Rock Around the World

Catherine Wheel Mercury. NR
Like Cats & Dogs.

This band is one of my Favourite bands on the planet. While I wait for CW to finish
work on their next album, which I already highly anticipate, I and other CW
fans can make do with some precious gems contained on this interim album.

Internet Listening Pleasure: Heal 2, Wish You Were Here, Saccharine, Backwards Guitar, These Four Walls.

The Lemons Mercury. NA
Sturdy

Cranky, roiling vocals, machine gun drumming, pummeling bass, and Steve Jones guitar strum all loaded into this album and shot out in plus or minus 3 minute fusillades. Come Ta Grips is a nice nod to The Ramones. Album due out on the street June 4th.
Internet Listening Pleasure: Shakin' My Head, Come Ta Grips, Wakin' Up, Mudd, Half The Way.

Muzzle Kinetic/Reprise. NA
Betty Pickup

This is a good album. From the sounds on this major label debut, Muzzle is a band that I think you should catch live when they come to your town.
Internet Listening Pleasure: What A Bore, Free Trampoline, Shatterproof, Glug, Come On Down, Bay Windows, Goner.

Ash Reprise. NA
1977

Ash has got the Wall Of Sound/Joe Meek thing going throughout this album and it is no wonder why crowds take to their music as moths to flame.
Internet Listening Pleasure: Goldfinger, Girl From Mars, Gone The Dream, Angel Interceptor.

Bryan Adams A&M. NR
18 Til I Die

See Collective Soul Aug '95 to see how highly I regard Bob Clearmountain's mix mastery. Add Bob's talents to those of Mutt Lange's and Bryan Adams gets a hit record. Incidentally, Bob Clearmountain mixed Bryan's Reckless album and we all know how that Blew Up!
Internet Listening Pleasure: The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You.

Another Society PC! Music Company. NA
One Last Step

Save your confederate money, boys, The South shall rise again! These boys are holding true to form for bands originating South of the Mason Dixon line, putting out a decent debut album and presently touring the Eastern Seaboard with their brand of metallic rock.
Internet Listening Pleasure: Distant, Torn Apart, Track 33.

Lustre A&M Records. NA
Lustre

It's only Rock-n-Roll, but I like it...
Internet Listening Pleasure: Stay (How Long?), Kalifornia, Sheer, Still Seems There.

Manhole Noise Records. NA
All Is Not Well

This band has a lot to say regarding a variety of current subjects. I can only wonder what Manhole would sound like with a Terry Date production.
Internet Listening Pleasure: Hypocrite, Kiss or Kill, Break, Clean, Roughness, Down.

Kiss Mercury. NR
You Wanted The Best, You Got The Best!

The Summer of '96 is sure to be regarded as the Flashback Summer as a lot of acts that filled arenas during Rock's salad days are back and playing all over the place this Summer.

One of the Biggest acts of the 70's was Kiss, and they could not have come back at a better time. Have we as an industry allowed Rock to become so deconstructed that no one happening these days Knows how to BE a Rock Star? Kiss is a Rock Star band. These guys know the drill and are going to show a lot of people all over the World the Spectacle of Entertainent brought to you by Rock Stars. Listen to this album carefully.

When was the last time you were in an arena to see a headlining act and experienced the deafening, unrelenting roar of the crowd you were in like you'll hear on this album? You really haven't, for a while. But now's your chance. Buy this album as sort of a primer and by any means necessary go see the Live shows at an Arena near you when Kiss comes to your part of the World.

A lot of boys are playing today, but they just can't find the sound...Kiss is going to show you how the Big Boys do it, and you're in for a Sound like no other.

The cry of the early 80's was "I want my MTV". The cry today, and I hear it like distant Thunder, is: I WANT MY ROCK STARS BACK!!!
Internet Listening Pleasure: Parasite, Calling Dr. Love, Beth, Rock And Roll All Nite.

Fastball Hollywood Records. NA
Make Your Mama Proud

Sounds like Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Elvis Costello, and Matthew Sweet are all in the same room as far as tunesmithsmanship is concerned.
Internet Listening Pleasure: Make Your Mama Proud, Are You Ready For The Fallout?, Nothing, Knock It Down, Altamont, Emily.

Screaming Trees Epic. NR
Dust

Dust has got to be the most pensively powerful work the Trees have ever produced. Extremely subtle songs containing hauntingly delivered lyrics.

Benmont Tench has got to be one of the most important ivory merchants in Mainstream Rock. Tench's deft touch has been seen in the liner notes of many bands I've listened to lately.

Dig the production and the mix.
Internet Listening Pleasure: All I Know, Look At You, Dying Days, Make My Mind, Sworn And Broken, Traveler, Dime Western.

J. J. Cale Delabel/Virgin. NR
Guitar Man

J. J. Cale's impact on other guitarist/vocalists is profound. Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton catch themselves phrasing like Cale vocally and with a guitar.

Listening to J. J.'s spooky, wide open plains voice is an experience. You can feel the weight of the Oh!klahoma sky in his voice.
Internet Listening Pleasure: Low Down, Guitar Man.

Willy DeVille Discovery. NR
Loup Garou

Willy DeVille's got a unique voice: a gravelly tabasco condimenting the music served up on a five star platter...When in Nawlins, eat at Emeril's...But try the Shrimp Gale at Yugelsich's.

The Chambers Brothers tune is a first rate cover, not quite as psychedelic and brought forward to a 90's flavor. An anthem that Willy's picked up on that alternative acts have missed.

Dig the production and the mix, 11 of which were done by Al Schmitt. John Phillip Shenale has nailed down Willy DeVille's sound.


Internet Listening Pleasure: No Such Pain As Love, Angels Don't Lie, Time Has Come Today.

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