REVIEWS FROM YELL! MAGAZINE

The YELL! Reviews section is in collaboration with YELL! Magazine. We will be posting all reviews that are in the print issues of YELL! Magazine until YELL! has their own site up. There will be a huge posting of more reviews in late February/early March. If you want your records reviewed in YELL! and on the Dim Mak Site send your records to:
YELL! Reviews
Po Box 348
Hollywood CA 90078
Thanks from the YELL! and Dim Mak Staff

Reviewers: SA: Steve Aoki, MAG: Mag, MM: Miwa Matreyek

400 YEARS "The New Imperialism" CD
I bought this CD right when it came out almost a year ago. I listened the shit out of it after I got it but what I kept on going back to "Transmit Failure" and the LP that Great American Steak Religion released. The New Imperialism definitely shouts out politics and brings out straight forward messages of class, and race issues as it did from their debut LP. I really missed that in Transmit Failure, although that was a favorite of mine when it came out. My favorite song on this album is the title track, mainly because of the lyrics, and its so damn catchy, it's hard for anyone not to groove to it. Throughout it is a good record, but not nearly as good as their earlier releases. Four Hundred Years will always be a chunk of my hardcore past even though I never caught their live shows. I always thought it was rad there was a punk band with the name Four Hundred Years of four white kids itself and were of course discussing affirmative action, race and class issues, sweatshop labor, and applying action in general. I wish I got to see them live. They will be missed. SA (Lovitt)

AINA "Bipartite" CD
This record was recorded with J Robbins (Jawbox) and there is a definite Jawbox feel here. In fact track one shares an exact melody line from a Jawbox song (see if you can figure out which one) even though there is a heavy JB influence here, Aina have something of there own going on.A steady driving rock foundation is laid down to hold up some great melodic songs here. Four stars recommended to anyone that appreciates great song writing without the sap. MAG (B-Core)

APPLESEED CAST, THE "Low Level Owl" Volume 1 and Volume 2 CDs
I remember this band called December's Tragic Drive and they played at the Pickle Patch where I used to do shows about 4 years ago. This band played formulaic and encapsulated versions of Sunny Day Real Estate but not nearly as good. I wasn't too impressed. Later I hear about the Appleseed Cast and see that it's most of the members from December's Tragic Drive so I never really cared to pick up a record. Then I saw Appleseed Cast play live coincidentally at a show in Santa Barbara, not too long ago, and although very much pigeonholed in what is now reigned as the next grunge, emo, they pulled something interesting and humble off during their live set that questioned the categorization that I've been making. These two CDs are actually quite good. They bring out great dynamics amidst their mellow sap songs. What really stands out from their two hours of "emo" from these discs is the ambience and electronic glow. This is definitely a mellow record. Sigur Ros sometimes comes to mind but then it breaks from all the instrumental and minimal quiet vocal interludes into these breakdowns that scream out Chicago. Vocals throughout the albums are great. Vocals are spooky- making the album sound like it should also be on the Vanilla Sky soundtrack. This is well done and well thought out. It sounds like it took these guys a few years to write these 26 tracks. Next time they come through I'll go check 'em out to see if they can pull off this Mogwai and Godspeed You Black Emperor atmosphere. Oh yeah, these are two separate CDS. I just pushed em both into one review because it sounds as if its one really long album. And I like Volume 2 better. SA (Deep Elm)

AUTOMATON ADVENTURE SERIES, THE "Futura transmitta" CD
Sounds like another incarnation of The Rapture. The vocals give it all away. The harmonies are awesome though and the bass lines are very very very Drive Like Jehu, as with the drumming. The first song "Condition Tiephonic", which is my favorite is indicative of some San Diego favorites, repetitive simple three noted bass lines with an off timed drum beat and slight guitars coming in and out. This is what I loved about Drive Like Jehu and I can see that others felt the same way by listening to the Automaton Adventure Series. There are twelve tracks and they are all pretty solid. Very pounding drums that know when to become subtle and know when to play simple. I can't stand when drummers do too much. They know how to do just enough. This is repetitive San Diego, John Weis Rick Froberg influenced rock, a bit more progressed. I like them 2 listens to their album and you'll get what I'm hearing. SA (Satellite Transmissions)

BEN DAVIS "The Hushed Patterns of Relief" CD
Wow, this is great! Very strong influences from Black Heart Procession and earlier, Three Mile Pilot. More of Three Mile Pilot though. This is well composed and from the liner notes it seems like a lot of different people came together to do this one around Ben Davis. I remember when he drummed for Milemarker at the Pickle Patch. He's an amazing drummer live and listening to this, he is definitely a multi-faceted and talented dude. Now the name dropping on who's on this record, Jonathan Fuller of Engine Down and Denali, Amy Domingues from Tsunami (what happened to them- they came in with a storm and left quietly), Dave Laney's brother. Now the instruments on this record, cello, lap-steel (what the fuck is this), and piano - a lot of this, along side the drums, percussions and the guitars and bass. I think this is just a studio thing. I can't imagine them touring unless Ben Davis can pull off the Jeremy Enigk solo thing he did. There are definitely references to Jeremy Enigk. The vocals intersperse into high end Enigk styled out sessions and then drop off much like Pall of Three Mile Pilot. Great record. Ten songs. SA (Lovitt)

BLOOD BROTHERS, THE "Rumors Laid Waste" 2x10" limit to 260
First off, this is a limited to 260 mailorder only one sided double 10" on clear vinyl. Mikey and Brian with the one sided records... always doin shit right. This 10" or double 10" shall I say, is all their previous releases from their three 7"s, a song from the Destroy New Granada compilation that Sound Virus also released, and an unreleased track. You all know what Blood Brothers sound like so I'm not going to go into that too much. This is their earlier stuff and I love their earlier stuff as I do with everything they've done since "Adultery is Ripe" This is much more in the raw side of things. More screaming, more raw guitars and noise, and more Antioch Arrow sound, and more distortion. This is great. Hurry and get your mailorder version from Mikey, I think he only has a few left. There may be a poster made in collaboration with this limited record. Details on Sound Virus site. Oh yeah, watch out for the fucking Bobcats... That's right they will be touring Florida and doin some gigs in California depending on how their tour managers are setting things up. There are demands being made but people want the Bobcats so they better listen up. The Bobcats don't fuck around, just watch out and keep a good eye out while you're at it. SA (Sound Virus)

