The Tossers

Gloatin' and Showboatin'
Victory Records

The Tossers are a seven piece Irish folk/punk outfit hailing from the southside of the windy city (that’s Chicago folks). Merging traditional Irish folk melodies combined with the energy and speed of punk music, the Tossers are a wonderful unique blend. There's lots of songs about drinking and well…. More drinking! Seriously, these guys truly raise the roof on this live disc and it sounds like one hellacious party. You can hear the crowd sing a long to these classic Irish melodies (and trust me, you will as well)! The band utilizes mostly acoustic instruments but the fans scream and yell with drunken glee as they pound each number out, electric guitars be damned. My favorite songs were "Buckets Of Beer" and "Seven Drunkend Nights" (although the song only goes to Friday?) Gloatin' and Showboatin' was recorded on St. Patrick's Day in their hometown and there's no more fitting a day for this band to record a live album than this wonderful Irish holiday. There is also a DVD of the same show which I have got to have as well! With an extensive back catalogue, I encourage you to check these guys out if you love music that's fun and full of energetic upbeat melodies.

- Craig Harvey

Star Of Ash

The Thread
Candlelight Records

Being on the Candlelight label, many might think that Star Of Ash would be a metal release. Quite the opposite. "The Thread" is a foray into dark electronics and ambient/down-tempo soundscapes, with guitar, bass, and piano providing extra sonic and melodic textures. There are bursts of static beats and noisy experimental sounds that blend in seamlessly along side the other instruments, conjuring up images of futuristic realms unknown. The entire album has a wonderful soundtrack quality that let's your imagination run wild with possibilities. The musical atmosphere that is envoked is multi-layered requring many listens just to absorb it. So who, you might ask, is behind this incredible release? Heidi Solberg Tveitan. Not familar? You may know her by her other name, Ihriel from the metal band Peccatum. Wife of Ishan (of Peccatum and Emperor). I bet many of you are going "Ohhhh... ok! Well I need to check this out then." Yes you do. It's that good. She also worked with German composer Marcus Reuter and the Japanese cyber-punk author Kenji Siratori on this release as well. Being a fan of metal and electronic music, I was instantly hooked from the very first track. "The Thread" comes recommeded for anyone who likes great music with depth and imagination.

- Craig Harvey

Sigur Ros - Heima dvd

"Heima" is a film by Icelandic pioneers Sigur Ros. I personally was extremely excited for it's release and was not at all let down by it's undeniable beauty. The film is a journey with the band as they play a variety of unannounced shows throughout their homeland of Iceland. They filmed the tour immediately following what seems to be ages of non-stop World tours. The performances vary from very small, acoustic renditions of their songs in locations like gyms, local clubhouses, and fields to full-blown out door amphitheater experiences. "Heima" translates to "at home" and in this visually stimulating piece the band (accompanied by Amiina) takes the viewer through the country and educates them on some parts of Iceland and touches base on the humanities of the area along with some brief history. The films visual quality is remarkable; Super high-definition and vibrant colors capture you as the music moves you. "Heima" has absolutely changed what a music dvd really is and has moved audiences worldwide. The dvd is now available online as well as in many music/book stores.

- Brandon Highfill

The Wagon

Match Made In Hell
Las Conchas Records

This California trio cut's loose on their latest powerhouse album "Match Made In Hell." Track one "The Rocker" has a vibe that reminds me of early Smashing Pumkins, while the title track, "Match Made In Hell" opens with vocal harmonies that would make a barbershop quartet proud, before slamming into a Ramones inspired riff that makes you want to pump your fist in the air. The guys slow down a bit on the next few tracks with some cleaner reggae grooves on "Too Long", and the balladesque' "See You Again" which moves back into the crunchy guitar in places. There's even a bit of country on the somber "Blueberry Sue" with it's beautiful steel guitar lines. "Chopped And Screwed" is a filler piece of noise and distorted vocals that shows this band is never predictable. "82' is another slamming number that has a thrashy punk sound, talking about what else? 1982 of course! This is a great rock & roll album that is blazing with fun and energy. These guys must be fantastic live as great as this disc is.

