The Watchmen Silent Radar (EMI)

From the opening chords of the first track "Stereo" I was scrambling for my plaid baseball cap and my L.L. Bean ensemble as I screamed out "tap the keg, dudes, we're in for the Can-Con ride of our lives!" Words are sung with conviction and urgency but The Watchmen's angst might reach our ears a bit easier if they didn't sound like they were reading from Pearl Jam's teleprompter. 5.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Scott Weiland 12 Bar Blues (Atlantic)

This lone Stone Temple Pilot should've rechecked his landing gear before taking off on his first solo flight. Although light years better than his cohort's horrible side project Talk Show, Weiland forgets somewhere along the way that he is playing to an audience. By trying to throw so many "interesting" and "quirky" curveballs he ends up boring us to death. It seems his biggest fear is worrying about sounding '97 and it's this worry that will prevent him from reaching the brilliance he is evidently after. Hey Scott, don't worry your pretty little head over sparkle, razzle and dazzle and try to write some songs next time. 5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Steve Hall Hall Things (DSM/Unidisc)

This Montreal-born tenorman settled in New York in '79. He's to these ears the most unsung musician in jazz--a cutting-edge player with his own sound. Hall put a lot of thought into the selections recorded here at a concert last fall. Marvellous playing occurs on every track, with pianist Kevin Hays' duets especially noteworthy. Also check out the bass playing of Joe Martin, particularly on the title track, an "All the Things You Are" variant. An auspicious debut! 9/10 (Len Dobbin)

Shades of Culture Main Objective b/w Shine (2112 Records)

Yes, you read correctly. Shades does have a new record out and the album is soon to come. Main Objective is a solid track that clings nicely to a running sample of an acoustic guitar, with the anthem-like chorus echoing in your head long after the song is done. The B-side, "Shine," hits hard with a nice cameo from the NDG's own Mr. Len, who licks down all competition with his bredren, all over the nicest of DJ Choice beats. Shades of things to come indeed. 8/10 (Scott C.)