Mr. Bungle
Mr. Bungle (Parental Advisory)
1991 Warner Brothers

Grade: A

http://www.mrbungle.com

When Mr. Bungle finally had the chance to get this CD released there was some big hush-hush campaign going on about who was in the band. Fans of Faith No More new exactly who the singer was (Mike Patton) and people tried to guess at who the other members were. It didn’t really matter who was in the band once people started getting wind of what this crazy and bizarre musical experience was all about. Legendary jazz/noise/neo-impressionist composer John Zorn was enlisted as the records’ producer and even appears on the recording as well.
There is no denying that Mr. Bungle is a band that you’ll either hate or love, they are truly not a band for everyone to enjoy. “Dead Goon”, “Love is a Fist”, “Stub (A Dub)”, “Slowly Growing Deaf”, and “Egg” are all top notch songs where the band tests the limits of listeners with redundant musical meanderings along with cartoon and video game samples, straight up noise and lyrics that border insanity. 

Yes, Mr. Bungle truly isn’t a band for just anyone to embrace. If you are into music that challenges you to listen, pushes songwriting boundaries and can flat out insult morality at the drop of a hat then you should take a ride on the carousel with Mr. Bungle. Just remember that this music is all in good fun. Also, be sure to check out the bands other two releases Disco Volante and California.

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To obtain a copy of the CDs found in The Underground Spotlight please contact the band/artist via their web pages unless otherwise noted.

The Juliet Dagger
Turn Up the Death
2004 Good Charamel

Grade: A

http://www.thejulietdagger.com

The Juliet Dagger brings the rock on their debut release for Good Charamel, the record label started and run by the Goo Goo Dolls, Robby Takac. Turn Up the Death is good times for all with its smooth melodies and memorable sing along choruses. When these girls and guy want to kick up the jams they do it both feet first. The group inserts some serious adrenaline into your ears with the song “Stab” and continues to rock you for the rest of the album. Other songs worth mentioning include, “Crush”, “Agitator”, “Toby” and “Our Lips Are Sealed”, which is one of the best versions of a Go-Go’s song I have ever heard. The remake of “Everything But You” is better than the original, which was penned by Meredith Brooks. Fans of Weezer, Selby Tigers and the pop-punk undercurrent gripping America should really take a stab at The Juliet Dagger. They’ll stick in your heart and mind.

Note: You can read an interview with Erin from The Juliet Dagger in Issue 9

Psycotron
Psycotron
2004 Unsigned

Grade: A

http://www.psyco-tron.com

Every so often you’ll hear someone describe a band as, ‘They really don’t sound like anyone else’, or ‘This band is one of the most original sounding bands I have heard since…’ I have caught myself doing it before and I listen to plenty of people do it on almost a daily basis. I try to reserve such comments or descriptions for times when I feel that they are necessary or a truly fitting observation. One of those times happens to be now, as I speak of the Psycotron self-titled CD.
Imagine every hard rock and heavy metal band that you have probably heard over let’s say the past twenty five to thirty years and you can easily hear their influences on Psycotron. You’ll hear influences ranging from Metallica to Van Halen to Incubus to Pungent Stench… The list could go on, I seriously mean it when I say this band has a sound all their own. Some of the bright spots include, “War”, “Blown Away”, and “Crawling”. Fans of hard rocking groove metal will surely enjoy getting crazy with Psycotron.

The Adorkables
Brokenhearted…
2005 Unsigned

Grade: A

http://www.myspace.com/theadorkables

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A Compromise In Taste
Or
Why Dylan's "Desire" Makes My Ears Tingle With Delight

By Col. Lump

Recently while composing lyrics for a new batch of original material for my garage band, I developed a serious case of writer's block that couldn't be cured by the usual tried and true methods. I decided a casual spin of a Bob Dylan album might get the creative juices, (and serious feelings of incompetence) flowing. Nothing like the 'ol wordmiester to inspire. I passed over the obvious choices, no Bringin' It All Back Home or John Wesley Harding this time. Instead I chose 1976's Desire.

It must be said that I haven't listened to this selection in more than 14 years. You see, compared to most of Dylan’s pre-1976 output, I never cared very much for Desire. Oh, there are a few gems contained. “One More Cup of Coffee”, “Black Diamond Bay”, and one of my favorite all-time Dylan songs, “Isis” find Mr. Zimmerman playing up his most comfortable and successful role, that of the storyteller. But the stinkers like the phony calypso of “Mozambique” and the unnecessary length and fluff of the (by 1976) mandatory protest song “Hurricane” weigh the good stuff down.

At least that’s what I used to think.

In 2005 I find Desire an above average album. Hell, I will even go so far as to say it’s damn good.  And it has nothing to do with nostalgia. It’s not because I haven’t heard Desire in over a decade. It’s because “The Dukes of Hazzard” is coming to a theater near you this summer.  It’s due to the same reasons Peter Brady AND Jerry Hall have good steady gigs with VH1. It’s why I can’t listen to Jet without thinking of Cheap Trick.

It’s because everything that is new is just a rehash of everything that is old.

The situation is so dire that bad classic rock albums now sound good. I catch myself pumping my fist whenever I hear “Blue Collar Man” by Styx. And I’ve had enough!

I want to be turned onto some fresh new sounds. I want to feel that it’s all passed me by. I want to be an old washed up fart. I’ve earned the right. I want to be OFFENDED! Somebody offend me please!

So, if you have to listen to Desire, try not to put it into today’s perspective.  Or at least first give Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited a spin.

Next week I give a glowing review to that classic American piece of cinematography: The Monkee’s Head!

