NIRVANA - INCESTICIDE (DGC)

NIRVANA – INCESTICIDE (DGC)

With hindsight this is a very well put together collection/compilation, especially when compared to the horrible mess that was the With The Lights Out boxset.

Considered by many to be something of a Christmas cash in upon release in 1992, with no follow up to Nevermind on the horizon, and indeed a lot of threat/worry of the band actually splitting up being rumoured/murmured, with a surprisingly large wealth of recorded tracks to choose from, this was something of an attempt to stem the tide of all the bootleggers releasing the unreleased tracks and win back some money otherwise going into the pockets of industrious music entrepreneurs. At the time Nirvana was hot.

The first time I heard of Incesticide was when John Peel played “Mexican Seafood” one Friday night when I casually came across his radio show waiting for The Word and other such moronic nineties Friday night TV shows (that actually were ten times superior to the current crop of subtly left propaganda). For a moment there I thought all of Peel’s radio shows sounded this good.

The cover artwork was always startling to me, too close to the cover of the Lithium single with Cobain indulging once more in his melted and charred doll fetish. Perhaps he should have been a chef in some capacity, especially in the light of being not only an expert in chargrilling babies but also cooking toxic substances.

My original copy of this was on cassette. It was a Christmas gift to me in 1992 and being a cassette it would often get chewed up in my yellow boombox. The warping of the intro of “Dive” was a sound both horrific and interesting to me.

There was some disappointment attached to the UK release of the record as it lacked the inflammatory liner notes that the weekly music papers reported so wildly. As a result of this when I went to America (Florida) the following May getting a copy of the US version of Incesticide was at the top of my retail agenda.

Musically the album is a lot more solid than it is remembered for. The fifteen tracks tend to be the ones with the highest production values of the tracks available, not least the ones that were recorded at the BBC for various sessions for various DJs (John Peel AND Mark Goodier?).

The aforementioned “Mexican Seafood” is easily one of the highlights with its cute fuzzy pop hooks while in the process just about failing to reach the two-minute mark. The two Vaselines covers are so frighteningly similar but equally scarily catchy and instantly memorable and served as many people’s favourite numbers from the collection, people without any idea who The Vaselines were and probably still do not.

With “Aneurysm” already being a solid staple of the live set it provided the perfect album closer with which to send the album on a high note (it is notable that there is a distinct lack of acoustic meanders on the record). A ace up the sleeve was to be found in the proceeding tracks before the closer as the lumbering “Aero Zeppelin” and “Hairspray Queen” saw the band at their heaviest almost veering off into some kind of psychedelic direction while apparently indulging into rock clichés that were never too much for these tunes.

Compared to the studio records Incesticide really holds up strongly against the more famous Nirvana releases and towers head and shoulders above the boxset and the elements of dross that have spewed there from. This record still tops 99% of any guitar music released since.

Thesaurus moment: underdog

Nirvana
DGC

NO PICTURES 11 RECORD REVIEWS

NO PICTURES 9 ALBUM REVIEWS

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NO PICTURES 9 SINGLES REVIEWS

SINGLES REVIEWS, EPs TOO! and Demos also


Mogwai - No Education = No Future (Fuck The Curfew) EP (Chemikal Underground)
It takes some effort to dislike Mogwai so why bother. Xmas Steps builds to something tense and pounding which suitably climaxes. However, "oi strings NO!" Rollerball is subdued, not a thing like the game/sport we should be participating in, come ten years time. Small Children In The Background is the sound that they would make if a typhoon came along and blew them away (the kids that is, not Mogwai). There's a moment when you realise you're in the eye of the storm, thinking it was over and then it is. Hairy. Now if John Madden had not been such a dick, there would have been another track which topped even this.

Quickspace - Quickspace Happy Song #2 (Kitty Kitty)
This is beefy and chunky, Quickspace at its best. Its amazing how the flute/recorder/whatever keeps up and prominent. It has a lurching, jumping feel. Very funky. You can't hear what they're singing about it but you just know its something good. The b-side is called Ming. You can't fail with a name like that, its like J Mascis never went away. Have you been to the pit?

Moby - Honey (Mute)
I think the sun shines out of Moby's arse. A mumbling idiot is looped over standard dance backdrop to full effect. And it all works by a shed. Later Memory Gospel reminds me of Massive Attack when they're being any good.

Rothko/Billy Mahonie - split single (Fierca Panda)
Owen has been raving about the Billy Mahonie song he heard on Peel, so I checked it out. And its the one I heard on there that had the Nosferatu Man breaks, just like several other bands of the moment. Its a pretty fine tune, the sort from Spiderland continent. Rothko attract also with one of those post rock songs that dinks and donks as a wave of something spins through the distance at an alarming rate. The bass sounds like thunder (the whole thing is basically bass). Its rare for me to these days listen to a record and then want to immediately listen to it again but it happened to this one, both sides. With Rothko edging it.

Six By Seven - For You (Mantra)
With each passing single Six By Seven seem to be comfortably mainstreaming out but this still contains special moments where it really, worthily, kicks in. And for a b-side we get a long, slow drone track to keep in the good books of the indie police.

Special Duties/The Creed - split single (Bricks Music and Records)
Here we find Colchester's Special Duties tearing through a song railing against Maximum Rock n Roll, a magazine that chooses not include those that have had the slightest bit of success, and basically the general such attitude that very often rears its head in the punk scene. Its a worthy target, on an operative seemingly so intent on keeping things small and insular. On the flipside is Japan's The Creed creating the sound of a band totally going for it.

Stanton - Four Walls EP (Jonson Family Records)
You should hear from these in the future. Here are four tracks of laid down bare songs in a kind of Fall manner with vocals edging very closely to Ian Curtis with a better backing. The guitar sound on Brain Seems Happy Enough Sleeping reminds me of that attained by Arab Strap on the track Themetune. Next song and they sound like early early REM, all making for a pleasent change from hipster drone.

Hole - Celebrity Skin (Abig bad record label)
This tops anything and everything on Live Through This. The b-sides seriously suck though. I still have plenty of time for Courtney and despite this having been touched by Billy Corgan's trotter the single is incredibly catchy, direct, hooky and the vocals/lyrics actually remain in my consciousness after the song has passed on.

Tiger - Friends (Ireland)
Cool, I thought Tiger had blown it completely, big style, but here they are back sounding like The Fall. And it works so well and out the bag comes a miraclous escape.

Dawn Of The Replicants/Inner Sleeve - split single (Fierce Panda)
Inner Sleeve sound breezy and eighties. Dawn Replicants sound wobbly here, kicking in at random intervals. Curious split.

Magoo - Swiss Border Escape (Chemikal Underground)
Chummy. Very poppy, sort of light for Magoo. Probably better live, like most of their stuff. You do remember how it goes after a few plays though, so I guess it is catchy and some sort of success. Fuzzy but mellow.

Ultimate Warriors/Abathakothie - split single (MooCow Records)
I won't mess you about or lie to you, I'll just tell you that this is probably the best seven inch in history. It is the Ultimate Warriors side that makes it. 9 songs of wrestling themed madness takes control. We're given a lyrics sheet but you cannot hear the words which is a shame because its the stuff of genius. The Abathakothie side is three tracks of messy, noisy instrumentals.

Twenty Third Chapter - Astringent Mask EP (MooCow Records)
This three songer roars. Twenty Third Chapter sound like Household Names finest Medulla Nocte. The magic moment comes on the b-side when in slips Travis Bickle's mirror facing speech, making for a frightening sample and mindset indicator.

Archive - Demo
This three tracker from Plymouth comes on like a Mogwai tribute band but it does still sound awesome, high above demo quality, albeit heavily tainted. The first song is Yes! I Am A Long Way From Home with foreign radio tagged onto the start and finish. The remaing two tracks are more subdued and don't kick in so hard but do provide a delightful little drone.

Metrotone - Be Like Stars (Bad Jazz Recording Co.)
Be Like Stars reminds me of muffled JAMC with its echoing drums and distanced vocals. Constructing Clouds is one long chant with an earsplitting climax. Mad candy.

Various - Leaders In Lightcontrol EP (Hummy & Joey)
It unfortunately sounds like that this is going to be the final Hummy & Joey EP. It starts with i s a n blissing out, barely moving. David Wrench follows sounding like a cross between Nick Cave and Ian Curtis playing at a piano, reaching. Spare Snare close the EP with a rough and disorted ride. The diversity of this release works.