- Craig Harvey

Helve'tia

The Acrobats
TSC Records

Anytime I hear a band described as "lo-fi" I tend to cringe a little. My first impression is a bunch of guys who aren't very good musicians and record using crap gear because it's "hip and sounds cool". Well Helve'tia certainly doesn't sound like that. "The Acrobats" has a dreamy, mellow feel throughout with jazzy progressions, cool effects and solid bass lines that really drive the songs. It takes me back to the late eighties, early nineties when alternative rock was just that; an alternative to what was mainstream. The guitars run through a variety of tones and textures along side some pedal steel and organ thrown in for good measure. The vocals have a laid back feel to them, never getting loud or over the top. This is definitely for those looking for the true "indie" bands still out there. Good stuff.

- Craig Harvey

Stuck Mojo

Southern Born Killers
Napalm Records

Rap metal is usually a genre I tend to avoid, mainly because of my dislike of most rap music. However, Stuck Mojo managed to change my mind after to listening to their latest effort "Southern Born Killers". Their frontman can rap and sing (quite well actually) proving he has some actual talent. His rap style sounded very similar to Chuck D of Public Enemy and I have to give him credit, it really has a commanding presence. The guitars are thick, powerful and simply slay the groove! There is some great lead work as well, which I always approve of on my metal menu. Lyrically, it's very pro American with an anti-Islam slant (no problem there). However, I think anti-terrorist is more accurate, but those two go hand in hand. Anyway, I gotta recommend this to all who (like me) usually bypass this type of metal without giving it a second thought. If your already a fan then you won't be disappointed.

- Craig Harvey

Draconian

Turning Season Within
Napalm Records

The latest opus from gothic/doom masters Draconian, is a tour de-force that is sure to please fans of this genre of metal. The production is fantastic (due to the fact that it was recorded at Fascination Street Studios who did the last two Opeth albums) the musicianship is flawless as always and Lisa Johannson's voice is simply beautiful. Combined with Anders Jacobsson's growling and spoken word passages, it produces a chilling emotional interplay of love, tragedy and pain. The downtuned guitars produce massive riffs that draw you down into the churning abyss that only intensifies the lyrical content. Only a handful of bands come close to perfecting this style of music and Draconian definitely qualify as one of those few. A must have for doom metal lovers.

- Craig Harvey

Atrocity

Werk 80 II
Napalm Records

A few years back, Atrocity released an album entitled "Werk 80" that was a merging of metal and classic 80's new wave hits. I really enjoyed the mix of the two styles and after hearing it straight from singer Alexander Krull (who by the way is one of the coolest people you will ever meet) that a sequel was in the works, I have been highly anticipating this album ever since. So, you ask, was it worth the wait? Of course. I mean, who doesn't love the 80's? Especially when they have been given a metal infusion! This is a really cool album with a lot of great 80's classics and some not so familiar ones as well lurking on this disc. Some of the highlights were "Relax, Don't You Forget About Me, Here Comes The Rain Again and Forever Young". Frontman Alexander Krull's vocal's have a mid to low range that comes across perfect for these tunes and he occasionally lets out a growl or two here and there to add some edge to things. His wife Liv (of Leave's Eyes) does some backing vocals with her beautiful siren voice as well. For those who are not in the know, Atrocity (and Leave's Eyes) are the same band with Alex fronting Atrocity and Liv fronting Leave's Eye's. This is a wonderful trip down memory lane of some great songs, given a new twist. You should definitely get this album if your a fan of the 80's and metal.

