Monday, March 16, 1998
Soundbites
The Din Pedals, "The Din Pedals" (Epic) Hailing from San Luis
Obispo and fresh from conquering the L.A. club scene, the Din
Pedals have said goodbye to their indie days and released their
major-label debut, which, simply put, rocks.
This fresh foursome takes an unflashy, contemporary guitar
sound, sans all the loops and electronic beats, and gives it raw
passion and life. The Din Pedals create charged, well-crafted
melodies that easily compare to such vital alternative bands as
Radiohead and Live. One can even hear early U2 and Nirvana in
areas.
Most of this comes from the evident talents of guitarist
Harrison’s skilled riffwork and lead singer James Grundler’s
soaring vocals, which sound a lot like those of Radiohead’s Thom
Yorke and Brit- band Marion’s Jamie Harding. Their combined talents
on every track make for some of the most moving and engaging music
in rock today.
The first single and new KROQ add-on, "Ashtray," reflects a lot
of the album’s darkness and bleakness, but there’s something
exciting about the proclamatory chorus ("I’m coming back in all /
I’m counting on the ashtray") and throbbing rhythms that contradict
the melancholy themes. Leadoff track "Kangaroo Kourt," "Downtown
Sister" and "Not Much For Saturdays" have the same powerful
effect.
But plenty of slower, anguished tunes balance out the rockers,
and do so quite beautifully. The dependency-themed "Emotional
Drugs" haunts and cries out with beautiful ache. "Porn Star" and
"Waterfall" also emote a tender yet confident power which makes the
listener drop everything and just listen in awe. The lyrics, while
usually ambiguous and enigmatic, deliver images of Prozac-riddled
confusion and troubled relationships of all sorts (like in
"Ashtray") befitting the darker music. And Grundler’s stellar
vocals certainly do the words justice.
The Din Pedals have crafted some extremely impressive and
effective rock ‘n’ roll. If radio and subsequent record buyers
embrace this resonating record, the Din Pedals could offer the
dying American rock scene a little more life. Mike Prevatt A
Two, "Voyeurs" (Nothing) He’s angry. His head’s full of poetry
that he can’t express. But he’s got a lot of expensive toys to bang
on, so he figures it will be OK. In this way, Two, a shiny,
cue-ball-headed guy with a fu- manchu, manages to channel his
wealth of bitterness through electronified sound. What results is a
combination between the poignant, isolatory feelings of Nine Inch
Nails, the harsh, misunderstood wails of Tool and the cock-metal
guitar riffs of Alice in Chains.
However, though Two clearly understands what’s necessary for
creating a growling fan base of disenchanted, restless teenage
boys, it seems unlikely that his sinister screeches will affect
many of the college set. While he maneuvers well within the
confines of a genre which embraces grumbly, guttural bass work and
monotonous, pissed-off drum beats, Two fails to shed any new light
on the industrial/grunge music scene.
Still, "Voyeurs" would provide a sense of solace on particularly
ruthless days, when you’re just fed up with everything. However, if
you’ve just experienced a sunny, kick-back morning listening to
Chris Isaak croon, "I believe in a beautiful day" and you’ve been
sold, saying, "Me too! Me too!," and then spent your evening
listening to your neighbor’s Rush albums, deciding, "Hey, they’re
not that bad," getting sucked into their expansive melodies and
almost fairy-tale lyrics, Two’s "Voyeurs" wouldn’t be the best CD
to pop in. But maybe all that sweetness and beauty’s been grating
on you. Go figure. Vanessa VanderZanden C+
Pure, "Feverish" (Mammoth) Don’t you hate it when an album lets
you down? You love track one, dig track two, chill to three and
then all the rest leave you thinking, "What the hell just
happened?" Enter Canadian band Pure’s new album, "Feverish." A
couple of really good songs comprise the total of their
capabilities, with fast rhythms and dancing beats, but the album as
a whole limps its way through every remaining song.
Two noteworthy songs save the album from total ruin. "Chocolate
Bar" mixes techno grooves and electric madness through even better
deals in the chorus. "Feverish" swims through smooth mellow vocals
and heavy melodies. The song, however, serves to show lead-singer
Jody Birch’s own sex appeal more than anything else.
Other songs prove hilarious, but not hilarious in a good way.
"Sunshine and Happy Hour" sounds almost like a pop-y Brady Bunch
cheese-fest but it’s even worse. Imagine a Brady Bunch reunion with
a drunk Peter Brady at the mic and turntables. Not pretty
stuff.
Pure fans beware: this won’t be the album of your dreams.
Michelle Zubiate C-
Various Artists, Music from and inspired by the Motion Picture
"The Player’s Club" (A&M). Warning: this album is not to be
played in polite company. If you wanna see some rumps shakin’, go
out and see "The Player’s Club," Ice Cube’s new movie about life in
a strip club. If you wanna hear about the same thing then go get
the soundtrack. This is the perfect album for those who haven’t had
their fix of trite metaphors and references to sex. If that’s what
you want, then let the clubbin’ begin!
The album starts off slammin’ with the first two tracks, both by
Ice Cube: "We Be Clubbin’" and its remix featuring DMX. As one of
hip-hop’s most anticipated new artists, DMX, known for his growling
lyrical delivery, turns an otherwise mediocre joint into a
sure-to-be bona-fide hit.
Representing the East Coast is Jay-Z, with the
hustler-turned-player jam "From Marcy to Hollywood." Master P and
Ice Cube team up to pay respects to the old-school with an X-rated
remake of the Whoudini classic, "You Know I’m A Ho." The various
R&B tracks laid down by the likes of Changing Faces, Brownstone
and Mr. Dalvin (one-fourth of Jodeci) provide a little cross-genre
flavor to an otherwise solidly hip-hop album.
With the exception of a few songs, "Players Club" is essentially
about sex, sex and mo’ sex, and that’s it. It seems that entire
albums dedicated to this theme would have gotten played-out a long
time ago, but perhaps not. If butts and breasts are your idea of a
good time, then "The Player’s Club" is where its at. If not, then
don’t waste your time. J. Jioni Palmer C
Sony Music
THE DIN PEDALS
"The Din Pedals"