Score! Indepth_CD_Reviews Home Score@ScoreRocks.com Search
[Back] [Home] [Email] [Search]

Top Quality Rock & Roll Sampler

by May Wiseman
June 2003

(A compilation that contains three bands and a few tracks from forthcoming releases.)


The Trembling
Seduce The Government

The Trembling’s right-on groove sounds like a form of post-pop-punk pulled from both the Seventies and new-wave Eighties, and starts off the first seven tracks of the compilation. Obvious influences of starter punk found pervasively in Monday Busque’s bass lines, as well as vocalist/guitarist Kelli Miller’s riffs and off-key tone that was so properly used back in the day.

“Closet Slackers” uses vocal distortion with speedy verse, riffs, and steady beats with energetic drummer Brandon White. Miller starts off “Dilapidate” by saying “Joey Ramone died today, I guess he had something new to say” with a sticky chorus that tells their listeners “If you come to Detroit, you can stay at my house, it would be cool if we could just hang out”. Heavy bass lines start “Words Are Getting Stuck” where Monday switches up vocal duty with Kelli while the band maintains big sound on this productive jam to close out their piece of the compilation.

Everything about the music is raw but would honestly give their sound a better quality if pressed on vinyl instead of a disc. This kind of good and crunchy music on a record adds body with all those little clicks and scratches left in instead of all polished up on a slick little disc.


The Birthday Machine
Direction & Destination

The Birthday Machine is a five-piece band from Vancouver, Canada, adding four tracks as a contribution to the TQR&R compilation disc. Melodic dynamics found in the band’s sound is backed with timely, but subtle rhythms. The use of keyboards (Christa Min) and three guitars in use, fill the body of sound up for the selected tunes. Vocalist Miko Hoffman, and Stefan Udell harmonize well together on “Direction & Destination” where the most powerful instrument is her innocent vocals mixed with the distorted guitar riffs. The music all together is an interesting arrangement.

This is not all-out rock ’n’ roll, and it’s not similar to an experimental project like Radiohead. Though I found the music innovative and fresh for the indie-rock-experimental genre, I didn’t dig the last track “Closet Superhero” because it was remixed. Less is more on this particular remix.


The Patty Duke Fanzine #4
Patty’s Favorite Boy Bands

Six different “boy bands” all covering a Patty Duke tune, or Patty Duke cover. What’s not to love?

Mark Robinson’s acoustic arrangement of “Come Live With Me” almost set-me-a-packin’ with the captivating manner he sings the song. Just you and the music. Do not listen to this song on your headphones folks.

Steward performs “The World Is Watching” techno/experimental style. This song is going to depend on what you like to listen to. It’s different, but does come off as just noise to me until that little Eighties synth work gets thrown in.

Panicsville gives another techno version of “My Own Little Place”. See above.

The W-Vibe, “Save Your Heart For Me” techno/electric stuff. Why did they do that to this song? This high pitch effect they threw in there should be banned- this version should be banned.

Delta Waves provides nada relief with their psychedelic version of “Dear David” (theme from "Me, Natalie").

Frankie & The S.E.M.M.- "Blowin’ In The Wind" no favors. (Huh?)

I would have to say that PD just wouldn't be down with this- and I don’t mean Puffy!


www.topqualityrockandroll.com

Score! Music Magazine Terms Of Use, Privacy Policy and Parental Advisory.
© 2000-2005 Conspicious Chicks Enterprises