BOARDS OF CANADA "In A Beautiful Place Out in the Country" 12"
Even though released two years ago, this record is way ahead of 2002. Minimal in all its disarming qualities. These two blokes know exactly where to time the cues of the multi-layered beats that mix into each long track. There are four here, but they feel as if it's a full length of soothing music after you just smoked a bowl, even if you don't smoke this is imaginative music. Throw on the headphones, and let the streaming meditation process begin while they pan the aumbience back and forth from right to left adding and subtracting clean beats behind slight jibbers and clicks. Visionary yes. A movement, surreal and conceptual yes. Great ideas for good soundtracks to strange movies, yes. Tranquil, beautiful and even psychedelic if you want it to be. I can't forget intellectual. SA (Warp Records)

BOOKS LIE "It a weapon" CD
My band The Fire Next Time toured with these punks on the west coast last time they were out here so this review will be biased but who cares. I love them. Books Lie are fun as hell, got a great political and sarcastic agenda, and Steve Roche plays drums. Adam Patterson sings and he's always a good time. This album is my favorite that Satellite Transmissions released so far. Very strong Born Against feel mainly from Adam's vocals. The guitar work is at times mathy but for the most part straightforward and punk in that early 90's hardcore way - Life's Blood, Born Against, and I hear some Merel at times. It's always rad to see more women creating and shaping punk as the guitarist does. She rocks and writes some hard hitting great hardcore songs. 10 tracks here. I hear they are touring Europe soon. I hope they come back out to the west coast! Don't miss a chance to see 'em live. SA (Satellite Transmission)

BRANDSTON "Dial in Sounds" CD
What is this, Christian top 40. It's everything you'd expect from real bad Christian rock. I heard Dashboard Confessional for the first time a few days ago and I couldn't believe how popular this guy was when it sounded like utter shit. Well this has the same kind of indignifying traits that I find in shits like Dashboard. Garbage. SA (Deep Elm)

CANNIBAL OX "The F Word" 12"
Another great fucking single from the Ox. The track he did on that double 12" with Company Flow was unstoppable. I have to say that every time I listen to Ox the more I want to hear. Cannibal Ox's flows are fucking great and it's definitely got that Def Jux feel, very mood oriented, mellow down beats with catchy vibrato bass lines and slight keyboards stinging you every now and again. Two B-side tracks, "Life's Ill" and "Metal Gear". Life's Ill got some snaringly luminous war time brass lines then goes into the some of Ox's fairly good flows. "Metal Gear" sounds more electronically produced with beats that mix between samples of James Bond theme whammies intersperced throughout. Overall great EP. SA (Def Jux)

CHAMPAGNE KISS "Dancing the packets of thieves" CD
So Troubleman either puts out post-punk no wave-ish, noisey sounds or Ministry-ish, keyboard incorporated The Lack, Song Of Zarathustra sound. I almost didn't believe that this wasn't Song of Z. It's so similar. I think that they come from the same band, Camera Obscura, which makes sense. 7 songs of sonar electric synthesized, VSS charged and influenced artey rock. Drum machines and samples are really the thing now adays. It works for Champagne Kiss too. This is alright but its no Song of Zarathustra. SA (Troubleman Unlimited)

CHROMATICS "Cave Care" one sided 12"
There have been a hustle of bands doin something new and inventive off of sounds by James Chance, China Burg, Mars, DNA, No New York, Contortions. I have to put Chromatics among the midst of the best of em. Their 7" on HHH was fucking awesome including the artwork for both the 7" and now the elaborate one sided 12" etched and screened one side that I just got from Brian a few weeks back. Let's not forget the limited 100 covers that Brian screened to make that much more interesting. Six songs here and they are all fucking great songs. "Steps"'s intro though is my favorite. The drumming on this is incredible. Chromatics are fucking great... I hope to hear more from this Seattle band. Oh yeah, it wouldn't hurt to say that Devon who used to play in Blood Brothers is in it, Jordan Blilie of Blood Brother's twin sister plays the drums and most if not all of them play in the controversial Soiled Doves. Don't miss your chance to get this record. It's worth it alone for the artwork. SA (Hand Held Heart)

DEATH OF MARAT "The Shattered" CD
Sounds similar to Camera Obscura, Drive like Jehu, VSS, and Sonic Youth. Post-punk math rock, noise? Dark and serrating. MM (Satellite Transmissions)

DILATED PEOPLES "Worst Comes to Worst" 12"
Dilated Peoples, from Los Angeles have been aroud for years, since 1992 to be exact. They've been bustin' down impromptu freestyle sessions all across Southern California, came out with a dope debut album two years ago and now this, "Worst Comes to Worst" the blazin' single off of their semi-new album "Expansion Team". By far, my favorite track they've dropped and the chorus alone "Worst Comes To worst my peoples come first" says more about networking within communities than most of what I've heard in the vine of smash hits in hip hop. Evidence, Rakaa (Iriscience) and Babu still tear shit up. Iriscience being one of my favorite MC's just from his flows on Soundbombing. He's got some of the illest three minutes on that 70 something minute compilation. And Iriscience is definitely underrated. Back to the 12" single, this is the shit. The B-side being "Target Practice" is another dope track with some flows I've heard before, maybe on Soundbombing 2. Not nearly as moving as "Worst Comes to Worst" but definitely on top of the game. SA (Abb Records)

ENGINE DOWN "A Sign of Breath" 7"/CDEP
In formulaic Engine Down fashion they intricately toss out four more songs for this EP on Day After. Three songs brand new, one song remixed from their last album, which was fucking incredible. I really like Engine Down and the progression they've made from being harsh and screamier math hardcore to a much restrained and rhythmic rock depending more on quiet lulls and elaborate drum patterns. The vocals always have lead this band and make them something special. I love his voice. It's quite original and has its own sting outside of the rock measures. Like the bass lines, his vocal patterns follow the rhythm of the song but stray off on their own agenda, as I said seemingly leading the music. The songs are all great on this record, my favorite being their first track Second of February. Much louder and rockier than their other ballads. Great EP, I'd rather have the vinyl though, although the packaging on this one is sleak and cool. SA (Day After)

