The Audio Nut
June 6th, 2005

Melvins
Ozma/Gluey Porch Treatments
1989 Boner Records 

Grade: A

http://www.melvins.com
http://www.themelvins.net

I was in eighth grade when a friend of mine was talking about this amazing band on the school bus when we where taking our lengthy and sometimes adventurous ride home from school. I was curious so I asked if I could borrow the tape that he was referring to. I was surprised when I got a “no” for an answer. I was appalled, we had been sharing and swapping tapes and records since fifth grade; but this wasn’t just ‘any’ tape; no it was Gluey Porch Treatments and it was going to be something that would change the way I looked at music for the rest of my life.

The next day when I got on the bus I still sat next to my friend as I usually did and he handed me a copy of the tape, which he made for me the night before. Needless to say that after school that day I charged into my room and quickly put the tape into my stereo. Noise, that’s it I thought, I have been handed a recording of strange feedback, an out of time bass part and some drummer that isn’t sure if he wants to play the drums or just hit them on occasion. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. One of the most amazing things I had ever heard in my thirteen years of existence. (“Eye Flies”) This was in fact probably the most marvelous thing I had ever heard; sure the toyed around with my ears for a couple minutes, but when that guitar riff kicked in and those sonic thumps turned into gut wrenching drum parts I was left a gasp.

I continued on through the tape and was even more astonished at how this group was working their magic. With off time riffs and songs that didn’t fit into ‘regular’ music writing form, I sat there the whole night and listened to the tape over and over again. “Exact Paperbacks,” “Happy Gray or Black,” “Big As A Mountain,” “Leech,” “Heaviness of the Load,” “Glow God” you name it and this whole album is incredible.

Now the Ozma part of the CD, (which is actually the release and Gluey Porch Treatments is an added bonus at the end to get both releases on a disc), is actually a little different, but is still as impressive. It has better sound quality, meaning it’s not as raw and dirty sounding as the previous release. Staring with the song “Vile” it stumbles purposely into the second track “Oven” which is a perfect example of why bands need to know what they are doing when the write and record songs. Melvins have a knack for playing songs that don’t sound right to listeners who are used to the standard verse/chorus/verse 4-4 time signature that is embraced by popular and ‘standard’ music alike.  Ozma includes “Candi-O” a cover of a Cars song, and it also includes “Creepy Smell,” “Kool Legged,” “Ever Since My Accident” and many more stellar tracks. In this entire disc has 33, yes, 33 songs on it. Now that is worth the money my friend. Do yourself a favor and treat your ears and brain to some Melvins today.

Melvins
Houdini
1993 Atlantic Records

Grade: A

Houdini was the first major label release for sludge/dirge rock legends Melvins and it was even produced by some guy who you might have heard of Kurt Cobain; who earlier in life was taught to play guitar by Melvins guitarist-singer King Buzzo. This recording is an amazing display of maturation and growth by the group who seemed to have fashioned these songs to be an appropriate ‘debut’ release for Atlantic Records. “Honey Bucket,” “Night Goat,” “Hooch,” “Joan of Arc,” “Hag Me” and “Sky Pup” are all epic masterpieces in the legend of this astonishing band. You can even hear Cobain doing back-up vocals on the song “Set Me Straight.” Every song and I do mean every song on Houdini is an awesome piece of musical history in my book. (Even their version of “Going Blind” by KISS) Melvins have been putting out records for decades and if you are a fan of heavy rock and innovative music I truly expect you to have a few of their CDs already, if not be ashamed of yourself. I would recommend some of their stuff to get, but the list would be so long it might make your head smoke. So, please do yourself a favor and get anything by this phenomenal band.

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This time we take a step back and salute the mighty CCR

Credence Clearwater Revival
Cosmo’s Factory
1970 Fantasy Records, Re-mastered release 2000

http://www.creedence-revisited.com

Grade: A

I remember hearing this record when I was younger; my mom in fact still has it on vinyl. CCR as they are known was a major band in the 70’s, turning out hit after hit and this recording is an excellent example of that fact. Over half of the songs on this record made it to CCR’s biggest selling greatest hits release Chronicle. If you aren’t familiar with the band there is a really good chance that you have heard many of the songs either by them or by other groups and artists that have remade their songs. “Up Around the Bend,” “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” “Travelin Band,” “Before You Accuse Me” and  “Who’ll Stop the Rain” are all classics and usually are must for bar bands around the world. If you are into the ever-growing alternative country music scene, classic rock type of music or just like good rock-n-roll bands I strongly urge you to get Cosmo’s Factory now.

