I Love Rich - The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Record of All Time - CD
(Rich Worldwide)
At first I was scared. This seemed to be a Spinal Tapish band that
took themselves seriously. Then I read the liner notes and found out that
it was the guys from M.K. Ultra zine doing a parody. As a drunken
joke this is pretty funny. But a whole CD of this is just annoying. I love
the zine, but I just can't listen to this joke of a CD.
-- Grog Mutant (2001)
I Multiply - All the Happy Homes - CD
(I Multiply) I think
I'd like this band if it wasn't for the vocalist's voice. She has a fairly
high-pitched voice that she likes to make quiver and growl despite the soprano
nature of it. It reminds me a bit of Souci's voice from Pet UFO,
but I don't like this as much. It's hard to make it past the vocals and
listen to the music, but it really is great college indie rock. Quite a
bit on the lighter side taking me back to the early 90s, similar to the
Columbus band Pretty Mighty Mighty. I've listened to this several
times now and find her voice growing on me a bit, but it still just doesn't
work for me. Maybe in a while I'll like this better, but for now I think
they need a new singer.
-- Grog Mutant (2007)
Ian - A Cure for Reality - CD
(SDMP Records)
"In Review"
-- (2007)
Iceage Cobra - Brilliant Ideas From Amazing People - CD
(Iceage Cobras)
Ice Age Cobra starts off and continues throughout the disc to sound
like a The Darkness cover band. The thing about The Darkness
is that they had one song that became popular and suddenly everyone was
saying how great they were. They didn’t care that the rest of the CD was
annoying crap. In fact if someone said it was annoying crap, people would
say that you just didn’t get them and their parody of metal band clichés.
Well I guess their bomb of a follow up CD proved that yeah, they were crap.
And to sound like a cover band of The Darkness, well that’s not a
good thing now is it.
-- Nunchuka’ Muthafuka’ (2006)
The Idea - Alter Ego Rehabilitation Centre - CD
(Insular Discs) Looking at the primitive artwork on the cover I knew this
would be really good or really bad. Luckily for me it was the former. They
bill this as 10 songs about love, hate death and newsreaders and I can't
say that I disagree. They main thing that I hear though is really catchy,
melodic, indie rock played with a happy abandon. The Idea has fun song titles
like "Polly Trotsky Playtime" with it's goofy keyboard line infused throughout
the song (which I assume is a reference to Brave New World)and the
Blur inspired "Peter the Frog". The singer has a great English accent
that makes the songs perfectly charming and goofy all at once, but well
played.
-- Grog Mutant (2007)
Iggy Pop - The Millennium Collection - CD
(Universal
Records) I have to say I’m a bit disappointed with this release. It’s
not that it isn’t good. In fact just about every tune is great. Such Iggy
hits like ‘Lust for Life,” “Real Wild Child (Wild One),” “Kill City” and
“I Wanna Be Your Dog” are all here. It’s what’s missing that has me feeling
let down. Where’s “Candy,” “Wild America,” “Blah Blah Blah,” “China Girl”
… you get the point. This should have been a double CD or they could have
at least put more tunes on this CD, even if they were limited to certain
releases. Hell, even the liner notes mention releases that aren’t on this
disc. So while this isn’t a bad release, I would have to suggest to hold
out for a more thorough compilation is released of Iggy hits.
-- Mite Mutant (2006)
ILYA - Poise is the Greater Architect - CD
(ILYA) I requested
this release after I received an email from Holiday Matinee hyping
this band like no other. After listening to this disc about 100 times now
in the past week, I must say they weren't exaggerating about ILYA.
They have a sound that is similar to Portishead and a singer, Blanca,
whose voice is so amazingly seductive I have a hard time refusing continued
listenings.
This is one of those hauntingly beautiful releases which is a rarity, but
when it happens it is near perfection. I really can't say enough about ILYA
and the amazing atmosphere which they create. This band is worth any effort
to search out and enjoy. Truly one of the best recordings in the past couple
of years.
