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 REVIEWS :  04.13.04


Skinny Puppy
"THE GREATER WRONG OF THE RIGHT"
SPV

A copy of what appeared to be the highly anticipated forthcoming Skinny Puppy album "The Greater Wrong of the Right" was delivered to our studios like a child left in the night. We cautiously inserted the disc into the mainframe and hit launch. The truth is in the speakers. The dreams of a million dark children across the world is about to come true. Skinny Puppy emerges from a long sleep. Resurrected are the deep and powerful assault of cEvin Key's beats entwined with the digidialekt of Nivek Ogre.

The Greater Wrong of the Right is a masterpiece. A brilliant new chapter in the evolution of one of modern music's most influential bands. Every track contains that classic Puppy feel but well matured by the years of experience the two members have gained in their solo careers. Ogre has two solo discs and a tour under the name "OhGr," an album with Invisible records founder Martin Atkins and a guest appearances with KMFDM. Key's diverse sound library and music vault keep churning out master works including his own solo disc that also featured Ogre on the track 'Frozen Sky,' the first collaboration between them in nearly 10 years. They performed the track together live on the OhGr tour. Key also dabbles in scoring movies and video games.

Tracks like "Use Less," "Goneja," "Neuwerld," may pierce the underground vein, but tracks like "Past Present" and "EmpTe" among others sound poised to cross over and break through into the main stream. Can I even dare speculate about the remixes that could come from this album? I am literally salivating.

Though we appreciate the anonymous donor of the disk. We at MOVEMENT also want to make it VERY clear that we do not support bootlegging at the cost of the artist. The musicians that create this music work very hard and they deserve your support. These amazing artists have inspired just about every band you listen to today. If you don't go out and buy this CD when it hits the market from SPV in May you have no business listening to it in the first place!

Max Michaels/MOVEMENT magazine



 REVIEWS :  04.07.04

The Silent Circus
"Between The Buried And Me"
Victory Records

This was my first album to hear from The Silent Circus. I am quite impressed with this release. The music combines elements of black/death metal, hardcore, and alternative. One of my favorite tracks on the album is "Camilla Rhodes". The music is hardcore and the vocals are death metal. Since I can not understand the lyrics, I can not say what this track is about. But the music is so heavy and so fast. But then "Shevanel Take 2" is so mellow and slow. That just shows that you never know what to expect from The Silent Circus. In all this album was a great release. I would recommended it to anyone who listens to black/death metal, hardcore, or alternative.

-Kent Donohoe


 REVIEWS :  02.19.04


MURDERDOLLS
"Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls"
(Special CD + DVD Edition)"
ROADRUNNER RECORDS

This is the second release of the Murderdolls first album, "Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls". With members of Dope and Slipknot adding a heavy side to horror punk and shock rock. You will notice big influences from bands such as The Misfits and Billy Idol since they cover his song "White Wedding" as the last track to this album. Featuring six new songs to the original fifteen and a special DVD. The DVD has the videos for "Dead In Hollywood", "Love At First Fright", "I Love To Say Fuck (Live)", and "White Wedding". The tracks that stick out to me on this album are "Grave robbing U.S.A.", "Let's Go To War", "Dawn Of The Dead", "197666", and "White Wedding". Grave Robbing U.S.A. is a song about what you expected, grave robbing through the United States. It is my favorite track from this release. If you are into serious music you will dislike this album but if like you like music that is just fun to listen to such as Mindless Self Indulgence the Murderdolls are a great choice.
- Kent Donohoe



Seabound
Beyond Flatline
Metropolis

Seabound's debut album "No Sleep Demon," was one of the most impressive releases that I have heard by a new band in the last few years. So my expectations were very high for their second release, "Beyond Flatline." I had already heard the single "Contact" which was amazing. So you ask, was the rest of the CD that good? Absolutely. In fact this album simply blew me away. Seabound is setting new standards in what a great ebm/industrial album should sound like. Everything right down from the production, songwriting, arrangements, and even the album cover artwork is nothing short of brilliant. Also, there is a ton of dance floor material on this album both slow and fast paced, so DJ's should have no trouble finding material to play. I think the album has a harder edge to it on certain songs than on the last release, while still retaining the beautiful and more softer elements as you can hear on "Soul Diver" and "Watching Over You."

