One Fierce Beer Coaster

Bloodhound Gang

You just can’t go wrong in combining punk, pop, rap and pure comedy, which is exactly what the Bloodhound Gang master does on its debut release One Fierce Beer Coaster.

The ever-so-damn-talented and funny quintet rips through some of the most original work of the decade on songs like “Your Only Friends Are Make Believe,” “Kiss Me Where It Smells Funny” and of course “I Wish I Was Queer So I Could Get Chicks,” (which I can’t deny, seems to hit home pretty hard).

If there were a flaw to Beer Coaster, which also features an awesome punk cover of the Run DMC classic, “It’s Tricky,” it would be that I had to wait this long to hear it.

If the DMC cover isn’t enough, the Gang also brings in the one, the only, Rob Van Winkle (a.k.a. Vanilla Ice) for a rapping duo with frontman Jimmy Pop Ali on “Boom,” a cocky jam with old-school Ice lyrics such as “I spreads the butter like Parkay, real smooth with the flow even when I parlay.”

Unfortunately, Ice only makes the one appearance, but Ali makes up for it with his skills that do more than pay the bills.

Singing, “I don’t give a damn if you’re not like me, ’cause I don’t like you ’cause you’re not like me,” the young rapper shows he’s got the cocky attitude to make it with the big dogs.

Beer Coaster definitely peaks at “Tricky” and goes down hill from there, digging deeper into the hard-core rap and punk and out of the comedy. Homer Simpson (or a damn good impersonator) closes out the disc with a surprise encore, but it’s nothing too spectacular.

I would guess you’ll be seeing a lot more of Ali, DJ Q-Ball, Lupus, Evil Jared and Spanky G in the future, especially if the radio is as friendly as they have been to “Fire Water Burn.”

—Corey Moss

41/2

Live And Rare

Jane’s Addiction

Live And Rare is a recently released collection of great material from the long-disbanded legendary group, Jane’s Addiction.

It contains three demos, four live tracks, two remixes and one unreleased song that span the group’s entire career and three previously released CDs (Jane’s Addiction, Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual).

Among the many gems on this CD is a live “L.A. Medley” which includes an awesome cover version of The Door’s “L.A. Woman.”

Lead singer Perry Farrell mimics Jim Morrison’s fevered rumblings in his unique high pitched voice, often reciting lyrics in a furious tempest while adding some lines of his own along the way.

Other highlights include the live renditions of “Had A Dad,” “No One’s Leaving” and “Ain’t No Right.”

Live And Rare proves that Jane’s Addiction played with the ferocity of such bands as Nirvana and had the musical inventiveness of such artists as Sonic Youth.

For proof, check out the fluctuating bass courtesy of Eric A. on “Ain’t No Right” or the ferocious, hypnotic electric guitar of David Navarro on “Had A Dad.”

There are also a few selections included for the band’s fair-weather fans.

“Been Caught Stealing” appears in a vastly different remixed form and “Jane Says” appears as a demo version which unfortunately sounds like the version released on Nothing’s Shocking.

However, demo versions of “Had A Dad” and “I Would For You” present strikingly different material.

Both tunes show Jane’s Addiction’s lack of studio trickery and Farrell’s great music-enhancing ability.

Since it is available only as an import, the price tag reads upward of 20 dollars. But it is definitely money well spent for serious and occasional fans alike.

—Ben Jones

4

Among My Swan

Mazzy Star

The world will likely come to an end soon because there is now a new CD out that both my mother and I like.

The smooth, hauntingly soulful sound of the California based Mazzy Star can be heard on its new disc Among My Swan.

After finding limited success with its second release, That I Might See, the follow-up should solidify Star as a band that’s here to stay for round three.

The mixture of lead vocalist Hope Sandoval’s angelic melodies and the folk blend of harmonica and tambourine contributes to an overall sound of poppy folk tunes, much like a Joan Baez of the new millennium.

The wanting desperation of “Cry, Cry” highlights the vulnerability Sandoval can capture with her voice better than just about any other artist.

In the track “Take Everything,” when she pleads the lyrics “that’s the truth,” Sandoval sounds more convincing than the Pope.

That is the essence of this group; Sandoval’s cocktail voice of a sexy young Lolita and the purity of romantic vocals and stable guitar chords.

While the songs focus on the loss of love, they are optimistic and in the case of “Still Cold” even upbeat with beefed up edgy guitar backing.

— Kris Fettkether

3

Rock Spectacle

Barenaked Ladies

The latest release from the Barenaked Ladies, a live album, tries to enlighten listeners to the witty, whimsical, wild world of a Barenaked Ladies show.

Rock Spectacle was recorded from live shows in Chicago and in its native country of Canada.

If you’re looking for new tunes from the Ladies, this is not the album to buy.

But if you’re looking for a CD to have a good time with, and sing along to, this is perfect.

The Barenaked Ladies thrives on stupid songs with catchy lyrics that beg you to sing along with them.

The cries from the crowd on Barenaked classics like, “If I had a $1,000,000” are enough to put a smile on your face, on even the worst of days.

The CD takes some of the best songs off previous albums and throws them together for a great music set.

Hidden tracks after the last song on the album key listeners into some of the bizarre improvisational antics that take place during a show.

Rock Spectacle also spins on your CD ROM drive for more surprises from those crazy guys.

If you own any other Barenaked CDs this is a must and even if you’ve never heard the group before it’s worth hearing at least once.

—J.R. Grant

31/2