ENVY "All the Footprints You've Ever Left and the Fear Expecting Ahead LP/CD
Holy shit!!! Envy are incredible. I can't believe how good they are and they just keep delivering great emotive and intense music. hard-core, punk, emo, and the kitchen sink thrown there. A combination of all these elements make up one of the best bands around today. I don't think words could ever convey how awesome this cd is - at least not mine. supercalafragalisticexpeala-dope-shit!!!!!!!! Envy are from Japan and this release is the third they have here in the U.S. (thanks to Dim Mak records) all the lyrics are sung in japanese and written translation is provided (in english only) So stand up, go out and get this now before your legs fall off and kick you in the ass! MAG (Dim Mak/HG Fact/ LP on Molaire Industries)

ERASE ERRATA "Other Animals" LP/CD
When I think of the best records I heard last year, Erase Errata is on the top of that list of bands. They've quickly become one of my favorite bands and if I'm not listening to Liars or Le Tigre, I'm listening to Erase Errata. Right here are ten songs at about a half an hour. Very influenced by bands like Mission of Burma, bass lines and drumming mainly, Contortions and some Mars, Erase Errata are definitely products of the No-wave era. No keyboards just guitar, bass, drums and piercing, soaring, sexy vocals. Their rhythms throughout their songs are what get me all happy inside, they make me want to start dance parties every time I play the album. Song structures are uniquely genius and deconstruct into themselves at times which brings about different levels of noise and art and music. Tinny drums recorded great as well as wired guitars recorded great. Overall this is fucking great. Erase Errata will rule the world! SA (Troubleman Unlimited)

FIN FANG FOOM "Texture.Stucture.and the Condition of Moods" CD
Chicago! Chicago! Chicago! This is a very intelligent record musically, F3 are tearing it up with their math influenced rock here reminding me at times of Sweep the Leg Johnny or John Boy. Yet they have their own recipes to add and all the ingredients work well together. Great song structure going on here through out the CD and I really enjoyed the vocal work. Two thumbs up!! MAG (Lovitt)

HALF FOOT OUTSIDE "New Ad Ideas" CD
Veeeeeeery pop punk. Jimmy Eat World? They even have that poppy American punk band ACCENT down. (the one where it sounds like their tongue's fallen asleep?) And they play three chords. Where are these guys from, again? MM (B-Core)

HOMAGE TO CATALONIA "The estimated temperature of heaven" CD
Acoustic singer/songwriter foretellings of critical and radical perspectives and experiences denouncing systems of domination and fear. Kadd Stephens, an inspirational friend and activist utilizes a voice and a guitar to access a political agenda as a means of exploring and discussing necessary "blueprints" as he would say, to re create worlds and communities of respect, love and determination for all peoples. This album is just that. If you've heard and liked Midvale you will love Homage to Catalonia. If you love Kadd you will respect this album and his words. I respect Kadd and I respect his vehicle to express himself by all means necessary. Let his shit shine and let the whole world hear, at least the westerners. SA (Status)

KILL SADIE "Experiments in Expectation" LP/CD
I like this. Complex layering of instruments and well arranged. Kill Sadie evolves hardcore in the right direction- sometimes melodic, sometimes loud and angsty, always intelligent. The album continuously morphs and progresses from one sound to another - spans from hardcore, noise, electronic, emo, to ambiant. Sometimes sounds like Refused, Milemarker, Standstill, and At the Drive-In, and sometimes sounds like Mogwai or Bright eyes. Go! MM (Dim Mak)

LACK, THE "s/t" CD
Industrial electronic with mathy drum beats heavy and harsh, sonic sounded frequencies that charge out at you like Ministry but with post-punk styled vocals sung and screamed. This one's long as well. It's filled to the rim of fucked electronic rhythmic chaos and splendor. Every now and again I hear some sounds that compare to Song Of Zarathustra, especially when the screams come out over the electronic noise. However, I can only take doses of this. It's not like Aphex Twin where you can leave Drukqs on repeat for the entire evening. It plays well with headphones when entering the world of Quake or Unreal Tournament on my Mac. SA (Troubleman Unlimited)

LE TIGRE "Feminist Sweepstakes" LP/CD
By far the most innovatively political musical group of the late 90's and now into the new year. Le Tigre change it up with every album mixing electro- synthesized beats and rhythms with raw punk chords, sampling clever interludes and outerludes to each song that are not complete without them. Very clear cut with their messages and vocal in both the academic feminist critique and inquiry as well as transcending that to the streets and protest. The songs are all fucking great and because of the lyrical content it is my favorite album they've done and my favorite album of the year, next to that Erase Errata "Other Animals" LP. What you'll find here is quasi-disco dance beats with electronic syncs, hip hop influenced but fucked with rawness and the straightforward qualities of punk and distortion without the excess noise. Distorted vocals from time to time and a diversity of variance and tone from I think two of the three of em singing. Feminist analysis is present in all their albums and a reclamation of space and agency is demanded throughout their songs. They supply short stints of "legacies to liberation' in their radical move forward that not just discuss gender issues and disparities but race critique as well. It's been a long time since I've heard a punk band say something about reparations to folks of color or even more specifically to black peoples. There has been only one other band that I've heard make headway on those issues. Hearing that come out of their feminist empowering prose gives it that much more buoyancy in coalition building and networking across all lines of struggle for the betterment of all peoples. From their last EP "From the Desk of Mr. Lady" Le Tigre tackled the race based and hate crime filled police execution style murder of Amadou Diallo shouting one to forty one in exposing and testifying against the 41 bullets that killed 22 year old Amadou Diallo in front of his home. Le Tigre shake shake shake up this little community that we got here including me. All power to the people, affirmative action to people of color and women towards a free land and access and justice to all peoples. SA (Mr. Lady)

