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********** R.A.D! ON-LINE **********
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********** January 1994 **********
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Published monthly by CONSPIRACY M.E.D.I.A, Box 158324, Nashville, TN 37215
Review And Discussion of Rock & Roll is copyright 1994 by Keith A. Gordon
and CONSPIRACY M.E.D.I.A. Items herein may be reproduced, providing credit
is given to the writer and publisher and a copy sent to the address above.
Back issues of R.A.D! ON-LINE are available for those interested by FTP
from Etext.Archives.Umich.Edu, found in the pub/poli/rad directory.
R.A.D! ON-LINE is also posted monthly in the following Usenet newsgroups:
Alt.Music.Alternative, Alt.Music.Hardcore and Alt.Zines. Current issues of
R.A.D! ON-LINE can also be found in the zines section of the gopher at
Gophe.Well.Sf.Ca.Us
CONTENTS ISSUE #1.8
File No. 1 > 1993: The Year Of The Woman (Opinion)
File No. 2 > Piracy On The High Seas (Commentary)
File No. 3 > Scatterlings (Rock & Roll News)
File No. 4 > Upcoming CD Releases (Info)
File No. 5 > 1993: Mainstream Rock Strikes Back! (Opinion)
File No. 6 > Independent's Day (Opinion)
File No. 7 > Nu Music: The Major Label Styled Alternative (Opinion)
File No. 8 > Best Of The Rest: Rap, Metal & Tribute Discs (Opinion)
File No. 9 > Nashville Rocks! (Opinion)
File No. 1 ===============================================================
1993: THE YEAR OF THE WOMAN
Yes, another year has passed us by, and with it, another slice of musical
history. Only time will really tell the tale and answer the questions on
our minds: will Mariah Carey and Michael Bolton be remembered as the
enduring Pop stars they imagine themselves to be, or will they go down in
history as the one-dimensional, talentless hacks that we believe them to
be? Will dreadful dinosaurs like Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart plod on to
their well-deserved extinction in the coming year? Will George Clinton ever
get the respect he deserves? Enquiring minds want to know....
If 1993 will be remembered for anything, it should be indelibly
marked as the "Year Of The Woman." The better-looking, distaff side of Rock
& Roll stood up and attempted to take their rightful place as important
artists and performers during the past year. Artists like Julianna Hatfield,
Liz Phair, P.J. Harvey, Michelle Malone and Patti Scialfa all made powerful,
highly-personal recordings; although differing in style, all left an
unshakable impression on this thing that we call Rock & Roll. Bands with
female members in strong roles, such as Smashing Pumpkins, Insane Jane, The
Oblivious and The Cranberries, as well as all-female outfits like L7 or
Babes In Toyland furthered the trend, breaking down barriers and opening
doors.
It was also 1993 that saw the rebirth of the indie label, the
remaining stalwarts of true alternative Rock. Sure, many indies had been
lurking in the shadows of the big guys for years, quietly and subversively
releasing some of the best Rock & Roll ever, working on a shoestring budget
with nothing but critical acclaim and a hardcore following of loyalists and
staunch subterranean types to see them through. Labels such as SST, Cruz,
Touch & Go, C/Z and Sub Pop and others struggled through another year with
bright prospects for the future.
In a reversal of trends, the indies beat the big guys at their own
game. Fueled by mass publicity in mainstream mags like Details, Spin, Creem
and Raygun, and supported by a legion of zinesters, labels like Matador,
Mammoth and Caroline spun their notoriety into C-notes by signing off
rather than selling out -- working out distribution deals with the majors
that allowed them autonomy and financial independence on a grand scale.
The result has been a better selection of music than ever before,
with creativity run amok as the devil-may-care A&R staffs of the indies
brought major league distribution -- and sales -- to artists who heretofore
were relegated to the commercial slums of mail order sales and hawking
discs at 200+ shows a year.
It's always difficult to pick a handful of discs from among the
year's releases and say that 'these are the best;' it's a crap-shoot at
best, and always going to be unfair to someone worthy of inclusion. This
year, rather than just presenting a single, all-encompassing list of the
"best releases of 1993," we have decided to break them up into more useful
categories: Mainstream Rockers, Nu Music (Major Label Style), Independent's
Day, Best Of The Rest and an unabashed look at our own thriving local music
scene with Nashville Rocks. Of course, we'd love to hear your opinions
(those printed here are merely ours), so drop us a line at P.O. Box 158324,
Nashville, TN 37215 or contact us via Internet Email to:
[email protected].