Helen Love - Long Live The UK Music Scene (Che)
Helen Love take the piss. I love their cheeky lyrics but they are terminally sad and, so as such, really are taking the piss. They stick around with impressive endurance. I have quite a big thing for namecheck songs so this is OK (good even) by me. The music however never changes, Blitzkrieg Bop. Piss take. This band cannot be destroyed. Or even discouraged. Rhyming Chris Evans and Shed Seven though, genius.

Sketty - Demo
This band were involved with a double booking fracas for upstairs at the Garage for Gringo Night. The resulting battle royal saw Gringo victorious. Cannot comment further right now.

Gel - Rosie And Jim (Che)
Catchy and crappy. I used to sing Rosie And Jim myself: "Rose and Jim, Rosie and Jim, what a fucking mess you're in". Its already better.

The Make Up/Lung Leg - split single (Versuvius)
More of the same from Make Up. Lung Leg weigh in with something very poppy, sounding like Lush at their height, to me.

The Yummy Fur - Shoot The Ridiculant (Guided Missile)
The very productive Yummy Fur here have gone all silly and Kraftwerk and it works against them.

Girls Against Boys - Park Avenue (GEFFEN, major label inc.)
Reports of them going industrial are painfully true. This smells heavily of major label interference, and at what date exactly did GVSB turn into Nine Inch Nails? I really wish there was more I could say, something optimistic to report but... Kill The Whole Band, they can't even play.

Assembly Line People Program - Noise Vision (Transcopic)
This is actually tops. Hyped because of its label, or rather who runs it, thakfully the music rules for me. Assembly Line People Program actually are an interesting band. The first side sounds like the mighty Devo with the singer from the Knack wheeled out of retirement or interrupted from his 37th Japanese reunion tour. A factory full of energy and spastic jerk.

Penthouse - Remix EP (Beggars Banquet)
I thought this would be a whole lot better than it is. I guess that's the thing with dance songs and remixes, for full effect you have to play them FUCKING LOUD!

Aerial M - October (Domino)
Unfortunately Vivea is not as memorable as Wedding Song No. 3 but then again it never would be and nothing else is. The standout here is the Misfits cover on the b-side sounding like anything but a Misfits number seeing Dave accompanied by nature.

Karate - Operation Sand (Southern) & split single with Crownhate Ruin (Art Monk)
Operation Sand is too sensitive I think displaying too many REM sensibilities on show. Terrible starting point for potential Karate fans. The split with Crownhate Ruin on Art Monk Construction is back in print which features the awesome Cherry Coke, which we agree is probably their best recording to date.

Beastie Boys - Intergalactic (Grand Royal and ?)
I'll save the general B-Boy praise for the album review. Not the best Beasties song but so, all the ingredients are almost nearly all here. This has you putting on robotic voices and walking squarely to the beat. For me these are the best rap voices going. The video is hyper also.

Fat Les - Vindaloo (someone)
Just part of the great Colchester scene, by a very vague link. Better than Echo Bunnyman's World Cup effort and more yobbish than Twee Lions On A Shirt. I think Keith Allen is fucking great anyway. Peas and Mash are in the video too, which rightly takes the piss out of The Verve. Keith Allen recently proclaimed Chris Evans is a cunt in the new version ("Keith, can I wash your car") and the bit where they shout bucket can easily be turned into fuck it. Tops. This could be the best song ever.

Sonic Youth - Sunday (Dave Geffen)
This song is pretty cool and actually the track that gets the Thousand Leaves album running. Also to it's credit, how perfect is the video. The use of Macauley Culkin is genius. No Home Alone here. Rumours of Macauley being fucked up have been spreading like wild fire for ages now, so what do we get: Macauley looking super fucked up by design. Chic. Credit to the boy though, he knows what he's doing it seems. And what is happening is that the video is being mentioned almost everywhere, or at the very least in more places than it would have been otherwise. He's more interesting than Kim Deal Pollard and Kathleen Hanna it seems. A subtle breakthrough might still be on the cards. Who'd have ever expected Phil Gayle of the Big Breakfast to ever be mentioning Sonic Youth. Similarly Macaulay Culkin, now resembling a teenage Thom Yorke (v.poor fucker), is receiving much needed cred and attention after, maybe for, a failed career. Its a long way for him from being molestered by Michael Jackson in order to get on MTV. And then we get a Nirvana b-side cover for a b-side. The package is complete. (and then it goes and does fuck all!)

Fatboy Slim - Rockafellar Skank (some cool dance label)
Dig those disco beats. I shouldn't really like this because it is the music associated with arseholes. I was chased up the stairs at Tottenham Court Road station to the sound of some dick singing this. By accident. I first caught this on MTV and liked it. What a victim. Repetition rules. And I still like it! Right!

El Hombre Trajeado/the Karelia - split single (Flotsam & Jetsam)
El Hombre sound fresh and make me feel young. Like Quicksand is like a song you'd expect to find on a kids documentary on woodlice and hedgehogs. In other words, it sounds natural. The Karelia remind me of Folk Implosion, lovely lo fi plastered with FX.

Reynolds - Demo
Racket. Terrific din. Crazy songs with Devo like vocals. Epics sounding like Shellac doing Kashmir. This is an incredibly exciting demo recorded on a boombox alone.

Woodbine - I Am Too Loud (Domino)
This is better than I ever dared imagine it would/could be. It starts out total mellow but painful, and distorts into something quite different but similar. Minimal isn't healthy being this large.

Mudhoney - Night Of The Hunted (Super Electro)
More garage than grunge, but its a real thrill to own something new by Mudhoney. Mark Arm's still catchy and catchin'.

Macrocosmica - Space Geek (God Bless)
There is a moment here when a voice goes "and I woke up naked in Colchester". That'll be Brendan then. The four tracks here are split between two rockies and two experimenties. And neither win, resulting in a double disqualification.

Magoo - Holy Smoke (Chemikal Underground)
Coming on like a popsick Shellac, this is unmistakably Magoo. Good lead, bad follow.

Grandaddy - Summer Here Kids (Big Cat)
The word summer has never found a more fitting home. This song sounds so free, conjuring up the feeling of being a little 'un in the summer, being an arsehole and wasting time. This song actually takes off and flies.

Crest - 68 Comeback (Noisebox)
The main track is sort of lacklusture. The b-side, I Have A Sister, is breathtaking and the sound of a band meeting its potential.

Blonde Redhead - Slogan (Touch & Go)
Ew. A Serge Gainsbourg cover thats unlike anything I've ever heard from Blonde Redhead before. I've just seen a clip of Lemon Incest featuring Gainsbourg and gal. Now I see the point.

New Bomb Turks - Veronica Lake (Epitaph)
Fast, high fuelled punk rock n roll. It sounds to like the Supersuckers playing at the wrong speed.

New Radiant Storm King - Barium Springs (Rainbow Quartz)
My first experience of the Storm King and what a joy. Here is a band like Magoo and Grandaddy not relenting, with a vocalist at times blending like Bob Mould. Poppy with daggers.

The Male Nurse - My Own Private P Swayze (Guided Missile)
They've kind of buggered it up. The Peel version is one of the greatest things recorded in history. This version betrays last summers brilliance.

Lungleg/El Hombre Trajeado - Club Beatroot Part Six (Flotsam And Jetsam)
Here's a slowy from Lung Leg, all sounding very serious. Disappointingly plodding and painful. El Hombre Trajeado blow them away. They remind me of the Van Pelt (or what from them I've heard) only extended. They strike the saddest notes but I still enjoy them. Later on the vocals come in for a show, pointlessly. One greatest thing alive.

Pink Kross/The Radio Sweethearts - Club Beatroot Part Five (Flotsam And Jetsam)
Pink Kross crash in and out with Tension Toy. You can either dance to it or you can't. Personally I can, so wahey. The Radio Sweethearts on the other hand run the Neil Young/country axis with a song that sounds a tad like the King Of The Hill theme crossed with The Old Laughing Lady. No!

Warser Gate - Karneek Temple (Rafter)
The contents of a room clatter to the floor as a wayward shuffle noise comes crashing into the listeners focus.