LIARS "They Threw Us All In A Trench and Put A Monument On Top" LP/CD
Liars is the best fucking thing to come out of punk rock in the last two years. That's a bold statement but it's been awhile since a band can lock me into listening to their record non-stop for the past four months. Jagged post-punk with funkdefied bass lines and a retro early 80's sound. I remember Aaron Hemphill's previous band before he moved to Brooklyn,, Viral Index formerly called Soul System Blackout, they rocked like Mohinder. Raw and scattered it was. Liars contains some of that energy but is refined by an avant-garde pop sound that makes me dance like I'm listenin to Gang of Four or Mission of Burma. But this is very progressive. It swings on up, as Malcolm X would say, way past the present and could easily be seen as redefining a future generation of post-punk hybrid artists. Just recently signed to Mute Records, home of Nick Cave, Yaz, Depeche Mode, and Moby, Liars will be filling a void, so to speak, in the "mainstream light". This is undoubtedly the best record to come out in a long time. Fusing electronic samples with fucked noise, funk bass tones and sounds, Australian tinted vocals, and a catchy flair this shit will drive you across town making sure all your friends hear this infectious shit. And live, they're fucking amazing! Gern Blandsten's blessed with this one. I haven't heard much comin from that label until this. I wonder what they could release that will rock like Liars since they lost them already. SA (Gern Blandsten)

MAN VS. HUMANITY "In the Line of Fire" CD
Man Vs play some pretty damn good metal-esque that i haven't heard in a long time. for some bizarre reason this reminds me of the Unbroken "life-love-regret" record, go figure. this is really good and should be picked up by anyone into stuff heavy enough to crush a small suburban neighborhood. Yeah. MAG (Troubleman Unlimited)

MAPLE/ZEIDUN "Oceana" CD
Poppy. Female vocals -her voice feels separate/not mixed in with the music. The music is pretty much there to support her vocals from beneath her - She kinda does that pop "whooh-whooh" thing like Mates of State. Slow and melancholic. Similar to, but not as good as Pretty Girls Make Graves and Rainier Maria. MM (B-Core)

MILEMARKER "Anesthetic" CD
I was really impressed with this record, although i had been apprehensive before I actually heard it. A combination a guitar driven rock and new wave-ish synth are a match made in heaven. the opening track "shrink to fit" is one of my favorite Milemarker songs. Roby's vocals are amazing throughout this record and the dynamic between Al and Dave's' works very well. there is a lot more keyboard on "Anesthetics" than past releases. Great record!! MAG (Jade Tree)

NEED NEW BODY "s/t" CD
Wacky, zany, cooky are the words that pop out of my head listening to Need New Body. The ads for the record are great. The artwork for the record look like its going to be some electronic pop album on Emperor Norton. When played all I want to do is go back and see some more Blue Man Group and watch the drummer of Ui rock his shit while this funked up and fucked up orchestra play circus-ey and well composed art. So there are seven of them and they are from Philadephia and they seem to have some performance drama pieces on here amidst their crazy sounding melodies and horn section that really give it that Willy Wonka in a Chocolate Factory thing or even "Fame, I'm gonna live forever..." but an impromptu version of that. I just imagine dancers and a lot of em, choreographed while there is a spoken word artist in tight drab hoppin around in a bunny outfit while they all prance around the stage exchanging instruments as if they all knew how to play everything, and all improv. That sound great. This is a stretch of the imagination, but not to the thesbian crowd in black spandex, or the bounced off the walls art students, or Need New Body. SA (File 13 Records)

NEW END ORIGINAL "Thriller" CD
DAMN this is catchy! Pop-driven punk. Sounds like the new Weezer. and Jimmy eat World, the Promised Ring. Infectiously accessible. Jonah Matranga's vocals works great with the music, as the album transgresses from make-you-dance Pop (track 1, Lukewarm) to something more like Pedro the Lion (track 8, #1 defender) to a piano/vocal song that makes you think of the new at best Radiohead and at worst Jewel. MM (Jade Tree)

NOBUKAZU TAKEMURA "Sign" 2xCD
The CD starts off sounding as if you are in Vegas playing slot machines. Strangely enough, the whole album has a slot machine sounding feel but definitely not as creepy. Takemura is fantastic. Bouncy, fluffy and super electronic there are elements of Japanese culture throughout the music that are apparent. At times, I feel like I'm watching some Evangelion and cutting into some Armitage, about the controversy of creating cyborgs, and as the CD plays for the 64 plus minutes I imagine all these new futuristic worlds through the scope of Japanese anime. It has to do with all the ticks, stutters, trips, and glitches and when the computerized voice starts singing it does more than push that categorization further. Takemura is a genius. This is possibly one step beyond IDM related electronica, it's got something heavier about it that doesn't necessarily have to incorporate loud roaring bass tones. It has a soul to it, an imaginative flair that is hard to duplicate. "Sign" is a wild ride to say the least. On one track, John McEntire of Tortoise, Douglas McCombs, Bundy Brown throw in some collaboratory efforts and make that song 30 + minutes of jammy electro intoxicating, CD skip-manipulated, fun. This ain't all that comes with the CD. There is another CD-rom enhanced with a animated video to the title tracks, "Sign" by none other than the glorified Katsura Moshino who has graced his art for Mo' Wax, Towa Tei, Monday Michiru, Mondo Grosso, and many a Giant Robot issues. He's is the bomb. So he concocted and made this animation that blew my mind. It's hard to describe his art or animation but the first American comparison that doesn't give too much justice is Southpark. Moshino's art blows Southpark out of the water just by his use of colors. I can't even watch that show after I watched this animation. It rings of political fervor denouncing corporate rule and their environmental waste to the world by their factories. The story is based around these characters that live happily until the ugly mean corporate bosses put a factory on this beautiful hill. They protest and fight against it, and ultimately all die from a bomb that destroys the whole hill. In the end, their spirit comes back and crushes the tyrants and peace prevails. A very great narrative, great animation, and great music that flows side to side with the action. This 2xCD is just about for everyone and may even soothe little crying babies too. SA (Thrill Jockey Records)

ONLY IF YOU CALL ME JONATHAN "Red Friend" CD
Sounds like Foo Fighters? Boilermaker, Juno? melancholic rock. MM (Day After)

OWLS "s/t" LP/CD
I couldn't stop listening to Cap'n Jazz my senior year in high school back in 1995. I thought they were way ahead of their time and they were influencing a lot of my friends in my hood with their twisting lyrics and weird time signatured guitar and drumming. From what I understand, Owls is the original line-up of Cap'n Jazz before Davey Van Bohlen of Promise Ring fame joined. So here it is, the four originals back together playing quirked out shaky indie rock that can't really be categorized under avant-garde cuz it's not quite so fucked, but not indie cuz its not quite so conventional in that indie fashion. But to be honest, it's not that good. I like Joan of Arc, American Football, Cap'n Jazz, and Ghosts and Vodka much better than this collaboration of all four or five or six or how ever many other side bands they've all done since C'n J. Eight tracks of not that great weird and damaged indie. SA (Jade Tree)

