Survival of the Fattest: Fat Music Volume Two ****

Fat Wreck Chords

This is a great compilation of some of the best artists in the punk genre. This 17-song collection, which runs just short of 40 minutes, is a rapid gallop through some solid tunes.

Hi-Standard, who are described as three Japanese boys who enjoy dressing up as three Japanese girls, do a rousing cover of The Mamas and The Papas’ “California Dreaming,” turning this classic tune into a romp that any current rocker can appreciate.

NOFX contributes a previously unreleased tune called “Vincent,” a song that is just as solid as anything that NOFX has done in the past. Tilt, with their female singer, bounce along at a great pace as well.

Many of the songs are short and sweet, such as offerings by Propagandhi and Strung Out. Another notable song is by Wizo, a group that performs their lyrics in their native German language.

All in all, a solid collection much like Punk You, except these are current bands rather than those from the past.

Seasons Calling ***1/2

Six Months

This three-piece has completed their first disc, entitled Six Months, with the number in the title coinciding with the number of tunes on the disc.

Even though there are only half a dozen songs on here, the band shows a great deal of diversity in these offerings. They aren’t limited to one texture, as the mellow feel of “I’m Free,” with its melodic guitar intro gives way later on to the hard sounds of “Overdrive.”

Guitarist/vocalist Brian Calek shows his talent frequently on this album, laying down both searing solos along with sensible rhythms.

Brian proves he has a wide range of vocal pitch also, hitting low notes one minute, then turning around and hitting a higher range the next minute.

“Lost Control” contains a solid bass line, as Chad Calek drives the song along with this steady pulsating rhythm.

I only wish the drums were a little more to the front, as they snare the only aspect of the kit that is really clear. Maybe this will sound clearer on disc, as I listened to this on an advance cassette.

This band shows the raw potential they have, as this is a good first effort. You can pick up a copy of this when they play at People’s this Friday night.

Veruca Salt ****

Blow It Out Your Ass, It’s Veruca Salt

DGC

One of the hottest bands from Chicago pairs up with one of the greatest producers in music of all time (Steve Albini) on this four song EP.

Albini’s influence is very prevalent on here, as the guitars are noisier and have more of a raw sound than the overall feel of their last album.

The vocals are still very nice, as Louise Post and Nina Gordon make for a great pair of harmonious voices. Their words float above the chaotic sounds of the music to put a sweet touch on top of the grinding songs.

The music is driven with forceful sounds, which will bring any listener to believe that this group has more to it than the super single they released (“Seether”).

All four songs are great, particularly “Shimmer Like A Girl,” which starts the whole thing off with a bang. They aren’t a flash in the pan, as this offering proves.

Tribe 8 *1/2

Snarkism

Alternative Tentacles

This is quite the interesting group. With band shirts with the slogan “Dykes Rule” on the inside and a rather bizarre front cover, you’d wonder what was on the disc.

Unfortunately (but not surprisingly), there is very little. They go so far out of their way to be shocking that they forget to concentrate on the main idea of putting out an album: the music.

All there is on this album is a bunch of noise to set the background for the (plentiful) ranting and raving. One song in particular, “Checkin Out Your Babe,” details the band members looking at a man’s girlfriend, and asking if it makes him nervous. I was nervous just listening to it, and I was alone (duh)!

I can’t see much to praise on this album. There is a song about O.J. on here, which isn’t all that topical anymore, not to mention the tasteless lyrics.

It was news to me that Nicole Brown-Simpson was gay, as the song suggests she is. Sure, it’s a joke, but it’s not very funny.

SINGLES

George Michael **1/2

Fastlove

DreamWorks

A new song from George Michael, and it’s a pretty decent pop song. Not much different than you would expect, I guess. Pretty tame, as keyboards play the dominant role along with Michael’s voice.

The beat is a somewhat fast tempo, pushing the song along. Michael doesn’t seem to give his voice a whole lot of freedom on this, as it is pretty much kept in check. It is not devoid of emotion, but it is harnessed.

What can I say? It’s just another George Michael single, which isn’t to say it’s bad, but it’s nothing new. I was expecting more due to the layoff Michael has been through lately. Even the two remix versions on here don’t create much diversity.

The Cure ***1/2

The 13th

Fiction/Elektra

Robert Smith and the lads have returned with a new single. “The 13th” is a slight twist on their style, incorporating a lot of brass on this song.

The song seems to float along, with the horns guiding the way. Smith’s voice still continues to weave its way through the music with its weird tone, still full of emotion after all of these years.

But the song sounds a bit unorganized, even with the positive aspects listed above. I have always felt their singles were weaker than their other album tracks, and this might not be an exception.

The b-side, “Adonais,” is a better song, with its deep keyboard sound giving the song some serious tones to it. This song may cater to the long-time fans of the band.