El Hombre Trajeado - Logo (Flotsam & Jetsam)
Heres a vert, whimsical track. Images again recure and the finale is a question to the answer we all would like to know. Moonunit Manual sounds like a well functioning rail service, max jangly.

The Carbon Arcade - Demo
Music from another Dave Pajo fanclub, five instrumentals of mostly challenging guff.


Jason Graham (taken from No Pictures 9)

NO PICTURES 8 ALBUM REVIEWS

RECORD REVIEWS, EVERYBODY

Fugazi - End Hits (Dischord)
Currently inside my head Fugazi are having a fist fight with Mudhoney for the title of my personal all time favourite band. Mudhoney have an obvious weight advantage but Fugazi are meaner and leaner. And Fugazi are more significant in 1998. Depending on how you look at it, this is either Fugazi's 5th, 6th or 7th album. Attempts to compare this to any of the previous will be a waste. That said the most recognisable tracks as Fugazi are the storming Five Corporations (Fuck Corporations?) and Caustic Acrostic. The initial three tracks grab your attention tight. Opener, Break blasts off with psychotic drum patterns and hyperdirect guitars, Guy's voice comes in, sounding a tad funny, signing off with "on and on" ala Karate then Ian roars and Fugazi have opened their stall. Place Position continues the trend, starting like a nitro Pretty Vacant for the nineties. Mackaye bellows "yawn yawn yawn" as Guy states "I can't stifle my boredom" and questions "so why not act your age". Recap Modotti carries the record, as Joe adds another vocal style, thats more tender than the previous. The song itself is tender, running a constant threat to rocket but remaining subtle all the way through to the climaxing diversions and Fugazi experimentations. A harsh change of direction, which is to be expected from Fugazi now and again. My interpretation of Closed Caption is of finding alienation and dissention in scenes where everyone supposedly gets on. It seems scenes cannot co-exist due to nature and individualism. Maybe its a song about sharing a secret, a critical call of our music or maybe I'm missing the point. Theres a lengthy drum part at the close which isn't always there. Following is the mesmerising, almost narcotic, Floating Boy. The song floats through, screaming guitars grab the centre portion which then break into a hardcore band seemingly replicating the sound of waves crashing into the coast line, full stopping with incendiary guitar. Foreman's Dog flows smoother seemingly concerned with dissatisfaction, crap vocation and weak distraction. Arpeggiator is fully blown math rock as performed by..... This isn't a well rounded record, its blunt as fuck, as all the best ones are. If you're not a Fugazi fan now this album is unlikely to make you one but if you are you'll be content with this corruption. Definition as punk is an insult. Fuck, that was a bit fanboy.

Shellac - Terraform (Touch And Go)
A wait is always worth for a new Shellac record but sadly when they do surface they do a great injustice to the world of alternative rock showing almost everything being lauded up and wiping the floor with their carcasses. Listening to this record is like listening to a person being pushed to far which in turn reflects onto the listener. Restrained and intense, it often gets so infuriating when things get pushed beyond the edge. The lead track gave me RSI. Thank you fuck you Steve Albini. I'll add by stating this is easily better than Action Park. This is the band that is most tight. Bob Weston drags each song along as Albini prepares to deal a blow, his voice sounding like a desperate wildman, a much more sinister Iggy crossed with Steven Jesse Bernstein. Once opener Didn't We Deserve A Look At You The Way You Really (seemingly included just as a sheer sign of defiance) is out the way it kicks it heals in hard. House Full Of Garbage climaxes well with me thanks to its sinister tones and harsh observation/narration. The closer sounds like an enormous Joy Division song. And you just know the thought of people listening to this and scratching their heads is putting a big sloppy grin on Steve Albini's snarling face.

The Jesus Lizard - Blue (Crapitol)
A major in one sense I guess. Yow still has a cow and the band still batter rock but there is just something wrongly big deal about this record, taming it more than it ought to be tamed. There was always a hard, sharp, minimal edge to previous outings which has now softened with the addition of atmospherics and unwanted guitar parts. Gripe over, I Can Learn gets the album started correctly with what we all like. Play it loud and break something in your room once more. Yow sadly now sounds more goofy than psychotic, more Gibby than Iggy. Needles For Teeth sounds almost industrial. At times it plods, at times it rocks. There is better, there is`worse. The pants pictures inside rule.

Arab Strap - Philophobia (Chemikal Underground)
Nice cover pervy, I got the piss took out of me for buying this. And I guess I deserved it. My initial response is that this is not as magic as The Week Never Starts by a long chalk but then again what else have I bought in the past which sounded so right immediately. They've laboured on this one I think, the access to additional resources being overly evident. Their silence was once so loud. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll think about SEX because that's an Arab Strap sitting on your todger. Naturally the first favourites are the familiar (Soaps, Here We Go, One Day...). New Birds stands out and Afterwards sees some nice duet action. Its still early days so it still needs time to grow. You know what to expect. Only now its longer. If Arab Strap was a weather forecast it would be pissing down.

Bardo Pond - Lapsed (Matador)
The case says space rock. Who knew. I'm into this from the start, the most bleary but hardest guitar sound in history lifts it off. It has blown my stereo speakers (FACT!). Its absolutely a noise thing, who wants to listen to harmonies, hooks or even vocals all the time. Of course you find yourself drifting away, in one direction or another but here we're not dealing with one specific fodder. The best is left to the finale with the epic Aldrin that builds into a cauldron of the hottest sonic soup.

Three Second Kiss - Everyday Everyman (Wide Records via Southern)
This sounds like math and emo to me. From Italy. The name originates from a censorship code in American movies from the 40's, whereby on screen kisses could last no longer than.... I love bands like this, that make everything, every aspect, sound difficult and integral. Stark in both the English and the German sense of the word, this is a controlled record

Tortoise - TNT (City Slang)
I've kind of avoided Tortoise and most things post rock. This sounds obviously like Aerial M to me and others, except with much more going on. It sadly also fails to touch as many nerves with me but whatever I'm lost in music I've heard described as Tesco music. The opening has a jazzy feel and the second track Ten Day Interval proves to be the highlight as it trundles along deliciously just before the fattest, most levelling hook anywhere on this record. Machine drums appear towards the end giving it an almost dance flavour at that point and making it the most interesting portion of the album, worthy of the title TNT.

Ricky Spontane - Spontane Time (Old Eagle Recordings)
Here is a funny proposition, I could swear at times it was Dawn Of The Replicants and then it switchs to a different genre. This is flappy (read energetic) rock n roll with a 90's twist like Soulbossa with early Fall influenced tuneage. Theres some surf, some fuzz but surprisingly zero pseudo punk. Imagine a Top 40 Blues Explosion on downers, for starters, that isn't terrible. Theres fun to be had here.

Various - Where You're Going..... (Grand Royal)
This is the Grand Royal sampler and its essential. And that's no exaggeration at only £3.99. B-Boys x 2 mix with, surprisingly, amazing tracks from Buffalo Daughter, Luscious Jackson, Kostars, Butter 08 and the Josephine Wiggs Experience. Gimp boy Ben Lee worries as his songs (both solo and Noise Addict) I find both catchy. Burp. The exclusion of GR signees Bis and Atari Teenage Riot sucks but nevermind. See you soon.

Various - The Virus That Wouldn't Die (Alternative Tentacles)
One of the best labels in history release a brand new sampler that includes Wesley Willis performing the Chicken Cow and The Dicks doing Hate The Police in addition to the anti-career/vocation song by Dead Kennedys, Life Sentence. Other compilations lack anything nearing this. Elsewhere Mumba Abu-Jamal's A Bright Shining Hell is horrific and amazing. Such artists make AT more than just another punk label and illustrate where Biafra's heads still at.

Various - Snakebite City Seven (Bluefire)
Nearly every band here is new wave. Bad. Travis Cut do the best track here.

Various - Abuse Your Friends (Ab Use)
By buying them this CD.