Frank Spinath's vocals are again in fine form. Most of the time his voice is very clean, with a warm, almost soothing presence to it. However, on tracks such as "Digital" and "Icarus" his vocals take on a more omimous tone with his voice becoming a distorted whisper. It's a great contrast to his usual singing style and lends a darker atmosphere to these tracks, especially on "Digital." The lyrics are almost disturbing in a way; "I took her to the forest, I tied her to a tree, It's astounding how ruthless we can be." And then, "She tasted like candy, orange cream candy." I would love to know the inspiration to that song. However, there is a lot of hidden meaning and metaphors in almost all of their music. Reminds me of Covenant in a way. Speaking of Covenant, listen to "Go International" and tell me that it doesn't have that "Covenant vibe" to it. Probably because the guys in Seabound are friends with Covenant and well, you get the picture.... Great song though, and I love the lyrics as well.

I have no idea where to begin as to my favorite tracks. I really loved the entire album from start to finish, but perhaps "Transformer, Contact, Soul Diver, Digital, and Torch" would be a start, and that's half of the album! So, I will sum things up in three words: Buy this CD! Seriously, I can't stress enough how good "Beyond Flatline" really is. The band's sound is steadily progressing forward as is their songwriting, and the final product is nothing short of a work of art. This CD will move you emotionally and physically, and won't leave your CD player for a long time, that I can promise you!
-Craig Harvey



Velvet Acid Christ
Between The Eyes Vol.1
Metropolis Records

At first glance, I assumed that "Between The Eyes Vol. 1" was nothing but a "best of" CD, and I wasn't all that hyped about owning it since I have all of V.A.C.'s albums anyway. However, upon closer scrutiny, I soon discovered that this album was full of rare and unreleased tracks and cool remixes, and is definitely worth adding to your collection . Bryan Erickson (the man behind V.A.C.) has been serving up dark, sample-laden, powerhouse industrial for the last several years, and this CD has some cool tracks from almost all of his works. One song in particular that was released only on the European version of "Church Of Acid," is the "Nazi Bastard Mix" of "Futile." That track alone was worth purchasing this CD. It has some great Star Trek samples from the "Borg" episodes, that are perfectly layered into the mix. If it's one thing Bryan knows how to do, it's mix in various movie samples into his music.

There are also two re-mixes of "Decypher" from the "Fun With Knives" album, two versions of "Dial 8" ( my favorite being "The Bound and Gagged mix by Din Fiv") from "Twisted Thought Generator" and two more of "The Hand" from "Calling Ov The Dead." Also included for your sick, demented, listening pleasure are various b-sides of "The Hopeless" and "Murder The World" which also has some eerie samples from "Lord Of Illusions" one of my favorite Clive Barker films. I also had a chuckle while listening to the "Feedback" version of "Disflux" with samples of Worf screaming "You see, you see, they are insane!" and "If you were not an Ambassador I would kill you with my bare hands!" As I stated before, Bryan's a complete genius with blending movie samples and industrial music and it really adds a lot of character and depth to his electronic assault. Anyway, I would recommend this album for V.A.C. fans and newcomers as well, as it would be a nice introduction into Bryan's music while offering up some rare material as a bonus.
-Craig Harvey


 01.26.04 : Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?
a review of Ani Difranco's "Educated Guess" by Whitney Weiss

Only in a world where Johnny Rotten is the latest reality-TV star could Ani Difranco release an album like Educated Guess. Where Difranco once felt sincere, resonating with poignant observations about love and politics, now the vibe is more contrived. Instead of being culturally important, her music now sounds like it’s desperately clinging to its relevancy.

The process of Educated Guess played a large part, considering it is an album that came out of separation. In addition to ending a romantic relationship, Difranco also ditched the band and producers for eight simple tracks recorded in solitude. It sounds like something that would free an artist, but Ani just sounds trapped.
   
Where lyrics used to sting with their beauty or ability to provoke thought and emotion, now listeners cringe with embarrassment. Using the phrase "Amazon women" doesn’t sound like empowerment, it’s just powerless drivel on top of guitars we’ve heard so many times before. The music box ambiance feels ripped right off of a Smiths song, and most of the double-trracking does nothing but make songs sound muddy with voices. She’s just not on like she used to be.

Likewise, none of the spoken word on this album can match "self-evident" or "tiptoe" from days gone by. I am not asking to hear the exact same material, but if Ms. Difranco doesn’t have a spoken word piece in her, why attempt to painfully extract two? It feels like first draft day in creative writing class. When Ani says "we are standing at ground zero of the feminist revolution", I don’t think she feels it, and I certainly don’t. It just feels like she’s going through the motions, and that makes me sad.

