SOUND
CHECK
It is not easy to dig beneath the surface of
Pavement's music. With some effort, however, there
is a wealth of information and observations to be
hod. For example, in the first line of the first song on
the fourth album, Steve Malkmus boasts the follow-
ing observation: Pigs they tend to wiggle when they
walk. Groundbreaking? Certainly not, but it exem-
plifies the subtle blend of truisms and humor that
make Pavement and their newest Matador release,
Brighten The Corners, so great. After 1994's
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, it appeared as if
Povement was soon to be catapulted from the ranks
of sophisticated indie-rock
cult status to a level of
national recognition.
Unfortunately, 1995's fol-
low-up, Wowee Zowee,
proved to be a bummer.
The songs weren't as
good, the lyrics often times
too remote. It was difficult
to tell whether Pavement
was a bit dried out or
Wowee Zowee was on
oct of self-sabotage, a way
to stave off success a bit
longer. Brighten...is
undeniably a step forward
for this Stockton-based
band. It is the most cohe
sive Pavement album to
date, combining what most
consider to be Pavement's
strongest attributes: wit
and wisdom, courage and
craft, memorable melodies
and intricate song structures
From the up beat opening song and lead single
"Stereo" to the closing track-a more atmospheric
Velvet Underground esque opus "Fin," there is no
shortcoming. Each song is well-crafted, prophetic
and accessible. Malkmus, who penned all but two
of the songs, casually kicks back and spits forth
dazzling analogies and not so easily decipherable
deductions such as the one found during "Shady
Lane Freeze, don't move/You've been chosen as
an extra in the movie adaptation of the sequel to
your life-JK... Fugazi's lan MacKaye is recovering
and laying low after a bout
with pneumonia, which
caused the band to:
cancel the last two
weeks of their
Australian tour in
January Fugazi is
practicing"
lan Mackaye
according to one
source, but officially
taking off until lote
spring. The bond's first
priority; to go back
down under... The ink is
drying on an exclusive record-
ing deal between Relapse
Records and the groundbreaking Nashville noise
rock geniuses Today Is The Day, formerly with
Amphetamine Reptile. The band will be in good
company; Relapse has had much success lately
with Neurosis and Brutal Truth, both of whom
were also acquired from other labels. A new
Today Is The Day full-length, tentatively titled Temple
Of The Morning Star, should be out in the fall
Shades Apart, hot on the heels of their latest
Revelation Records release Seeing Things, has
clinched a spot on the Descendents tour, rolling
through the US this spring MW... "Sure, it is easi
er to get yourself known if you say you are from
New York," says Ensign lead singer, Tim Shaw,
who lives in Manhattan, while the rest of his band
live in various parts of New Jersey. But, the fact is,
more and more of the Judge-sounding New York
hardcore bands like Ensign, Floorpunch, and
Uprise are coming out of the state known more for
big hair and big malls. And, although New Jersey
hardcore favorites Mouthpiece recently broke up,
Pavement
the band's singer, Tim McMahon, is
back with his new project,
Hands Tied. "They are all willing
to say they are from New
Jersey... there is no reason to be
ashamed," notes a laughing
Shaw. Ensign, which consists of
former Undertow drummer Ryan
Murphy, former Vision bassist
Nate Gluck, and guitarist John
Fraumberger, are busy working
on the follow-up to their high-
octane, high-energy, self-titled
debut EP and are preparing to
tour Japan and the US with
Good Riddance-JE... Straight
from the Flatbush Projects
comes the Bush Babees' jazzy
nice sophomore album, Gravity
on Warner Bros. The group has
come a long way since their last
album, both technically and
mentally. Their rhymes flow with
passion on subjects that are real
and honest and positive-sorry, no
caviar or fast cars. And Gravity's
production is something for the history books: spe
cial helping hands include Rahzel of The Roots,
Q-Tip, and De La Soul's Plug One. This album
hosts a slew of mellow beats that could ger Bob
Dole to bob his head, a sprinkle of dancehall flow,
and the soon-to-be classic "Love Song," featuring
Mos Def. Throw in the illest beat-boxing since the
Disco 3 on "The Beat Down," courtesy of Rohzel
The Godfather of Noyze," and you've got the best
dame thing since peanut butter. Gravity. Check it
out; it's gonna blow up... The most beautifullest
vocabulist is back with more metaphors than Tay
Story had toys. Keith Murray's second joint, Enigma
on Jive Records, comes through lovely with that p
funk, we funk, bassy boom bip, Erick Sermon sig-
nature style, super witty rhymes that'll put your fin-
ger in a splint from hitting rewind after every line,
and more cameos than Mars Attacks. With guests
Busta Rhymes, Redman, Sermon and Jamal of
Illegal, the "Yech" track is tighter than size 28 jeans
on Biggie Smalls. It's sure to be the block party hit
of the year. When Keith goes off on tracks like "Hot
to Del" and "World be Free," it's no mystery why
Enigma is destined to be the new bom-diggy So,
love it or leave it alone. Once again the Groove
been searching for. This 12-track funk-fest is the
Merchant (Ubiquity Records) delivers the beats you
sickest collection of rare 70s funk joints since James
Brown had a band. Trippin' stars such low-key
greats as The Cals, Esquires Now, and the Village
Crusaders. All of these unknown tracks are bona.
