Newspaper Page Text
LOCAL ROUNDUP
J‘I#MY.U: Cj'.V
TERMINUS CITY
Justice Isn’t Always Fair
TKO
Wow! This is an essential local old-
school punk album This
Atlanta/Athens-based group is denim
and leather for real Much like the orig
inal punk innovators (The Ramones.
The Clash, .The Sex Pistols, etc ), these
boys take the spirit of ’50s rock and
whip it up into a tury ot energy.
A song like 'Backseat" bleeds the
blood of Bill Haley and sweats New York
Dolls at their rowdiest. It’s basically a
love song, and it works brilliantly in this
context. "Fight Tonight' paints a vivid
picture ol the clubs and hangouts that
bands like this must play, describing
patrons so completely that you know it's
based on real characters.
All the other tracks here are almost
as strong The only difference between
this and classic punk albums is the
massive distortion on the guitars that
hints at formative listening to Twisted
Sister's pre-success releases. That's not
a bad thing, though. This guys use it
like a weapon Recorded and mixed in
just three days, (and kicking off with a
hilarious nod to Ozzy) Justice Isn’t
Always Fains a welcome reprieve from
the bad metal called punk now (re: The
Otlspring and Green Day). This is an
essential punk album and it's pure fun.
Even those with only a passing interest
must own it. (4104 24th St.. /103, San
Francisco. CA 94114)
Chris McKay
GLORYFINGER
Gloryfinger
Foul County
It's very important that you listen to
local band Glorytinger's strange, lo-li,
22-mmute debut EP after working tfiree
shifts at a downtown restaurant job and
swilling five warm ales otherwise you
may not take the disc's bittersweet and
psychedelic subtleties in lull measure.
"Sands 01 Tacoma" opens with an
eyes-half-open shuffle featuring the
stoned Muppel voices ol the band's
secret weapons (backup singers Casey
Elers and Kerry Kirwm) wailing behind
lead singer-guitarist Jason Norris' cock
tail croon. "We Go On" and "Shark"
slink like the Velvets (or maybe Elf
Power) attempting a theme to a bla*-
ploitation flick The grandly melancholic
wait? "You're Still Slipping Away"
recalls the loose, soulful sounds of old
John Lennon or T Rex demo reels. The
spo.•‘-truckin' boogie rocker ! Strut'
concludes the collection with a tun
con b:rp!icn ol dieted elements of
campy hits from the likes of Golden
Earring, Focus. Blondie and B»g Star.
Very Strange (1043 Washita Ave.,
Atlanta. GA 30307)
Ballard Lesemann
ODE TO ABBEY
Happiness in Still Frame
Screaming Goddess
Happiness In Still Frame is the first
live offering from the three members of
the Athens/Atlanta-based Ode To Abbey.
A live recording with good sound is a
must-have for any band, even in limited
release, and this one is certainly a credit
to the band and the folks who recorded
it as the sound quality is great and the
presence ol “audience energy" is |ust
right.
“Why" poses some familiar ques
tions with vocals that remind me of
Crash Test Dummies. “Rock Star" offers
the proverbial prescription for being a
rock and roll star in short songs and a
certain look. "Nothing At All" is much
longer, wifh very danceable rhythms and
a cool iam built around a basso osti-
nato.
"Lazy Day" is a catchy tune, humor
ously introduced by the assertion that
"depression is good—you know I can't
help it." "Sweet Little Angel” is a B B.
King song full of bluesy guitar well-
played by Shane Hines. "Droll" is an
instrumental piece led by guitar and
supported by bass and drums There’s
also a nice version of Lennon and
McCartney's "Norwegian Wood ’
it you like an album from with a
clean "live" sound, this one's worth
checking out. (110 Ridgeview Dr.
Athens. GA 30606)
Dawn Maynor
FLOOD CITY SHOOTOUT
Flood City Shootout
Lucky 13
The essence of this album is good-
lime. country-flavored, yes. even twangy
gel-down music with the adorning
sounds of mandolin and slide guitar.
Frontman Joe Guerzo's voice is
slightly nasal and rather high-pitched
and suited penectly for the Flood City
Shootout sound. "Olde Westchester"
grabbed my attention with two amusing
lamentations: "I never thought I'd be this
far misled, blame the mescaline... I
never thought I'd feel knee deep in shit. I
shoulda read the script."
