by Robert Gonzalez
Staff Writer
Temper Scarlet: The Crayon King
(Bacchus Records)
The amount of music unbeknownst to most of us in the city of Houston is amazing. Despite a wide array of clubs, bars and performance halls, most people are not even aware of half the music in the local area.
A new type of rock called mainstream modern rock is beginning to make headway in the state of Texas. Temper Scarlet fits this particular mold.
This aspiring regional act has a sound similar to many bands I'm sure you've heard of before. With the recent release of its debut album The Crayon King, Temper Scarlet is just another band to me.
Ah, where to begin? The first tune I'd like to destroy, I mean discuss, is one by the name of "Questions." The beginning alone sounds exactly like Deep Blue Something's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and is a story of a dude who does not know if he wants freedom or his woman. "Swarm" also happens to deal with more woman troubles, where she constantly wants to be around him and, of course, he feels trapped.
"Wonderful" has the cheesiest lyrics of the entire album: "If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right," or "I'm your Superman, I can do what he can." My, my, are these thought-provoking lyrics or what? The Crayon King is just a cheap rip-off of Black Crowes.
About the only decent song on this album is "Nazi Lobster." It reminds me of old Metallica mixed in with some powerful messages on racism. The final tune, "21 Gun Salute," is dedicated to those wonderful Aggies. I don't know whether it was this song alone that was displeasing to my ears or the entire album in general. I think I'm going to have to go with the latter.
Rollins Band: Come In and Burn
(Dreamworks Records)
With the advent of groups like Metallica (their early material), Megadeth and Stormtroopers of Death in the '80s came the inevitable copycats. Many bands attempted to mold themselves after these big names. Whether you knew the music as thrash, death metal, hate music, super-hard rock or just loud noise, this type of music has held its own through the years.
A band that can be classified in this category is one by the name of Rollins Band, which has just released their seventh album, titled Come In and Burn.
Can you believe these guys were actually nominated for a Grammy Award in 1995 for Best Metal Band? Imagine my surprise.
If you listen to the Buzz, you've probably heard some of Rollins Band's music already. We all know, though, that just because the radio plays it does not mean the band is any good.
One of the tunes, "Starve," left me starving for some type of originality from the lyrics. Another such tune with wonderful lyrics is titled "The End of Something," and it goes something like this: "If you were on fire/I'd help put you out with gasoline/And then I'd call it even." Talk about a bitter ex-boyfriend.
The majority of these songs are nothing but dark and dreary lyrics. "Rejection" is, if you have half a brain, pretty self-explanatory, as the title may indicate.
"On My Way To The Cage" is about the only listenable tune. It has a great sound without the amount of distortion on the guitars and senseless yelling as the other songs. "During A City" contains repetitive lyrics that just drove me nuts. Yes, I have heard of a chorus, but this was ridiculous. "Where am I going?" was repeated so many times I lost count.
But alas, enough of that phenomenal poetry by Mr. Henry Rollins. I will mercifully omit the discussion of the remaining songs for your well being. If you are in need of uplifting lyrics with heart-stopping music, be sure you pick up your copy of Come In And Burn. If you like, I'll give you my copy. No really, I insist.
by Chris Stelmak
Staff Writer
Dinosaur Jr.: Hand It Over
(Interscope Records)
Despite holding a mainstage spot in Lollapalooza '93, Dinosaur Jr. seems to have strayed from the normal confines of popularity. The band still has a lot to offer creatively, though, with its latest production, Hand It Over.
The beauty of the band would have to be its organized chaos. The guitar strays from the drums and bass, yet somehow comes together with the music to create a sense of completeness.
The guitar stands out on this album as it slides back and forth. In "I Know You're Insane," different instruments fill in on some songs. "Never Bought It" features a breathy flute which flows smoothly with the bass and percussion.
The highlight of the album would have to be "I'm Insane," in which a playful trumpet flutters cheerily through the song. The title of the song matches the music well, as the music hops around bizarrely, yet still flows nicely.
"I Know You're Insane" appears later on the album following a similar jumpy guitar style where the guitar plays a rhythm of light and heavy beats.
A smile might occur the first time one listens to "Gettin' Rough." The bluegrass style of the song is an interesting change.
The vocals have the same straying qualities as the guitar. At first, they sound a bit too similar to the vocal stylings of Adam Durwitz, lead singer of Counting Crows. Sometimes they do not quite match the music, but the smoothness of J Masci's style brings it all together.
Hand It Over throws a bit of variety to the listeners who are bored with the endless number of cookie-cutter bands. Dinosaur Jr. is definitely not giving up any of its originality with this album.