karney avoids simple rhymes for rhymes
sake, Out of Body, and uses them to deliver a real message,
My Little Bush, ... Growing there so innocently, its going
to make me lose my property. If that confuses you, forget it.
If you find this CD, pretend I didnt ruin the ending of the film
for you. - Ment
Blank Pages 45 and 33 FDR/Face Down Recs - Too smoothly cool
for their own good, these folks. Polished performance brings harmony
rich rock to the disc in force. Think of the straight-forward
stuff in your collection, maybe starting as far back as the Beatles
and to the 90s, when Mathew Sweet was a regular in the pages of
the Urban Rag. Now blend, and pour. - Ment.
The Pinkerton Thugs End of an Era Go Kart Records. Never surrender,
never forget. These guys are marking the end of an era - but fortunately
the era shall return. I hear a touch of Ramones in tunes like
Where the Money Goes, though the lyrics are a little deeper
than beat on the bratz. A mans gotta work if he wants to live.
But is a life of labor for the highest bid a life worth liven?
I hear a touch of The Clash in tunes like No Heroes No Justice,
Theres no more heroes. Theres no more justice. White collar
crime from the office. - Enron? Mostly though its vintage punk
the way you like it.
De La Soul, Timeless, The Singles Collection, Tommy Boy/Rhino
In 1988, my friend Juan was excited to see De La at the New
Ritz until he realized he was the only person of color in the
house. Were we in the company of particularly hip white-folk or
had De La Soul been pigeonholed as a pop act based on the lovably
silly Me Myself and I? Lets give the audience credit for possibly
discovering an alternative to MCs getting gangsta to the strain
of Motown samples De La featured more complex musical references
banjoes!?, vocal harmonies, and positive messages under the
flag of daisy power. This group may have laid the groundwork for
positive hip-hop acts like J5 or Fugees but never really escaped
its cute image. Getting fierce on their somber sophomore release
De La Souls Dead backfired and the band continued to fly under
the industry radar. They got props on their 2001 release Art Official
Intelligence with guest spots by Redman and Chaka Khan, and are
highlighted as quiet legends on this fine collection. - EAK
Julia Darling self-titled/self-released. Find Darling at www.juliadarling.com.
No really, find her. Its got a much bigger sound than the solo
shows Ive seen, but Darlings CD stand tall as any record in
the bin. There is no blue in my rainbow when youre here with
me. Thats a line. No? That someone with an thought, who writes
it down and makes it a song. Other side of the coin? I wake up
smoke write songs drink smoke make out thats my Monday ... I
make a list of things I could buy if I had fifty grand thats
my Friday. Barely any thought at all, as far as I can tell. Tad
self-indulgent, too. If you like sweetly sung songs with attitude
try these. - Ment.
The Birth of Western Trance - Pitchfork Wreckerds. When hear anything described as trance, I think of a bunch of
low-rent club hoppers taking X and overly promiscuous sex. Maybe
thats what Peter Head had in mind when he recorded this gem at
Rock Ledge in August 2002 - but I think it rises high above all
that. Sometimes derivative, rarely repetitive western musical
landscapes fill this most-listenable disc. Referenced are the
western heroes you might expect to find and at least three tracks
inspired by Raymond Burr. Go figure. I find those old Perry Masons
on the Hallmark channel often unwatchable - but I wonder if Head
was tuned in that summer. - Ment
Ya-Ne-Zniyoo All is not lost, self-released. If you cant enjoy this, youve got no sense of humor. Or youre
not drunk enough. I dont drink but I do know how to laugh. Black
cats do love their mothers, you know. Plugging away earnestly,
no doubt, in New Jersey - these folks must play the bar circuit.
If they dont they should. Sure, there would be a fare dose of
abuse form greasy-hared unappreciative types. But I bet the sound
man would enjoy their non-offensive melodic approach. (Even if
the lyrics are at times troubling, as in Cop Show) Porn queens
... Smack, crack, Special-K and Ex. Theyve got issues, these
folks. Id like to hear the electronically-peppered minimalism.
For more, including an explanation of the name which is derived
from Russian, visit www.ya-ne-zniyoo.com - Ment
The Allstonians Bottoms Up! Fork In Hand Recs., Boston, Mass.
