Noise Addict
Meet The Real You CD
Grand Royal. GR024.
by Scott Zimmerman.
December 31, 1995.
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I love, love, love the insert for this record, but I don't want to spoil
it by telling all about it. Just make sure to read it if you have or ever
decide to gain possession of this LP! It's quite hysterical. I also love
this album. Well, actually, maybe not love. But I do like it
a lot. Ben Lee, man, he's cool--a young, witty,
guitaristist-singer-songwriter,
who's writing the rock anthems of the decade. So maybe that's something
to disdain, but those "2000 kids and guitars" and "you like my music,
rock and roll music" type lyrics, sung with such casualness within
traditional two and a half minute pop music confines are so classic.
These kids are living the myth of what youthful, uncorrupted start-up
bands are supposed to sound like, instead of what they usually sound like
(Bill & Ted). And maybe the coolest thing is that Noise Addict have
already broken up just 'cause they felt like it, not because they've
become pathetic, millionaire high school drop out drug addicts or anything
like that. Long live the legend of Noise Addict.
Bunnygrunt
Action Pants! CD
No Life. NL06.
by Scott Zimmerman.
December 31, 1995.
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Bunnygrunt has been accused of going beyond the lines of acceptable
cuteness, but my ears do not mind. The often hard to understand,
little girl resembling vocals to which the accusers shuddering
thoughts most probably drift alternately can be regarded as
terrifically charming, in a timeless, memories of youth way. And with
approximately every other track on Action Pants! featuring Matt's
vocals up front instead of Karen's or Renee's, an overdose of twee is
kept safely and quite perfectly on the verge of occurring anyway.
The vocals are a key to making the majority of the eight guitar oriented, lightly keyboard dashed songs on this LP tremendous. I most like the understated, transparent "awwwws" backing Matt's singing on "Transportation Pants." Like the music of Velocity Girl, it is a fine experience no matter whose vocals are highlighted, and who is relegated to the background. And the turns taken on the lead vocals even occur within songs, bringing about a playful atmosphere.
So, yes, the songs here are quite pop, and usually concise, ending at points that would draw you to the turntable in order to plop the needle right back to the beginning if it was not for the knowledge that the next song would likely be just as good.
However, the final track, "Open Up And Say Oblina," noticeably does not measure up. It starts off alright, but then moves on repetitively, without vocals, for far too long, providing no real substance along the journey, while simultaneously failing to provide an engaging atmosphere.
The other almost out of place song on the record is "g.i.2k." It presents a subtle guitar section with calm vocals, followed by thrashing guitars and screamed vocals, repeated a few times. It is the kind of song that could be a bit difficult to figure out how to dance to the first time out.
It is also a song that works, successfully providing agreeable, rewarding contrast to this quick and catchy, overall splendid album.
Helen Love
"Ahead Of The Race" 7" vinyl
Damaged Goods. DAMGOOD 80.
by Scott Zimmerman.
December 31, 1995.
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With Helen Love the classics just keep on coming! This
time it's back to the racing theme with "Ahead of the Race,"
an interest which she's covered in song before with "Formula
One Racing Girls" and on numerous sleeves with Speed
Racer cutouts. Nice catchy keyboards, and cute vocals!
She is so pop! And that leads us to the flip-side...
Prediction: Coca Cola will NOT make "Diet Coke Girl" the new theme song for any upcoming marketing campaigns, but it'd be damn funny if they did. Okay, so the song is full of stereotypes that are probably offensive to approximately half of the planet, but Helen Love can get away with it, the loveable rebel she is. It's a really amusing song.
the House Carpenters
In The Choir Of Primates CD
General Ludd Music.
by Scott Zimmerman.
December 31, 1995.
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Oh, no, it's something completely different than everything else I've
been listening to lately! Help! Well, maybe not completely different,
but the House Carpenters do use a lot of accordion so of course the
dumb thing I'd probably say if somebody suddenly asked me what I
thought of the new House Carpenters CD would be: "Uh, it's weird."
But I suppose I couldn't get away with just writing that for a music review, because 1) it's not very descriptive and 2) it's actually not that weird in the first place (disregarding for a second the album cover of the choir robed primates in the cathedral!). The other main instruments are pretty typical: guitar, bass, drums, vocals.
Still, this record may likely have the greatest appeal with those who get a lot of kicks off of those wacky They Might Be Giants records. And I'm certainly one of those people! Though it's not in the same class as TMBG in terms of consistency, it is a pretty fun album none-the-less, particularly with the tracks "12 O'Clock Sharp" and "Nogales, Ariz.", two songs in the category of polka-pop, yeah!
Go Sailor
"Long Distance" 7" vinyl
Slumberland. Slumberland 36.
by Aurore Bacmann.
December 31, 1995.
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This second Go Sailor EP has been waited for impatiently, and once
again, it turns out to be indispensable. Amy, Paul and Rose (who, it
is probably not even necessary to mention, has already shown the
greatness of her talent with Tiger Trap, and more recently with the
Softies) have released another enchanting 7" - four songs as fresh as
the ocean breeze, with a fast jumpy beat that makes you want to dance;
sweet vocals and lovely melodies that stay in your head all day long.
Go Sailor is one of those groups that seems to write their songs with
disconcerting ease. Their Long Distance EP, with its rhythm guitar
full of go, contains the kind of obvious tunes that will charm you on
the first listen. It's ten minutes of pop delight. Wouldn't you sail
with them around the world?!
Poe's Music
Poe's Music For Weirdoes CD
by Scott Zimmerman.
December 31, 1995.
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Perhaps Poe's Music is more of promising band than a good band. Or
perhaps they're a great band that merely needs to free themselves from
some bad material. Or perhaps I just can't fully appreciate so much
raw energy placed onto one compact disc. I have definite mixed
feelings about this album, even though it has garnered several spins
in my CD player. "On a Saturday," track one of Poe's Music For
Weirdoes, is genuinely great. Super bass groove, screeching
guitar, pleasant vocals and the whole song totally tears it up. Song
two, which comes after a kind of annoying vocal introduction (of which
there are many on the record), is somewhat similar, not as good, but
not bad. And the rest of the album is pretty much the equivalent of
that, never quite living up to the promise of "On a Saturday." There
are quite a few nice and interesting melodies to be found on the
record, but they are surrounded by what I see as misdirected
energy--the four letter words, the spastic screaming, and, well,
teenage boy-isms! So in a way, the album is mindless instinctive fun,
and if you're looking for that great! Just don't expect a well-bridled
between-the-lines slickly produced recording. Err, but who wants that
anyways?