JANE CHILD - JANE CHILD

I discovered Jane Child through a late night music video program years ago.  I saw the video for 'Don't Wanna Fall In Love' and I was hooked.  I loved the song and I thought Jane was a strange, exotic creature I desperately wanted to know.  I loved the 80's.  People were so creative about the way they looked.  It was sometimes hard to find a look that one could claim as their own and Jane did it with her hair and nose to ear chain.  

I saved up some money and bought the cassette for this record and loved it.  I listened to this record almost non-stop for quite some time.  I remember alternating this one with Prince's "Graffiti Bridge".  The reason I mention this is because that was one of the selling points her record company used to promote her.  They called her the female Prince.  I didn't see the comparison.  True, Jane played all of her own instruments and wrote all of her own songs.  As far as I know she was also largely responsible for the recording of the album as well.  That does resemble Prince, but Jane wasn't the dancer, performer Prince was.  In her videos, she wasn't dancing intricately or displaying the same degree of showmanship.  Another difference is the type of music the two were creating.  Jane's music was mostly electronic whereas Prince recorded using live takes on everything rather than programmed motifs assembled in a computer program like cakewalk. 

But I digress.  Let me be perfectly clear, the differences between Child and Prince don't really matter because I didn't equate the two in my mind.  And I love this record.

Ultimately, Child is an eclectic combination of interesting lyrics, sensible pop melodies and operatic power vocals.  She screams, soars and drives up and down scales with the force of a hurricane.  To say she's a powerful and strong voice doesn't do her justice.

As I've grown older, song ideas have recirculated and I've heard some of her stuff appear again in other material, but for me at that age, I remember being completely blown away with 'You're My Religion Now'...  How a person could become the focus of your devotion and life to the same extent a religion could.  As an indoctrinated youth, my religion was present in virtually every aspect of my life.  Having a person become such a powerful focus for me seemed like a dream, a desire and also frightening.  The loss of control you actually have when you're life is consumed by something like religion...  It thinks for you, makes your decisions and runs your life.  Wow...  A complicated subject.

I genuinely like this record all the way through.  'Don't Wanna Fall In Love' is probably my favorite track.  It's the sound I find I look for when I listen to her material.  She wrote an amazing pop record here and I wish she'd followed it up with more of the same.  Her next album was equally as brilliant, but it ventured into a more esoteric space.  It wasn't as accessible as this record.  I still think she's an under-rated musician and song writer.  I'd love to hear more from her and I wonder all the time where she's gone.

My final words:  AN EPIC POP ALBUM FROM AN INTERESTING AND TALENTED ARTIST!

JANE CHILD - JANE CHILD
01. Welcome To The Real World
02. I Got News For You
03. Don't Let It Get To You
04. Don't Wanna Fall In Love
05. You're My Religion Now
06. Hey Mr. Jones
07. Biology
08. DS 21
09. World Lullabye
10. Thank You

SUGARHILL GANG - RAPPER'S DELIGHT: THE BEST OF SUGARHILL GANG

Do you remember the Sugarhill Gang?  They were part of the burgeoning rap community when it was just starting.  They sampled music from other artists; which I normally hate, and they created some memorable music that is just as ingrained in my memory of the 80's as New Wave and the Minneapolis sound.

In the grand tradition of George Clinton, Parliament and Funkadelic, the Sugarhill Gang turn each track into an extended musical jam.  This was before rap became a more popular crossover genre and the songs shortened to a radio friendly length.  However, on this collection, you don't have to worry.  Nothing is edited down.  You're treated to the full versions!  In fact, 'Rapper's Delight', probably the song the band is most remembered for, clocks in around 15 minutes.  In this instance, I think a well chosen edit would've gone a long way to making this a more accessible collection.

In reality, the long track lengths often make the songs hard to sit through.  It's kinda cool and a bit of a status indicator that 'Rapper's Delight' and 'Apache' are in my collection.  If I ever wanted to do a comedic strip tease I've got the tunes all ready to go.

The songs themselves are highly reminiscent of Disco in the 70's with horns punctuating changes and beats.  This music is really dated and definitely has not stood up to the test of time.  But isn't that kind of what makes a classic a classic?  It certainly limits the audience and relevancy of the material, but that's OK.  As long as the fans who remember these tunes fondly are still around to listen to them.  Their music reminds me of Curtis Blow.  Of course with the advancement of rap, these raps sound like something you'd hear at a grade school talent show.  There's not much more I can say about this record.  I bought it as a gag because I remembered the songs and how much I liked them as a kid.  As an adult, they leave a lot to be desired.  My final words:  A NOVELTY CD AT BEST.

