 
earwax
Uz Jsme Doma Czech band Uz Jsme Doma's latest release isn't just in stereo, it's also in 3D. This book, accompanied by a CD, is written by bandmember Miroslav Wanek and illustrated by painter Martin Velísek (also in the band, honorarily called the "sixth Doma"). Titled Uz Jsme Doma - 11 Years; (Argo), it's a macabre pop-up history book of sorts. The text, culled from the band's more than-a-decade-long history, is in both Czech and English and chronicles some of UJD's most memorable moments (i.e. lying to the former Czechoslovakian government about what kind of music they played to be allowed to perform). On the lighter side, the book reveals clues about the bandmembers' high turnover rate: "?some of the rest of [UJD's] parts make useful things such as bridges, children ? fictitious trips to India, or some other noises?," writes Wanek of past members' reasons for leaving (or getting kicked out of) this conglomeration of artists, writers, composers and revolutionaries who just happen to be have a knack for playing instruments and writing music. It also includes the lyrics to a sampling of UJD's songs. Wanek calls the book "interactive." "It makes people active," says Wanek, "and that's the most significant thing about our band." The book's interactiveness comes from Velísek's popped-up illustrations - including meticulous renderings of naked people drinking in red bars that have halo racks instead of coat racks, phalluses, green water sprites with super-erect nipples, and sailors dancing with whales. The CD, Jaro, Peklo, Podzim, Zima (Spring, Hell, Autumn, Winter), is the instrumental soundtrack UJD recorded for a 1995 Czech TV special on the life and times of Velísek. Though this CD is missing an integral UJD element - human voices which scream, whine and whisper a mix of Czech vowels and consonants - the music still has that catchy, unpredictable Uz Jsme Doma sound. Something like Mozart stage diving into Van Gogh's arms as Kafka pinches his ass.
Autumn The Hating Tree (Tess) OK, kids, time for the never-fail goth check system. First off, label check: good deal, here's the high quality Tess label, home to many a great goth outing. Hmmm, OK, production handled by musician William Faith, a leader in the goth field. Thirdly, yes, a female vocalist, which means we won't be tortured by a lame Peter Murphy imitation (or worse yet, a deathly Andrew Eldritch dirge-o-rama). On the surface, everything checks out. Vocalist Julie Plante's mood swings low and tense. She even adds a bitter "fuck-you" quality lacking in too many droning goth-chick vocalists. But problems set in when every song starts sounding way too familiar: the standard chiming swirling guitars, throbbing deep bass and Julie trying to make something unique from this brew. It's like being served spaghetti with every song, but with a different sauce: as much as our intrepid vocalist tries to provide a tasty pesto-tomato-alfredo flourish, underneath her creativity is still plain old spaghetti. Which I like just dandy - but not every night? or with every song. A few slower numbers granted a welcome listening break but overall, this album ran out of sonic creativity long before its repetitious 65 minutes faded away. Ah well, so junk my checklist. But let's eat!
- Nick C.
The Egg Albumen (China/Discovery) Call it electronica or disco, digitally-based music these days often suffers from one of two extremes. It's a bunch of random bleeps and blips or a relentless beat with too little adornment. Either way, it gets old really fast. But Oxford, England's the Egg finds the right balance on its debut, Albumen. While the rhythm keeps the mostly instrumental tracks bubbling along, the lush arrangements prevent monotony. With real drums, guitar and bass, the Egg's grooves take much of their influence from jazz, but the synthesized strings create an orchestral quality reminiscent of the disco era's Philly Sound, especially on "Jam Tomorrow." The semi-psychedelic "Roche (Don't You Ever Stop)" is the best Stone Roses remix Kula Shaker didn't record.
- Marci Cohen
The Friggs Rock Candy (E-Vil Records) After five singles and a 10-inch EP, the once-local Friggs have finally put out a full-length CD, and one aptly named at that. Poppy songwriting mixed with garage-tinged rockability makes Rock Candy a sugary Molotov cocktail. The lyrics follow suit with the traditional garage lyrics: ex-loves, general hate, with the novel bonus of a slam on the suicidal! "I Cringe" kicks off with laryngitic scream - guitarist Palmyra Delran adding her sneering finesse on lead vocals. The track was co-written with Ben Vaughn, who co-authored a total of three songs on the album, one of which vies for best track: "Bad Word For A Good Thing." The Friggs' staple, "Cheatin' Song," beats it out by an eyelash. "Got Your Letter," sung by bassist Suki Von Trapp harmonizing with glitter-lipped Lexy Plumm, could pass as an early Joan Jett and the Blackhearts number. Peppered with sinewy Poison Ivy-flavored leads that concur with the tramp/camp artwork on the sleeve, Rock Candy sets the Friggs far apart from your run-of-the-mill, buzz-bin gyno-glam.
- Geeta Dalal
Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars) Firmly entrenched in the Riot-Grrrl-with-pop-soul-and-sly-wit archetype, Dig Me Out finds Sleater-Kinney almost as bombastic as on their stellar sophomore release, Call the Doctor (Chainsaw). Corin Tucker's strained, fiery warble and Carrie Brownstein's more staid cadence still form one of the most compelling vocal duos in pop-punk. "Little Babies" nods cheekily to rock's past with the un-punk chorus of "dum-dum-ditty-dum-dum-de-dum, yeah!" and reference to the Stones' "Mother's Little Helper." "Dig Me Out" and "Not What You Want" revisit the power femme anthemry so prominent on Doctor. And "Words and Guitar" sums up pretty succinctly what this whole rock thing's about anyway: "Take the noise in my head/ come on turn it up/ I want to turn you on." The rest of the record drags a bit however. Tempos are slower and choruses less snappy, which doesn't bode well for Dig Me Out, for what is punk rock if we can't scream along?
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