NO-FI "MAGAZINE"
presents
MUSIC THE ANGELS CAN'T SING TO!
It took me awhile to get into this. Being from San Francisco and going out with a bass player of a popular local band there for a couple of years- I saw tons and tons of music there at just about every club that played decent music. And this CD just sounded an awful lot like a large majority of the bands I saw around that time- and this was 6-7 years ago! But Chris (No-fi "Mag"'s editor) liked them, so I listened more and more. Chris thought they sounded a little like Pavement, yeah, sure- perhaps there is the problem- I am not a big fan of Pavement (gasp! I know, I know!). Upon further listening, I began to hear some Weezer and a little Dinosuar Jr., Love As Laughter, Built To Spill, etc. Baby Carrot does have a pretty straight forward Indie sound- a bit garagey, a little punk, some emo. It's pretty raw and simple- though the harmonica and violin on a couple of songs were nice little touches. Songs that stood out for me were "Glasses" and "Kids These Days" and "Halfway". So- I guess all in all, maybe they are just not my normal cup of tea, but I am slowly being convinced. There is a definite audience for them. And the funny thing is- next time I am in SF, I would actually pay to check them out- so they got something through to me. They seem like they'd have a really great live energy. I would just suggest they explore more unique sounds so that they might actually stand out and not get lost in that bay area fog. Oh- and I do like the band's name, and the CD art work. And I should mention- the CD said the songs were recorded in 1997 and 1999, perhaps influencing why the sound seemed a bit dated. I do wonder how they may have progressed.
"Man Mountain" is a majestic trip into the melodious world of "Blue States." I found it fitting that the group's name conjured up mental images of a road trip across the United States. While listening to the CD, blue skies, snow capped mountains and endless roads whizzing by a car window came to mind. The production quality of Blue States' release is excellent. The sound is clear and the sheer mass of arrangements is voluminous. Andy Dragazis' writing/producing coupled with Tahita Bulmer's vocals/lyrics make for a haunting yet lovely effect.
The latest Bran Flakes album reminds me of that Cornelius track "Magoo Opening" from his album "Fantasma" where old and rare records are use to make a sample crazy song with a beat that you can't deny. This is a great album with a ton of tracks that you won't want to miss if you are into songs that are pieced together from all sorts of different sources to make something all new and fun. "Fun" is a good word for this album because it is fun to listen to and it feels like they had lots of fun making it. Standout tracks are "Good Times A Goo Goo" - a riff on "Moving Right Along" from The Muppet Movie, "Kayla" - sampling an unknown outsider band called "Girls With Attitude", "Mr. Snuggles" - a remix of a bizzare song about what I hope is a stuffed animal, and the short but sweet "Panties". There are 31 tracks on this album so you might want to make snacks for when you get hungry. The album drags a little in the middle, but picks right up after a few slower tracks. Bring this one with you next time you go camping and dance around with your friends around the fire (just don't forget to put it out before you go to sleep).
This is it...coming in right under the new Ballboy album (just released in Europe, not the U.S. See THAT review next week.) is this new double CD comedy album by comedian David Cross ("Mr. Show", "Run Ronnie Run") as my pick for album of the year. SO, what a comedy album beats a music album for album of the year? If you heard this album, you'd shout to the heavens, "Hell Yeah!!!!!" From start to finish, this album is excellent. From religion, to politics, to 9/11, to religion, to hollywood, to morning DJs, to other comedians, and back to religion, every word on this album is great. Cut from two recent live shows, this album highlights David at his best with all new material. He just says the things that I wish more people would about things like flag waving ("Flags! Yay! Flags!"), how "sexy" the Catholic church has been getting, our attorney General John Ashcroft (who lost the election in his homestate to a corpse), and so much more. If you loved Mr. Show, you will definitely love this and it's a better listen than whatever morning DJs you probably listen to in the morning (and we have so many stale DJs in L.A.) on the way to work. Get this for any of your flag waving, bible lovin' pals.
