Civijnew Music Re 1Oft
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CIVIJNew Music Re 1 oft JULY 26 1999 ISSUE 628 VOL. 59 NO. 6 WWW.CMJ.COM MUST HEAR WIVIG Tests Digital Download Market In an effort to test the existing market for downloadable music, the Warner Music Group (WMG) is making music by 23 of its artists on its roster available for digital download through var- ious online outlets. Atlantic Records is offering free downloads of four songs through CDnow: "Man With The Hex" (Atomic Fireballs), "Candy" (Martin Sexton), "Not Today" (Jump Little Children) and apreviously unreleased live version of Sugar Ray's hit "Every Morning." The songs, available in Microsoft's Window Media Technology 4.0 format, have been programmed to expire 15 days after they are downloaded. This set of downloads marks the first time that CDnow has offered major-label digital downloads through its Web site. Like Amazon.com's free music download area and BarnesandNoble.com's newly launched music space (see story on page 4), CDnow plans to launch its own free music download site by the end of the month. CDnow CEO Jason Ohm told News.com that his company will soon "take the lead in terms of digital transactions and downloads." LOS LOBOS CDnow.com's long-term plan is to make everything on its site available for (Continued on page 13) Tom Maxwell Leaves Squirrel Universal Is Top Nut Zippers Distributor In Singer/songwriter Tom Maxwell has left the North Carolinian retro-jazz outfit Squirrel Nut Zippers. Maxwell, First Half Of '99 who has been a member of the band since their debut According to SoundScan sta- album, 1995's The Inevitable, parted amicably with the tistics, Universal Music and Video group. In a release from Mammoth, the Zippers's label, Distribution (UMVD) remained Maxwell offered his reasoning: "I can say in all honesty that the leading U.S. music distributor I left with an open heart, harboring neither nor during the first half of this year, as resentment. Basically, all things must pass and it was time reported by Billboard. UMVD was to go... .In my letter to my bandmates (Continued on page 13) the top (Continued on page 13) LAI1N1B ta Tiir VERVi Pi" G. Love And Special Sauce Explore o THIS Their Hip-Hop Roots On Fourth Album û. WEEK'S By Ron Hart "Jazz" Prescott and (IIriorrict On August Jeffery "The 14 CMJ RADIO 200 10, Philadelphia Houseman" Clemens MOBY Play hip-hop blues- has rejoined the fold 20 CORE RADIO men G. Love and HIGH after sitting out the MOBY Play Special Sauce will last album, 1997's PROFILE 22 INTERNET BROADCAST release their Yeah, It's That Easy. CIBO MATTO Stereo Type A fourth album on OKeh- Philadelphonic is also the Epic, Philadelphonic. The title band's most hip-hop-orient- 22 INTERNET RETAIL of the album is derived from (Continued on page 13) LIMP BIZKIT Significant Other the term that Love uses to 29 RPM VERVE PIPE define his group's five-year- CHEMICAL BROTHERS Surrender old hybrid of hip-hop, funk, 34 LOUD ROCK o-vo.royal astrorarn, jazz and blues. The term is SLIPKNOT Slipknot also the name of the compa- 32 TRIPLE A ny he and his manager Jason VARIOUS ARTISTS Return Of The Grievous... Brown co-own. 30 BEAT BOX The new album sees the return of the original Special GZA/GENIUS "Breaker Breaker" Sauce lineup. Bassist Jimi 33 JAZZ DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND Buck Jump 31 NEW WORLD THE LAST WORD: IBRAHIM FERRER Buena Vista Social Club Presents FLAMING LIPS 21 COMMERCIAL ALTERNATIVE PAGE 56 RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS "Scar Tissue" DONT YOU BELIEVE JUST LOUIE WHAT YOU HEAR. WHEN SOMETHINGS LIARS INC. GROOUIH" 1-111111119 uTnn vI II's u "DISTORT" ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, , • , -• ; — •,• •••• . • - II •••', -•• ;• ' „. _ .., a ir !SUPERIADEVI The debut album featuring Set It Down, Mentally Dull and Orange. Their debut album featuring Anybody. College Radio Add Date: August 2 and 3 DON'T JUST MINCE. Produced by Matt Hyde & Ralle Management: Scot McCracken for DAS Communications, Ltd. Original Production by Ian Caple www.vitro-uk.com ColIege Radio Add Date: July 26 and 27 www.americanrecordings.com www.liarsinc.com www.foodchainrecords.com FOODCIA111 indeperdenie www.columbiarecords.com ame» © 1999 American Recording Company, L.L.C. -FoodchaIn Records" is a registered trademark of Foodchaln Records, L.L.C.PColumbla" and 0 Reg. U.S. Pat. Tm. Off. Marca RegistindaJO 1999, 1999 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. For More Information Contact: 'Foci at Columbia (212) 833-5118 [email protected] MUST Ilea11 THE ESSENTIAL RELEASES OF THE WEEK T. Va.'s PIP, r1.13 ban.