From: tothmd@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Michael David Toth)
Subject: Re: so what should i get?
Summary: Some mini reviews 
Organization: University of Cincinnati
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 01:58:36 GMT

In article <1992Oct1.233531.10279@uoft02.utoledo.edu> steiner@jupiter.cse.utoledo.edu (jason "Think!" steiner) writes:
>i get payed today, (friday) and i have just enough $$ for -one- CD.
>a new Christian Music store just opened in toledo, so i'm looking
>forward to ordering some of the great alternative Christian stuff
>i've missed out on in the last year...
>
NOTE:  I don't think Victoria Williams was distributed to Christian
outlets, even though some of her stuff is more overtly Christian than a
lot of stuff that does.  HOWEVER, _Swing The Statue_ is currently in
bargain bins of most major record chains right now.  Call around Toledo
or go on a record shop tour and track one down!  (I got mine at Camelot
for $2.88 new) 
 
Also the Scatrd Few Attic Tapes were a custom (cassette only) release
that I doubt if you can get through that store. 

>here are some of the ones i've heard about but haven't heard.
>any suggestions? info? people screaming "THAT'S THE BEST CD I
>EVER HEARD! BUYBUYBUY!"?
>
The summer was INCREDIBLE for new Christian music.  I can post more
detailed reviews if you'd like, but here's a quickie rating system on a
5-star scale: 1 "*" is totally unlistenable, 5 is in the top 2.5% of the
1000 or so Christian records I've heard in the past 15 years.

>    plague of ethyls                 ?
***1/2  Energetic, entertaining, and unbelievably stupid.  Caryn Colbert
has a very odd sense of humor that may lose some people, but this Sonic
Youth-esque style comes off nicely.  Caryn's vocal range has developed
immensely and kept my interest.  PFs (Personal faves) include: "Blaze,"
"Land of La-La," and "Gorbert the Evil Dancing Clown" (with the annoying
but oddly catchy chorus of "No I don't wanna dance no more, no I don't
wanna dance no more, no I don't wanna dance no more, no boogie-woogie-
woogie-woogie"  -- so far, I'm one of the only fans of this song, but
*I* dislike "The Weazle," which seems to be popular out west, so THERE!)

>    fluffy                           go, fluffy, go
***1/2  Unrecognizable as Fluffy to listeners of their first album.  I
mean, we have synthesizers in places and one song over 5 minutes long!
It sounds more like Nirvana than Fluffy in places, but just like the 1st
one, seems to improve the more I get in sync with it.  The packaging /
graphics are BRILLIANT and almost worth the price alone (No, that CAN'T
be a real kitten, and that's actually blue frosting on the raw steaks).
PFs: a cover of Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" and the
"instrumental" "Kiki Wombauk."  I'm not sure, but there may not be any
real "spiritual" content at all here...

>    victoria williams                Swing the Statue
****  Grows on me with every listen.  Her sometimes screechy vocals
(described by Andy Whitman as "Olive Oyl vocals") are unnerving at
first, but there's an incredible individuality and personality on here.
PFs: "Can't Cry Hard Enough" (now made a radio hit by her 2 brothers)
"On Time," "Clothesline."

>    scaterd few                      The Attic Tapes
haven't heard it.

>    breakfast with amy               love gift
**** The Amy album that comes the closest to capturing the energy and
zaniness of their live shows.  Actually a lot of older unreleased
material that finally made its way into stores, and not truly a "new"
album, it holds up nicely.  Comparing the older "Voices" with Caryn
Colbert on vocals with her more recent Plague of Ethyls stuff gives a
new respect for voice teachers, but the song's still pretty cool.  PFs:
"Ralph's Garage," "Ad America (Baby Baby Baby Version)," and "Videos &
Food" are all absolutely genius.  The album get an extra 1/2 "*" if the
BabyBabys were mixed up louder... :-)

>aquire any other ones i'd like some recommendations for future 
>reference...

Some other recent releases with the Toth rating system:

Arkangel - Warrior (CD reissue) ***** 
Black & White World - Life Explodes ***1/2
T Bone Burnett - The Criminal Under My Own Hat *****
Daniel Amos - Doppelganger (CD reissue) ***** 
Deitiphobia - Digital Priests, The Remixes **1/2
Mark Heard - Satellite Sky ****1/2
Hounds of Heaven - Virtue & Virginity **1/2
Michael Knott - Screaming Brittle Siren ****1/2
L.S.Underground - The Grape Prophet *****
RadioHalo - Illumination ** 
Tribe of Dan - Shook Up Shook Up ***1/2
Various Artists (DA,77s,etc) Shirley, Goodness & Misery/No Sense of
   History ***

-Michael.