The Audio Nut
April 25th, 2005
Welcome to Issue 10 of The Audio Nut. Yep, I have
made it to 10 issues with out getting the plug pulled on me. I have been pleased
with the growth of the page so far and I am also encouraged by the amount of
people that send in questions, comments and band information. There may be one
more change on the horizon as the page progresses into the future. The section
titled Reader Reviews has become an endangered spot and I am probably looking at
discontinuing that segment because most of the mail I get for it usually consists
of questions and comments and not really any reviews. I may tweak it a little or
just pull the plug on it all together. Why am I telling you? Because, I want your
feedback. Should I pull the plug on it or continue to keep it as it is, but maybe
change the name? Email me with your suggestions at anytime.
theaudionut@nutzworld.net
jsohn@nutzworld.net
This time around we will be doing reviews for c.d.’s
from:
1. Garbage
2. American Hi-Fi
3. Starlight Run
4. Mudvayne
5. At The Drive-In
6. Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
7. Richard’s Nixon
8. Do Unto Others
Interviews with:
Modern Day Zero, Kids in the Way, Peculiar People Band and Deadworks.
Message Board: I have been
encouraging bands to post information about themselves on the
message board. Please check
it out and also post anything on there if you wish. You don’t have to be in a band
to post something. You can be a fan of a band or just post anything on there
musically related.
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Reviews |
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Garbage
Bleed Like Me (Parental Advisory)
2005 Geffen Records
Grade: A-
http://www.garbage.com
Garbage
has picked up the rock and thrown it at listeners.
Bleed Like Me has been almost perfectly produced and
contains well-written songs and the appealing sing-a-long
lyrics that the band is known for.
Along
with the first single, “Why Do You Love Me” songs like
“It’s All Over But The Crying” and “Happy Home” are tasty
hard rocking numbers. While songs like, “Why Don’t You
Come Over” and “Boy Wanna Fight” remind you of the more
pop music side of the group.
Fans of
Garbage that don’t have this album yet should definitely
get it. If you are new to the band it’s worth the money to
check out.
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American Hi-Fi
Hearts on Parade
2005 Maverick Records
Grade: C
http://www.americanhi-fi.com
After
being dropped by Island Records American Hi-Fi signed on
with Maverick Records and have put out Hearts on
Parade. Some of the songs on here remind me of other
bands that are getting radio airplay now days. I guess
that is what the guys in the band had in mind when writing
and recording this release, because just about every song
could end up on the radio. I don’t want to knock on them
by saying, they sound like everyone else, because it’s not
true, they only sound like 25% of everyone else on the
radio. Fans of 3 Doors Down, Bowling for Soup and other
‘pop-rock’ bands will enjoy.
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Straylight Run
Straylight Run
2004 Victory Records
Grade: B+
http://www.straylightrun.com
http://www.victoryrecords.com
Straylight Run’s debut is like an 80’s or 90’s super hits
record. Every song on here is pleasant and charming, which
is a surprise coming from the Victory Records family, who
have given us some high quality hardcore metal type bands
over the years. “Mistakes We Knew We Were Making,”
“Dignity and Money” and the lead single, “Existentialism
on Prom Night” remind me of soundtrack songs from the
movies or music you would hear from ‘ big time song
writers’.
I truly
anticipate this band to gain a massive following over the
next couple years and expect them to move up the ranks in
the music business with ease. Straylight Run is for you if
you enjoy music from Tori Amos, The Goo Goo Dolls,
Counting Crows and The Postal Service.
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Mudvayne
Lost and Found (Parental Advisory)
2005 Sony Records
Grade: C
http://www.mudvayne.com
Mudvayne has released their most commercially friendly
recording to date. Sadly they really haven’t broken any
new ground or expanded themselves a whole lot. Basically
all that has been done here is that they have taken a hand
full of songs that sound like every song they have
recorded in the past and put it into that cookie-cutter
popular heavy metal category i.e. Slipknot, System of a
Down and so on. The musicianship is still impressive in
some parts, but also stereotypical in others. If you are
into the ‘nu-metal’ thing or a Mudvayne fan you will
probably dig.
