Band Box - Picks to Pick Up

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The Weekly

(Originally published week of January 5, 1996)

BAND BOX

Picks to Pick Up - By Matt Orefice
This week, another respite from who's playing where and my other typical nonsense. I refrain from unleashing any best-of list until I start writing next year on my checks. I may be strange but I believe all the precincts must report before an election can be won. Seems only the Village Voice agrees, judging by all the pre-year top 10s - some as early as Thanksgiving!
Scary as the thought is, I'm just like you - cool music slipped right by due to ignorance, laziness, the too-much-music syndrome or, perhaps, a life; one that includes a recent mortgage and a wedding in less than four months. What follows are 10 discs that may strike the same chird in you that they did in me. Fans of SOnic Yoth, Rancid, Luna, Smashing Pumpkins (fill in your fave, obscure - indie - rock - band - that's - only - released - 500 - copies - of - a - 7" - single - here) should keep in mind: I don't own everything.
10. The Inevitable Squirrel Nut Zippers - Mammouth. Wacked, Spike Jones-like horn-fed '20s/'30s music that sounds like the score to an early talkie. This seven piece combo seems to love every minute of it. So might you. Kitschy yet cool. Put it on at a party. Trust me.
9. The Reducers - Shinola (Rave On Records). The fourth and best recording from the veteran New London four-piece. Fifteen songs (one for each year of the band's life) display confidence like never before on stompers like "San Antone" and "Don't Make Me Mad," and never-before-seen depth on the shoulda-beena-hit "Some Other Time," "Medium Cool," and "Laughing Boy".
8. Air Miami - me. me. me. (4AD). Remnants of ex-DC archrockers Unrest formed this restrained band that takes off with good little songs...which helps them land here. With a sound from the softer side of pop, it's better for your Sunday afternoon drive to nowhere than a crank-it-up, just-slid-down-the-dinosaur Friday at 5.
7. Laika & The Cosmonauts - The Amazing Colossal Band (Upstart Records). I must say, seeing these Finnish surf instrumental gods twice in '95 sealed the deal: they rule. Infectious, talented, melodic and more fun than watching the American Bandstand re-runs on VH-1. Check out "Skater Dater" or "Delayrium," then call me a liar. Dare ya.
6. Shelter - Mantra (Road-runner). Danbury native Ray Cappo has broken through to a semblance of mainstream success with the song "Here We Go," but the rest of this aggro affair manages to keep up with it. Dodge some of his hard-to-swallow Krishnaisms with volume - the guitars do the rest. Not for the timid.
5. Ramones - Adios Amigos (Radioactive). Is this good-bye, or a you - better - appreciate - us - or - we're - taking - the - bat - and - ball - and - going - home? Face it, Dee Dee Ramone writes great songs...even if he did leave the band two albums ago. An ace cover of Tom Waits' "I Don't Want To Grow Up," and typical three-chord gems including "Life's A Gas" and the surprising "She Talks to Rainbows." Don't go, don't go, baby don't go.
4. Smoking Popes - Born To Quit (Capitol). Thirty-one minutes, three brothers and a drummer from down the street. The Chicago Caterers mix guitar-power with a unique sense of melody (check out "Need You Around," for example). Their guitars say Material Issue. Ten songs...all about girls...all about great.
3. Son Volt - Trace (Warner Bros.). Jay Farrar and drummer supreme Mike Heidorn were once half of the storied, story-telling Uncle Tupelo. While one half became the laconic Wilco, these two formed the laconic Son Volt. If you like the Jayhawks or miss Gram Parsons, here's where to turn. Farrar's writing and pained voice belie his years, but his songs paint with vivid detail. Still, not even close to Still Feel Gone.
2. Oasis - What's The Story Morning Glory? (Epic). Finally, hits that deserve to be hits. 12 songs...and a possible 10 singles - how's that for writing some of the catchiest crop of Beatlesesque tunes to make it overseas since Revolver? If you don't have it, get it. If you have it, don't play it so often that you tire of it. (For the record, you can like Blur and Oasis, despite what the Britpress would have you believe.)
1. The Muffs - Blonder and Blonder (Warner Bros.). It's everything you want your rock to be: powerful, sassy, catchy, lound and offensive to anyone who isn't fond of anything written after the Nixon administration. Kim Shattuck wails her heart out as bespectacled bassist Ronnie Barnett and super skinpounder Roy McDonald anchor the hook-fest. Like your Dookie, kids? Here's mo.
Back to our regularly scheduled stuff next week. Happy New Year!
Band Box; Box 2053; Saugatuck, CT 06880. E-mail: Mat0101@aol.com. Fax: (203) 255-6265. That's what I hear, talk to you next week.