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Once again, we're down the rabbit hole with these West Island wunderkinds, and it's worth the tumble. Their '95 release, You Can't Touch This, was brilliant if scattered. The Rabbits were sniffing out the borders of their territory and exorcising excess kid energy too. Basic Concept finds
Album No.3 from these power-pop gods of the Hammer (that's Hamilton to you) sees them turning things down from 11 to, oh, eight or so. The trio move away from the ol' 2:16 blast of "Today I Hate Everyone" to the 5:07 drift of "Sandalwood and 50," which means they're aging gracefully. Vocalist Mike Trebilcock is almost as good a songwriter as Evan Dando (he's got a country thang happening here too), but then where did that get the Lemonhead? 7/10 (Chris Yurkiw) Superdrag Head Trip in Every Key (Elektra/Warner) I'm sure Superdrag worked very hard on these "trademark fuzzy guitars" and "atmospheric" indie guy riffs destined for the land of the "critically acclaimed." I'm sure it will do well at CMJ. But one day after listening to this "great piece of guitar pop," I can't remember a single track. And that's not how pop's supposed to be at all, is it? If average is good, then this is amazing. 7/10 (Mireille Silcott)
Three Japanese girls get weird and silly in the recording studio. No, it's not comparable to Shonen Knife or even Cibo Matto for that matter. What can you compare them to? You've got your Kraftwerkian technopop, dramatically oversimplified guitar tactics, nifty scratching and mysterious moog manipulation. You've got your preposterous samples and delicate strumming, your blasé Japlish irony next to charming pop harmonies. It's amazing that Buffalo Daughter can cram all this junk together and still have room to stretch out and relax. 8.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
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Local Rabbits Basic Concept (Murder/Universal)
them pulling in the reins (equestrian pun intended) and leaving the amateurs eating their dust at the same time. Erstwhile twin-guitar tangles, as wicked as they were, have given way to the interplay of guitar and electric piano. There's an easy funkiness going on here, carried by the band's confidence, good judgment and unerring tunecraft. While so many of their peers are out to rectify what's wrong with rock, usually without a preferable solution to offer, Local Rabbits work with what's right about it. Good call, 'coz this is quintessential quality rock. 9.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
Killjoys Melos Modos (WEA/Warner)
Buffalo Daughter New Rock (Grand Royal/Outside)