[SOUNDS] [SIGHTS] [PLACES] [THOUGHTS] [PEOPLE] [PRINT] [PRODUCTS]
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Babe The Blue Ox, [People], RCABabe The Blue Ox
PO Box 170518
Brooklyn, NY 11217-0518[rating] - [6] [6] [5] [5] [6]
[talent]
[attitude]
Balloon Guy, [The West Coast Shakes], Warner Bros.Eye of the Tiger's Milk protein bar, or what happens when a gaggle of children take up public transportation. First there's more bus-side candy advertisement, and soon after older individuals take it upon themselves to wear overalls and whack fire hydrants with brooms. Of course, this is speculation spawned purely by the now wow sounds of the big shiny helium-filled dude that sings and swallows cryptically. It's so bad that the lyrics are licensed munitions, and the only people that understand what's going are either institutionalized, in seclusion, or simply too busy enjoying themselves to comment. Yes, indeed.
Balloon Guy
PO Box 581277
Minneapolis, MN 55458-1277[rating] - [6] [6] [7] [6] [6]
[attitude]
Barefoot Hockey Goalie, [Darius A Rock Opera], AccretionsStanley Cup full of intoxicating fluid, and after the winning goal everyone's throwing Dr. Scholls. Like [Tommy] meets [Little Shop of Horrors] (the movie remake), only the Canadians invade us this time. The 7-song [Darius A Rock Opera] cycle is perhaps the most satisfying piece of nonsense that I've yet come across, and every bit is humsingable. 8 other songs also exist, but most are more juvi-evil than juvenile; honest and fun tales of the ATF, enemas and coming-of-age bondage (offensive like a flag football blitz, only without a quarterback). [America's Funniest Home Improvement Videos], basically.
Accretions
PO Box 81973
San Diego, CA 92138[rating] - [5] [5] [7] [6] [6]
Beck, [Odelay], DGCA little toy carrot, torn apart by a VCR wild pack - all blinking "12:00". Cats take over the world, make the skyscrapers into scratching posts, and this record plays whenever you're put on hold. Tiny inscriptions on the back of fingernail clippings tell of lost samples found, twisted, and enchanted by the rhythms of the universe. AOL sign-up floppies become a new form of currency, exchangeable for cellophane-wrapped saltines and soiled pillowcases. Designer jean rap becomes a new radio format, goateed renta-punks take up acoustic folk spontaneous combustible Con Edison, and everyone gets a big dessert.
DGC
9130 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90069-6197
http://www.geffen.com[rating] - [7] [6] [7] [6] [7]
Black Market, [Transfigurations], Black MarketAtmospheric experimental one-of-a-kind find from 1992 that's worth tracking down. Almost an hour of "music" from NYC by the way of the Crab Nebula, that comes across like a slowed down Omoide Hatoba beset by rattlesnakes and operatic munchkins. Fibulator without the funk meets the Creatures; the best Lynchian movie sound track I've yet to come across - lots of dark space and silence interspirsed by twitching things in corners. "Big mouth I love you under the table read me I'll be right home" is UFO or Ida, and it goes without saying that I appreciate the effort.
Black Market Productions
No address given (unfortunately)
Recorded at Clinton Recording, NYC
If you know Ed Bialek, Marc Black, Alan Whinston, Kathy Talbot
Don Davis, Will Ryan or Joe Martin, please inform me[rating] - [5] [4] [5] [7] [7]
[energy]
Blueberrie Spy, [Sing Sing], Shimmy DiscSuitable for framing, LAPD-style. Meaning that Christeen and Nastasya sound nice enough, but in the end it's either the bloody glove or Avis - no inbetween fumble-mumble. Pleasant songs from 1994, with peppy guitar and that Kramer thumb-print which is either in favor of the prosecution or the defense, depending on which way your ears swing. Me, in the end I'm bored like Monopoly, but that doesn't mean my legs don't bounce despite themselves. "Bookends" is the best song of the bunch, at least sonically, but on the whole the lyrics and overall presentation are far from memorable.
Shimmy-Disc
JAF Box 1187
New York, NY 10116[rating] - [4] [5] [5] [3] [3]
[risk]
Boredoms, [Super Roots 5], WEA Japan/100%The Cubic Zirconium Sea, or dolphin bubble ring circus. A 64 minute monolithic stargate tour of the aural universe, with more cymbals than Chinese. Running through a mile-long car wash only to trip over some vacuum cleaner hose, which tangles around your legs, arms etc. and sucks away all memories of lesser bands who don't get the pro-noise agenda. Putting a Shell station to your ear and receiving detailed instructions about the proper strategies for Boredoms analysis, most of which involve leaps of fate, not to mention ample credit to foot import bills. Music for Neo-static airports.
[rating] - [7] [6] [6] [7] [7]
Boredoms, [Super Roots 6], WEA Japan/100%"Of course, polo is a water sport, too." And with that she reached in her pocket and pulled out a solar-powered geiger counter. "But didn't our forefathers die specifically because of the way that the faucet goes drip, drip, drip while you're trying to sleep?" She was too scared to answer, and instead hopped back on her personal aircraft carrier and set sail for Japan. Below, sea gulls hoisted wind chimes and otters made six-pack rings into a huge suspension bridge, upon which we all will cross someday. Oblivious to everything, she continued searching for the mysterious radiation.
[rating] - [7] [5] [6] [7] [7]
Boyracer, [In Full Colour], Zero HourA veritable snap-crackle-pop-punk song-explosion, this being the latest box of Boyracing mod-firecrackers. Stewart has the voice and distortion-generating abilities that cause rubbernecking car-crashes, and Nicola, Ged and Matty suavely pick-pocket all those assembled with Stereolabradford at 45rpm. 20 tight hot wheel tracks that expand upon the general brilliance that this crew has exhibited over a whole jukebox worth of singles, EPs and albums (they believe in songs, dear). Some of the sounds are quite familiar, while others are peculiar in the best way: Forget the NME centerfolds, and wallow in sonic intoxication.
Zero Hour
Number 701
1600 Broadway
New York City, NY 10019
catalogue@zerohour.com
http://zerohour.com[rating] - [7] [6] [6] [6] [6]
Butterflies, [Bored Room], NgNirvana Plugged-In and on ice, in stereo - 3 shows daily. More catchy than your typical sonic virus, The 2 Brians and Susan metamorphose from normal folks to Pop Mothra, father to all that seeks the light. 14 essential vitamins and nutrients, most around 3 minutes, that make my skin glow and hair just a little curlier. My Pixie dust bunnies always come out and dance to "Annie You're My Hero," while I swoon at "quick brown fox" time. If some people like one better-advertised cola over another, then why not appreciate all shades of jangle-punky bliss concentrate?
Ng Records Inc.
622 Broadway #4B
New York City, NY 10012[rating] - [6] [6] [6] [5] [4]
Butterfly Train, [Distorted, Retarted, Peculiar], UpMasters of the medium-to-long almost-love song, Butterfly Train are perhaps the most underrated group of tuneful romantics I know. Like all Up bands, they fly formation above cloud tops, dropping sonic sphericals of essential joy, which will eventually solidify into next year's big storm (see Built to Spill for proof). Brett Nelson is one of my favorite song-writers, although if pressed as to why, I'd probably babble because because - I like happy-sad complexity that I can sing-along and bounce to, and BT fits the bill nicely. 4 guys that deserve your support - get Up!
Up Records
PO Box 21328
Seattle, WA 98111-3328
up@subpop.com
http://www.subpop.com/up[rating] - [6] [5] [4] [5] [5]
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