- Following are reviews of recent alternative, techno rock and sound-track recordings.
- VERUCA SALT; "American Thighs" (Minty Fresh/DCG). * * 1/2Well, the David Geffen Co. (DCG) has scored yet another band that smacks of the neo-punk grunge sound.
First it was Nirvana, then Hole. Now Veruca Salt has signed to this alternative-friendly label. This was a good move for DCG, because Veruca Salt, the four-piece band from New York named after the spoiled rich girl who flew down a garbage chute in Roald Dahl's novel "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is in hot demand on the alternative/modern radio stations across the country.
By wrapping feather-distorted, punky undertones with dreamy, breathy vocals (a la early Go-Go's), Veruca Salt springs its venomous and somewhat violent and depressing lyrics to life. The style brings to mind a Liz Phair protege.
"Seether" is loaded with catchy chord changes - sounding similar to the Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night" - and sing-along refrains but talks about unorthodox ways to subdue a unruly child.
Malevolent lyrics keep "Fly" in perspective. In this moody piece spooky chords seem to echo with tears as lead singers/guitarists Nina Gordon and Louise Post lament a lonely state of confusion.
The two women combine their pan-pipe harmonies again with the punky driving rhythm of "Victoria." The slither of "25," about a person who falls victim to a sociopath's manipulating mind, cuts a vivid image of mental and physical abuse into the listner's mind. Other tracks include "Sleeping Where I Want," "All Hail Me" and "Wolf."
Alternative fans will love "American Thighs." Others will find this a little more tolerable than, say, Hole's "Live Through This."
UNDERWORLD; "Dubnobass-with-my-head-man" (TVT Records/Wax Trax). * *
While the new album from this English techno band has been hailed by some critics, there's something about it that doesn't quite touch a vein - it touches a nerve instead.
Mixing techno-dance with trance and house styles, Underworld brings forth futuristic, urban sounds that may seem suitable as backup throb for a fashion show ramp.
The synthetic drum programs just pump away as computerized keyboard sound bites provide the hooks. What makes this album somewhat unique is the band's use of live guitars, live vocals and "structured" arrangements.
Still, with nine tracks averaging eight minutes of technical pulse and hockey-mask vocals, it gets really long in a very short time.
VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Jerky Boys" motion picture soundtrack (Atlantic). * * 1/2
How mean. Compile some proper songs by today's most interesting bands and put them on a soundtrack for a stinker of a movie.
Sure this album will sell, and those who hear it may want to see the movie. What a dirty trick. Even Entertainment Weekly gave the flick a grade "F."
Now - getting to the music - the bands appearing here include Grammy Award nominees Green Day and Coolio. Also present is Collective Soul (whose hit "Shine" was honored as Billboard magazine's Song of the Year) and Tom Jones. Other notable artists include L7, Hurricane, Superchunk, House of Pain, Helmet and The Wu-Tang Clan.
Though the bands are strong and the tunes sound good, none of these songs is likely to be considered a classic - unless you count Helmet's remake of a Black Sabbath's "Symptom of the Universe" and Tom Jones' surprisingly fun remake of Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way," since the originals are considered classics in themselves.
The mosh-easy, new punk sound of Green Day's "2,000 Light Years Away" and L7's "Hangin' on the Telephone" lighten this album while rap and hip-hop cuts "Dial a Jam" (Coolio & the 40 Thieves), "Shallow End" (Superchunk), "Four Fly Guys" (Hurricane) and "Beef Jerky" (House of Pain) give the soundtrack a shot of urbania.
The Jerky Boys (Johnny Brennan and Kamal) make obligatory appearances throughout the album - and that's too bad. They only remind us which movie lies underneath this glossy musical collage.
RATINGS: four stars (* * * * ), excellent; three stars (* * * ), good; two stars (* * ), fair; one star (* ), poor, with 1/2 representing a higher, intermediate grade.