THE ARCTIC MONKEYS "whatever people say i am, that's what i'm not" CD
reviewed by Sabrina Cognata
When you're the most widely anticipated band to come out of the UK since Oasis there's a lot of pressure put on the quality of your debut album. THE ARCTIC MONKEYS' rise to the challenge-their album, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" does not disappoint. The sort of edgy punk-pop rock fills a much needed gap currently left in the music industry. Their gritty punk guitar riffs explode in catchy waves penetrating their listener's frontal lobes. They're plugging their guitar chord into the void of the proverbial amplifier left by serious punk bands from yesteryears. They've got a sort of NIRVANAesque rage deftly expressed in their songs about mundane suburban life. Highlighted with the quest for partying and good times-as expressed in their songs "I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor" & "Still Take You Home." It's an album characterized by punk anthems hailing a life of hard partying and sexual conquests, concepts easily related to.
Domino Recording Company; http://www.dominorecordco.com


THE FLAMING LIPS "at war with the mystics" CD
reviewed by Sabrina Cognata
THE FLAMING LIPS 12th studio release arrives as a lyrical blow to the chest. When most bands are avoiding certain political problems going on in the U.S. and beyond, THE FLAMING LIPS gear the direction of the album as a review of their political views. In a sort of psychedelic rock anthem, THE FLAMING LIPS succeed in their mission, attacking the atrocities of President George W. Bush, his administration and moreover the views of our country as a whole. The "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Song" directly attacks the motives of the Bush administration when it bold asks in the first line, "If you could blow up the world with the flick of a switch--Would you do it?" Although the album accomplishes much it fails to present itself as a whole in regards to the weaving of a total theme. The album wavers and thematically seems to fall short of the sort of poignant message they made an effort to spread.
Warner Bros; http://www.warnerbrothers.com


FUJI HEAVY "the revenge of fuji heavy" Promo CD
reviewed by Chris Beyond
for a second, I thought this was a frank black album in the first notes of the opening track "you've got to realise" on this short four song "promo cd" (as it is called when i loaded it into itunes) that clocks in at only 12 minutes. it's not a bad album... it has moments, but it never really breaks out until the third track "intergalactic love" in which the lead singer actually sounds more like the lead singer of THE HAPPY MONDAYS and THE BLACK GRAPE. i think this band has a lot of potential, but it just needs to find that something to make them different enough to stand out among the rest of the crowd. what crowd? oh,...er...the proverbial crowd. the cover art looks like something somebody in my advertising class would have come up with for a new james bond movie poster. get this one for the next time you do a record review for your zine. oh, and why does FUJI HEAVY need to take revenge anyway?
igrok records; http://www.fujiheavy.net


THE HARVEY GIRLS "the wild farewell" CD
reviewed by Chris Beyond
oooh...this album starts off so quiet, that i am instantly intrigued. i even turn it up knowing full well that it might blast my speakers out with unexpected loudness. but no, this is very pretty and almost reminds me of a soundtrack to...something. i think this is a concept album. the first section of songs from this album are labeled "new york 1970 1983" and the second set "kansas 1983 2003". The album does have a soundtrack quality, but it doesn't turely real it's edge until the third track called "practicing" with vocals that remind me of STEREOLAB with light electronic beats and light ambeint, but erratic,Ê guitars. From that point on you realize that the style of this album changing styles as quickly as your eccentric aunt changes her mind. from electronic ambience to funk to hip-hop, this album keeps you guessing what it's going to do next. Once you get used to the juxtaposition of styles, it's smooth sailing from there on out. This can definitely be described as a "pretty" album and one that you might want to check out for listening to while on the porch watching other people lives pass by.
svc records; http://www.svcrecords.co.uk


LOWCLOUDCOVER "...i took a second too long" CD
reviewed by Chris Beyond
this one has been waiting for a review for a while. if i had lowcloudcover's yearbook, i would sign it, "sorry so late. i will see you in the summer." think of this album as something like a cross between early (good) WEEZER and SONIC YOUTH (always good) with a little bit of PINE MARTIN (also alway good) thrown in for good measure. the first two tracks ("intro" and "menace") flow into each other nicely seeting up a moody album that thankfully doesn't take itself too seriously at the same time. the melodies and lyrics are great. there is a thank you to scott mercado in the liner notes... could his be the same scott mercado from the late-great band from torrance, california SHL†MPF?!? interesting. the only song i didn't really get into was "the last lemming" which is a nine minute mini-epic that... well, it's just one of those songs, you know? the kind that can grind a live show to a halt? i think you know what i mean. it's not a bad song...it just slows down an all too short album. if i were their manager, i'd tell them to save that one for a longer album...then i'd tell then that they had to wear space suits on stage. hey, i never said i'd be a good manager. i like the black on black cover art. the smiley face might make the look like skateboard rock though. still, this is a really good album and if you get a chance to buy this, please do. then you'll have something to share with grandma the next time you visit her.
breathing room records; p.o. box 4415, san diego CA 92164


