!!! !!! (GSL)
This outfit's monicker is pronounced "Chick-Chick-Chick", or any three
syllables you choose to utter in unison and the imperitive nature of
their name is well earned. Fans of the "To Hell With Poverty" groove
of Gang of Four, minimal funk of the early 1980's 99 Records clan,
agitated punk scrabble of the Pop Group, or people who just like to
dance, dammit, will go for this disc in a big way.
NEW PORNOGRAPHERS Mass Romantic (Mint)
A pop-rock hit here at FMU that seems to be going over in a big way. This
band has harmonies Brian Wilson would love, and crunchy riff hooks that
Cheap Trick would kill for, but what makes the NP's different than the
millions of other bands out there doing that is a great song craft and an
excellent assortment of folks involved. Neko Case's couple contributions
on vocals seem to be getting all the airplay, but there are equally great
tunes on here, and the group is made up of members of Zumpano,
Superconductor and Destroyer (whose last disc was an amazing injection
intro indie rock's draggin' ass). Really flawless, much more excellent
than they tend to indicate in the liner notes (which makes it seem like it
was just a project recorded here n' there).
MICRANOTS Obelisk Movements (Subverse)
A definite potential for hiphop record of the year along with the
Ropeladder 12 disc for me. The duo of MC I Self
Divine Universal and DJ Kool Akiem Allah Universal toss a melodic and
intelligent blend of forceful rhymes and laid back loops and jazzy beats
amidst slinky basslines. Really appealing, I think, to just about
everyone.
VARIOUS Osiedle Pielne Rymow Czyli Hip-Hop Jak Okiem Siegnac
(Machina)
A disc full of bonafide Polish gangsta rap, from that country's answer to
Mojo Magazine. No idea what's happening here, my mom's still translating
the sleeve notes for us.
NECRO I Need Drugs (Psycho-Logical)
Needless to say, one should not be forwarding THIS disc to their mom.
Necro is a New Yorker and associate of Ill Bill from Non-Phixion who's
eclipsed just about everyone in sheer "holy cow" factor in terms of taking
rap to its most sexist and violent heights. Seriously, Eminem looks like
Leo Sayer compared to this twisted bastard. Is it a joke? Is he serious?
He has some pretty imaginative rhymes ("appendix" & "Jimi Hendrix") and
one of two playable songs on the radio is a cover of LL Cool J's "I Need
Love" redesignated as "I Need Drugs" (the video of which stars his junkie
uncle who shoots up throughout, for real). Hmm, maybe "KIDS" was pretty
close to a documentary afterall if this guy is making the scene?
THE MONKS Let's Start a Beat (Varese Sarabande)
What you may know is that 60s-Beat-Punk GI's-in Germany the Monks have
been already dear to the hearts of many FMU staffers and listeners
through the years, but unless you were at Cavestomp last year or heard
first hand, their live reunion some 30 years down the line was one of the
most amazing shows of the year; described by former Forced Exposure
co-editor Byron Coley as one of the top 5 shows he'd ever seen, as great
as 76-era Ramones at CB's. Well, I wasn't at CB's, but I was at Cavestomp,
and the Monks were damaged and brutal for a buncha seniors, and it's now
out on this CD (with video enhancement added on too, you HAVE to hear
"Shut Up"). All the distorted organ glory, primitive bashing, tribal
insanity was completely unexpected (I was always a fan of the live 60s
video that's been going around more than their actual LP, but this KILLS).
Wow.
DEAD HOLLYWOOD STARS Gone West (Mad Monkey)
A project of industrial & ambient sound experimentalist John Sellekaers,
this disc is an excellent document of trippy scapes littered with
down-tempo beats, drifting blues slide and jews harp, all washing into a
nice place indeed.
GLASS CANDY & THE SHATTERED THEATRE Metal Gods (PMB 257)
The official kickoff to the Screamers revival (whose "Hurt" is the B side
of this excellent 7"). From Olympia WA comes this study in what 1980 was
all about to the West Coast. Dark basslines, a fem vox wailing from hell,
punky mimimalism, all around good stuff.
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