-- Grog Mutant (2003)
Don Immel - Long Way Home - CD
(Elemental Music)"In Review"
-- (2008)
Imogen Heap - I Megaphone - CD
(Universal
Records) Imogen Heap, one half of England's Frou Frou,
belongs in that deeply swirling well of late-nineties alternative mind-bop
(a la Bjork) that was contemporaneous with rave music, yet almost
wholly outside its borders. Her music, like that of Peter Gabriel,
is sonically adventurous - edgy, even; and her lyrics well-put, introspective,
and equally adventurous. Listening to this disc, a reissue of her madly
brilliant debut, brings one back to that great Renaissance in alternative
music. Her voice is very unique - in the sense that she sounds more like
your older sister or your neighbor than she does a globe-trotting electropop
diva. It's odd, then, that on the extremely rare occasion that she sings
in a more "singerly" higher range, she sounds more like a regular singer.
The vast majority of the time, though, she sings in a fairly tone deaf-friendly
medium range which seems to reveal what her natural speaking voice must
sound like. She's never off-key, although at times you get the feeling that
she's a hair's breadth away from sounding sophomoric or derivative. Yet
she does not, ultimately, and the end result of her creative coup is like
a simmering cauldron of aggressively beautiful, fully danceable, artful
electronic pop rock. A triumvirate of producers (including Dave Stewart
of Eurythmics, and Guy Sigsworth of Frou Frou) helped
her make this record, and it speaks volumes that you just can't tell where
one stops and the other starts. Her second album was overproduced, overcompressed,
and, as good as it was nonetheless, never quite had the punch that this
one still does after (oh my god has it really been...?) eight years.
-- Jeremy Mutant (2006)
Imogene - Imogene - CD
(Intrepid Sound
Recordings) Mellow, lo-fi rock band with very buried vocals that mix
into the overall wash of sound. Imogene play catchy music, but it all seems
to mesh together in a jam band sort of way with such a muffled overall sound
that nothing ever truly punches through the fuzz. I don't know if this was
their intent or if the mixing was just really bad. Regardless, I'm having
a hard time listening to them and put something else in with a bit more
range.
-- Grog Mutant (2008)
The Impossible Shapes - We Like it Wild - CD
(Secretly Canadian
Records) On my god is this band boring. The songs do absolutely nothing
for me, they're just there... like a mind numbing waste of time. Yawn.
-- Mite Mutant (2004)
In Decay - In DK - 7"
(Tent City Records 175 5th Ave Suite 2341 NY, NY 10010)
This 7" contains four tunes of fast and furious punk. With just the right
amount of pure punk vocals and screaming punk vocals, this release contains
what is just the first of many great songs from some of the former member
of the band Chocking Victim.
-- Mite Mutant (2001)
Inbreed - Bastards Forest - CD
(Inbreed P.O. Box 920 Salado, TX 76571) This is a trio from Texas and I
don't know if they are inbreeds or not. All I know is that these guys are
a throwback to 80's metal. They have some Iron Maiden and Dokken
in them along with a bit of Talas. They are good at what they play,
but they sound dated. However, if you like metal then bang your head and
become an Inbreed.
-- Grog Mutant (2001)
Inch Connecticut - Inch Connecticut - CD
(Chromephobe)
Jeez what a load of crap this one was! Boring, meandering non-rock with
whiny vocals and minimal instrumentation. I think this was probably some
singer/songwriter who managed to keep a band together long enough to record
this. No energy no balls = waste of my time!
-- Mite Mutant (2001)
The Innovaders - Acid Reign - CD
(Metal Postcard)
Acid-House / Electronica dance floor goodness. Keyboards, sequencers and
drum machines have taken over the studio and recorded a full disc of what
they love best. Big beats and sprialing keyboard lines abound, with the
backdrop of a French conversation on the second track "L'Amour Et Le Discotheque".
There is a strong feel of the 80's to the tunes not unlike Freezepop,
but without the seductive vocals of Liz Enthusiasm, the Innovaders
pale in comparison.
-- Grog Mutant (2006)
The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Survival Sickness - CD
(Burning Heart Records)
This comes with a very daunting booklet, which lays out the intellectual
reasons for making this particular piece of plastic. Not being a masochist
I only skimmed it. Very heavy thinking going on here. Imagine my surprise
when this turned out to be some very good garage rock. No song titles are
provided which I imagine is part of the conspiracy! Like I said very good
farfisa driven garage rock. They should change their name to "Thee International
Noise Conspiracy" for real garage rock creed.
-- Mite Mutant (2001)
The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Capitalism Stole My Virginity
- CD
(G-7 Welcoming
Committee) This is a three song single with two previously unreleased
songs. The INC are an interesting punk band that are pretty cross
pollinated in many genres.
