Daily Staff Writer

“Pack Up The Cats”

Local H

Pack up the cats, kids, ’cause Local H is about to take you for a ride.

The Zion, Illinois duo’s third release is a voyage more than a record. Each song flows into the next so easily you never need to stop for gas or to take a piss.

Cats meowing, people whistling and friends talking on answering machines are the only pit stops on this hard-rocking, gut-wrenching jam session.

Scott Lucas contributes his usual menagerie of masterpiece lyrics on songs with subjects ranging from a gig gone bad (“All The Kids Are Right”) to a relationship gone worse (“What Can I Tell You?”).

Effects from the singer/guitarist/bassist exceed work on past records “Ham Fisted” and “As Good As Dead,” while drummer/tough guy Joe Daniels’ layers are as solid as his biceps.

The one-minute “Lead Pipe Cinch” is a warm-hearted acoustic ballad courtesy of Lucas and picks up where “Ham Fisted’s” “Grrrl Friend” left off.

“Stokey” is a trippy instrumental guitar piece that somehow serves as the perfect halftime show for the Nirvana-ish tunes “She Hates My Job” and “Laminate Man.”

“Pack Up The Cats,” produced by Queen/Journey/Cheap Trick veteran Roy Thomas Baker, is a classic rock album recorded by two ’90s super talents who refuse to let grunge die.

4 stars out of five

— Corey Moss

“Puro Eskanol Volume II — Rice and Beans”

Various Artists

Just when you thought the millions of cheesy ska puns had gone too far, a new ska compilation (or “skampilation” to use another play on words) has hit stores.

“Puro Eskanol Volume II — Rice and Beans,” despite its rather corny title, has a lot more character than other selections from the endless array of ska compilations.

This is Latin ska at its best.

A great aspect of the compilation is its tremendous range of styles, covering the gamut of ska sounds. From jazz to oi and punk — you name it, it’s on here — but different than ever heard before.

Listening to the album manifests the incredible impact ska has made all over the world and lets listeners know that ska doesn’t just come from Jamaica, Great Britain and the United States, it spawns from the Spanish-speaking world as well.

“Puro Eskanol” does have its share of names familiar to the North Americans, with Let’s Go Bowling, Hepcat and Undercover S.K.A. all contributing impressive Latin-influenced tracks.

On “Caballitos Pintados,” Undercover S.K.A. serves up a slow, mariachi-style tune complete with the beat of maracas and the smooth sound of accordion.

But the greatest performances on the disc come from some of the bands lesser known by North Americans.

Opening track “Oh Nana” by Millo Torres y El Tercer Planeta features amazing conga solos by several members of the band.

And the word “oi,” as shouted in countless ska and punk songs has never sounded like it does on Los Naborias’ song “Estoy de La’o,” sandwiched in between spanish lyrics.

Unrestrained and completely unique, “Puro Eskanol Volume II” is the perfect album to spice up any ska fan’s collection.

4 1/2 stars out of five

— Conor Bezane

“No One is Really Beautiful”

Jude

Jude’s Maverick debut, “No One is Really Beautiful” features songs with a predominantly acoustic guitar foundation, while the occasional appearance of keyboards and various stringed instruments provide some well-needed variety.

The slow-tempo, acoustic songs stick out the most, but the few electrically geared tunes that appear on the album provide a nice change to the norm.

“You Mama You” has a country clipitty-clop guitar rhythm that becomes interlaced with other various stringed instruments throughout the song’s entirety.

Lyrically, the song draws the listener in, but the allegro vocals during the verses prove to have a distracting and unoriginal singing style.

Leaving behind this negative aspect, the album moves on with a more consistent flow of pop rock.

“I’m Sorry Now” is a catchy, sappy song. With a simplistic piano melody providing the hook, it resembles a less guitar-driven version of Semisonic’s “Closing Time.”

The intro and outro of “Battered Broken” make good use of Jude’s voice accompanied by his acoustic guitar.

The next track incorporates a head-swaying rhythm fostered by stringed instruments and light percussion. The instrumentation works out nicely, but the whining lyrics about a wedding invitation from the singer’s old lover get old quickly.

With that exception, the strong points of the album are Jude’s lyrics. Many of the songs tell a story that is worth listening to.

However, virtually all of the anecdotes are extremely depressing. Don’t put this one at the top of your “to get list” if you’re looking for an easy smile.

2 1/2 stars out of five

— Adam Jonas

“Villa Elaine”

Remy Zero

The gifted Alabama quintet Remy Zero decided to move to the seedy side of Hollywood to write and record its sophomore release, “Villa Elaine.”

The album was named after Villa Elaine, a decrepit apartment building in central Hollywood that burnt-out actors, musicians, prostitutes and drug dealers call home.

“Villa Elaine” the record is not so depressing. It runs in the same vein as Brit-pop bands Radiohead and the Verve, and occasionally borders on Beatlesque.

Lead singer CinjunTate’s voice is a hybrid of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell and U2’s Bono. Tate’s brother, Shelby, plays lead guitar and sings backup vocals on most of the tracks.

Though the record remains consistently good throughout, it is a bit top-heavy. The first three songs, “Hermes Bird,” “Prophecy” and “Life in Rain,” are stellar.

“Hermes Bird” is an other-worldly, airy song that could have fit snugly on Radiohead’s “OK Computer,” while “Prophecy” is a radio-friendly pop tune with sing-along harmonies.

Delicately layered guitars and occasional reverb pervade “Life in Rain,” a poetic ballad with whispered background vocals.

If you’re anxiously awaiting a new release from Yorke and Co., Remy Zero should tide you over until then.

3 1/2 stars out of five

— Jason Young

“Alien Fashion Show”

Alien Fashion Show

Alien Fashion Show’s new, self-titled release is cool swing for the newest revival to hit the airwaves.

For those of you who have gotten into this fad, you should run right out and buy this album, and here is why: It is solid, reliable, fun swing.

Everyone has heard The Brian Seitzer Orchestra do “Jive and Wail.” Be the first kid on your block to own this one.

Most impressive was the swing version of the more modern classic “Detroit Swing City.” This remake of the Kiss standard sounds like it was written for swing.

The band’s version of “Roxanne” has a real cool jazz feel that was almost as good as when Sting did it on the Dream of the Blue Turtles Tour. If AFS hadn’t done it, Sting eventually would have — much to our dismay.

The old-fashioned microphone gives this song a tinny, ’30s radio feel that is way cool. The band offsets this with harsh electric guitar riffs during the chorus. The overall effect is otherworldly.

4 stars out of five

— Greg Jerrett