Looming, dark, and scary, this is perfect music for hanging out in the dark warmth of your closet. Their name perfctly fits the music that they play as does the eerie photography on the cover. When I say dark, I don't mean gothic, nor do I mean dark in that new-wave Centimeters kind of way...it's more like "emo" slowed down to 15 rpm. This album makes me scared to visit San Bernardino (where they recorded this album). No longer will I slide down the water slides and worry that the water will force my shorts up my butt. Nor will I think of the cute red headed girl who I met at Raging Waters back in high school who I was lucky enough to witness half of her swimsuit disapear while on the tube-ride and getting to make out with her most of the day. Nope, now I think of San Bernardino as a scary David Lynch sort of place that whispers secrets from its trees into the dusk winds. Thanks a lot Desolation Radio! I like this album a lot and I almost forgot about it until found it under a pile of CD's in the bathroom (don't ask). Get this for an AM ride through the woods.
This band apparently has alot of buzz around them right now, and rightly so. This is a really rockin' little collection of tunes by this band. I really like the production values on the first track in particular. There are some cool sounds thrown into the mix. The song also has that thing thrown in where you think the song is over, then it starts up again. This may sound crazy, but this music even recalls some of Prince's "Purple Rain." Maybe I am crazy and I'm the only one who hears that but whatever...check it out for yourself. Okay...here it is...in a mathematical equation...Prince and the Revolution x The Makers x The Strokes= Dirty Little Secret. Good stuff if you ask me.
This is one of those demos where you can tell the live version of the band probably wasn't captured as well on the recording as it could have. The music is nice, but pretty polished for a demo (which is actually saying a lot for the recording itself, pick a side and discuss). The first track "Come On, Kiss The Devil" is close your eyes and sway to the music kind of music. Just don't close them too hard or you'll feel like you are watching fireworks while floating through outer space and then lose your balance. The 2nd track "Humanity Factory" is like Violent Femmes meets Paige and the third track, "Shark Sandwich" (Hello Spinal Tap!) is perfect music for drifting aimlessly through the ocean clutching a floating piece of wood. (They must have thought so too. Why else would they call it "Shark Sandwich"?) Is that a keyboard in the background of this one? I wish it were louder if it's really there. Get this one for a midnight boatride and just stare at the stars until the end of the CD.
I love Jazz and I like alot of electronic music. In both genres, I especially love the crazy stuff. Like Ornette Coleman or Aphex Twin or even The Residents. This CD conjures up remnants of all that. I enjoyed listening to this CD quite alot. I must warn you, however, this music is not for everyone. Now I don't smoke pot, well...uh...ever. But I suppose this would be the thing to listen to if you had access to that sort of stuff. Some may find the repetitive beats and samples challenging to get through. But those who listen carefully with a watchful ear (what???) will pick up on all of the subtleties that make this CD such a treat.
This CD really is so dang rad...thank god they titled it that. That Modesto sound that we all know and love is all over this thing. As some of you know, Grandaddy is my favorite band and this stuff could have easily been written and/or produced by Grandaddy. However, it totally stands on it's own. It's much more lo-fi and I don't think I heard a single synthesizer. And all of the songs are really slow and sad sounding (which I really love actually) so do not buy this if you are suicidal. But, if you do have a zest for life and dang good music buy this for yourself. Your ears desreve a nice christmas present this year. 
Imagine taking the charms of Dntel, the intensity of The Jesus and Mary Chain, Ride's innovation, the dreamy surrealism of old Verve (I am talking "A Storm In Heaven" of course) and swirling in some magic beans and you will find Voyager One. Yes, it does exist- it is here- well, Seattle actually. The guitars are celestial layers that send you spinning on a cloud of psychedelic whirlpools- grabbing a hold of and manipulating your brain waves and subconscious ala that of the classic My Bloody Valentine work on "Loveless". This is some really brilliant, progressive stuff and I like them so much I even added them onto my favorite "new discoveries" 2002 list (to be posted in No-fi soon). They played a bunch of shows here in Los Angeles recently at some of the best clubs (The Derby, Silverlake Lounge), and one of my long time favorite San Francisco venue's (CafÈ Du Nord). They apparently put on a light show up to par with that of Spiritualized (so I am told- I sadly missed them live, but I am told they shall return to Los Angeles soon) The semi-Goth sounding cover of "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo" especially impressed me. And I also loved the Jesus and Mary Chain reminiscent sound of "Orange Sun".
