SHORT TAKES Mini Reviews! Rating Scale: TO

Artist: Jon Bon Jovi Album: "Destination Anywhere" Label: Mercury Rating:

Let me just say that, as a moderate Jon Bon Jovi fan for years, I really wanted to like this album. I know that since the break up of "Bon Jovi," Jon has drifted into a more mellow and love-ballad filled style, but something is missing from this cd. I can't put my finger on what it is, but it's not as good as it could or should be. The lyrics are just a bit better than average and the music is lacking. I can't help but think that he put this together in a few days inside his garage. There's no depth to the sound at all. There are some fun things and some sad things, but after a while it all starts to blend together. There are only a few merits that rise above the overall quality of the cd. "August 7, 4:15" is a serious tearjerker about a hit and run, which is dedicated to someone he knew. The sound is classic Jon Bon Jovi and while the subject matter is what really stands out, the music is pretty good too. Then there's something about "Little City" really trips my trigger. It's a song you can really drive to, but this is the kind of driving you do in the dark. Just don't listen to it while cruising near cliffs; you might be tempted to take the plunge. It's a beautiful song, but rather depressing too. These are the last two songs on the cd, so if you want to hear the best it has to offer, work backwards. There's nothing really wrong with the album but there's not much that makes it special either. If you like Jon Bon Jovi and aren't looking for incredibly original music this is worth worth picking up. Otherwise, I'd recommend listening to a few songs to check it out, but holding off on purchasing it, at least until "Destination Anywhere" hits the used music shops.

Artist: "Matchbox 20" Album: "Yourself or Someone Like You" Label: Lava/Atlantic Rating:

Before “Matchbox 20” was born, lead singer/ songwriter, Rob Thomas formed the band “Tabitha’s Secret” with drummer, Paul Doucette and bass player, Brian Yale in Orlando, Florida. Others would join and leave the band over a number of years, as they gained a local following. Producer Matt Serletic (Collective Soul) became one of their fans. He introduced them to Kyle Cook who became their lead guitarist and Adam Gaynor who was to become rhythm guitarist. Together they formed Orlando based band, Matchbox 20. The songs on “Yourself or Someone Like You”, Matchbox 20’s debut album, are full of great riffs and hooks. It reads like an album full of hits, and it is becoming that. “Long Day” was the first single off the album. There have been two other singles, the hit, “Push” and “3 A.M.”, which is currently getting some good airplay.  Thomas wrote “3 A.M." about his mother. It’s about loneliness, fear and insomnia. My favorite song from the album is “Back 2 Good”. It features woodwinds arranged by producer, Matt Serletic, giving it a diffrent kind of sound from the other songs. The song opens with drum beats; vocals and guitar start quickly, drawing the listener in. It’s about growing up, but not really knowing how to make life good. I think the only complaints I have about the album are that most of the songs sound pretty much alike and that they’re a bit too hit conscious. They still supply some good listening.

Artist: "Diamond D" Album: "Hatred, Passion and Infidelity" Label: Mercury Records Rating:

Diamond D's, "Hatred, Passion and Infedelity,"  displays new flavor as he comes out of his 'hiatus'.  He sings smoother lyrics spiced up with his Bronx style rhymes and mixed with some Jamaican rhapsody.  Diamond's experience in production of crafty tracks allows him to jump into the Hip Hop scene with both feet. Look for showcase appearances by Busta Rhymes, Sadat X, and others. "Flowin'", "MC Is My Ambition" and "No Wundah" depict the trials and tribulations of surviving the ghetto and feature aggressive lyrics laced with reggae phonics.  The best track is the hip hop love song, "This One",  a smooth dance track introducing Diamond's dream girl.  "Never",  "JD's Revenge", "Painz & Strike",  and "Five Fingers of Death"  display Diamond's production finesse as he mixes in appearances by Sadat X, Pete Rock and members of A Tribe Called Quest,  all of which add varied narratives and freestyle phonetics with creativity and ingenuity.  Diamond D displays improvement in all areas.  His creative tracks are evidence that the he is back with some dope tracks and prowess from both sides of the control boards. "Hatred, Passion and Infedility",  a tribute to Biggie Smalls, 2Pac, Don Wilson and Niger Sweeting has a nice punch, but no knock out power.  Diamond D's fans will expect more as he continues to gain experience as a rapper and producer.

