Birdman Sound

The Peepshows -- Mondo Deluxe Lp & Cd Burning Heart

I held out, and it took awhile to get this on wax, but it was more than worth the wait. As you probably know by now Scandinavia is ripe w/ a load of righteous punk rock & roll bands as of late, Gluecifer, Turpentines, Hellacopters, Wonderfools…the list is astounding. It is definitely time to add The Peepshows to that list, in spades. Very powerful, hard hitting and melodic follow up to the “Right About Now” 10”. These guys aren’t really braggin’ when they say they are all that. Don’t miss the boat, climb in for a good earcleanin’ on what is looking already to be one of the finest rock recordings of the year. “No Excuses” indeed.
dave aardvark .

The Tantrums -- Motels 10” & Cd-Ep Cheetah’s

Some swingin’ rockabilly numbers from this new California quartet, one of which is a rousing version of Charlie Rich’s “Midnite Blues” that many have perhaps beenfamiliarized due to The Detroit Cobras’version on the popular Mink, Rat or Rabbit album. The other 5 tunes here are originals however, delivered with no uncertainty, competent and infectious riffs overseen by the sweet pipes of vocalist Devil Doll (probably not her real name). Motels is definitely a worthy rest stop onthe road to a smooth collection Jack. dave aardvark.

The Delta 72 -- 000 Lp & Cd Touch & Go

These lively dudes crank out another soul-soaked document in their growing repertoire of funkiness. Definitely leaning even more in the direction of sounds that wouldn’t sound alien on Westbound Records back in the day w/ maybe some good period Tower Of Power thrown in. Appropriately recorded in Philly at Tongue & Groove, there’s no mistakin’ that this band HAS the groove. Lots of killer Hammond organ tastefully pounded throughout. Guest guitar on “3 Day Packet Plan” by Royal Trux’s Neil (Haggerty). A record that almost does justice to their frantic live show. Check it doc. dave aardvark.

BLACK KALI MA You Ride The Pony (I'll Be The Bunny) Lp Alternative Tentacles

Holy Mother… It's been a while since I've seen Gary Floyd's name pop up on anything. The notorious and well -traveled frontman for legendary Texas band The Dicks, and singer for Sister Double Happiness is lending his voice to perhaps the most compelling of all projects yet. ( I do admit however to not hearing much of his solo stuff, which is mostly German import and such ) Accompanied by duel guitar attack and solid low end from ex-Rhythm Pig Ed Ivey, These fellas power through ten profound, hard drivin' numbers with depth that will stand up for years to come. Complete with Floyd's trademark blues bellow that is sure to send you searchin' for SDH deletes. ….dave aardvark

Loosely described, Calexico are multi-instrumentalist: Joey Burns and percussionist John Convertino with a multitude of guest musicians. They released a dynamite album in '88 called "The Black Light" that is rich with Spanish, Folk andTex-Mex flavors. Now to speculate, "Blacklight Sketches appears to be two "remix" (reprise?) tracks drawn from the album's material and two new ones that seem to be performed by players previously unrelated to the band, all of which give them a more stripped down, minimal post rock type feeling not with out it's own beauty. I might be missing the boat on what exactly is going on here, (it's kinda like pulling teeth deciphering, what with vague liner notes and no bio) but one thing is for certain, if you enjoyed the LP as much as I, you may or may not need this too. dave aardvark

Vocalist for the U.S. Bombs, Duane Peters' new label is off to a fine start. Following a 40 some song comp. "Old Scars and Upstarts", he's got a couple of full lengths out by the Pushers and the subject in question, the excellent Smogtown Lp. This record is pure punk rock joy and glory as this new band cranks out thirteen catchy tunes in the spirit of early Adolescents and Descendents with perhaps some Buzzcocks and S.L.F. thrown in. It just keeps getting better with each listen. This should be large. dave aardvark

