Allure
Allure (Crave/Sony)
Allure's four members may be beautiful, but their voices are only
satisfactory. The songs on their self-titled album are understated
and sultry, yet it's hard to tell where the talent starts and
the slick production ends. The album flows from start to finish
with wistful ballads that are sweet as summer rain - pleasant
but not overwhelming. Coming after the legacy of Zhane and En
Vogue, Allure needs more than pretty voices and catchy melodies
to stand out.
- Elva Ramirez
Auntie Christ
Life Could Be A Dream (Lookout)
Auntie Christ brings together two different generations of California
punk: Exene and DJ Bonebrake of X with Rancid bassist Matt Freeman.
Unfortunately, Exene's lyrics stand out as the most original element
of Auntie Christ's music. Her poetic wordcore - lines like "Drops
of human nature fall from eyes/ But why should I cry?" - is nicely
complemented by her country-tinged guitar playing. The rest of
the mix is propelled by DJ Bonebrake's rapid-fire drumming. Sally
Browder - who's worked recently with Wayne Kramer, The Muffs,
and Rocket From the Crypt - serves up a no-frills production which
suits Auntie Christ just fine. Like much of X's music, Auntie
Christ's gritty, high-octane guitar tracks are characterized by
dramatic major/minor chord changes and minimalist melodies, yet
they're missing the caustic propulsion and scathing concentration
of that band's best work. Life Could Be A Dream is a must only for rabid X fans and a moderate recommendation
for everyone else.
- Geeta Dalal
The Beatifics
"How I Learned To Stop Worrying" (TRG)
Guitarist/Vocalist Chris Dorn just wants to fill the world with
silly songs reminiscent of The Byrds - so what's wrong with that?
Whatever undeniable thrill a 12-string guitar chiming along familiar
chord paths still holds for wide-eyed formalists is captured here
in reverbed glory. Drummer Randy Seals provides more forward motion
than Michael Clark ever did. Unlike his contemporaries, Dorn doesn't
hide his jangle behind the dodgy premise of roots reclamation.
"This Year's Jessica" upholds the questionable pop tradition of
mocking your ex-girlfriend in public. The clumsiness of "Happy
To Be Sad" (really!) reminds one why The Byrds relied so heavily
on Dylan covers. But Dorn's Roger McGuinn impression still aces
Tom Petty's.
- Keith Harris
Jan Berry
Second Wave (One Way)
Jan Berry, better known as one-half of the duo Jan & Dean, first
made a name for himself in the early '60s with surf hits such
as "The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)," "Surf City" and "Dead
Man's Curve." The last tune proved eerily prophetic in April 1966
when the teen idol nearly died in a car accident on that fabled
turn. After quite a bit of physical and speech therapy, Berry
returned to performing, but hasn't much recording since. Work
on Second Wave, Berry's first solo album, began in 1988 and obviously took some
time to finish. The final product is mixture of new songs and
re-recorded Jan & Dean hits. Revisiting past glory is always a
shaky proposition for any artist. Berry is a paticurlarly special
case because he still suffers from aphasia. However, Second Wave is surprisingly well done. Some of the synthesized keyboards
are a little tinny, but the production has a timeless feel arranged
with strings, horns and a doo-wop chorus of surf singers. Newer
tunes like "Get That Girl" and "Spring Break" hold up just fine
next to "Surf City" and "Get A Job." This album might not rewrite
surf music history, yet it proves that the old Kahuna has still
got it.
Brave Combo
Group Dance Epidemic (Rounder)
Brave Combo seeks to capitalize on the blossoming lounge revival
by dishing out schmaltzy wedding standards as cute and hip dance
hits. The Hokey Pokey in "Rock style" and "Go-go style." The Bunny Hop, the Hustle and even the Jeopardy! theme are presented with all the flair of a mall organist. These
tunes are straight from a nether level of Dante's Inferno.
- Elva Ramirez
earwax
July/August