The best you can do is somehow obtain copies of the songs "Bliss Like This" or "You Each Time," or hope they are on her next live album. With Educated Guess’ intriguing cover art and design, it’s a shame that the music, like Ani herself, has become more about the packaging than the contents.


 REVIEWS: CRAIG HARVEY :  01.23.04

Paul Van Dyk

Reflections

Mute

Paul Van Dyk's latest CD "Reflections" is pretty much what I expected. Brilliant. Amazing. Incredible. (You can tell I liked it.)

Anyone who has read any of my reviews on Mr. Van Dyk, knows that I am a big, big, fan. But really, what's not to like about his music? It's not just the same trance DJ mixes we are constantly bombarded with. No, this is far beyond the average trance CD. "Reflections" is a beautiful album that combines Paul's soaring musical epics, with deep lyrical song compositions, that form a powerful and energetic album with beautiful vocals and  melodies. It's probably safe to say that this is his finest work to date. HIs musical arrangements are fluid and the mixes seamless (and yes I know you can do anything in a studio, but you can also put out utter crap in a studio as well.)

There is a host of guest's on this album which include Vega 4, Second Sun, Jan Johnston, and Atomek Dog and Trooper Da Don. As a matter of fact, one of the cooler tracks on this album "Knowledge" has an almost "Hip Hop" feel courtesy of the aforementioned Atomek Dog and Trooper. They give the song an edge and some funky groove which is a new direction for Paul's material but it works incredibly well, and I am no fan of Hip Hop or Rap. The beginning of the CD "Crush" along with "Buenaventura" and "That's Life", is common ground for Paul; epic electronic dance that moves your body and soul. However tracks like "Time Of Our Lives, Like A Friend, Homage, and Spellbound" add some fantastic lyrical touches to his songs. Track seven,"Homage" has some of the most incredibly romantic lyrics I have heard in some time: "There's only you I could love forever, that's why I am so lonely in crowd." That says it all as far as I am concerned. I could keep on raving about this CD, but it would get redundant, as I think I have stated my case on just how good it is. Fans will be overjoyed, newcomers will be stunned and amazed, and the reality of it all is that, it will be far too long a wait until his next amazing album. Bravo Paul, bravo.

          -Craig Harvey

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Psyche

The Hiding Place

Artoffact Records

 "Babylon Deluxe" is the latest offering from Canadian synth-pop/ebm duo Psyche. The band has been around in various incarnations since 1982 with founding member Darrin Huss still at the helm since the beginning. His various musical partners have varied over time with the latest being, Remi Szyszka who has been with him for the last few releases. I first stumbled upon their music on "The Sancturary Ep" and "The Hiding Place" which I thought were good solid releases, well produced and with definite club appeal. On "The Hiding Place" they managed to combine a softer synth-pop sound with some harder and slightly darker ebm dance floor numbers which worked well together. However on this new release, it's much more of a synth-pop sound this time around.

Track eight, "Final Destination"  is probably my favorite off the album, just because it was slightly harder than the rest of the songs. Unfortunately, much of the album sounded slightly mediocre to my ears. The songs are well written though,  and I especially thougth "X-Rated" was a good representation of the adult entertainment industry in today's modern society. One thing that really bothered me was, every so often it sounded as if Darrin was singing slightly off key. Don't get me wrong, he has a good voice, and perhaps it was my imagination, but listen to track three "Gods And Monsters" and judge for yourself. It wasn't all the time, just occasionally, and I have never noticed it on any of their prior releases. There were however, a few other shining momements on the CD. "The Quickening" was one that stood out. It was probably the only other track besides "Final Destination" that really had a harder edge to it.  I also enjoyed the instrumental entitled "Nightwalk Theme" which was a very moving and emotional piece. Overall this is not a bad release, but I found myself missing the darker sound of their previous works and much of the material just didn't move me at all. But hey, that's just me. Still, it's worth checking out if your a fan, and I would definitely be willing to give their next album a shot.