File No. 2 ===============================================================
PIRACY ON THE HIGH SEAS: N.A.F.T.A. & THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
Every so often, the music industry -- as represented by the multinational
major labels and their lobbyist lapdogs at the R.I.A.A. -- come up with the
absurd idea that if only something didn't exist (take your pick...one
season it's home taping, the next, used CDs), the industry's already
monstrous sales would magically double. With the passage of the North
American Free Trade Agreement eliminating trade barriers between the U.S.,
Mexico and Canada, they've once again brought up the shibboleth of record
piracy.
According to the R.I.A.A., an estimated 65-80% of all recordings
sold in Mexico are illegally pirated copies for which the labels receive
nothing. The industry is hoping that licensing protections strengthened by
the N.A.F.T.A. will lead to a crackdown on pirates, which they claim rob
them of some $250 million in sales. Currently, labels enjoy sales in excess
of $500 million annually in Mexico. Authorized cassette tapes sell for an
average $7, pirated copies for a dollar or so.
The industry hopes to put the screws to Mexican federales fearful
of trade sanctions so that they'll enforce the country's anti-piracy laws,
the result of which would be a "doubling" of sales and increased major
label investment to "develop new artists." Bullocks! It has long been our
contention that you can't lose that which you never had....especially
sales. Either someone will buy your product, or they won't....
We agree that record piracy robs the artist of their economic and
property rights, but we find it difficult to shed a tear for the labels,
who often achieve enormous profits at the expense of their talent. When
will the major labels wake up and realize that what they're selling -- CDs
and cassettes -- are a luxury that many people can and do live without?
While a Mexican worker making $10 a day working twelve hours might spend a
dollar on a tape, they probably wouldn't shell out $7. If the major labels
really want to double their sales, both in the U.S. and elsewhere, they
should cut the cost of their product and take a smaller profit margin.
They'll increase sales and reduce piracy to a mere fraction of its current
level. The labels would prosper and artists and fans alike would benefit.
File No. 3 ===============================================================
SCATTERLINGS
Compiled by the R.A.D! Staff & Friends...
1994 WILL finally see BOB MARLEY honored for his musical contributions with
his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It will also see former
Marley bandmate BUNNY WAILER's first collection of Reggae roots music in
seven years. Titled _Crucial: Rare Roots Classics_, the Shanachie Records
release will feature a collection of singles and album tracks that span
fifteen years and have never been released in the United States. The Grammy
Award winning Wailer was an original member of the legendary Wailers along
with Marley and PETER TOSH. The album is expected in February....
STUDIO INFO: word on the street is that former Georgia Satellite DAN BAIRD
is in the studio working on material for his solo follow-up to last years
wonderful _Love Songs For The Hearing Impaired_ album. Producer BRENDAN
O'BRIEN will again be at the helm. Baird has also been working on demos for
former Duster axeman KEN McMAHAN in what promises to be a rocking project....
IT'S NOW OFFICIAL: the onetime most successful "alternative" band in the
land, REM, is now the most successful "alternative" band in the world! The
band's recent _Automatic For The People_ album has been certified triple
platinum for U.S. sales in excess of 3 million copies; it has also been
certified for international sales of some 5 million units, for a grand
total of 8 million discs sold. Propelled by singles such as "Drive," "Man
On The Moon," and the album's recent release, "Everybody Hurts," REM have
become major stars throughout Europe as well.
ADD SHANACHIE: the New Jersey indie, once known primarily for its releases
of ethnic and world music recordings, has been doing some exciting things
as of late. As a follow-up to the label's successful tribute albums to
CURTIS MAYFIELD and DON COVAY, Shanachie Records will be releasing a star-
studded tribute to the great songwriter OTIS BLACKWELL this spring.
Blackwell is another underrated soul giant, a prolific songwriter who has
written more than 1,000 tunes that have sold nearly 200 million records.
The album, _Brace Yourself!_, counts such artists as FRANK BLACK, GRAHAM
PARKER, WILLIE DEVILLE, DEBORAH HARRY, the SMITHEREENS and RONNIE SPECTOR
among its 15 contributors, all of whom will be performing Blackwell's
songs. If it is anything like its predecessors, it'll be a hot one....
