If the band had put this one out in the mid-eighties when their style was thought
of as tolerable, some washed-out thirty-somethings might have enjoyed it.
Unfortunately for them and fortunately for us, time has marched onward, and this
type of shit just doesn't cut it anymore. Pared down to Jim Kerr and
guitarist/keyboardist Charlie Burchill the band foregoes drastic change
(something that probably would have been out of their league anyway) and has
decided to mire themselves in the glory days. Save your money on this one.
-Tom Cornell
If the movie wasn't dumb enough for you, check out the soundtrack.
-Brian Bruxvoort
Pop music rarely sounds this consistently gorgeous and untampered. Listening to
Ivy's quiet, precise pop, it's hard not to slip into a sunny place in your mind,
where every day is a piña colada. Singer Dominique Durand's careful voice
is the focal point of the tunes. Her sweet, French accent has an immediate
effect, while the band's sense of mood and melody are uncanny. The band writes
nifty jagged pop tunes that rival the stuff that made Velocity Girl's debut such
a big cahoopa. And best of all, they can change up from the catchy hooks of
"Don't Believe A Word" to the evocative textures of
"Shallow." Realistic is an album that reveals itself more with each
listen. It quietly demands attention, and it deserves it.
-Tom Cornell
Up to this point, these recordings were extremely rare and terribly expensive as
original singles. The Television Personalities helped pioneer the British punk
movement, not by spiking their hair up and screaming for anarchy, but by
recording their music independently and by being exceptional songwriters. Their
songs were simple, perfect gems and have stood the test of time to finally be
re-released on this brilliant compilation.
-Brian Bruxvoort
Fabric have long been gaining momentum in the British underground. Their
hard-core sound is a slap in the face to the trendy Brit sounds of Suede and
Stone Roses. Metallic guitar riffs dominate the mix with screaming vocals
writhing underneath, but a respect for lyrics and melody is there too. And
because of that, Fabric have a lot of potential. If you can't find the album in
your local record store, you can order it from Doghouse Records at PO Box 8946,
Toledo, OH 43623.
-Tom Cornell
With a grandiose title like "The Great Subconscious Choice," you know,
you're in for trouble, and the songs here are about what you'd expect. This folk
duo owes a lot to the Indigo Girls and Tori Amos for their angst ridden,
philosophically waxed lyrics and cheesy melodies. The effect is similar to eaten
leftovers of a bad meal.
-Brian Bruxvoort
For Barkmarket, Lardroom is a teaser for what's to come. The five song
ep is a predecessor to the next Barkmarket full length, slated for spring
release.
Barkmarket's sound is loud and ferocious. The band's big guitar noise plows
through these five tunes relentlessly from the opener, "I Drown"
straight to "Johnny Shiv." On the rest of Lardroom, Barkmarket has
finally captured their potent live sound on tape. Look for 'em to make plenty of
noise with the full album.
-Tom Cornell
The Electric Company is Medicine guitarist Brad Laner's ambient project. If
you're familiar with Laner's feedback sculpting guitar style, the concept of this
disc shows a lot of promise. Unfortunately, the Electric Company concentrates too
much on Laner's skills as a beat looping guru, resulting in a quiet, repetitive
album that will only put you to sleep.
-Brian Bruxvoort
Seems 70's progressive rock is coming back in style again, as it does every five
years or so. Where British bands like Palace, IQ and Marillion spearheaded the
last movement by following the blueprint left by early Genesis, this time, its
Echolyn that's striking a chord with prog-fans. Their style and mission are best
described by their tune 'The Cheese Stands Alone', a sort of tribute to the
durability of prog-rock. There are plenty of music nerds out there who are
craving to hear more of the prog-rock style. Echolyn should safely deliver this
hermit following through their arduous post-pubescent period. It's impossible to
determine what this eccentric audience likes, so make up your own assessment of
the album.
-Tom Cornell
Vodka vocalist Jenny Wade has one of those voices that takes some getting used
to. It's not dainty or pretty. It's more of a guttural release that strains over
the music. The music itself is an incredible sprawling mass of guitar wash and
beats that bring to mind the Velvet Underground jamming with the Jesus Lizard.
Pretty neat stuff.
-Brian Bruxvoort
Return with us to those trippy, dope-fueled days of the 1970's. Flowerhead openly
admit to being a throw-back to a bygone era, which the kids today are growingly
fixated on. This latest batch of songs from the gang are ripe pickings for long
summer days spent cruising around to nowhere stoned off your rocker. If you're
not in that condition, forget about it, you'll be bored with The People's
Fuzz.
-Tom Cornell
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