Jason Graham (taken from No Pictures 8)

NO PICTURES 8 SINGLES REVIEWS

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

NO PICTURES 7 ALBUM REVIEWS

RECORD REVIEWS, EVERYBODY


Macrocosmica - Ad Astra (God Bless)
Brendan's back. Brendan never went away. It all begins with big fat hooks and a wicked guitar sound that carries through the majority of the 7 songs. Opener Rusty's Arms comes complete with noodles followed by Orbit 48, which is jaunty with fantastically catchy vocals from you know who. I Am The Spaceship Digitalis is stinkin' slow and so is Byne. Lamotta though is probably the highlight. The other day it became stuck in my head and I was racking my brains trying to think which Sonic Youth song I had in my head. A Horse Can Walk sounds equally accomplished and recognisable. Other comparisons are difficult. Its disappointing to see everyone tying this in as a Mogwai offshoot (yes I know Young Team is reviewed below but its not purposely juxtaposed there). The two bands are too different to place together. Macrocosmica are without doubt worthy of checking out for straightforward/ahead alternative rock that (perhaps misleadingly) sounds fresh, isn't afraid to have loud guitars and sounds as if it would give certain whiney, pretentious tossers a kickin'.

Mogwai - Young Team (Chemikal Underground)
Although not immediately stunned this is, however, a stunning grower. Unaware of what to expect, initially I approached it with some skepticism. So I cranked it with no concern and Like Herod was first to move me. I love the way it builds into the loudest thing alive that they then try to pull back and restrain. R U Still In 2 It features Aiden and is rather like Now You're Taken (as featured elsewhere). If you liked that, you should dig this. I actually do like With Portfolio, Brendan's song, which sounds like your stereo is spinning and your room with it. The epic Mogwai Fear Satan closes the show, it blasts, bangs and makes you cry. I'm limited in space here because I've harped on about lesser albums. Chances are you've probably got this. If not you've already missed out on so much, this year Mogwai might save us from bands with quiet guitars. A band that out excites its genre. Young Teams can be nice sometimes.

Aerial M - Aerial M (Domino)
Aerial M contains Dave Pajo. Dave Pajo used to be in Slint. Aerial M is nothing like Slint, but it has never really pretended to be. Guess what everybody, I am the worlds worst person to comment on post rock. I want to like it more than I actually do. This is music to tranc to, to lose yourself in. Its the sound of being on your own, at night, typing out a shitty fanzine at past midnight. A lack of atmospherics and samples means it mostly relies on the soul of instruments and this makes it very minimal and also at times limited. And Compassion For M sounds like Metal Dan searching for satanic messages in a song. Play it at Granma's funeral.

Ramones - We're Outta Here (Eagle)
The Ramones were the Wu Tang Clan of their day. This is the album of their last ever gig, show #2263 and despite the grind having obviously taken its toll, this is fanfuckingtastic. At times Joey does sound like he's singing in the style of a club singer but so what. The 32 song set features members of Rancid, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam but you can't tell. It seems that on this night the brudders took a while to get warmed up but by the finish, punking rarely manages to get this good, past or present. Jason's Diets: this week my favourite Ramones songs are Wart Hog and Commando.

Helium - The Magic City (Matador)
I honestly believe that in America magical places like Wellsville exist and that is where bands like Helium originate from. Seeming to have a Camelot obsession, or just maybe a big interest, this has the feel of US underground experimenting. I'm relieved I am not the only person to have found it at times indulgent but that said there are plenty of good times and despite Kim Deal-a-like vocal accusations, I really like Mary's voice, amongst other things.

Various - What's Up Matador (Matador)
Apparantly this is the soundtrack to a film, answering that very question. This double CD comp is split between a disc of favourites and a disc of unreleased. The favourites have, for me, the best moments (to date) from/of Pizzicato Five, Helium, Cat Power, Liz Phair and Railroad Jerk in addition to Dang by the Blues Explosion and stuff by Unsane, Yo La Tengo (Tom Courtney!), The Fall, Superchunk etc. The unreleased stuff isn't so hot snot but by then you've long had your monies worth. It does have a For Carnation track, Pavement covering the Bunnymen and JSBX performing Dig My Shit! (perhaps a tribute to the band of the same name?).

Windsor For The Derby - Minnie Greutzfeldt (Trance Syndicate)
I think a good way to review records would be to say which film they would best suit the soundtrack to. This reminds me of the background music that goes with Repo Man. Not the punk stuff but the lone guitar being struck in the far distance as cars crash and people get shot left, right and centre. Haunting and mind blowing, I first played this on the morning of a very important exam and I suffered some sort of minor breakdown as a result of listening to it. This works because of the atmosphere it enduces. Bad mood music for losers.

Various - Camp Skingraft (!) (Skingraft)
Loadsa years ago Charles Manson went potty in the desert from listening to Helter Skelter by the Beatles (although there a dozens more horrific versions of that tune around). He subsequently talked a bunch of gullible kids into going on a killing spree for him (some sort of favour I think). All from just listening to a pop song. Now had Charlie gone to the desert with this record he'd probably be straddlin' a nuke bomb like Slim Pickens in Dr Strangelove. Whatever, this is one twisted sounding collection (33 tracks!) of the best sounds going, conveniently under the banner of Now Wave (a term less ironic than it seems). The Flying Luttenbachers, Lake Of Dracula and Yona-Kit are the first to snap the twig. It contains an ingredient seriously lacking from modern music: danger. Following along come Melt Banana who chip in 11 seconds of goo. Shorty are the next to hand in something fucking evil sounding. Bobby Conn pops up towards the end. His crooning (in Francais) does not seem to fit in but the man(iac) does. And being a twat who enjoys novelty, I love F'stein's toy advert for Mighty Fuckin' Robots. Run to Toys R Us and insist on them immediately! We need Now Wave and a trip this summer to Camp Skingraft instead of fat camp or Kamp Krusty.

Bill Ding - The Horrendously Named EP (Smilex)
Herein lies more crackles, more whispery vocals, some subtle guitar riffs and a constructive bass sound. Beck like and beautiful, before it got ugly. Acoustic guitars, strings and any other weird noise they can make pop in whenever the opportunity arises. Bill Ding best suits when you feel like taking it easy. Of the seven tracks here, Thirteen is the pick.

Special Duties - 77 In 97 (Captain Oi)
Punk rock from Colchester! I thought this was to be an album of demos but it actually is a fully blown out album with said demos stuck on the end, 12 new tracks and 6 demos. The album is chock full with a classic punk guitar sound. Who The Hell Is Buying That Crap stands out most of all initially, with its sentiments towards all music that we hate. The tribute to the Ramones, Adios Amigos is superfucking fun whilst previous single Mutt is tuneful powerpop punk. Judge And Jury is singalonga and It's Saturday is a weekend anthem. There are also covers of Lurkers and Dils songs. And they pop in and do a Ska song to piss me off. Of the demo tracks the Buzzcockian I Think Of You is the best. Its interesting to compare the old and new. The sound has improved (obviously) but the ferosity remains. Prior to Blur, this was the only band to come from Colchester and do anything. And still is.

Shirehorses - The Worst Album In The World Ever....Ever (some shitty major label)
I don't know about you but I sorely miss Mark and Lard at night. I feel I'm missing out on a whole bunch of cool new stuff that he'd have played but Marianne Hobnobb won't because she'd rather put on some fake arse major label indie pop or some (the latest!) dance shit. Here I love the Charlatans and Seahorses rip-offs so much perhaps maybe I actually subconsciously love the original drivel. Frank Spencer Blues Explosion is seriously good as the song and sound is fucked. You could play the track to someone pretend its something fresh from a DIY label (or something). And I fucking dare you to keep a straight face when Radcliffe sings "sends a message to your arse" on the Kula Shaker thing. Shame they bleeped the fucks though man.

The Mark Radcliffe Show (BBC)
I thought it would be a really good to release an hour of Mark and Lard's comedy moments long before they actually did it. Unfortunately taken out of context, their skits do sound too hot and aren't much cop stand alone. Still, theres thrills from Shit Agent and the nostalgic Pathelogical News. For the record one of my favourite moments on the show was when Lard reviewed Holiday On The Buses for the Cult Film Corner. Anyone got it on tape?

Sleater Kinney - Dig Me Out (Matador/Kill Rock Stars)
Another record I didn't get at first, probably because I listened to and believed the uber hype. With increased listens its the energy that stands out most of all on this record. And the guitar sound isn't bad either. I have to admit to being dubious for longer than I should have been here. I was fearing an Alanis in wolf's clothing but It's Enough and storming opener Dig Me Out ease private tensions. At the end of the day its the shrieking vocals that I have a problem with and doubt however there is more than enough to compensate for them. And the repeated plays of Little Babies really broke me.