The late sixties was a crucial period for all forms of popular music and funk was no exception. While Funkadelic were developing the funkentelechy that would later launch the Mothership and the JB's built the bridge, riff after endless riff, deep down in the American south the Meters had perfected the art of the syncopated back-beat. And it's a mother. These original sessions have resurfaced after years of dodgy comps and endless holds on back order.Get them while they're still around because when they're gone, chances are will be another decade or so until they resurface. And that's too long to wait for the funky chicken. Or the chicken strut for that matter.
--Claudio Cacciati

This is the first digital studio recording engineered by the japanese psychadelic pummel trio themselves so you get to hear the sonic maelstrom as it was meant to be heard. Always the masterful synthesists of all western musical forms, High Rise practice the forgotten rule of rock and roll recording: everything in the red. All the time. On Disallow, Nanjo and company drop the sonic bomb on their incense burning, bead wearing American bretheren and make them sound about as lethal as a Greatful Dead cover band at a summer solstice love-in. --Claudio Cacciati

The ninties was a decade that was, musically speaking, about recapitulation of other forms. Many of which had already been perfected in previous decades. So it's a sign of the times that a first generation punk band should reform after twenty years. Fitting too that their lead singer's solo career was as a mexican Elvis impersonator. Capitulate that motherfucker! While you're at it lend an ear to the perfect punk song structures, sublime power-pop vocal harmony, and awesome guitar playing. The decade began with such promise but, the greatness of it notwithstanding, Nevermind was not a punk rock record. So it is only just that The Zeros should return at decades (millenium!) end to write one of the final pages in the west coast punk chronicles. On your board punker. --Claudio Cacciati

Speaking of recapitulation what do you make of a recording that manages to toss around Dylan, Kerouac, Jimmy Mcgriff, the Byrds and Gil Scott-Herron in the mix with equal aplomb? Well I'm not so sure either. Effete and impudent snobs? Maybe. One thing for certain though, the Fixers have served up another compelling broth of rock damage that has me coming back for seconds, thirds, fourths, and fifths, if only to figure out what other ingrediants they conjure for this psychadelic soup. It doesn't roll much but it sure as fuck rocks. --Claudio Cacciati

A lifetime ago, when you were just a thought on your dads mind and a twinkle in your moms eye, America was convulsing under the strain of a youth movement bent upon changing the rules of the game. From a rock and roll stand point a bunch of reprobates from detroit thought they could help spearhead the cause through their songs. From good time boogie rockers to dangerous revolutionaries, dangerous enough to be put on the FBI's public enemy list and even to whack for the Black Panthers to associate with, the MC5 have remained on of the most underdocumented American rock groups ever. Record company executives, fretful of helping foment the revolution but minful of lining their pockets, hooked the band up with hopeless producers and engineers who conspired to strip the band of their power in the studio. All that should change thanks to the folks at Munster and Rhino. High Times remains the only official studio document that is a testament to what they could have been and Thunder Express delivers the true power of this band in a live studio session. Kick out the jams brothers and sisters indeed! --Claudio Cacciati

An instrumental Palace release may seem absolutely pointless to some; Will Oldham being this generations equivalent to Bob Dylan. But if you're like me you think sometimes a singer can ruin a good song. So paying mind to his prolixity, Mr. Palace releases a contemplative recording of soundtrack music for Kelly Riechardt's film entitled Ode. Think Ry Cooder and the Paris, Texas soundtrack and you're on the right track. Sultry and as languid as any other proper Palace release with a cover painting curtousy of Todd Haynes. A perfect end to your Saturday nights or a perfect start to your Sunday mornings. --Claudio Cacciati

