"MUSIC FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE!"

ALIEN SKULL "Goin' 2 Hawaii" CD
reviewed by Chris Beyond
When I first got this CD, I REALLY thought it was going to be bad. I just didn't like the front cover art at all (the back cover was basic and could go either way). I also hated the name of the band "Alien Skull". (Isn't there also a band called Alien Skull Paint?) Pretty much anything with the word "Skull" in it is pretty played out. But after a quiet night of making my own rad Grandaddy mix cd, I thought I'd throw in something different and there this CD was right next to the stereo.

Oddly enough, I actually liked it. The first instrumental track "Terminal West" was a great transistion from the Grandaddy cds I was just listening to. Electronic and natural at the same time. Then the next track "Black On Black" came on which had a different feel more in line with a VERY stripped down Belle & Sebastion. In fact there seem to be two different styles going on in this CD. The instrumental tracks are basic, but have nice beats. The accoustic songs would fit very nicely in a Wes Anderson film. The vocals stick out a little more than I (and perhaps even the artist I suspect) would prefer, but the lyrics are thoughtful and the songs strong. I'd recommend checking this CD out if you have a chance and if I were a graphic designer (oh, wait-a-minute, I am!) I'd recommend to the band (or is it one guy?) to get a cover that better suits the feel of the music inside. Solid colors and bold type are what I envision. Something to better attract the audience that I think would love this CD if there was a better cover to attract them. Listen to this CD while enjoying a lazy day.
Skullphonic Records, onanydayoftheyear@hotmail.com
THE STRATFORD 4 "Love And Distortion" CD
reviewed by Mary Bond
I first ran into this band at a Vaportrail show I San Francisco, they were very much like dark apparitions...small, dark, silent, polite...sitting near a roof-support beam in front of the stage. They were rather compact and mysterious looking, nearly sitting on the floor in complete reverence for the band they came to check out.

I had yet to hear their music however. Once I finally had, it was even better than I could have imagined. They are a bit hard to describe...I hear a little Psychedelic Furs in the vocals and the music is like a spacey time travel escapade. Is it The Cure they sometimes remind me of? Or The Stranglers? Maybe a little Oasis, The Dandy Warhols, Ride, Shed Seven, The Strokes? It's really hard to put your finger on. One thing is sure...the vocals are mature and sexy in that sort of tragic, screwed-up way.Ý His voice is the reason why girls fall blindly in love with Rock stars. And the instruments used are impressive alone: Fender, Moog, Rickenbaker, etc. And the CD is co-produced and engineered by the genius Chris Walla (of Death Cab For Cutie), so you know it's got to be good because I seriously doubt the very busy Walla would waste his time with just any band. That's a great stamp of approval in my opinion!

I love all of the songs for different reasons, but I must say that "Telephone" especially impresses me...there is some really great sentiment in there and I find myself playing that one song over and over. I also love "Where The Ocean Meets The Eye" and "Tonight Would Be Alright".
Jetset Records, 67 Vestry St. 5B, New York, NY 10013
TEENAGE FANCLUB "Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-Six Seconds: A Short Cut To Teenage Fanclub" CD
reviewed by Mary Bond
BLOWN AWAY! Blo-wn a-way!!! Seriously folks.

Wow. This CD is incredible. I have to admit that even though I was a big fan of Teenage Fanclub in 1992-93, I never owned anything by them accept Bandwagonesque. I loved the songs "Alcoholiday" and "Star Sign" with such devoted obsession, they were practically the only songs I played off that CD. How very sad for me, because little did I know...

Whether you are an old fan or a new one, you can easily get into this band all over again with this latest release. I personally had no idea, shamefully, that they were so versatile and creative. They have a true 1960's spirit, especially with the songs "Ain't That Enough" and "The World'll Be OK". I am so impressed by the musical history of this band; I am very embarrassed I had not heard such back catalogue of their Creation Label years before now. This has quickly become my favorite CD pick for winter. It invokes you to join hands with all of your friends and twirl around in a shiny happy day love-in or go-go dance in your little white Nancy Sinatra boots and paint daisies on your checks and call your old Mod boyfriend and see if he still has that old Vespa he used to give you rides on in the hills of San Francisco. Uuhhh...Day dreamy dreams...anyway...I digress...