• LOS LOBOS LAMB VERVE PIPE This Time (Hollywood) Fear Of Fours The Verve Pipe (RCA) Royal Astronomy (Astralwerks) .4t Since 1994, when Los Lobos's (Fontana/Mereury-IDJMG) So why does aband, after three On his latest full-length chief songwriters David Hidalgo Of all the bands that came albums, decide to get all endeavor, Michael Paradinas and Louie Pérez began the Latin crawling out of the trip-hop eponymous on its fourth? In the (a.k.a. p-Ziq) brings his disjointed Playboys, their extracurricular canyon created by Portishead's case of the Verve Pipe, the self- alien sonatas abit closer to Earth. affair with producers Mitchell groundbreaking sampler-and-a- titled release is being used as anew While most of his past efforts came Froom and Tchad Blake, the music siren methodology, Britain's Lamb launch pad. The pride of East across as erratic opuses of of Los Lobos has only continued to may be the movement's least Lansing, Michigan's second major- "bedroom electronica" with few evolve and flourish. Considering imitative, and most interesting label album is an attempted and reference points that could that 1992's Kiko was good enough entity. Fusing the sweet, pixie-like successful reinvention of its be mistaken as human, Royal to ensure the group aplace in the demeanor of vocalist Louise reputation — these guys want Astronomy draws its inspiration Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (cast Rhodes with the restless percussive people to view them not as some from the delicate hum of chamber your vote in 2008!), building on textures of programmer Andy one-hit wonder, but as evolving strings and the street-smart that quality is no small feat. This Barlow, Fear Of Fours sounds like a musicians who are worthy of alittle swagger of turntable-worshipping Time is a prime example of how meeting between two considerably studio indulgence (see also b-boys. Tracks such as "Seeing," Los Lobos has masterfully disparate personalities — like Joni Radiohead). Producer Michael "Slice" and "Scrape" boast nary a crossbred the deep roots of rock, Mitchell being produced by Tricky, Beinhorn (Soundgarden, Hole) hint of electronic manipulation. A Tex-Mex and R&B. The blistering let's say. The results are does more for the Verve Pipe than chorus of strings takes the helm, "Viking" is essentially a simple surprisingly organic, however, just bring up the drums on such trading in digital blips for amerry blues song, but Hidalgo's thanks to Barlow's sinuous, jazzy radio-friendly tracks as "Hero." symphonic overture. With their overdriven riffs and Steve Berlin's approach to inconspicuously This richly detailed effort's perfect synthetic melodies and hints of tight, greasy horn playing make arranging live sounds (stand-up measure of excess (note the hyper-kinetic techno/drum 'n' the track as devilishly funky as any bass, strings, horns) around Mellotron on "In Between") allows bass, "Carpet Muncher" and Latin Playboys experiment. But the fluttering drums and darkly Brian Vander Ark's dramatic songs "Autumn Living" are closer to band doesn't always need to reach suggestive digital accents. Just as to sound as deep, as emotional and expected, instrumental p-Ziq beyond its usual grasp to get the vital are Rhodes's strangely as prog-rock as he would like. Fans territory, while "The Fear" does job done; much of This Time is just pinched vocals, which glide over of "alternative rock" will dig The the unthinkable by basing itself on solidly grooving rock music that and caress the instrumental tracks Verve Pipe's tight, gritty rockers, bona fide singing. But while the shows off the skills of its master like an ethereal firefly. while classic rock lovers will variety of recognizable samples craftsmen. From the mellow R&B Occasionally her singing shapes applaud the band's decision to and influences on Royal Astronomy statement of the title track to Cesar Barlow's more abstract surround those potential hits with makes it Paradinas's most Rosas's sliky "Cumbia Raza," This meanderings into deliriously passionate, brooding, melodic accessible release to date, the Time is yet another one of Los strung-out soul, while at other songs, rather than with filler. album retains an odd demeanor Lobos's multi-faceted, bi-lingual times, her silky coo leads the tracks — Steve Ciabattoni and an extraterrestrial touch that triumphs. — Steve Ciabattoni into pop territory. In both cases, allows its creator to reside in a Barlow's trackmaking remains For Fans Of: Live, Pearl Jam, Everclear, Bob galaxy far, far away from his Mould For Fans Ot Latin Playboys, Blasters, Rob- wisely open-ended, allowing contemporaries. — M. Tye Comer Recommended Tracks: "Supergig," "Hero," bie Robertson, John Hiatt Rhodes to cater her performance (first single), "Headlines," "Generations," Recommended Tracks: "This Time" (first For Fans Of: Aphex Twin, Plaid, Autechre to the emotional whims of the "She Has Faces," "La La" single), "Viking," "Corazón" "Turn Around" Recommended Tracks: "The Fear," "Motor- melodies and samples. Post-3 a.m. Contact: John Di Maio Contact: Will Knapp bike," "Carpet Muncher," "The Hwicci" lounge crawlers should consider Phone: 212.930.6697 Phone: 800.603.3043 Contact: Crystal Stephens Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] themselves blessed.