fide gems; you may mistake a few for some of P-
Funk or Santana, but don't be fooled. Groove
Merchant has dug deep into the crates to find
these funk classics-CN... Guilt's new release
Further on Victory Records has an expansive, churn-
ing sound that may be compared to the Smashing
Pumpkins, but, to their credit, they do not have a
whiny singer. The six-song EP opens and closes with
atypical instrumentals that didn't do much for me,
but the other four songs make this worth listening to
The band has a couple of nice abrasive guitars,
blending their churning sound with a healthy serv
ing of riffs. Vocalist Duncan is a good howler, and
the lyrics to these untitled songs betray some thought
and are actually often poetic-DBH... Jabberjaw
Pure Sweet Hell (Mammoth Records) is the second
(must-have!) compilation from this LA club. A raw
collection of the coolest bands ever imaginable, this
best of the best release (which is also available on
vinyl as a collector's package) includes Brainiac,
Jawbreaker, Redd Kross, Steel Pole Bathtub, Fitz
Of Depression, plus 10 other killer bands delivering
previously unreleased sonic payloads. Other biggie
stand-outs are Man Or Astroman? doing their
spocy-sci-fi-wacky-surf tune "Earth Station Radio,"
Low with their tasty cover of the old Bee Gee's song
"I Started a Jake" in hi-style, and the Laughing
Hyenas-with the legendary John Brannon on
vocals-ripping out your spine and brain with their
offering of "Shine." Topping it all off is the now-
more-than-ever popular Everclear laying down a
twisted cover of The Smith's "How Soon Is Now."
This song alone makes the comp worth the price.
Other comps give you a selection of 13 horrible
bands with only 2 good ones, if you're lucky, but
you won't find one shitty song on this one.
Jabberjaw: Pure... captures music the way it was
meant to be heard-JS... Those four cool hepcats
The Hi-Fives has released their pure alternative rock
n' roll fun sophomore album A Whole Lotta You on
Berkeley's Lookout! Records. The CD includes a
poppy, adrenaline-driven rendition of Soft Cell's
"Tainted Love" and demonstrates that these boys
can party as well as be stylin' in their grandfa-
ther's suits... Instrumentalist and composer
The Hi-Fives
Michael Masley, who captivates passers-by on the
streets of Berkeley with his "bowhammer" playing
technique on the cymbalom (a modification of the
hammer dulcimer), has once again made his music
available to take home. The independently released
Mystery Repeats Itself is a collection of twenty mes-
merizing instrumental poetry selected from several
other recorded works. While the CD can be pur-
chased by writing to PO Box 5232, Berkeley, CA,
94705 or calling 510/548-1241, newer material
can be heard and viewed on Thrasher's Skate &
Destroy skate video, which shows Masley's
bowhammer (playing devices custom-crafted to fit
each finger) technique in action-JKH
DBH: Darren Brady-Harris JE: Joseph Epstein JKH Josmine K Huynh JK: Jordan Kurland CN: Chris Nieratko JS: Jon Stain MW: Morgan Walker
VOODOO GLOW SKULLS
new record
may 6
PENNYWISE
new record
april 22
VGS
Epitaph