Someones got to keep playing ska. Otherwise the skankers will
have to hang up their felt hats and skinny ties. Theres a difference
between these boys and the bands that make it big, big, big playing
this stuff. The Allstonians got soul. Theyre got spirit Theyve
got horns that dont sound like they were programmed in the studio.
AND theyve got my vote for the best ska CD reviewed in this issue.
OK. I think theyre the only ska CD reviewed in this issue, if
you dont count a few random tracks here and there on other albums
and DVDs. - Ment
Dipsomaniacs Freakin Eureka Face Down Records Burlington, NJ.
And then there were pop bands. And this was one of them. And it
was good. I think the Dipsomaniacs could sing about cars, or girls,
or Apple Jacks, and would be very much the same. This is not to
say the band is without range, but they rarely stray far from
their major chords. After all, Everybody wants to hum that tune.
If youre alive then youre not immune. Right? Just ask label
man Mich Chorba, the front man in the band. Thats a line from
Calvin, actually just about the only line. And sure there are
a few minor chords. Chorbas got a unique sense of humor. How
many of you could write about a low level search for God Whats
wrong with that? (also his line) Anyway. Get it? Dont be afraid
of the pop. Come into the light. - Ment.
Bill Popp and the Tapes, 50 Years of Popp, self-released Okay
so he fudges it a bit by claiming 50 years in the music biz
this 2-song disc marks the 50th year since Popp sang in his 2nd
grade class choir. His music does however harken back to the music
of yore with sweet poppy creations that I would place with the
Age of Aquarius. EAK
Spring Heel Jack AMaSSED Thirsty Ear Recs, Norwalk, Conn. Jazzy,
atmospheric, and altogether good. This, what I believe to be Spring
Heel Jacks almost-most-recent release, is more avant garde than
the Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um Ive been listening to. Of course,
the Mingus has been in the dashboard player all week and this
would probably distract me unfavorably on those late night drives.
Tasty nonetheless. Pass the biscuits. - Ment
Audio Learning Center, Friendships Often Fade Away, Vagrant
Records As the title implies, this disc is full of vaguely sad,
haunting tunes about love, loss, and the foibles of life. The
trio has a clean, circumspect guitar line running
through its songs with an upper register vocal which might remind
you a bit of Garageland or Modest Mouse. EAK
Poetz4peace A Pair of Olive Leaves Olive Tree Music. Steffen
Franz, beatmaster and producer excellent, drives the bus on this
Thin-sounding hip-hop poets invite you to keep your Uzi and take
my bouzouki. Get it? Its about peace, yall. Its so mellow
you might think its about reefer, but its really about peace.
Its multi-cultural, multilingual, and more. Its just plain cool,
get it. And whats wrong with peace? Anyway. Zeki Ali, a participating
poet writer and radio guy in Cyprus points out that its a way
of life, not just an alternative to war. Its the path I choose,
even if I have my hawkish days. - Ment.
Hamell On Trial Tough Love Righteous Babe Recs. One-man band
Hamell, with special guests including members of Captain Beefheart,
Moden Loers, Swans, and label founder Ani DiFranco, has a message
to deliver and does it in the jerky, staccato, punctuated methods
of some of his contributors. Endearing himself by just the second
tract, Halfway, Hamell jabs a knowing eye at corporate media,
which includes the occasional intelligent article in the fashion-peddling
pop music magazine to justify its existence. Take the movies
name tatoo it on your labia, what difference would it make? ...
Why go half way? Hamell even raps. - Ment
Govt Mule, Beacon Theater, NY, NY, 12/31/03 Two things surprised
me about this show the music was even better than I expected
and almost no one who asked about my new year eves plans knew
who Govt Mule was. A little backstory Warren Haynes, the main
personality behind Govt Mule has played guitar for the Allman
Brothers several times. Initially Allmans guitarist and party
animal Dicky Betts recruited him for his side project and then
Greg Allman chose one of Haynes songs for ABBs 1989 release.
Haynes recorded and toured with ABB during a stint that saw many
live shows and a Grammy for an ABB live recording. When Dicky
Betts was kicked out of ABB in 2001, Haynes rejoined the Allmans.
Haynes had formed Govt Mule in 94 with ABB bassist Allen Woody.