This is the kind of album I would have listened to a lot as a little kid had I owned it. This CD released by jackdiamond.com on CDR is a collection of scaaaAAaaary stories all told by a wicked old Sea Hag (played by Martha Wentworth of the Disney film "The Sword And The Stone"). The stories are scary in a kid's sense, but pretty funny to anyone else. Pretty cool too hot the Sea Hag describes how the "Mice From Outer Space" eat the farmer and his mule until all that is left is bones and how her bird pecks out someone's eyes. Of COURSE I'm gonna like this!!! If you're a fan of rare old spooky records, this one is right up your creepy dark alley! I'm not sure if it is available any more from this website, but you might find something else you like.
Great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great. That's all I really need to say, but I should probably tell you why. This is my favorite CD of 2002. It's just so damn original and so simple and not at all made extra spiffy with all kinds of effects and production and whatnot. Just brilliantly crafted short sweet little songs with the most beautiful vocals since Carl Wilson. I love this CD more than some of my family members. Well, maybe not that much...but I love it like a brother or a sister.
Amps On Ten (from Bell, California...where the hell is Bell, California?!?) hook you right away with the first track of this 4 song single with the song "Jade." Track 2's ""Happy Kind Of People" reminds me a little of XTC meets Sonic Youth. They would be a good opening act for Ballboy. I think this is one of those bands that SHOULD have a cool light show during their live set. They might be one of those bands to watch out for cuz I bet they have more cool stuff to come. Get this one for good walkman walking music. You'll be done before you know it zoning out on the pretty sounds.. HEY! WATCH OUT FOR THAT CAR!!! AAAauaauuuuu....
I don't know much about this group, but from what I can find it seems as though they have actually been around awhile. This is a great album. Fast, hard, distorted guitars with dreamy melodic female vocals mixed with slow dreamy music with even dreamier vocals is definately a recipe for good music. The first song builds and builds and builds into the second, which is the perfect song to lie in the grass and look at clouds to. This entire CD is soooooo good. It reminds me of the early 90's and some music that I was listening to at that time. My Bloody Valentine, Lush, Catherine Wheel...not that they sound alot like these bands, they just remind me of them and the sound that was being heard at that time. This CD is wonderful, did I already say that? Oh yeah...and did I mention that I like this CD? Yeah, I guess I did. Well, go get it now. 
You know that couple you always see at parties who always seem to have a guitar and are singing to a small crowd in some corner of the room? This is them. While I actually enjoy this CD, it is best not listened to at 3am on a long drive home. You'll just end up waking up a few months later in a hospital bed after falling asleep at the wheel. No, this is music best heard at a fancy-pants dinner party (when nobody'll let you listen to your Black Flag cds) or on some private beach in Hawaii while you sip coconut milk under an umbrella (I especially recommend tracks 2 ("Pillowmint") and 9 ("Silent Tea") for this). Imagine a cross between Stereolab, a nod to Geraldine Fibbers, and your friends that go to Art Center and you can probably imagine what this band is sorta like.
This CD has some really really good songs, but I hesitate to fully recommend it. It contains so many elements that have been done so much better, and it contains some elements that have been done so much worse like Jewel and Ani Defranco (I know, you probably like her, but I find her highly overrated) type sounds. The best way for me to describe it is, music that would appear on various movie soundtracks, probably a Cameron Diaz movie. The first track is really good, then the second track crosses over into top 40 pop radio hit territory. That is how the entire thing is. It's all either hit or miss. But the last four songs are the best on the CD. Some of the songs are so good in fact that you are left unsatisfied because it never takes you anywhere. (Does that make sense?) If you want good music to listen to while your doing something else then go ahead and get this.
