THE SWINGING SHINDIG Sept/Oct 1999
THE SWINGING SHINDIG
*a monthly soiree of musicians*
Sept/Oct 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Letter From Shauna
- Mailbag (where you write in)
- Music Reviews
- Artist Spotlight: Mindspawn
- Classifieds
- All That Official Info
LETTER FROM SHAUNA
Hi gang! It's been a busy month for me. I was cast in the role of Lil in "The Octette Bridge Club" with the Hale Theatre Group in Chicago, and performances are coming up soon. This show has been interesting, but I'm looking forward to having it over with so I can devote my energies entirely to music.
I uploaded two songs to MP3.com awhile back, and hit #1 on the Alternative/Twee chart on 9/14. I must say I am ecstatic to finally be higher up than Random Karma's "Spank My Monkey" song. :)
I have a bass player now, and an excellent lead guitarist for my band, but I still need a drummer. So . . . if any of you pound skins and can stand my music (http://www.mp3.com/ShaunaSkye) email me. We will be rehearsing in Justice, Illinois
OK, we have quite a lot to cover this issue, so I will shut up and get going with this. I hope you're enjoying the TSS issues. I know I am; they're fun to do, and it's been great hearing from all of you.
OUR MAILBAG
*where you write in*
Dear TSS,
Thank you for the review. This was my very first review and hopefully won't be my last. I have taken note of my "eclectic" style and have been worrying about it. I don't like my music jumping back and forth and wondered if it was just me or someone else.... I guess now I know. Anyway, thanks for the review.
Aaron Smith
Nostril Phactor
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Dear Shauna,
Thanks a lot for the review in your last issue of Shindig. I just got out of the hospital from a bad car wreck. I had to stay for two weeks (lung surgery and the whole nine yards--my lung was collapsed), and it was refreshing to see my review on the second page there. A lot of people have compared me to Beck, I guess being compared to somebody with millions of influences isn't all that bad. Glad you like it!
Thanks a lot,
Scooter Rock
Scooter, I was very sorry to hear about your car accident. I hope you are doing well, and would like to hear more from you musically. You have this funky, groovy, hip hopping thing going that is very cool, and you're one of my MP3 favorites. Blessings!--Shauna
*All mail we receive will be considered for our mailbag unless requested otherwise.*
MP3 SONG REVIEWS.... the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Reviews are the opinions of the reviewers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the rest of TSS or any other member of the human race. That's why we encourage our readers to check out even bands who get crunched on. Ratings are between 1-5 stars, 5 being the best.
ARTIST: Harrison ... GENRE: Rock
SONG: Cool New One ... RATING: 4 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/artists/39/harrison.html
Reviewed by Shauna Skye
Harrison posted on the MP3.com message boards requesting a review. I told them I downloaded their song and had a review planned for TSS, so I was only posting a two words on the board. "It rocks!" Harrison classifies themselves as "Power Pop/Alternative" and lists Our Lady Peace and S.T.P. as "similar artists." I'm not sure about that but I know this is a good song, full of energy. And guess what? IT ROCKS!
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ARTIST: NBS ... GENRE: Electronic
SONG: Mind Darts ... RATING: 1.5
Site: http://www.mp3.com/artists/32/martyr_complex.html
Reviewed by Tom
NBS comes too close to being an endless 2-second loop with few variations. I listened to a few songs, just to give the band a fighting chance. In short, they lacked imagination, oomph, and that special something which classifies other noise as music. Two snores down.
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ARTIST: Murmur ... GENRE: Alternative General
SONG: Everything ... RATING: 5 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/murmur
Reviewed by Hondo
Very well crafted music. Tony Romelloâs vocals are excellent. This song has strong similarities to old Smashing Pumpkins, and I really love the retro guitar effects. The whole song has a very nice flow to it. It should be on the charts, and in heavy rotation on MTV!