The Day That Didn't Exist - The Fastbacks
LP Munster, CD Spinart

The genius that is Kurt Bloch defies rock and roll gravity. Plowing back enough cold ones, I would argue that Mr. Bloch (as he is affectionately referred to by the bands he records) is one of the most influential guitarist/songwriters in the history of the underground. Period. This album is the Seattle band's up-teenth since the late 70s and it is arguably their best. 'The Day that Didn't Exist' is vintage Fastbacks: full-on guitar wizardry with enough quirky sing-alongs to keep you merrily humming until your next date with your turntable. Some songs, as always, border on bizarre pop-rock nursery rhymes, but unlike any pop-punk bands around, I dare you to find one cliché. Lyrics like 'Hey, bird I love you and your little heart up there on fire and standing on the wire. Adieu, Goodbye Bird' (from 'Goodbye, Bird') and ' ...and now I really have to wonder if I have the wrong number as I'm falling off the face of the earth' (from 'Defy's Gravity') take you on a magic carpet ride of home spun melodies with sweet, caked-on guitar solos. This record might have been released late last year, but I can tell you already it'll be high on my top ten list for 2000. The Fastbacks have always given me faith and now, more than ever, we could all use a little. --Chris

V/A Poor Little Knitter On The Road Cd BLOODSHOT

Tribute records are awkward things at best. Generally they require a subject that recorded and released a LARGE body of ORIGINAL material. They also involve the assembling of bands that are either sympathetic contemporaries or enthusiastic upstarts honoured to pay hommage to revered influence. with that established, nobody can accuse BLOODSHOT of being conventionalists because Poor Little Knitter... is unique indeed. For the unfamiliar, the Knitters were(are?) a band primarily consisting of three members of the now legendary L.A. band X, Dave Alvin from the Blasters & Johny Ray Bartel who released one record half of which are covers(a personal fave from '85). Still, it fails the first test but on the latter it comes thru in spades cause there is plenty of excellent rendering by some of the finer "alt. country" bands of the time, be they covers, covers of covers or otherwise. There are potential arguments for and against this project but the bottom line is this: This is a great compilation recalling a vital landmark record and reminding us there are still many bands around who prove that "country music doesn't have to suck". Just buy it 'billy. dave aardvark

Sonic Youth: Musical Perspectives (SYR 4 1999)

Remember the reaction to Trans Am's (1999) Future World? Yeah, me too. One of the self-professed independent mags I (used to) read curtly suggested that the LP was virtually 'unlistenable,' a collection of 'irritable' electronic blips, bleeps, and synthesized vocals. End of review. And so having, first, read the review (mistake!), and second, listened to the album, I now puzzle over the mental derangement of whomever it was who spilled such precious little ink over such a great album. And so with this experience fresh in mind, and with Ranaldo, Shelley, Moore, and Gordon's newest release weighing down my turntable, I await with thread thin patience the first reviews of this decidedly 'clean' - not Dirty - symphonic exploration. This fourth release in the 'Musical Perspectives' series - Goodbye 20th Century - sees Sonic Youth perform spaced-out opuses by John Cage, Yoko Ono, Nicolas Slonimsky, Cornelius Cardew, and Takehisa Kosugi, among others. With the help of Jim O'Rourke (who collaborated w/ the band on SYR 3/Muzikaj Perspektivoj), Coco Hayley Gordon Moore (daughter of Kim and Thurston), Wharton Tiers (sound engineer on the three previous SYR releases), William Winant (percussionist who backed-up Thurston at Victoriaville in 1996), Christian Wolff (musician and ex-professor of Classics at Harvard), and Christian Marclay (pioneering DJ known for his experimentation with broken turntables and physically altered vinyl), Sonic Youth have reconstructed thirteen luminous and truly disquieting tracks - on two LPs, no less - that will have weak-kneed sometimes-SY fans desperately yearning for something 'more listenable.' Yearn away, beer-drenched college popsters, this is the real deal. A great way to exit the 20th century.
**Mat Moss (Birdman foreign correspondent in LA)

The Boom split 7" w/ The Sorts (Slowdime and Big Top Records 1999)