- Craig Harvey

Atom (bang)

The Big Bang
Sound Emitter

Atom (bang) comes from our very own neighborhood. Well, by neighborhood I mean here in Florida. This Orlando musician by the name of Atom has truly outdone himself with a mind blowing ride of electronic music that crosses genres and invents new ones. First off, let me say that the cd packaging was simply beautiful and extremely professional. It caught my eye right off and I was hoping that the music was as equally impressive. My fears were put to rest on the very first track "Running Out Of Time". A powerful catchy groove hit me full force with dark menacing synths prowling on top of it all. This was going to be good. The second track "Poseur" continued with a similar vibe adding repeated sampled vocals as well. However, Atom moves all over the board incorporating industrial, ambient, and dark atmospheres to take you on an amazing sonic experience. The beautiful melodic "Alone" really does reflect the title of the song perfectly, while "Intermezzo" sounds like something taken from a sci-fi soundtrack. The end track "Drama Trauma" turns the tide again with sexy female groans and voices over a sinister, erotic club anthem. Atom (bang) is a true masterpiece of electronic music that shows the talent of a very gifted composer who is sure to turn heads with this release.

- Craig Harvey

Science For Girls / Eccotronic

Science For Girls
Self Titled
BMI Music

Eccotronic
Flow Motion
Kiite Records

After listening to each of these two releases, I decided it fitting to review them together even though they are on different labels. They both have quite a bit in common. Each one is packaged in beautiful tri-fold digipacks and are brimming with lush electronic grooves that bring together ambient, jazz, pop and world elements. And finally both are the brainchild of two excellent musician/composers (Cato - Eccotronic and Darren Solomon - Science for Girls). However, while the two share so many similar styles they still travel their own individual paths in many respects.

Science For Girls has a differen't vocalist for each and every track (with the exception of the instrumental "You'll Never Know" which has a cool minimal breakbeat cruising under the waves of dreamy synths. Another great track was "Northern Lights" with a crunchy/static beat that carried a truly catchy tune. "Australia" was my least favorite song as I found the lyrics cheesy and the vocals annoying. However the rest of this album is wonderful with a relaxing vibe and soothing vocals.

Eccotronic on the other hand focuses mainly on the vocals of Jenny Campmany, who does a majority of the singing on this album. Her voice has a sleepy, yet sexy feel to it and is a perfect companion to these downtempo tracks. There are more instrumentals numbers as well. Also, the song structures and beats feel like something Boards Of Canada would put out vs. the more jazzy element found on S.F.G. I really loved "Drift", "Caesar Redux" and the spoken word on "Post Scriptum". Just like S.F.G., the entire album is very well crafted and equally enjoyable. Both of these releases I would highly recommend for fans of chill out and downtempo music.

- Craig Harvey

Jugganauts

The Best of Insane Clown Posse
Island Records/Psychopathic Records

I don’t know where to begin with how I feel about the release of Jugganauts, Best of The Insane Clown Posse. As a fan there is just to much to many good things I want to say and just so little time. So on that note lets begin.
This album gives you great tracks from two Joker Cards such as Great Melinko, The Amazing Jeckel Brothers, and both the Bizzar, and Bizaar albums. It is also a great reminder of a small piece of history of this group. (For those that are unaware of the groups history, Great Melinko took Insane Clown Posse to the public with their legal battle with The Walt Disney company over censorship. When Disney’s record label, Hollywood Records refused to release the album unless the duo made drastic changes to the material. The boys took their battle to the media and the rest is history.)
From a lyrical point of view I laughed at their tongue in cheek views on violence. Tracks like Bitches (with help from Ol’ Dirty Bastard), Cherry Pie, and Fuck The World, are littered with violent imagery and lyrics. This has been a staple of the group. While other tracks such as Hall of Illusions, Let’s Go all The Way, Tilt-a-Whirl, and Piggys are a reminder of the issues of prejudice, child and spousal abuse, drug use, and ultimate goal of unity. Lastly, The are there trade mark tracts such as Hokus Pokus, The Neddin Game and What is a Juggalo? just bring a smile to your face.
The arrangements from these tracks have a definite diverse sound. There is a mixture of rap and hard rock through out their songs. With the occasional comedy bit thrown in fro a few laughs.
The only down side to this album is that I had hoped there would have been other hits from the other Joker Cards, but we can only hope that we will receive this.
If you have never listened to This group, Have no idea what they are about or who the hell they are, then start with this album, it gives you a good taste for what they have to offer, and leaves you wanting more.

