REDD KROSS, Third Eye (CD- Atlantic):
Awww, man! What happened here? I was really excited about this record, until I heard it. This is total pop music, not even progressive pop. It sounds like something the Partridge Family might do. But hey, I guess this is what they wanted. I really dig their older stuff, especially Neurotica and Teen Babes from Monsanto. Their silly, wanna-be, glam-star image was no joke. This record still has a couple of great songs that rock. Check out "Shonen Knife" (only fair since Shonen Knife has a song called "Redd Kross") and "Elephant Flares" (forget the horns.) But then there is some real sap: "I Dont Know How to Be Your Friend" and "Love is Not Love." In a recent interview, Redd Kross said that Atlantic told them that the record wasn't their sound, but it was the sound. Be looking for this on commercial radio like K**R. (CH)
REDD KROSS, Third Eye : Not bad. They've done a lot better but I still like it. (CR)
SOUNDGARDEN, Room A Thousand Years Wide (7"- Sub Pop): I didn't like 'em, till I saw 'em. This is cool. (CR)
LOVEDOLLS, Love One Another (LP- Buy Our Records): All girl punkrock. Not exactly the same as the movie, but similar. Check out the back over photo - Is that Perry Farrel? (CH)
THE FLAMING LIPS, In a Priest Driven Ambulance (CD- Restless): The more listens I give this one, the more I like it. The Flaming Lips are known for their revivalist visions and this record is no exception. From Love and Rockets to Pink Floyd and the Jesus and Mary Chain to Louie Armstrong, this band can sound like anyone at any given time. The songs aren't rip-offs by any means, they're all distinctly the Flaming Lips. But as you listen, you'll probably be reminded of another song by another someone else. Nice mix of acoustic and sonic electric guitar. There are also a jot of unusual background noises on this whole record which make it interesting to listen to. For some reason I kept hearing my doorbell ring? Hmmm. Dinosaur Jr fans should take note. (CH)
BOB MOULD, Black Sheets of Rain (CD- Virgin): Rocks! Bob's ready for the arenas. (CR)
NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE, Ragged Glory (CD- Reprise): Rocks like rock should be! (CR)
HARD TO BEL1EVE-A KISS COVERS COMPILATION, Various Artists (LP- C/Z Records): Lots of good songs done by fairly big names in underground-grunge rock: Nirvana, Bullet Lavolta, All, Hardons, Coffin Break.(CH)
COCTEAU TWINS, Heaven or Las Vegas (LP- 4AD/Capitol): Good go to sleep or sex music. (CR)
THE POSIES, Dear 23 (CD- DGC): How many 60's-era influenced bands are coming out in the '90s? Quite a few. What makes The Posies different? They have soul. The ten songs on Dear 23 are consistently good without all the glitz and glam associated with most 60's revival bands. They play pop/rock songs that seem to tell the listener, "We're gonna play what we want. If you like it, crank it up. If you don't, we couldn't care less." (DH)
SISTERS OF MERCY, More (7"- Merciful Release): Sisters Of Metal? The ever changing world of Andrew Eldritch. Kinda cool, but...(CR)
SKINNY PUPPY, Tormentor (12"- Capitol): Blue vinyl, neat. Electronic dance noise. They know how to use a drum machine. (CR)
BOREDOMS, Soul Discharge (LP- Shimmy Disc): The Japanese Butthole Surfers? I dont quite see the connection. Sounds like cartoon characters playing hardcore. Well maybe...(CH)
REACTION, The End (7" EP- Ragin' Records, The Label): I tried out for this band, but they decided to keep the singer. Ain't bad. (CR)
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS, Weeping Song (EP- Mute/Elektra): Honky blues. Good cover of Neil Young's "Helpless." I like it. (CR)
HATE #2 (Fantagraphics): Wow! First Peter Bagge comic I ever read. Now I'm hooked. It's the story of Buddy Bradley. This guy could be you or me. He's just a dude who has moved away from his parents and is living the bachelor life. He drinks, smokes, reads comics, and listens to cool tunes. What's great about it, is that its a slice-o-life kinda deal. But its drawn so zany that you forget that a lot of this stuff has happened to you before. If you dig this, check out Mr. Bagge's earlier comic: Neat Stuff. Wild and wacky. (CH)
HATE #2: I think I went to school with this kat. Neat stuff. (CR)
HARD BOILED #1 (Dark Horse): Kind of hard to follow, but the art is incredible. This will be one to read as a whole. (CH)
HARD BOILED #1: I like my eggs hard boiled. (CR)
LOVE AND ROCKETS #33 (Fantagraphics): What can be said that hasn't already been said?(CH)
MIGHTY MOUSE #1,2 (Marvel): Great satire on comic book industry and superhero types with lots of inside jokes. Not as childish as you might think. (CH)
ROTTING AMERICA #1: Made me rethink my entire existence. (CH)
ROTTING AMERICA #1: Great stories, great art. Pullitzer Prize winning material. (CR)