The Refreshments **1/2

Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy

Mercury

These guys have a nice feel to their style, as is shown on this 12-song offering with a rather original title. If you want some sort of comparison, I would say my first impression of these guys gave me a feeling of R.E.M., circa 1989, with a few more quirks in the guitar playing. Take that as you may, I call it pretty good.

The vocals seem to be stressed in the mix of this one; they seem to ride the crest of the music and stay afloat throughout each song. The voice is almost delivered in a speaking manner, which doesn’t lead to many peaks and valleys in the vocal aspect, but that wouldn’t suit the music anyway.

The music is composed of your standard guitar, bass and drums, played in a very standard way. The lead guitar parts are the only thing that stray very far from the norm. Otherwise, it’s nothing more than tight rock music played at a laid-back volume level, regardless of how loud you turn up your stereo.

This is nice listening, but it is more suited for background music while studying or whatnot. It just doesn’t seem to be anything that would distract me while trying to read or anything. Which is good in that sense, but I don’t think that is the reason they put this album out. Might want to pass on this.

Native Wisdom *****

World Music of the Spirit

Narada Collections

The talent amassed on this collection is simply amazing. Never before have I listened to a lineup full of such talented artists. And the funny thing is that I hadn’t been exposed to any of these performers before. And I thought I’d heard it all!

The sounds of nature on this album are very prevalent throughout the disc. On many occasions the chirping of birds and other such sounds can be heard meshing within the rhythms of these songs. They do not come off sounding gimmicky or anything; they fit the mood set by the artists to perfection.

Many of the artists can play a wide array of instruments. Samite of Uganda, who contributes two tracks to this disc, does well on flute as well as on kalimba (an African thumb piano) or with his voice.

Sometimes the wide variety of instrumental skill can lead to chaotic sounds, as the members of Rumillatja (whose members can play 20 different hand-made folk instruments) show on the song “Wiracocha.” The numerous sounds involved in this song have a tendency for sensory overload.

But for the most part, the songs on here are nothing short of beautiful. Gabrielle Roth uses a pounding drum section to lead the way through the song “Spirit,” which showcases her passionate voice on top of the ferocious beats and cleverly-used keyboards.

It might be a stretch of the definitions to strictly call this a “trance” or “ambient” disc, but the rhythms of these songs definitely bring the listener into the inner world of each song. What a beautiful place to be.

The Lotos Eaters *1/2

LEM

This self-titled effort from Des Moines’ Lotos Eaters is a sprawling display of music fronted heavily by the synthesizer. When you think of keyboard-driven rock, you might think of Devo, the Pet Shop Boys or the Rentals, as of late.

It doesn’t get that good on here. Sorry.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the synth. It’s just that it sounds so thin and shoddily produced. It’s one thing to gloss over a bunch of b-side material with slick production to make it sound good, but the Lotos Eaters’ music sounds hollow, as if it was recorded in a cave; aside from the keyboard, it sounds rather distant and weak.

The songs take an eternity to get through as well. I started this CD, then went and cooked a three-course meal, washed four loads of laundry and watched a New York Yankees game. After all that, I went back to my stereo and saw it was only halfway through song four. (Well, not really, but it seems that long.)

After hearing this self-indulgent trip down Synthesizer Lane, I can see why they are playing Music Fest here this weekend. Who needs Fishbone? (Read this last paragraph with a sarcastic tone … it’s intended.)

Babylon Zoo ***

The Boy With The X-Ray Eyes

EMI

One of the hottest groups in the U.K. showcases their pop music on their latest offering. The Zoo recently broke a U.K. record for the fastest-selling debut single, earning a reputation early in their career for solid music.

The aforementioned single, named “Space Man,” features an interesting vocal tirade in the style of Alvin, Simon and Theodore, which is followed by a swooping melody that carries the listener along.

The vocal style is very much like Mr. Gallagher from Oasis, with a bit of a drawl in his voice and a rather low tone. It sounds pretty cool at first, but after a while, it can become rather tiresome. If anything sounds like Oasis, you know it doesn’t have much of a unique quality to it.

Despite a good sound, it isn’t exactly the most daring of music. It has a nice flow to it, but nothing that makes you think, “Wow! How did they do that!?” I guess I’m trying to say that this album is pretty average. There, I said it.

School House Rock! Rocks *****

Atlantic/Lava

This is the best of both worlds. The songs from Saturday morning commercials on ABC, which are undoubtedly imbedded into the minds of most 20-somethings out there, are now available on this disc with a slight twist.

The songs are redone on this album by some of the more popular bands of the moment. The lineup ranges from Blind Melon to Skee-Lo, giving quite a taste of variety to this offering.

After the theme song from the series introduces the album, the song “I’m Just A Bill” receives an energetic burst from the band Folk Implosion (dubbed Deluxx Folk Implosion on here), including some hilarious dialogue between Lou Barlow (also a member of Sebadoh) as “Bill” and guitar player John Davis as the voice of the boy learning what Capitol Hill is all about for Bills.

All the favorites are here, from “Conjunction Junction” (Better Than Ezra) to “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Adverbs Here” (Buffalo Tom). The interpretations these bands provide for these songs are done tastefully and with great humor.

To back that claim up, notice Ween’s version of “The Shot Heard ‘Round The World.” Ween have always displayed their sense of humor well on their own discs, yet they come through with some musical skill while they provide humor.

Go out and take a nostalgic trip with a new twist with this album. Any album with Biz Markie singing “The Energy Blues” is worth picking up!