"AUDIO EVIDENCE FOR THE COURT"
I really wasn't sure I would like this CD. It was not very typical for this record label, but then again, it completely fits in a way too. Confused? Well, this CD is a bit confusing- but not in a bad way. In an incredibly interesting way. I am actually quite thrilled with it. It is gritty and gutsy. It is, in case you did not already guess, all cover songs. There are songs by Sonny Bono, Tom Waits, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Robin Hitchcock- and this is exactly what made me think, "Yeah...right..." But it is actually very entertaining and full of raw talent. Being a fan of groovy sixties music, I thought there was no way they could top the old Sonny & Cher classic "The Beat Goes On", but you know what? They did. And how. Their version is still groovy, but the vocals of Britta Phillips (Luna) add this gorgeous, sinister, seductive quality that is absolutely unforgettable. She sounds a bit like Lydia Lunch, and speaking of Miss Lydia, there is also a phenomenal version of "Some Velvet Morning" by Lee Hazelwood, but I am personally most familiar with the version that Lydia Lunch did with Rowland S. Howard on 4AD back in 1982. I felt is would be impossible to beat this version, but I believe they have actually done it. Their "Some Velvet Morning" version is a perfect balance of childlike enchantment with haunting, eerie, porous beauty.
Okay, I have been a huge DCFC supporter since I first heard them toward the end of 1998. The only CD they had out then was "Something About Airplanes" and I had to special order it from a small independent record shop. It took nearly two months for it to arrive. I was so blown away by the exquisite sound and mood, as well as the highly poetic and literate words, I was quickly beguiled. The lyrics made me think of Ben Gibbard as a sort of modern day Shakespeare. I began to e-mail him occasionally and he always e-mailed back, being very polite and grateful for my support as well as being kind enough to critique some of my poetry. I canžt tell you how many people I have turned onto DCFC (As I briefly mention in this month's interview with Mark Kozelek of the Red House Painters). I went to every show they did into L.A. and some in San Fran, took pictures every time, and even began talking to Ben at their shows. He knew who I was from the e-mails. It had been so long since I had been that blown away by a band, they sounded completely new and unique to me. It's been about a year since I've last talked to Ben, but as they have rose to bigger and bigger stardom and with all of his different side projects, it is apparent that he has been one very busy person. But this newest release by DCFC happily does not really sound at all like Ben's other projects, not that I don't love them all as well- I was just beginning to wonder if maybe all the other music he was doing might influence a big change on DCFC. But they clearly picked right back up where they left off. This CD does not appear to have any big college radio hits on it in my opinion, unlike The Photo Album. I think the CD is all the better for it, as all of the songs on this new CD seem to hold their own. I have been hearing "The New Year" and "Title and Registration" the most on the local college radio shows, but the stand out songs to me personally are "Expo '86", "The Sound of Settling", "Tiny Vessels", and "Passenger Seat". Maybe they should have named this CD "Songs To Cry To" because they are all pretty melancholy, but very full of that same old affection and bitter-sad moments in life and love that we all cherish DCFC so very much for.
I had been hearing that this CD was coming out for years. And finally, after alot of waiting, it's finally here. These guys are fans of good music and it really shows in their own songs. There are 35 originals here. That's a whole lotta Driven Out. Most of these tunes are lo-fi punk rock recordings done in a Torrance apartment, but there are also a few live tracks performed at El Camino College. The really cool thing about this CD is that you get to see how these guys matured and changed as musicians. The first three tracks were recorded while the Driven Out boys were still in high school. And if you heard them now, you wouldn't even know it was the same band. Standout tracks are such classics as "Hippie and the Barber" "Love is Blind" "High School Girl" and the song that is destined to be covered by someone I'm sure, "I Smell a Rat (Rat Boy Sucks)" So, I've been saying for awhile that the best music is coming out of the South Bay, and this is no exception. It's fast, loud and fun. Get this one for those fall trips to the beach. brrrrr! 
This 4 song EP opens with "Say It Don't Spray It" which is so unbelievably ridiculous, but it had me smiling and rocking my head back and forth as i listened in disbelief. I wish there were more bands like this with a silly sense of humor that aren't afraid to be ridiculous. Then "Dryland" reminds me a little of a Rad Girl Marcie song. My favorite song on here is "Manbody" which could easily be a Betty Boop song...if she sang for The Breeders. And the last track "Aliens in Love" is a pretty jazzy tune...and I love that title. This band Flut ( i would love to know what that means, I think it means flood in either Danish or German) is right up there with bands like The Monolators and Dirty Birdy. So, if you are silly too, but this now. 
This is AMAZING! The opening track sounds like the noisiest shoegaze ever recorded. And it is truly beautiful. I am actually kicking myself for not reviewing this cd a lot sooner. Damn, I suck. But Minmae doesn't. The recording levels are so high on this that you can't make out a single word of what is being sung, but it doesn't matter. It's just so pretty. I think if you like either Sonic Youth or My Bloody Valentine, you will surely love this one too. I have to go away now, so i can finish listening to this while I lay on the floor. What are you waiting for? Buy it, so you can do that too. Send Tapes, CDs, or Demos to:
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