"My Uptight Life" is just perfect. And I play "I Need Direction" over and over- the harmonies- serious unearthly beauty in there, man. And "What You Do To Me" is just, aahhh...yum, sexy. "Mellow Doubt" is flawless and pure. "Alcoholiday" did not make it to this compilation, but who cares- everything else is easily just as good, nope- mostly better. I still adore "Star Sign," more that ever actually. "Hang On" starts out rocking it so hard, you almost think you are listening to the wrong band for a second, but in come those Sainted vocals that mix in and blend to create a gorgeous mesh of crazy hippie-punk. Did I say that? Whoa, slow down Missy... "Did I Say" is super Simon and Garfunkle-esque. Nice. And "Don't Look Back" is so darn endearingly sweet and the lyrics remind me a bit of old Squeeze tunes. I guess I could just go on and on...but I better leave you some surprises to discover on your own...

I am so pleased with this CD; it seems to just do no wrong. I hate it when I gush like this, but when a band deserves it, they just deserve it! No matter how lame it makes me sound. Tops! Please keep it coming, Teenage Fanclub. I'm paying you my full attention this time! Guaranteed. Enough said. You need this CD. I love this music so much! Perfection, darlings, perfection!
Jetset Records, 67 Vestry St. 5B, New York, NY 10013
REVIEWS FROM JANUARY 2004...
FROM"Copernicus" CD
reviewed by Quin
This is another one of those bands coming out of the South Bay of Southern California. But unfortunately, they are no more. However, they still have some of their CDs available for purchase, so when I tell you that you need to purchase one, you better do it quick before they are gone forever. This CD is, to quote the drummer of the band "All over the place." But that's what I like about it, that's what gives it its charm. Alot of it is just good old fashioned surf music, but with a latin flair. Imagine The Ventures and The Plugz making an album with Jose Feliciano. I think strange and wonderful things would happen. And that's exactly what we have here...something strange and wonderful. So, like I said before...run, don't walk and get this CD before it's too late.
Otik Records, http://www.otikrecords.com
LITTLE ECHOES presents "Sleeping Off Stolen Dreams - A Documentary Soundtrack" CD
reviewed by Quin
I guess Sleeping Off Stolen Dreams is a short film, and this is its soundtrack. And I guess Little Echoes is a record label, but the website and any record of it's existence seems to be lost forever in cyber space. And it's too bad. This is a really good soundtrack to a film I would really love to see. There are some great songs on here by some bands that you have all heard before...like Bonfire Madigan, Built Like Alaska and Grandaddy. I actually have to say that the Grandaddy song on here, "Rode My Bike To My Step Sisters Wedding" is quite possibly my favorite Grandaddy song. And you know that means alot coming from me. Some bands that you probably have not heard that stand out on here are District 17, Secadora, and Everything Crunchy. Get this one, if you can find it.
Little Echoes, 1012 Allston Way, Berkley, CA 94710
LOOKWELL"Unhurried" CD
reviewed by Quin
The sticker on the front of the CD case compares this band to R.E.M., Red House Painters, and Radiohead. Personally I don't agree with any of those comparisons and quite frankly I can't even think of anyone to compare them to. I guess that's a good thing...sort of. The guy's voice is nice, but the songs are a little boring toward the end. They start off good, but you just want them to end after a while. And they aren't even that long. And the CD is only 5 songs. It sounds like they use a Casio SK-1 on "Pencil Me In" and that is one of my favorite instruments ever. But if you like the stuff that people call college radio music (i.e. Hootie) then maybe you will enjoy Lookwell.
Eskimo Kiss Records , PO Box 3603, Wilmington, NC 28406

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