“Dishwater Blues"—a pensive song
from tho po-i'i of a dishwasher who
. js aim*: .efrom the past—cre
ates vivid nidifal imagery ol an “inlerno
kitchen." "Sylvia" shows off Guerzo's
vocal strength and again includes cre
ative lyrics. “Dagupan" is about war and
carries driving guitar rhythm and a
winning mandolin.
"Elkins" is another sincere song *
about a friend who has passed This one
hints at a jazz flavor in organ lones
topped with a more bluesy guitar Again.
I was compelled by the lyrics of
"Undermined:" "Honey, in all honesty, if
the wallet's fat you know my ass is
gone."
I am always impressed by music
that seems to really mean something to
the people making it. and in these songs
there is a sincerity and truth that must
be grounded in experience. (P.0 Box
5391, Athens, GA 30604-5391)
Dawn Maynor
PHALLIC PHUNGUS
Exposed Skin
Independent release
Local iazzy groove outfit Phallic
Phungus' Exposed Skin takes the Zappa
route to stoner land The quartet is bat
ting about .500 with the tracks con
tained here, apparently recorded live in
the studio.
It starts promisingly enough "Chia
Un Coletta Fantastico’ kicks things off
firmly entrenched in Ho! Rais-era
Zappa This track's funky groove and
especially frenetic sax solo got me past
the obnoxious "trying too hard' artwork
and into its sound Unfortunately, that
didn't last. The sloppy Grateful Dead-
slyie-vocals-over-Dave Matthews music
in the title track really makes for a diffi
cult listen for fans of actual songs. This
number and most of what's contained
here are made for noodle dancing and
freaking out. The songs are loose, obvi
ously born out of improv, and suggest a
swinging live show, but don't really
stand up in the studio. If not tor the
horns featured prominently, the record
would pretty much be a bust.
“Shifting Gears’ is ten minutes long
and is basically three or four songs in
one. It begins like bad Urban Dance
Squad v.anders into an endless Lumpy
Gravy-meets-The Mothers Of
Prevention "iam' and winds up in a
paen to the pleasures ot put mat sounds
more like a parody ot reggae than a
tribute to it. The “Quickie Marl Girl" part
is mildly amusing. but*can't save the
whole piece As tor "All You Need," it's
just a bunch ot music geeks trying to
rap and invoke John Lennon at the
same time Some metaphors, I'm afraid,
aren't meant to be mixed and this proves
that The last track. The Beginning Of
The End Is Just the Middle" is accu
rately titled. It's basically a Iree-torm
showoff lest that occasionally borders
on watered down Mr Bungle and goes
on forever. Unless you need photos of
these lour guys naked, this will more
than I'kely be a waste of your time and
money Phallic Phungus may be worth
seeing nve, and for now I'd recommend
sticking to the shows, because the
a'bum is mostly dispensable (2?0
Pmecrtst Or. Athens. GA 5J605)
Chris McK’.v
Pick up your
copy of the
• Complete
Restaurant
Listings
• Bar, Club
& Music info
• Maps
• Lodging
Listings
• Newcomers'
Guide to Athen
2000-2001
Get your copy at
one of over 250
distribution
locations or at tne
Flagpole Office
Hke iww Mfe,
The Art of C^lectiblei from tke 50% 60'i £ 70%
D1S'
•*1
* 'i
best
940 W. Broad SI. Suite #2 • 706.353.3299
MON-SAT 12P-5P • BY APPOINTMENT SUN.
artuorm@bellsoufh.net • See us on eBay!
MONDAY
Monday Night Football
with Yards of Beer
TUESDAY
Do It Fast Or Do It Slow
$1.50 Domestic Pints and
$1.50 Well Shooters
WEDNESDAY
Ladies Night
Ha If Off A ll Wo m cn y s Dri n ks
' THURSDAY
Group Therapy
4 Shooters & Domestic Pitcher S10
FRI DAY
3-8 pm
Best Happy “Hour” in Town
$1.00 Well Drinks, Bud, Bud Lt,
Miller Lt., Coors Lt.
9-11 pm
$2.00 Corona, Heine ken, Amstel Lt.,
Red Stripe, Posters, Dos Equis
SUNDAY
Open 5pm-Midnight
S2.00 Import & $1.50 Domestic Pints
The Half
Moon Pub
MONDAY
Drink the
Good Stuff
$2.00
Call Liquors
TUESDAY
Martini Night
Try Something
New
\
ft
y
WEDNESDAY
Ladies Night
Half Off All
Women y s Drinks
THURSDAY
S4.00
Long Islands
& Long Beaches
208-9711 • 301 E. CLAYTON ST.
AUGUST
16
?nnn
/