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ARTIST: sweet life ... GENRE: Acid
SONG: "Don't Think" ... RATING: 5 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/artists/44/sweet_life.html
Reviewed by The Gene
Phenomenal track from Tucson producer/artist sweet life. Very drippy, dreamy, ethereal, and almost sentient, as if the track has a life of its own. You go off tumbling into the fluid recesses of hyperspace and the outer mind. The one vocal sample in the track is dead on perfect. If I had to criticize any aspect of the track it would be that it just isn't long enough! Put on yer headphones and set your player to loop and 'don't think' with sweet life's mellow acid sound!
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ARTIST: Sonic Hedgehog ... GENRE: rock'n'roll
SONG: Leaving For Tomorrow ... RATING: 4 stars
Site: http://www.mp3.com/sonichedgehog
Reviewed by: John McLean
Straight rock with grinding guitars and catchy melodies. The lyrics are a bit trite, but the simple approach is refreshing, reminding me of a less angry Social Distortion in the early 90s. They cite Guns'n'Roses as an influence, but there is less Hollywood in the 'hogs' sound.
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ARTIST: Strangers ... GENRE: Mod
SONG: Life Goes On ... Rating: 3 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/artists/18/strangers_featuring_unique.html
Reviewed by Shauna Skye
This song has a new wave feel to it, and the most striking thing is the distinguished female vocals. They sound to me a mixture of Missing Persons, Siouxie and the Banshees, and Til Tuesday. At first I thought this band was from Europe; they have that feel about them. But alas, they are listed in El Toro, CA. If you're looking for unique, passionate vocals and music check out Strangers.
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ARTIST:Joe Matzzie ... GENRE: Indie
SONG: Alligator ... RATING: 4 stars
Site: www.mp3.com/joematzzie
Reviewed by: Dave Iannopollo
This is a fun bouncy track with a catchy horn line. It has a very a 60's R&B vibe (I've always hated that word but it works) with a vocal sound and style that definitely brings it into the 90's. Worth a listen.
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ARTIST: Martyr Complex ... GENRE: Industrial Dance
SONG: Judgment Day ... RATING: 3 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/artists/32/martyr_complex.html
Reviewed by Tom
What can I say? Driving bass and percussion is swirled around some pretty cool audio clips. Like many industrial dance songs, the music and distortion overpower the lyrics, driving them into the background until you hardly even notice them. Oh, I'm sorry, were you singing? Hey, who cares when you're out on the dance floor anyway, right?
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ARTIST: metrognome ... GENRE: Electronic
SONG: BigBangLecture ... RATING 5 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/artists/15/metrognome1.html
Reviewed by The Gene
Great trip track, a little lecture on the big bang, shrouded in atmospheric sounds that take you from the innersphere to the farthest galaxy. Minimal at times with an almost alien quality, warm and inviting at other times, drawing you into the web of contemplation and release. Truly beautiful track, especially for those of you with a taste for the darker side of the universe.
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ARTIST: Gossamer ... GENRE: Gothic
SONG: Shell Full of Sand ... RATING: 5 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/gossamer
Reviewed by: John McLean
Gossamer plays 80s type Goth with a little thread of British acoustic folk. This tune is epic in a Jimmy Page 1971 type way. There is less machine effect in their music than most of today's Goth/Industrial. Deep Bauhausian vocals fill out the artistry. Great songs and production.
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ARTIST: Spiral ... GENRE: Brit Pop ...
SONG: Beginning to Go ... Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Site: http://www.mp3.com/artists/13/spiral.html
Reviewed by Shauna Skye
"Beginning to Go" is a melodic Brit Pop tune from a group of fellows in Swindon, Wiltshire, UK. It has a slight Oasis feel; the vocals are smooth, a bit like Liam Gallagher but less nasal. This song is laid back but oddly happy, and has a dreamy feel to it.