Superchunk - Indoor Living (City Slang)
Its good to see Superchunk back. This time again they've swallowed the catchy pill and beefed up their guitar sound, without compromising or changing their distinct vocal style(s). Unfortunately with the harder sound it has also become at times a tad plodding and the spark that once briefly made Foolish one of my favourite albums ever has gone. And that includes many of the elements that used to make me think of Eska.

The Fall - Levitate (Artful)
When I grow up I want to be Mark E. Smith. This is a better Electronia (arf arf) than the Prodigy one. I'm A Mummy is pop perfect. Jungle Rock is bass driven perfection. And theres a Git Surfers rip off in there somewhere. Fun for all the family.

Prolapse - The Italian Flag (Radar)
This record has the best two opening tracks this year. Slash/Oblique features Linda and Mick singing in tongues and Deanshanger has Mick pronouncing the eighites to be crap, which they were. Unfortunately it doesn't keep it up 100% the way through as it occasionaly meanders and doesn't touch them live, however it is music you can get lost in. Scotch Mick said some of it is unlistenable at times and boy do I agree with him.

No Wings, Fins Or Fuselage - No Wings, Fins Or Fuselage (Seriously Groovy)
I was sent a mystery tape of these probably because their label just plucked my zine out of the air. On a shitty, pissy Saturday afternoon I put the tape on and it sounded like a whole bunch of my favourite bands. It recalls a mix of Super Furries, Pavement, Pixies, Man Or Astroman? and although at times it may seem to lack originality, its damn fun. I'm Going Out Of My Way is the best of the 18 tracks.

Various - Vibrations From The Edge Of Sanity (Vibrations...)
This comes with the publication of the same name (reviewed elsewhere). Heather Nova, Machismo's and Barefoot Contessa are the best known acts present in addition to the still excellent and exciting Trip To Arndale by Gravel. Dunderhead begin like David Holmes but unfortunately collapses when stupid vocals come in. And Plastic Hip actually are good, being like Beck and all. Sort of. VFM.

Various - Collision Damage Waiver (Rebellious Jukebox)
This opens with Cacophony No. A by Prolapse. Elsewhere there is Buzzbomb (cool bass intro turns into punk punk), My Wife Jan (a crappy recorded, hungry sounding punk type) and Ambulance (remind us of Linoleum). This comes with Totally Wired so VFM auch.

Hole - My Body The Hand Grenade (City Slang)
Live Through This was a bit soft for me. And this is a bit rough. Hole is Courtney and vice versa. And that's a good thing. No one shrieks like her and no one shares her ability to piss people off. The band sound limited much of the time on this record, occasionally sounding carbon copy Black Sabbath. Good cover though. Better than MTV.

The Charlatans - Melting Pot (Beggars Banquet)
My first Beggars Banquet promo. Its a "best" of comp. I do have a Charlatans album on tape somewhere which I quite like but never play. This is chronological so it starts with The Only One I Know, which is actually a very good song. Unfortunately there are 16 more tracks. I managed to get through another five of 'em. On the whole though the Charlatans are not likeable due to keeping dubious contacts.

Simpsons - Songs In The Key Of Springfield (Rhino)
This is a joy. I can probably still ingest Simpsons Sing The Blues but the cheesy as chedder Bartman songs will make anyone ashamed. This is far better. Comprising of musical moments taken from the show itself hearing Troy McClure doing his bit to Planet Of The Apes The Musical is grand and the Beat poetry of Play It Cool, featuring Homer and his dad, is cool daddy. Krusty's on it too with Send In The Clowns. Unfortunately fucking Michael Jackson's on it but the Sonic Youth version of the end credits isn't. Go figure.

Atari Teenage Riot - The Future Is War (Digital Hardcore Recordings)
After a fruitless morning wandering around Colchester for anything Atari I went round my friend Steve's who had this. Another one that's been out a while, I'm currently into this big style. This is the future. The heaviest rock can't hold a candle to this. Fuck All! says it all and Destroy 2000

Penthouse - Gutter Erotica (World Domination)
Filthy, filthy album. Jobs a good 'un. Well done.

Prodigy - Fat Of The Land (XL)
Er, bet you didn't know this was out. Anyway bugger it they're next to local boys so it justifies a review on that level. And I did use an anarchist purchase method by getting it exactly two months to the day of release. Or maybe I was just waiting for Gizz Butt to send me one. The album is just as I expected. Standard Prodg tunes with the killer singles and other occassional highlights. Jilted Generation in my opinion was overrated and I like this better because I like metal!

The Pixies - Death To The Pixies (4AD)
There is no denying this is great. I'm ashamed to admit how the Pixies have managed to elude me for so long. Perversely I own a Breeders record and a Frank Black one. The live disc is the reason for the purchase


Jason Graham (taken from No Pictures 7)

NO PICTURES 7 SINGLES REVIEWS

SINGLES REVIEWS, EPs TOO! and Demos also


David Holmes - Don't Die Just Yet (Go! Beat)
Here we go, I'm buying dance again. Haunty, eerie strings crash in at selected intervals, as a wayward horn occasionally blows reminding me of Ornette Coleman on the Naked Lunch soundtrack. I'd liken it to being in the tiniest corner, in the largest city. I feel safe but threatened. Arab Strap's mix makes me pine for lost loves. The Delakota mix vocals are down right twisted and frightening. And Mogwai's mix uses Slint's masterpiece in pieces, layered underneath a madman's gibberish which climaxes with feedback and drum and bass flooding in. This is my most played song this year. Fact!

Sawyer - Bunny And Sunshine EP (self produced)
Fine sounds from Scotland. This reminds me of Fugazi crossed briefly with June of 44 and tinges of the Fall. Dry Heat launches with catchy repition before flying away. The World Is Endless tastes like a heavier Joy Division and so it sounds like Mark Of Cain. No Rule stabs and explodes and Frankie & Madelaine is a pop bomb. All six songs are terminal and exciting. They hint at being an earth moving live band.

Six By Seven - 88-92-96 (Mantra)
88-92-96 really reminds me of a Magoo song I'm not overly fond of (it may be Playing Cards With Stars). It's lengthy and pretty twisted. Slow with a warped, distant guitar sound. Halfway through the vocals become loud and really remind me of Lennon. Shit, a post rock Beatles? I don't think so. Your Town resembles a boppy Fall song until the vocals again change mid song but fuck knows what they were thinking when they wrote/recorded This.

The Make Up - Free Arthur Lee (K)
Free Arthur Lee is Make Up cheesy. Forgivable from them only. Funk monkey. The Calvin Johnson remix on the b-side, Tell It Like A Version, however is very good and well worth the price of admission. Alone Again Or.

Eska - Last Man On The Moon (Scared Of Girls)
After Running On Six Sum Dew I would never have imagined anything like this. A cool thing to say about the main track would be that it sort of sounds how I'd imagine Mudhoney covering Selling Jesus would sound. Finding It Hard Do So Little is the heaviest I'd never imagined Eska could be.

Bangtwister - Grounded (B.M.B.)
I don't want to upset anybody by saying this sounds as old as Ocean Colour Scene but it doesn't sound a bit like Captain Craddock. The word that springs to mind is raw. Raw and hungry. Yes! Fantastic bass parts, vocals delivered by some one who means it and guitar wig outs to make your ears bleed. Yes I do like Bangtwister.

Bette Davis And The Balconettes - Shergar (Damaged Goods)
Champion The Wonder Horse wasn't a punker. Neither was Shergar. What Bette Davis does takes talent. Poor Lester. Listen to the drum action on White Food. They're so basic, direct and simple its genius. Sam executes her vocals in the manner of an expert. Not as good as Paul Power but a million years better than John Power.

Yo La Tengo - Little Honda (Matador)
Yo La Tengo have moved a lot of people with their latest album. This single is full on Mary Chain, a band I'm about to welcome back home with open arms, and so its an action packed treat of twisted pop and loud guitars. A cover of a song by the lesser famous B-Boys.

A - Foghorn (London)
A fair attempt to be the new Jane's Addiction which does not achieve this feat sounding more like the Wildhearts. It does however produce a half decent, energetic song. I would have been really into this once but not now. Their first single (this is about their fourth) however, 5 In The Morning, was fantastic so I guess this shows they're declining. Cool cover.

