MUST HEAR Napster, Labels Face Off In Court, On Capitol Hill Both sides in the digital music copyright oppose new technology, but sees Napster as debate recently squared off in Washington, •hindering the dissemination of music online. D.C. before the Senate Judiciary Committee, "How can we embrace anew format and sell our chaired by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). music for afair price when someone, with afew Witnesses included Napster CEO Hank lines of code and no investment costs, creative Barry, MP3.com CEO Michael Robertson, and input or marketing expenses, simply gives it Lars Ulrich, the drummer for Metallica, who has away?" Ulrich asked the committee. been one of Napster's most outspoken critics. The Metallica drummer specifically advo- Ulrich emphasized that Metallica does not cated legislation to keep (Continued on page 10) LUCKY STARS Judge Won't Dismiss Suit Against Sony Cuts 500 Promoters, Agents Staffers Worldwide A federal judge lias ruled that an antitrust and civil Sony Music Entel Liniment has rights suit filed by black concert promoters against ahost of announced that it will lay off near- major booking agencies and concert promotion companies ly 500 employees at its offices can go forward. around the world, representing 3.7 Judge Robert Patterson Jr. of the United States District percent of the company's 13,500 Court for the Southern District of New York refused to dismiss workers. The layoffs will cut across the case, Rowe Entertainment, Inc. et al. vs. The William all labels and divisions. Morris Agency, Inc, et al. The suit was filed by five black The company said that it was promoters who allege that they were prevented from book- "redirecting its resources on a ing concerts by booking agencies and (Continued on page 10) wo rldwide (Continued on page 10) ZURDOK Chris Knox On The 'Beat' With 1`31 THIS New Solo Outing `J. WEEK'S By Michael Dabaie record and performs 12 CMJ RADIO 200 Chris Knox, one most of the instru- MODEST MOUSE The Moon &Antarctica half of the legendary HIGH mentation, aug- Tall Dwarfs and one mented by brass 18 CORE RADIO of New Zealand's PROFILE and woodwinds MODEST MOUSE The Moon &Antarctica most eccentric from Neil Duncan 21 INTERNET BROADCAST exports, will release his lat- and Kingsley Melhuish, col- MODEST MOUSE The Moon &Antarctica est solo. platter, Beat, on lectively known as the Thirsty Ear Recordings later Salvation Army Horns. 21 INTERNET RETAIL this summer. Duncan also did the horn B.B. KING &ERIC CLAPTON Riding... Beat is Knox's eighth (Continued on page 11) 28 RPM TR AGENTS solo outing and his first SASHA & DIG WEED Communicate since 1997's YES!! He began his musical career in 1977 in 29 1;-,1 ALTERNATIVE the midst of the punk explo- LA LEY Uno sion as the singer for The 30 JAZZ Enemy, one of New CHARLIE HUNTER Charlie Hunter Zealand's first punk bands. Later, with Alec Bathgate, 31 BEAT BOX he formed Toy Love and the JURASSIC-5 "Quality Control" Tall Dwarfs, who last 32 TRIPLE A released an album in 1998. KOKO TAYLOR Royal Blue Knox produced the Knox 33 LOUD ROCK IN FLAMES Clayman THE LAST WORD: 34 NEW WORLD BEENIE MAN KING SUNNY ADE Seven Degrees... SATYRS PAGE 56 IN STORES JULY 18 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT MAVERICK PROMOTION AT (310) 385-6440 MUST HEAR THE ESSENTIAL RELEASES OF THE WEEK 14-,F SATYRS b 7 LUCKY STARS ZURDOK NERVE AGENTS SATYRS Hollywood &Western (Ipecac) Hombre Sintetizador (Manicomio/ Days Of The White Owl (Revelation) The Satyrs (Black Dog) The Lucky Stars are a dream Mercury -Universal Latino) The Nerve Agents have done an The Satyrs make their recorded come true for anyone with agood The industrial city of Monterrey, about face. The band's 1998 self- debut with a distinct and fully sense of humor and a deep love Mexico, home to such break- titled debut eerily recalled much evolved style that owes as much for Bob Wills. Self-proclaimed as through acts as Control Machete of the back catalog that helped to the drug-hazed rock under- "full-bore, rompin' stompin' and Plastilina Mosh, has become its label Revelation Records belly that spawned the Velvet honky-tonk," the group's take on the Seattle of the Latin alterna- sketch out the underground Underground as it does to the Western swing is so fully formed tive boom. At the center of this hardcore map. In fact, it seemed lonesome, Southern lifestyle of and genuine that it sounds like it city's musical crossroads, where like the band was trying to dupli- plaintive folks like Patsy Cline should be coming out of an Western youth culture collides cate history, as the Bay Area boys and Hank Williams. The Mem- antique radio (or playing in the with an open-air market of local took their sonic blueprint of phis trio's plodding tunes cre- background of a Roy Rogers