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Milksop Holly Milkweeds (Shimmy-Disc/Knitting Factory)
Lit Place in the Sun (RCA/BMG)
Deep Dish Junk Science (Deconstruction/BMG) D.C. natives Deep Dish, aka Dubfire and Sharam pull out all the stops and go the way of ultra production on this album. With a little help from the likes of Brian Transeau (BT), among others, the duo have gone the Danny Tenaglia route and transformed their sound into a melancholy progressive trip. A very "shamen on mountain top pondering existence" listening experience that comes together in the end with "Love Songs," possibly the best track they've ever produced. 7.5/10 (Krista) Joi One Plus One Is One (RealWorld/EMI)
Elements of Life Molecular Dreams (Oxygen Music Works/Fusion III)
Old funky breaks fanatics will remember Elements of Life better by his alter ego, Mr. Onester, of Rampant records fame. However, this CD sounds like Mr. Onester has gone through a metamorphosis not unlike that of the Deep Dish boys, and come out feeling a touch more serious. Though headier, the sound is very relaxed and includes classics like "Dark Intervals" and "Still Holdin' On." Reminiscent of Kirk DiGiorgio and Young American Primitive. 7.5/10 (Krista)
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The name Kramer seems destined to signify a geeky character from New York, but remember the one who had a label called Shimmy-Disc and was lo-fi before lo-fi was identified? Well, that Kramer is still around, and he makes a bit of a return here in a duo that's superficially reminiscent of his old Bongwater. This time, though, amid his trademark airy production and a new thing for strings, he lets the actress (wispy 23-year-old Mara Flynn) do all the writing. Sop, unfortunately, is right. 6/10 (Chris Yurkiw)
After a quick listen to the first single "My Own Enemy," it is all too apparent that Lit have set their sights on arena punk and with this shitty fluff they may just get there. This is an A&R guy's wet dream: tattooed boys from Orange County, CA singing songs that sound like they were stolen out of the Toto songbook. This could, of course, become huge with the people who don't realize this is just Weezer with a head cold. Did you know that Lit's entire fanbase looks exactly like CHOM's Steve Anthony? It's true! 5/10 (Johnson Cummins) With Silverchair at the Spectrum, March 22, 8pm, $20
So Talvin Singh's O.K. was a bit too complicated and new agey for your ears, but you still like your breakbeats cut with a little tabla thump and roll. Well, dig what the brothers Shamsher got going on. Straightforward android Indo-bodyrockers of varying intensities, smoothly weaving sitars and gee-tars as need be. One Plus One builds to a nice climax, too: "Streets of Calcutta," Ananda Shankar's funky moog stomper from '75, gets a rockin' Radio Shack overhaul. 8.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)