          -Craig Harvey

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Blank

Overhead

Artoffact Records

Blank is a brand new artist signed to Artoffact records. They are so new in fact, that the Artoffact website has no information on them at all. (Guess they have not gotten around to updating things at the office.)  Anyway, this release is a single entitled "Overhead" with one extra song entitled "Event Horizon." There are four mixes of "Overhead" including an extended dance mix which has some heavy 4/4 bass drums that dominate the song. The music is basically the more modern industrial with techno/trance influences. However the "Tim Schuldt mix" transforms the music completely with harsh guitars so it almost sounds like a completely new song. The other two versions are remixed by "Implant" and "Moonitor" whom I have never heard of before. The extra song I mentioned earlier entitled "Event Horizon" is my favorite song on the CD. It's got all the right elements; a fantastic pounding bass line, great synths, and slightly distorted vocals. The vocals are pretty much the same on all the tracks, but not so distorted that you can't understand them. This is an impressive single that has some definite club appeal, and I would be interested in hearing more from them when they release a full length.

          -Craig Harvey

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Lamb Of God

As The Palaces Burn

Prosthetic Records

Lamb Of God could be a very misleading title for a band. One might even assume this is a "Chrisitian Band" because of it. Trust me, Lamb Of God have nothing to do with Christianity whatsoever. However for a metal band, they have definitley earned that title hands down. The new release, "As The Palaces Burn" is sure to please even the most fickle of hardcore metal fans. It is non-stop mayhem from beginning to end. No keyboards, just twin guitars, drums, bass, and vocals. At times, some of the guitar riffs remind of me old Slayer tunes (Nothing wrong with that!) while

Randy Blythe's vocal style owe's it's allegiance to the more current crop of death/black metal bands. You know, growling, snarling, screaming etc...

It works very well for Lamb Of God's music, and to be honest any other type of vocal's would just not fit here. Brutal music needs brutal vocals and there is no shortage of either on this album.

I really enjoyed track three "Purified," which had some stunning lead work courtesy of Willie Alder and Mark Morton on guitars. Track four was also amazing (Remember that Slayer reference I made earlier?) as well as "Boot Scraper" and "Blood Junkie" which had a cool "Pantera vibe" to it. The last track "Vigil," had the only moment of "calm before the storm"  so to speak.  The beginning had a nice clean guitar passage before it kicked back into a powerhouse grinding guitar riff that has to be my favorite on the entire album. I have to tell you, after being assaulted by the new Dimmu Borgir release this year, I did not think anyone could come even close to their ferocity. Well, Lamb Of God are up there shaking the foundations of Heaven right along side them, and with music this intense, it's about to come crashing down any minute.

          -Craig Harvey

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 REVIEWS: NIEL RHODES :  01.23.04


 

Twilight Singers

Blackberry Belle

Birdman Records

     Greg Dulli is back. The Afghan Whigs may be buried and past be past; but Dulli has risen. And he is shining brighter than a thousand moons. This is music for the gloaming. For the inbetween time. This is where you go to feel beauty. Not to see it, or to know it. To feel it. When you hear this record, you will know what I mean. It isn’t lofty, grandiose. It isn’t epic or explosive. Dulli sounds as though he s trying to sing the stars down. "I caught a fever, a holy fire" so says "The Killer" and yes, you will. This album haunts you, curses you, and cuts you. But Dulli provides the salve. His voice velvet on broken glass and here is where you will remain: cut, bruised, scarred, and safe in the arms of a vicarious catharsis rarely delivered anymore. There is a certain pimpstride bravado which contrasts to the silent star-strewn-sky humbleness, both of which make appearances on this album. If he keeps writing beauty like this, God will take him soon, as he did Elliott Smith and Johnny Cash. Let us hope Dulli lives to play this beauty into infinity forever and ever and ever, amen.

     -Neil Rhodes

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Strong Bad

…Sings and other Type Hits

Homestarrunner.com

What the crap, man? It’s like, how did this review take so long. I don’t really read magazines. Most of them are all like, ‘Chris Martin is dating some crap for brains,’ or ‘Have you heard the new punk group? It sounds like TOTAL CRAP!’ But then I was all like, I put out a CD. Where’s my review? So I called Rolling Stone and Spin and CMJ and none of them were cool enough for my work, man. That’s why I am glad that Movement Magazine picked up the album, man. This guy, Neil, he’s a total piece of crap, but then he’s all like, ‘I’ll review your cd’ and I was all like, "whatever, stupid,’ and then he started crying and I was all like, ‘Man, you’re more of a baby than Strong Sad. What, did you just graduate from Diaper School?’ Then he wrote this review where he said the album was a ‘laugh riot’ and that these Chapman guys are really funny. Who the hell are these Chapman guys? I did like that he said that Marzipan’s songs were dumb unless I sang on them. That’s true! But I don’t know what was so funny. Me and this band Limozeen, we rocked that studio, man. I don’t even know if they should let anyone else record there, because they will all just sound like crap next to us. I let that doofus Homestar sing a song, but we put it at the end like one of those "secret tracks". That Coach Z, man, he busts a rhyme or two and that was kinda ok. I put that single I did with the Kinda Long Haired Band on the record. All in all, I would say it was a record you would put on when you are alone with your girl. She would be all begging for make outs. So, in conclusion, Homestar is stupid.