SUGARHILL GANG - RAPPER'S DELIGHT: THE BEST OF SUGARHILL GANG

01. Rapper's Delight

02. Hot Hot Summer Day

03. 8th Wonder

04. Showdown

05. Apache

06. The Lover In You

07. The Word Is Out

08. Kick It Live From 9 To 5

09. Livin' In The Fast Lane

10. Girls

11. Work, Work, The Body

NITZER EBB - BELIEF

Although this is Nitzer Ebb's second album, it was actually the first one I bought.  I picked it up at the Tower Records Superstore in Vegas while it was still around.  Man, I loved that store.  During the 90's, lots of electronic bands were following in the footsteps of Depeche Mode by exploring heavier industrial sounds.  And Nitzer Ebb seems to be the band who led the charge.  Where DM were inspired by German industrial bands like Einstürzende Neubauten and Kraftwerk, subsequent artists like Nine Inch Nails and Rammstein were influenced by DM.

Independent of Depeche Mode, Nitzer Ebb nonetheless embraced a similar respect for the avant-garde movement and represented it in their own music through a combination of pounding beats and half-spoken, half-sung Tantric lyrics that drone in your ear with the precision of a military marching band.

One of the biggest differences between this and the previous record can be found in the sound.  It was produced by Flood who had been working with Depeche Mode.  He brought the unique sound catalog they'd engineered over the years.  This allowed Nitzer Ebb to sound similar enough to DM for them to attract the later's fanbase while at the same time sounding completely different.

Their songs rely heavily on simple arrangements and aggressive beats and covered subjects as varied as Hezbollah airplane hijacking and faith crisis'.  In some ways, the more simple song writing and intense music fit the industrial label much better than other bands at the time who fit into the genre.

Industrial music would transition into a form of metal in the 90's thanks to the efforts of bands like NE.  But while that change occurred, NE stayed the same and became an electronic band.  This record can fit in either category and although it's a strong record from start to finish, I do have my favorite tracks.  'Shame' is easily my favorite on the album followed closely by 'Without Belief'.  I also think this is the strongest of the NE albums I've heard.  It's one weak moment is 'T.W.A.' which tends to meander a bit.

Overall, I recommend this record to people considering giving NE a try.  You won't regret this decision even if you never buy another record from the band.  This is the one that defines them even if "Ebbhead" is more well known and famous.  My final words:  THE ADVANCEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL MUSIC IN THE 80'S.  AND POUNDING BEATS TO BOOT.

NITZER EBB - BELIEF
01. Hearts And Minds
02. For Fun
03. Control I'm Here
04. Captivate
05. T.W.A.
06. Blood Money
07. Shame
08. Drive
09. Without Belief

VANDAVEER - DIVIDE & CONQUER

This was actually my first album by folk rockers, Vandaveer.  This is a solid disc from the opening strums of the guitar to the final fade.  I think this is my favorite Vandaveer album.  It's just so good.  

The disc open with the title track, 'Divide & Conquer'.  This number has a softer tone, but it's also bubbly and packed with rhythm.  It's infectious.  'Fistful Of Swoon' has one of the most elaborate and natural builds I've heard in music in a long time!  It swells up and crescendos so magnificently you can't help but sing along at the top of your lungs!

I think that's what makes this record so fantastic.  Mark Heidinger writes songs that are catchy and fun to sing.  The lyrics can be challenging because he's not trapped by convention.  He isn't interested in rhyming "Red" with "Head" or "Bed"...  He looks for interesting ways to tell stories and his vocal gymnastics are a great way to hone your sing along, karaoke skills. 

When I think of ways to describe this band, I'm always left thinking about the poet singer/songwriters of the 60's and 70's.  There was a huge amount of fame invested in these talented individuals who would squeeze the poetry from their souls and offer them up for mass consumption in the form of music.  Vandaveer recall this trend.  It's the wounded tones in the voices of the singers...the strain they put on different lines and the haunting way they compliment each other.  You get a mysterious blend of parts that come together to create this otherworldly sound.