PANTHERS "Are You Down?" LP/CD
Call and respond baby. Fuck yeah I am motherfucking down. That's right, I will be there for my comrades through the next stage, the next realm when and if cocktails will be made and the next truck rolls by keeping the dead eyes opening from the back of heads. This is the fucking sound. The fucking noise. About time some serious shit was made, some revolutionary voices speaking from the underground sound of the Situationists, Weather Underground, Bernadine Dohrn, Audre Lorde, Anais Nin, Michel Foucault, Carol Queen - hell fucking yeah (Live Nudes Unite) and get out that fucking strap-on grrls and start fucking guys- and guys start challenging your sexuality by reading some Queen listen to some Panthers, do that fucking shit man-, Dadaism, Fluxus movements we're on a roll and this train don't stop anywhere soon. Panthers are keeping the movement in motion, rolling with strong critical views and applying some serious angle not just in their sound, guitars, but in their lyrics. Some say they sound like The Stooges, MC5, maybe some early punk 80's NY bands, vocals remind me of Clikitat Ikitowi but with lyrics fired up louder and more powerful than I've heard from any punk outfit. And punk is maybe too limiting for the Panthers. Branch out, spread revolution, dance revolution. Hustle and bustle and I'm super hyped about The Panthers. I'm super fucking down with the Panthers. Brooklyn hasn't seen a punk band like this, the fucking US hasn't seen a band like this in some time with great angle of politics, process and analysis. I should include members now, J. Green, Jeff Salane, and Geoff Garlock from Orchid, Kip of Red Scare and Justin of Turing Machine. Resonate this shit and play it loud. Read some Zami by Audre Lorde, and try to break down some of Foucault's "Truth and Power" and "The History of Sexuality". Dig this shit now. SA (Troubleman unlimited)

PEDRO THE LION "It's Hard to Find a Friend" CD
Pedro The Lion is one guy. On this record its this one guy and a bassist. Real mellow, real sappy but not cheesy. It reminds me a lot of Mineral but not nearly as cheesy and played out. This is the re-release of Pedro The Lion's first album that was originally on Made in Mexico, who I think doesn't exist any more. Although this is strongly a religious Christian record with Jesus this and Jesus that here and there and every where it really is good. He's the only one that really does it for me. I don't know why. SA (Jade Tree)

PEDRO THE LION "The Only Reason I feel Secure" CD
8 song EP but plays out like a short long player. Even more depressing with great songwriting acoustic sounding ballads. There's some upright bass on there here and there, JC appears here and there, after a while all I hear is the guitars, and then get really sad or something. SA (Jade Tree)

PEDRO THE LION "Winners Never Quit" LP/CD
This is by far my favorite of the albums I'm sure dedicated to JC. It is even more catchy and more heart wrenching but he does it for me. I wouldn't care to see his live shows but I'll listen to this record over and over. When I think of Pedro the Lion I don't think of very much other than good melodic sad acoustic great vocal sound and always a bit overboard with the lyrics. But good stuff nonetheless. SA (Jade Tree)

PINE, THE "s/t" LP
I've been waiting for this one to come out for some time. After getting a chance to listen to their self released 7" a year back, this album blows my mind. When I was 15 going on to 17 one of my favorite bands was Evergreen. And when I listen to the Pine, Evergreen stands out like no other. Forceful reminiscing haunts me when I return the needle back to the beginning of each side. Impressively enough, they are able to capture the same rawness and melodies of The Hated as well. Unique and well composed songs with quirked vocals that will make this one timetelling. I love this record. Any band to be compared with The Hated and Evergreen is something you need to seek out. And from the looks of it, I think it's a limited release. Hand screened looking covers and inserts makes it look so, which makes the record that much cooler. Grab it before you never see it again. Now I need to find the Hated's first LP that Mike(y) Ott will trade his arm for. SA (Into The Hurricane)

PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES "s/t" CDEP
This cd is really good, I was really impressed with the guitar and singing...At times Andrea's vocals reminded me of Kathleen Hanna back in the Bikini Kill days. Pretty Girls has a few ex and currents members of Murder City Devils-Kill Sadie-and The Death Wish Kids and if you threw all three into a blender, Pretty Girls Make Graves is what i think would be produced. I hear they will be releasing a full length soon on Lookout records and if this is any indication of what expect it should be pretty awesome. "good shows kids" MAG (Dim Mak)

PUSH BUTTON OBJECTS "360 Remixes" 2x12"
Fuck this may be one of the best remixes I've heard in a while. If you've heard this EP on Chocolate already you need this remix double 12". If you haven't heard the original EP it doesn't matter, the original excellent production from DJ Craze and now the remixed versions from DJ Spinna, Jut Masta Kurt, The Hernaliser and El-P (from Company Flow) is fucking phenomenal. Let's start by first adding the fact that the two MC's on this track "360 Degree" is Mr. Lif and Del. Both exchanging flows organic and natural, just as pristine as you'd expect. Downbeats all the way through. Let me say this is catchy as shit too. As for Push Button Objects, they've already blown up with street cred in electronic circles and now making headway in underground hip hop, but shit Del, underground now,, who knows anymore... So you start off this remix album with some DJ Spinna, he lays down a bass line that hooks you the minute the needle hits the wax. This was a great additional component to his very simple and refined remix. A solid beat to back it up and a bit of tweaking of the vocal remix, maybe not. EL-P's remix is much heavier as a whole. Adding some horns, and after knowing it's El-P, you can tell where the darkness of the sound comes from, very similar to some of Company Flow's beats. Dark and heavy. Fuck, the Kut Master Kurt sounds like his track with MOP - Hijack that Fool. Fuck this will make you bob your head up and down until the side's over. I hate to say it but P. Diddy's new track Bad Boys For Life's got this bass line that just fucking is incredible. This is quite reminiscent in a very good way. Scratches in the right places too... Yes, his track is the shit. Last, The Herbaliser is all about the herb. Some synthesized parts, a tight fit bass lines cut in different parts, got some of that 70's jammy feel. Real smooth. Damn this is some shit. Don't miss out.. you should just get everything Chocolate releases. That label is amazing as this record. SA (Chocolate Industries)