-- (2001)
Intodown - Brave New World - CD
(Intodown) I wasn't sure what to expect with this CD. Now that I've listened
to it, I have to say not bad. Instrumental guitar tunes are the name of
the game here and things get off to a nice start with the opening track
"Elevator" which sounds like the theme from a James Bond spaghetti Western.
The beginning of "Fire" which is the opening cut of an instrumental composed
of seven parts, has a spoken word intro which reminded me of the CD T.A.Z.
by Hakim Bey. The CD ends with an industrial-ambient sound-scape
of a tune called "The Return." If you're into this type of music, then definitely
give this one a listen.
-- Mite Mutant (2008)
Io - Where the Engines Lay - CD
(Eleventh Hour Records)
Io is a pop/pop punk band with a definite influence from Weezer,
but this album lacks consistency. The band tends to shift styles, making
it seem as if they have not really decided on what kind of music they want
to play.
I was not overly impressed with this album; however, they have something
going for them. If they focus a little bit, they could definitely make something
of themselves. I look forward to their next album and seeing them grow.
-- Simi Mutant (2006)
Irene and Her Latin Jazz Band - Summer Samba - CD
(Irene) Early 60s
lounge music? On this disc Irene and her Latin jazz band work their way
through a catalog of classic samba songs. It's like a time warp back to
a beach cocktail party in the middle of the hip 60s. I think Irene's
voice is a bit weak on some of the songs, but she does a decent job, holding
true to the style presented. A great disc to put on at your next poolside
cocktail party.
-- Grog Mutant (2008)
Irish Leo - Beware the Chicken - CD
(Irish Leo) Take some
Rusted Root, mix with Dayton Rock weirdness, add a pinch of Zydeco
and top-off with some killer female lead vocals. This disc is fun and quirky-will
add life to any summer gathering.
-- Regan (2001)
Irish Rovers,The - Upon a Shamrock Shore - CD
(Universal Music) The
release contains a slew of traditional and contemporary 'Irish' sounding
tunes from a group of musicians who, despite their name, are not Irish.
The Irish Rovers have been doing their thang for over 30 years now,
and all of the tunes on this CD were recorded in the late '60s early '70s.
The penny whistle and button accordion are prominent on many of the tunes,
while the lyrics range from silly "Pigs Can't Fly" to the serious "Lament
for the Molly Maguires" to the pure fun "Mountain Tay". If you're looking
for some good traditionally sounding Irish music then pick up this release
from this bunch of Canadians.
-- Mite Mutant (2001)
Irish Rovers,The - Songs of Christmas - CD
(Universal Music) Traditional
("God Rest Ye Merry", "Gentlemen, Silent Night") and not so traditional
("Bells Over Belfast", "Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake") Christmas tunes
done by one of the greatest Celtic bands. This CD is a refreshing break
from the slew of same ol' Christmas tunes that flood the airwaves during
the holiday season. Your guest will thank you if you put this CD on at your
next Christmas party.
-- Mite Mutant (2001)
Irreversible Slacks! - The Irreversible Slacks! - CD
(The Irreversible Slacks)
This is like a transport to the early days of rock and roll with some rockin'
instrumentals and slower surf influenced tracks. The go the distance with
the look, sound and image. There aren't many bands out there that can recreate
this sound well but IS is one of the few. I can't listen to them
much, but they make a great background.
-- Grog Mutant (2001)
Isis - SGNL>05 - CD
(Neurot Records)
One song is a thunderous army, another is a sci-fi underwater experience,
and still another is a trip through computerized atmospheric bliss. The
five experimental instrumentals that make up this release will astound your
senses.
-- Mite Mutant (2001)
Goran Ivanovic Group - Goran Ivanovic Group - CD
(Balkin Song
Records) This is a collection of music inspired by Balkin folk music.
What you get are wonderfully crafted tunes in a classical folk style played
on acoustic guitar and bass, saxophone and drums. I know the focus is on
the guitarist, but the other three musicians are every bit as talented as
Goran in my opinion.
While listening you feel as if you are in the exotic middle east at a celebration,
with floating harmonious and infectious grooves which bring to mind belly
dancers. In fact five of the pieces are variations on traditional songs
that are played at weddings and festivals. This is a great release to bring
some international flavour to any gathering or as a backdrop to an exotic
meal or romantic evening. Excellent.
-- Grog Mutant (2006)