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The Double Dose |
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Here’s a
double dose of At The Drive-In
At
the Drive-In
Relationship of Command
2000 Virgin/ Grand
Royal Records
Grade: A
http://www.myspace.com/atdi
http://www.themarsvolta.com
http://www.spartamusic.com
http://www.fearlessrecords.com
Before
Sparta and The Mars Volta there was At the Drive-In, a band
that continued to build a following almost daily all over the
world. Not since Jane’s Addiction had a band mixed their
eclectic styles into such a powerful and original sound. This
recording starts off with “Arcarsenal” which pulverizes
listeners and continues the full out assault with songs like,
“Enfilade,” “Pattern Against User,” “Cosmonaut” and the first
single off of the c.d. “One Armed Scissor.”
The lyrics are very poetic and thought provoking; often they
don’t seem to make sense, but you know that the author of
those words knows exactly what he has penned. You can here
just about every type of music in the recording, yet it sounds
unlike anything you have heard before.
At the
Drive-In is a must for any music collection if you enjoy
innovative bands with original music.
At
the Drive-In
In Casino Out
1998 Fearless
Records
Grade: A
This is At
the Drive-In, raw and still as an underground band. This
recording is another example of the genius that the band
dropped on the world just before going on ‘hiatus’.
“Pickpocket” Napoleon Solo,” “Lopsided” and “Devil Among
Tailors” are all classics from the band. If you are a fan and
haven’t heard this recording I strongly recommend you get it.
According to Fearless Records the guys have all gotten back
together to hand select a greatest hits and rarities type of
disc titled This Station Is Non-Operational that will
be released on May 24, 2005. This too will be a must have for
fans.
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Blast From The Past |
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We take a step back into the past and get
a listen to Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention.
We’re
Only in It for Money
1968 Rykodisc Re-Mastered release 1995
Grade: A
For those
of you who may have never heard Frank Zappa & The Mothers of
Invention, but have heard of the legend that is, I highly
recommend checking this musical genius out. We’re Only in
It for Money is a marvelous piece of recording history.
For someone that never did mind-altering drugs, Zappa was a
composer of mind-altering music. I still consider him one of
the greatest composers of our time. Before you decide to bash
me on saying that take a moment to listen to this musical
mastermind. Songs like, “Who Needs the Peace Corp,”
“Concentration Moon,” “Bow Tie Daddy,” “Mother People” and
“Flower Punk” are all amazingly written and performed songs
that take a jab at the political and social scenes of the late
60’s in America.
If you
think that Zappa & The Mothers were just a studio band then
check out some of the bands live recordings for a full on
demonstration of how the band could pull it off live.
Fans of Mr.
Bungle, Butthole Surfers, The Mars Volta and Sonic Youth
should get their hands on some Zappa recordings and take the
chance to see who and what started all of this ‘abstract
noise’.
All of the
above c.d.’s can be bought new or used by going to
http://www.amazon.com,
your local music sellers or at their respective webpages.
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The Underground Spotlight |
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To be
considered for The Underground Spotlight send me an e-mail
with contact information to
jsohn@nutzworld.net
or
theaudionut@nutzworld.net
Richard’s Nixon
Fixed-Find
 2005
Unsigned Band
Grade: A
http://www.richardsnixon.moonfruit.com
This disc
starts of with “Ballad of California” and continues the rock
with alluring and upbeat songs like “Green Machine,” “Mercy
Killing” and “Ode”. “ Crispen Glover,” sort of reminds me of
The Monkeys with the way it’s catchy guitar riffs flow and how
the beat is hopping around. I’m sure the band will be
delighted to hear they have just been compared to The Monkeys,
but I can imagine black and white television footage
consisting of girls with thick black eyeglasses screaming and
fainting when I hear this song. All eight songs on this disc
are contagious so when you get this recording be prepared to
hum the tunes in your head for days. Richard’s Nixon reminds
me of Nirvana (Bleach) with some Foo Fighters and
Queens of the Stone Age thrown in for good measure. They are a
must for fans of bands like the above mentioned or groups like
Weezer, The Weakerthans and Death Cab for Cutie. Be sure to
visit their web page to see how you can get a copy of this
recording.
