The Rough Guide to the Music of Japan, Lucky Boys Confusion, Colleen Coadic and the Next Twelve, Lords of Acid
Valarie Morris, Nu York Nu Skool 2, David B. Wilson, Lilith Fair, Vol. 3, The Jewws

	Various Artists / The Rough Guide to the Music of Japan / World Music Network (CD) Sample 30 seconds of "Soran Bushi" This disc proves that stereotypical images of Japanese music bear little resemblance to reality. From spoken-word "J-rap" to reggaefied pop, to "unplugged" brass bands, to folk improvisations, a myriad of brilliant music is showcased here, all of it rooted in Japanese tradition but brought screaming into the present. A disproportionate number of tracks feature Okinawan artists, apparently because only in the southern islands of Okinawa is singing and dancing as much an integral part of daily life as eating or sleeping. Takio Ito's "Soran Bushi" is a good example of the diversity found on the album. Ito is a vocalist who grew up listening to the traditional folk singing of his fisherman father as he worked. Today, Ito expands the realms of folk music by incorporating jazz, rock, and other traditional Asian elements. Similarly, Ito's female counterpart Yasuba Jun adds bits of honking sax and grunge-like guitar to her rendition of the folk tune "Amagoi Bushi." With nineteen tracks, this Rough Guide holds many surprises. -- cc
	Lucky Boys Confusion / Growing Out Of It / LBC (CD) Sample 30 seconds of "LBC" There's a surprising amount of talent here. LBC are at their best and strongest when working the Beastie Boys/Infectious Groves side of their punk/funk/hard rock sound -- the disc bristles with the vibrant energy of a young band that's had enough gigs to know they'll get more. On the downside, the "kitchen sink" methodology is applied here -- parts of Growing Out Of It play like a survey of What's Hitting On Commercial Alternative Radio, including moments of (shudder) watered-down ska. Eeeeeyuck. My normal reaction to watered-down ska is to rip the offending CD from my player and crush it into millions of pieces, so readers will appreciate the fact that LBC's high points showed enough promise to save their disc from this fate -- indeed, I'll look forward to their next effort. -- gz
	Colleen Coadic and the Next Twelve / Colleen Coadic and the Next Twelve / Badoo Toonz (CD) Sample 30 seconds of "Wonder Years" If you hang around at many Ani DiFranco concerts, you've probably already run across Alaskans Colleen Coadic and the Next Twelve; they've opened for Ms. DiFranco before. Furthermore, you probably really dig them -- their sound is quite Righteous-Babe-esque. Coadic's voice is an expressive rock instrument that reminds me in an odd sort of way of Robert Plant (particularly on "Scream of Consciousness", which teasingly invokes "Kashmir"). The songs on this eponymous CD all cater to the college, funky, coffee-house rock scene. It's definitely well performed and produced -- just not remarkably enlightening. -- nw
	Lords of Acid / Expand Your Head / Antler/Never (CD) Sample 30 seconds of "Am I Sexy?" If you're not a slavering LOA fanatic, you don't really need Expand Your Head. Sorry. As a remix album, it's decent enough, but many of the remixes seem rather cursory. As a "Best Of" disc, it ably spans the Lords' ten year (!) career, from "I Sit On Acid" to "Rubber Doll", though many tracks have been altered and diluted to fit the agendas of their celebrity remixers, who include KMFDM, Rob Swift (a big "create a new track under the guise of remixing" offender), Richie Hawtin, Tipsy and God Lives Underwater. Of the few new tracks here, the real prize is "Am I Sexy" -- a totally atypical LOA track which you may recognize from Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, though it doesn't appear on the film's crapulent soundtrack. If "Am I Sexy?" is all you need, buy the single. -- gz
	Valarie Morris / Reeding Between the Lines / Skyblue (CD) Sample 30 seconds of "Before the Storm" A convincing romp through a variety of jazz-inspired compositions, Reeding Between the Lines applies accordions, saxophones, inflected vocals and marimbas to traditional jazz settings, with flavorful results. Morris' accordion playing has a familiar Astor Piazolla ring to it, and the horn accompaniment by the Sax Maniacs rings in a big band sound. While the majority of these Mingus-inspired musical arrangements are brilliantly performed, the two guest vocalists sound a bit forced and terse, inadequately meshing with Morris' music. -- am
	Various Artists / Nu York Nu Skool 2: East Coast Drum 'N' Bass / Sm:)e Communications (CD) Sample 30 seconds of DJ Dara's "93rd Current" If you've been seized with an overwhelming craving for d'n'b -- a "gotta have it now" kind of need -- this comp should do the trick nicely, if not elegantly. The cuts showcased here include the work of DJ Dara, New York Technologies, Ras and Jamie Myerson, and run the gamut from cold and mechanical to soulful and funky. In the jaw-dropping originality department, though, the disc falls well short, with only Myerson's "Music for the Lonely" making a particular impression -- and it's memorable for sounding more like a hip-hop instrumental than d'n'b. There's certainly drum 'n' bass here, but I didn't notice any revelations. -- gz
	David B. Wilson / A Little Less Crappy / Self-Released (CD) Sample 30 seconds of "Morals Are Stupid" Oh boy, I was all set to really hate this CD. David B. Wilson is a self-described "music critic-turned musician" who has realized that "something is missing from music today." And he's decided that he knows just what it will take to make music just A Little Less Crappy. Sheesh! Well, let's say that I was a bit surprised when I pushed play and was joyously assaulted by some of the goofiest, most off-key, off-tempo, off-beat, off-color, cheezeball music I've ever heard. Casio-esque keyboards, "fuzz" guitar, screwy vocals, weirdo lyrics -- it's all in there, in quantity. I'm really not sure where Mr. Wilson is coming from, or exactly how serious he is about this music, but at the very least, he has a sense of humour, and he's made a CD that's given me quite a few smiles. -- ib
	Various Artists / Lilith Fair: A Celebration of Women in Song, Volume 3 / Nettwerk (CD) Sample 30 seconds of Liz Phair's "Never Said" This final (so far) Lilith Fair volume sports a number of familiar "hits", rendered in muted form. If you feel the need to own Sixpence None the Richer's "Kiss Me" and K's Choice's "Not An Addict" in a package unassociated with the WB adolescent drama slate, this is probably your best opportunity. Luscious Jackson's limp "Naked Eye" and Suzanne Vega's "Luka" are also included, though I can't imagine who'd want to own them. In the plus column, Liz Phair, N'Dea Davenport, Holly Cole, Rebekah and grandes dames Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt turn in spirited performances. -- gz
	The Jewws / Heartbreaker / Remedial (10") Sample 30 seconds of "She's Got The Shakes" Composed of two skinny black guys with loose ties hanging from their necks, and a chick in sunglasses flogging the bass guitar, this Space City trio slashes through garage-inspired originals that have plenty of fuzzed-out guitar chords, compressed ‘n’ catchy vocals and a bag o' explosive energy that's sure to detonate at any moment. In between screechy vocal quips from bassist Rebecca, Omari and Lurch howl about girls, cars and food with promising garage-rock-delivering authority that’ll make you a convert in no time flat. -- am