The Lilys - A Nanny In Manhatten (Che Ltd)
This is that song off the Levis advert, an ad that conjures sickening images. That very cheesy sixties, summer song. The annoyingingly catchy song. As far as retro goes this is alright and the Lilys have a good reputation however there is no denying that this is selling out. And its a re-release from Che who Gringo have had big trouble with. Ad songs must not be touched with a bargepole, file this with Stiltskin and Babylon Zoo. Pompus fucks.

Glitterbox - Scared Of All The World
Another Norwich band I believe. Dave Eringa has produced yet another sub-Manics friendly rock band. Whoever compared this to Pavement hasn't got ears. This is boring poo drops. And Henry Miller influenced, my arse. Death 2 everyone.

Pepperman - Demo (Organ)
From Southend hardcore comes Pepperman. It reminds me a bit of a looser, kinder Shellac and a lightweight Helmet. The guitars are thick and direct and despite Hangnail going Korn-like (don't do it kids) these are 3 very good tracks.

Idlewild - Chandelier (Fierce Panda)
Comparisons to the Stooges and Nirvana will get me very excited. Said comparisons will also make me very disappointed. That said punky gubbins are good fun and at times, all I need. I feel richer for the manic b-side I Want To Be A Writer.

Dee Dee Ramone - I Am Seeing UFOs (Blackout)
The main track features Joey Ramone on lead vocals and is pop not punk Ramones. The b-side, Bad Horoscope, features Lux Interior on lead vocals and pretty much sounds like the Cramps. Its all dispensible and really just what I expected.

Furry Things - Frequent Lunacy EP (Trance Syndicate)
From the future, in industrial world come the Furry Things. Sparce soundscapes form above futuristic cities. Here is another act that employ whispering vocals, suggesting it may be a pre-millennium thing. Theres something (nasty?) brewing under the surface. Burn For sounds like being trapped inside a bomb shelter as outside the enemy does its worst. I feel Ruby, Garbage and the like would kill to sound as seductive as on Luxate. And then they dub me.

Travis Cut - Complicated EP (Fluffy Bunny)
This comes from the same pub as Bad Religion. Exciting pop punk where the guitars actually sound punky. Complicated is direct and prosperous. Unfortunately Look I'm Wrong is a tad cheesy. Something to do with Travis Bickle.

Pink Kross - Scumbag (Teen C Recordingz)
Cool punk stuff. Basic like the Ramones. The saving grace is really angry sounding vocals.

Hirameka Hi Fi - Munchin' (Gringo)
A slam fry experience as Munchin' dashes and splashes, rallying against the man. Surf guitar breaks into an ambulance like riff and the usually quiet Chris Wig opens up. Towards the end it all breaks down only to fly back into action. Donny Faster gives another slant of Hirameka Hi Fi, bass driven with a fire engine riff. A release on Gringo I like, what a surprise.

Dawn Of The Replicants - Rhino Rays EP
EP #4. Radars is lovely but upsetting. Mellow and regretful. Bionic Stardust takes a nice route like a bus or milkfloat. The Wrong Turnstile is questioning and considerate. Also upsetting. And Seasick Odyssey sounds like it was recorded on British Rail with Arab Strap. And a horse. This is all atmospheric. If any object lying around makes a noise, it gets used. I feel suitably confused.

Beacon - Weakness Change (Subjugation)
It changes direction about every 30 seconds and its to its credit. The problem with most UK hardcore is the angry/hard vocals which make a lot of bands sound metal but this stands out with, shock horror, actually decent vocals. Obviously they remind me of Helmet but also a heavier Understand, not surprisinging considering who recorded it! And while I'm at it they've managed to get a fucking aces sound out of an eight track.

Arab Strap - The Smell Of Outdoor Cooking (Lissy's)
I actually think this is much better than the Girls Of Summer but it still isn't a patch on the album. The Smell Of Outdoor Cooking is the sound of things going wrong and Theme Tune is the sound of screwy guitars.

Scarfo - Cosmonaut No. 7 (Deceptive)
It would be such an insult to this song to compare it to Placebo. Dreamy and wonderful but without going soppy its a bit like getting bitten by a pretty dog. I spent new years eve with a Molko clone ("he was like that before") and I nearly killed him. Scarfo beware.

Naked I - Kite Flyer (Here Be Monsters)
An old one but one I only just got recently. Imagine Ash without the weak guitar sound. Imagine Three Colours Red with diversity and imagination (hard I know). Unfortunately they're no more now but still well worth checking out.

Drift/Jonah - split single (Anima)
There is a really crappy Colchester band called Drift who are Oasis ripoffers. However I have some bad news, which is that there is already a band from Canada called Drift. Their contribution here, Life Goes On, is kinda thrash/death metal. Miles better than Colchester's Drift. It just gets better as on the other side Jonah turn out to be livelier. Available from Subjugation.

Prolapse - Autocade (Radar)
Without Mick they miss so much. Without Mick they sound like Stereolab. Dare I point out that the saving graces here are the b-sides? Testation is Prolapse at their best. The bass loops in, the guitars kick their way in and Linda's sounding bratty and angry. Mick sounds like he's the one talking sense for once. Prime rib Prolapse. The Autocade remix is much better than the original for the additional of mass atmospherics on top a drum scoop. And Pro-Loop is a hangover, migraine groove.

Dub Narcotic - Wasted/Groove (K)
Smokin funk disco. Lurching, bass driven with karate kick guitar licks and wasted vocals. Wasted Grove is the perfect description and I dare you to better it. If this disco plate doesn't grab you, I'm surprised.

Dawn Of The Replicants - All That Cheyenne Caboodle EP
A new, improved Diggin Bear starts this one. Fucking hell, its nitro injected. In the same way that Nirvana were the Guns N' Roses it was OK to like, Dawn Of The Replicants at times sound like the Oasis its OK to like. Its quite a departure from the version on So Far So Spitfire. Ditto for Lisa Box.
Unfortunately if you wrongly read into that statement, you may get the idea that they are one dimensional rock shitheads when actually nothing could be further from the truth. Time invested into Dawn Of The Replicants is time well invested.

Trout/Cha Cha 2000 - split Celtic single (Flighted Miskick)
If Sympathy For The Devil was about "the green and white and Rangers shite" and the Ageing Stones were Celtic fans then Trout could sue them for ripping off their song Green And White. Cha Cha 2000 (aka Mick and Pat Prolapse) is atmospheric like the best of Arab Strap and the classic soccer sample from bygones

Flying Saucer Attack - Coming Home (Domino)
I like these shockwaves. The guitars scream all the way through it. You can barely hear the vocals but you can't hear whats being said. Its just comforting to know they're there. Despite the scrawling guitar sound, its a pretty refined noise and most important, it has drive. I once dreamt bands like this killed Debbie Gibson in her sleep. Hope is less targeted/directed but still yay noise. Like hoovering in a vaccum.

Dinosaur Jr - I'm Insane (Trade 2/Island)
It seems this is likely to be the last Dinosaur single. I'm now regretting not going to see them last year. Unfortunately now its hard ever imagining them meaning something. This is unmistakable Dinosaur. I'm Insane sounds like J lashing out in a drunken fit. He still hits hard. The Thompson cover on the b-side, I Misunderstood, reminds of the shit that nearly hit the big time. I tend to think of J as a wooly mammoth rather than an actual dinosaur. They're extinct also. I fear a future of acoustic dinosaur rock is on the way. Thank you for the music.

Bette Davis And The Balconettes - 0898 (Baby Boom)
Carrying on from were Paul Power finished, this is more blistering spite. Of course its like Paul Power but about telephones. I Wanna Be Your Moog is a departure for them and them only. They're slower but just as crushing. Why am I reminded of Urusei, when this is way more intense? The cover shows a man in the recovery position (first aid lingo). If you look close its Liam with acne.

Arab Strap - The Girls Of Summer EP (Chemikal Underground)
With notoriety comes change. The Strap's post album output hasn't stunned the way the album did.
Hey! Fever is ruined by the cheesy chorus at the end. The Girls Of Summer however features them veering in a cool direction. One Day After School is the clear, trademark Arab Strap narrative that makes them so fucking special.

Sportsguitar - Right On (Solve)
I was sent this from France. I understand that they're from Norway but they certainly aren't what I would expect from Scandinavia. Its a lot like Lou Barlow slo fi. B-side Hands In Gold more so. They had an album out on Matador, which isn't surprising. And Sportsguitar is now one of my all time favourite band names.