This split seven inch from Slowdime and Big Top records sees two great bands featuring trumpeter Fred T. Erskine of June of 44 fame. The Boom are D.C.-based J. Carrier (drums), Booker T. Sessoms 111 (electric, acoustic bass), Carlo Cennamo (alto saxophone, bass clarinet), and Joshua Larue (trombone, keyboards). These boys crank out a serious get-down bass-heavy variant of the tune Pow-Wow, which appears on their (essential) 1999 release Any Day of the Night. The Sorts - Chris Farrall (drums), Stuart Fletcher (bass guitar), and Cennamo and Larue from the Boom - are the real news on this split seven. Great horns, funky bass lines, porno-flick guitars, and super-jazz fills are gonna make you dance all the way to your local shop and order their two 1998 releases - Hawaiian Bronco (Aesthetics 5) and More There (Slowdime 13). This shit is the categorical bomb, chumps.
** Mat Moss (Birdman foreign correspondent in LA)

There isn't exactly a whole heap of American psychobilly kicking around. The Hellbillys maybe, and the Red Planet Rockets come to mind but generally England is where this genre reigns supreme. Now following a 3 song single that I've never even seen, Hellcat has released a full length by California's Tiger Army. This East Bay trio comprise of Nick 13 on guitar and vocals, (stand-up) bassist Rob Peltier of the Quakes and AFI drummer Adam Carson. Their songs have plenty of jump and are played with the kind of ferocious intensity necessary to make kick ass psychobilly that stands up to some of the greats, such as the Meteors,GuanaBats and Demented Are Go! There is also a sweet spaghetti country style number called Outlaw Heart that'll make you swoon. A truly solid effort here, having me wish for a live dose in our region soon. Helluva nice surprise "cats. dave aardvark

MAKE UP SAVE YOURSELF K Records
(Make Up Makes Good Again!)
On this, their sixth full length album that follows the 23 track singles collection I Want Some released earlier this year, the Washington D.C. based band deliver some more fine crafted super funky psychedelic soul without forgetting a healthy dose of 60's style garage punk. Nine sassy tunes here including a 8 minute interpretation of that concludes this record and will have your head spinning and wishing there were more. Definately a "big fish in a small pond" which is unfortunate, however this wild cherry could cure alot of what ails you and find some room in the sea to boot. If you're spinnin' anything from The White Stripes, Royal Trux, Delta 72 or Dub Narcotic or just need a twist on your old R&B singles you should drop a needle on this too. - dave aardvark

DUB NARCOTIC SOUND SYSTEM meets the JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION (in a Dancehall Style!) SIDEWAYS SOUL K Records

Alot of different elements meld together making the forty minutes of Sideways Soul a sure hit with fans of both parties concerned. The backbone is some some hearty jaged urban funk in true Blues Explosion fashion with a nod perhaps to mid 80's N.Y.C. groups ESG and Bush Tetras, while some tracks you might detect Bauer's Twenty Miles influence. The rest is "Calvinism": trademark droning vocals with familiar lyrical themes that would aggrevate and alienate the whole family. Some selections complete with with Calvin's Augustus Pablo impression on melodica. Fine accompaniment to Xtra-Acme. -dave aardvark

Various Artists- Punch Drunk TKO Records Fast becoming a favorite label of our's, California based TKO records have climed on board the "cheapo" sampler bandwagon and offer the world a taste of some of the rockinest streetpunk bands the USA has to offer. 20 bands in total kickin' out the fuckin' jams with nary a dud in the bunch. If I had to name fav bands here it'd be tough! Try these on for size...Bodies, Beltones, Upsets, Reducers S.F, Templars, Anti-Heros, Dropkick Murphys, Loose Lips...aw screw it, just buy it, you'll love it! Pass me another Guinness!! (jw)

