Eclectic Vibes - March 2008
by Andrew Frey
Chicago's Tubring - photo by Jason Madden
Tornadic Tubring Activities. The moon may have been fluxing through an eclipse outside, but I ended up indoors at the Annex in Madison in February. Monster groove rockers, Helliphant, were on stage when I got there. Their combination of passionate anthemic punk energy and a maniac street preacher vocalist served as an ideal opening act for the mighty Tubring.
Madison was the kick-off city for Tubring’s latest tour. The band was brimming with a flurry of explosive musical energy. As they played through their songs, they sped up to a pace that allowed them to squeeze maximum intensity and quantity into their finite set. They took no breaks in between songs. One delightful surprise amidst their classic material was a cover of Queen’s “Flash.” The general stage gymnastics that is inherent to their performances always blow my mind. I am thankful and amazed that no one gets seriously injured! Their unique vision of lounge punk for the disturbed is truly inspiring. I cannot wait to see them again. www.tubring.com
MICRO REVIEWS:
This Month's Rating Scale is from 1- Aghast thru 10 - Elated
After All - This Violent Decline
After All
Album title: This Violent Decline
Record Label: Locomotive Records
Rating: 6
Sturdy, powerful, galloping, and thrash-attacking guitar riffs propel this head banging Belgium juggernaut. The vocals are gruff, but understandable and quite appropriate, for the power metal they purvey.
(3928) Page Views
After All online:
• Website
• Purchase This Violent Decline on Amazon
Bleeder Project - The Systematic Subversion of Fear and Insecurity
Bleeder Project
Album title: The Systematic Subversion of Fear and Insecurity
Record Label: Toystaar Records
Rating: 6
Gabriel Scott is the prolific front man at the helm of this project that focuses on heavy industrial rock and strong early Nine Inch Nails-like angst with pop hooks to it.
(4114) Page Views
The Bleeder Project online:
• Website
• Download The Systematic Subversion of Fear and Insecurity from Amazon
• Purchase The Systematic Subversion of Fear and Insecurity on Amazon
Bongzilla - Nuggets
Bongzilla
Album title: Nuggets
Record Label: Barbarian Records
Rating: 7
Barbarian records has coughed up some more purple haze-induced sludge muffins in the form of this expanded reissue of singles, splits and comp tracks from Madison’s ultra stoners. Expectantly titled tracks tickle and trickle stoner humor to the consumer.
(3916) Page Views
Bongzilla online:
• Wiki
Foetopsy - In The Bathroom
Foetopsy
Album title: In The Bathroom
Record Label: Barbarian Records
Rating: 3
Absolutely sick, twisted and spastic grind core. Containing gurgled vocals, repulsive lyrical concepts and a big fat zero in the redeeming social value category. Not for the weak of stomach or mind.
(3566) Page Views
Foetopsy online:
Freighter - s/t
Freighter
Album title: s/t
Record Label: Self Released
Rating: 8
A Madison trio that knows how to play with metal structures of the past while injecting a contemporary intensity to them. Progressive a-tonal riffs conjoined with plodding, pummeling or explosive beats while hoisting a flair for noisy experimental fringe offerings treated with harsh angst ridden vocals.
(5997) Page Views
Freighter online:
• Website
- French Horn Rebellion
Album title: French Horn Rebellion
Record Label: Self Released
Rating: 8
A quirky pop-tronica trio from NYC, but with roots in Milwaukee, WI. The infectious retro bent they shade their compositions with is their trademark and has an immediate off-beat commercial value that serves them well.
(5259) Page Views
online:
• Website
• Purchase French Horn Rebellion on Amazon
Hermano - Into the Exam Room
Hermano
Album title: Into the Exam Room
Record Label: Regain Records
Rating: 8
Mega groovy hard rock and acoustic rock congealed from members of several stoner rock outfits and put together over long distances. At the helm is former Kyuss vocalist, John Garcia, guiding this herd to great heights.
(3911) Page Views
Hermano online:
• Website • Wiki
• Purchase Into the Exam Room on Amazon
Jann Klose - Reverie
Jann Klose
Album title: Reverie
Record Label: 3 Frames Music
Rating: 9
Framed by his multi-continental global up-bringing (Born in Germany, relocated to Kenya, then South Africa, Ohio and New York), this impressive singer and songwriter displays a wide variety of soulful ballads and emotive light rock ditties culled from a number of recording sessions with a variety of musicians.
(3792) Page Views
Jann Klose online:
• Website • Wiki
Lost Dream - The Lost Dream
Lost Dream
Album title: The Lost Dream
Record Label: Craig Sound Productions
Rating: 5
This ambitious self-taught multi-instrumentalist composed, arranged, recorded, mixed and produced this release. She also played the entire range of instruments. Attempting to reconcile rock’n’roll with ambient atmospheres around a concept of lost hope sounds good in theory, but unfortunately comes off a bit flaccid and overly subdued.
(3434) Page Views
The Lost Dream online:
• Purchase The Lost Dream on Amazon
Mustasch - The Latest Version of the Truth
Mustasch
Album title: The Latest Version of the Truth
Record Label: Regain Records
Rating: 8
Rip snortin’ hard n’ heavy rock ‘n roll that, at times, reminds me of newer Metallica, but with much more diversity and integrity. These refined rockers have even been nominated for a Swedish Grammy!
(3500) Page Views
Mustasch online:
• Website • Wiki
• Download The Latest Version of the Truth from Amazon
• Purchase The Latest Version of the Truth on Amazon
Putumayo Presents - African Party
Putumayo Presents
Album title: African Party
Record Label: Putumayo World Music
Rating: 9
Celebrating Putumayo’s 15th Anniversary with a great compilation that pays tribute to the spirit of the music that inspired the label’s inception. With 20 million CDs sold, Putumayo’s world music party has been a global hit and “African Party” is another to add their list of success.
(3784) Page Views
Putumayo Presents online:
• Website • Wiki
• Purchase African Party on Amazon
Jamshied Sharifi - One
Jamshied Sharifi
Album title: One
Record Label: Ceres Records
Rating: 10
Ambient world atmospheres blend into trance imaginations as this release conscientiously crosses paradoxical global musical boundaries. This prolific and award winning multi instrumentalist and composer utilizes a smorgasbord of high profile guest musicians to become “One.’
(3886) Page Views
Jamshied Sharifi online:
• Website • Wiki
Tantric - The End Begins
Tantric
Album title: The End Begins
Record Label: Silent Majority Group
Rating: 6
Throaty vocalist Hugo Ferreira may be the only original member remaining, but that hasn’t stopped him from taking a stab at reinvigorating the band with “a new perspective.” The result? Poppy commercial hard rock gussied up with violin and a post-grunge compassion. Some of it works well, some falls flat.
(3689) Page Views
Tantric online:
• Wiki
• Download The End Begins from Amazon
• Purchase The End Begins on Amazon
Turbine - Reward
Turbine
Album title: Reward
Record Label: Roofland Records
Rating: 8
Melting catchy inflections of bluegrass, Americana and jam rock into a fun and furious spectacular of momentous proportions. The harmonious harmonica packs their sultry rhythms with an air of delicacy and intricacy as do the harmonic vocals.
(3745) Page Views
Turbine online:
• Website