The third Faye release features a St. Louis area rockabilly band who will be having a full-length album coming out soon on another label. But this is good enough on its own.

"Stop, Drop and Roll" is your basic rockabilly howl, but the b-side is the gem (which seems to be the case with the Faye releases).

"Pickup Truck" is a simple, lilting ballad that slowly builds speed (but not bombast) and just rolls into the sunset. If you don't catch yourself singing this song for days after hearing it once, I'll be surprised.

Another quality Faye release, and I'm not saying that just because it's out of Columbia.

For those of you romping on the Malhavoc right now, here's another industrial sample fest. From the opening use of "Kashmir" to any number of other riffs (Oh say can you steal?), this has all of the elements of a smash (and a few lawsuits).

A little dancier than Malhavoc, but still heavy, this is a nice package. Too bad there are only eight tracks and two re-mixes. It would have been fun to sample more of the Industrial Artz. And not to harp on the Mslhavoc connection, but these folks are out of Toronto, Ontario (M-boys are out of Scarborough, Ontario). Kinda weird.

I know it's the new hip thing, but this is good album. The production is raw enough to make it rather interesting.

While the music is traditional thrash (and there's nothing wrong with that), the lyrics are rather noteworthy. In their first song alone, Punisher attacks nuclear war, dolphin-safe fishing, the trash problem and much more. And it's not really preaching. Just aiming at awareness.

The production sound is great, and the cassette is professional enough to be sold in a chain store. The level of commitment the members have to this band is inspiring.

This band is worth your time to pick up and play. So do it!

From the heart of house-land (Belgium) come (s?) Swains. But instead of listening to that annoying bomp-bomp-bomp for all ten songs, these folks change things up, sampling different riffs and beats all through.

Each song is an aural adventure. Who knows where the beat will wander next. While most of the house beats are visited, many others are explored. And the sound! It is wonderfully textured. This is a perfectly pleasant perversion of the house album. Just when you expect something, the mood shifts.

Maybe not the best dance record, Swains have put together the coolest dance music album in some time.

I started off listening to this disc by wondering where the real Elvis Costello had been hiding for years. Then the funk slowly settled in and I realized I hadn't heard stuff like this since the first Bourgeois Tagg album (which I still love).

Oh, this has a little reggae thrown into the mix, and the lyrics are a little more serious than clever, but that feel is there. Hard to describe, really. I think it's the way the instruments combine in a way normally seen as cacophonous, but in reality is a perfect blend.

On the writing side, the songs jump around stylistically, but the vocals are always coolly understated. No grandiose pomposity. Just honest readings.

Okay, so this isn't the next huge mondo-seller. It's a nice little album. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. It's rather cool, actually.

Olivelawn. The 411. Holy Love Snakes. Is your mouth watering yet? This compilation is a celebration of sorts for Headhunter. And while not all (if any) of the tracks are new or previously unreleased, you have to admit San Diego has a real cool scene.

Dig into any of the tracks and sample some of most southern California's finest cuisine (and don't forget to check out the full-length albums by these bands).

When psycho-funk-thrash is taken to its logical end, the results can be unsettling. But then, there has never been an unsettling AT release, has there?

Well, I happen to think any discomfort that accompanies listening to this record is worth it. The prose-style lyrics fit in with the wandering (but always coherent) music.

John Wright, drummer for Nomeansno, produced this album. The band's sound shines through, proving Wright did his job correctly.

A great album, one that would fit in well not only at alternative but also for you metal programmers out there. Get your hands on this and listen.

Riding out of Fresno comes an outfit that keeps the togetherness of the country spirit but still manages the distortion of a Shockabilly. Sort of the potential child of Johnny Cash and any member of the Young Gods.

But it sounds better than great. Reminds me of Bubba. You know, the archetypal Texas (and elsewhere) voter they have been talking about during the presidential primaries.

You want sick? You want twisted? You want a nice backbeat and twangy guitar? Don't forget the distorted vocals. Wow. A country album that would be more at home on a psychedelic show.