Whatever #1: Reviews

Reviews

Record Reviews

Before we get on with this batch of reviews, let's get some rules straight- No. 1- anybody can write a record review, unless you're in the band. No. 2- if you want us to print a review of a record, try to send us a copy of it so we can listen to it too. We take the blame for bad reviews, we should get to hear who we're trashing or glorifying.

Other than that I don't care. Let's try to keep away from major label releases, I don't want you sending me reviews and tapes of the latest Aerosmith or Madonna album. If you've got good bootlegs, well than that's another story. We consider bootleg tapes, as well as European imports to be available enough to review. If you collect, we'll print your name and address in the music classifieds so people can contact you for trades, or whatever.

The only reason I've decided to do the music stuff for is because I happen to teach drums and work in a record store, where I sell "Imports" among the usual stuff. this town (Seattle) is teeming with Heroin and tapes. I get 30 bucks a shift, 25 if I take a pack of tapes and make five during my shift.

I've decided to review the stuff my boss has been making us play the past couple of weeks.

1. NIRVANA- "Into the Black"

This is a six CD Box Set put out by Tribute, probably an Italian Label, contains "Ultra Rare Demos & Sessions" from 1986, Demo's from 12/24/88, English Sessions from 11/91, Studio Recordings from 4/90, John Peel Sessions 90-91 -- from BBC Master Tapes, Three live shows- Seattle 10/31/91, Reading Fest. 8/92--more BBC Master Tapes, Last American Show- Seattle 1/8/94. In all an incredible six CD's. From beginning to end the quality is excellent, not to mention the music. If you even like Nirvana just a little, buy this. Find it. Tape a friends copy. Don't settle for a copy of the Reading Festival until you can hear the crowd sing along with Kurt .

This boxed set is better than the "Heart Shaped Box" sets (there's two different boxes) that have come out. This set has some of the studio stuff included on "Into the Black", along with a Roseland show in NYC '93, and the Unplugged session. The CD's do come in this cool heart shaped box- but you have to pay alot more to get both

2. HOLE- Kiss Away the Darkest Day, Courtney Act, and Courtney Love & Hole

I mention these because with the flood of Nirvana and Kurt CD's, Courtney has gained her share of attention from the Import labels as well as the National Enquirer.

"Kiss away the Darkest Day" is KTS's 20 song homage to Widow Cobain, 12 songs are great quality, except you get "Beautiful Son", and "Credit in the Straight World" twice each. the other tracks are lesser quality live stuff. Good performances throughout.

"Courtney Act" from Pseudo Indie Label in Belgium is a collection of studio sessions and live stuff from 90-93. The quality throughout is pretty good. The tracks aren't in order of date or anything, but you can see how the whole Hole thing grew if you want.

Stay away form the just called "Courtney Love & Hole from the Shinola label, crappy sound, only good if you want a '93 from Seattle that sounds like shit to impress your friends.

3. Green Day- Having A Blast & Endless Headtrip

These releases, out as soon as Green Day finished their Woodstock mud fight ,offer a welcome window into the Green Day World for new listeners, but old fans will probably be disappointed with the general quality.

"Having A Blast" from Cocomelos Records in Italy has 8 songs from the Woodstock '94 set, not the complete set, but excellent quality. The other 14 songs are listed as being from Calif. '94. Their quality sucks compared to the Woodstock set, but you do get complete versions of "Paper Lanterns", "Dominated Love Slave", and other songs not on "Dookie."

"Endless Headtrip" from Alley Kat records- no location given- is a complete show from the First Avenue Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota- 3/29/94. The quality on this is a B- but with a decent equalizer you can pump up the levels and make it o.k. This is a good 62 minuets of Billy Joe singing their mixed set from "Dookie" as well as older stuff. All the usual stage babble, and audience participation are here. Some guy eats Billy Joe's snot, and everything. This is what you missed when Green Day came to town two years ago and didn't sell out the place.

4. L7- Maneater

Another KTS production. (Buy one of their CD's and get a catalog inside.) Again the quality is pretty good. Taken from various live performances in Europe "92, so they say, it does have 5 repeats out of 19 tracks, but the girls do rock. It's better than their album 'cause you get to hear them try to get a rise out of bored Europeans who don't know "Shitlist". Truly a good one to piss off the upstairs neighbors.

That's it for this issue. Hopefully in future issues we'll have much more to talk about. Don't forget you can review stuff yourself. Really. That's why I've only covered a little bit of what's going around. I don't want these reviews to be too biased on my personal taste. See ya. Send your stuff- reviews, demo's, WHATEVER.