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Okara Months Like Years (Spectra Sonic Sound) This posthumous release documents Okara's first and last recording session and leaves us kicking ourselves for missing out on this short-lived Ottawa trio's brand of emo-core. Okara seem uncomfortable in the safety of a 4/4 time signature but, thankfully, know that prog for the sake of prog is a no-no. Their arrangements flow evenly into each other with intention and soul. An excellent debut/farewell album to recall memories we never had. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins) Across Five Aprils & Goodbye, Blue Monday untitled 7" (Spectra Sonic Sound) These two bands complement each other perfectly without stepping on any toes. Goodbye's two sonic snacks are post-punk anthems for the Epitaph-weary masses with heavy leanings towards fellow San Diego residents Drive Like Jehu. Aprils' first track finds them taking up where seminal band Slint left off, but really put the pedal to the medal on the second offering, "The Works Of Fools." Getting up off the couch every five minutes to flip this record is a joy. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Are you a hardcore playa, mack, hustler, just chillin' with your gangsta homeboys? Are you talkin' shit while bastard funk, follow-the-formula tracks plod along? If so, you are probably a friend of Ice Cube, you probably wanna be Mack 10 and he likes you so much, he's hooked you up with the right toys. Sounds like the Comrads, sounds like no substance and only slick production. 4/10 (Jon Doe) Various RU Receiving: the Much Music Electronic Compilation (Mercury/Polydor)
North American "electronica" compilations all seem to share the same track listing. I have reviewed this exact CD about six times already, so why bother again? This is compilation creativity at an absolute zero, but I'll give it a one, only out of respect for the producers (Chemicals, Goldie, you know the deal) who have long moved on from these featured tracks. 1/10 (Mireille Silcott)
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The Comrads self-titled (Sweet Life/Attic)