FRESH OFF THE PLATTER...reviews!

NEW STUFF IN THE OFFICE...

• Various Artists--"(DON'T FORGET TO) BREATHE" Compilation CD (Crank!) Momma never said I'd get good stuff like this in my mailbox. This is a shweet deal. 17 different bands covering all sorts of emo/emo-pop genres...Drive Like Jehu, Boys Life, Vitreous Humor, Uncrush, Knapsack, Christie Front Drive, The Promise Ring...the list goes on and on. If you're new to emo-pop-rock-punk stuff, this is a great beginning, and even if you aren't new, this is full of nice stuff (and a live version of "Bullet Train To Vegas" for the Drive Like Jehu completists...). My fave tracks on here are the Knapsack track and the Vitreous Humor track, "The Whisper Twins". I had heard this before (it's unavailable anywhere else!) and never realized how wonderful and emotional the crescendos and chorus are. It's such a good song. If nothing else, this song makes the whole CD worth the price.

• The Regrets--"NEW DIRECTIONS: RESULTS BEAT BOASTS" CD (Crank!) The original members of Vitreous Humor (back in the day when they were a three piece) are here in a very un-Vitreous Humor-y band. I had heard of this new project about this time last year and was dying to see them live, considering I was a very big Vit. Humor fan. Anyway, I didn't think they were all that great the first time I saw them. They got better the second time I saw them. I got the advance tape of this and gave it a listen. It was OK, but nothing special. Then something happened. I became slowly addicted to little parts on this record, whether it be a 2 second drum beat or guitar part or vocal part. Then it happened. I fell in love with this record. I told others. They didn't believe me. "Oh, I don't like it anywhere near as much as I liked Vitreous Humor!" "Give it time," I replied. And sure enough, about a week later, it was transfixed on their stereo as well. Buy this, give it time to soak in, and prepare to be intoxicated by the Regrets style of mis-matched genres thrown in the blender and served up steamin'.

• Limp Bizkit--"THREE DOLLAR BILL Y'ALL" CD (Interscope) Well, what have we here? It's Korn Jr. I really haven't ever gotten into Korn all that much, so Limp Bizkit, which is a 5 year younger version of Korn, doens't exactly get my goat. It's not all that bad, and it's a bunch of bass slapping and yelling and frustrated people, but it's kinda lame. Not highly recommended...these kids do have a lot of energy, though.

• Knapsack--"DAY THREE OF MY NEW LIFE" CD (Alias) I bought this on a whim because it was on sale at Best Buy and because I was really impressed with the track that Knapsack did on the "DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE" comp (on Crank!). Anyway, what can I say about this, other than it's wonderful? Mark Trombino produced it, so it sounds friggin' spectacular, and it's total emo pop with a great Marshall guitar sound the whole album through. These guys aren't afraid to write honest, emotional songs and add a poppy tinge to it. This is sweeeeeeeeet. And it was a bargain, too!

• Primus--"THE BROWN ALBUM" CD (Interscope) I haven't listened to all of this yet, but it sounds poppier than other Primus stuff, and the drums are really distorted and weird (they have a new drummer now)...I'll write more soon, but I think Primus always makes albums that sorta sound similar. You've heard one, you've heard 'em all.

• Lowercase--"KILL THE LIGHTS" CD (AmRep) I haven't listened to this one yet, either, but I'm going to soon and tell you what's up.

• Skeleton Key--"FANTASTIC SPIKES THROUGH BALLOONS" CD (Capitol) I saw these guys open for the Cows and was amazed by the live energy they portray, as well as just how weird this music is. It's catchy as hell, but there is no certain genre to put a finger on. So, if you're itchy to categorize bands, Skeleton Key is something like a huge project for one of your classes...you know, the kind the teacher gives you at the beginning of the semester, says nothing about, and then expects it turned in on the last day. Jazz, pop, funk, noise...it's all here in one weird stew that leaves a nice aftertaste. Highly recommended!

• Ben Lee--"SOMETHING TO REMEMBER ME BY" CD (Capitol) You know, I was never the biggest fan in the world of Ben Lee's solo stuff, but that last Noise Addict record kicked me in the arse and I liked it. This, however, doesn't kick me in the arse, and I'm not all that fond of it. I think this is one of those cases where all the hype about him and elbow-rubbing with famous moochers has gotten to Mr. Lee's head...I read some review about this album and the reviewer mentioned that Ben seems a bit frantic to churn out songs and ends up putting out some half-baked ones that would be great if he put the proper time into it, and I can't help but believe that's true. Just because you've put a song out on a record doesn't mean it's ready to be out there. I used to think I'd love to hang out with Ben Lee, but after he's grown up into a swell-headed hype monster (who's dating Claire Daines, not that that has anything to do with the record, but just a stupid point), I think I'd rather hang out with Jerry Garcia's corpse. A message to the naysayers...don't believe the hype! I think Ben's a bit eager to churn out a big body of work, but he needs to realize that work means you can't just slap things together. All together, this album is an embarrassing departure of what I think Ben's capable of. And now I feel like an elementary school teacher sending home a note to parents.

• Red Red Meat--"THERE'S A STAR ABOVE THE MANGER TONIGHT" CD (Sub Pop) This is a very relaxing CD. I saw these guys open up for Jeremy Enigk, and knew they were beloved by Billy Corgan, so I was excited to see them. Their singer (Tim) played with one of those monkey-in-a-Shriners-hat candles on his amp, and a very old picture in a frame. They had lots of weird keyboards, pedals, and their auxiliary percussionist played a variety of weird drums and bedpans (yep, bedpans!). It was weird bluesy trance rock (when I say blues rock, don't think Stevie Ray Vaughan or Doo Rag...something all it's own), with cryptic lyrics, odd trance-y dirges, keen rhythms, keyboard musings...like Blind Lemon Jefferson incarnate in the 90's with some amphetamines and keyboards mixed in. And that's all on the CD, too.

• The Pulsars--"THE PULSARS" CD (Almo Sounds) I thought synth pop was dead, lame, gone...the Pulsars have resurrected electronic joy in my heart. I saw them open up for Man...or Astroman?, and was highly impressed with the blend of synth pop and indie rock sensabilities, if that makes any sense. It took me a second to realize I thought this band was really rad, a couple months for me to go buy the CD, but I'm very glad they testified and glad I responded. You can even boogie to this. And check out the last track "Das Lifeboat" for an epic synth-rock track, complete with crescendos and strings and all that wonderful stuff. It's the only CD I've bought all summer, and I'm proud of it.

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