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MICRO REVIEWS
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Kill Me Tomorrow
The Garbageman and the Prostitute
(CSL)

The best way to describe Kill Me Tomorrow without mentioning other bands is "art school post-punk." I think I'd enjoy seeing this band live more than I've enjoyed listening to their CD, because it sounds like they have energy that doesn't transfer well during recording. However, The Garbageman and the Prostitute's second disc features four videos of song on the album. When coupled with visuals, Kill Me Tomorrow's music holds one's interest for longer. Either way, it seems this band is one you'd see live and then buy the album, not vice versa.

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Sleep Station
After the War
(Bardic/Eyeball)

The amount After the War jumps around is more indecesive than it is elecletic. That said, Sleep Station are worth listening to, because their stronger moments are quite pleasing. Those stronger moments include: "After the War," "Caroline, London 1940," "Waiting," and "Goodnight to the Moon."

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Pepper
In With The Old
(Volcom)

Pepper is channeling Sublime something fierce. The lyrics occasionally cringe-worthy, but try to ignore them. The music, when it refrains from bursting into a predictable distorted chorus, is perfect for toking on the beach (this, of course, is excluding the highly embarrassing "Punk Rock Cowboy," which should never be listened to ever). Thanks, Volcom!

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Number One Fan
Compromises
(Pat's Record Company)

If you (a) enjoy the emotional musical stylings of Dashboard Confessional, (b) are a 15 year old boy who cannot get laid because you're too busy writing wistful love songs in your bedroom, (c) are a 15 year old girl who thinks music made by those channeling their inner 15 year old boy who cannot get laid... is enjoyable, then you will most likely enjoy Number One Fan. If you are neither (a), (b), nor (c), then this predictable blend of bland love-lost whining will make your teeth hurt.

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The Bad Plus
Give
(Columbia)

A CD of first-takes (except for two edits) that sounds better than most of the contrived BS we get in this office. It's jazz without overly-gratituious solos. The Bad Plus describes its own songs in the liner notes, and says this about "Cheney Pinata": "Picture our lonely VP rendered in papier-mache and filled with candy and treats instead of oil and defense contracts." And there's a cover of "Iron Man." Wonderful.

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Cypress Hill
Till Death Do U$ Part
(Columbia)

A haiku:

Nothing on this disc
resembles "Rock Superstar."
Yay! More ganja songs.

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The Cooper Temple Clause
Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Break Loose
(RCA)

The Cooper Temple Clause is what Radiohead would be if they didn't have to stroke Thom Yorke's ego all the time. Considering that's the goal of most other bands in England, this is quite the accomplishment. With the exception of "Promises Promises," all of the songs on Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Break Loose are interesting, unpredictable, and well-arranged. Definitely a CD worth spending money to get. This may be your new favorite band. We were certainly impressed.

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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.


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.


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.


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. Coincidence? 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.


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.


Various Artists
Deep Dish Toronto #25
(Global Underground)

Please see above review.


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.


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


Various Artists
Manna Medicine
CyberOctave

Though the earth-y instruments were nice, for the most part the songs were flat lines lacking any momentum.


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!


Amen
3 song sampler
(Columbia)

It wants to be old-school punk. It's not.


Hurry-Up Offense!
The Labor Day EP

We don't know whether to cry or vomit, it's that bad.


Graham Parker
Your Country
(Bloodshot)

Not even Lucinda Williams and a Dead cover can save this album from mediocrity.


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.


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."


The Cruxshadows
Ethernaut
(Dancing Ferret Records)

It's all elf boots, torn lace, and black makeup, baby! Blank tracks (14,15,16, and 18) are a bonus!


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!


The Forces of Evil
Friend or Foe
(Jive Records)

It's "ska."


St. Famine Society
5-song promo EP
(self-released)

Girl-fronted bedroom industrial. Dude, where's my four-track?


Blank
Overhead
(ArtofFact Records)

I once heard Franko do this in his bedroom in, like, 15 minutes.


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.


Various Artists
Taken Soundtrack
(Dreamworks)

Some songs from a T.V. series. Better than that "American Dream" crap. (Hey, it has the Stooges...)


Lamb of God
As the Palaces Burn
(Prosthetic Records)

BWHAAAAAAAAAAA! GRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! GROOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWLLLLLLL! death metal.