RED LIGHT STING, THE "Rub Em Down" 12"/CD
One of the best new bands to come out in 2001. By far one of the best bands to come out of Canada. No wave is what people are saying. I think so but they are much too catchy to be considered in the same realm as Chance and Burg. They are however fucking dancey and they have the ability to make you hum their songs months and months after you last listened to their EP. That's a fucking great sign for a great band. Keyboards, twin reverb sounding guitars or just really wired out, danced bass lines, great drummer and the vocalist sings! He sings and he sounds fucking awesome. They will shake up the world once they tour more. Look out for more stuff by this great band! SA (Sound Virus)

RED MONKEY "Gunpowder, Treason and Plot" LP/CD
UK trio, Red Monkey have been putting out some great records in the last four or even five years. From the fucked and great band Pussycat Trash that nodded heads to Bikini Kill, the riot grrl politic and sound, come the Red Monkey. Much mellower, much more sophisticated in lyrical and musical composition. At times its between Fugazi, when Joe Lalley sings, the mellower songs of Fugazi, and Blonde Redhead, not by how they both have female vocalists but the drumming and guitar integration in each song. The song "Not Certain, positive" lyrically brings up politics in the same hurrah as Chumbawamba and Crass... "Remind yourself you are free take it to the streets take it from the factory" and my favorite line "Give the boss a flier"That's my favorite song. I like this when I want to make origami. SA (Troubleman unlimited)

REPORTS, THE "Run into the Night" CD
Charming indie rock - funny lyrics. Makes me think of a happier version of Deathcab for Cutie. Also sounds like Je Suis France, 764-hero or Pavement. I like #2, #9. Has a charming low-fi/messy quality to it. MM (Satellite Transmissions)

ROBOCOP KRAUS, THE "Tger" CD
Wow! i love this cd, robocop rocks! Gang of Four meets Q and not U and The Cure on a camping trip with four sticks of dynamite and a keg of Guinness, need i say more. MAG (Day After)

SEVEN STOREY "Dividing By Zero" CD
I like this because it reminds me so much like early Girls Against Boys and early 80's Dischord DC rock. I think this is some adaptation from Seven Story Mountain from a few years back who were a rockin band live, especially with the bassist always wearing the same Admiral shirt. Good taste in music. Hard angled guitars just like the kind you hear out of Washington DC, it's strange to hear that this band is from Phoenix. I can't make much from the lyrical content but it doesn't take anything away from their east coast innovative edge which is what really is occupying the musical flurries in my head. 10 songs of great DC rock the way I like it. Very impressed by Seven Storey. SA (Deep Elm)

SLOW RIDE "As I Survived The Suicide Bomber" CD
Jawbreaker, Samiam come to mind. Catchy but there's parts that sound like The Get-Up Kids that bother my palette. Straightforward poppy melodic indie rock that spell out Deep Elm. 12 songs, much too long for me to swallow the whole thing. I'm sure some kids are goin crazy about those octave breakdowns and pop hooks. Not for me. SA (Deep Elm)

SONG OF ZARATHUSTRA "Poisonous Movement" 7"
This is what you'd expect from traditional Song material but much more raw sound, especially from the vocals. The vocals on this record are the best I've heard. The noise on this record only complement the songs. Two songs both pretty quick but both fucking hard hitting, synthesized and with their anthemic transitions. You can call them noisey, art-ey, speedy, Antioch Arrow and Angelhair inspired, but to add their definitely one of my favorite bands around. I fucking love Song of Zarathustra and I love this fucking record. I wonder if Sean Husick is still getting the Z: tattoo still. If there is a band that is worth tattooing, I can see a cult group of friends and fans doing that. SA (Sound Virus/ Hand Held Heart)

STANDSTILL "The Tide" CD
European metal melodic hardcore but less metal and more melody. Screaming vocals done well and spliced in areas where I can hear some Converge-ish timing. Listening to their later stuff, they definitely went towards the Monochrome direction. I guess this is where they tried the hardcore thing and it got tried and tired. I'm not too into metal hardcore like this but I'm definitely more into their later stuff. I'm sure kids in Spain were and are going apeshit about this band because they definitely have talented leanings. SA (B-Core)

STANDSTILL "The Ionic Spell" CD
Sounds like at the drive-in, but better. It's well arranged/produced, keeping you on your toes and listening. Some parts are melodic, and even beautiful, pulling you in for a closer listen, and just when you turned up the volume all the way, it explodes in an emotional roar of anger and angst. The vocals are frantic, and harsh. The instruments are played heavy and hard, but keeps on driving like a runaway truck. Once you stick the CD in, the band's in control for the next 40 minutes. MM (B-Core)

STRIKE ANYWHERE "Change is a Sound" CD
Strike anywhere play fast octave chord driven power punk ala Good Riddance - [old] Bad Religion here coupled with socially conscience lyrics which seem to be the main focus. < at least i hope they are > again lyrically i found this CD to be a calling out to human kind to wake the fuck up! {a familiar theme in the predominantly "white" boy punk scene} From what a few of my friends who have seen them live have told me they are pretty awesome. so if you're politically conscience and want to groove to a few tracks that are a bit insightful then check this release out four stars **** Oh, and I hear they did an interview in some big magazine like Alternative Press or something..........interesting. MAG (Jade Tree)

SUNSHINE "Necromance" LP/CD
The cover is some of the strangest art I've seen in a long time. It is some awkward drawing of a mec or a robot being crucified by a reel of tapes over flowers. The idea sounds cool but it just doesn't please the eye at all. The back of the CD is quite random as well. A woman with a Mohawk with some photoshoped effects and some Japanese anime mec figures, looks like Robotech to me. As for the music of Sunshine, they are fucking great and have always been great. Great usage of synthesizers here. Not overdone and put in places to enhance the songs the way Duran Duran would. As for general musical composition, it doesn't stray far from Sunshine's usual ditties. Very progressive post-punk with up front vocals that sound much more confident and fierce. I've listened to this one many times driving long distances. I love everything they've done and this is my favorite so far. I hope they come back out here again so I can catch them this time around. Oh yeah, this is a trio too and they somehow sound like there are six people in the band. Sunshine are awesome. There are only a few bands I've seeked out because they've blown my mind and Sunshine are one of 'em. Someone should be releasing this record in the States so more people can get their hands on it. SA (Day After)

