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05 December 2005

Mushroomhead, Volume 1 [DVD] (Filthy Hands) Rating: 6
Cleveland, Ohio's Mushroomhead deserve to be more popular than they actually are. By combining pummeling alt-metal riffs and rhythms with an artsier, keyboard-driven, Faith No More-derived style, theirs was a sound that was not only distinct and edgy six years ago, but potent enough to make it work in a live setting, both musically, and visually, as their highly theatric stage presence, with singer Jeffrey Nothing adorned in garish facepaint handling the melodic vocals, panda-faced JMann delivering superb hardcore snarls, and the rest of the octet wearing identical masks (their idea predating Slipknot), making a strong connection with their growing fanbase. After building a strong cult following during the late 1990s, Mushroomhead were signed by Universal, but their two albums, 2001's XX, and 2003's XIII failed to connect with a wider audience, and the band were subsequently dropped.

With the band in transition (Mann left the band in 2004 to focus on his Fractured Transmitter label), now's as good a time as any for a Mushroomhead retrospective, and the new DVD, optimistically titled Volume 1, is a mildly enjoyable look back. Few alt metal bands made music videos as well as Mushroomhead did, and seven clips are here, highlighted by such visually stylish cuts as "Sun Doesn't Rise", "Kill Tomorrow", and "Eternal". The DVD is interspersed with home video footage from the studio and on tour, and while the sophomoric, drunken antics are indeed funny (especially the onstage pranks they pull on bands like Meshuggah, Avenged Sevenfold, and Lamb of God), it would have been nice to also see a more sober, in-depth profile of the band, something that would do a better job introducing Mushroomhead to those unfamiliar with their music. We also see lots of clips featuring their ultra-devoted fans, but we don't hear from them at all. While the DVD is a must-have for fans, it's too fleeting a glimpse for everyone else to connect with. Let's hope Volume 2 raises the bar somewhat.
      — Adrien Begrand

Channing Cope Sugar in Our Blood (54-40 Or Fight!) Rating: 4
Hey! Remember post-rock? In case you weren't there, it was the early nineties and it seemed that everyone was mining Krautrock and obscure jazz records for inspiration. Being quiet was the new being loud, and if you could throw in some odd time signatures into your songs you practically had it made. While Channing Cope won't blow your mind with mind-bending rhythms, they attempt to draw power from their carefully measured performances. Sugar In Our Blood is an exhaustingly patient record that never gets its pulse above resting. Though guitarist Kenny Schulte's impeccably clean guitar lines are intriguing the band's retro post-rock is hardly illuminating. There is little here to justify a listener's attention, when there is wealth of this kind of material from a decade ago that is still worthy of investigation. Worse, the group's painstakingly crafted compositions leave little room for any feeling, giving the impression of an album put together by committee. Instead of sugar, next time around Channing Cope may want to try a little more caffeine.
      — Kevin Jagernauth

Everything Is Fine, Ghosts Are Knocking on the Walls (Tract) Rating: 6
On the surface, Everything Is Fine appears to be one of those unobtrusive quiet-is-the-new-loud bands, like Yo La Tengo or Mazzy Star dozing off in a headspace of molasses. The sparse, reverb-heavy arrangements and bone-bare vocal performances make for an isolating listening experience of arctic temperament. Excessively moody and seething with a disguised intensity, the band really shines on songs like "Cold Click" and "Half Hour", when the encroaching noise ratchets up the sleeping paranoia. It's moments like those that turn the solitude of Ghosts Are Knocking on the Walls into claustrophobia -- making things infinitely more interesting in the process.
      — Zeth Lundy

Judd and Maggie, Subjects (RCA Victor) Rating: 6
Judd and Maggie are a brother/sister duo in which the siblings sing alike, they talk alike, they sometimes even walk alike. Actually, they don't sing alike, but they do write songs together and provide lovely gene-aided boy/girl harmonies. The CD is produced by Joey Waronker, a drummer-fire-hire who once appeared on three CDs I received in one day (Beck, Elliott Smith, and R.E.M.). Here he's providing a warm sound to the instruments, giving Judd and Maggie's music the vibe of '70s singer/songwriters. He's also brought Beck's old bassist, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, and featured Smokey Hormel on a song. It's a classy affair with well-written songs and frequent pop excellence. As long as they continue to avoid writing cute songs in which they bicker as siblings, they'll continue to improve, and that's a family you wouldn't mind hosting for Thanksgiving dinner.
      — David Bernard

.: posted by Editor 8:15 AM