Spinoff

BA look at the latest releases

by John O'Neill

It's time once again to reach into the Phoenix mailbag to sort through a few of the newer releases sent our way. As always, we're more than happy to give your release hard-earned respect or, on occasion, a well-deserved spanking, so keep it comin'.

The Fathoms Overboard (MuSick)

18-song CD

The Fathoms, a former favorite at Ralph's, finally get back to business after a prolonged dormancy. Their 1996 one of the top surf albums ever recorded, which is no small feat. Unfortunately AVI suffered severe financial problems; the Fathoms received a good financial screwing, and Fathomless went quickly out of print.

MuSick Recordings to the rescue. With the Fathoms newest album (the label's sixth release), MuSick appears poised to join Estrus and Norton as one of the premiere rock-and-roll-championing indies.

The Fathoms, meanwhile, pick up right where they left off with an album that is stunning from top to bottom. It's easy to see why Goldmine Magazine considers these cats one of the 40 best surf bands of all time. Where most modern-surf combos either bring a modernized, less-traditional approach to their music, or do by-the-numbers covers, Frankie Blandino continues to write some of today's truly outstanding instros. The guitars shimmer and shiver with a "wet" reverb sound that comes straight from the California shore circa '61, and Dave Scholl's raunch sax adds a nice spy feel on "Race Against Time" and the strip-joint grinder "Hippo Hump."

With the brilliant Overboard, the Fathoms now compete with only Los Straightjackets and the Phantom Surfers as the primo instro act in the land and Blandino proves that he's not only one of the great all-around ax slingers but also a fine songwriter.

Jason James & the Bay State Houserockers

Six-song demo

These lads have been making a lot of noise on the Fitchburg circuit in the past year and with pretty good reason. The six songs on this ultra-raw release demonstrate a band who really want nothing more than a chance to rip it up, and maybe get paid when the night ends.

From the hillbilly delivery of "Rocket 88" to the oily ballad "My Heart Will Always Belong to You," the Houserockers come across as the more refined, Yankee cousins of the Flat Duo Jets, which is very high praise. They also sound like a band who aren't sure how to totally cut loose. Maybe it comes from an identity crisis of playing blues-friendly rooms where they get compared to George Thorogood and the Destroyers, or it's because they're young guys still learning what their direction is. The point is, you can't please everyone. Once these guys decide to concentrate on the wild-eyed rockin' they've shown their capable of, they'll be a band to look out for.

All Else Fails

Six-song demo

Perennial Cove favorites (this tape was recorded at Sir Morgan's this past January), All Else Fails do the hardcore thing along the same line as Hatebreed and, well, lots of their contemporaries. You know -- somewhat punk in a fuck-off attitude kind of way, somewhat metal in song structure, and lots of really aggressive vocals.

With titles like "Relationshit," "Strength In Numbers," and "Street Level Honesty," these guys have plenty to rail about and even more to say. With a pulverizing attack of pounding drums, thumping bass, and buzzsaw guitar (bonus points for a general lack of solos!), All Else Fails deliver their sonic missives with unrelenting conviction, which really is the bottom line.

The Meltaways Solid Grey (Electroslug)

13-song CD

Flat Stanley drummer Ron Belanger returns to town with a couple of pals from Boston and a jones for pop-rock the way the Goo Goo Dolls serve it up. The result, Solid Grey, couldn't be more appropriately titled. While the effort is very solid from a point of melody and dynamics, the songs are often weighted down by the unsettling forgetability of guitarist Rick Shaws's lyrics. Always reaching, they generally seem to want to say more than they need to. In the case of "Onion Man," it's just painful.

There are some real highlights, however. "Wounded Star" jangles and crunches in all the right places, "Crutch" (the only number cowritten by Belanger) rolls along with a country-tinged flavor, and "Brand New Heart" has a super, '60s-pop vibe.

All in all, a well-crafted release, just one that isn't going to stick in your craw for very long.

Best Music Poll update 

The only music poll in Wormtown with its thumb on the pulse of the hip and happening (and yes, there is beat, thank you) is heating up rather nicely, so don't be left out. If you really believe that we've given Brooks & Dunn the shaft, mobilize your forces, damn it! Send in the ballot enclosed in this very paper or vote in person at a Phoenix ballot night. This week the Plantation Club does the honors on March 26, and Dinny's does the same on March 28. Don't forget you only have until April 16 to vote.