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To be considered for The Underground Spotlight send me an e-mail with contact information to jsohn@nutzworld.net or theaudionut@nutzworld.net

AnaDies
Formamentum
2004 Unsigned

Grade: A

http://www.anadies.com
http://www.myspace.com/anadies

AnaDies has an exhilarating blend of musical aptitude on this disc. There are elements of jazz, rock and classical music embedded with diverse arrays of heavy metal ala thrash, black and death. Eight spell bounding songs grace this CD and are unforgettable, captivating and downright brutal at times. The guitars shred while the bass and drums lay down firm backdrops for the beautiful, harmonious vocals and the keyboard parts fit snuggly into place with out over doing it as AnaDies marches through Formamentum with no sign of letting up. “Hollow,” “Crimson Tears” and “Watch” are all amazing songs and I can’t pick a favorite out of the eight at this point and time.

I’m not going to compare this band to groups like Evanescence, The Gathering or Lacuna Coil, because I like AnaDies much better, but you get an idea of what I’m talking about here. You can purchase the CD from the bands web site.

Adrenaline Theory
3-Song Demo
2005 Unsigned

Grade: A

http://www.adrenalinetheory.com

What we have here is a sample of what Adrenaline Theory is about to do on their full-length album Reborn due out very soon. These guys have an interesting mix of funk meets hardcore tossed into a groovy heavy metal blender to create an intoxicating and stout drink. If the CD is going to be anything like these songs indicate be prepared for an all out assault on your speakers. Fans of Mushroom Head, Hatebreed and Damage Plan should get a rush from Adrenaline Theory. Check out the bands web page for more information.

The Common Men
Self-Titled Demo
2005 Unsigned

Grade: A

http://www.thecommonmen.tk
http://www.myspace.com/thecommonmen

The Common Men is a venture by Kevin Ian Grey in which he has written, produced and preformed all the instruments and music himself. This eight-song demo covers a lot of bases with its extensive range of musical styles. “Dreams of Disco” will in fact have you thinking back to those days of Studio 54 and polyester pants. “Coffee and Pollack,” “Exhibition” and “Dance of Macabre” show influences ranging from The Pixies, Jello Biafra, Franz Ferdinand, The Ventures and even some shades of Pink Floyd. Over all this is a uniquely impressive outing for The Common Men and I am looking forward to more efforts in the future. Check out the web pages above to see about obtaining a copy of this disc, I think it’ll be worth your time.

The Tomatoes
The Life and Death of The Tomatoes
2005 Revolution Blues Music

Grade: A

http://www.thetomatoes.net

Don’t try to pass The Tomatoes off as just another part of the food group. These guys have a good solid dose of rock-n-roll vitamins for you to swallow. You can hear influences from groups like The Ramones, Fu Manchu and Kyuss in songs like “Back to Baghdad,” “Johnny Fly,” and “Chicago.” The first song on the disc “She Wore a Yellow Gas Mask” was co-produced by Dave Pirner the singer of Soul Asylum. I think fans of Zeke, Black Flag, Mondo Generator and the above mentioned groups will dig what The Tomatoes are serving up. The band has been hitting the road regularly since their inception in early 2004 and will be doing so all summer. If you get the chance, check them out for what I believe will be a high-energy live performance. Be sure to visit the web page for more information on tours and the availability of the disc.

F.P. ToZ
Housebreaking Oui Oui Pads
2004 Unsigned

Grade: A

http://www.indiepodcasting.com/artists/fptoz/htm 
http://www.myspace.com/fptoz 
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/fptoz  (to buy)
http://www.sonicbids.com/fptoz 

This is a CD that you’d want to listen to while hitting the open road. Just crank it up and put the pedal to the metal as F.P. ToZ takes you on a rock-n-roll excursion full of fat bluesy guitar licks crashing into rock-solid drumming and thumping bass lines. Now imagine the vocals seeping into your mind like some strange and twisted story. So, you might need to pull over for a bit while your mind comes back from the disillusion that has set in during the song “Apocalypse.” Just then “Sucker” starts to blast your ears and you take of again slinging gravel and dust all over the highway. Yes, this CD is the type that you’d take on a road trip; it’s also the kind that you’d play for just about any occasion excluding baptisms and funerals of course. F. P. ToZ is for fans of Rev. Horton Heat, Super Suckers, Dead Kennedys and any amplified heavy style rock.