My favorite song on the album is 'Before The Great War'.  This is absolutely one of the most amazing songs ever written.  I adore it.  I'd write the lyrics for the entire song here if I could.  There are so many perfect lines that come together in this masterpiece.  I find the line, "you gave children all the love your daddy stole from you", both sad and satisfying.  It makes more sense when you hear it in context with the rest of the song but on it's own...  It shows a heart capable of outgrowing the damaging pain of the past and break a cycle of bad relationships.  I find it extremely powerful.

The album ends with a soft and sincere tribute to author Beverly Cleary's character Ramona Quimby.  Once again, there's a focus on the passing of time and how even a storybook can become lost in the years after a child outgrows it.

I think Vandaveer are an amazing band and with such strong records under their belt, you can only expect even more enjoyable music from them in the future.  My final words:  A MUSICAL TRIUMPH FOR A SINGULAR BAND!!!

VANDAVEER - DIVIDE & CONQUER
01. Divide & Conquer
02. Fistful Of Swoon
03. Resurrection Mary
04. A Mighty Leviathan Of Old
05. Woolgathering
06. Turpentine
07. Before The Great War
08. Long Lost Cause
09. The Sound & The Fury
10. Beverly Cleary's 115TH Dream

TROY GREGORY - SYBIL

So what do I know about Troy Gregory?  Absolutely nothing.  However, I've known about this CD for a few years now and I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy it.  My reason for buying this disc is because I keep finding it on Electric Six discographies.  Apparently, E6 collaborated with Gregory on a track called 'Dealin' In Death N' Stealin' In The Name Of The Lord'.  I was excited to hear the track.  I found it on eBay for a decent price and so I picked it up.

I was disappointed when I got the disc and found out none of the members of Electric Six actually receive a writing credit for the song.  They play all the instruments and Dick Valentine sings background.  So far that's all I can ascertain.  And just as a side note...  E6 did this while they were still The Wildbunch.

Oddly enough, this disc is 13 tracks of Gregory working with a bunch of different bands, most of which I've never heard of before.  I knew The Volebeats and I'd heard of Bantam Rooster, but everyone else on this record is completely unknown to me.  With strange names like Outrageous Cherry, The Sights, Slumber Party and They Come In Threes.

Now, to be fair, I haven't lived with this disc for very long so I'm giving you my initial reaction to it.  All of the songs range between two and four minutes with none of them actually breaking the four minute mark.  They're short and remind me heavily of the Paisley Underground movement back in the 80's.  Gregory's music blends the psychedelic rock of the 60's with punk and rock influences of the 80's.  It's a trippy album.

So far, my favorite track on the album is actually 'Leave The Ghost At Home.  There are other great songs on the record, but it's not surprising it didn't fare better.  The disc lacks the pop hooks and melodies of a record with mass appeal.  It lingers in psychedelic weirdness for much of its length.  Songs like 'Down 2 The Last Santa Claus' and 'Freezing Rain Freezin'' sound experimental and disjointed; while tracks like 'We Werk The Lines In Yer Hand' sound more like advertising for a national chain of palm readers.

This is a rather strange piece of music, but there are moments of absolute brilliance and charm.  I get a little frustrated with the broken record routine and Gregory falls victim to it on this album quite a bit.  When I say "Broken Record Routine" I refer to a song where lines are repeated over and over.  The Cranberries were notorious for it in the 90's.  It almost drove me insane.  Sometimes, I still can't listen to them for this reason.  Gregory certainly has a vivid imagination and should've been capable of coming up with additional lyrics rather than setting the song on repeat.  But he doesn't.  And although I don't like it, I'm sure some people do.

It's not what I was expecting or hoping for.  But it does have its appeal and charm.  I'll need to live with it for a bit longer before I decide if I actually love it or hate it, but for now, I'm somewhere in the middle and that's fine.  It hasn't convinced me to become a huge Gregory fan, so that's a strike.  But you never know.

My final words:  A STRANGE BIT OF MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE.

TROY GREGORY - SYBIL
01. Lice Cats N' Rabies Shots
02. Leave The Ghost At Home
03. Rat Squad
04. Regrets...I've Had A Few
05. Left My Mind Alone
06. Other Dimensions Will Reveal Themselves 2 B True 2 U
07. Dealin' In Death N' Stealin' In The Name Of The Lord
08. It Ain't Human
09. Down 2 The Last Santa Claus
10. Electric Fool
11. Born In A Haunted Barn
12. We Werk The Lines In Yer Hand
13. Freezing Rain Freezin'