Drums & Tuba "Vinyl Killer"
Drums & Tuba “Vinyl Killer” Righteous
Babe Records The trio, Drums & Tuba, may have hit gold
in its excavation of avant-garde groove-oriented jazz. On its
latest release “Vinyl Killer,” Drums & Tuba take
already head-rocking grooves and emphasize them to a body slamming
level of energy by looping and sampling nearly everything that is
played. Comprised of Neal
“˜my-instrument-isn’t-included-in-the-band’s-title’
McKeeby on guitar, Brian
“˜I’ll-take-horns-that-start-with-“˜T’-for-200-Alex’
Wolff on tuba, trumpet and trombone, and Tony
“˜I-drew-the-album’s-cover-art’ Nozero on drums,
the members of Drums & Tuba truly expand their sound into all
different genres. Effortlessly playing multitudes of different
styles at once, Drums & Tuba begin “Vinyl Killer”
with “The Diagram,” a straight on collision of fusion
and electronica, with the brief intervention of a symphonic
stampede to make sure that its listeners are awake. Other
unique songs include “The Donkey and the Walrus,” which
would be more aptly named the “Kodo Drummers and the James
Bond Theme.” This is due to its combination of vibrant drum
beats and a melody that is reminiscent of a movie or TV show
soundtrack. Even though Drums & Tuba have an odd approach to
making music, it still knows how to make catchy songs.
“Prince Meets the Phantom” features a hook that may be
as catchy, if not more so, than the one heard in Herbie
Hancock’s “Chameleon.” Relying on the heavy use
of samples, the trio breaks the limitations most groups face of
having only so many hands to make so much noise. The band
extrapolates layer after layer of chaotic bliss, creating an almost
overwhelming sense of joyous noise. Not surprisingly, this
one-of-a-kind spectacle is produced by none other than the
independent folksy singer Ani DiFranco. Best known for her unique
blend of folk and punk style music, DiFranco’s ability to mix
music styles seems to be perfectly in step with the melodic tastes
of Drums & Tuba. Although some people may be turned away from
Drums & Tuba, simply because of the absurdity of both its name
and its musical combinations, those people that give “Vinyl
Killer” that extra spin will be rewarded with the discovery
that there is beauty in its chaos, and a method to its madness.
Antero Garcia Rating: 7
Ugly Duckling “Journey to Anywhere” 1500
Records Since 1992, Long Beach has been a landmark on the
hip-hop map. In that year, Dr. Dre introduced a young rapper from
the city named Snoop Doggy Dogg, on the “Deep Cover”
soundtrack. Since then rappers such as Snoop and Tha Dogg Pound
have helped associate Long Beach with gangsta rap much the way
Compton was associated with the genre in the late ’80s.
Although gangsta rap led to increasing popularity in West Coast hip
hop throughout the mid ’90s, in recent years it has stifled
many underground groups trying to shed the label. Fresh out of Long
Beach, Ugly Duckling is one of those groups. Its debut album
“Journey to Anywhere” is a strong follow-up to the 1997
single “Fresh Mode,”which became popular in the
underground hip-hop scene. MCs Andy Cap and Dizzy Dustin bring a
definitively old school vibe to their rhymes and Young Einstein
similarly reaches deep in the crates to supply the beats. If
listeners are looking for deep lyrics and social consciousness,
this is not the group for them. If they’re looking for a
group that is all about tight beats and rhymes, they have stumbled
upon a gold mine. The strength of “Journey to Anywhere”
is that it’s so damn funky. From the first track,
“Introduckling,” the groups addictive energy is
immediately felt. Andy and Dizzy trade off rhymes rather nicely and
the beat complements them perfectly. Young Einstein lends some dope
beats on “I Did It Like This” (the song goes through
several changes), while the MCs exchange crisp rhymes. Another song
with great beats, “Eye On The Gold Chain,” features a
funky guitar riff, combined with some stellar samples of other
rappers’ lyrics. “Journey to Anywhere” is a
perfect party record. It is entirely up-tempo, and the production
is a nice departure from most other songs in hip hop today, which
often just sample an older song and rap over it. Some rap heads may
contend the album isn’t hardcore enough, but any fan that
appreciates old school hip hop will enjoy Ugly Duckling.
Anthony Quinonez Rating: 8
The Union Underground “”¦ An Education In
Rebellion” Portrait Records
Alright, so the picture on the front of the album might be scary
and the introduction track a bit eerie, but The Union
Underground’s debut, “”¦ An Education In
Rebellion,” is an extremely strong album that delivers heavy
music and raw energy. The Union Underground’s music hits
hard, with Bryan Scott’s vocals exploding over the onslaught
of drums, bass and distorted guitars. Unlike most recent bands of
the heavy-metal genre, however, Union Underground is less concerned
with playing the fastest, loudest and heaviest. Instead the group
is content with playing melodic riffs, which will nonetheless knock
you on your butt. “… An education in rebellion” is
chockfull of angst, aggression, emotion and energy. What more could
be asked for from a hard-hitting band? The album has a recurring
theme of drug use, as shown in tracks “Until You
Crack,” “Natural High,” “Revolution
Man” and “Trip with Jesus.” There is a definite
sense of frustration with addiction that comes through the lyrics
and the music. Irony is not lost on Scott, and he utilizes it
masterfully in his lyrics. The Union Underground has succeeded in
making a complete album experience as opposed to a disc of singles.
Scott and guitarist Patrick Kennison acted as producers for the
debut album, displaying the talent of the band and their control
over its sound. Producer Brendan O’Brien, who seems to have
his hands on everything these days, mixed the songs. Tracks four
(“Turn Me On “˜Mr. Deadman'”) and six
(“Killing the Fly”) provide the highlights of the just
over 30-minute album. Get educated. Listen to The Union
Underground’s new CD, “”¦An Education In
Rebellion.”
Chris Moriates Rating: 8