Funeral for a Friend
Seven Ways to Scream Your Name
(Ferret Music)

These guys like Thursday...a lot!


Everybody® Sander Kleinenberg
It's a Renaissance
(Thrive Records)

Sander Kleinenberg knows how to kick it. Pink German Disko.


Various Artists
Om Lounge 8
(Om records)

Promises: A sterophonic parlour of global rhythms and high performance atmospheres.
Delivers: Soundtrack to British indie film.


Texas Chainsaw Massacre soundtrack
(Bulletproof Records)

It's Texas Chainsaw Massacre in my ears. Heavy metal. It's a soundtrack.


Oddzar
Advance CD
(DCide Records)

Hard rock for people who think that 93.3 is still "cutting edge."


Boys Night Out
Make Yourself Sick
(Ferret Music)

Punk rock for the Avril Lavigne generation.


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.


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.


John Wubbenhorst & Facing East
Facing Beloved
(Facing East Productions)

Music to watch PBS to.


Our Lady Peace
Live
(Columbia)

Our Lady Peace. Live.


Krust & Die
Present I Kamanchi
(Full Cycle)

This moves your feet but isn't anything worth shouting about.


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.


Various Artists
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.


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.


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.


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.


Pacifier
Album Sampler
(Arista)

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


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.


The Black Watch
Very Mary Beth
(Stone Garden)

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


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.


Kazell
Driven
(Velocity)

Forgettable house DJ mix.


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.


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.


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.


Richard X
X-Factor Vol. 1
(Astralwerks)

Dude, there's a guest appearance by Jarvis Cocker and really sweet cover art.


Pako and Frederik
Atlantic Breakers
(GlobalUnderground)

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


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.


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REVIEWS
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yelworC
Trinity
(Metropolis)

"Thru me, demonized mind glints thru sideless eyes." That is only a brief glimpse of what awaits you on this album. Trinity has got to be one of the blackest, most terrifying piece's of electronic music I have heard in a long, long, time. It is a horrifying journey based upon Dante's Inferno, into the nine circular layers of Hell itself. The name Yelworc, interestingly enough, spelled backwards is Crowley; as in "Aleister Crowley," a man who is legendary among those who delve into magic and the occult. This is the man who tried to make his image disappear in the mirror, and who coined the phrase: "Do what thou wilt and thou will be the whole of the law." Even after his death, he is still revered and followed by many people around the globe. It is rather obvious that Peter Devin, who is the wicked genius behind this spectacular CD, holds mister Crowley in very high esteem.

It is hard to describe just how evil and dark-sounding this album is, because it really must be experienced to be truly appreciated. It is the definitive soundtrack to the apocalypse, with harsh pounding beats, almost tribal in nature, wrapped in layers of atmospheric synths, thundering bass lines, sinister spoken lyrics, and other various sound effects and samples. All the songs flow into one another, so it is hard to tell where one starts and another ends. However, I feel this is how it should be listened to; as one entire body of work and not separate songs. Regardless, it is a nightmarish undertaking into the depths of despair, suffering, and eternal damnation which will drag you down into the pit along side the souls of the lost.

Apparently Peter has been making his terrifying soundscapes since the early 80's, but this is my first experience with the foreboding sounds of Yelworc. I know there were only a few earlier releases (Brainstorming and Blood In Face), but these are long out of print and are extremely hard to find. Also, it is painfully obvious that Yelworc's demonic sound helped pave the way for such industrial icons as Hocico, Wumpscut, and Suicide Commando just to name a few. So for those who have been awaiting the triumphant return of this incredible band, I can assure you that Trinity will not disappoint. A friend described this album as "black metal without the guitars." In some ways I agree, but one thing is for certain: it is not for the squeamish or weak of heart. Listen at your own peril.

