SEE Magazine
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.


NEW CD RELEASES
BY SEE STAFF

The Leslie Spit Treeo
Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Tag Tunes/Page)

Like a mover-and-shaker wannabe talking on a fake cell phone, Toronto's Leslie Spit Treeo has created a fake interactive CD. Chocolate Chip Cookies is obviously a parody of the multi-media genre, but at a whopping 42 tracks (most of them of the musical variety), you can't help but think the Treeo got a little wrapped up in its own self-importance.

There's strong material here. A moving live recording of Book of Rejection is ironically followed by a 21-second lament about the music industry's single-driven character. And there's lots of great new songs which easily grow on the listener, with recognizable nods to the band's varied influences, from country to swing to rock.

But it's too long and gets bogged down by interspersed cartoonish voices narrating the band's trip through the music business.

The other unfortunate thing is that if you weren't in Toronto for a few days back in October '96, you missed out on what became collector's-item packaging. The original album cover was a take-off on a bag of Chips Ahoy!, but Nabisco used the courts to force the dangerously subversive band to destroy its artwork. It would have been a public relations gold mine for the Spitters, except they suddenly had nothing to wrap the discs in.

If nothing else, buy this one to spite Nabisco.

- Stew Slater

Punchbuggy
Grand Opening Going Out of Business Sale
(Shake)

Punchbuggy's latest release has real feel-good appeal. It's the type of album you listen to on a hot summer day in your car with the window rolled down. All-Canadian pop combined with harmonic melodies create toe-tappin' sing-along tunes.

Multiple influences have helped develop this Ottawa band and its impressive vocal presence into one well-rounded sound. Moving from the country-tinged Hank Spur to the more traditional rock and pop rhythms in Allison's Slipping and Summer Season, Punchbuggy offers a good variety while not venturing too far away from its chosen genre.

Hell, the ballads are even decent. No worries here - the ears will remain attentive through all 16 songs.

- Shelli Carder

The Hoodoo Gurus
Blue Cave
(True North)

Australia's Hoodoo Gurus challenge AC/DC for the title of "the thunder from Down Under" on their latest album Blue Cave.

The first track, Big Deal, is full-on rock with a huge guitar riff easily putting the geriatric Angus Young to shame. Coming from a band that all but disappeared after their last disc in 1994, this certainly is a pleasant and welcome surprise.

And what a diverse selection they've offered. Mind the Spider is a tongue-in-cheek progressive rock song reminiscent of Spinal Tap, while Get High is a sing-along country knock-off complete with tinkling piano.

For a punk/pop band they've certainly evolved over 14 years, but the one thing remaining the same is the big guitar sound and anthemic rock tunes. If that doesn't make you sit up and listen I don't know what will.

- Mike Berezowsky

OMC
How Bizarre
(Polydor)

Pretty much everyone has heard that . . . that . . . bizarre single from New Zealand's Otara Millionaires Club, called, oh so appropriately, How Bizarre. We all know that what's bizarre is the song's amazing success. What's up with that?

I'm not going to tell you, but I will tell you what the album is like: How Bizarre.

That's right. It seems the songs are all very similar. OMC core man Paul Fuemana's voice never gets non-annoying. The acoustic guitar is virtually omnipresent, and always has the same sound.

The moods do vary: On the Run is stealthily funky, Never Coming Back is more relaxed, but still demands a cheesy smile and clapping along. Breaking my heart sounds more bluesy, Angel in Disguise is a string-laden love song. Lingo with the Gringo is a lame Boyz II Men attempt.

Those who prefer to dance and think at the same time should ignore OMC. Those who can (or must) pick one or the other will like either the mindlessly fun dance tunes or the thoughtful slower songs.

- Dave Lloyd

the Nils
Green Fields in Daylight
(Cargo)

The Nils: Yet another victim of record label money-making schemes. However, this band rightly deserves acclaim and recognition as one of the pioneer forces in Canadian music. Covering all the favorites from famed release Sell Out Young, a few compilation releases, some rare 12-inch material and some previously unreleased and live tracks, this album is the perfect addition to any power-pop/punk collection. Listening to songs like Scratches and Needles make it easy to see where other Montreal bands such as the Doughboys evolved from.

Remastering contributes to ease of listening yet doesn't sacrifice the original garage sound of the band's early tunes. The CD is a great value with 28 songs and a radio interview, but also because of the historical context this band comes from.

Finally, the Nils gain some present-day recognition.

- Shelli Carder

The Backsliders
Throwin' Rocks At The Moon
(Mammoth/Attic)

There must be something in the water in Raleigh N.C. that leaves citizens unaffected by popular trends in country and western music.

The Backsliders are from the old school of C&W - before Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson or even Travis Tritt. These boys were raised on country outlaws like Hank Williams, Gram Parsons and Willie Nelson.

Throwin' Rocks At the Moon is about the kind of desperation you feel when you're considering pawning off the last of the furniture, buying a bottle of whiskey and jumping the next Mexico-bound boxcar. Singer Chip Robinson puts it best when he sings, "Should have seen that spotlight fading/Hell I never knew what I might find/Riding out there on that crazy wind" (Crazy Wind ).

If your lover has left you, if the sheriff's beating down your door, if life couldn't get much worse, perhaps the Backsliders could make that whiskey go down more easily.

- Mike Berezowsky

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