Callous - Demo
This is actually a really good demo. The main track sounds like a cross between Helmet and Black Flag. And even though the second track sounds like Bush trying punk, this pishes over all the pop punk pap everyone loves right now.

Lillian - Demo
This sounds like shit because of the way it was recorded. Lillian remind me of Girlfriendo and Bette Davis And The Balconettes but not as good. They're metal influenced though. Cool!

Dream City Film Club - If I Die, I Die (Beggars Banquet)
Ain't that the truth. The lonesome crooner bleeds his heart as a distant guitarist accompanies it for a laugh. Re-released and regal.

Nine Inch Nails - The Perfect Drug
I bet you hate NIN. Good! You're not supposed to like them. I have a bucketful of time for Trent Reznor. He does silly bugger lyrics but more often than not I think a lot of his music. Here he's sneaking in drum and bass in. I haven't got the willpower though to get through the 5 remixes including Meat Beat Manifesto and the Orb.

Freeboy - Rocketship
Not for me. Not for you.

Teletubbies - Say something
You have to love the Teletubbies, they're the stupidest fucking thing going. Anything that has parents stealing toys from other peoples shopping trolleys and having fist fights has to be good. There is less novelty in buying and enjoying this single than buying Robbie Williams or Mark Owen pretending to be indie rock, Oasis pretending to be a hard rock Beatles or Ocean Colour Scene pretending its the sixties. Theres more honesty in this single than in any of those I just mentioned. If I was in charge I'd put La La's head on Po's body, Tinky's on La La's body and so on. Fuck with kids heads early I say.

Oasis - that long shitty one that got to number one (Creation Records Ltd)
Its depressing just how much Oasis have tarnished the Beatles in my mind. These days it seems, to be Bealtes influenced is to be like Oasis wankstain. My heart is broke but I have some glue. However watch the MTV video just for the wink Liam gives Noel at the end. Incest suggestion! Napalm the pair of 'em I say.

NO PICTURES 6 ALBUM REVIEWS

RECORD REVIEWS, EVERYBODY


Sweet 75 - Sweet 75 (Geffen)
I understand that it is acceptable to say this is shit because it doesn't sound like Nirvana. People like Mark Beaumont are arseholes anyway. Tis a slight drag to find out that Chris doesn't sing at any point. Recalling his efforts on The End and Do You Love Me, some more of that would have been cool. At this point I say Yva Las Vegas' voice is great. Opener Fetch is wunderbra. Strings are used to perfection and Yva's voice carries me away. From here I start humming Misty Mountain Hop and I'm smiling for 30 minutes. Lay Me Down reminds me of Alice In Chains' Sap/Jar Of Flies era. Bite My Hand keeps the standard high switching from a pleasant swirling riff to minor Fugazi/Sonic Youth noodling to hot latin stuff and back again. Red Dress however is the first questionable track of which there are a couple. La Vida is full on latino stuff and is surprising refreshing unlike Cantos Di Pilon that comes later. Take Another Stab is I guess how good Alanis fans believe Alanis is. Poor Kitty is the closest I believe you'll get here to punk/grunge. Musically it reminds me of Drawing Flies by Soundgarden which then briefly, heavily borrows from Touch Me I'm Sick. Ode To Dolly (Parton), which follows, is the Statler Brothers with a Venezuelan singer. Dogs carries itself sounding like the calm portion of For All The Cows with more swagger and plenty of horns. The album closes with Oral Health, a song all about regret an emotion I'm sharing at the end. Here I say Yva Las Vega's voice grates.

Pilotcan - Socially Inept Disco (Evol)
Disappontment abounded when I first listened to this. However subsequent plays have found it sounding improved on the last play. The guy from Plenty Side really dislikes this band and he seems in a very good position to judge but no one is ever going to like everything. So what if the lyrics are at times cheesy and ideas sometimes just don't seem to work, what about that wonderful wall of noise. Anakin is the opener, a touching tale of an evil sister stealing and selling priceless Star Wars figures coupled with insomnia. My favourite track is easily Greenie Beanie. It smoothly glides then mutates into a GvsB like din, landing on a sonic island. Later we get Weird Sci Fi Shit which, despite being fun, might be Glasgow's Smashing Pumpkins. As we reach the second half of the album the songs seem to get more subdued and quieter, and these songs work nowhere as good as the ones I've already indicated All discos are socially inept are they not? Its why they got turned into trendy nightclubs. Right?

Soulbossa - Come Into... (Dishy)
This may be what rock n roll is about. No poncing about just straight in yer face and down your neck. This is a mini mini album which probably could have fitted onto a 7 inch. The six songs are sex songs. This is the only CD that brings up the message FAIL on my stereo which suggests its either too sexy for my CD player or its a fucking shit CD pressed up at a fucking shit pressing plant. When it works though, its very sexy, very Jon Spencer, very Shakey (Stevens).

Bill Ding - Trust In God, But Tie Up Your Camel (Hefty)
Goddamn your thing, this is wunder bliss and a bunch of other terms I don't use. Unfortunately Bill is a band and not a bloke but who cares, a minor gripe. This is a house full of cool jazz workouts and smokey music to be played in the darkness. John Hughes III (he not of crap teen film fame) delivers vocals in hush, whispery tones like Beck to great success. Always playing at its own pace, my CD is heavy on vinyl crackles and top notch distortion. I couldn't ask for much more from such hipster bliss. It churns and mystifies my mind, calms me down and helps my thought pattern clear. The Beat Of Murmur being the track to go straight to.

Month Of Birthdays - These Things That We Do Are Not Good For The Self (Subjugation)
I like this immediately, briefly. I like they way Actions Of The Irrationally Disappointed opens by sounding like the Cardigans and turning into Hole. These seven songs are mammoth and layered. Occasionally they are too metallic but not overly. And occasionally they are too quiet and melodic but not overly. The Slint comparisons are silly. This is a hard listen and somewhat overblown. It could have been recorded better, which is its biggest failing in addition to a few segments touching on Skunk Anansie land. It'll be better next time.

Blonde Redhead - Fake Can Be Just As Good (Touch & Go)
My friends didn't appreciate my description of the Sneaker Pimps mixed with the Folk Implosion very much but I thought it was kinda cool, even though I now realise how lame it is. Symphony Of Treble and Bipolar planted the seeds. Listen and agree. Personally I am shocked to discover that this is their third album and I haven't heard about them previously. It opens with the thumping Kazuality which reminds me of Slave New World by Sepultura for a few seconds before it builds into something nastier and classier. As to overall comparisons people seem to favour the oft used Sonic Youth one but fortunately here it is a valid suggestion especially, for me, on Water. Get it for some much needed and missed innovation that is pushing things forward.

James Orr Complex - Demo
This is Chris Mack from Eska's solo stuff and it is rather removed from Eska. Mostly acoustic and on his todd, Chris displays so much talent that is yet to come out for Eska. Initially the main thing that hit me was his voice. More relaxed and somewhat subdued it really recalls Bob Mould's in the way it seems to carry forever and lift each given song. Crossing Rivers is without doubt the highlight.

Secret Goldfish - Jet Streams (Marina)
The Secret Goldfish are enourmosly frustrating. At times you could be forgiven for mistaking them for the sick Texas when they do sickly sweet pop songs but other times they're such a delight. So here I am sitting on the fence looking at both pastures. If you don't already know this contains a cover of Come As You Are which is probably closer to Tori doing Teen Spirit than every pub band ever butchering a Nirvana song. In other words I'm not super fond of it but prefer it to 101 other Nirvana cover versions because it isn't a lame attempt at a direct copy. My favourite song is another cover version, This Arsehole's Been Burned Too Many Times Before. The majority of the album is a continuation of where Aqua Pet left off, sweet sugary pop songs for your pleasure.