-Craig Harvey


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Lights Of Euphoria
Krieg Gegen Die Maschinen
(Metropolis)

 
The latest release from Lights of Euphoria, Krieg Gegen Die Maschinen, is a rather confusing CD in some ways. The music is definitely good, but it sounds like a different band on almost every track. This is due in part to having several guest vocalists that contributed their talents to this album, not to mention a wide variety of styles are covered as well. The first single "True Life" sounds similar to what I heard on their last full-length, Voices. The rest of the CD, however, is all over the musical spectrum. Track two, Consequence, has VNV Nation frontman Ronin Harris on vocals, which is fine, but it sounds more like a VNV song than a Lights of Euphoria undertaking. "Fly To Target (Shellshox Remix)" sounds more like Hocico, but it's actually A. Mather from Tactical Sekt screaming with demonic glee on this track. Gerrit Thomas (Funker Vogt/Ravenous/Fictional) handles keyboard duties on two tracks, but "Nothing At All" has that typical bouncing keyboard sound that is usually present in everything he does, and so you can imagine what this song will remind you of.

I guess calling Lights Of Euphoria a "band" is not completely accurate, when in fact it is the brainchild of Torben Schmidt, who handles most of the programming, composition, keyboards etc... As I mentioned earlier there are some really outstanding songs on this release. For instance, "Interface 1, 2, and 3," which are at the beginning, middle and end of the album, are very dark, experimental, almost noise tracks in some ways.  What bothered me was not the mixture of industrial/synthpop/ebm/noise all on one album. The main problem with this CD is that it just does not flow very well, plain and simple. I kept waiting to see what band was up next. In the future I would like to see Torben focus on one area rather than trying to cover such a wide array of music. If you don't think of this as a L.O.E. release, and you like a myriad of electronic styles and sounds I think it will go over well. Regardless, it's the best compilation I have heard in a while.

-Craig Harvey


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In Strict Confidence
Holy
(Metropolis Records)
 
In Strict Confidence does it again with another fantastic release entitled Holy. Continuing with the subject matter (angels, afterlife, love, etc…) from the last two CDs Love Kills and Mistrust The Angels, they have evolved their incredible sound of darkwave/industrial to new heights! There is more guitar than on the previous releases, which I felt only improved the songs, without taking away from the overall electro feel of the album. (So all you electro purists don’t panic!) One track in particular, “Another Night” has an almost KMFDM vibe because of the massive guitar riff that courses through the song. However, the band takes it down several notches with the beautiful and enchanting “Sleepless.” The tender female vocals provided by Antje Schulz (lead vocalist for Chandeen) will wrap you in a warm, soothing embrace of tranquility, as the music washes over you like a gentle rain. It’s a perfect contrast to the deep raspy sound of lead singer’s Dennis Osterman’s voice. You can hear how well this works on the apocalyptic “Closing Eyes,” where Dennis and another great female vocalist Nadine Stelzer trade lines back and forth.

The songwriting is very well-crafted and thought-provoking as well. As I mentioned earlier, it centers on various religious themes, relationships, life and death, and so forth. The photography for the cover and booklet art by Jens Howorka is simply stunning. The beautiful image's of the semi nude nun, in various poses adds even more depth to the songs themselves. As far as songs go, one of the most interesting tracks was the massive 13 minute instrumental “Alpha Centauri.” It’s a dark ambient piece with a pulsing bass line that reminded me of director John Carpenter’s film scores from his earlier movies.  However, I think that it became slightly repetitious after seven or eight minutes, and they could have shortened the song and gotten the same effect. As for club hits, there is a plethora of them on this CD. Along with the songs I mentioned previously (other than Alpha Centauri) “Seven Lives, Babylon (the first single), Emergency, and The Darkest Corridors” are just waiting to be unleashed on the dance floor.

I think that Holy is going to be the bands tour de force. They have created a dark and powerful CD that will please the broody gothic crowd and the hard electro fans as well. It seems that the genres are so split apart sometimes, that it’s wonderful to find a band who meshes the two musical elements together so well. And again, I must give credit to the vocal talents of Antje Schulz and Nadine Stelzer, whose lovely voices only enhanced these songs even more. Personally, I can’t wait to see what is in store for the band next, as it is going to be hard to top this amazing musical undertaking. (I said that about the last album as well, and they did.)  Go figure. I already know this is going to be one of my favorite releases of 2004, as I am sure it will be for many of you as well.
 
- Craig Harvey
 
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Emulsion
Death Of An Author EP

I first heard Emulsion a few months ago, when I stumbled across a 7" vinyl release entitled SonidoNegro on Ebay. It was labeled as an Ant-Zen release (noise/experimental label), but it turned out that was not the case. However, the music sounded as if it belonged to that genre, and I was very impressed with the dark ambient drones and noise soundscapes that flowed from my turntable. So, when I received Death Of An Author EP, I was more than ready to hear some new material from this unknown artist.