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Kraftwerk

Tour De France

Astralwerks

Twelve years have passed. Technology has moved forward. Complex musical pieces can be composed not on bulky analog synthesizers, not on large desktop computers, but on computers small enough to fit on a person’s lap. Machines have begun to take over man’s work, putting humanity out to pasture. Humans are little more than batteries used to power the giant machines…ok, so that part is B.S. subject matter for shit films with shit sequels. But Kraftwerk have returned. They are in the future as they were in the past and they have created a perfect soundtrack to a relatively relaxed sporting event: the Tour de France. Now in its centennial year, the Tour de France means much more to Europe (apparently) than it does to the U.S., even though the winner this year was an American cancer survivor. Of course, here they are probably calling it the Tour de Freedom or the Tour de Liberty or some nonsense. The point is, regardless of what you think of the Tour de France, this is a beautiful record. While electroclash artists are busy digging through Kraftwerk’s backcatalogue and stealing all of the samples they can, Kraftwerk are reaching forward and building an enormous ambient construct. This is what they do well. This is home for them. This is complexity through simplicity. So quiet and unassuming it engulfs the senses. There are things you miss the first time you listen. You cannot listen to this record without trancing out at some point: it’s beauty in a nutshell.  

Listen to: Vitamin, Aero Dynamik, Elektrokardiogramm, La Forme.

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Muse

Absolution

Taste Media

Muse are fucking awesome. There is no eloquent way to say it. Now, I know I am going to take flack for saying this, but…With their third studio release, Muse have accomplished what Radiohead could have done if the last three albums hadn’t been spent stroking Thom Yorke’s ego. This Album Is Perfect! Muse have never before delivered anything but a flawless record and this is no exception. This album is a little harder than the previous two, but it shows a steady progression for Muse. They are not going to give in to stagnation. Rick Wakefield once listed them as his favourite new prog rock band, accomplishing what Yes spent years trying to do: Play six or seven songs at the same time. This is a band who is very obviously, and very quietly, playing as though they are the last band on earth.

Listen to: Time Is Running Out, Stockholm Syndrome, Thoughts of a Dying Atheist

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The Locust

Plague Soundscapes

ANTI-/Epitaph

I have no idea what this record is about. There are no intelligible vocals, no distinguishable instrumentation…I am not even sure if these guys can play their instruments. I saw them live once, and they are funny. They dress in these green army fatigue t-shirts, tight biker shorts to match, and these masks that have bug eyes on ‘em. They are funny…but then again, so was Wesley Willis and his records sucked, too. None of the songs even reaches two minutes. All in all, I would call this record (in the words of Strong Bad) "TOTAL CRAP!"

Buy instead: a CD of whales mating

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Hannah Marcus

Desert Farmers

Bar None

This isn’t a rock n roll record. It’s much to sophisticated for that. Slow and sweet like Low, like Red House Painters, like Nick Cave. "Some things you should never see," Hannah says in "Laos". This album is not one of those things. See it, hear it, feel it. She is trying her best to tell you things that exude feeling but no words. The ideas seem to whip and fold in soft evening breezes. Never revealing everything at once. And you sometimes get mesmerized by the billowing, flowing rhythm. You come to some minutes later and Hannah has left something behind. There is no way to tell what, because you can’t see it head-on. She has that element of sad, mad preacher Nick Cave seems to bear. There is something incredibly important in every song, something that you are to find; but if anyone were to ask you what it is, there is no way you could put a finger on it. There are some artist who require something of the listener, some investment, and Hannah is one of them. She does not ask much, only that you pay attention and listen…Oh yeah, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor guitarist Efrim Manuck and bassist Thierry Amar make appearances…

Listen to: Laos, Stripdarts, Beloved.

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Clem Snide

A Beautiful EP

SpinART

Nothing makes me happier than Christina Agui-… I don’t like Christina Aguilera. But Clem Snide have come along and delivered a lovely rendition of her uplifting song "Beautiful". It’s great. And good. Great and good. This EP also delivers a lovely cover of Velvet Underground’s "I’ll Be Your Mirror". The crowning jewel to this EP, however, is the song "All Green", a tribute to summer and, *urp* summer love. Beyond that, this is an EP. C’mon, it’s only five dollars and you get a great cover of a crap pop song.