COMING THIS MONTH will be the solo debut album from Throwing Muses' KRISTIN
HERSH on Sire Records. Titled _Hips And Makers_, the LENNY KAYE produced
disc is said to be a major artistic departure from the Muses' work. A video
for the first single release from the album, a duet with REM's MICHAEL
STIPE titled "Your Ghost," was recently filmed in Athens, Georgia.
ELVIS COSTELLO will be reuniting with his original band, THE ATTRACTIONS,
for his upcoming _Brutal Youth_ album. Featuring 15 new Costello originals,
and produced by Costello and MITCHELL FROOM, it will be the first album
that Costello has recorded with keyboardist STEVE NIEVE, bassist BRUCE
THOMAS and drummer PETE THOMAS since 1986's _Blood And Chocolate_ disc.
Also contributing to the project is NICK LOWE, who has produced numerous
Costello projects.
LAURIE ANDERSON has returned to the studio after a lengthy absence,
finishing up her first album in over four years. No word on the title yet,
but the disc is being co-produced by genius BRIAN ENO and will be followed
by a North American tour by Anderson.
BRAZIL'S best known export, SEPULTURA, saw their long-awaited fifth album,
_Chaos A.D._ (reviewed here last month) debut at number 32 on the Billboard
Hot Hundred chart a mere week after its release. The band will begin a U.S.
tour in January....
FROM ROADRUNNER: tour dates and band info. Fresh from a European stint with
SISTERS OF MERCY and the RAMONES, new goth kings TYPE O NEGATIVE will begin
a lengthy U.S. tour in January. The band recently collaborated on a video
for their song "Christian Woman" with renown director John Reiss (NINE INCH
NAILS, DANZIG)...in the studio recording their sophomore effort are THE
MOON SEVEN TIMES, due out in March...DIE MONSTER DIE recently released
their debut 7" single, "Slumber" b/w "Pennies" as a preview to the February
release of their debut album Withdrawal Method....
ATLANTIC recording artist KING MISSILE are back in the studio working on
their third album for the label. Produced by DANIEL REY, known for his work
with THE RAMONES and his own former band, MASTERS OF REALITY, the disc is
scheduled for a March release. The band's 1993 release, _Happy Hour_, their
sixth album, provided a breakthrough of sorts for their irreverent and
often scatological songs, debuting in the numero uno slot on CMJ's Album
Chart.
File No. 4 ===============================================================
UPCOMING CD RELEASES: JANUARY 1994
The Ramones / _ACID EATERS_ (MCA Records)
Crowded House / _TOGETHER ALONE_ (Capitol)
Prong / _CLEANSING_ (Epic)
Course Of Empire / _INITIATION_ (Zoo Records)
St. Johnny / _SPEED IS DREAMING_ (Geffen)
James Blood Ulmer / _BLOOD PREACHER_ (Columbia)
Schooly D / _WELCOME TO AMERICA_ (Columbia)
Tori Amos / _UNDER THE PINK_ (Atlantic)
King's X / _DOGMAN_ (Atlantic)
Shonen Knife / _ROCK ANIMAL_ (Virgin)
File No. 5 ===============================================================
1993: MAINSTREAM ROCKERS STRIKE BACK!
In the rush to be the hippest, coolest, most "with-it" cat on the block,
the average young music fan often times ignores all but the most trendy
major label product in favor of indie fare. After all, you wouldn't want to
listen to something that your parents might like, would you? Unfortunately,
in their haste to grab a copy of the hottest new disc in Sam Goody's or
Musicland, they'll pass over some excellent musical fare.
Here at R.A.D!, we try to discuss, as the godlike Webb Wilder terms
it, both kinds of music -- Rock and Roll. Sometimes we get lambasted for it
(you should see some of our letters and Email..."why did you review that
piece of garbage?" or "you bunch of alternative poseurs, if you didn't
have your head in your ass you'd know that _____ (fill in the blank) are
the most righteous band in the land!"), but we feel that it's our job to
bring our readers a true overview of everything that's occurring in Rock &
Roll, not just a small part of it.
As such, we often review major label releases by artists who are
anything but "alternative," talents working in more mainstream genres like
mainstream Rock, Blues or Reggae. All are valid musical genres, all tie in
with and influence each other and, besides, we like a lot of this stuff.
Therefore, here's a quick rundown of the best of 1993's mainstream Rock
stuff:
American Music Club
_Mercury_ (Warner Brothers)
A.M.C.'s dark and somber vision of life in America is the A.I.D.S.
