AMZ -- Short Takes Mini Reviews -- April, 1998

	Artist: Roni Size/Reprazent Album: "Newforms" Label: Talkin' Loud/Mercury Rating:

This two CD set of drum 'n bass innovation is hip to the bone - jazz fused with rap. Roni Size, DJ Krust, Suv, Die, Onallee, and MC Dynamite come together in a techno-plosion that reaches into the body and tingles the nerve endings making a body move. Onallee's musical rap adds a touch missing from most similar groups. The title cut is an amazing soft-pedaling of the sound, but the clear hit is "Brown Paper Bag" - nine minutes of unique expression that bode well for the future.

Artist: Eden Street
Album: "Live From the Hill"
Label: A&M

Rating:

"Hill" as in Phoenix Hill Tavern, a well known oasis for cross-country band tours. Edenstreet's five song opus is reminiscent of many guitar-focused blues rock bands that cut their teeth in places just like this. Leader Tim Arlon spearheads the three guitar attack that at its best moments ("Burn Down" and "Union Blues") suggests comparisons to "Cream" and "Wishbone Ash." Nothing spectacular, but enjoyable for fans of the genre.

	Artist: Genesis Album: "Not About Us"(parts 1 & 2) Label: Virgin Rating:

Once again, Genesis has released a single in a two-part collectible package that makes it difficult if not impossible for fans like me to keep from running to the store to scoff up the non-album gems inside. This single, "Not About Us" is no exception. I thought "Not About Us" would be the first single from "Calling All Stations" -- it's the perfect song to showcase the album. It's a song about alienation between a couple, a theme that resurfaces throughout the album. Also, it's about the closest thing to an "unplugged" single Genesis has ever released. The pure, well played accoustic guitar and unassuming keyboards envelop the delicate power of the lyrics and make what should be a killer single.

But what about the extra stuff? Well, part one contains three (count 'em) tracks you won't find on "Calling All Stations". The first two probably belonged on the cutting room floor, but the last one, "Run Out of Time" is a definite keeper.

Part two consists of Three live tracks. "Dancing Out With the Moonlit Knight" (or at least the intro to this song) is another Gabriel era tease that leads me once again to marvel at just how much Wilson sounds like Genesis' original front man. A competant rendition of "Follow You Follow Me" is followed by "Not About Us" which is our first recorded taste of the 'new' Genesis doing current material live.

Once again, this is a collectors item and, as such, is probably not on the wish list for non-Genesis fans, but for those of us who simply must have it -- there's enough here to keep us from being disappointed!

	Artist: Libido Album: "Killing Some Dead Time" Label: Velvel Records Rating:

This is an interesting, kind of psychedelic debut CD from the Norwegian trio of Even Johansen, Cato Eikeland and Jorgen Landhaug. The music tends to be pretty run-of-the-mill Alt stuff, albeit with a little bit more melodic sense and variety than much of what's out there. Of special interest is the song "Strange News" which is an excellent, kind of Jazz-like piece, complete with brushed snare, that kind of rolls along like a wheel. Then there are other tracks like "Magic Mushroom Night" which . . . well, sort of speak for themselves. Not a bad disc, but nothing to get overly excited about either. If you happen to hear "Libido" on the radio and you like the sound, get the album -- it's pretty consistent.

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