Do Unto
Others
Peer Prescribed Suicide
2005 Unsigned band
 Grade:
A
http://www.dountoothersband.com
http://www.myspace.com/dountoothers
Do Unto
Others is taking the best of heavy metal music from over the
past 25 years and are mixing into a tasty little cocktail to
poison the masses. I hear influences from bands such as
Cannibal Corpse, Kreator and Napalm Death in them, so if you
are familiar with any of those bands you have an idea of what
expect…sort of. Although they are a thrash metal band the
songs are composed nicely. They don’t have over extended
guitar solos or tiresome and tedious song parts that seem to
never end, plus the d.j. /programmer for the band doesn’t get
carried away with scratching records to make them sound like
some rap metal band. Songs like “Hatefelt,” “Armed & Hammered”
and the title track “Peer Prescribed Suicide” are scorching
songs. This recording is a must have. Do Unto Others would be
for fans of Emperor, Killswitch Engage and Slayer. Visit the
bands ‘official’ web page to get a free copy of this c.d.
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7 Questions With... |
Modern Day Zero
Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. Mi nombre es Rock, Mi..... crap. I was gonna respond all in
Spanish. But I just remembered I don't know Spanish. I play
guitar, write songs, and sing background vocals.
Q. How did you come up with the name, Modern Day Zero?
A. When we decided to change our name, which was Mesh StL, we
wanted something that represented where we were at that time
and represented a new direction and fresh start. So hence,
Modern Day Zero.... every day is a new day, you start from
zero and try to make every day better than the last.
Q. What's your favorite song off of Coming Up For Air?
A. That's like asking me which is my favorite child! But I
don't have any kids. So I'll go with "Sick Inside".
Q. Read any good books lately?
A. You know.... I read newspapers and magazines. Usually ones
with lots of pictures. I am horrible with books. I think it
stems from being beaten by nuns in Catholic grade school. But
I am slowly reading Ken Warren Teaches: Texas Hold 'Em. So any
of you suckers who wanna lose some cash, look me up.
Q. Who are some of your influences both musically and
non-musical?
A. Musically in no particular order: AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Led
Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kiss, The Police.
All the GOOD Classic Rock. I DON'T LIKE...REO Speedwagon,
Steve Miller, etc. I also like: Alice In Chains, Sunny Day
Real Estate, Shiner, Sevendust, Probot, Slipknot, Ben Harper,
Jeff Buckley, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, N.E.R.D., DJ Shadow,
QOTSA, The Used, the list just goes and goes. Non-Musical: My
parents, David Mark- a good friend of mine. He runs a guitar
shop that I work at part time. He bikes, runs marathons, does
biathlons, and has a three-year-old son. Lance Armstrong, um
let's see...oh OJ Simpson, Martha Stewart, Robert Blake...just
kidding.
Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you
be? Why?
A. Man..... as f'd up as it sounds, I can't imagine wanting to
be anybody but me. My journey is still in the making, so I
want to see where it takes me. And doesn't everybody have
issues? I got my own, so I sure as hell don't want anybody
else's. I do think Hugh Hefner's got it made pretty good,
though.
Q. What are you listening to theses days?
A. A couple of songs I am working on, mostly. That and
recently.... Madside, White Zombie's first record. I need to
get some new CD's. I want to get the new QOTSA, and I've heard
Trust Co.'s new cd is supposed to be good.
http://www.moderndayzero.com
Note: be sure to check
out the review of Coming Up for Air in Issue 9.
Kids
in the Way
Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. Austin, I SHRED the guitar!
Q. How did you come up with the name, Kids in the Way?
A. We got it out of a cereal box... er, no it was on a fortune
cookie.
