New Release Reviews (Rating Scale 1-5)

Artist: Social Distortion

Title: White Light - White Heat - White Trash

Label: Epic

Released: 9/96

Available: All Major Record Stores

Reviewed By: Mary Ellen Gustafson

Rating: 5

The first time I listened to "White Light - White Heat - White Trash" I was hooked immediately. There are very few bands that can do that, but this is one Awesome CD! From the first track, "Dear Lover," to the last, a surprise track not listed on the cover, "WLWHWT" blows away any rock, metal, punk, industrial, or any other album of this nature I've heard in a long time.

Mike Ness - guitar, vocals, Dennis Dannell - guitar, John Maurer - bass and Chuck Biscuits - drums, is SOCIAL DISTORTION. Quoting Mike Ness, "I have to live life - the rights, the wrongs, the ups and downs - pain has always been a good motivator for me. I'm still convinced that it's hard to write a good album when everything is going great." This statement is evident in the lyrics and power conveyed by Ness' vocals in the songs on this album. Although their earlier albums, "Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell" and "Social Distortion" were more influenced by primal 50's country and rockabilly. "White Light - White Heat - White Trash" draws it's primary inspiration from the first wave (1975-79) of American punk rock.

The song "When The Angels Sing" was written by Ness about the loss of his maternal grandmother in December '93. As he puts it, "My feelings came out more on that song than what I felt at the actual funeral." The lyrics in the chorus of this very powerful song (Stand up strong, feel the pain, when the angels sing. Love and death don't mean a thing 'til the angels sing.) really brings life itself down to the bottom line. The first single and video from the album, "I Was Wrong," reveals a look back at teenage alienation and frustration leading to "evil ways" and self destructive behavior, with an admission that the older man realizes he should have paid attention to warnings in his youth.

I should mention that the entire CD has a heavy, driving, brutally effective rhythm that is a perfect background to Ness' vocals, full of all the pain, anger and jubilation in his lyrics. Other notable tracks are "Don't Drag Me Down," "Untitled," "Down On The World Again," "Pleasure Seeker," and my personal favorite "Crown of Thorns" - about being alone, "knowing then what I know now. . ." and that love is "no bed of roses, it ain't no crown of thorns. Better than lonely, I've been there before."

If you're already a fan of "Social Distortion," this is a must have. If you haven't heard them before, this is definitely the CD to start with!

Artist: Qkumba Zoo

Title: Wake Up & Dream

Label: Arista

Available: Most Major Record Stores

Reviewed By: Robert Lewis

Rating: 4

The first time I heard this disc, I thought Qkumba Zoo was just another Techno-Pop, dance club band. On subsequent samplings however, I realized there is something deeper, something really original about these three South Africans and I began to understand why "Wake Up and Dream" has gone Platinum in their own country. Instrumentally, the sound is very British. I was immediately reminded of the grooves Pet Shop Boys made famous, but musical front-man Owl has taken the familiar sound to a new level. With complex rhythms and subtle native nuances in the melodies, this trio breaks new ground in a musical genre that many consider dead or dieing. The lead singer and Lyricist (Levannah) posesses a voice which is at once familiar and completely original. Her lyrics span the spectrum from whimsical to dark and mysterious. Several songs reflect the incredible changes which have occcurred in South Africa over the last half-decade.

What makes "Wake Up and Dream" great? Every song has a hook that brought me back again and again. After listening only twice, I couldn't get the melody of "Big", an upbeat Go-Go's type song, out of my head. Whether it's the environmentally friendly "Happy Earth Day" or the anti-Apartheid "Weeping", these songs left me spellbound. Though the name may be obscure, Qkumba Zoo has made their way into my regular music rotation! This is not stale synthesizer riffs, this is real quality music.

Artist: Az Yet

Title: Az Yet

Label: LaFace

Release Date: 10/29/96

Available: Most Major Record Stores

Reviewed By: Mary Ellen Gustafson

Rating: 4

A new entry into the Soul/R&B market is the band "Az Yet." Called Babyface's dream team, their debut number one single, "Last Night" (written and produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds), soared to the top of the R&B and Hot 100 Billboard charts. It's also on the original motion picture soundtrack from the hit movie "The Nutty Professor," starring Eddie Murphy. Now the single starts the lineup on their debut self-entitled album, "Az Yet."

For those who appreciate smooth harmonies, voice ranges from the bottom of your toes to the top of your head, and mellow love songs, this is the album for you. Dion Allen, Darryl Anthony, Marc Nelson, Shawn Rivera and Kenny Terry are AZ YET. With influences from R&B, jazz, blues, hip hop and gospel that the members bring to this group, they have achieved a sound that's top of the line. To quote Babyface, "Az Yet is one of the most talented groups to ever come along. When they sing, it becomes magic. This group is destined for success. Not only can they sing, but they also write, produce and arrange." Az Yet is unique in their mix of influences, and their sound defies labeling.