There are only five songs on this CD (that's why they call it an EP) and the song "Sonido Negro" is included as well. One of the best tracks is the cover of the Cure's "Pornography." It doesn't even sound anything like the original, with the exception of the lyrics. It has a dark loop of what I perceive to be, a sample of "Laura Palmers Theme" from Twin Peaks, with erratic noises interlaced in the mix, and the lyrics whispered via spoken word rather than actually being sung. It is a very haunting and eerie version of this song, and the use of the Twin Peaks material was just brilliant. The next track, "Is Lust," is a pounding, rhythmic noise bombardment that will definitely clean your ears out. Track three, "Undone," is more melodic, with cello sounding synth lines that move across the haunting ambient sound structures. The final two songs, "Sonido Negro" and "Every Machine Makes A Mistake" encompassed unsettling drones, sampled voices, and strange alien noises that would fit nicely into any horror film soundtrack.

Overall, I think that anyone who is into experimental/noise or any electronic music that is off the beaten track will appreciate this release, and I am definitely looking forward to a full-length CD hopefully in the near future. I also discovered that Emulsion has been touring with several bands from the Invisible label, so check out the website (www.emulsionmusic.com) for tour dates and other information.

-Craig Harvey


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Die Form
InHuman
(Metropolis Records)

After several releases of older, out-of-print and rare material, Die Form returns with a brand new CD that the fans have been waiting for. The duo of Philippe Fichot (synths/programming/vocals) and Eliane P (vocals) weave an intricate web of dark, sensual, electronic music that crosses borders between pleasure and pain, light and dark, and the duality of human nature itself. This is not new territory for them; if anything this is the subject matter that is the main force behind all of their works. However, they always find new and different ways to explore these realms without becoming cliche or boring.

I found that "Inhuman" has some great club potential (so the DJs will definitely be happy.) Track one, "The Supreme Vice,"  starts off the album with a powerful driving beat, Philippe's unique electro sound, and Eliane's rapturous vocals (which are in incredibly fine form I might add.) The next two tracks, "Ad Libitum" and "In the Depths Of Mania," are again two fantastic songs that are just begging to be unleashed on the dance floor. Slower songs such as "Feerie" and "Zoopsia" showcase a slightly softer side, but never lose sight of the dark majesty found on their harder material. "Diktat (Savage Peace)" was one of my favorites, mainly because of the beat. It had a drum and bass-like groove that set it apart from almost every other song on the album.

I also liked the interplay between Philippe's robotic vocals (much of it in French) and Eliane's operatic style of singing. It really accentuates the "light/dark" effect that makes up so much of their lyrical content.  If I had to say anything negative about "Inhuman" it would have to be that some of Eliane's vocal structures sounded to similar on many of the songs. And while her voice is beautiful, it would have been nice to see her experiment a little more. However, this is a minor quibble and should definitely not deter you from buying this CD, as it is one of their strongest releases to date and defintely worth every penny.

-Craig Harvey



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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 okay. 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.

-Neil Rhodes

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Kraftwerk
Tour De France
(Astralwerks)

12 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…okay, 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 back catalogue 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.

-Neil Rhodes

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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

-Neil Rhodes

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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

-Neil Rhodes

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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.

-Neil Rhodes

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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.

-Neil Rhodes

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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 filed alongside 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

-Neil Rhodes

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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.

-Neil Rhodes

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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 16! 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.

-Neil Rhodes

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All Night Radio
Spirit Stereo Frequency
(Sub Pop)


All Night Radio is Dave Scher (Beachwood Sparks) and Jimi Hey (Beachwood Sparks, Strictly Ballroom, The Rapture). According to the band, this is the preferred sound source for People, Places, Plants, Ghosts, Jellyfish, and Future Beings. This is Spirit Stereo. And it’s broadcasting all night, all channels. This is a meandering trip through the airwaves, channeled through mediums, and touched by angels. Unfettered. Good word for this record. What’s here is a gravity-free, spaced-out record. God don’t make the rules here. All Night Radio do. The damned have a voice and they are broadcasting. Somewhere in here Johnny Fever is whispering ‘booger’ and laughing quietly to himself. I haven’t actually heard that…but if Johnny is still on the air (and believe me, he is), it’s on All Night Radio. Pirated, piggy-backed, and perfect.