Q. Are there any plans for a tour or any live shows coming
up?
A. Fo Sheez. We're doing the "Everything is Burning" tour in
April with Spoken, Staple, and Last Tuesday. Then a CD release
tour in May. So, be there AND be square.
Q. Who are some of your influences both musically and
non-musical?
A. We all have such a wide variety of musical tastes that
range from U2, to Blindside, to He Is Legend, to the Cars, to
Frank Sinatra, to Johnny Cash, to the Used, to Muse, to
Lovedrug, to Underoath, blah blah blah. I'd like to say that
they have all touched a special place in our hearts. As far as
non-musically, we all have AMAZING families that support us
unconditionally.
Q. Read any good books lately?
A. The last book I read was "Baby Elmo Is Big" haha. I read it
to my little nephew. But seriously, the last novel I remember
reading was "Lullaby" by Palahniuk.
Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you
be? Why?
A. Wow, ummm, King David. He was "a man after God's own
heart." And he reminds me a lot of myself... a total screw up
that God chose to use anyway.
Q. What are you listening to in your car/home stereo?
A. Our new album "Apparitions of Melody" which hits the street
May 10th so make sure you pick up like ten copies of it. Okay,
for real, I've been listening to (and trying to like) the
Black Maria "Lead Us To Reason", and the Refused "the Shape of
Punk to Come."
http://www.kidsintheway.com
http://www.purevolume.com/kidsintheway
Peculiar People Band
Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. My name is Deon. I play electric guitar, backing vocals and
sometimes a little bass.
Q. How did you come up with the name, Peculiar People Band?
A. It comes from a verse in the bible, 1 Peter 2:9, where it
talks about God's people being a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a "Peculiar People"...You got to
read it in the Old King James Version.
Q. You guys just recently released your debut c.d. is there
anything you'd like to share with us about it?
A. Yeah, it is really exciting. We've just released our USA
debut CD called "Not Ashamed" which went to stores
nation-wide, March 22nd. It's a good one. We are super stoked
with the product.
Q. Are there any plans for a tour or any live shows coming
up?
A. Yeah, we have got some stuff around California, Oregon,
Washington, Arizona, Colorado and then towards the end of the
year we'll be heading to the east coast for a tour. The best
thing to do is check our tour schedule on our website as it
gets updated often.
Q. Who are some of your influences both musically and
non-musical?
A. Musically, I think Delirious mainly has inspired us to take
worship music to a different level, showing us that worship
can rock out and still have the same heart. I think there is a
bit of U2 in there somewhere too.
Non-musically has to be Jesus Christ. We are striving to be
more like Him everyday.
Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you
be? Why?
A. Mmmm..... I’ll have to get back to you on that one
Q. What are you listening to in your stereo these days?
A. At the moment, Norah Jones. Just had a romantic dinner with
my wife, some candles, and a little Norah Jones in the
background. Perfect. Otherwise, Delirious, Tree63, Coldplay,
U2.
http://www.peculiarpeopleband.com
http://www.purevolume.com/peculiarpeopleband
http://www.myspace.com/peculiarpeopleband
http://www.musichristian.com/sys/product.php?PRODUCT=156296
Deadworks
Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. I’m Justin, I play guitar and sing
Q. How did you come up with the name Deadworks?
A. It’s biblical terminology for works (or actions) that don’t
increase your faith.
Q. Is there anything you'd like to tell us about your c.d.?
A. It’s our heart and soul brotha. But it’s technically just a
demo. The real deal will be a lot better sound quality wise
and technically.
Q. Read any good books lately? Author?
A. Everything by H.P Lovecraft. He’s a friggin genius.
Q. Who are some of your influences musically? Non-musical
influences?
A. Mastodon, Tool, Ween. Heartache, depression, joy,
convulsions of the world.
Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you
be? Why?
A. Do cartoon characters count? I would be Abe Lincoln, cuz
you know he got the tang.