Quilt of Rock & Roll -- it's beautiful in a depressing and disturbing kind
of way, and one doesn't really want to dwell on it too long. Some would
call this reality, others, art...and both would be right.
Blues Traveler
_Save His Soul_ (A & M Records)
Traveler John Popper cheated the Grim Reaper to front this New York
foursome on the most cohesive and complex disc of their short recording
career. Musical chemistry abounds on _Save His Soul_, Traveler's third
release, showcasing their unique fusion of electric Blues and good, old-
fashioned Rock & Roll.
Col. Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit
_Mirrors Of Embarrassment_ (Capricorn)
The most interesting and fascinating Rocker in the Southeast, the
Colonel fronts a wonderfully talented entourage of musicians in the
creation of a Jazz/Rock/Blues fusion that goes beyond experimentation.
_Mirrors Of Embarrassment_, the band's sophomore effort, defies categor-
ization in delivering just plain old good music, as diverse and as
enjoyable as you'll find.
John Hiatt
_Perfectly Good Guitar_ (A & M Records)
Ol' man Hiatt showed us all a few new tricks with this one by
hitting the studio with a batch of hot young players and kicking out a
batch of tunes as energetic and aggressive as any band on the circuit
today. The trademark, critically-acclaimed songwriting style is still
there, matched by a renewed vigor and purpose.
Lenny Kravitz
_Are You Gonna Go My Way?_ (Virgin)
Often accused of being nothing more than a sixties-styled musical
revisionist, Kravitz has endured his critics and all of the media curiosity
over his failed marriage to concentrate on growth as an artist. As the
powerful artistic statement _Are You Gonna Go My Way?_ shows, Kravitz has
matured nicely, thank you, and will outlive his detractors.
Ziggy Marley & The Melodymakers
_Joy & Blues_ (Virgin)
The son of the legendary Bob Marley finally hits his own stride
with a wonderful collection of Roots, Reggae and Rock that builds upon his
father's enormous legacy without detracting from it. It's often impossible
for the son of a great artist to match his predecessor's accomplishments,
Ziggy Marley may one day actually surpass them.
Meatloaf
_Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell_ (MCA)
Rock & Roll's big man triumphantly returns in this collaboration
with former partner Jim Steinman to deliver a loud, obnoxious and bombastic
musical return to the seventies that is already the dark horse sleeper of
1993. It rocks and it's Fun...need it be anything else?
Ian Moore
_Ian Moore_ (Capricorn)
The latest guitar sensation from Austin, Texas delivered an
impressive debut disc this year that is long on skill and short on
bullshit. Moore's soulful vocals propelled this collection of bluesey,
heartfelt tunes, and when Moore shut up and played his guitar, the listener
remembered just how dangerous a weapon the six-string can be.
Van Morrison
_Too Long In Exile_ (Polygram)
The master returns to show us how its done with _Too Long In Exile_.
Like a fine wine, Morrison only gets better with age, claiming the well-
deserved title as Rock's Poet Laureate with this collection of soulful
songs. There's a reason why Morrison is one of a precious handful of
artists who garner respect and adoration from young punks and old geezers
alike -- it's called talent.
Patti Scialfa
_Rumble Doll_ (Columbia)
Mrs. Bruce Springsteen stepped out of her famous husband's shadows
and released an engaging debut disc full of passion and soul and magic.
These self-penned songs, delivered with the help of pros like Mike
Campbell, Nils Lofgren and the Boss as well, showcase a talent still
emerging.
File No. 6 ===============================================================
INDEPENDENT'S DAY
As stated in the introduction to this issue, 1993 was the year that saw the
indie world explode with talent. Independent music began its (hopefully
lengthy) day in the sun with a slew of diverse releases, so many that it's
difficult to narrow down a handful for acclaim. The following are those
discs that we've found ourselves playing over and over again throughout the
past year. If you want something fresh and original, you can�t go wrong
with any of these:
Buzzcocks
_Trade Test Transmissions_ (Caroline)
With renewed interest in those heady Punk days of yesteryear, it's
time that American audiences discovered that which critics have been
claiming for years: the Buzzcocks were among the best of the crop of that
era, delivering power pop with a punk edge that has stood the test of time.
As the 1993 release of the band's "comeback" vehicle illustrated, Buzzcocks
are still among the best....