Col. Lump is the cranky drummer for the god-awful Richard’s Nixon
Visit their website at http://www.richardsnixon.moonfruit.com

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Ladytown

Q. How did you come up with the name Ladytown?
A. Well... I had been in a band that had zero sense of humor, plus they were crabby all the time. I finally quit that band because it was so sad. At the time I was just the front "lady". After I quit I taught myself how to play guitar so I could just do it by myself. That way there would be no "crabby" unless I felt like it! Anyway, I was driving down the street one day and I saw a storefront that said "Ladytown"... Inside there was just a lobby leading up. No store to be found unless you get on the elevator and see what happens when you get off. I decided at that point that I would be Ladytown, even if it was just me playing. I have never been on the Ladytown elevator and never will...

Q. I read where you had intended to write and sing your songs in Chinese, and then you decided against it. What would you like to tell us about that?
A. When I first started playing as Ladytown, it was my intent to write all songs in Chinese. I spent a short period in China teaching English, but did not know very much Chinese then. When I returned home I took a couple of Mandarin classes and subsequently used my LIMITED vocabulary to write songs in Chinese. I like the idea of using such an ancient language to sing traditional American songs, as Americana music is one of our traditions that carry stories down our lineage. Why not take both a language that has been around for centuries and apply it to our own "history". You can find "Wo Xiang Ni" [[I Miss You]] on my debut CD "Ladytown". You can find it on http://www.cdbaby.com or link to it from my website http://www.ladytownlady.com  As for any new songs in Chinese..... Not unless you want me to write a song about, dictionaries, maps, doctors and skirts.... Did I mention how limited my Chinese is?

Q. What are some of your goals for Ladytown?
A. I am currently finishing up my second CD called "Thirty-Nine-Nineteen". I am really happy with the way it is shaping up. My producer Aram Arslanian is really amazing. He really has a magic touch when it comes to music. He is a very talented musician himself, so I am very lucky. His project and info can be seen at http://www.orphan-train.com my goal is to have my music touch as many people as possible and get out to play as much as possible. I am looking to do a tour come late fall.

Q. Who do you like better, The Beatles or Rolling Stones?
A. Aaaaah this question. Beatles as a kid; Stones as an adult!

Q. If you could be anyone in World History, who would I be?
A. Real history or Cartoon History?
   

J: Both

Ladytown: Yosemite Sam. He was always blowing his stack.... and he got away with it. I have always wanted steam to come out of my ears when I get cross.

In real life? This has the potential for a pseudo intellectual nightmare answer.... no matter what I say. So I won't say anything. I guess I feel more aligned with cartoons, and this I find terrifying.

Q. What am I listening to these days?
A. Actually, I just bought a compilation CD of Chinese artists. The music ranges from the 1940's to present.

Q. Anything Else About Ladytown?
A. I am a very happy Lady.

http://www.ladytownlady.com

http://www.myspace.com/ladytown

Note: You can also check out a review for Ladytown’s debut CD in Issue 19

Group36

Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. I'm Bear. I play bass and sing lead vocals on a couple songs.

Q. How did you guys decide on Group36 as the name?
A. Cam and Leo decided on it a few years ago. I watched the movie that it came from, 'What To Do In Case Of Fire'. It was pretty rad. Long story short, Group36 was the name of some anarchist punks in the 80's because they lived in a slum called District 36 or something. Watch the movie, you'll see.

Q. What are some of your goals for the band?
A. For me personally, to continue to write and record relevant music. I always try to convey a message with my lyrics and I want other people to see that and understand what I'm saying. I also want our band to be successful, because I know this is what we wanna do with our lives. Oh, and take over the world.

Q. Do you have any funny or interesting stories to share with us about a show or tour?
A. There was one show in West Virginia where our friends Corrupted Youth were playing and a kid dressed as a robot came in the room and started dancing. He was in like a cardboard box suit spray painted silver with old computer pieces glued to it. And at another show in WV, there were actually a couple games of leapfrog going on in the pit. Never seen that before. West Virginia is an odd place...

Q. If you could be anyone in world history who would you be? Why?
A. I'm having enough trouble just being myself and I'm not important to the world. So I'll just stick with who I am.

Q. What are you listening to these days in your car/ home stereo?
A. I've been obsessing over old school thrash metal like Slayer, Anthrax, and the first 3 Metallica albums. The new Unseen CD has also been in rotation. Also the new The Twats/Common Enemy split 7" has been rocking my world; I love both of those bands. And Thin Lizzy's 'Jailbreak'. Can't forget that one.

Q. is there anything else you'd like to tell us about Group36?
A. We're a band that plays loud, hard, and fast. I want everyone to experience our music and come out and see us live. You wont be disappointed so come and see for yourself.

Note: You can read a review for the Group36 CD by viewing Issue 18

Toast

Q. Who are you and what do you do in the band?
A. David, Bass

Q. How did you decide on Toast as the name of the band?
A. Olympics. Enough said.

Q. What can we expect from Toast live, and are there any tour or performance dates coming up?
A. No shows coming up. You can expect to get girl wood.

Q. Who would you say is one of your biggest musical and non-musical influences?
A. Each other. Does that sound gay!!?

Q. What would you say is your favorite song on the CD?
A. My favorite song is "Meaning."

Q. If you could be anyone in world history beside yourself, who would you be? Why?
A. Anyone that got to play music for a living, night after night playing for crowds that know their tunes...living that. I can't even begin to describe how much I want that.

Q. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about Toast?
A. Can you give me 5 dollars?

Note: You can read the review for the Toast CD by viewing Issue 12

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1.About a Burning Fire by Blindside
2.Absolution by Muse - Reviewed in Issue 1
3.Summer of Darkness by Demon Hunter - Reviewed in Issue 1
4.This Type of Thing (Could Do Us In) by Chevelle - Reviewed in Issue 3
5.Deja Entendu by Brand New - Reviewed in Issue 1