- Kitten

Two Gallants

Two Gallants
Saddle Creek

I just can't figure this record out. In contrast to their sweaty, heartbreakingly human, oft triumphant live shows - which apparently leave few doubters, apparently soul-less - I'm having trouble with "Two Gallants." Sometimes I love it. Sometimes it's infuriating. Sometimes I keep rewinding a certain part. Sometimes I just want he record to be over so I can put on some black metal. We'll start with the bad first. I just can't get over the fucking feeling that they're holding something back. Maybe the studio doesn't suit them like the stage, but I find myself aching for this feeling of
connection that just feels once removed as I play through the songs on "Two Gallants" yet again. Also, I mentioned this in a prior review, but oft the duo hew just a little too close to (a better) Soul Asylum and a (spooked, minimalist) Nirvana - and I just don't want to hear stuff like that again. Now what's this about the good? Yeah, you heard right. I love the way Two Gallants do love songs. It's more courtly, more Southern Gentlemen or beat-down troubadour who still takes off his hat when a lady walks by and I appreciate that. So at odds with all the self-righteoius whining you too often get from young male singers of a certain age.

The songs are sad, waaaaayyyyy sad. Don't misunderstand, but the language, the tone, the tongues. They're of a different time. Ditto with the execution and very crafting of the songs, they're more heartfelt, unselfconscious, but very much rooted in fading storyteller and worksong traditions (without the muso crap - punk did happen - did it ever - in the Two Gallants' sideways realm, but so did, say, Howlin' Wolf). I like, no, I love the last song - I love how they do a false doo-wop style/countryfied coda of "my baby's gone's" and then freak me the fuck out with a frenzied thrashing of that selfsame coda that's like lightning bolts in my ears and fingertips. I love the fucking drummer. I love the way the young singer sings so deftly about growing old far too quickly and I love how I believe it. How I do go on. Tell me now, what do you think of the Two Gallants?

- Matthew Moyer

A PERFECT PLACE

DVD AND CD
Ipecac

Mike Patton make’s his debut as a film composer for the film noir short, “A Perfect Place”.

“A Perfect Place” is the 25 minute comedy short of Fantoma Films co-founder, Derrick Scocchera. Being Scocchera’s directorial debut as well as Patton’s film score debut, the team works well together in setting the tone for the movie. Ingeniously recreating a cinematic genre popular in the 1940’s and 1950’s, this shadowy, pessimistic movie filmed in anamorphic

black and white will leave you wanting more like it from Scocchera. Although cynical in outlook, the short is actually quite funny when you are forced to watch these two knuckleheads accidentally kill a guy with a bass guitar, and fumble around trying to figure out where to dispose of the body. The constant arguing of the crooks and the interesting cast of characters gives you a chuckle, but what really makes you crack up is when the guys go into their neighbors house; an elderly woman with a enthusiastic display of a bowtie collection. Between the bowties and Mike Patton’s crooning on the 1930’s ragtime ballad “A Dream of Roses”, you can’t help but laugh out loud.

What’s interesting about this movie is that they almost make the music its own character in the film. There is an overshadowing presence of the score in the film, as if it’s done like that on purpose. And you know that the music is an important theme in the short when the main characters mention it often. For instance, in the opening scene Bill Moseley (Eddie) says “Would you turn down the radio please?”, and then there’s the blast of Italian ballad “Il Cupo Delore” from Mike Patton’s booming crescendo when Mrs. Newburg goes into the bedroom to get her keys, not to mention the fight over the radio stations in the car scene.