Woody passed away after GMs fifth release and Haynes, who has
played with bands such as Phil Lesh & Friends recruited top
bassists like John Entwistle and Flea to fill the void left by
Woodys passing. Not surprisingly, Haynes serves up a masterful
and scorching mix of southern fried blues rock jams that attracts
a crowd that answers the question, What happened to all the people
who used to go on Dead tour? EAK
Terror Fimer Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Go Kart - Well-picked
and just shy of two dozen, these tunes by the likes of Lunachicks,
Anti-Flag, NOFX, Vandals, and Bouncing Souls make for an excellent
compilation. From so-Cal, (when did Lunachicks Terror Firmer
get so so-Cal sounding) to near h metal, Vision of Disorder In
the Room Its just a good listen. Dont forget Down by Law Fly
the Flag, and Entombed Amazing Grace. I think this played through
three times one afternoon and I didnt notice the repeats. Its
just that good. - Ment.
Southport nothing is easy Go Kart Recs. Doublebass? Thumpa,
thumpa, thumpa! Thinly melodic punksters distract listener from
somewhat above average lyrics with undeniable beat. BUT CD craves
for more diversity of sound, as track by track differences fail
to surface. Nothing is easy. - Ment
Majestic Twelve Searching for the Elvis Knob - self released.
When they filled my plate, believe me I ate. But the aftertaste
is just like soylent green, so sings sometimes warbly Majestic
Twelve, vulnerably working through often-acoustic well-crafted
pop songs. These boys probably have some REM on their shelves.
I dont have a job. I just drunk beer and play guitar. So dont
get mad if I dont care if you dont like my songs. I dont have
a job. Na na na na na, na nay. ... Hey I like your songs. Who
wouldnt? This was in repeated rotation, with Terror Firmer, and
likewise never got old. - Ment.
Santana, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA, 11/15/03 Carlos Santanas
recent surge in popularity is not just a result of the longevity
of a career launched with his first album in 1968. Santana has
taken an emotive and distinctive guitar sound, an explorers spirit,
and a deep and reverent spirituality to become a beacon to promising
younger artists. His own band, which has always been a revolving
cast, consists of younger musicians who have not only mastered
the repertoire and jam well together but shine on their solo spotlights
at live shows. The bar for solo performances is set pretty high
by Dennis Chambers, whose monstrous solo skin turn during Yaleo
dazzled and bewildered many. Fans wondered where he gets the energy
to whack those drums so hard or how he makes that helicopter sound
while playing one-handed? Joining the San Francisco band were
two locals including Santanas original drummer Michael Shrieve,
who now lives in Seattle. Also joining Santana, who has collaborated
with everyone from Al Kooper to Willie Nelson was guitarist Jerry
Miller, a native of Tacoma and founding member of Moby Grape.
Despite the stellar musicianship from all directions at this show,
I was most touched when Santana dedicated Peace On Earth to
South African Desmond Tutu. Tutu and Santana have both spoken
out for peace to prevail in troubled times. Santana has a special
interest in South Africa, the proceeds from a tour earlier in
2003 went to South African assistance. - EAK
Neko Case, 3/29/03, EMP, Seattle, WA, 5/24/03, The Gorge, George,
WA You have read about Neko Case a few times in the Rag. I posited
at one point that she might succeed despite herself. Indeed she
has continued to regale audiences with her smoldering honky-tonk
voice with a heartopunk and has replaced her somewhat prickly
disposition with a greater sense of self-confidence and the comfort
that comes with relentless touring and a bottomless pit of refined
talent. Her appearance @ EMP saw her harmonizing with two other
great voices Kelly Hogan and Carolyn Marks. These women exuded
a great sisterhood in their tween-song banter while they commingled
50s politeness with 90s social dysfunction and instrumental stylings
on a beautifully jangling assortment of pedal steel, guitar, and
mandolin. Cases appearance at the Sasquatch Fest showed that
she plays well to a large audience and held her own on a bill
that also included Liz Phair, Coldplay, and Flaming Lips. - EAK
Grand Master Flash, 6/12/03, Baltic Room, Seattle, WA Summer
got off to a strong start for fanciers of old school hip hop pioneers
as this show followed an appearance in Sea-town by Grand Master
Cas for the Yes, Yes Yall at EMP. To answer your question, no,
he did not play White Lines. GMF did however spin the Furious
