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Sebadoh The Sebadoh (Sub Pop/Sire/Warner) So when did Seymour Stein's Sire Records suck up Sebadoh (and Sub Pop?). And when did Sebadoh become Jason Loewenstein's band? I guess the answer to the former is somewhere between '96's Harmacy and this one, and the latter between Harmacy and Bakesale, since this is actually the second album now wherein Jason writes more songs than indie icon Lou Barlow. And Lou's such a nice guy for stepping slightly aside, 'cause it's revitalized the band as much as his departure from Dinosaur did him. 8/10 (Chris Yurkiw) Meat Puppets Meat Puppets Meat Puppets Live in Montana (Rykodisc/Outside)
Silkk the Shocker Made Man (No Limit/Virgin)
Now, everybody and their Mama knows that most No Limit releases don't get a hell of a lot of play in the house of Scott, but I decided to approach Silkk's new album from a whole new angle. As little brother to New Orleans hip hop mogul Master P, Silkk gets a lot of help from the big man and various No Limit Soldiers, like the retardedly over-the-top Mystikal. What you get is a typically bumpin' No Limit production, riddled with Silkk's wily, laidback flow. Not exactly inspiring me to break out, but it'll probably go double platinum by the time you finish reading this. 6.5/10 (Scott C)
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Cassius 1999 (Virgin)
As far as house music is concerned, the French have got it all locked up. Their pompous reputation is made up for in their ability to create salaciously funky grooves. Cassius, aka L'Homme Qui Valait 3 Milliards, aka Philippe Zdar and Boombass, are the latest Parisian duo to take the house nation by storm with their fusion of electro and jazz loops. 1999 sounds like the two dug up a time capsule of '70s and '80s funk, soul and disco and reworked it for today's dancefloor. "Supa Crush" and "Feeling For You" conjure up an image of Foxy Brown and Diana Ross in a high speed chase around Paris' Peripherique with Steve McQueen at the wheel. 9/10 (Krista)
The first time I saw the Meat Puppets, they were part of the most important concert of my life. It was in Toronto in 1983 and they went on just before Black Flag and played some of the most fucked-up country hardcore I have ever heard. The punkers bummed out and threw shit at them as they obliviously attacked their instruments. They were the punkest thing I had ever seen. Rykodisc is re-releasing their entire catalogue and Meat Puppets, along with II and Up on the Sun, is essential listening indeed, whereas the rest of the catalogue just sounds like ZZ Top's scraps. Live in Montana would be included in this scrap heap if it wasn't for the Black Sabbath and Roy Orbison covers. If you have never dug these desert cats then wait until the re-issue of Up on the Sun comes out later this month, it would be an excellent starting point. Meat Puppets 9/10 Live in Montana 7/10 (Johnson Cummins)