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ARTIST: Atomas ... GENRE: Electronic
SONG: Angst ... RATING 5 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/atomas
Reviewed by The Gene
Tomas Andersson is the artist known as Atomas, a well schooled, mature sounding electronic act. The track Angst is well produced, slow groove techno, solid as a rock, with just enough trippy flavor to keep the X'ers rolling. Andersson's other pieces are well worth a listen whether you're a dance floor dervish or a brain candy seeker (personal fave of mine being 'Cartesian Space'). His production is top notch, and while not completely unique, his works are of the highest quality. Great stuff from Sweden!
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ARTIST: Nigel Brewer ... GENRE: Instrumental Rock
SONG: Thunder and Lightning ... RATING: 5 stars
SITE: http:// www.mp3.com/nigelbrewer
Reviewed by: Hondo
The Review: Simply amazing guitar work! I want to see this guy perform on tv, on MTV, live in concert, whatever; I want to see how he plays like this!!! Very cool tune for all you speed guitar freaks. Get you minidisc player out and hit the trail cause this is an awesome piece of music for tearing down your favorite trail
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ARTIST: The Griffins ... GENRE: AAA?
SONG: Rain ... RATING: 5
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/thegriffins
Reviewed by: Hondo
Holy REM. Batman! Seriously, you could put this song on one of their albums, and you would never know it wasn't them. This band is a must for all REM fans! Very good feel to the song, you just want to start tapping your foot.
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ARTIST: Produkt13 ... GENRE: Heavy Industrial
SONG: Burning Sin ... RATING: 3 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/produkt13/
Reviewed by Tom
The dark, moody chords throughout the song make it sound reminiscent of Sisters of Mercy. What ruins it for me is the singing - I know the gravely demonic screeching is probably intended, but it doesn't work for me. Perhaps I'm just missing Andrew Eldritch's apathetic droning...? Perhaps it'll work for you.
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ARTIST: Balloon School ... GENRE: Alternative
SONG: I'd Never ... RATING: 4 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/balloonschool
Reviewed by The Gene
Balloon School has a powerfully unique approach to music. A bit of the Talking Heads, a bit of Primus, and a little Peter Gabriel thrown in for good measure. The vocals aren't exactly strong, but they are well done and interesting. The music is very tight, somewhat jazzy, and like the vocals the music covers a wide range of style, even within a single track. You can hear a little funk in there, tight pop hooks, and some excellent rhythm work. Definitely worth a listen, especially if you're looking for something a little different.
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ARTIST: Scout ... GENRE: Power Pop
SONG: Let Me Down Easy ... RATING 4 stars
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/artists/10/scout.html
Reviewed by Shauna Skye
If Radiohead and Fiona Apple gave birth to a band it might sound similar to Scout. "Let Me Down Easy" sounds very much like Radiohead, but with smooth, beautiful alto vocals. This is one of the better songs I've heard lately, and certainly worth a download.
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ARTIST: Paris ... GENRE: R&B
RATING 5 stars ...
SITE: http://www.mp3.com/artists/36/paris.html
Reviewed by The Gene
Paris has three tracks up on her MP3.com site. I strongly recommend listening to ALL of them! Her voice is really great and you can hear some real passion in her sultry sound. Production is top notch, too. Paris's sound has shades of Whitney Houston meets Tina Turner, with a more contemporary twist to the production. Superb work!
Artist Spotlight Interview: MINDSPAWN
SHAUNA: So...why don't you start by describing Mindspawn in your own words? Both your dancy club stuff as well as the soundscapes .
MINDSPAWN: It's all in the name: Mind's Pawn, or Mind Spawn. Music that relates to being controlled by the mind and/or spawned by the mind. The dancier bits are more inclined for large crowds, or are intended for larger groups of listeners to realize a common experience. The more ambient works of Mindspawn are intended for solo listening, personal experiences, and to be shared in small groups. The ambient works have far more philosophical, contemplative, and deep seeking themes. Both styles of Mindspawn music can be described as having a kind of soundtrack quality, as if relating a story line or concept. The whole idea being to explore both the inward and outward journey of the mind, a kind of mental exodus wherein one may explore places both familiar and alien.