pic- customs and sounds, is Zurdok, a blinding riffs and nasal, Ray atively combine old country with ture). Toeing a careful line group that has more of akinship Cappo-style vocals directly from melancholy rock to produce a between reverence and brilliant with Brit-pop and progressive the legendary straight-edge band moody, neo -American gothic parody — one sometimes gets the American indie rock than with Youth Of Today. Well, times are sound. As guitarist/vocalist Jason feeling that even the band isn't the fusionist tendencies of many a-changing for the Nerve Agents Paxton laments, wails and moans sure which it is, either — their of its rock en español brethren. — now the guys are pissed. The — his voice like a somewhat less sound and image are purely Recorded in an abandoned irascible Days Of The White Owl crazed and less sinister Nick authentic. The musicianship is house outside the city, Hombre pulls back completely from the Cave — the music looms behind top-notch (especially Jeremy Sintetizador (Synthesizer Man), classic hardcore sound. The like a specter moving in and out Wakefield's steel guitar), the the quintet's phenomenal sec- quintet is now madder than a of the shadows. The young band lyrics are hilarious, the fellas have ond album, is a dynamically tex- snarling pit bull, curling its rips captures fear, loss, hope, desper- names like "Whitey," "Sage" and tured recording on which sear- and baring its incisors to nip at ation, madness and longing in "Mooney," and their merchandise ing rock riffs and tranquil waves your heels with choleric, pugna- inventive, inspired musical ges- includes shot glasses, ashtrays and of analog synth-pop segue into a cious and anarchic punk freakin' tures — try not to be seduced pocket combs. Bona fide country landslide of dissonant tape rock. If you like your punk by the enveloping strike of atym- goodness. Recorded live in the loops, effects-heavy squalls of untainted by pop and ska influ- pani on "We Are One" or by the studio — just like they did it in feedback and angular guitar lay- ences, then Days Of The White pensive pace of keyboards on the old days — Hollywood ce West- ers. The results will no doubt Owl will restore your faith in "Tribute To The Great Joseph ern contains 11 originals (plus a please fans of both Pet Sounds wrathful music. While the Agents Carey Merrick." Simultaneously cover of Pee Wee King's high- and OK Computer alike, as its have added agothy edge to their stark and robust, The Satyrs is a steppin"Tennessee Tango") that luminous merger of jagged image (glopping on thick black slow dance with the soul. More- sound like they're 50 years old. experimentalism and classic pop eyeliner à la Misfits) they com- over, if the band maintains their This album is, as they say, perfect melodicism finds a compelling pletely sidestep trite Misfits-like ability to mesmerize, they are for "fueling athree-day bender or middle ground for both beauty conventions (like melody) for sure to only further perfect their soothing that fourth day hang- and noise. Let your mind float to sheer red-faced, wild-eyed fury. dark and chilling ways as they over." With these guys, Fantomas, the turbulent harmony of "Abre Either run for cover or for the mature. — Kelso Jacks Kid 606 and the Melvins, Ipecac Los Ojos," the epic 12-plus moshpit. — Amy Sciarretto now has one of the bravest rosters minute freak-out "Hombre Sinte- For Fans Of: Firewater, Sixteen Horsepower, in the business. — Amir Hijazi tizador II," and the album's stun- For Fans Of: The Explosion, Dag Nasty, Nick Cave &The Bad Seeds Black Flag, Misfits Recommended Tracks: "With You," "Dying ning downtempo closer, "Luna." Recommended Tracks: "Portland," "Off Away," "One Philosophy," "We Are One" For Fans Of: Bob Wills &His Texas Play- — Ron Hart boys, Hank Williams, Western swing Come The Blindfolds," "The Invincible," Contact: Team Clermont "Just AVisual" Phone: 888.548.TEAM Recommended Tracks: "Everybody's Fool," For Fans Of: Radiohead, Feo Fighters, Beta Contact: Jason Upright Email: radioeteamclermont.com "Look What the Cat Dragged In," "Get Off Band, Flaming Lips Phone: 714.375.4264 ext. 222 Release Date: July 11; at radio now Your High Horse," "Tennessee Tango" Recommended Tracks: "Abre Los Ojos," Email: [email protected] Meeting Data: U.S. tour begins in Sep- Contact: Greg Werckman "Hombre Sintetizador II," "El Tiempo Se Va Release Date: June 27; at radio now tember. Phone: 510.523.YACK I," "Luna" Marketing Data: Touring the U.S. through Email: [email protected] Contact: Vicky Cabildo August 8 Release Date: July 25; at radio now Phone: 818.972.5698 Marketing Data: The Lucky Stars were Email: [email protected] signed to Ipecac by the label's new head of Release Date: July 18; at radio now A&R, the Melvins' Buzz "King Buno" Marketing Data: U.S.