Generation
_Brutal Reality_ (Wonderland)
This disc's name best sums it up: a fierce and uncompromising disc
that crosses industrial menace with thrash roots in the creation of some-
thing eerie and unnamed. The sin-vs-salvation dichotomy presented in the
lyrics is made especially ironic by the force of the unrelenting music and
noise found here.
Insane Jane
_Each Finger_ (Sky Records)
Seventies punk runs head on into eighties hedonism as Insane Jane
leader singer Yellow's throaty, sexy vocals passionately cry out in a
lyrical struggle between sin and salvation. Intense, thought-provoking and
unpredictable, this mutha, as they say, ROCKS!
Michelle Malone
_For You, Not Them_ (Sister Ruby Records)
Bouncing back from a disastrous major label relationship, the
sensuous, soulful Malone recorded this thoroughly rocking disc which
features her bluesy vocals and solid songwriting with her fans in mind. The
Atlanta diva may not be this generation's Janis Joplin, but she deserves to
be.
Elliott Murphy
_Unreal City_ (Razor & Tie Music)
The Rock bard's impressive return after nearly a decade hiatus that
saw him travel the world. _Unreal City_ is a diary of this sojourn, a lyrical
masterwork from one of the genre's greatest, and least appreciated song-
writers. Gritty, imaginative and insightful, _Unreal City_ should be the
primer for struggling wordsmiths.
Negativland
_Free_ (Seeland Records)
Undeterred by their legal hassles and resulting "love" triangle
with SST and the U2/Island Records gang, Negativland bounce back with their
wittiest, most direct and deeply cutting record yet. Satire with an edge so
sharp your grandpa could shave with it, _Free_ stands as a classic
commentary on American culture.
The New Bomb Turks
_!!Destroy-Oh-Boy!!_ (Crypt Records)
This Columbus, Ohio foursome came screaming out of nowhere with an
engaging and energetic album that it as wonderfully silly as the Ramones
and as powerful as the Sex Pistols. This is the true sound of teen spirit,
and from the very first opening chords of "Toulouse Latrec," you're hooked.
The Oblivious
_America_ (Daemon Records)
This is the year of the comeback, with The Oblivious being the
vehicle for Holly Vincent's triumphant return to Rock and Roll. Monstrous,
guitar-driven power pop with smart lyrics and Vincent's beautiful vocals
illustrate that while a decade ago, Vincent may have been years before her
time, in 1993, the "year of the woman," she's still the leader of the pack.
Liz Phair
_Exile In Guyville_ (Matador)
The debut of the year comes from Chi-town's Phair in this musical
and lyrical response to the Stone�s classic _Exile On Main Street_. Phair's
vision is pure, naive and on target as she offers a feminine view of the
travesties and travails of teenage suburbia. The most personal and
unrelenting release of the year.
Souls At Zero
_Souls At Zero_ (Energy Records)
The former Wrathchild America gang return with a new name and a
chip on their shoulder, kicking out a rough-hewn musical style that
combines the attitude and anger of punk with the power and fury of hardcore
thrash. A very personal and powerful musical statement from a band on the
rise.
File No. 7 ===============================================================
NU MUSIC: THE MAJOR LABEL STYLED "ALTERNATIVE"
As the debate rages on about what is and what isn�t "alternative," and as
the major labels did their damn best to mold and market and slap the afore-
mentioned tag on every project that they couldn't pigeonhole elsewhere, one
glaring fact went unnoticed: there was a bunch of good music released by
the majors this year. Label it as you wish; whether it's called "alter-
native," "college radio" or even, as we do here, "nu music," there are a
number of deserving artists signed to the majors who are creating important
works outside of the mainstream, and their efforts merit attention. We've
already covered the best indie releases, so forthwith, we present the best
of '93, major label style:
Butthole Surfers
_Independent Worm Saloon_ (Capitol)
These psychotic Texans proved that signing to a major label doesn't
mean instant eunuch status as they crank out a loud, fast and obnoxious
collection of tunes every bit as nasty, demented, deranged and rocking as
anything they've ever done. If Gibby ain't god, then there's no Rock & Roll
heaven.
P.J. Harvey
_Rid Of Me_ (Island)
Miss Polly Jean Harvey became the darling of the alternative set
this year, and for good reason. _Rid Of Me_ is one of the most brutally
honest records of the year, the overwhelmingly powerful sincerity, desire
and frustration leaping out of the grooves like a drunken, sabre-rattling
golem intent on aural vivisection. Harvey's effort was part of a greater
awakening of feminine expression in Rock music, and long overdue.