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Alpinestars

White Noise

Astralwerks

Just what the hell is this? Brit-pop? Electro? Electroshoegazerclash? Alpinestars draw from a myriad (yes, I said it, myriad. Look it up.) of styles. That’s probably why this is such a good record. This gets files alonside Death In Vegas. A good groove record. A soundtrack for the city. From front to back, this is a solid record, both danceable and outright listenable. Brian Molko even makes an appearance.

Listen to: Snow Patrol (Pt.2), Burning Up, Carbon Kid

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Mountaineers

Messy Century

Mute

Mountaineers have been described as a less somber Beta Band. Pretty accurate. And I would say there is an element of Syd Barrett floating through these songs as well. They seem to have his effortless way with the music and the crafting of songs. These Welsh boys, living now in Liverpool, have pushed the envelope. It’s a subtle push. You tend to write these songs off at first listen as "done before". Bad mistake. You turn this off without really paying attention and you’re throwing out the Wonka Bar without looking for the Golden Ticket. Yet another discovery I owe to KEXP (www.kexp.org), this is such a wonderful record I danced around the house while listening to it…and I’m obviously not afraid to admit it, which says a lot. It’s a soundtrack to summer evenings driving down unlit streets and backroad tree-lined paths with friends and moon and no direction. This is the comedown post-concert drive home record. You have to hear this record to understand.

Listen to: It’s Solid, I Gotta Sing, All My Life.

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Joss Stone

The Soul Sessions

S-Curve

On the whole, I would say that R&B sucks. There are a couple of decent artists: Maxwell, D’angelo. But on the whole, the genre (to quote Chris Rock) sucks. Enter Joss Stone. The first time I heard her I stopped for a moment. Had to. There was the White Stripes’ "Fell in Love with a Girl". Not the best song in the world in my opinion, but this version had Stevie Wonder keys, a thick and funky bottom, and a female belting out the vocals. Granted, she had changed the words to "Fell In Love with a Boy"; but…all I could say was "Damn!" I went immediately to the record store that day and bought the CD. Next shock(s): she’s white, she’s British, and she’s sixteen! On top of that, she not only covered the White Stripes, but Aretha Franklin’s "All the King’s Horses"! Joss has an incredibly mature voice. Couple that with ?uestlove from the roots backing her up and working on production…this album drips funk like sweet syrup and it sticks to you like barbecue sauce on some hot wings. It feels good. The funk can be felt deep enough to give the whitest boy some soul.

Listen to: Fell In Love with A Boy, Dirty Man, All the King’s Horses.

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Micro REviews : 01.20.03

Minga
Flipside
FUA
Some of the songs make good background music, but are a little too chill to be the focus of your attention. Others are throw-away pop. If utilized with more interesting jazz music, Minga would be listenable. Alas, she isn't so right now.
-whitney weiss


Fingertight
In The Name of Progress
Columbia
Though the song title "Emo This" would be amusing if it belonged to a band exploding with talent and irony, it doesn't work on Fingertight's record of blah-blah-blah boy pain. I thought nu-metal was dead and gone, but apparently Columbia's A&R department hasn't gotten that memo.
-whitney weiss


Various Artists
Juju Presents: Breakbeat Science: Exercise 002
Breakbeat Science
Happy beats that evoke images of frozen drinks on beaches, car commercials, and shopping for UFO pants in Miami. The kind of music bronzed European men dance topless to.
-whitney weiss

Saves the Day
In Reverie
Vagrant/Dreamworks
Holy shit! Saves the Days sounds like Weezer now! This is good, because Weezer no longer sounds like Weezer. The cover of In Reverie is mostly BLUE. Concidence? I think not. The album art is great; kids will be wishing they got it inked in their skin instead of those stupid nautical stars.
-whitney weiss

James Zabiela
Sound in Motion
Hooj Choons
This gave me A.D.D. I will personally congratulate you if you make it through disc one and onto disc two while sober and not in a club atmosphere.
-whitney weiss

Various Artists
Deep Dish Toronto #25
Global Underground
Please see above review.
-whitney weiss

Various Artists
Steve Lawler "Lights Out"
Global Underground
The highlight is the deep robot voice saying "Global Promo" at the beginning of each song. Since your version won't have that, don't bother.
-whitney weiss

