Guns N' Roses Live Era '87-'93 (Geffen/Universal)
Methods of Mayhem Self-titled Electro Boogie (MCA/Universal)
Mike Ness Under the Influence (Time Bomb Recordings/BMG)
Various Heavyweight/Killer Dub (Blood and Fire/Fusion III) A lot of people believe that whatever spark Inner Circle had back in the day died along with their then frontman Jacob Miller. To many others, this instrumental group of musicians is known only as the guys who do the "Bad Boys" theme for Cops. This album is some new material from members of Inner Circle and some exceptional reggae session players fittingly split into two parts--Heavyweight Dub and Killer Dub. Some drum and bass from the right place, this is the first thing these guys have done in a while that I can get with. 8/10 (Scott C)
Various Free the Funk Vol. 4: Style Wars (R&S/Fusion III) I think I liked this CD before I even listened to it just because of the cover art, even though there appears to be no connection between the image on the sleeve and the music on the CD. Whatever. Style Wars is a collection of electro-meets-70's funk breakbeat tunes ranging from very relaxed downtempo to highly dancefloor friendly from artists like DJ Krush, E-Z Rollers, Model 500 and Badawi. 7.5/10 (Krista)
Crooked Fingers Self-titled (Sonic Unyon/Warm)
Raven Raw Tracks (Metalblade) Hurry, hurry, mosh right up!! Guzzle yourself down a pint o' lager and smash your head bloody along to cheesy '80s metal, LIVE!! You'll hear unreleased rawness and other live slop from the dark bird of prey known only as Raven!! You'll get great race-car odes like "Nitemare Ride" and damning anti-gun sing-alongs like "Firepower"! But don't take my word for it! If you like a poor man's Iron Maiden-Judas Priest hybrid, run out and get your retrofix of RAVEN today!! 5/10 (Lateef Martin)
Captain Nemo The Clam Before The Strum (Raging Postman)
Kenny Wheeler Music for Large and Small Ensembles (ECM/Universal) You'll want this one if you missed it first time around. Wheeler, 70 this month, is a Canadian-born musician who has had great influence as both a player and composer. Both facets of his talent are on view here. Recorded 10 years ago in London and Oslo, this issue has his "Sweet Time Suite" in eight parts (including one, "For P.A.," in honour of Pepper Adams) and nine pieces for smaller combinations. Among the other soloists, Stan Sulzmann, John Taylor, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland and Norma Winstone, can be found. Check it out! 9.5/10 (Len Dobbin)
Various Ron Jeremy presents Pornosonic (J-Bird/Navarre)
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While fans of G n' R have only had one new song to chew on for the past seven years, this live double CD will have to tide them over until Axl releases the new G n' R (sans the original band) later this year. With the exception of the huge booklet showing the bad boys in various states of debauchery, this comp pretty much sticks to the matrix of their studio records. With the exception of the sound of thousands of shipping and receiving dudes screaming with blissful joy and Axl's between-song banter, there's nothing new here. A nice snack for diehards, but if you've got an appetite for destruction, you're going to bed hungry, son. 6/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Things could only be better for Tommy Lee right now if he'd been in jail for a tougher crime than hitting his wife while she was holding their baby. At 37, the ex-Moetley Cruee drummer seems like leather-skinned legitimation to young rap-metal mooks, so on his solo debut he gives the kids just that--and inadvertently updates his music by about 25 years. Yeah, Tommy was just twiddlin' in the studio, listening to Fatboy Slim, when this bunch of demographic-piercing partygoers just happened to stop by: Fred Durst, Mixmaster Mike, Lil' Kim and George Clinton (and that's only on the single "Get Naked"). Sure to blow up, but it really just blows. 4/10 (Chris Yurkiw)
Social Distortion's tattooed mainman is once again diggin' in rockabilly and country's diamond mines. Tackling rebel-rousers like "I Fought the Law" and "Six More Miles," Ness manages to stay on top of the classics and even gives them a good ride. If you're sick of new country and insurgent country but still have a need for twang, then pick this up. Ness has the mechanical bull by the horns, and he's holding on in great form. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Archers of Loaf songwriter Eric Bachmann is out with his second solo record. Bachmann continues down the path of less crunch--utilizing sparse accompaniment of loops, arpeggio guitars, lap steel and violin instead. Bachmann weaves tales of anti-heroines, old drunks and people dousing themselves in gasoline into a strong collection of songs. One strange thing, though: without the competition of loud distorted guitars, Bachmann's vocals now sound uncannily similar to Neil Diamond. Weirdsville man! 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)
For a group that comes from landlocked Edmonton, Captain Nemo takes a lot of inspiration from the sea. Like their geographic dilemma, the group comes off as a lounge and adult-pop-loving ensemble trapped in a rock band's body, but it's a quirky rock band that sounds, once again, like it would be more at home in the early '80s alongside the Talking Heads or Devo. Still, those aren't bad touchstones to have in the late '90s, er, early '00s, and Captain Nemo hold one shindig of a clambake on the shores of the wave pool at the West Edmonton Mall, with invites going out to the Beach Boys, Martin Denny and Herman Melville. 7/10 (Chris Yurkiw)
Ah! Another porn compilation, drenched in the wah-wahs, pan flutes and sexy saxes of the seventies! Another aural foray into the hoochie-coochie boogie-wonderland of housewives who need to be pipe-fitted by plumbers and secretaries who take dick-tation! It's kinda enough already, isn't it? I mean, I loved the first Beat e Cinecitta as much as anyone, but there are only so many "Superstitious" rip-offs and Jethro Tull-y suck-anthems one can listen to before carpet burn sets in. "MC" Ron Jeremy's 'tween-track tsk-tsk shtick doesn't help this one, either. 7/10 (Mireille Silcott)