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Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. My name is Joshua Beiser and I play bass for The Chariot

Q. How did you decide on the name The Chariot?
A. The name is inspired from the biblical story of Ellijah being taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. The name represents the idea that Christians should live their life in such a way that God would be so pleased with them that He would want to take them up like he did Ellijah.

Q. You guys are about to hit the road again in, what can new fans and fans they may have not seen you in concert yet expect from seeing the live show?
A. We like to have fun at our shows, and we want everyone else to as well. We're pretty energetic and we like to run all over the place. Sometimes skipping is involved.

Q. Who are some of your influences both musically and non-musical?
A. All of us have such a wide range of musical tastes and influences that we all bring in and try to reconcile together. We're inspired by everything that we experience. From music, to movies, to the people that we meet everyday. Our faith also a key influence in all that we do.

Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you be? Why?
A. I have no idea at all. I think it would be pretty cool to be Beethoven for a day. The dog, not the composer.

Q. What are you listening to these days?
A. I've been enjoying the new Starflyer 59 album a great deal... I also have Cursive, Isis, and The Snake, The Cross, The Crown in regular rotation.

Q. Is there anything else that you'd like to mention about the band or say to anyone that is reading this interview?
A. Be on the look out for tour dates coming to your area. We will be doing some dates with Every Time I Die later in the year, and plenty more after that. Hope to see you soon!

http://www.thechariot.com

http://www.purevolume.com/thechariot (features downloads)

http://www.myspace.com/thechariot

http://www.solidstaterecords.com

Debra DeSalvo

Q. What would you like to tell us about the Electric Goddess CD?
A. The "Electric Goddess" on the cover is a representation of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of music and writing, by Meryl Huwich. (Check out her tattoos at http://www.tabootattoos.com/meryl.htm).

     "Demon In The Sack" was inspired by The Simpsons. One of the characters described Marge as "a demon in the sack"...I had to use it! All we want is love, yet we get sidetracked by sexual attraction, which ain't all bad ;-).

    "Get Free" is for my friend Phil Sudo, author of Zen Guitar (http://www.maui.net/~zen_gtr/phil.html).

        "In Motion" is about the vagaries of love and lust. The line "all our efforts to escape from being human/keep the wheel in motion" refers to the wheel of karma.

     "Take It Off" is the theme for the film STRIPPED: Exposing the Business of Baring It All. I tried to write something strippers would love to dance to...even though the song is about the dangers of mistaking the high of stripping for real freedom. I still wanted to capture that exhilaration in the music. You can see the video at http://www.jamwave.com/debradesalvo and on the STRIPPED DVD (Vanguard Cinema). 

Q. Along with writing and recording music I see that you are writing a book. What would you like to share with us about that?
A. I just finished writing The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu. It's a sort of raw and raunchy dictionary of the words in blues songs. I interviewed lots of amazing artists, from 90-year-old Robert Jr. Lockwood to Bonnie Raitt. The book will be out in Jan. 2006 on Billboard Books.

Q. You have had music featured in various film and TV projects. What is it like to turn on the TV and hear your music being played?
A. It's thrilling! I just found out several of my songs will be in a film called Getting Off that will air on Showtime this summer. Check http://www.debradesalvo.com for broadcast dates.

Q. Who are some of your influences both musically and non-musical?
A. Musical: The blues (taught me that one note is more heart-wrenching than many), New York Dolls, Neil Young, Jane's Addiction, early Heart, Ministry, Prince, Jim Carroll...anything that makes you wanna jump up and down with glee, molest your stuffed animals, or rip your guts out and eat them! LOL

Non-musical: My yoga practice keeps me strong, focused, and stretching physically and psychically.

Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you be? Why?
A. Mary Magdalene. I'm curious... 

Q. What are you listening to these days in your car/home stereo?
A. Electric Tears by Buckethead, Tablatronics by Bill Laswell & Co., Ghandarva Cafe by Wynne Paris, Animositisomina by Ministry (every time I hit the treadmill), Sly & Robbie Meet King Tubby. And of course all the great bands on http://www.scrubradio.com!

