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ADZ / Odz 'n' Sodz / Amsterdamned (CD)
Led by ex-Adolescent Tony Reflex, ADZ has become a mainstay of the U.S. punk scene since its inception in 1991. Odz 'n' Sodz is a collection of the band's singles, compilation tracks, foreign bonus tracks, demos and live recordings. Highlights are the great reworking of the Adolescents' classic "Wrecking Crew", covers of Jonathan Richman's proto-punk anthem "Roadrunner" and Johnny Cash's(!) "Jackson" and of course no ADZ collection would be complete without their self-titled theme song. Fans of ADZ, and indeed of punk rock in general, will find Odz 'n' Sodz adequate to tide them over until the release of the next ADZ studio project, American Steel. --
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Barry Adamson / The Murky World of Barry Adamson / Mute (CD)
I prefer not to think of The Murky World... as a "best-of" disc; it is, after all, a single volume, and can't really do him justice. So think of this as a Barry Adamson primer. If you've never experienced Adamson's music before, prepare to be introduced to his world of cinematic big-band bombast, down-and-dirty jazz, smoky French pop and lounge lizard lifestyles. Adamson's world is one of crime and espionage -- the James Bond theme not only appears here, but is alluded to throughout the rest of his work -- but also has lighter moments, such as the Francophile funk of "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and the jet-setting refrain to "Saturn in the Summertime". Start here, then explore Adamson's individual works -- especially Moss Side Story, which by virtue of its edgier, more experimental nature is poorly represented on The Murky World.... --
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Thumb/ Nitros City / Wings Music (CD)
From the city of Perth in Western Australia comes the somber-sounding Thumb. Reminiscent of grinding rockers Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, Thumb plod through lugubrious tunes that dredge up feelings of angst, remorse and genuine bitterness. Taking musical cues from the likes of grunge and authentic heavy metal, tracks like the meaty "Ham & Beef" and the piercing "Stick 2 Fingers" masterfully hammer Thumb's repetitive musical dirges through your skull. Nitros City provides vocal tenacity and grooving, guitar-heavy rhythms, that soak in an air of confidence. --
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Bertine / Morbid Latenight Show / Nettwerk USA (CD)
In Norway, Bertine is already a pretty big deal, having won all sorts of awards of the "Best Female Vocalist" variety. That, of course, means nothing -- we all know how suspect those awards are. Still, it's a safe bet that if you like jazzy, loungy technopop, you won't break out in a rash while listening to Morbid Latenight Show, especially if you enjoyed the last few Everything But the Girl albums or prefer Bjork in her more subdued moments. You'd better like mellow songs, though, or you'll find yourself skipping over/programming around most of the latter half of the disc, which heads into Tori Amos territory (though I never had to vomit while listening), perhaps to help Bertine score her spot on the Lilith tour. Morbid Latenight Show is by no means a "bad" album, but the only real surprise I got from it came from the alarming back-cover photo of Bertine. Who says mascara and eyeliner can't instill fear? --
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The Bee Zoo / Boobalah / Dingo Records (CD)
The Bee Zoo has generated a good amount of buzz in the New England music press, and Boobalah is sure to keep the buzz buzzing. I'm luke warm on this one though. It's got all the solid "modern rock" trappings: cool sounding guitars, ernest vocals (occasionally distorted), semi-funky rhythms and a certain metallic sheen. The songs are generally well written (although a couple, notably "More Than A Man" a fairly weak) and well played. It's a pretty perfect modern rock record, and I guess that's the problem -- there's nothing here that really surprises or troubles or intrigues me. Still, it's a well made CD, and one that's sure to please most radio-friendly modern rock fans. --
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Tommy Guerrero and Gadget / Weed on the Tree, Forty on the Floor / Function8 (12")
Though I had high expectations based on past F8 material, I can't honestly say this single did much for me. The title track is a bluesy/trip-hoppy affair consisting primarily of fat, plodding beats and a winsome piano loop; it's enlivened by turntable scratching and, on the second mix, some high-pitched and frenetic chant-rapping by Litall Toney, but lacks a really solid hook. B-side track "2 Days Later" does little more than strip away the piano loop, while "Hash on the Bush, 32 on the Ground" warps the melody in new directions, adding some groovy guitar work, and is by far the most interesting track. Because "Weed on the Tree, Forty on the Floor" seems unfinished, the overall effect is depressingly linear. Both Guerrero and Gadget can do better. --
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Good Riddance / Operation Phoenix / Fat Wreck Chords (CD)
Operation Phoenix is full of the same tight hardcore sound found on Good Riddance's first two albums, For God and Country and A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion. It also has the same clever socio-political lyrics with a dose of sampled movie dialogue thrown here and there for good measure. My favorite track is the fiery "Eighteen Seconds" (which actually clocks in at 29 seconds!), which offers these lyrics: "Every interaction tainted with objectification, does it make you cool to put her in her place? How would you feel if it was your sister? You're a poor excuse for a man." --
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Sarah McLachlan / Mirrorball (live) / Nettwerk (CD)
McLachlan's fans will undoubtedly be thrilled with this opportunity to relive the Sarah Live experience. It's unfortunate, then, that McLachlan's live performance has grown increasingly tepid as her last two studio albums have slowed the overall pace of her music. Yes, it's the slower songs that have earned her the most fans in recent years, but three or four of them in a row can turn a live album into a syrupy, womblike experience. It's a shame, because McLachlan's band can kick out the jams -- they just don't get many opportunities to prove it any more. If you've heard her other live album -- the one that came out back in the early nineties and is now long out of print and the subject of much price-gouging on E-Bay -- you know what I mean. --
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Mark Birmingham / Garden Life / Rosemead Recordings (CD)
On Garden Life, pianist Mark Birmingham steers through several compositions ranging from classical to new age. Lush and relaxing, Birmingham's tone resonates beautifully from track to track, gently displaying his maturity as well as his ability to establish and maintain a particular mood during each piece. Occasional accompaniment by viola, cello and flute makes Mark's tranquil music quite relaxing -- perfect for all those stressed-out souls out there. --
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