-Neil Rhodes

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The Changes
First of May EP
(self-released/www.the-changes.com)


With the rise of post-rock have come numerous sound-alike bands. Bands that are technically decent begin to blur into some kind of impressionistic mural, with no delineation between one group’s sound and the next. But for local Chicago act The Changes, it’s another story. Blending Steely Dan- and Van Morrison-esque jazz riffs with post-rock stylings, they have created not only a unique sound, but a meaningful one. These aren’t cut and paste rock songs taken from pre-molded formulae. These are lovingly crafted, musically mature, lyrically present songs. If this tiny, 5-song e.p. is any indication of what can be expected from these boys in the future, we’re looking forward to a string of perfect albums. I, for one, am on the edge of my seat.

-Neil Rhodes

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The Elected
Me First
(Sub Pop)

Blake Sennett is in this band. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get on with this record. This album is a drag. Or, rather, it drags. But that isn’t to say it isn’t good. It has the feel of 8 P.M. sunset. On your porch with a beer. And definitely this record. Friday nights before you get weekend-hammered and are still coming down from your crap job. Excitement is coming, but for now you hover in a smog-choked, mind-numbing stupor, here in the gloaming. Everything is Mars-red, and the pollution is on fire on the horizon. Tonight, someone will get mugged, someone will shoot another person, someone will break up with their lover, someone will hit a person they love, someone will tell you to go away and leave them alone. But for now, you hover. There ain’t no gravity in this place. Passed up for a promotion once again, worked a 70 hour week once again, and drowning in self-pity…turn on "Greetings In Braille," "September 2003," or "C’mon Mom" and watch the city swallow itself.

-Neil Rhodes

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inbrief
tidbits of musically-inclined news
by Whitney Weiss

Another reason not to listen to The Vines (like you needed one)
Apparently bands are borrowing more than just sounds from each other now. Aussie rockers The Vines (who for some reason keep getting compared to Nirvana) have a video that is remarkably similar to one put out by a talented D.C. band.

The Dismemberment Plan, who broke up last summer after a decade of making music, had done a video for their song "Time Bomb" over a year ago. In mid-March, former Plan singer/guitarist Travis Morrison posted on his website ( www.travismorrison.com ) links to both the "Time Bomb" and The Vines' videos. The Vines video can be found through MTV.com and The Dismemberment Plan video remains on the group's site, www.dismembermentplan.com .

Be sure to go and see for yourself.


Black Tuesday
Apparently, EMI isn't a fan of artistic creativity. They cease-and-desisted Danger Mouse's "Grey Album," a stunning combination of The Beatles' "White Album" sounds and Jay-Z's rhymes from his "Black Album."

EMI's decision caught the attention of internet music activists who run the website www.downhillbattle.com . These regular-looking kids organized a mass online protest, where they encouraged people to post "The Grey Album" on their sites. Downhill Battle linked to those sites, and on "Black Tuesday" "The Grey Album" made its way about the Internet with the help of a massively positive response.

These combinations of music aren't really all that rare anymore. Recently, MTV Latin America aired a whole bunch of clips of music video collages with sound that paired Madonna and The Sex Pistols as well as "Work It" and "Eye of the Tiger." Be sure to keep an eye out for the future of this type of creativity, and support the kids at Downhill Battle. One of them was clever enough to reference Rauschenberg's collage styles in visual art and how it was revered, while the collage styles of Danger Mouse were ill-recieved by the business heads who run the music industry.


Eenie Meenie Records
With so many record labels doing showcases at South By Southwest in Austin, it'd be impossible for a single journalist or music fan to see everyone worth seeing. That's why we're going to help you out. Eenie Meenie Records has a bunch of bands who are worth hearing, but who you've most likely not yet listened to. Go to their website, www.eeniemeenie.com , and find your new favorite indie-pop group.


Eenie Meenie Records sampler
Here's a breakdown of the label's roster as represented through their sampler:

High Water Music - Pretty and bouncy indie-pop with both male and female vocals. This group has too much energy to be labelled "generic" or "contrived." It's refreshing and would be perfect background music to someone riding a Vespa or jumping on a trampoline.