Ils
Soul Trader
This made a lot of top-20 lists. Imagine that. (My Utopia)
-whitney weiss

Various Artists
Manna Medicine
CyberOctave
Though the earth-y instruments were nice, for the most part the songs were flat lines lacking any momentum.
-whitney weiss

jKettle
Momentary Delights
Soul Shard Records
Wonderful music with upright bass and sultry brass usually saved for jazz recordings. Excellent quality production and French voices that are just cute enough (and not too cute) should leave music fans, be they Francophile or not, smiling. It's amazing and you should really check it out. We love it!
-whitney weiss

Amen
3 song sampler
Columbia
It wants to be old-school punk. It's not.
-whitney weiss

Hurry-Up Offense!
The Labor Day EP
We don't know whether to cry or vomit, it's that bad.
-whitney weiss

Graham Parker
Your Country
Bloodshot
Not even Lucinda Williams and a Dead cover can save this album from mediocrity.
-whitney weiss

The Offspring
Splinter
Columbia
It all went to shit when they left the indies behind and embarked on this quest of suck-dom. The loudest laugh comes from hearing "The Worst Hangover Ever," a hopeless attempt to repeat the success of "Why Don't You Get a Job" almost a half-decade ago. Give it up, guys.
-whitney weiss

The Kids of Widney High
Act Your Age
Moon Man Records
Like Wesley Willis and The Langley School Music Project had a baby. Notable tracks include "Life Without the Cow" and "Two Faces on Fidel."
-whitney weiss

The Cruxshadows
Ethernaut
Dancing Ferret Discs
It's all elf boots, torn lace, and black makeup, baby! Blank tracks (14,15,16, and 18) are a bonus!
-neil rhodes


The Crystal Method
Legion of Boom
V2 Records
This album does what the title says. It booms. It boomed so loud I puked blood. Then I skipped back and listened to "Born Too Slow" featuring former Kyuss frontman John Garcia and former Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland ... just so I could puke blood again. Hell yes!
-neil rhodes


The Forces of Evil
Friend or Foe
Jive Records
It's "ska".
-neil rhodes


St. Famine Society
5-song promo E.P.
self-released
Girl-fronted bedroom industrial. Dude, where's my four-track?
-neil rhodes


Blank
Overhead
ArtofFact Records
I once heard Franko do this in his bedroom in, like, 15 minutes.
-neil rhodes


Psyche
Babylon Deluxe
ArtofFact Records
I can program a computer, choose the perfect time, if you've got the inclination, I've got the crime. Let's make lots of money...'80's style.
-neil rhodes


Taken
Soundtrack
Dreamworks
Some songs from a T.V. series. Better than that "American Dream" crap. (Hey, it has the Stooges...)
-neil rhodes


Lamb of God
As the Palaces Burn
Prosthetic Records
BWHAAAAAAAAAAA! GRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! GROOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWLLLLLLL! death metal.
-neil rhodes


Funeral for a Friend
Seven Ways to Scream Your Name
Ferret Music
These guys like Thursday...a lot!
-neil rhodes


Everybody® Sander Kleinenberg
It's a Renaissance
Thrive Records
Sander Kleinenberg knows how to kick it. Pink German Disko.
-neil rhodes


Various Artists
Om Lounge 8
Om records
Promises: A sterophonic parlour of global rhythms and high performance atmospheres
Delivers: Soundtrack to British indie film.
-neil rhodes


Texas Chainsaw Massacre
soundtrack
Bulletproof Records
It's Texas Chainsaw Massacre in my ears. Heavy metal. It's a soundtrack.
-neil rhodes


Oddzar
Advance CD
Dcide Records
Hard rock for people who think that 93.3 is still "cutting edge".
-neil rhodes

Boys Night Out
Make Yourself Sick
Ferret Music
Punk rock for the Avril Lavigne generation.
-neil rhodes


SSX 3
Soundtrack
Astralwerks
It's a soundtrack to a video game. Features the Faint, Placebo, Kinky, Royksopp...but you should just buy these albums individually...really...go buy them you stealing-from-the-artists-downloading-songs-on-kazaa-cheap-bastards.
-neil rhodes


Thessalonian Dope Gods
High Idol Pulsation
Cargo Records
I shall review this Japan-style:
Making nice the dancing puppies glow feverishly. Don't stepping around the bushes.
-neil rhodes


