SOUND CHECK.Jimmy Eat World/``Bleed American'' (DreamWorks/Interscope) If Jimmy Eat World didn't exist, Spin magazine would have to invent it. Like the equally revered At the Drive-In, this Arizona foursome blends and borrows from a variety of hip alt-rock strains while offering surprisingly strong tunes and good vocals. The band's fourth effort is textbook emo-core, an indie subspecies subspecies, also called race, a genetically distinct geographical subunit of a species. See also classification. consisting of emotionally needy Spin subscribers and the guitars that tolerate them. Are emo's chiming guitars ready for prime time? Apparently so. The album entered the Top 60 upon release, a date Monday at the El Rey El Rey, which means "The King" in the Spanish language, may refer to:
sardine Any of certain species of small (6–12 in., or 15–30 cm, long) food fishes of the herring family (Clupeidae), especially in the genera Sardina, Sardinops, and Sardinella. breeding ground, and ``Bleed American's'' pseudo-political title rant is among modern-rock radio's most requested songs. What it's all about, Alfie, is slick pop (``Your House,'' ``If You Don't, Don't''), an exhilarating channeling of Weezer (``A Praise Chorus,'' ``Get It Faster''), a couple of nerdy ballads (``My Sundown,'' ``Hear You Me'') and an inexplicable send-up of John Mellencamp John Mellencamp, also known as John Cougar and John Cougar Mellencamp, (born October 7, 1951) is best known for being an American rock singer-songwriter. Early life John Mellencamp was born in Seymour, Indiana. (``The Authority Song''). There's little filler here, though, and that, plus some fine songwriting, sets Jimmy's buffet apart. Two and one half stars - Spencer Robinson Yardbirds/``Ultimate!'' (Rhino) Any band that boasted Clapton, Beck and Page in its lineup would be beloved for that alone, but this '60s outfit actually churned out some great music. Perhaps not enough to make a two-disc, 52-song set essential, but there's still plenty of electricity on tap. When the elements clicked, the Yardbirds were visionary. From early blues-rock (``For Your Love,'' ``Shapes of Things'') to garage-psychedelia (``Over Under Sideways Down,'' ``Happenings Ten Years Time "Ten Years Time" is the debut single of Irish singer-songwriter Robert O'Connor in his home country. The track is a cover-version of the Gabrielle track, and was written by Gabrielle together with Jonathan Shorten. Ago''), the troubled group always seemed about to take the next step. Though they never did, ``Ultimate!'' reveals a blueprint for rock's future. The packaging here, incidentally, is splendid. Three and one half stars - Rob Lowman Better Than Ezra/``Closer'' (Beyond) Better Than Ezra  The of this article or section may be compromised by "peacock terms".You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms. might be extraordinary. The Big Easy trio's soul-searching pop, celebrating life's little joys and sorrows, is contrasted nicely on its fourth disc by steps into quirky rap territory (``Extra Ordinary,'' ``Recognize'') that crackles crackles a small, sharp sound heard on auscultation. Caused by dry, bristly hair and insufficient pressure on the stethoscope head. Also characteristic of emphysema, especially when it is subcutaneous. with funk guitar and turntable scratching courtesy of Beck collaborator DJ Swamp. On the sappy side, however, is the title track, which bears an unfortunate likeness to Live's ``Lightning Crashes.'' Still, there's plenty to admire about ``Closer.'' Three stars - Sandra Barrera Beta Band/``Hot Shots II'' (Astralwerks) Let's play contrarian and say the best band at the Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheatre at 2301 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood, California, USA, that is used primarily for music performances. The "bowl" in this context is the natural cavity in the earth into which the amphitheater is built, rather than the shape of the on Monday won't be those critics' darlings Radiohead but the Beta Band's trip-hopping popster Scots. The creepy quartet's latest doesn't have anything as catchy or hypnotic as the songscapes on the classic ``Three EPs'' set, but then Radiohead hasn't exactly been up to form lately either. What ``Hot Shots II'' does - aside from borrowing the title of a porno video series - is return the Betas to the swirling melodies and fat-backed beats that eluded them amid the excesses of 1999's self-titled effort. The best thing about these cut-ups is you never know what they're going to do next. So if you've got Bowl tickets, make sure you arrive early. These guys will amaze you. Three stars - Glenn Whipp Joe Nolan/``Plain Jane'' (Joe Nolan) A singer-songwriter whose dense, descriptive poetry is almost on par with his harmonica harmonica. 1 The simplest of the musical instruments employing free reeds, known also as the mouth organ or French harp. It was probably invented in 1829 by Friedrich Buschmann of Berlin, who called his instrument the Mundäoline. idol Dylan and whose street-corner sentimentality turns tuneful circles around Billy Joel, Nolan is an exuberant romantic who rarely allows his lyrical enthusiasm to get ahead of his insights. He can sing about a shipwreck shipwreck, complete or partial destruction of a vessel as a result of collision, fire, grounding, storm, explosion, or other mishap. In the ancient world sea travel was hazardous, but in modern times the number of shipwrecks due to nonhostile causes has steadily , a likable if undertalented club entertainer or an assortment of flawed but nonetheless adored young women with equal authority and in lovingly observed specifics. He even works a creaky creak·y adj. creak·i·er, creak·i·est 1. Tending to creak. 2. Shaky or infirm, as with age; decrepit: creaky knee joints; a creaky regime. carnival metaphor with witty originality. This is smart folk-pop of the highest order, and it's no small crime that a talent as big as Nolan has to sell the stuff himself. So buy it already, at www.joenolan.com. Four stars - Bob Strauss CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1) no caption (Jimmy Eat World) (2 -- 5) no caption (CD covers) |
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