THRICE "The Illusion of Safety" CD
This record is the epitome of why i no longer go to shows ... Fans of Jimmy Eat World and the Get Up Kids should enjoy this. Sorry kids. MAG (Sub City)

TREMBLING BLUE STARS "Alive to Every Smile" CD
Ambient, spacious, delirium laced pop is offered up by tbs. reminiscent of Cocteau Twins and Flying Saucer Attack. Great songs accompanied by mesmerizing melody. I have to say this brought me back to highschool .... the pleasantries of course. 4ad would be proud!! MAG (Sub Pop)

TRIANGLE "*" CD
Yeah it's a been awhile since I heard myself some Talking Heads but fuck this is some crazed electronic amalgamation of sorts that really takes off of Byrne and Weymouth from the "Stop Making Sense" period, definitely. Very intelligent how Triangle fuses some past hits that stream from Talking Heads to the electronic wave of the future. I guess Sean Tillman of Har Mar does some producing on this as well and Har Mar just fucking rules. It does sound very complementary to most of his stuff as well. Co-ed vocals work well. Male vocals very slight and the female vocals very breathy and remind me of Blondie every now and again.. And the bass lines, the bass lines are funky but not too funky. This is great. It gets even better after the 5th song. Ten tracks makes this a great debut. SA (File 13 Records)

UNFINISHED SYMPATHY, THE "s/t" CD
Very indie looking layout. And these boys from Barcelona do just that. They don't stray that far from Jets To Brazil kind of rock, but there is definitely a distinctive Spanish sound that only comes from Spain that is said here. These guys are musicians, they can play the rock to a T, it's not for me but I know kids are probably going crazy for them in Spain. SA (B-Core Disc)

VINCENT GALLO "So Sad" 12"
Buffalo 66 ring a bell. Yeah, its Vincent Gallo, Mr. Model, actor and great fucking songwriter and vocalist. I especially love his vocals. At times it is hard to decipher what gender is singing, very androgenous, and very feminine. The A side of "So Sad" is brilliant. I will buy everything from Vincent Gallo, I'm just so fucking in love with his style. There is something about his music and his voice, and his presence in the record that makes you want to get everything he has released. This is so sad. It is a true depiction of what sad can mean on many levels. The drums are recorded very well, very tinny but polished, reverb but not too much... vocals once again are amazing. Side A- 2 minutes and 14 seconds , that's it... It's such a great idea.Side B- So Sad at 4 minutes but slowed down (play it at 45) to maybe a 20 rpm. Very slow very sad very very good. Overall a super sad but positive review on Vincent Gallo, his many talents, his sad reflective records, and Buffalo 66. SA (Warp Records)

VUE "Find Your Home" CD
Although i myself could not get into this, i was impressed with the recording of this record. It has an early 60's feel to it that isn't garage-esque and trashy,Vue play some pretty straight forward rock'n roll with a bit of soul thrown into it, hints of the rolling stones-velvet underground-the jam are definitely present here. fans of the aforementioned bands should check these kids out. i've seen them live a couple of times and must say it was a rather unique experience. vue features members of the now defunct "Portraits of Past" and "Das Audience". Fans of either should be warned, this is straight-up rock'n roll. MAG (Sub Pop)

YAPHET KOTTO "Syncopated Synthetic Laments For Love" LP/CD
They've been one of my favorite bands since the first time they played at my apartment in either late 1997 or early 1998 at the Pickle Patch. Since the time they came out to play and now, they've become close friends and I love their music and their ideas, their live shows and just them. Marking their second LP on Ebullition, this is a fucking classic. The best thing that Ebullition put out in a long time, one of the best records they've ever released in my opinion next to the Orchid 10" and the soon forthcoming Orchid 12". The artwork in the gatefold portrays various struggles from different peoples of color. (Bobby Seale is the one I notice automatically) Lyrics are more and more clear riding into abstraction but definitely making a stand on a few issues, whether its identity politics or resilience to being overtaken by a larger system whether it be religion, war, or the status quo. Heartfelt as always and that is what I think of most when I listen to Yaphet Kotto. It's fucking sincere and heartfelt. Very fucking real hardcore, honest and fucking real. Musically, this is very catchy but noisey as all hell, they've also signatured guitar lines that I hear people steal from other bands from time to time (The Fire Next Time for example). This is a full ten songs. My most favorite and the most chilling and inspirational part of the whole record is actually by someone who is not in the band however they are able to captivate and enhance her words strengthening them and making them sound loud and unsilencable. They sample this woman who does a spoken word piece, I think it is, of what it means to live in white America for someone of color, for a women of color. The circles, the pitfalls, the deportations, the silences, the notions, the everythings that are never discussed that are always marginalized and oppreseed from some fucking law or some fucking proposition or some fucking group in power or people in power that invalidate these words constantly and persistently. They celebrate her voice and her defiance and her representation on propositions that force assmilation on people of color. I love Yaphet Kotto. SA (Ebullition)

SPLITS:

ALKALINE TRIO/ HOT WATER MUSIC split CDEP
This is my first time actually hearing Alkaline Trio and they're pretty good. They got this Jawbreaker thing going but a much more polished and smoothed out rock thing goin, especially the vocals. I can see why Vagrant put this band out. I'm sure they sell records well for the label that is selling out what has been sold out,(selling the word emo as a stock option to build an empire on bad music like Dashboard Confessionals and Confessional Emo bands that suck) But I have to say that if I knew better Alkaline Trio is the better band coming out of that label. Hot Water Music does four tracks. Two are alright, nothing really outstanding though and I guess both bands cover each other's music so if you like both bands I'm sure this is for you even without reading this stupid review. SA (Jade Tree)

GOOD RIDDANCE/ KILL YOUR IDOLS split CDEP
Good pop punk here with socially conscious lyrics in the Good Riddance tradition. once again i'm not to into the pop punk thing, but this is definitely the better of what I've heard. Kill Your Idols are a lot more abrasive than GR. I had never heard them before this release. this is also pretty good, all the songs move very nicely and have an infectious toe tapping effect. Overall a good release i could see both these bands playing with Strike Anywhere. MAG (Jade Tree)

