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Idlewild - 100 Broken Windows This is one of the best albums I've heard from a band east of Maine (or west of Hawaii) in a long time. The music made by these four Welsh lads come off as about a hundred times more sincere, more innovative, and more exciting than anything heard from those parts since Radiohead's OK Computer. Their blend of U.K. pop, R.E.M.-style melodies, and American "college rock" styled aggression-at-the-right-points ((think Jawbreaker) will no doubt strike a nerve in anyone willing to listen. A testament to this album's worth (or to my taste in friends) - everyone I've played it for so far has liked it. This band may just renew your faith in pop music. (Odeon/Capitol)
Ink & Dagger - The Fine Art of Original Sin This should be fun; they"re vampires, right? I turned out the lights to scare myself. Wait...they"re not so scary. I thought they"d be louder too, like the songs from the 7"s that The Buc Daun used to play once in a while on WRUV. Even though they"re not as tough as I thought they were, those first two songs are really good- aggressive, with a Drive Like Jehu-ish propulsion to them. After that, it mellows a bit and sounds not quite as fierce. The lyrics are a great read and the explanations of the songs are equally worthwhile. Like all fanged mammals, approach this CD and its creators with caution. (Initial Records)
The (International) Noise Conspiracy - The First Conspiracy In time to coincide with the Fall 2001 release of the new INC album, A New Morning, Changing Weather (Epitaph Records), the great folks over up at G7 re-released this 7" compilation. It shows off a simpler version of the sound that would come to fruition with the brilliant and crucial Survival Sickness. Yes, the political language was present in the lyrics on these songs and yes, the howl of ex-Refused singer Dennis Lyxen was just as potent, but the overall sound is a bit more garage-y. (G7 Welcoming Committee)
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