ALTERNATIVE unadulturated power, and I guaran- New Releases tee you'll go giddy with the rush. THE LONDON SUEDE Life should be this good. College Albums "The Wild Ones" (Columbia) -LINDA RYAN So you LOVE & A 45 VELO-DELUXE edge samples. The nucleus of blue - think Soundtrack (Immortal/Epic) SUPERELASTIC (MAMMOTH, CARR MILL screen is Pete Scaturro (producer you've got Described to me as a -white-trailor- 2ND FLOOR, CARRBORO, NC 27510) for Disposable Heroes of these guys trash- sort of movie, Love & A 45 Guitarist John Strohm has finally Hiphoprisy) on Hammond organ, all figured boasts a soundtrack full of gems- shed the Blake Babies' legacy; after Brain (ex-Limbomaniacs/Praxis) on out, eh? A new gems, older gems and classic six years, he's fronting a band sans skins, Joe Gore on guitar and bit of '70s gems. I guess it was only a matter Blakes (wife Freda was a member Oakland -based programmer BLK glam and of time before someone covered of Antenna, Strohm's post -Hatfield Lion on samples and noises. a whole Nazareth's classic from the '70s. alliance). Strohm's new ensemble, Additional folks like RHCP bassist lotta This version has been "updated" Velo-Deluxe, offers a debut record Flea and gorefiend/guitar anti-hero camp, and turned into a duet between that draws from several oft -tapped Buckethead pop up on various right? One The Breeders' Kim Deal and alternative -rock wells, but it bor- tune, which makes for an eclectic listen to Guided By Voices' Bob Pollard- rows with so much enthusiasm and and wholly unpredictable record. Suede's and I can't think of two people bet- wonder, Strohm's songwriting The first single, "Personals," is a new sin- ter suited for this task. It's priceless. seems obviously inspired rather hyperelectrozoidal romp through gle, "The It's also one of the few completely than overtly influenced. personal ads, featuring Hassell Wild new tracks offered on the sound- Superelastic's self -titled first track spewing out rich tonal washes as Ones." track, which is so full of already - boasts skipping drums and cymbals recorded phone messages weave will have you re-evaluating your released favorites, I can't imagine juxtaposed with jangle and wah- their way in and out of the groove. perspective; and most likely, you'll anyone not treasuring it immediate- wah, and the combo's anchored by For "Zeitgeist" gentle fuzz guitar is come away with a newfound ly. Other faves include contribu- Strohm's always -melodic vocal. curdled into Hassell's atonal blurts respect for Brett Anderson and tions from The Jesus And Mary "Vello-Deluxe" offers Polvo-y spuzz along with a mixture of live drum- company. I know -The Wild Chain, Roger Miller, Flaming Lips, (mixed down to a backdrop), fron:- ming and pre-programmed beats. Ones's" songwriting credit says Meat Puppets, Mazzy Star, Johnny ed by Strohm's paisley/retro-ish (a Midway through the track, Hassell Anderson/Butler, but I swear it Cash and The Reverend Horton la the Posies or Gigolo Aunts) tosses off static -enhanced trumpet could've been written by Lee Heat. Quite a collection, no? Have vocal track, while "Simple's" intro riffs, resulting in a swirling hypnot- Hazelwood or Glen Campbell-youfun with this one-that's what it's flexes a Mudhoney muscle, then ic aural seance. On "Buzzword" know, classic country songwriters there for. -LINDA RYAN fades into Smashing Pumpkins- Buckethead's liquidic bass lines that sing forlorn tales steeped in CRANES esque breezy, fuzzy psychedelia. combine with thick 4/4 drum beats "what might've begins." And please, Loved (Dedicated/Arista) However, "Dirtass" is my personal to churn out a chugging rhythm. I'm not saying Suede have gone Championing an operatic mesh of fave, a track pieced together from Dressing For Pleasure is a sonically country. I'm just saying "The Wild distorted guitar, lithe vocals and remnants of the Flaming Lips, Roky cool document containing a myriad Ones" is more serious songwritng expansive percussion comes natu- Erickson and Rob Younger that of influences and styles merged effort. A wistful air of romance rally to the Cranes on their third offers a processed vocal, the "F" into a transcendental slice of "4th hangs in the air-a far cry from the album. Unlike records that seem to word, rad toms in the break and World" and inter -dimensional tawdry lust that clung to many narrow down and fold into shad- the lyric, "I feel sick and I feel fusion. -SPENCEDOOKEY songs on the band's debut. Just ows of repetition, Loved blooms dirty/Might be dead before I'm thir- beautiful. )A RYAN like a hungry venus fly trap. ty." Also notable is "Alibi," an ele( CHRIS VON SNEIDERN SPELL "Shining Road" swims and glitters tric and jangly tune that, at first, BIG WHITE LIES (HEYDAY RECORDS, "Superstar" (Island) with bold counter rhythms, epic seems like it might have been 2325 3RD ST. #3339, Island's not officially going for adds strings and Alison Shaw's lavish penned by Evan Dando; later, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107) until next week, but since I love vocals. I listened to it three times though, it flows into a shoegazy, In these days of narrowly defined this song so much and so many of before I could even fathom going My Bloody Valentine mood. formats and constant schisms, it's you already added it this week, I to the next cut. A sparse acoustic "Angels" explores another hard to find artists who are well - figured what the hell. Spell are a guitar kicks off "Reverie" and by avenue-bluesy, Black Crowes-y received across the board. Chris super -tight three-piece from the time it hits the straightaway it's southern -type rock that's complete Von Sneidem's instantly accessible Denver, who describe their music striding with marching drums and a with sexy horns. Perhaps power pop appeals to A3, Top 40 as "sexually -charged noise pop gnashing distorted guitar. The title Superelastic refers to Velo-Deluxe s and alternative ears the same way energy." "Superstar" is one of those song is tweaked with a "Boris The capabilities, 'cause John Strohm's Big Star or the Beatles do. A swirl songs so perfect in form it sends Spider" bass and drums that sound latest outfit manages to try on a lot of beautific vocal harmonies winds shivers up your spine. It's the like banging on the lid of a tinker of hats during these twelve tracks. through "On My Hands," and the archetypal feel good, alternative - toy® can. A xylophone paces "Paris And you know what? They wear interplay between a Byrds-like gui- leaning power pop song. And And Rome" and then another one `em well. -SEANA BARLITH tar and polished drums testifies to yeah, I guess you could say it's rife hovers over the top and solos a the power of understated produc- with "sexually -charged noise pop melody. After the main fireworks JON HASSELL AND tion. "Hard Again's" chorus features energy." "Superstar" reeks with three alternate mixes of songs offer BLUESCREEN soaring vocals, and the title track's pure, behind -the -scenes dissections DRESSING FOR PLEASURE chorus will have feet tapping in and aural reassembling. I'm (WARNER BROS. RECORDS, spite of themselves. Other chest- still kicking myself for 8300 WARNER BLVD., BURBANK CA nuts include the minstrel -smooth missing the Cranes live, 01505-4694) "Doctor" and a straightforward and Loved reignites my A longtime master of minimalistic reading of Bread's "Everything I desire to see trumpeteering, Hassell has worked Own." The CD-ROM interactive them. with , The , liner notes version contains two -DAVID and The Kronos unreleased tracks and blows a lot BERAN Quartet. This time out Hassell & of the bloated -budget interactive Co. create an exciting blend of cool stuff away. Big White Lies promptei neo-futuristic vibes by mixing my going back to listen to CVS's together live music with cuttling- previous record (great, too) and that's a statement-DAvio BERAN Spell By Seana Baruth

GAVIN OCTOBER 21, 1994 59