Which leads me into the CD. This original motion picture soundtrack really is a work of art and again shows Mike Patton’s stroke of genius. Although Patton never ceases to amaze me, I have anxiously been awaiting him to do a big band, swing or 1940’s jazz project for sometime now. In the past Patton has always given us a sneak preview of his jazz excerpts with Mr. Bungle, John Zorn and even a little bit of Mondo Cane, yet he never quite jumps off the ledge into a big band mambo jazz project. However, in “A Perfect Place” soundtrack he shows that he may be ready to take that plunge.

Although the soundtrack is primarily a modern rendition of mystery big band and 40’s jazz, Mike Patton plays around with different versions of the songs in tunes like “A Perfect Twist” and “Batucada” and even admits to squeezing in a Rudy Valle piece. By far one of my favorite tunes on the soundtrack, “A Perfect Twist” is literally a “twist” 50’s version of the main theme, sung only how Mike Patton can sing it and “Batucada” is modeled more after the cult classic Bond themes.

For hardcore Mike Patton fans there is still a hint of his “Pattonage” in the soundtrack. Mike successfully finds ways to sneak in his muffled screams and cartoon-like coos while wooing us with his charming smooth vocals.

Again, Mike also shows off his string of talents with “Car Radio (AM and FM) – streamlining a slew of vocal and digital effects to lead you to believe you are actually listening to a car radio dial being fumbled with.

I highly recommend the purchase of “A Perfect Place” for any die hard Patton fan, any die hard Fantoma fan or just film and music fans in general. It will go down in history as another cult classic and should definitely be added to one’s priceless collection.

“A Perfect Place” will be packaged as a dual disc DVD/CD Soundtrack distributed together via Ipecac Recordings with a release date of March 11, 2008. You may purchase the two disc combo at www.ipecac.com once released.

- MIA CARLIN

Scum Of The Earth

Sleaze Freak
Eclipse Records

You know all those tribute bands that you can go see when you can't see the real thing? Former Rob Zombie guitarist Rigg's solo project Scum Of The Earth should have been one of those. It's great that he started something on his own after leaving Zombie's crew, but it's about as close as you can get to Rob's old stuff with White Zombie and his first album "Hellbilly Deluxe" without Rob (if that makes any sense.) As a matter of fact, if you told someone this was the new Rob Zombie album they probably would believe it. No joke. RIggs has got the same vocal style, music and lyrics down to near perfection. It's so close it's damn near plagiarism. I gave him a break on his first record figuring that he is just starting out and needs time to hone his own style. Nope. He is taking his former bosses skit and running with it all the way. Honestly though, Riggs does Rob better than any of the last two Zombie albums that have been released. It's what Rob should be doing, but he is to interested in film to be as hungry for music as once was. And, it's still a fun album to listen to and it rocks pretty damn hard. I have to give it that. So, it you want a new Rob Zombie album look no further than Scum Of The Earth.

- Craig Harvey

Three

The End Is Begun
Metal Blade Records

If you took Rush, Dream Theater and Coheed & Cambria and blended them together, you might get and idea how Three sounds. Actually at times, I could swear that Coheed's vocalist Claudio was doing the singing! This progressive rock band from New York has a great sound that takes the best of the aforementioned bands and makes it all their own. There is a lot of acoustic guitar blended in with the electric and there is also a percussionist along with a drummer as well. The band steers clear of being too heavy, instead opting for a nice middle ground between the early prog rock styles of yesteryear and modern metal voicings. Don't get me wrong, there is some seriously heavy guitar on this release, but it has it's softer side as well. I heard about Three because they will touring with Dream Theater, Opeth, and Between The Buried and Me on the "Progressive Nation Tour". As a matter of fact Dream Theater's drummer Mike Portnoy hand picked Three for this very tour, so you know they have got to be good. "The End Is Begun" is definitely worth checking out if your a prog fan.

- Craig Harvey