Q. Any words of wisdom for young or up-and-coming musicians?

A. To thine own self be true.

http://www.debradesalvo.com
http://www.jamwave.com/debradesalvo  (See video for “Take it Off)
http://www.myspace.com/debradesalvo
http://www.guitar.com  (for columns by Debra)
http://www.cdbaby.com/ddesalvo  (to purchase)

Note: Check out the review for Electric Goddess in Issue 13.

LeAnna Mosley

Q. What would you like to tell us about the CD "MY Yellow Brick Road"?
A. “My Yellow Brick Road” is a compilation of songs I had written early on and more recent. This album is my first attempt at producing and boy I’ve learned a lot in the process. For some reason a lot of people are a bit surprised at my guitar work on this album. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a female or what, smile. Every song on the c.d. I hold dear to me for one reason or another. Every single song has a personal depth to it.

Q. If you could only pick one, what would your favorite song on the CD be?
A. Wow that’s a tough one. I don’t like to do singular in anything but if I had to narrow my choices down I would have to say either “Moving Deep” or “Standing Alone”. I have to add though that I love every single song for if I didn’t no one else would hear it.

Q. What can we expect from a LeAnna Mosley concert?
A. When I perform I try to evoke the emotion that fills each song so that hopefully someone else out there is touched.

Q. Who are some of your influences both musically and non-musical?
A. See there’s another question that is hard to answer, giggle. My influences are so various both musically and non-musically. However, I can give you a few I suppose smile. Carl Pack (late grandfather), Bob Seger, Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks, Eagles, Heart, Sheryl Crow, Garth Brooks, Alison Krauss, Trisha Yearwood, Rickie Lee Jones, Beethoven, Thelonious Monk, Hans Zimmer, Secret Garden, Dead Can Dance, etc. … God and Life are my biggest non-musical influences, but then again life is the greatest music of all.

Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you be? Why?
A. Jean d’ Arc (Joan of Arc). She stood tall and proud while fighting for what she believed in. She faced adversity head on and is an inspiration to us all.

Q. Read any good books lately?
A. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. I gotta tackle “The DaVinci Code” next.

Q. What else would you like to tell us about you and/or your music?
A. Music is my life and has always been. The things I’ve experienced up to this point … good and bad alike … have molded me into the person and artist that I am. I create not only for personal expression but with the hope I can inspire someone.
You can listen to the entire album at: http://leannamosley.jukeboxalive.com
Also, join my Yahoo Group to stay updated on my progress (used strictly as a mailing list nothing more) at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/leannamosley

http://www.myspace.com/leannamosley

Note: Check out the review for My Yellow Brick Road in Issue 12

HOTSPUR

Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?

A.  Joe: I sing and play guitars
     Scott: I hit the drums
     Phil: I get all the ladies
    Dave: I play everything else
    Scott: It’s true.

Q. After starting to get a bigger following as the band Day Station, you went with a name change and started the band into a different direction. Why the change and how did you decide on the name HOTSPUR?

 A. Joe:  When we formed Day Station, we didn't take music nearly as seriously as we did now. We did things somewhat haphazardly and didn't pay as much attention to detail as we should have. 

    Scott: Even though we had a good following and were starting to get a lot of exposure, we didn't want that album (“The Beat Says Yes”) to represent us. We kind of wanted to step away from all of that and start fresh, and we knew we'd be able to get back to the point we were at with Day Station quickly, which we have. 
    Phil: The word 'HOTSPUR' represented what we wanted to do as a band, and in a way describes the music we play. The word itself means "a rash and impetuous person", and also refers to a Shakespearean character. Look it up, biatch!

Q. Are any of the three songs that I have on the demo going to be on the new album and what would you like to share with us about the upcoming release?
A. Dave: It's really hard to say at this point. We are really confident with those songs and we plan on putting them on the album, but we are still writing for the album, and who knows what is and what isn't going to make the final cut. We'll probably end up writing 30 songs before we are satisfied and have all the songs we want for the album.

    Scott: There's also been some talk of releasing an EP before the full length, so we'll see.

Q. Are there any plans for a tour or any upcoming live performances?
A.  Phil: Yes, we plan to tour with Paris Hilton when her album comes out. I love her!