NO KNIFE NINE DAYS WONDER split CDEP
No Knife deliver two tracks here that don't stray to far away from their past releases. if you were ever down with the knife then come and get it. Nine Days Wonder rock out three new tunes a bit different than their last ep. Keyboards are incorporated more here, not as heavy as the "Scenery is in Disguise There" but the intensity is still intact. two thumbs up!! MAG Good. No Knife sports it's characteristically appealing sound. Very clean and tight. The two bands compliment each other so well, you hardly notice it when No Knife ends and Nine Days Wonder begins. Nine days Wonder adds a keyboard that helps ground their more sporadic style. Complex intermixing of instruments and timing. Makes me wish the vocals were better... Mag (Dim Mak)

ROBERT NANNA/ ELIZABETH ELNORE split 7"/CDEP
Bob Nanna of Braid and Hey Mercedes fame. And Elizabeth Elnore of Sarge fame. This is their solo songwriter stuff. Two songs only. A short little ditty by both acoustic and electric performers. I've done shows for Nanna on his solo stints across the country and they're good. This song is a dandy one if you like Braid or Hey Mercedes. It's got a loud bass drum under his vocals and guitar and its catchy and its fun. It's a good song. Elizabeth's song is real sad. Her voice is recorded sooo loud! Shit, I had to turn down my stereo and then turn it down some more. It's too loud. But I'm sure that's how some people want her voice loud and up front. Although I tend to prefer women's vocals over men's almost 50 to 1, this is the 1 time I prefer male to female, maybe cuz I'm biased with Bob Nanna. However, I'll take Allison from Discount or Andrea from Pretty Girls Make Graves or Kathleen from Le Tigre or Toko from the Lapse, or Blonde Redheade or all the singers of Sleater Kinney, or Erase Eratta or The Bangs, or Team Dresch solo acoustic stuff any day over any guy guaranteed. SA (Troubleman Unlimited)

WEATHERMEN, THE/ MR. LIF & MURS split 12"
The Weathermen come at you straight with a simple beat, slow and mean, a keyboard synthesized adding some ambience noise and then some free flowin sounding flows. Good lines from the Weathermen crew - Masai Bey, Camu Tao, El-P, Copywrite, Vast Aire. The track "Same As It Never Was". It doesn't top Company Flow or Cannibal Ox but it's got some solid foundation for some raw uncut underground hip hop, Def Jux style. Now flip it over for some Mr. Lif and Murs and you get what you want. Mr. Lif, you already fucking love him from 360 Degrees and his solo shit is fucking revolutionary, his live show is the bomb, this is just that. "Sneak Preview" is their cut, Murs starts it out over a groovy and upbeat tempo with some fucked sounding shit that makes it even more original and outstanding. I'd have to say that Mr. Lif and Murs side is the fucking shit here. I can always vouch for Mr. Lif and now Murs... Great combo, short song. SA (Def Jux Records)

V/A:

PRISONS ON FIRE: GEORGE JACKSON, ATTICA AND BLACK LIBERATION CD
Yeah, prisons did burn. This ain't no joke. Thirty years ago, 1500 Black, Puerto Rican, and white prisoners seized control of a New York prison. On this CD is discussions, samples, interviews, recordings, all archived about the legacy of George Jackson, why the Soledad brothers were and some discussion on younger Jonathan Jackson, a fiery revolutionary, indeed, and how the prison industrial complex jailed killing, murdering, and trying to destroy the fire of Black Liberation and Black Power. Included here are the voices of George Jackson; Jonathan Jackson Jr; Georgia Jackson (mother of George and Jonathan Jackson); Angela Davis; David Hilliard (former Black Panther Party leader); James Baldwin; Harry Belafonte; David Johnson, Hugo Pinell, Luis Talamantez & Sundiata Tate (all charged with the San Quentin rebellion forllowing the murder of George Jackson); Frank 'Big Black' Smith (Attica Brother and prison activist); William Kunstler; Elizabeth Fink and Michael Deutsch (attorneys for the Attica Brothers); L.D. Barkley (Attica Brother, murdered in the retaking of the prison in September of 1971, who announced the Attica Manifesto to the world); and Ruchell Magee (prison activist and leader, still in prison for his political activities). This is as comprehensive as it gets and its about time that its available for the public. George Jackson, just through his two books, Soledad Brother and Blood In My Eye, have become inspirations for the empowerment of Black communities and the fight for the justice of all people. Being jailed indefinitely until his death from a botched case where George was convicted of stealing $70 from a gas station (with enough evidence to prove he didn't do it), this CD lay as some testament of truth in the words and wisdom of early George Jackson. Total running time: 60 loaded and fiery minutes of truth speaking to power. Keep on the lookout for the Hearts and Minds celebration posters and inserts with a dedication to George Jackson to be released in coalition with From Monument To Masses full length CD from Dim Mak Records. Get this CD. SA (Freedom Archives/ AK Press/ Alternative Tentacles)

V/A: TROUBLEMAN MIX TAPE 2xCD
140 minutes, over 40 bands, 2 Cds... some serious fucking shit. And this is unreleased material, at least I think it is. There are some live songs from bands that are on other releases but it's generally new short songs by a shit load of bands... the great thing about for me is that I enjoy listening or love 95% of these bands already. Most of the stuff are from Trouibleman related bands, but mind you, this is not a sampler of his previous releases, it is what it is, a mix tape, or it intends to be such. There are some big names here as well, Blonde Redhead, Unwound, Melt Banana. Locust, to name a few. My favorites however are the Miles Davis and Barry White samples. Miles Davis, the baddest motherfucker on Earth, and even more so now in my book after hearing him shoot down some race theory by just being real and really reminding me of James Baldwin. I think its cool that Troubleman being run by a white dude put that as the first track on this compilation. As for some fucking hits - Glass Candy, Unwound's song sounds like Blond Redheads and its fucking good, Erase Errata (as they are a fantastic band and timeless indeed), Subtonix, Lightning Bolt, The Red Scare, Rah Bras, Blonde Redhead (sounds like a live version of their 60's beach Bombay song on their lemons record), !!!, Petty Crime (who is this band, they're fucking great?), Melt Banana... Just buy this CD, it's loaded and good. SA (Troubleman unlimited)

LABEL INFORMATION