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Back Off Cupids - s/t
Back Off Cupids was to John Reis (Rocket From the Crypt, Hot Snakes) as Barry Black was to Eric Bachman (Archers of Loaf, Crooked Fingers)...a chance to mix things up to experiment with the different sounds your new toys can make, try out some ideas, and get a little weird. About 80% instrumentals, when he does sing, it's a substantially more laid-back version of his snarl. For the most part the songs on here are slower than anything that Reis has done before and much more pleasant than Bachman's Barry Black work. Nowhere present is the fire-y riffs we're used to hearing from Mr. Reis. (Drunken Fish Records)

Bad Religion - The Process of Belief
Thank God they're back! The reigning kings of intelligent melodic punk have returned, this time with original guitarist Brett Gurewitz to save punk from being silly and dumb. (There's nothing wrong with either of those qualities occasionally, but how about "focused" and "thoughtful" once in a while?) Bad Religion has been inspiring young punks' minds for 15 plus years and this album represents their best hope to help rejuvenate the nation's jaded youth.

So...how's the album? Well, let's just say that I had to go back and listen to all their other albums to confirm my gut feeling that this was indeed their best album yet. Yes...ye of little faith...IT IS THEIR BEST ALBUM YET. Don't get me wrong. I loved The New America (as I loved Suffer and No Substance), but The Process of Belief showcases the band at their tightest and most fiery. Then men of Bad Religion are playing better than they ever have right now.

The return of Gurewitz seems to have re-energized the band. Singer Greg Graffin's melodies are top notch, as are the backup vocals. And this kid, Brooks Wacherman (ex-Infectious Grooves) hits the drums as hard and as fast as anyone in punk in 2002.

The album's strength lies in its diversity and pacing, in addition to the fact that you could stand about eleven of the thirteen songs on this album up against "Infected" and "20th Century Digital Boy." Am I impressed? Hell yeah. Am I surprised? Not at all. (Epitaph Records)		 Boss Jim Gettys - Tigrebeat
Wowsers!! And I thought that their last one was good! The Gettys' last album came off like a blast from a furnace and this, while no less tame, takes it up a couple notches on the style and production meter. For a reference point for those not familiar with this New Jersey trio, imagine a slightly more dirty, but no less aggressive Foo Fighters with vocals that range from Seaweed-like viciousness to Pinhead Gunpowder-ish pop. Extra treats include the teen-mag layout and a bonus EP with 4 equally great songs!! "karate kid" and "diseased" are super! These guys deserve to be heard on the radio more than any of the current pretty-boy-I'm-so-tortured-flavors-of-the-week. Bob's gone on to play for The Bobfields. (Childlike Records)

Boy Genius - Last Grand Experiment
This is one of the most boring pop-punk albums I've heard. The vocals don't help things at all and I really want to punch this man. Apparently, this guy's jealous of fellow Knoxvillians Superdrag, he should be. I can't waste anymore space on this. (Tommy Music, in the shit-punk section at your local Tower Records.)

Billy Bragg - Reaching to the Converted
This is mostly a collection of British B-Sides, with a few alternative versions of A-sides thrown in for good measure. While some B-side compilations come off as albums unto themselves, this definitely feels like a compilation of individual songs...but these are no just any songs, they are Billy Bragg's songs. From his collaborations with ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to his early recordings, these songs ooze with Bragg's charm and talent. Check out his website for Bragg's track by track commentary. (Rhino)

Beulah - when your heartstrings break
Last time out, this San Francisco quintet were described to me as a cross between Pavement and The Apples in Stereo (whose Robert Schneider mixed this puppy at Elephant 6.) I think I liked that album more than the recent efforts of either band. This new one isn't too shabby either although I'm not sure how I feel about the added sounds of just about every orchestra instrument under the sun. Horns-a-plenty!! Hooks?? Kind of. (Try "ballad of the lonely argonaut" and "the aristocratic swells" and the brilliantly-titled "if we can land a man on the moon, surely I can win your heart") Where'd the guitars go, kids?? Maybe they're just buried by the cellos and French horns. I'll keep listening. (Sugar Free Records)

Bipolar Outing - Spooky Nite and a Little Bit of Dawn EP
Recorded live to 8-track in a basement in northern Vermont comes this dose of trippy, melodic syncopation. The first song is a 20+ minute tune that seems about ten minutes too long. The second song is punctuated by the sound of crickets and features some salt shakers. Okay. (North of January Records)