Various - Angels With Big Wings (Ankst)
Heres a freebie compilation from the Ankst label in Wales. Please excuse my ignorance because this is the first time I've heard most of these people, however these are my gut reactions. Well lazy journalism sees me comparing both Rheinallt H. Rowlands and Datblygu to Nick Cave. Topper remind me greatly of Gorkys when they're performing poppy material. Ectogram feel colossal. Wonderful guitar doodly played over a beatful undercurrent as a PJ Harvey-esqe lady sings as in the distance others chant. Geraint Jarman A'R Cynganeddwyr is more Welsh language stuff on top of a subtle reggae-like riff. The Melys, the one band I previously had heard, sound like a Welsh Sneaker Pimps but more. Llwybr Llaethog produce a dance track with a recurring sample which sounds like a TV theme I cannot remember the name of. For me the best is left to last and is by David Wrench. It begins sounding like Washer by Slint then Mr Wrench's voice comes in and he is also very Nick Cave like which is classy and creepy.

Penny Dreadfuls - Penny Dreadfuls (Restless Records)
Everett True described these as being how he would imagine the band from Love And Rockets to sound. When I cornered him in Brighton he said that "that was a bit misleading, they had the right attitude". Slower and more melodic than I'd imagine there's fun to be had here. A crosser Fuzzy.

Various - Sessions 5
The latest (and I'm afraid possibly the last) CD and magazine combo is by far the best. The wonderful Beatnik Filmstars jog me first with Now I'm A Millionaire. Super poptastic treat instead of the expected lo fi. Ligament's Holidaymaker perversely reminds me of a low rent Slint, which can only be good. Linoleum supply Dangerous Shoes which clocks in at just under two minutes and uses every single second to perfection, reminding me slightly of Prolapse. The other two highlights come from Norwich in the form of Velvia and Navigator. Velvia's contribution is a demo version of Shrine which begins subdued but soon builds into heartwrenching glory. Navigator are on a roll. Their records are selling out so any opportunity to hear them is welcome. 2 (No Wa) sounds like the soundtrack to driving through a tunnel in the middle of the night as the world gets invaded by aliens for four minutes.

Jolt - Punk Jungle Rules (Scared Of Girls)
I can think of about 76 reasons why I think this is better than the Senseless Things. Gone are the Soul Asylum soundalikes. Gone is slipping into the cesspit inhabited by Bon Jovi, in are excellent sheets of dirty, pounding guitar noise. And drum and bass. Oh yes that album name isn't completely ironic. This six song mini opens with the joysome cover Love And Romance, a perfect album opener which Bis would have done if they'd got there first. The guitar sound is thick, dense and tank like and the jungle insertions aren't as comedic as you'd feared but still stick out like a hard on.

Urusei Yatsura - All Hail... (Hipster)
Many mini albums this issue. This, if you didn't already know, was recorded in 94 and described by the band as "really digital and kind of nasty". It has now be released for the first time on CD so I dug it out for a review. Its got the first version of Death 2 Everyone on it which is somewhat more clearer vocally and so tamer noise wise. The songs here are less poppy and catchy but are still loveable rackets. Comparing this to We Are... would be like comparing a toddler to a teenager. Its far from the best thing Urusei have done but if you've got to have it you've got to have it.

Various - Spawn soundtrack (Immortal/Sony/Epic)
This is the album featuring the collaboration of Goldie with Henry Rollins. And tis pretty boring. The rest of the album however is not as bad as feared. Rather than collaborations the tracks resemble more like remixes, generally closer to Firestarter than Jesus Built My Hotrod. I intentionally llistened to this without looking at whoose track I was hearing, mainly because most of the bands suck, and I quite enjoyed it. Techno metallers love it, so you know you will like/love/hate/dislike it.

Radiohead - OK Computer (Parlophone)
If Radiohead really wanted to unnerve us, they should have held this little masterpiece back until New Year's Eve 1999. Just imagine - up and down the country, a jubilant public rejoice in the advent of a new millenium, and the fact that they are here to see it. Then, at five to midnight, someone puts OK Computer on. Suddenly Auld Lang Syne is drowned out by the sound of thousands of people frantically scrambling for cover, desperate to cling to the last little piece of sanity they have left. This is the first album of the 21st Century, and it's scary.
Outstanding track is Exit Music (For A Film): "You can laugh/ a spineless laugh/ we hope that your rules and wisdom choke you" sings Thom Yorke as the gentle music builds to a shattering crescendo. Not since the Smiths has brilliance sounded so bleak, or vice versa, and its no coincidence that Yorke's voice is capable of evoking emotion in a way only Morrisey can match. Paranoid Android is his wasteland, a constantly changing, frightening vision, surely the single of 1997. Fitter Happier is reminiscent of Revolution 9 with a haunting piano track providing the backdrop for eerie Apple Mac vocals, microcosmic of the computer age. Only in Electioneering (ironically the weakest track) do they turn their amps up and rock - a major difference compared to The Bends. The likes of Karma Police, the gorgeous No Surprises and Let Down (about people clinging to bottles suspended from the ceiling, written in an alcoholic haze) give the album its epic feel, while the inclusion of Lucky is welcome as it was the best thing on the Help! album by a country mile. I would make a dramaitc pledge about what I'll do if this doesn't win every best album award going, but I said a similar thing about Ipswich not winning the play-offs and I'm still hoping no-one remembers what it was. (Dave Mitchell)

Morrisey - Maladjusted (RCA?)
There's a popular myth that it's been downhill all the way for Moz since The Smiths. NOT TRUE! The early solo albums Viva Hate and Bona Drag rival the best of the REAL Fab Four, later efforts Your Arsenal and Vauxhall And I showed the most talented songwriter of all time still experimenting and still making better music than anyone else. Kill Uncle....yeah, OK, Kill Uncle was shite. But the most worrying signs are coming now. I'm not the best person to review this because if it was by someone else I'd probably be raving about it, but I'm ashamed to say that after the first llisten I put Strangeways on. It's not that it's a bad album - he's at his seething best on the doomy string-laden Ambitious Outsiders, the single Alma Matters is a grower (I think it was Vox who misquoted the lyric as "in bottom/in hole" which amused me greatly). Satan Rejected My Soul proves that he's best when he's self-depreciating and Roy's Keen is the best song about a window cleaner since George Formby. No, it's not a bad album at all, it's just that this is Morrisey we're talking about here. As Roy Walker might say, it's good....but it's not RIGHT. (Dave Mitchell)

David Devant And His Spirit Wife - Work, Lovelife, Miscellaneous (don't know)
Rarely does a 'fun' album work this well; normally the joke's worn off after a couple of tracks. Having seen their bizarre live show, I wasn't sure how the music would stand up on its own, but with songs like Balloon around I needn't have worried. This is a silly song which starts all Dick Dale-y and goes on to make the game of Cluedo sound more exciting than you ever thought possible. I can tell you it was Miss Scarlet, as you've guessed it was the Ballroom, but the implement... well, that would be telling. Part of their appeal is that they tread the fine line between zany surreal comedy and straight-down-the-line guitar pop; it reminds me of those teachers you get who crack jokes and then give you detention for having the temerity to laugh. Ginger is about as good an opening track as you'll ever hear, there are shades of Divine Comedy in The Last Ever Love Song and I Think About You is one of those songs that just stays in your head for days, and you don't even want to get rid of it. The only weak track is Re-invent The Wheel. If you really want a laugh, go see this lot live. If you just want to smile and feel good, listen to the album. (Dave Mitchell)

Salad - Ice Cream (some major label?)
I must admit I've always rather liked Salad, ever since the Evening Session played the Kent EP to death back in 1993, and they played Colchester a couple of times. They have been described as sounding like "Kylie and Jason playing Fall songs", which was one of those all-too-rare occasions when I read something a Q journalist wrote and thought "Oh yeah! You're right! They do!". Sadly, that element of fun which made them so great seems a bit lacking on this album. It's all a bit Salad-by-numbers, and you just get the feeling they've got nothing left to surprise you. Prosaic - that's it, that's the word I've been reaching for for the last five lines or so. I knew I was doing a degree for a reason. But don't despair - there are still a few good moments. I can't think who A Size More Woman Than Her reminds me of but with its Bianca and Natalie (remember her?) type bitchiness it's a winner. The single Cardboy King has a good intro and middly bit, but not much else. Wolves Over Washington tells the story of a disastrous pre-season tour by Mark McGhee's expensive flops, when their plane developed fuel problems and had to circle over the US capital for ages (Dave's fibbing). The closing track, The Sky's Our Terminal, is probably the best thing here, together with the album's liberal use of cheesy keyboards, always a good thing. But I wouldn't buy it and I wouldn't give it five. (Dave Mitchell)


Jason Graham except where indicated (taken fron No Pictures 6)