Midnight Oil
_Earth And Sun And Moon_ (Columbia)
The hard rocking band from down under may have toned their trade-
mark sound down a notch, but their ever-timely message of brotherhood,
justice and environmental conservation is louder and more focused than
ever. The Oils have become a natural phenomena: their lyrics sharper, their
music stronger...if you want real "rage against the machine," here it is...
Ozric Tentacles
_Jurassic Shift_ and _Strangeitude_ (I.R.S. Records)
England's enigmatic masters of oddity made their first impressions
upon the American record buying public with this excellent pair of
instrumental discs. Enchanting, mesmerizing and adventurous, the Ozrics
deliver electric music for the mind and body.
Paw
_Dragline_ (A & M Records)
From the American heartland came one of the most underrated records
of the year, Paw's _Dragline_. Strong songwriting, and an even stronger,
diverse sound helped make this one a real sleeper. After a couple more
years and a couple albums, this one will be a collector's item...and well
worth it.
Pearl Jam
_VS._ (Epic)
Can a band that regularly sells millions of albums be considered
"new," or even "alternative?" If they're Pearl Jam, they can. The real
kings of the Seattle scene, led by Rock everyman Eddie Vetter, land a spot
here not because of their success, but because they succeeded on their own
terms, with an outmoded and stale style of seventies-inspired music that
they breathed new life into. _VS._ is a classic Rock album, and we predict
that Pearl Jam will be an enduring, successful and influential as Led
Zeppelin was in their day.
Iggy Pop
_American Caesar_ (Virgin)
The true Godfather of Punk returned in 1993 with a musical punch-
out of all of his critical detractors. Twenty-five years down the road and
a leaner, meaner, more muscular Iggy proved with that he can still out-Rock
the young 'uns...
Porno For Pyros
_Porno For Pyros_ (Reprise)
Ex-Jane's Addiction frontman and original underground Rock god
Perry Farrell reappeared in 1993 with a strong new lineup in Porno For
Pyros and a monster debut disc that successfully tossed together metallic
Rock and alternative experimentation. It didn't do as well, sales-wise, as
expected, but then Jane's Addiction grew into its legacy, also.
311
_Music_ (Capricorn)
Nebraska's 311 burst out of the Midwest and into the Rock and Roll
consciousness this year with a dynamic debut album that fused elements of
the 3 R's - Rock, Reggae and Rap - in the creation of a sound that is as
fresh and original as any other band is doing. Constant touring throughout
the year have won the band a loyal following; expect their sophomore
effort to further shatter musical barriers.
Paul Westerberg
_14 Songs_ (Sire)
Everyone wondered if he could do it, and _14 Songs_ proved that he
still could, as ex-Replacements' frontman Paul Westerberg shook off the
chains of his legend to deliver a collection of finely-crafted tunes that
live up to every promise that Rock & Roll ever made. Expectations met, the
talented Westerberg is free to pursue a hopefully lengthy solo career.
HONORABLE MENTION:
The Breeders / _Last Splash_ (4AD/Elektra)
Cracker / _Kerosene Hat_ (Virgin)
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones / _Don't Know How To Party_ (Mercury)
Smashing Pumpkins / _siamese dream_
Urge Overkill / _Saturation_ (Geffen)
File No. 8 ===============================================================
BEST OF THE REST: RAP, METAL & TRIBUTE DISCS
There are artists of merit working in mediums that don't really fit into
our other categories. Rather than ignore their considerable efforts, we'll
just lump them together under one title: The Best of the Rest!
BEST RAP RECORDS
Cypress Hill
_Black Monday_ (Ruffhouse/Columbia)
The Cypress Hill gang beat the sophomore jinx with a solid disc
that furthered the cause of hemp legalization, fueled the fires of musical
diversity in Rap and sold umpteen millions copies on it way to becoming one
of the, if not the, most successful Rap album of all time.
Dr. Dre
_The Chronic_ (Interscope)
A surprise hit in a year that saw a resurgence of Rap and an
increase in its popularity, _The Chronic_ rode the twin waves of reefer
madness and gangsta appeal to an enormous amount of success. Although it's
yet to be seen whether Dre will endure the test of time, this is a solid
effort nonetheless.