Bitchy - Black Socks and Happiness
I had to fast-forward to the cover of "7 & 7 is...," one of Love's finest tunes- fast and furious like the rest of the songs on this album. Very high octane to say the least, this is packed with some pretty solid hooks and a healthy dose of angst served up by the singer's voice, which sounds like a car bumper ripping apart. Singer and bass player are also in The Blue Meanies and the drummer for Bitchy is the Meanies' sound guy. The other guitarist is also in NIL8. Got that? Anyway, a tough punk album for tough times. Nice cover art by Derek Hess, a true gem of an artist. (Thick Records)

 Braid - Lucky to be Alive
and Movie Music Vol. 1 and 2 (Polyvinyl)
I was truly sorry to hear that these Illini decided to pack it in last year. Apart from being decent guys, I thought they had this boundless energy (see: "The New Nathan Detroits") that would give them the staying power to outlast some of their contemporaries. Apparently, I was mistaken and I'll have to be content with having seen them a couple of times (242 Main, Burlington, VT - with Compound Red and My Own Sweet - one of the best shows I've seen, jaws dropped at the crazy work that Damon was throwing around that night.

This recording of Braid's last shows well demonstrates to any fan or newcomer to the band why, during their tour following the release of Frame and Canvas, Braid were one of the top live bands in the country. The sound recording is decent enough, but certainly not stunning and far better than most bootlegs.

Also making an appearance is Polyvinyl's two-volume compilation of all of Braid's singles. It's impressive, the shear volume of their output. Not all of it is great. Presented in chronological order, the songs on these two albums demonstrate that Braid got better with age and maturity. They became more focused, the songs had more drive. By the time they got to Frame and Canvas, their crowning achievement, they were a one-band avalanche, with their new drummer, Damon, at the center. For the uninitiated, run don't walk and find that album, one of the best albums of the late 90's and if you have some spare cash, work your way back with these. (Glue Factory Records)

Black 47 - Live in New York City
Always underrated by both critics and radio station programmers, Black 47 have been one of the hardest working and touring bands around. Recorded at Wetlands in New York on Saint Patrick's Day 1998, these Irish-Americans (some of them first generation) play a great set in front on an appreciative hometown crowd. The first of two discs worth of material recorded at that show, they include some reggae numbers (including a cover of Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" and their own "Desperate" and "Walk All the Days") but the rest is fist-in-the-sky pub rock. Just plain fun too. (Gadfly Records)

Blacksonny - s/t CD
One of the best new bands that I've heard in 2002. Mellow rock songs with intelligence and personality oozing from their pores. Fans of Seam, Pedro the Lion, and Wheat should check this out immediately. (Vital Cog)

Bluebird - Hot Blood
Over the course of only three albums, Los Angeles' Bluebird have developed into quite the tight rock outfit. Hot Blood sounds like something you should feel guilty for listening to, but the songs are so good you can't help yourself. Rock that has swagger, but isn't ultra-cocky nor ultra-slick. The quieter moments where there's a little more space work really well, but the louder songs will have you air-drumming along with the dashboard. There are a lot of them and this record is so dense that it almost needs to be broken up into two sittings. Leaving quite a mark, Wayne Kramer (MC5) plays lead on "Beautiful Believer," which is one of the four best songs on this album. Definitely worth a listen. (Dim Mak)

 Bratmobile - Girls Get Busy
review on AllMusic.com


The Break - s/t
Upbeat rock/punk from these five upstarts from New Jersey that seem to have wisdom beyond their years. That wisdom (and a touch of sorrow and disappointment) has produced a pretty strong album full of tight-ass riffs and thoughtful lyrics. RIYL: Avail, Social Distortion, Lifetime (Doghouse Records)

Bronx, The - Bats! EP
Bats! features three songs not found on their debut full-length. The opener and title track features the frantic drumming of Mr. Jorma Vik. Punk rock drummers everywhere - meet the new standard bearer. This kid kills it!

The second tune is one hell of a tune - it's a rocker that sounds like nothing else out there and yet at the same like the tumultuous marriage of Rocket from the Crypt (minus the horns), At the Drive In, and Drive Like Jehu. Vicious.

The last track is a cover of "Private Affair" Australian punks The Saints which is a fun way to close a damn hot piece of plastic. A great introduction to one of the best new bands out there! (Tarantulas Rec.)