Junior Kimbrough Meet Me In The City lp&cd Fat Possum Records Some sweet home recordings of the late great Junior Kimbrough dating back to the early 90's as well as some smokers from a blues festival he played in 1993. Mr. Kimbrough was responsible for some of the best "real sounding" porch stompin' delta blues stylings to ever be waxed for Fat Possum or otherwise in the modern recording era. Meet Me In The City starts out with the more reflective home recordings of Junior by himself with his guitar and ends off in live rockin' fashion with the bass & drum accompaniment of Gary Burnside and Kenny Malone. There are no attempts here at all to polish these up for uninitiated ears. Some noise reduction has been applied, but all in all these tunes remain high in fortified rawness and guitar tone richness which, i believe, the blues are all about. This adds nicely to your mixed tape with Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly and Blind Lemon Jefferson. A rewarding listen. - dave aardvark

"Who put the 'u' in the formula?" is one of the rhetorical questions asked on Werbo's brilliant debut album, "Lakehead Tragedies". And formula is something that this local band has always swerved away from. Their new release is a twenty-six song, two CD set that slides from bitter, rocking sarcasm to piano-driven despondent frustration, reflecting on everything from "sounds of the kids eating Jell-O" to "all the rewards of a musical career". This album is like taking a batch of Flaming Lips, adding a solid dose of Archers Of Loaf and spreading the lyrical quirkiness of David Lowery on top. What you get is about as loose a pidgeon hole into which anyone could stuff Werbo. As we all wade in polluted ocean of mainstream 'formula' music, "Lakehead Tragedies" is a refreshing record that could fit nicely into any big time radio playlist. Just don't hold your breath. As singer/songwriter Jeff Kainz refrains in 'Kneecap to Eyeball', 'it's a mistake to fuck around this town.' For my miserable dollar, this record is one of the best releases this town has seen in years. (Page)

One of the finer new releases out of the recent batch from Chicago's "insurgent country" label Bloodshot records. Good hurtin' style traditional country with plenty of soul and no pretention. Principle singer/songwriter Melissa Swingle brings to mind some comparisons to the great Lucinda Williams without questioning the fact she has plenty of her own style and character to spread around. Swingle competently leads her band through eleven well played songs that are laid back but far from devoid of complicity. Nicely arranged with good measures of banjo,mandolin, lap steel, harmonica and percussions thrown in the mix that warmth to their swagger that is well suitable for chillin' with some frosties out on the porch. If you enjoy the Schramms at their sweetest and are planning on pickin' up the latest Freakwater you'd best be adding the sophmoric Whine de Lune from this Chapel Hill outfit to your list. -dave aardvark

The Meat Purveyors More Songs About Buildings and Cows (cd only Bloodshot Records)

This second release from (Texans?) the Meat Purveyors plows thru a variety of fairly potent rural sounds, ranging from bluegrass ramblers to sweet almost ballad type numbers, all the while including some interesting cover song choices by the likes of Daniel Johnston,Lou Reed and the legendary Bill Monroe amongst others. There is a certain giddy excitement lent to the proceedings,giving these fourteen songs a rich blend of sarcasm,cynicism and honest good ol' fashioned tongue- in-cheek fun. Kept sharp and lively by the competent mandolin playin' of Peter Stiles and some fine vocal exchanges, these guys and gals deliver a record that fans of the Bad Livers or the Steve Earle/Del McCoury collaboration should be eyeballin' -dave aardvark

A solo offering from Chris of the Stand GT. Minimal power-pop driven originals with a cool cover of Superconductor's 'Bushpilot'. Limited edition CD. In stock now! (Johnnie Feck)

After two killer albums for Alternative Tentacles, San Fran's Zen Guerilla resurface with a one song, one-sided pic disc 5". "Mama's Little Rocket" typifies this band's sound. A bluesy, punk rock blast ! This thing definitely rawks! We hear they've signed to Sub Pop. Great pre-cursor. (Johnnie Feck)

Two riveting, gung-ho blasts of pure adrenalin Swedish punk rock n roll. No frills, all balls. Clear wax limited edition. A split 7" pending with Ottawa's Dead City Rebels coming atcha soon. (Johnnie Feck)

N.Y. Raunch a la Dictators meet Hellacopters. Full throttle guitar attack which makes you pine for a full length. There's an ex-Murphy's Law on board so your know the aggression contained within. (Johnnie Feck)

