 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
GLENN KAISER
"SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION"
REX RECORDS
Anyone familiar with Glenn Kaiser at all knows that this ole boy knows how to play some mean blues. The Rez band frontman has proven it many times in Rez's albums and on projects such as the Kaiser/Mansfield album, and the Cornerstone Festival blues jam night is a hit every year. Well, now with two acoustic blues albums and a praise album under his "side project" belt, Glenn now brings us some authentic electric blues featuring several veteran Chicago blues players. The lyrical subjects on this album are good ones--love of his wife, love and praise to his Lord, and the message of reconciliation. There's no really preachy lyrics (thank God) with the possible minor exception of "Satellite Dish," which really isn't preachy, it's just about the worthlessness and irrelevance of material things. It's a really personal album, which really stays true to what the blues should be. I can't really say much about the musical side of the album. It's really sufficient to say that it's just really authentic electric blues the way it should be played. To say any more would take away from its beauty. I love the blues, and so should you. If you love real blues music, you need to buy "Spontaneous Combustion." Sell your children if you have to. But you must have this album. If you hate blues, buy it anyway and start loving it. This is nothing short of wonderful.
by Al Newberry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HEAVEN'S METAL--Definitely the coolest of the Christian music zines, as well as the most professional. If you haven't heard of Heaven's Metal, you probably aren't reading my piddly little zine. But if you aren't currently subscribing to Heaven's Metal, you need to. Up-to-date news and tour dates are features Heaven's Metal has that most of the fanzines have less access to, as well as some really good columns. For information, write to Heaven's Metal, P.O. Box 17367, Austin, Texas 78760-7367. Get it.
SALT `ZINE--This cool zine has been out for a little while, but has recently changed the name to SALT. Formerly, it was the newsletter for Crusade, a fellowship of Christian rockers in Kansas City, but it has developed into more of a music mag that still highlights the Kansas City music scene quite a bit. You need to get SALT because there are some cool things happening here in K.C. musically. Salt is published 4 to 6 times per year and you can subscribe for a measly $4 per year. Write to: SALT `ZINE c/o Crusade Inc. P.O. Box 9101 Shawnee Mission, KS 66201.
WRETCHED--Yet another `zine from the Kansas City area. The format is similar to SALT (half-page size), but overall the vision is different. Wretched focuses more on music and not strictly on the Christian scene. The quality is actually really good. For more info on Wretched, send inquiries to me and I'll forward them to Tony Link, Wretched's editor, as he is between permanent addresses currently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHATTERBOX
"DESPITE"
TOOTH AND NAIL
Chatterbox is none other than Jeff Bellew's (former bassist of The Crucified) new project. Jeff played guitar for the celebrated "heavy industrial" band Mortal at the Cornerstone 1993 festival show, so some of us got a little hint of his love for this style of music. Chatterbox is definitely in the "heavy industrial" music category. Thankfully, though (although I love this style of music), Chatterbox does it with a little different flavor. Some of these songs could have been Crucified songs, and at least one was slated to appear on the next Crucified album had they not broken up. As for samples, there really aren't as many as on other industrial albums, but there are still enough to make me drool. The album starts out with "Torque," which beckons, "Come and save me with your worldly wisdom...Come and satisfy a soul that's yearning." It talks of the foolishness and irrationality of the humanistic philosophies that are hurled at us constantly. "Empty" is about the emptiness of a life without Jesus and how no matter what you try to fill that emptiness with, only Christ is sufficient. The third song, "Fallen," contains the real underlying message of the whole album and is the source of the album's title. "Despite our weaknesses, despite our doubts, despite our failings, despite our sin, forgiveness awaits with arms outstretched. Return to Him." It is the most uplifting passage in the album. "Soulscum" declares "Cleanse yourself of yourself (fool yourself)...Save yourself from Hell. You will fail." The song "Divide" could be stripped down from all the techo stuff and hold its own as a hardcore punk song. "Epignosis," the song that would have been The Crucified's song, does sound reminiscent of The Crucified. Marc Saloman (former Crucified vocalist) even steps in on vocals for the last half of the song. The Final song on the album is the old song "Sunshine," sung by kids everywhere. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey..." You know the one. But it's nothing like any other version you've ever heard. It's really emotional. I saw Chatterbox live at Cornerstone this year, and Jeff tearfully sang this song after dedicating it to the memory of his mother, who recently died. The packaging of this album is great. It looks like Tooth and Nail put quite a bit of money into it. This is one of my favorite new releases this year.
By Owlman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SOMETIME SUNDAY
"STONE"
TOOTH AND NAIL
Here we find a new band from Portland, Oregon doing some authentic grunge. Sometime Sunday likes to describe their music as "lurch rock." Who are they kidding? I figure you should call it what it is. This is definitely grunge, but it's not so cliche' as to sound like a copy of all the Seattle bands. While being in the same genre as Pearl Jam or Soundgarden, Sometime Sunday sounds like Sometime Sunday. "Stone" was recorded in the most stripped-down fashion possible. There is a track for guitar, a track for drums, a track for bass, and a vocal track. No massive overdubbing. When there is a guitar solo, you will hear no rhythm guitar in the background, just bass and drums. Just really raw and live-feeling. Sometime Sunday wanted to sound honest, personal, and real on this album. Boy, have they pulled it off well. The production is nothing short of brilliant. The guitars have the power of any other album with 5 guitar tracks. The mix is clear. My only problem is with the vocals. Vocalist Mikee has a lot more ability and talent than he shows on most of the tracks. He spends too much time yelling the lyrics and not enough time just singing with passion, as he is capable of. It seems like he's trying to pull off the perfect Eddie Vedder impersonation. The lyrics on "Stone" are really personal and seemingly honest. Subject matter ranges from angst over regrettable actions ("Blur," "Guilty," "Blue") to loneliness ("Reach") to resting in the loving arms of the Savior ("Home"). This is a great debut. I hope Sometime Sunday can pull off as honest a performance on future releases. I can imagine Mikee being as full of passion as Eddie Vedder if he just lets go and lets the passion I can tell he has just naturally flow out. If you love good grunge, this is for you.
by Al "the Owlman" Newberry
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
