"Album Reviews"
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Ultramax - Ultramax
Maxx Records
Back in the late ’80s/early ’90s, there was an influx of rock bands that
added some funk to their mix and hit pay dirt. The Red Hot Chili Peppers,
Primus, Faith No More, and Living Colour led the charge, with 24-7 Spyz
and Fungo Mungo vying for some time in the spotlight as well. With the
onslaught of grunge, the movement died a premature death. Well, Ultramax
says it ain’t dead yet! This band of talented players busts out some serious
grooves, yet adds some melody and feeling. Opening track "Alternative Love"
opens with some cool guitar work and drum fills before breaking into a
funky verse, complete with Bootsy Collins-ish background vocals, and a
semi-pop chorus. "Train" features some wah-wah guitar that brings to mind
James Brown circa 1974-75, along with passionate vox from Marshall Jones.
"Cometboy" actually could be a hit on an old Elton John record, and "What
‘Cha Want" has a slight Janes Addiction feel that chugs along with power
and conviction. 1989 would be a great year for this band, but they do have
the chops to make some people wake up and smell the groove now!
- Brendan Hagin
The Gigolo Aunts - Minor Chords and Major Themes
E Pluribum Anum Records
The group that brought you "Where I Find My Heaven" is back with Minor
Chords and Major themes. The album kicks off with the fast-paced "C’mon,
C’mon," moving gently into the fantasy of "Everyone Can Fly." The optimistic
view does, however, come to "Everything is Wrong," but there is nothing
wrong with this album. Whether’s it’s the "Major Themes" or the oldies-nineties
sound that grabs your attention, music fans everywhere should prepare to
carry a new favorite through the new millennium.
- Tyler Moore
Pawnshop - Three Brass Balls
Home Office Records
With excellent mixtures of acoustic, easy-listening, and electric, keep-’em-up
energy, Pawnshop is the group that can soothe the nerves or get the party
started. Newport, RI native Sean Smith is on vocals and wrote most of what
you hear. Many others collaborated with him in getting the end product.
"I often trip, but I never fall" is a phrase from "Trip" and is
probably very descriptive of Pawnshop’s future as a hit band.
- Tyler Moore
Placebo - Without You I’m Nothing
Virgin Records
Heard a song recently on the radio that I thought was an old Rush tune
I had somehow missed or something brand new by them (but Geddy Lee’s voice
wasn’t quite at the maturity level that he has). Kept hearing this song,
and I thought it was fantastic. Well, I eventually found the CD by the
three-person group called Placebo from England. On this 12-tune disc, the
faster songs all sound like Rush, and the slower tunes sound like the London
Suede. If you are looking for something a bit different than what is currently
being played, give this one a try. I sure was not even a little disappointed.
- Tom DeMann
Doctor Hadley - Premium Sound Machine
BuzzChunk Records
Strong hooks, infectious rhythms and groovy guitar riffs dominate this
modern rock band's approach. It's difficult to pin down just who they sound
like, perhaps a little Third Eye Blind here, a little Sponge there. But
that's irrelevant! What is important is that they have their own agenda
and they carry it off well. Frankly, they're a cut above most things you'll
see on MTV and VH-1 combined!!!
- Eric Harabadian
Explorers Club - Age of Impact
Magna Carta Records
Over the years there have been some pivotal albums that have defined "progressive"
music. One could rattle off Yes' "Fragile," Jethro Tull's "Thick As A Brick,"
Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "Trilogy" or Genesis' "Selling England By
The Pound" among some of the best. Well, if there is any justice out there,
you can add the Explorers Club to the lot as well. Not only are there featured
representatives from today's leading prog giants like Dream Theater and
Magellan, you've also got the input of seasoned vets Terry Bozzio, Billy
Sheehan and Steve Howe on board. The album, which deals with man's struggle
with his inner and outer stimuli and motivations, is a five part piece
rooted in the finest "art rock" tradition. The performances, both lyrically
and instrumentally, are grand in scope and bring hope that creative music
is carving a fresh new path toward the millennium.
- Eric Harabadian
Backstreet Boys - "I Want It That Way" (single)
Jive Records
Some would say that teen heartthrob groups like Backstreet Boys -- along
with ‘N Sync, New Kids on the Block, etc. -- should be seen by little girl
bedroom poster eyes, and not heard. But this single from the Boys’ new
album Millennium combines urgent singing with a memorable melody.
"I Want It That Way" succeeds at being both easy on the eyes, and the ears.
- Dan MacIntosh
Doc Hopper - Zigs, Yaws & Zags
Go Kart Records
Doc Hopper is a nerdy little rocking band. One where the drummer
never gets bored, since most everything is played in double time. Chris
"Gobo" Pierce writes the band’s smart-ass lyrics, such as the anti-empathetic
"She’s A Cokehead." Come to think of it, at the pace these guys go, one
wonders if there might be a few stimulants in their bloodstream. Maybe
it’s nothing harder than Folgers in their cup, but something strong is
certainly making Doc Hopper hop.
- Dan MacIntosh
Third World - Generation Coming
Gator Records
Reggae band Third World has descended from its major label days on Island
Records, on down to the indie level. Nevertheless, this group -- which
once sounded a little too pop for my roots-reggae tastes -- has never sounded
better. This is a reggae album that covers The Police ("De Do Do Do, De
Da Da Da"), The O’Jays ("Love Train") and even Randy Newman ("Baltimore")
without ever sacrificing its commitment to Jamaica’s most treasured musical
export.
- Dan MacIntosh
Silverchair - Neon Ballroom
Epic Records
Silverchair has gotten a lot of press for this album simply because classical
pianist David Helfgott (who was the subject of the movie Shine)
plays with them on one cut. But where that man’s infectious insanity made
him such fascinating subject matter, Silverchair’s been there, done that
Nirvana-isms make for dull listening. The Kama Sutra is pictured on one
page of this CD’s booklet, but there’s nothing sexy or attractive about
this dire disc of plodding music.
- Dan MacIntosh
Ph Balance - Ph Balance
Daemon Records
It would be all too easy to recommend a band called Ph Balance specifically
to the hairing impaired. But all puns aside, Ph (singer Pam Howe) brings
a Latin feel to these gloomy, slow moving songs; songs and sounds that
would make bands like Portishead proud. The group even gives bassist Aaron
Platt credit for providing the spliffs, so you can probably guess what
inspired much of this music. Go ahead, give these guys your un-conditioner
love.
- Dan MacIntosh
Foxtrot Zulu - Frozen In Time
Phoenix Media Group
Despite its trendy swing-friendly name, Foxtrot Zulu is a high-stepping
world music outfit that incorporates the horns of ska and the limber-fingered
guitar work of African music to its eco-centric and politically correct
songs. Foxtrot lyrics are blandly black and white, unlike its colorful
sounds, as the opener simplistically calls its villain "The American."
But if you’re like most music listeners, you ignore the words anyway, so
plop this disc on and just dance.
- Dan MacIntosh
The Selecter - Cruel Britannia
The Harry May Record Company Ltd.
It must be discouraging for aging ska bands to see groups like No Doubt
topping the charts, while outfits that were a part of the genre’s 2nd wave
back in the ’80s rarely scored such pop hits. This album finds The Selecter
joining the 3rd wave with a comeback. They still retain their original
energy, and except for the needless profanity on "Respect Yourself," originally
by The Staple Singers, it’s a comfortable trip down memory lane.
- Dan MacIntosh
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