Welcome to A&A. There are 18 reviews in this issue. Click on an artist to jump to the review, or simply scroll through the list. If you want information on any particular release, check out the Label info page. All reviews are written by Jon Worley unless otherwise noted. If you have any problems, criticisms or suggestions, drop me a line.
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A&A #23 reviews (10/31/92)
Alice Donut The Untidy Suicides of Your Degenerate Children (Alternative Tentacles) Look in the dictionary under "alternative loud music." You'll find the definition to be Alice Donut. And you are still wondering why? Then take a listen to this album. While most of you haven't spent a lot of time around me, I can be rather talkative, to the point of excruciating annoyance. So you should understand the rare occurrence of speechlessness. I can't imagine what I can say about this album that will make you play it, except to tell you to listen and then somehow not crank it for weeks on end. I like most of the albums I review for A & A. A few I listen to pretty often. Then come the classics: My Dying Bride. Young Fresh Fellows. Dead World. Jesus Lizard. Bad Religion. And this one. There really isn't a better expression of why independent labels exist but to release albums like this. I'm sorry I couldn't give the album the review it deserved, but I just don't know how.
Arcwelder Raleigh 7" (Touch and Go) Minimalist pop with supremely distorted vocals. These folks had better have a full length on the schedule, because this is fine! The three tracks contained herein smoke in a most serious way. I've got that smiley-tingly feeling all over.
Atrocity Longing for Death (Roadrunner) The color scheme reminded me of the My Dying Bride cover art, and the music contained within is also rather inventive. Taking hints from Atheist, Edge of Sanity, Tiamat and others, Atrocity wends through all sorts of influences, from jazz beats to classical themes. Not to mention to occasional mellow passage. Roadrunner has a one-two punch this issue that no one can match. If Sorrow doesn't hit the spot for you (you're crazy), then this should. Damned creative and all over the death metal landscape, proving this doesn't have to be a bland and stagnant genre. Oh yeah, these guys are from Europe, which probably helps explain their different musical tacks. While American bands are starting to catch up, the freshest death metal and grindcore continues to be a Common Market product.
Brainiac Superduperseven 7" (Limited Potential) Crank that rhythm to the stars! I always react positively to that chicka-chicka-chicka-chicka noise some bands have their guitarist play. You know, where they sorta loosely hold the strings and crunch the pick up and down? Anyway, that excellent sound is used well, and the rest of it is pretty cool, too. Not bad for a Dayton band. Well worth your while.
Butthead Volume 7" (Heat Blast) Four songs, one seven-inch. Butthead combine elements of classic metal with hard core and the blues. Very tasty. I would love to see these guys live. Reminiscent of earlier Suicidal Tendencies, slowed up a little. Better vocals. This should find a home at many cool radio stations.
D.R.I. Definition... (Rotten) You know, I remember when D.R.I. was an amusing hardcore outfit who really didn't know where they stood in the musical food chain. Now that they're an amusing metal outfit who still haven't figured out who to munch on, I'm still not sure what I think of them. This album is not as metal as "Thrash Zone," and the move to Rotten has served them well creatively. This sounds real good, and the lyrics are very good, which is not something you might always expect from these guys. But this isn't hardcore. And it's not really metal. I hope you folks play this, because it is very interesting and at times real good. It sure is loud. And D.R.I. have achieved legendary status just for hanging as long as they have. They aren't what they used to be, but they just might be better.
Dime Bag Dime Bag (Heat Blast) Do you ever get the urge to get together with your friends, get really drunk, crank the amplifiers of all your instruments to heavy distortion and jam? Sure, we all do. But if we did it would sound like shit, because most of us are talentless hacks (which hasn't stopped Garth Brooks yet). But these guys take that approach to their music and blow out an amazing album of eight ear-splitting, mind-numbing, uh, tunes. Obviously with this kind of screaming sludge a tune is not what you find. A lot like Sugar Shack, I like this album a bunch without really knowing why. The chords are more than simple, the lyrics almost incoherent and the music just a few squeals of heavy feedback. And I keep saying to myself, "Just once more, I swear I need just one more hit." Shit, where's that repeat button when you really need it?
Godspeaks Scapegoated & Demonized 7" (Limited Potential) I liked this a lot better when I had it going at 33. At 45 it bears a little too close a resemblance to Soundgarden for my taste. Try it slow, it's really cool. Your sense of reality will be turned inside out.
The Jesus Lizard Liar (Touch and Go) Long-time Chicago crunge gods return, perhaps to hit the big time, as fellow Second City-ites Ministry make a big splash. Never mind that the Jesus Lizard has consistently put out music that puts Ministry to shame, or that JL just have a lot more product. This album is just plain fucking incredible. Yes, you can dance to it, but these folks play real instruments and blaze a trail for only the brave to follow. While many a pundit has wondered if "singer" David Yow really deserves that title, I say "You do better!" And this isn't the Green Room at the Ramada, either. This is, strangely enough, rock and roll! Too loud for alternative, too weird for metal, JL have been shunted to a far corner for way too long. Play these motherfuckers, goddamnit! Like you've heard ten albums all year that are even this good. So there.
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