915 .. ·~ . new tnustc• Ivan Bodley 37 TargetzAnd it Burns "Okay all ofyou rock and roll hopefulls and Exploding out of Chattanooga, TN. not cookie/and morons, let me tell you a few things unlike their infamous locomotive, And it about my favorite industry. " - Joe Burns, produced by former R.E.M. producer Pop-o-pie Don Dixon, is another massive debut lp. Their uniquely targeted song "Ring of Fire" It is easy to adopt Joe's cynicism about this is a much-covered song from the Carter­ wild and crazy business we call "music" but I Cash family's repertoire and immediately hope I can offer some spark in the void that is gives the listener insight as to just where the industry we call "recording." these four young men are shooting from. I am often asked, "Hey, Ivan, what's Their sound conjures up images of the Alarm, new," and am equally often reduced to a Mignight Oil and other new music rockers shivering mass of molten cholesterol as my while remaining unique and innovative. brain overloads at the sheer volume of the Cruzados Cruzados new releases each week. So I've spent some A major label debut for this four man outfit time meditating high atop our broadcast formerly known as the Plugz, Cruzados is tower to collect my thoughts so I can offer quickly indentified as a fusion of several West only a few of my favorites. Coast sounds including Mexican, surf rock, What is This What is This punk and good old rock and roll. This project Now reduced to a trio, this Hollywood­ is amazingly accessible and well produced, based outfit combines tasteful and effective not unlike a harder rocking yet smoother elements of funk, rock and soul to create their cruising Los Lobos. If you've ever driven unique polyrhythmic and delicately melodic around in your VW wishing that it was a low sound. Easily one of the strongest albums of rider, or grooved to the L.A. sounds of War, the decade, What is This features a wide or just fiestaed with the best ofthem, Cruzados spectrum of grooves from "Stack", the al­ are for you. bum's haul-ass rocker, to "I'll Be There", an Fear More Beer eloquent treatment of the old Spinner's hit They're back and they're bigger, meaner and the album's first single,as well as such and crustier than ever. Mter a four-year haunting slow melodies as "Whisper" and recording hiatus and an offical breakup, "Breathing". For further fulfillment of your hardcore demi-gods Fear have regrouped new-found What is This addiction, also and are ready to rumble. Have a Beer with check out What is This 3 out of 5 live EP Fear and More Beer illistrate their drunken available soon in extremely limited quantities. revelry ala their classic, Let's Have a War. It feature live versions of two songs from Extremely accesssible rock accentuates this What is This, studio versions of these same resurfacing of a destruction unit second to songs and a live version of "Mind My Still none. Have I" from their debut EP Squeezed of Well, that's my two cents. I wish you last year. happy listening and encourage you to purchase Nicholas Tremulis Nicholas Tremulis music you like, demostrating your support This is a beautifully done and rock solid for the artist you love. debut LP from this rather weighty Chicago­ based soul-man. Tremulis cranks on up tempo funk rockers such as "Fight for Love" and "You Haven't Done Nothing", a Stevie Wonder cover, and croons on the gut-wrench­ ing soul ballad, "Part of the the Scene". A wonderfully listenable LP, Nicholas Trem­ ulis has smooth hom arragements and tight inst:-Pmentals to complement the sheer vocal force of Tremulis. '·· ALL YOU CAN DRINK!! $ 00 at 2400 Tulane Ave. NICK'S 822-9907 During Monday Night Football Gamel FREE DRINK COUPON NICK'S revtews• album maintains a level of power that makes killer band. I recommend it to anyone who this album rock from start to finish. loves progressive music. People who listen to This an excellent album for those interested punk or hardcore might also want to chec;k in an introduction to Go-Go or just looking out this or any other Mission of Burma for a record to round out their funk collection. releases - Jeremy Kaplan For those who love this band, this album brings back great memories and for those of you just dicovering Mission of Burma, The Horrible Truth About Burma is a great Mission of Burma The Horrible Truth ' introduction. This is definitely a killer album About Burma to get up and dance the "greenhoot" to. Boston's own Mission of Burma is back. - Larry R£chmond Well, at least posthumously. On the recently released live album of their final tour, The Horrible Truth A bout