Q. What are you listening to in your home/car stereo?
A. Ween, Mastodon, Deadboy, Nirvana.
http://www.deadworksthewebsite.com
http://www.myspace.com/deadworks
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Reader Reviews |
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Trent M. Eden Prairie, MN
Any chance
you will give equal time to Mondo Generator the band fronted
by Nick Oliveri formerly of Queens of the Stone Age?
(Trent,
for sure I will. As a matter of fact Mondo Generator will be
in the first May issue of The Audio Nut.)
Randy R.
St. Louis, MO
Thanks for putting the review for Modern Day Zero on your
website. They are by far the preeminent band out of St. Louis
and I totally expect them to blow up this year.
(Randy, I think MDZ has what it takes
to get maximum exposure worldwide. They have a great talent
for song writing and I have heard that their live performances
are very, very good. I hope you like the interview in this
issue.)
Claudia
S. Frankfurt, Germany
I love
Prong and I never see or hear anything about them. Thank you
so much for getting them in Audio Nut.
(Claudia, Thank you for being the first ‘Reader Review’ from
Germany! I don’t ever see Prong getting much press either and
thought they should get some here. I have been a Prong fan for
years and I for one am glad that Tommy Victor has gotten a
band together and is continuing to keep Prong going.)
If you have anything that you’d like to share with us feel
free to send it to
theaudionut@nutzworld.net
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©1997-2005 NutzMedia, Inc
Parental Advisory Note:
Artists and/or their record companies place Parental Advisory
and Explicit Lyrics stickers on the recordings. I will note it
next to the title of the recording when it is posted on the
recording or album artwork its self. Some of the recordings
received by The Audio Nut are not in the original packaging
and therefore may not include the Parental Advisory warning
next to the title. Please take this into consideration when
purchasing a disc that has been reviewed on this page.
Disclaimer:
The opinions
stated above are that of J Sohn and The Audio Nut. They are
not the opinions of NutzWorld, EntertainmentNutz or any of the
above listed bands/artists; their record labels or associates
unless other wise noted. J Sohn, The Audio Nut, NutzWorld and
EntertainmentNutz are not responsible in any way for the
actions or business practices of the above listed
bands/artists etc. |
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The Audio
Nut
Message
Board
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1. Beck
2. Eisley
3. Modern Day Zero
4. Kathleen Edwards
5. Prong
6. Fastway
7. Jah Root
8. Monet, Madrid, Madagascar
9. Chaos Order
Interviews with:
The Juliet Dagger, Mankind is Obsolete and Quiver of Jasper.
1. Queens of the
Stone Age
2. He is Legend
3. Shooter Jennings
4. NOMEANSNO
5. Mankind is Obsolete
6.
roAE
7. Alterior Motive
Plus Interviews with:
Calico System, Given and Inkognito
1. Rise Against
2. Ivy
3. (hed) P.E.
4. Grascals
5. Primus
6. Rush
7. Drivin’ Rain
8. Fists of Phoenix
Plus Interviews with:
Ryan Clark from Demon Hunter and Dick Witham from The Curse of Western Culture.
Mars Volta
Jack Johnson
Interpol
Thievery Corporation
Blindside
Deep Purple
Quiver of Jasper
Plus an interview
with the band, This, Is A Virtue.
3 Doors Down
The Zutons
Shadows Fall
Alison Kraus and Union Station
P.J. Harvey
Fugazi
Driven to Her Death
and you
will know us..
Tobymac
Killswitch Engage
Kelly Clarkson
Kenny Chesney
James Gang
Underoath
U2
Green Day
Slipknot
Gwen Stefani
Blake Shelton
Mudhoney
Given
The Audio Nut - Issue 2
- featuring reviews from:
Chevelle
Cake
Ministry
Bad Brains
Byproduct
The Audio Nut - Issue 1
- featuring reviews from:
Muse
Brand New
Demon Hunter
Shellac
Emaciation
For an e-mail
update when a new page gets posted
click here and
e-mail us |
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