Ice Cube
_The Predator_ (Priority)
Nobody can ever accuse Ice Cube of selling out or going soft, as
_The Predator_, the first of Cube's 1993 albums will attest to (because of
its late release date, his latest, _Lethal Injection_, will fall into next
year's consideration). Beneath all of the hype and controversy surrounding
Ice Cube, there lies a master wordsmith and technician, arguably the best
in Rap.
Ice T
_Home Invasion_ (Priority)
Although not among his best, neither did Ice T's _Home Invasion_
deserve to be lost as it did among the media-generated ignorance and
controversy that clouded the entire "Cop Killer" debate. Reveling in his
role as an elder spokesman of Rap, Ice T still delivers brutal rhymes and
even more disturbing truths.
------------------------------------------------------
BEST METAL RECORDS
Fudge Tunnel
_Creep Diets_ (Earache/Columbia)
A massive aural assault that falls somewhere inbetwixt grindcore
and thrash, _Creep Diets_ delivers that real sound of metallic ringing in
the ears. Painful vocals, blasting guitars and sludge-like rhythms propel a
music best played loud.
Sepultura
_Chaos A.D._ (Roadrunner/Epic)
Their fifth and best album yet, _Chaos A.D._ showcases a band yet
to hit its full stride. These Brazilian bad boys have more talent than any
half a dozen foppish hair bands put together, using thrash as a weapon for
their lyrical political commentary while they capture the world's
attention. Big, and only getting bigger....
Tourniquet
_Pathogenic Ocular Dissonance_ (Metal Blade)
Scarier than a forensic textbook, covering lyrical ground that even
angels fear to tread, Tourniquet offer up the aural equivalent of electro-
shock therapy. Not for the faint of heart...
Voivod
_The Outer Limits_ (MCA)
Canada's Voivod manage to successfully blend seventies-styled
progressive Rock, hardcore thrash and metallic urges into a mutant hybrid
upon which to embroider their unique lyrical vision. Influences like
B-movie Sci Fi, cyberpunk attitude, pulp fiction and UFOs, combined with a
strange storytelling skill, make every Voivod album an interesting one.
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BEST TRIBUTE ALBUMS
_People Get Ready: A Tribute To Curtis Mayfield_ (Shanachie Records)
One of popular music's most underrated talents, Mayfield suffered
debilitating injuries in an auto accident that threatened his career.
Artists the caliber of Steve Cropper, Vernon Reid, Don Covay, Kim Wilson,
Huey Lewis, Dave Sanborn, Delbert McClinton and others gathered together to
honor the man and the artist, reviving his songs and having a great time in
the process.
_Stone Free: A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix_ (Reprise / Warner Bros.)
Showcasing the songwriting skills of Jimi Hendrix seemed, at first,
to be a futile effort...without that fantastic guitar to back them up,
what's the point? As proved by the stellar collection of talent presented
on _Stone Free_, though, the point was that Hendrix wrote some great songs.
Whereas contributors like the Pretenders ("Bold As Love"), Belly ("Are You
Experienced?"), The Cure ("Purple Haze") and Body Count ("Hey Joe") sound
divinely inspired, others, such as P.M. Dawn, Spin Doctors and Pat Metheny
sound merely honored to be here. Even Jurassic rocker Eric Clapton finds a
little fire in his gut for his version of "Stone Free." A marvelously
executed and long overdue tribute to one of Rock's greats.
_Sweet Relief: A Benefit For Victoria Williams_ (Thirsty Ear / Columbia)
When talented singer/songwriter Victoria Williams saw a promising
career threatened by the onset of multiple sclerosis, a bunch of friends
got together to help out. Performing Williams' tunes, artists like Soul
Asylum, Lucinda Williams, Lou Reed, Maria McKee, The Jayhawks, The
Waterboys and others deliver like they mean it. The album raised money for
Williams' mounting medical bills and the formation of the Sweet Relief fund
so that no artist should have to be silenced by disease or disaster.
File No. 9 ==============================================================
NASHVILLE ROCKS!
As those who live here are all too painfully aware, Nashville's standing
as the cowtown Country music mecca tends to overshadow all else that occurs
here, whether it be other styles of music, such as Rock, Jazz or Blues, or
other art forms like performance art, painting and theatre. Sure, there's
some Country music of merit created on the Row, but there's also a lot of
schlock passed off in Nashville's image. As for our local, non-Country
music scene, it's both never been better, and it's never been worse. For
every triumph (I hear that Celebrity Toast & Jam's upcoming disc is a hot
one) there's a setback (why is it that Threk Michaels doesn't have a deal
yet, eh?), and amid all of the fuss and brouhaha, there's been some great
records made. You'll be hearing from many of these folks in the not-so-
distant future.