John Wubbenhorst & Facing East
Facing Beloved
Facing East Productions
Music to watch PBS to.
-neil rhodes


Our Lady Peace
Live
Columbia
Our Lady Peace. Live.
-neil rhodes



 Micro REviews : 01.16.03

Krust & Die Present
I Kamanchi
Full Cycle

This moves your feet but isn’t anything worth shouting about.
-whitney weiss

The Unicorns
Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?
Alien 8

Lo-fi album has fun with keyboards, makes lots of critics’ top-ten lists.
-whitney weiss

Various Artists
Immigrant Sun Records Summer Sampler 2003
Immigrant Sun Records

By the bands, it goes as follows: Elad Love Affair is Bjork fronting an aggro rock group. Nakatomi Plaza is a tone-deaf Blink 182. Amanda Rogers is a meeker version of Tori Amos. The Wage of Sin is really, really pissed (and taking it out on their instruments/vocal chords). With Resistance has the same problem as The Wage of Sin. Next, please.
-whitney weiss

Audra Kubat
Million Year-Old Sand
Times Beach

Others compared Audra Kubat to Joni Mitchell, but I won’t. The guitar parts, equally picked and strummed, show skill and an ear for songwriting. Kubat’s voice is husky but light simultaneously. Together, guitar and voice create dangling guitars and vocals that are equal parts beautiful and hypnotic, though the lack of variation on some aspects of her vocal style sometimes gets a bit old. Regardless, this is worth checking out.
-whitney weiss

Zongamin
s/t
XL Recordings/Beggars Group

Though the electro surf-rock of the opening track left us with grimaces, by the time the rest of the CD played, we had progressed from “this isn’t so bad” to smiles and “I love it, it’s so great.” What can we say? The unpredictable approach to time and well-organized balance of sounds won us over. Aside from a few lesser tracks, this self-titled album shows that Zongamin has good things to offer to the world of electronic music (kind of how Plastilla Mosh does, actually). It’s different, and different is good.
-whitney weiss

Alli with an I
I learned by watching you
Suburban Home

They sound like every band whose name you forgot at Warped Tour. “I’ve got a box of your old love letters/They smell like your perfume” is their best line. Perhaps someday music like this will be kitsch, but right now it just sucks.
-whitney weiss

Pacifier
Album Sampler
Arista

Destined for endless rotation behind Puddle of Mudd on Planet Radio.
-whitney weiss

David J
Estranged
Heyday

The days of the troubadours are long gone, yet this album still remains. I’m still hoping for the Love and Rockets reunion.
-whitney weiss

The Black Watch
Very Mary Beth
Stone Garden

Off-key vocals, bland music, and end rhymes that should never be heard by anyone.
-whitney weiss

Kittens For Christian
Privilege of Your Company
Serjical/Red Ink

All that’s forgettable about 80s music resurfaces on one album sure to put our overly-romantic backward vision to rest. The lead singer whines like Morrissey but his voice sounds more like a gay British Fred Durst. This is an important lesson in realizing that just because a band has good influences doesn’t mean their sound will be anything more than mediocre.
-whitney weiss

Kazell
Driven
Velocity

Forgettable house DJ mix.
-whitney weiss

Celebrity
Lovesick
Doghouse

Hints of The Cure’s guitars and Duran Duran’s vocal melodies creep into a record of solid enough songwriting. At times, it drags on a bit too much for my tastes, but Celebrity is not without talent.
-whitney weiss

London Electricity
Billion Dollar Gravy
Breakbeat Science

Gee, I’ve only heard this like a thousand times, but I really appreciate you trying to pass it off on me as something new.
-whitney weiss

Flick
Iron Bottom Sound
Red Ink/Columbia

The singer channels Scott Weiland and the guitars rip off both Guns N Roses and Weezer. The few times Flick accidentally stumbles onto something catchy, they’re quick to bury it under a pile of half-hearted hooks and forgettable choruses.
-whitney weiss

Richard X
X-Factor Vol. 1
Astralwerks

Dude, there’s a guest appearance by Jarvis Cocker and really sweet cover art.
-whitney weiss

Pako and Frederik
Atlantic Breakers
GlobalUnderground

A boring approach to electronic music. Beat beat/beat riff. No good.
-whitney weiss

Tommy Guerrero
Soul Food Taqueria
Mowax/Beggars Group

Thank you, Tommy Guerrero, for doing new things with electronic music and creating a relaxed and pleasing sound instead of rehashing all that is bad.
-whitney weiss