SHAUNA: Where do get your samples from?
MINDSPAWN: Everywhere. The bulk of them are made in the studio, others are scavenged from NASA, old political speeches, movies, the Internet, etc. Most are used completely out of context, which is part of the whole point.
SHAUNA: Why is it so hard to find a picture of you? Are you hiding out with the Chemical Brothers?
MINDSPAWN: It's not by design, at least not consciously. There's a heavily tweaked picture on the Mindspawn Ambience page at MP3.com, and some small photos (again, heavily manipulated) on the Mindspawn homepage. I prefer people to decide for themselves what the music is about, without preconceptions connected to the way I look (or don't look as the case may be). Hence, not a lot of personal photos. I prefer to keep the focus on the music/sound. As for hanging with the Chem Bros, well I'm honored to be in the same sentence with them, but that's about as close as we've come to hanging out.
SHAUNA: What inspires your music?
MINDSPAWN: Life, most literally. The whole cycle of life, history, death, ritual, civilization, primordial ooze, listening to music (my own and that of others), sound in general, celebration, euphoria, ecstasy, magic, love, hate, anger, joy, sex, pleasure, pain, violence, the six o'clock news, commercials, conversations, laws, drugs, religion, mind expansion, spirituality, and so on ad infinitum. Sometimes the inspiration comes in a juggernaut style, sometimes it is meticulous and very planned. I'm also inspired by things I can't put a name to. Call it the overwhelming urge to realize a particular sound I suppose.
SHAUNA: You sent me three CDs which I've been annoying everyone by listening to constantly. (OK not constantly, but enough.) I think your song "Sediment" has a nice driving beat. Do you have a favorite track that you would recommend to our readers?
MINDSPAWN: Do I have a favorite track? Yes. However, I could recommend it only as 'my' favorite, not necessarily what is the most listenable. The tune is 'Silently' from the 'Conversing With Zardoz' CD available on the Mindspawn Ambience page at MP3.com. It's a bit spooky, sometimes lo-fi, and it can take you a lot of different places. From the more beat based side, I'd recommend 'Cantrip,' from 'God Forgot,' or 'Sediment,' from 'The Tribe,' which you mentioned above.
SHAUNA: Why did you name your CD "The Tribe"? I am looking at some of the titles: "Experience Rhythm," "Past Lives," and the one I don't listen to (ahem) "Sex Trance." What do any of these songs have to do with a Tribe? Is there some deep meaning I'm missing?
MINDSPAWN: You're not missing any deep meaning, that I'm aware of, the 'meaning is very superficial. We all have past lives, at least in the sense of memories from moments other than now, rhythmic experiences from joining with others on a dance floor, and sex is a part of Mindspawn's music, just to use examples from the songs you named above. The Tribe is intended to, as usual, allow the listener to decide how they relate to the experiences of the tribe of the mind.
SHAUNA: OK, next question. Why did you name your other CD "God Forgot"?
MINDSPAWN: Usual double meaning stuff. It can mean the people that god forgot, or it could mean god was forgot. The whole idea is to make one stop and ponder about one of the myriad of mysteries in this thing we call life.
SHAUNA: In the credits it says that a lot of your songs are played live at Club Kaos. Here's the pressing question. What/Where is Club Kaos and how much is the cover charge?
MINDSPAWN: Club Kaos is/was a large club (around 1500 capacity) in Springfield, MA, run by promoter Billy Mead. I think the cover was $15.00 for all night entertainment, 10:00pm to 6:00am. They ran shows each weekend from January to July of this year. I've heard that they are currently closed, but I have no idea whether or not for good or just temporarily. We played some of our best sets there and recorded them to DAT, transferred them to hard disk, and then to CD. Some have been offered on 'The Tribe' CD.
SHAUNA: Who are some of your favorite music groups?