Special recognition must be given to Nashville's House O' Pain
zine. Through the efforts of Donnie and April Kendall and gang, HO'P
supported a still-growing scene with the zine, weekly all-ages shows at
Lucy's Records and several 7" vinyl releases.
Without further adieu, then, here's a roundup of the best the
"Music City" had to offer this year, a diverse crop which truly illustrates
the immense musical talent that Nashville has to offer (in alphabetical
order):
China Black / _A Little On The Strange Side_
One of the city's most popular and enduring bands got there the
hard way: playing every show as if their lives depended on it, and cranking
out some funky, top-flight jams. This debut disc captures most of what
China Black are capable of live, albeit holding back a little, delivering
Rock and Roll that is as spirited as it is musically proficient (often
times a hard blend to achieve). China Black are a band primed and ready for
the limelight....
Floating Men / _Tall Shadows_
This acoustic-oriented trio offers delicate, lyric-driven music
whose surface sheen belies the muscle, passion and soul beneath the
surface. In a city overflowing with gifted songwriters, the Floating Men's
Jeff Holmes stands tall as a world-class wordsmith, penning tunes full of
delicious imagery and artistic insight. Constant local showcases keep the
band sharp and expose them to the major labels...is anyone listening?
Price Jones / _OOOZNOZ_
After spending a few years out of the spotlight, time spent honing
her skills and writing songs, the talented Ms. Jones has burst back upon
the local scene with a vengeance in support of her wonderful CD debut,
_OOOZNOZ_. Most often compared to artists like Kate Bush or Tori Amos,
Jones possesses an identity uniquely her own, as this collection of
Pop/Rock gems will arrest to. She's also the hardest working performer in
the Music City...one night may see her hitting the small stage at Guido's,
the next night, opening at the Ace Of Clubs for a larger act. Within a
year, two at the most, expect Jones to be a household name....
9R3RO23 / _Pirouette Multiple Six_
There are but a mere handful of artists in the local milieu who
dare experiment in the realm of industrial music, fewer still who are
capable of using the genre to make a purposeful artistic statement. Along
with the enigmatic Terminal Mycosis, who hasn't been heard from in quite a
while, Nashville's 9R3RO23 are one of those artists who stand alone in
their ability to utilize the sheer painful scream of white noise and
tortured souls in creating a musical nightmare.
Max Vague / _S.O.S. The Party's Over_
It should come as no surprise that Nashville's most radical record
should also be its most soothing and mesmerizing. Nor should it be a
surprise that it comes from the multi-talented Max Vague, who beats the so-
called "sophomore jinx" with one hell of an impressive album. With music
inspired by Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno, Vague creates a web of
sound and emotion, while on a subconscious level the deftly-written lyrics
work a magic of their own. It was our December CD du jour, and as we said
then, the guy's too good for the major labels. Discover him now before
everyone else does!
(Reprinted from the December issue of Nashville's BONE Music Magazine)
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LEGALESE, ETC...
R.A.D! and R.A.D! On-Line Copyright 1994 by Keith A. Gordon and CONSPIRACY
M.E.D.I.A, a non-profit anarchist collective working towards the gradual
improvement of popular culture through thought, words and deed, believing
in the virus of ideas and the concept of creative and individual freedom.
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Keith A. Gordon / PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Tracey L. Dooling / ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Jeremy Dickens, Jesse Garon & Dru Myers / CONTRIBUTORS
Letters of Commentary, Submission of editorial material such as interviews,
reviews, etc may be sent to R.A.D! at P.O. Box 158324, Nashville, TN 37215
Items for review, such as CDs, artist bios and photos, Zines, Video or
whatever should be sent to 826 Old Charlotte Pike East, Franklin, TN 37064
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THANX to everyone who helped us during the past year: the label reps who
work for the glory of it, the underpaid PR folks, hard-working record store
owners, struggling bands and other zine publishers...you've all been
valuable supporters of R.A.D!
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THE NEXT LIVER-QUIVERING ISSUE OF R.A.D! ON-LINE will be on the net and on
the street on February 11th, 1994...watch for it!
>** End Ov File, End Ov Transmission **<