Blueline Medic - The Apology Wars
"you say I have to get a real life but I'm not sure how that in making someone or other rich is any more real than making the niche for yourself" review on AllMusic.com

Bob Tilton - Crescent and The Leading Hotels of the World
My previous experience hearing Bob Tilton was on radio shows at WRUV-FM. This is a delight to have the Crescent album now available in the US after long being only available as an import. The layout is beautiful, especially for a CD; words written on clear sheets that cover photographs and typed lyrics....nice. Crescent is an amazing album. Recorded over the span of 4 months in a member's living room, it is a lo-fi recording that sounds warmer than many studio releases I've heard. The friendly feel of the guitars provides a sharp contrast to the somewhat bleak and cold tone of the lyrics. The lyrics read like great poetry and could very well occupy a space next to Rimbaud on my shelf...except for the fact that there is always that semblance of hope in Bob Tilton's songs. Passion drives these songs, not despair.

Unfortunately, this band recently called it quits. They left us Americans with their final album just before their demise, and it too is a great one. The Leading Hotels of the World trades their Fugazi-like precision and intensity for slower tempos and mellower moments. If you can't handle the slowness, read along and recognize the beauty of those words... those words. Farewell, Bob Tilton, farewell. (Southern Records)

 Bronx, The - s/t
There has not been one person that I've played this album for that has not wanted to know where they could buy it. What is it about these guys that is so magnetizing? Could be the fact that they sound like almost no one else out there right now. This is total balls-to-the-wall punk rock, with more than a pretty healthy helping of Rocket from the Crypt and AC/DC thrown in to keep it from spiraling out of control. The fact that this album was recorded live to tape, with a maximum of three takes per song, is mind-blowing. Air-tight, adventurous, and aggressive, this album is enough to bring the doubters back to the fold and restore our faith in punk rock. (White Drugs)

Richard Buckner - bloomed
What a bunch of champs over at Rykodisc!! They tracked down Buckner's first album, re-mastered it, and tacked on 5 bonus tracks. Much more simple and a bit less rockin' than his following efforts, this effectively demonstrates his haunting voice and clever country-tinged melodies. For those not familiar, Richard Buckner has been ever so quietly been staking a claim as one of the best songwriters going. This is a good album to read the Sunday paper to. (Rykodisc)

The Burgundy Romance - s/t
Florida's Burgundy Romance come on strong with a collection of 7 instrumentals that showcase a great sense of melody and rhythm. The first song shows off some sounds that could hook even the most pretentious June of '44 fan. The others are, for the most part, a bit more mellow, but equally tasty.
Bonfire Madigan - Saddle the Bridge
I could imagine this album being very powerful in the live setting. On record, it comes off a bit too oppressive for my tastes, with the exception of the first song, "Mad Skywriting" which is one of the coolest songs I've heard in a while. I like the way that singer/cellist Madigan Shive's voice takes on a Sinead O'Connor lilt to it. That track is a nice showcase for her voice, I would say far better than the other's on the album, which are much darker and weigh heavy like a lot of PJ Harvey's songs. I do like what they're trying to do here, though - to mix the soulish pop (featurning drummer Tomas Palermo laying down some great beats) with the chamber sounds (Shive and contrabassist Sheri Ozeki). And I commend Kill Rock Stars for taking a chance on something like this. (Kill Rock Stars)

Boo Radleys - Kingsize
Is this really their last album?? God, I hope not. One of the few bands to consistently blow my mind...yes, dear, the pop is that good. Every time a departure from the past album, yet still dripping with those melodies that could make entire nations smile. The first track, "Blue Room in Archway," offers a taste of what you're in for as drum machine triggers fade into a lullaby, which bursts into a triumphant trumpet, and string section explosion. And they almost dare you not to sing along with that howl of "Why don't you leave me alone." The song that follows should be the theme song to the next James Bond film. If that isn't enough, they out anthem Oasis yet again with "Free Huey." There's 12 more brilliant songs on the album, but I'll leave them to you to discover. Give this band 60 minutes and you'll be in their pocket. I hate the idea that we'll have no more music coming from these kids. (Creation Records/Never Records)

Burning Airlines - Identikit
BA's previous record, Mission Control, was one of my favorite records of the past few years, a remarkable debut album from a trio of D.C. veterans. It's a work-out, a record that shines from start to finish. This time out J. Robbins (ex-Jawbox) and Pete Moffett (ex-Government Issue) opt for more a collection of songs than an album with fluid continuity and in the process vary up the sound a bit with some vocal and instrumental experimentation. (DeSoto)

Burns Out Bright - Incandescent Light
Saw these guys in the back of a record store in Myrtle Beach and had to pick up their disc. Great sense of melody wrapped up in a punk and rock band with a finely tuned sense of dynamics, cool harmonies, and strong backup vocals.

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