In addition to their hit single, other notable tracks include "Saved For Someone Else" which demonstrates their tremendous vocal range. "Every Little Bit of My Heart" is a much more up tempo number that invites you to get up and dance. Their cover of "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is almost better than the original and the beautiful harmonies make this one of the best tracks on the CD.

"Through My Heart (The Arrow)" and "Sadder Than Blue" are real cheek to cheek slow dance numbers. My personal favorite, "Secrets," is a very different number than the rest of the songs on the album. It's an off tempo, minor key, harmonic tune exhibiting the talent of each of the vocalists. Expect to see this group go far in the future. Their sound is exciting, although somewhat similar to other groups. My only reason for not rating this a 5 is that there is too much similarity among the songs on this album, with the exception of "Every Little Bit of My Heart" and "Secrets." Still, it's worth effort for a debut album, and if you want a little romance in the background this CD surely fits the bill.

Artist: Primitive Reason

Title: Alternative Prison

Label: Uniao Lisboa

Available: Specialty Music Stores

Reviewed By: Robert Lewis

Rating: 3

In a world where every band sounds like some other band, it's not very often you come across a one that is truly original. Primitive Reason is. Try to put them in a category -- you'll be wrong every time. Each song contains fusions of several different musical styles: Ska; Reggae; Hard Core; you name it, it's probably there! Such dramatic changes of style within individual tracks could make for a very difficult set of songs, but Primative Reason manages to pull it off and make the tunes into something really different, but in a good way.

The five member band hails from Portugal, though only the Guitarist, Mikas, is native. The rest come from various parts of the world, making this band truly multicultural. Most impressive on "Alternative Prison" is the saxophone stylings of Mark Caine. His contribution, in my opinion, is the glue that holds the album together. Since Primitive Reason relies on musical diversity in their songs, Caine's riffs are often used to lead from one musical style into another. He carries this out to perfection, smoothing many rough edges that might make for some difficult listening were the sax missing. The use of Caine's sound, in places where you wouldn't normally expect to hear a sax, further differentiates Primative Reason from other bands.

As original as I found "Alternative Prison" to be, there are some minuses. While I was wowed at first by the absolute originality of the music, eventually the thing that made the music original made it challenging. The lyrics are sharp and sometimes ascerbic, but vocalist Brian Jackson doesn't have the greatest voice in the world and the lyrics were often buried deep beneath the music. This isn't radio music; the songs don't lend themselves to getting stuck in peoples' heads. I can't think of a single title that stands out on its own merits, though the album as a whole makes a bold, original statement.

All the minuses aside however, I would still recommend "Alternative Prison" to anyone wanting to hear something that's really different. If that's what you're after, you'll get what you paid for in a big way!

Artist: Linda Perry

Title: In Flight

Label: Interscope

Released: 9/96

Available: Most Major Record Stores

Reviewed By: Mary Ellen Gustafson

Rating: 4

Linda Perry, former lead vocalist of the popular band "4 Non Blondes," has reinvented herself and embarked on a solo career. Her debut album, "In Flight," is a far cry from the music produced by "4 Non Blondes." This is not the heavy, off the wall sound fans were used to. Perry's solo venture sprang from a need to go in a different direction than the band, and the change is a radical switch from the rawness and agression of "4 Non Blondes."

A singer/songwriter in her own right, Perry not only sings on this release, but also wrote the twelve songs and plays guitar, piano and bass on top of that. There is quite an impressive range of talent in this young woman. In a quote from PEOPLE magazine, they state "In this era of angry young women, Perry stands out because she turns her ugly experiences into beautiful music." This is very apparent on "In Flight." Although the lyrics may be angst ridden, the music itself, and Perry's interpretaion, fall almost (but not quite) into the soft rock category.

"In Flight" is a quiet, thoughtful album - a much more relaxed presentation than Perry's former recordings. Although she has a beautiful voice, the range she exhibited in songs such as "What's Up" while still with the band, the special way she used her voice as an instrument to produce an effect, is toned down considerably. But, it is still noticable in the first and last tracks on the CD - "In My Dreams" and "In Flight." A duet with Grace Slick on the number "Knock Me Out," has a real bluesy feel to it, and is also included on "The Crow - City of Angels" soundtrack. Other notable tracks include "Life In A Bottle," "Taken" and "Fruitloop Daydream."

If you liked Linda Perry while a member of "4 Non Blondes," you may find this a most intrigueing change of pace from her. Perry is on tour in support of "In Flight" right now, and the remaining tour dates are listed below.

Thursday 12/12/96	Los Angeles, CA	Roxy
Sunday 12/15/96	San Diego, CA	Belly Up Tavern

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