Artist: "Internal Bleeding" Album: "The Extinction of Benevolence" Label: Pavement Music, Inc. Rating:

Death metal outfit "Internal Bleeding" is comprised of vocalist Frank Rini, drummer Bill Tolley, guitarists Chris Pervelis and Anthony Miola, and bassist Brian Hobbie. Founded in the summer of 1992 by ex-Autumn Reign member Pervelis, Internal Bleeding has undergone a couple of different personnel changes to reach the line-up that appears on "Extinction of Benevolence." Previous releases include the demo, "Invocation of Evil," the EP "Perpetual Degradation," and their first full-length CD release for Pavement Music, "Voracious Contempt." "Extinction of Benevolence" is fifteen tracks worth of typical dawn-of-doom stuff. Although some of the lyrics are pretty intriguing, the material as a whole is truly nothing I haven't heard done before. There's no new ground broken here, nothing to set it apart or ahead of anything else of this musical style. Still, it is well-performed and well-produced -- hard-core fans of the death metal genre will probably find enough here to keep them satisfied. Oh, and don't forget about the hidden material about nineteen and a half minutes into the sixteenth track.

Artist: "The Wilsons" Album: "The Wilsons" Label: Mercury Rating:

The Wilsons are Carnie and Wendy Wilson, formerly of Wilson Philips. Their dad Bryan, of the Beach Boys, produced this album and does some guest singing. With genes like that how could they go wrong? Well, I'll tell you . . . They went wrong by releasing this totally bland album. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the songs, it's just that you can't say any of them are much better than ok. Lyrically, there is some interesting stuff, but it's a shame that the music doesn't live up to the words. The tunes are so boring that what's being said doesn't seem very important.  Well, that's not entirely true. The song "Candy" has a slight techno sound to it and some spoken word. This is very different from the rest. Unfortunately, this one song doesn't really make up for everything else. Now, if you're looking for something that makes for good background music and doesn't really affect you, this is perfect. If you're looking for something new and exciting, this is definitely not it.

Artist: "Deicide" Album: "Serpents of the Light" Label: Roadrunner Records Rating:

The lyrics on "Deicide's" latest offering contain a certain logic, providing you accept their basic premise. If God is all powerful and allows the ills of the world to occur then he is the true enemy of man. Cuts like "Blame It On God" and "Slave To The Cross" are very powerful arguments once you take that first step. Musically, the vocals are rough -- a from-beyond- the-grave sound. The guitar work is solid metal  with some of the riffs right through the speakers. If this kind of music suits your aural palate then Deicide will leave a good taste in your ear!

Artist: "Bad Boy Bill" Album: "Global House Culture Vol. 4" Label: ESP - Sun Records Rating:

I remember when I was a kid and found the sound of sirens pretty cool. You know, police cars, fire engines, ambulances...it was kinda neat to try to figure out what sort of emergency vehicle it was as you hear it going by in the distance. Now imagine that that a police car pulled up in front of your house and just kept blaring that siren. Not too much fun anymore. The police car fades away and a fire truck comes and sits by your house with it's siren going crazy for ten minutes. Emergency vehicles from all sorts of places come and go and just sit there for a long time before continuing on with their intended purpose. Wouldn't that be just about the most annoying thing you can imagine? Well, that's what this album is like. There's some really cool music but each song fades into the other and we hear the same sound for what seems like forever before we get something new, and then we hear that for too long as well. "Bad Boy Bill" succeeds in giving us something easy to dance to but the mind numbing pace of the cd is enough to make you want to hoist your stereo through your window. There are some truly creative things going on, but they are wasted when we're forced to listen to that single segment for 5 minutes at a time. Repetitive is too mild a word for it. Don't waste your money or your time on this one.

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