When it came to Ride, Mark Gardener held that special place in my heart. When it came to Ride's demise, I blamed Andy Bell. But time passed on, I got over that bitterness and learned to appreciate Andy's talent. Hurricane #1, his new project, is raw Brit rock that, unfortunately, isn't saturated with harmonies, but evenso, still runs a good race. I'm just going to put on "Nowhere" now, until I hear Mark's solo stuff. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

All I really need to say is that this band is from New Jersey. Okay, that's not fair, but they're a joke band a la Bloodhound Gang, Nerf Herder, etc. and I can't take them seriously. The music isn't fun enough and the lyrics aren't ironic enough to make it work. Nea!

In technical aspects, this outfit from Northern England (Sunderland to be exact) doesn't really excel. But you have to give this punk-pop quartet props for effortlessly demonstrating that music's meant to be fun and not to be overanalyzed. They've taken on new and improved surnames, purchased some fancy pvc clothes and bright wigs, and supremely rocked out on "At The Club". With the exception of "Come Out 2 Nite" Marie Du Santiago's tracks are my faves, but that's not to say the rest of the album lacks - okay there are a couple of duds butÉAnd for that proper Kenickie experience, rush out and see these crazy rocker teens do it the way it's meant to be done. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Mark Refoy and Johnny Matlock used to be members of Spiritualized and Spaceman 3, but their current project, Slipstream, leaves behind the droning, trippy psychadelia indicative of their earlier collabs, and takes on a lighter poppier, 60s styled approach. "Be Groovy or Leave", in all it's melodious glory, is the album that will turn even the most strung out Spiritualized fan around. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

I really dig this band and all their Japanopbsessed quirks, noisy distorted guitars, and playful ways. "Pulpo!" is a 13 track comp of this Scottish band's UK singles, and with the exception of "Strategic Hamlets," it's a practically perfect collection. Seven songs are from Graham Kemp, six from Fergus Lawrie - you decide who your fave songwriter is. But without a doubt, "Fake Fur" is the cream of the comp, with "Down Home Kitty", "Nova Static", and "Mirimar" not too far behind. This band should really be huge. So all you Americans out there, pick up this "Super EP" and make Yatsura the darlings they so righteously deserve to beÉ Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

I remember when I bought this record, simply because the guy who sold it to me was convinced that the band were American. And even though they hail from Glasgow, Mogwai have adopted the sounds of Slint, Codeine and a wave of other US indie bands. But that is not to be taken as a slam. In fact, Mogwai are one of the best bands out there right now. And any band that can use a xylophone and make it sound like it should be there gets extra props from me. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

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