Burma, these dons Matt Bianco Whose Side Are You On? of highly original music have given to the public an excellent example of the very While gazing at the cover of Matt Bianco's unique, jamming style that was Mission of Whose Side Are You On?, one could easily Burma. be unjustly misled into thinking that this is This quartet had a sound which some another British new wave band. However, critics claimed was highly influenced by the Matt Bianco is a highly sophisticated group 1977 onslaught of British punk, while others that lingers in the gray area between jazz and viewed the band as unique, particularly due light rock. to the use of caustic vocals and instrument Simply saying that this group reminds one distortion coupled with Martin Swope's tactic of early Joe Jackson is not enough. The of manipulating tape loops both in the studio musicians employed on this album are much and in concert. Even though they recorded more than skilled players because many of on an independent record label, Ace of them, like most clever jazz musicians, are Hearts Records, Mission of Burma over the exceptional improvisers. years has developed a cult following both in From the title cut, "Who8e Side Are You the Boston area and across the nation among On," to the last song, "Matt's Mood II," this those who enjoy progressive, agressive and album proves to be one of this year's most abrasive rock. pleasant musical surprises. Bianco tends to I love this type of music and I love Mission sound like Roxy Music or Bryan Ferry in the of Burma. The band attacks every song with relaxing and totally enjoyable "More Than I ferocity. While listening to this album I got Can Bear." Then, the album quickly dives the feeling that I was in front of the stage into the realm of Brazilian jazz with the Latin watching them play. Unlike many live albums, sounding "No No Never" and the extremely The Horrible Truth A bout Burma is not impressive "Half a Minute" (which may be merely a collection of remixed multi-tracked the best cut.) Once again they shift gears with cuts. This album is no-frills rock and roll and, the be-bop sounds in "Get out of your Lazy believe me, it rocks hard. "Peking Spring" is Bed" and the slick vocals on "It's getting a wonderful inclusion on this album because Late." The instrumentals ("Matt's Mood I" it captures the syncopated and anarchic, yet and "Matt's Mood II') are slightly repetitive somewhat orchestrated live sound of the but feature interesting solos which make band. On the instrumental "Tremelo" and them far from filler material. "Dumbells" the band demonstrates their Overall, every recording is at least aceept- mastery of their instruments and their ability · able and at most captivating. As for the groul­ to create new sounds to augment their music. M.att Bianco, there is no limit to their capabil­ It is amazing to hear what they can do with hies and one nopes their next album will 'e drums, guitar, bass and a reel-to-reel tape -:!ven half as original: recorder. This is an amazing album released by a - Mike Lancaster revtews• Untouchables Wild Child funky beat and the ever present word of this year, "freak." Also full of American soul are Oh, yes, Americans are in touch; just look two exceptional cuts on the second side, at the Untouchables, with their newest release "Piece of Your Love" and "Soul Together". Wild Child. The Untouchables are from The new version of"What's Gone Wrong" L.A. and with their ska sounds, are easily has more of an authentic reggae beat, although keeping with their mod tradition. Brothers it lacks in its former earnestness and seems and sisters across the continent, wearily pop enough to make it to the Top 40 airwaves. awaiting some new tunes to tap to, can now (Not a nice thing to say, but the older version hop on their scooters and ride to purchase a was charismatic and made your adrenelin full album of ska. flow.) "Free Yourself'' remains intact in all Released under Stiff Records (MCA), the its grea~ness, however, advocating a strong LP contains eleven cuts, two of which are old will and unbound soul. successes, "Free Yourself'' and "What's Gone Wild Child is a wonderful production of Wrong". The album on the whole is explosive the Untouchables, proving them to be instru­ and yet smoothly compiled. Topping the mentally proficient and even quite talented. 'TUL charts at present is "I Spy for the Futhermore, it chirps the seemingly common F.B.I.", a very noisy and danceable mix with mod theme that a happy heart is won by great horns which is the lead cut off the dance, song and laughter and should be the album.