Raise a glass for Man’s Ruin Records. Laced Candy from the rock solid Gaza Strippers spells another brilliant release from pop-artist Frank Kozik’s rock and roll baby. And the hit records keep coming. Here in the underground, anyway. Fronted by ex-Didjits main man Rick Sims, the Gaza Strippers play that kind of infectious, bullet-proof rock, and play it better than most. Guitars blazing, Laced Candy clocks in precisely where the Didjits left off; full-on hook drenched punk rock and roll. Songs like “Automat” and “Brainwasher” stick in your head like top forty hoggers only dream of doing. Every one should have some Laced Candy. (Originally appearing in the Ottawa Xpress) (CHRIS)

You might say the pop-punk genre created by the Ramones has been done to death. You might also say there is no way to breath new life into the three chord simplicity of this style of music. Every once in a while, a record comes along and blows those opinions out the door.This record is one of them. The follow-up to the Teen Idols' self-titled debut, "Pucker Up" is truly the most satisfying dose of sugar-coated punk cranked out in years. This is a ripping record. From the onslaught of the title track, through to the hidden numbers (even found on the vinyl), this album is a 340, four-barrel of high speed energy. The precision vocal harmonies of bassist Heather Tabor and singer Keith Witt cement the melodies into your head that will last long after the summer barbeques have fizzled out. They blaze along with Philip Hill on guitar and Matt Benson slugging it out in four-four. The whole thing was caught on tape by Mass Giorgini, famed underground producer, and is out on the Honest Don's record label. You get the picture. (CHRIS)

You shouldn't judge a record by it's cover. Or by the band's name. Unlike the jacket, which shows a fetus wearing a safety-pin, Dogpiss' debut album is a work of pure punk art. 'Eine Kleine Punkmusik', or 'punk from the beginning', also has a tell-tale sticker on the cover that reads: 'featuring members of Snuff and Guns and Wankers'. Snuff said. I've been a die-hard follower of the legendary Brit street-punks since I first saw them in Montreal in 1990. With numerous records to their credit, Snuff has never disappointed. And Dogpiss doesn't stray too far from the very same porch. It's all about frantic pop-punk with oi-flavoured harmonies and hyper-driven guitar power chords. The lyrics are included, but like Snuff, who the hell knows what Dogpiss are singing about. The band describe themselves as 'a subtle blend of boxers and under pants'. So really, does it matter? (CHRIS)

Nestled beneath the lucious green landscape in Quebec's Gatineau hills across the Ottawa river, the experimental power trio, Castor are a rare breed; best loved but least seen! The guys have been workin' their craft for a number of years and have finally compiled an album of material taken from a literal mountain of home, live and studio recordings. With tons of diverse musical influences, Castor, who never perform any piece the same way twice, utilize the standard bass/guitar/drum format as the basis of their improvisation. Augumenting the instrumental feast with a variety of percussive tools, synth, found sounds,tape loops etc., Castor take the listener on a full 72 minute rollercoaster ride to the center of the mind! Pass the bong, get the groove and space out!! (jw)

Pittsburgh's rockin' Highway 13 have just released their second album and my-oh-my is it a good'n ! High energy rip-roarin' rockabilly with the greatest emphasis on FUN ! We recently got treated to this trio's live show and it was the kind that you never wanted to see end. All round swell guys Woody, Blair and jim have unleashed 17 cuts of timeless energy that can surely win themselves a ton of new fans the world over. Come back real soon ! (jw)

If you were organizing music for a Blade Runner sequel in which a phaser-armed and drugged-out Harrison Ford chases bikini-clad Replicants on a computerized surf board, then you'd probably give Man or Astro-man? a call. Recorded in Brazil and mixed in Alabama, Eeviac...the band's latest and tenth 12" , is possibly the best release of the year to date! Tracks like the epic "Myopia", the surfed out "Interstellar Overdrive" and the space-age industrialesque "D:contamination" guarantee that the disc'c every groove will lead you to all corners of the universe. This is the outer space noise that haunted brian wilson's bedroom throught the 70's! (mc)

