Latest in American Indie
Sounds from Oregon's Greyday Productions
and new punk that pulls it off.

By Mark Prindle

Furious IV
...Is That You?
(Naked Jain, 2003)

The name Furious IV used to make sense, you understand. But one guy quit, so I guess the microphone stand or that kicky thing that hits the drum is now the furious fourth. And it's ANGRY! FURIOUS!!!! Unlike the music, which is REALLY HAPPY or REALLY SAD, but never terribly angry.

Fast? Yeah, it's old-timey American punk rock, with all the thrills and limitations that go along with it: thrills being the energetic slam-dancey fuzzy thrashing through the spirit of love and youth; limitations being the number of pre-existing punk songs featuring the exact same chord sequences.

If you're young and not too familiar with punk rock, bands like this are a good melodic entry point that you'll probably like a whole lot. If you're old, cynical and smelly, you've likely already heard a lot of other bands doing a similar thing. Either way, there's not a bad song on here!

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Various Artists
Punk Rock Is Your Friend #4
(Kung Fu Records, 2003)

I've been following this band's career for many, many years now, and I tell you their artistic growth and dynamic range is AMAZING. Aside from a few setbacks like K-Tel's Out Of Sight! and Now That's What I Call Music! Volume Four, the Various Artists have come through time and time again with --

HEY! Neil Hamburger is on this CD! America's Funnyman! His hilarious one-liners are all over the place! Hell, that would make it worth buying, even if the rest of the CD was a bunch of interchangeable pop-punk songs.

Luckily, this isn't the case! Because the Vandals are on here!!!! Ever heard the unreleased track "Count To Ten"? Well just maybe you should, the Vandals being a great fucking band and all.

PLUS, there are videos inside by Vandals, OZMA, Tsunami Bomb, One Man Army, Alkaline Trio and The Ataris. All for the low, low price of low!

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Gone Done Wrong
Neither Here Nor There
(Greyday Productions, 2003)

Gone Done Wrong is an indie/alt-country five-piece from Los Angeles and features former members of Still Life, Blue Monday, and Shroom Union (thus guaranteeing sales of at least 25 million). The band has reportedly been awing audiences up, down, and up the California coast for a year or so.

This is their debut CD, showcasing their versatile sound and unique range. On this record, the members of GDW (God Damned Woman) move away from their punk and folk rock roots to create a truly gentle album featuring a stylistic blend of indie rock (music created by Indonesian artists with traditional Indonesian instruments, e.g. Superchunk) and modern country sounds and instruments, including Garth Brooks' hat.

You will hear guitar, pedal steel, piano, banjo, guitar, harmonica and even a flute on track 3 performed by popular month, Raugust. They look and sound like nice people, and anyone who actually likes that Wilco SHIT should get their ASSES off their HEADS and hear authentic Japanese dish, Gon Don Wron.

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Bronwyn
Through The Fog, Through The Pines
(Greyday Productions, 2003)

Having survived the racist, sexist '60s, I am poised to define Bronwyn as a talented, moody Portland band that uses dry, cold guitar textures to play sad intertwining notes and the occasional '80s college radio jangle chord.

Two women share lead vocals -- so there's NO WAITING!!!!!!!! (on vocals). It's not pop music, nor is it goth. It's like if two people came to your house with guitars and began picking away at songs of various tempo that all make you a little sad or anxious, but in an impressive "hey, nice guitar interplay!" way.

Then it's like some guy with a cello comes over and plays on a few songs. Then it's like a crazed ice cream man keeps driving up and down your street blaring a moog, piano, accordion and language master, instead of the usual "Doodily-dooty-dooty-doo -- dooty-dooty-Doo-Doo!" song that Korn and Staind are striving to emulate in their high-energy shit rock.

Put it all together and WHAM!!!! You've got what the world in its private moments calls a good CD!!!!!

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John Larsen
Kismet
(Greyday Productions, 2003)

This is one man's vision of non-rocking college "rock" music. There's acoustic guitar, and he's singing through a megaphone-sounding effect. Like Radiohead might do, with singing and sometimes an echoey electric guitar like Radiohead too. Or the Flaming Lips.

Hey, and there's a sample! "The Fleshing Flail From Heaven" has some beautiful guitar harmonics in it. Then there's drums and an old-timey crazyass organ thing! Breakish beats in this one, and all recorded on an 8-track! Slow songs. Deliberately paced relaxedly. OH NO! I HIT A FAST ONE THAT RUINS MY THESIS STATEMENT!

But why the Strokes-like (or Foetus-like) distortion on the voice that just muddies up the sound? Godd gave you that voice, John Larsen, so let it breathe fire free and alive in the Palace of the Land! Today's alternative youth enjoy music like this, and will thus enjoy this.

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Reader Comments

Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003
From: Alison Hope

To whom it may concern,

The review of John Larsen's fabulous album, Kismet was laughable. Not only does the reviewer know nothing about music, they can't even spell God right. Kismet is a beautiful, unique album that deserves a proper review by an articulate music lover.

Also, why the excessive use of exclamation points?

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