MINDSPAWN: I have lots, ranging across several centuries, but as an example, Tangerine Dream (mostly their pre 80's works), Jethro Tull, Lustmord, Nurse With Wound, John Cage, Dead Can Dance, Clannad, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Wild Cherry, and so on. There's so much good sound available it's very hard to choose just a handful of favorites. I'd have to say that artists from MP3.com like Tomorrow's Man, The Puddle Jumpers, Elise Kermani and others are as exciting as most major label artists if not more so.
SHAUNA: Have any advice/words of wisdom/proverbs to live by?
MINDSPAWN: I have enough to do living my own life, I won't try to second guess someone else's.
SHAUNA: Additional Comments?
MINDSPAWN: Thanks for the opportunity to speak a little Mindspawn. Expect to see a new Mindspawn album by the end of the year or so. Mindspawn CDs are available at Amazon.com, Yoursound.com, and of course on MP3.com and the Mindspawn website. Also, keep an eye out for other projects that Mindspawn is working in like the CIA and Sister Lenore. Peace all, and thanks for reading.
OOPS
There was a slight mistake in Valerie Hardin's last article. Regarding They Might Be Giants: "Dr. Evil" and "You're Getting Older" are two songs, not one. Somehow three words got ate up. "Both songs are very good," says Valerie.
CLASSIFIED ADS
Mindspawn's music is a driving electronic tour de force, a sonic tapestry of beat-based dance and psychedelic trance. Prepare yourself for an intense journey through aural worlds of the past, future, and the recesses of the collective conscious. Hear Mindspawn music at: http://www.mp3.com/mindspawn and http://www.mp3.com/mindspawnambience
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Need an outlet for your literary creativity? KAIROS is a new on-line literary magazine that's looking for poetry, short stories, science fiction, or whatever you have to offer! Send your submissions to Tom at KAIROS52@hotmail.com for review.
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Dallas, TX. Experienced vocalist/songwriter seeks inventive guitarist, & keyboard/sampler/sequencer player to write songs, form band. Influences: Bowie, Nick Cave, Cure, DM, Dead Can Dance, Doors, Jane's Add., Ministry, NIN, Portishead, Radiohead, Smiths, The The, Tool, U2, & others. Interested in combining Ambient, Gothic, Industrial, World, Rock & Roll, and Pop. Email: mercury@ureach.com
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What the heck is VEXIBAF? Is it
- a) a new laundry soap,
- b) the part that holds the windshield wiper on, or
- c) Bill Clinton's code word for Monica?
Find out at http://members.aol.com/vexibaf, or it will gnaw at you for the rest of your life.
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http://www.disobey.com/zero/
Zero: A website designed with not a bit of HTML. Glitz is unnecessary when you care about what is being offered, and not how it looks... Zero, mp3's and text. And ONLY mp3s and text.
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Prove your intellectual superiority and purchase an ebook by the famed and not so dignified poet Valerie Hardin. Impress your friends! Make your enemies jealous. Valerie Hardin's gothic poetry book on disk, Razor in The Brain, is now available at amazon.com. Her children's book Two Turtles is now on sale at Hard Shell Word Factory http://hardshell.com/twoturtles.html. New books include the children's books Bunny Moon, and Pop Pop Pop and the REFERENCE ebook Getting Published For Morons. The New Writer's Sanity Guide is at publisher Dreamcatcher Books http://www.cia-g.com/~jwaldie
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COOL DRUMMER WANTED, Justice IL. Shauna Skye is seeking a drummer for her band. Her sound is alternative, a bit twee at times with girlish vocals. Sample at: http://www.mp3.com/ShaunaSkye
ALL THAT OFFICIAL INFO
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LINKS YOU SHOULD KNOW
THE SWINGING SHINDIG: http://hometown.aol.com/shaunaskye/myhomepage/index.html
SHAUNA SKYE: http://www.mp3.com/ShaunaSkye
WHERE TO SEND THE GIFTS...
The Swinging Shindig
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USA
