From the Underground.

FIRST UP THIS TIME 'ROUND IS A NEW LP FROM SWEDEN'S The Hives. More of the same high-octane, high-quality poop as their recent EP on Gearhead, only this baby's an el-pee (and again on Gearhead). Good, loud, guitar-driven, catchy punk rock; makes you wonder if there's something to be said for drinking Absolut, eating Lutefisk, and living in a country with a world-renowned porn industry... Taking a '60s/psych approach to rock is The Cuts. Their self-titled LP on Rocknroll Blitzkrieg is smokin' and gets pretty heavy at times, a la Blue Cheer-or if you can't think that far back, try Nebula. Not droning, but rather in the garage vein, like early Fuzztones stuff. It just rocks, and like the nice quality record it is, it's on nice and thick vinyl... Loud and abrasive, in the true spirit of the Rip Off stable from which this LP comes, The Reds' It's About Time is furious and hellbent. What, they' from Texas? Makes sense to me. Think of a faster Problematics. These guys wail and this record plain kicks ass... I was sk eptical about writing about this one as I generally do not dig "tribute" records or cover bands, but occasional exceptions must be made. Sub Pop's released Give The People What They Want. The Songs Of The Kinks. The early Kinks are one of my favorite bands; Ray Davies is a musical genius, and that is not a compliment handed out lightly. People have been covering his songs ever since he's been writing them, and this comp's got some of the good stuff (and a few stinkers, but c'mon, it's 19 songs by 19 bands!). This is a worthy disc simply for the fact that The Fallouts ("This Man He Weeps Tonight") are on it. What? I thought they were done for!

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Welcome back, please stick around. Some of the better shit includes Mudhoney's version of "Who Will Be The Next In Line;" Seattle street steel guitar icon Baby Gramps does "Sunny Afternoon;" The Murder City Devils do "Alcohol," fittingly; The Fastbacks do "Waterloo Sunset," and perhaps the most recent Kinks song covered is "Come Dancing" by The Briefs. With all comps expect a dud or two as that is their nature, but this one delivers... From lovely Vancouver, BC comes the lovelier Riff Randles. "Where did they get that name?" you might ask; in total and complete ignorance. Uh, peon, ever heard of The Ramones? How about the movie Rock and Roll High School? That's more like it. I knew you weren't that dumb. So, take The Ramones as a starting point; no need to go much further. Simple but catchy punk, I am sure these ladies have the guys on their knees wherever they play. Look for their "How 'Bout Romance" 7" on Lipstick Records. Girls who rock, rock... And now for something truly disturbing. How about a split 7" from The Candy Snatchers an Nashville Pussy? An invitation to fucking mayhem, how about bringin' 'em over to yer mom's for Sunday dinner? Talk about blood, beer, and pussy And the cover? So yeah, the Snatchers do an original that will rip out your fingernails, and the Pussy do a Molly Hatchet cover, "Flirtin With Disaster." It's on Black Lung Records, and worth your while. If your skit's got what it takes, send it to: P0 Box 419, Tempe, AZ 85280-0419.