Irving - Irving wins the award for best title. The song's called "Did I Ever Tell You I'm In Love With Your Girlfriend" and it could very well be the modern indie-pop version of "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." However, Irving needs to stop using that voice-distorting thing where the singer sounds like he's singing through a cell phone in one of those "can you hear me now?" ads.

From Bubblegum to Sky - If Elliott Smith took uppers and plodded along on guitars and hasty drums, you'd have From Bubblegum to Sky. Oh, and there's some programming involved that sounds faintly like disco-beats.

Gravity and Henry - had a singer whose voice I swear I've heard before. It sounds kind of like that guy from Vertical Horizon. You know them, they did that one song a couple years ago that radio fell in love with so they bombarded listeners. Gravity and Henry could be a good "crossover band."

Blue-Eyed Son - Good acoustic guitars, wistful Elliott Smith guitar chords. Actually, kind of Elliott Smith all around, but in a good way. Listen to Blue-Eyed Son. Heck, Elliott won't be making music anytime soon so you best be finding a new acoustic sad boy to love.

Pine*am - The music sounds like videogames, the girls look like a Japanese version of T.A.T.U. (plus-one!), and the vocals sound like the Muppets.

Sesku Roba - More video game sounds, but with a bassline from a keyboard that one could shake one's ass to, if one felt inclined. However, they sang about L.A. and that is so played out.

DJ Me DJ You - Holy shit, you can sing the "work it all night" song AND "Push It" to DJ Me DJ You's "Trouble." "Trouble" is all electric piles of stuff, which is compensated by confused horns and acoustic guitar on "People Together." This is making me cranky.

The Faraway Places - You heard them already, basically. They sound kind of like High Water Marks, but with more soul. Real soul, too. Actually, "Marvelous Error" is a damn good song. I would have caught that sooner if I wasn't recovering from Pine*am and Sesku Roba.



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independent
submitted music reviewed
by Whitney Weiss

Nordic
The Transatlantic EP

Shame on all you signed bands with boring music and silly CD art. Nordic, an unsigned band from Portland, has raised the bar for unsigned artists and put the mediocre mainstream to shame with the release of The Transatlantic EP.

Any band with quality production, a distinct sound, and the ability already to write songs that listeners find both interesting and accessible is quite a catch. Nordic has all that and professional, interesting packaging. The variety on their EP isn't an inability to focus on an artistic direction; it's the type that keeps a listener interested. There's no frantic attempt to assure the audience that Nordic is not a one-trick pony, and the confidence in place of an awkward beginning is impressive.

A lot of CDs come across our desks here, and a staggering number end up being disappointing. How refreshing, nay, amazing, it is to randomly encounter such a talented up-and-coming group of musicians who give writers hope in the professionalism and musicianship of unsigned bands. I'll look forward to hearing more from and about Nordic in the future.

-Whitney Weiss



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microreviews
we trudge through the shite
to find you the albums worth buying
by Whitney Weiss


Single Frame
Wetheads Come Running
Volcom
The album's arrangement of 30-second interludes and 2 or 3 minute songs is interesting, but this band would be better suited to focus on shortening the length of their album. 20 songs drowns out the great stuff that the video portion of the CD brought to our attention. Check out the videos for sure. And, as Max said, "They should make an entire album of interludes."

Sloan
Action Pact
Koch Records
"Live On" has a cowbell on it. You can't technically go wrong with a cowbell, but after awhile, Sloan's uber-polished rock sound kind of left me wanting more. It's like eating a Pop Tart when what you really want is a blueberry pie.

Gold Cash Gold
Paradise Pawned Vol. 1
Times Beach
Hair metal is making a comeback and the Darkness are fun because they mock it. But Gold Cash Gold takes it seriously, and that's why I couldn't take this CD. It's everything you didn't like about the 1980s.

Bad Acid Trip
CD sampler
Serjical Strike Records
The bio described this band as "a blistering audio assault of dizzyingly fast thrash/punk/metal/grind." And oh, what an assault it was. It was about as fun listening to Bad Acid Trip as it would be to experience an actual bad acid trip.



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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.