PANZAH ZANDAHZ "me and this army (radiohead remixes)" CD
reviewed by Sabrina Cognata
The problem with remixes is the fact that they almost always lose the basic integrity of the music originally produced. They take a perfectly find mix of harmonies and melodies and try to birth something original and in the process the almost always massacre the album like Sharon Tate and her unborn child. In the case of Zandahz's Radiohead remix "Me & This Army" he takes the most secular pieces of music to be produced in the last 10 years and not only upholds the honor of the music, but gives it new life and new meaning. The sixteen track remix pulsates boldly, taking songs like "Paranoid Android" and "I Will" and preserving the best parts to turn them into songs of their own.
Token Recluse Records; http://www.tokenrecluse.com


MEDIA DROPOUT "muddled" CD
reviewed by Chris Beyond
ok, i hate the cover art. one thing that really bothers me is when a band chooses to go with a "special" font for their cover art text and then you see how they didn't attempt to make the same letter from the dont look any different from the other when it apears twince...like the "d" in their band logo and then the "d" in the title of the album's logo. wow, and this band possibly uses the word "queers" in a non ironic way too...twice. i don't know. maybe their ironic is different than my ironic. i don't mean to be hard on them, but this album seems like it was put together rather genericly. most of the songs are a little too similar. the singer sounds like a slightly edgier version of the lead singer of LIVE. there is some talent here, but it seems to be packaged in such a way that they intended for it to be sold in dollar bins for a couple weeks before it made it to the quarter bins, and eventually the "free! take me!!" cardboard box pushed outside the store where eventually a cat will lay in there and give birth to some kittens. my real advice for this band is that they loosen up a bit, pretend that they are playing live at a show instead of in a studio, and really loosen up those vocals. they're actually so tight that you can predict how he is going to sing each line...and that ain't good. get this to prop up that wobbley chair with the one leg shorter than the others. oh, and heroes isn't spelled with an apostrophe. Ok, that's just me teasing. I certainly don't hate them.
zero youth records; http://www.zeroyouthrecords.com


ROCKET SURGERY "time ep" CD Demo
reviewed by Chris Beyond
when the first track "eyes in the walls" starts up, i feel like i've heard this before... sort of a cross between spandex hair metal, FUGAZI, and PINK FLOYD. yeah, weird mix, i know. it flows right into the next track "pompeii" which is more of the same. the third track, from which this ep gets its title clocks in at 14 minutes long and it the best one on this CD. It changes so much that it actually keeps me listening to see what they were going to do next. it's not amazing, but it's not bad either. I can't recommend this really, but I can say this is a band to watch. with some vocal work, maybe turning down the guitar, and bringing up the keyboards (with pedal effects...yes, i said it), i think they can do some amazing stuff in the near future. but that's just my opinion.
rocket surgery; http://www.myspace.com/rocketsurgery


THE SAILPLANES "books about cities" CD Demo
reviewed by Chris Beyond
well, this cd just starts right up, doesn't it. i have to say that while I like the music and wild noise on the first track "sideways On", i find myself enjoying the male singer more than the female singer. he sort-of reminds me of max gomerg's voice from THE CENTIMETERS. the second track, the titular "books about cities" also gets right to the point and again, i have mixed thoughts about it. something just isn't pulling together right. mnd you, this is a demo so it's not going to be perfect. still some of the best bands i know never were and i'm definitely glad about that. i think this band probably sounds better live than it does on this recording...as if they were in a rush while in the studio. plus I wish the female lead singer screamed instead of sang her lyrics. get this one for a quick run to the liquor store.
the sailplanes; http://www.thesailplanes.com


STARS "set yourself on fire" CD
reviewed by Sabrina Cognata
The opening sequence of lyrics of this Canadian band says everything that one needs to know about the total direction of this album, "When you have nothing left to burn, you set yourself on fire." The Montreal-based band's third album, "Set Yourself On Fire" comes as a vastly diversified stretch from their previous albums. It has a sort of 80's pop sound fused with emo lyrics and the occasional string quartet or horn section. It's like lovers driving in springtime; pulling over occasionally to be intimate. A fresh, new version of something we've heard before.
Arts And Crafts; http://www.arts-crafts.ca


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