Album Reviews
OPTIMUS RHYME
Optimus Rhyme
(Narcofunk)
Loyal HB readers have probably figured out by now that I don't know dick about hip hop. I do know what I like, though, and I really like Optimus Rhyme. I like that the music is made by a tight, versatile funk trio, rather than a mishmash of sampled beats, and I like MCs Wheelie Cyberman and Broken English, who are not only mouth masters but also superlative wordsmiths, long on wit and short on repetitive sloganeering. The cuts are catchy, funny, danceable and, most of all, smart—this is a group that states a goal of "expansion of the English language, phase one" in "Powder Blue Egg Hatch." Jurassic 5 fans will love this. Michael Toland
THE SEVENTH KEY
The Raging Fire
(InsideOut)
Had The Raging Fire come out in the mid-80s, it would have dominated AOR radio. Kansas bassist Billy Greer's second collaborative project with his former Streets bandmate Mike Slamer is tuneful, guitar/vox-oriented arena rock, with the occasional metallic edge and progressive flourish. Though I have to admit Greer's a fine singer, frankly, this isn't my cup of tea at all; it sounds like the sub-Journey one hit wonders of the 80s like Urgent and Glass Tiger. Not bad for what it is, I suppose, if that's what you want. Michael Toland [buy it]
SINOMBRE
Curves of Sirens
(Firecode Core)
One thing I gotta give San Fran's Sinombre—the trio chose an excellent album title. The guitars wind and curve around the melody like waves of sonic paint in a wind flurry, while Gabriella Marks' throaty voice acts as a siren call to the unwary. With Marks leading the way on strong cuts like "Birdsong," "Half-Hearted" and the magnificent epic "Wanted," it's a summons that's difficult to resist. Michael Toland [buy it]
THE SLAGS
The Slags
(Hyperspace)
"We are the Slags/The best damn lovin' that you ever had!" proclaim the New Yawk scuzzballs on their 6-song EP. I can't speak for their boudoir prowess, but I can tell ya that the quartet rocks out like the bastard children of a threesome between Johnny Thunders, Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers and Tommy Lee. There's a rootsy sensibility underneath the sleaze metal (cf. the country rockin' "Love Ya" and the guitarists' bluesy solos), giving the band a bit more substance than titles like "Show & Tell" and "Koo Koo Land" (a tribute to Fun City) might have you believe. Plus, for all the ass men in the audience, The Slags has a great cover. Michael Toland
STRIPSEARCH
Stripsearch
(Magna Carta)
Welcome to another episode of When Session Players Attack. Guitarist Michael Ward, bassist Mike Elizondo and drummer Josh Freese have worked with everyone from the Wallflowers to A Perfect Circle to Dr. Dre, but Stripsearch gives them a chance to work out the mojo they suppress at their day jobs. Given the jazzy rhythms, frenetic arrangements and blatant noisemongering, I'm guessing the trio (plus guest saxist Jason Freese) has a serious Last Exit jones, which is enough to recommend Stripsearch to those who like their jam bands to sound like they're trying to destroy the universe. Michael Toland [buy it]
TOWERS OF HANOI
Towers of Hanoi
(Barracuda Sound)
A pinch of emo-rock, a dash of punk energy and a cupful of arena rock make for a tasty batter from this Florida quartet. Guitarist Travis Whitton paints the walls with riffs, solos and textures, never neglecting the melody, while the rhythm section shakes the foundations. Vocalist Rachel Whitton has a forceful presence; the instruments don't make room for her, so she just muscles her way into the arrangements. The songs aren't quite as memorable as they could be, but that'll come in time. Michael Toland
WINDS
The Imaginary Direction of Time
(The End)
Not every metal band out of Norway is blackened; Winds, led by keyboardist/composer Andy Winter, is downright shiny. Of course, Winds plays lush, tightly arranged progressive rock, with the metal elements coming mainly from shred guitarist Carl August Tidemann and blast beat drummer Jan Axel von Blomberg (AKA the notorious Hellhammer of Mayhem fame). Singer Lars Eric Si has the chops, if not the over-the-top presence, to do Broadway, which helps with Winter's often convoluted lyrics. That it's a bit goofy in spots goes without saying, but it's amazingly well-crafted and accomplished, and that counts for something, right? Michael Toland [buy it]
VARIOUS ARTISTS
High Volume: The Stoner Rock Collection
(High Times)
There are two things that make this worth acquiring, whether or not you subscribe to the philosophy of the grass-addled dudes at High Times magazine. One is that, as the liner notes claim, the disk really does gather the cream of the crop of current hard rock artists that wrestle with the term "stoner rock," including the Hidden Hand, Clutch, Orange Goblin, Nebula, Bad Wizard, High On Fire, Suplecs, Bottom and the proverbial many more. Two is that every track here was specially written and recorded for this album, instead of being an outtake or subpar live cut—that's especially good news for fans of John Garcia's Unida, who've been in hibernation for so long, and the Formula (featuring Ed Mundell of Monster Magnet and the Atomic Bitchwax), who may no longer exist. Whether you're an enthusiast of modern heavy rock, or you want to take your first toke, you need this. Michael Toland [buy it]