5s other major hit, The Message, and gave an overview of great
beats from 70s pioneers through Eminem. He also gave little insights
into his personal philosophy; for instance his refusal to be constricted
by genre designations, As long as it has a beat, Ill play the
motherfucker. He gave shootouts to a diverse cadre of creators
from James Brown, an artist for which he sees no need for scratching,
You just let it play to Nu Shooz, Blondie, Cypress Hill and
Missy Elliot. GMF also revealed his guidelines for DJs DJs
need to keep and open mind and declared that striving for peace
and love should be the top priority hip-hop doesnt have to
be violent. This show reinforces the history examined on GMFs
recent mix-tape Essential Mix: Classic Edition. EAK
Sasquatch, 5/24/03, Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA Although
I dont like dealing with promoter-venuebehemoth House of Blues,
it does pull together an admirably topnotch and diverse lineup
for this Memorial Day party on the rim of a canyon over the Columbia
River Gorge. Headliners Coldplay, may be getting most of the magazine
covers and coverage lately, but less known acts like Ron Sexsmith,
Patrick Park, honky-tonk siren Neko Case, Jurassic 5, and especially
Flaming Lips really shined. The Lips subscribe to my theory of
performers putting every possible element into a bigger than life
stage show. With a cast of 2 or 3 dozen folks in animal suits,
robot parts, and oversized props, Wayne Coyne and crew surpassed
the expectations I had for a band that is already known for great
songwriting and a outsized imagination that saw the release last
year of two albums - The Day They Shot a Hole in the Jesus Egg
and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robot. Their album titles alone
are masterful haiku and that song about the lady spreading Vaseline
on her toast still gets stuck in my minds ear for days. Jurassic
5 also commanded respect as the MCs exhibited their knack for
great harmonizing while spilling lyrical positively and bombastic
beats. Three stages made it hard to catch all the up and coming
bands ranging from paid-their-dues indie mainstays like Death
Cab for Cutie and Modest Mouse to newer acts like UKs The Music
which sounds a lot like Janes Addiction with some Soundgarden
gravity thrown in to pleasing results. - EAK
Krist Novoselic I think Where Are They Now pieces are often
shameless and lurid and justly relegated to E! but in the case
of the former Nirvana bassist, we are looking at a thriving career
rather than a carwreck. Sadly, Novoselic did call it quits in
the music business this year after his latest project, Eyes Adrift,
didnt quite take off. The trio had talent pairing the Nirvana
bassist with Sublime drummer Bug Gaugh and Meat Puppets guitarist/singer
Curt Kirkwood. The industry may have had a jaundiced eye towards
the group as survivors (all 3 came from bands ravaged by heroin)
or supporting players eclipsed by stellar bandmates like Curt
Cobain and Bradley Nowell. Although anyone halfway hip should
recognize Rolling Stone as a shameless courtesan to the majar
labels and a hopelessly outdated rag, its lukewarm review of the
EA debut may have proven the kiss of death. I checked EA out at
Seattles Graceland nightclub and found the group as a whole to
be exactly equal to the sum of its parts ie. proficient and
respectable but lacking that magic of synergy wed come to expect
from the precursor bands. We may have held them to higher standards
than newer bands, but had only given them a chance because of
loyalty to their alma maters. Novoselic has returned to his other
primary occupation since the demise of Nirvana politics. He
had fought Seattles draconian laws making all-ages shows virtually
impossible (the dreaded Teen Dance Ordinance was recently dismantled)
and contributed to the cause as a benefactor for Seattles thriving
marijuana legalization activists. He also joined Jello Biafra
and Kim Thayil in 99 for the one-off no-WTO band (reviewed in
UR). Novoselic is currently upping the ante with two major political
projects pursuing Superdistricts, a complicated voting scheme
which most closely resembles the parliamentary system and could
diminish the stranglehold exerted on elections by the major parties,
and running for Lieutenant Governor in his home state of Washington.
These may seem like monumental undertakings for the grunge giant,
and they are, but Novoselic has sustained his commitment to political
activism for over a decade now and his speeches before a variety
of groups show he is
serious-minded and being taken seriously in the political arena.
For more info and transcripts of his speeches, check out www.fixour.us.
- EAK