Archives for October 1994

Liz Phair – Whip-Smart

October 27, 1994 by Jim Connelly

(Matador)

The week the Rolling Stone Liz Phair cover hit the stands and her wonderful new album came out, The Village Voice Rockbeat column had a little blurb on the aforementioned cover. It seems that Rolling Stone’s arch-rival Spin had a cover story all ready, but when Rolling Stone demanded exclusivity she dropped Spin like a plutonium potato. Naturally, Spin got all pissy and immediately cancelled a favorable review of Whip-Smart, which is the only thing about the whole episode that rubs me raw: is their record review policy dictated by their features department? I guess that most ‘zines are, cos obviously they’re gonna feature who they like, not what sells. Right? Right? Just something to think about.

Nova Mob – Nova Mob

October 13, 1994 by Jim Connelly

(Restless)

Those of us who consider Hüsker Dü one of the greatest hard rock bands still find it hard not to root for Grant Hart. When the Hüskers — for whom Hart had provided great drums and greater songs — broke up in early ’88 amidst personal acrimony and reports of drug abuse, it was a shock for all of us who loved their prolificness (5 albums during a 2 1/2 year stretch in the mid-80s) and their perfect marriage of punk drive and pop smarts. And almost immediately, Hart came out with the wonderful “2541,” which so completely captured the wistfulness following the end of a long-term relationship it was hard not to relate it to the Huskers break-up. Hart’s future as a solo artist looked bright.

[Read more…] about Nova Mob – Nova Mob

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Stoned and Dethroned

October 13, 1994 by Jim Connelly

(American Recordings)

Arriving just as 1985 crashed into 1986, The Jesus and Mary Chain’s debut, Psychocandy, was easily one of the most stunning records of the 80’s. The welter of feedback battling the candy-coated melodies suggested a punk-rock Beach Boys playing the sounds Brian Wilson really heard in his head. On tracks like “My Little Underground” and “Something’s Wrong,” the production was as deep as it was wide. On Darklands, the follow-up, they played down the atonal feedback and concentrated on beautiful, languorous ballads, and it worked as sort of an antidote to Psychocandy.

Dinosaur Jr – Without a Sound

October 13, 1994 by Jim Connelly

(Sire/Reprise)

As printed in Kade Magazine on October 13, 1994

. . .

It wasn’t until last years’ Where You Been? that Dinosaur Jr. auteur J. Mascis lived up to his potential and produced an entire album’s worth of consistently strong material. He’d always been a great singles artist: “Freak Scene” and “The Wagon” and his deconstruction/hommage of “Just Like Heaven” were all on target, but until last year, he filled his albums with a lot of unfleshed songs and tons of guitar wank. Now I like loud guitars as much as the next wanker, but my favorite guitar heroes–like, say, Neil Young or Bob Mould– were always at their best when they used their solos to send a great song heavenward. You know, like, “Cinnamon Girl” or “Celebrated Summer” or “Freak Scene.”