The Church : Starfish

This one serves an extreme importance in my life. Of music and life, this holds my oldest memories. My mother use to play this and a few others on our summer trips up to canada. I didnt really get into this until later in life but it certainly was burned there. This album us to pop up here and there throughout my growing up but at the time i was more into the diet of metal i can thank my much older cousins for. I spent more time with Starfish at the edges of highschool getting stoned and playing it for a select few. I can still remember the night me and G.Andrews parked on a tree line starring hazy eyed into the stars. The again it was sorta retired. At that time alot of things went south so my listening at the time reflected that. 5 years and these guys came back in full force everything eaten up. The Church is the only church i know of (and anyone that listens probably agrees).

Machines of Loving Grace : Gilt

These guys never got the credit they deserved. My intro to them was the track Golgotha Tenement Blues from the Crow soundtrack. I read that the track in particular didnt really represent anything else they did.I feel it could certainly fit well on this album. This for me was alot more technical than say Nine Inch Nails, God Lives Underwater and whatever else i was dieting on at the time. Really I thinks its because they guys played the shit outta their instruments. I mean this with the the utmost respect because both Nine Inch Nails and God Lives Underwater have been very big part in my life. Really nothing here is more so than the other. A perfect mix of talent the whole way though. They have more in common with the previous than say anyone else.

The feeling of this album is dark. Suicide King kicks off with a creepy loop, the bass keeping time and a clean guitar moving things forward right before the chorus slams in. Scott Benzel, a very underrated vocalist sings "she smells like the future of money she smells like everything" with a very whispered feel before brutally whipping into the chorus. Animal Mass contains a nice solo which destroys the track(its that good). The Soft Collision, I suppose you could call a love song "Soft now the lips that drag me down", a fairly tame tempo, some nice pads adding a nice texture to the track. Solar Temple keeps things moving on this album, massive fuzz bass thump vs the sampler which spits bits throughout the whole track ever so sweetly. You get the feeling that theres something hidden on the album as the line "like the richest junkie still alive" is repeated. The track ends with a dark funk groove. Tryst, again starting off with such a nicely played proper bass and loops, this one a favorite. I always think of tie fighters for some reason (maybe thats what im hearing). Casual Users with its drug laced references ( pass me the fucking mirror man ) with a nice steady pace kinda makes you fiend for a bit more. This one definitely sums up the talent of the whole band (minus the viciousness that Mr Benzel can produce) which id like to think Ms Massey had alot to do with. Last, like a punch in the face, probably the one track on the album that is light on the keys. Its as if its the last blow for the band, as they have split since. Serpico really eerie, a tale of suicide starting and fading with a Jim Jones speech.


Seriously this album is pretty damn good. I think for me it really shows a different side to the 90s. Everyone member on this album is extremely talented. Its a shame that really the only one thats still (as far as i know) releasing anything is Ray Riendeau (bass). This album shouldnt be overlooked if you have the chance spin it.


Suggested : Suicide King, Solar Temple and Tryst

Shellac : at Action Park

with the opening title My Black Ass
theres a certain grit all over this album
must be the "producer"
The grooves locked by mr Trainer really keep the interest along with the abrasive guitar and obviously bottom heavy bass. The Crow hints of late 70s pop rock. A Minute fades in with a triple threat feel chugging along before it kicks into a punk pace, vocals being traded back and forth between Steve Albini and Bob Weston. The Idea of North starts off pretty mellow continuing as the slight fuzz guitar kicks while keeping its place.

I dont know what else to say. Its a good album the timing is what i dig the most. It has that Albini sound who produced some of my favorite albums. Like three dudes playing together in one room one take vibe no showing off just living on the LOUD.


Suggested : Dog and Pony Show, A Minute and The Admiral

Chris Connelly : Phenobarb Bambalam

Never judge a book by its cover

My introduction into Chris Connellys solo work. I knew him previously as my favorite Revolting Cock and occasional singer for Ministry. This one I picked up at a used record shop right before I made my way into high school. I was expecting heavy balls to the wall industrial mish mash but was presently surprised. I believe I spun it once and it sat around for years. During a particular down time in my life I gave it another chance and have become a better man since. This album has been with me through think and thin, up and down , here and there. The only complaint I have is the fact that when letting my little brother around my cds he tends to take the cd and leave the case, so this one sits in a binder(bloody hate that).

The album starts with The Whistle Blower which is a nice pseudo instrumental driven by a tasteful bass lick, windy guitar and "who ha who ha who haas". A perfect way to get things started. On July you hear hints of Mr Connellys aggression through voice and words (God I Hate July) which comes and goes throughout the album. Hes a man of words, a poet if you must. "A trail of swollen fruit leads to a higher kind, lips and lovers limbs begin to part " Come Down Here, a nice paced track keeping things together with a few loops a nicely distorted guitar weaving about and a distant place piano. Too Good To Be True brings images of sitting with a glass of scotch in a smokey lounge. Being lulled gently by the jazzy guitar and soft piano, Chris sings "Who in the world will comfort disaster ,what in the world will save me tonight " the overall feeling on this one feels like a heartbreaking. No matter how im feeling this one seems to want to play alot longer than it does. Heartburn has a nice build up which is tastefully hinted by the bass right before the second verse. This is another track I could play over and over. The guitar starts to push off half way in and its chilling with a sense of hope. Not flashy very good wah use nothing in your face just playing right with everything else, the piano brings it on down. No Lesser Of Two Evils brings the poppy feel good vibe back with a grin "security impurity my two and only friends I could walk into disaster she could jump into a lake". The last two on this album Ignition Times Four(hello Tucker) and Dirtbox Tennessee very well feel more like the previous exposure I had with Chris Connelly. 


For me this album isnt skip ahead, it plays from start to finish. If I couldnt hear this every again I surely would be saddened (deathly). Surprisingly the drums arent too much which seems to be the thing for Mr Atkins the guitar (Chris Bruce) is well constructed well placed and the bass (Stuart Zechman Ungod anyone?) very crafty. Really nothing on here is in your face maybe emotion but thats what a good album is. A nice mix of everything.




Suggested : Too Good To Be True, Heartburn and No Lesser Of Two Evils

Meat Puppets : Meat Puppets 2

This one left the party. For some reason it wanted to come home with me so it indeed did and stuck with me ever since. It may be the nice warm days of recent but i felt like listening to this one and im glad. You can hear their influence on a number of bands. Loads of people will know them from the Nirvana connection (good for you). Grab yourself a copy and let it spin, it is indeed worth it.

From the first note of the album (a bent A) you feel the country vibe and it plays actually very well throughout the whole album. Sometimes subtle other times more prominent. Spacey phased out solos tastefully laid on tracks such as Split Myself in Two and New Gods(which reminds me of being dragged to a friend of your parents house as a child and politely you decline everything except a soda). Surely you dont know which way life is gonna bend, Lost conjures the feelings of being alone through the overall vibe of the track (vox and tunes). Plateau is a good measure of compressed bass light treble and a sick delayed outro (check it on headphones). Im a Mindless Idiot carries a very well mix of electric and acoustic guitar riffage. The album ends with what i consider a high note, The Whistling Song (how do you not like a tasteful whistle weaved into a nice pop track). Nicely served all and all. The mix of the album is very laid back not terrible in anyway very punk rock. This album is punk rock country.

Suggested: Split Myself in Two, We're Here and Im a Mindless Idiot.