Long Gone John has brought us some more "audio salvation for off-centered souls" with Meg and Jack White's debut album release. This bass heavy and bluesy Detroit-based brother-sister duo (with the help of The Soledad Bros.' Johnny Walker) serves up a healthy eatin' of big drums and bad guitars with vocals eerily suggestive of a young Robert Plant. With fiery hot sauce trax like "Jimmy The Exploder" and Robert Johnson's "Stop Breaking Down", who cares if the pair thank God in the liner notes? (mc)

On May 19th, 1997, while driving a tractor on his Holly Ridge Washington County farm, Asie Payton, aged 60, died of a heart attack. Matthew Johnson has recently released Asie's demo tapes, originally recorded in '94 at Junior Kimbrough's Mississippi based juke joint and Jimmy's Auto Care, on the self promoted, more chaotic-than-punk Fat Possum label. Asie's collection of bad-ass country blues tracks, most notably his "All I Need Is You" and "Skinny Legs And All", clearly reflects a lifetime of plowing swampy fields and playing Saturday night gigs at the local grocery store. When the needle is dropped and the volume is cranked, it's painfully obvious that those onstage at your local corporate radio-sponsored "blues" festival, ain't never slept in a bare plywood walled shotgun shack! This release is gonna rock your ass. (mc)

It took a while , but here's another 16 phenomenally loud and raucous songs from this Detroit based duo. Eric Cook and T. Jackson Potter; responsible respectively, for "sugar beats" and "signature licks and vocals" along with Jim Diamond on organ, let it rip with their own brand of soulful rockabilly balls-out-punk. Take cover! These dudes are gonna shred your speakers like a '76 Merc 500 convertible burns gas! A rock 'n' roll must! (mc)

I thought these lads were lost given the way too long period since the killer "Hits For The Misses" lp of '96. My constant vigil for new material has once again paid off...big time! Get Lost is the groups 3rd album and unless you'r the New Bomb Turks it's pretty damn hard to go 3 perfect lp's in a row, no easy feat. The pride of San Antonio have done it ! The Sons of Hercules deliver an urgent, over amped DMZ meets 60's full on garage punk style, like no other! Rock 'n' roll longtimer and lead vocalist Frank Pugliese has a great set of lungs and the Sons' twin guitar attack makes a perfect framework for their sound. Make no mistake, this band is as strong as their namesake! Fuggin' awesome! (jw)

Second album of garagey/'77 style punk rock from this smokin' French quartet. Fast paced Rezillos/Supercharger hybrid of rama lama, hiot you upside the head! Raw, loose and fun. Just the way it's supposed to be! (jw) Nomads- Big Sound 2000 White Jazz/Estrus Finally a new studio album from the kings of Swedish Rawk! 12 new nuggets of guitar powered, drum propelled, mid-tempo crunch with a foot planted in every decade of pure rock 'n' roll. After nearly 20 years of doin' it the Nomads, continue to reaffirm my belief that their brand of raunch ain't never gonna die. From the lead in crush of "Don't Pull My Strings" to the last cut "Another Man's Cross", this 4-piece have delivered this long overdue platter in glowing fashion. Here's a record that I guarantee will take us all safely into the next millenium! (jw)

I was saddened when Mono Men leader and head honcho of Estrus records Dave Crider declared his aforementioned band finished, but took heart when I heard a new band was on the horizon. Picking nicely up where the Mono Men's "Have A Nice Day Motherfucker" left off, this big ballsy Watts debut fills the void, no questions asked! With Crider's trademark guitar sound in tow and Aaron's flawless mid-tempo hammering bringing up the rear, Watts have created a killer hard-as nails rock machine assault. A new era is upon us and just for the record, we've always said "if it's on Estrus you know it's fuckin' killer". (jw)

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