WHAT THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT "GENERATIONS": Send us Your Own review!!!

John Dix, NZ Truth (NZ National Tabloid) June 1998:

SHARP short pop songs, with a nice little raucous edge, from the former Axeman.
Twenty tracks in all, mostly a little more polished than we've come to expect, but losing nothing in the transition.McCabe remains one of New Zealand's best-kept secrets.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Nick Bollinger, NZ Listener (NZ TV/Radio/Entertainment weekly)

The former Axeman leaves his axe in its case for most of this solo venture, featuring mock movie-themes, crooner ballads, R&B sleaze and tropicana, performed mostly on a cheesy synthesiser.
Alternately hilarious, scary and stupefying. Be careful who you play this to, though; some people will just think you're mad.

Mac Hodge, Rip It Up (NZ Rock Magazine, June 1998)

Long time lo-fi cellar dweller, Lil' Stevie McCabe has had his name tagged to many low budget, garage-psych releases over the years through his own Sleek Bott cassette label, and occasionally on bigger outfits like Flying Nun with such bands as the legendary but mostly discountable Axemen. Sloppy as modus operandi, looseness as a war cry, Lil' Stevie's career has been one for the happily brain damaged and socially misaligned.

With Generations, the four-track makes way for the hard drive of Frisbee Studios, and with the new-tech freedom McCabe has produced what he feels he's been trying to achieve for the last 15 years of recording. How he got George Martin out of retirement for the volumous string sections is beyond me, but to say the Beatles are an influence would be to under-state. Iggy, Lou, and someunknown glam king hang in the vocal booth, and the Residents do their best to give the whole 20 tracks the oddest production values and mental retard psych ward atmosphere.

Generations left me mentally at some mythical Chinese restaurant with the bad tux piano player getting wierd on a new electronic toy. Difficult.

Mike Houlahan, Evening Post (Wellington Newspaper) June 1998

Not So OK Computer

It is oh so very tempting to lay into this album. It is, quite simply, one of the worst CDs I have heard in ages. However, nagging in the back of my mind is the suspicion that this is exactly the sort of reaction Mr McCabe (formerly of local cult favourites The Axemen) is hoping for. The definition of McCabe's musical style, as supplied by the e*p editor upon presentation of this disc, sums it up perfectly: "LouReed on helium armed with a Farfisa organ". Find herein a wide variety of non-sensical songs played in a fake Vegas lounge style. Sparks would seem to be an obvious influence, but Generations has none of the camp charm of their of-ferings. There are occasional glimpses of inspiration - with more than 20 songs, there would have to be. His fans will no doubt claim them as intimations of genius. The casual listener, however, will have difficulty making it to the end of the album. *1/2 (1.5 stars)

Gordy Baird (Email Reviewer, Japan)

Hi Steve, I enjoyed these reviews:

> John Dix, NZ Truth (NZ National Tabloid) June 1998
> Mac Hodge, Rip It Up (NZ Rock magazine), June 1998

Their writing is intelligent and shows that their ears are open and ready to hear innovation, and they are prepared to appreciate.
But I have given into the temptation to lay into Mike Houlahan, even though that is exactly the sort of reaction he is expecting.
I realise that he works for a fine upstanding bastion of literary banality, in what must surely be the hub of Artistic expression for the entire millenium.

> However, nagging in the back of my mind is the suspicion that this is exactly...
...Wrong again Mike that thing nagging at the back of your mind is probably one of your own thoughts.

> (formerly of local cult favourites The Axemen)
...Formerly? As in, was Jesus the former head of the christian church?

> The definition of McCabe's musical style, as supplied by the e*p editor upon presentation of this disc, sums it up perfectly: "LouReed on helium armed with a Farfisa organ".
...Utter nonsense, Steve taught Lou everything he knows, you wouldn't be saying that if Andy was still around. Where've you been for the last decade? Don't you know that helium is totally inert!

> The casual listener, however, will have difficulty making it to the end of the album.
...Sorry Mike, but you're begging us to ask, just how casual a listener are you? And what about us readers that have difficulty making it to the batgroom (what an excellent typo, I think I'll keep that!). That reminds me, now where did I put the review from the Gotham City Post?

Mike 'Penguin' Houlahan, Evening Post (Gotham City Newspaper) June 1998

Not much guano here! At first I found listening to 'Generations' dull and uninspiring, but after going to the trouble of putting it in the CD player and pressing the play button I began to have a nagging suspicion, or was it a glimpse of inspiration (More like a whiff of perspiration! ed.), that I should spend more time listening to music than writing about it.

Evening Post (Gotham City Newspaper) June 1998
*1/2 [1.5 stars] (You mean that Steve actually has an extra arm and a leg, and 3 cerebral hemispheres?)

Excellent exposure Kid. My advice is 'Keep them guessing!' Gordon
PS. I've heard that there's this guy in Dunedin with a digital 8-track that he's not using very much!!!!

the wind in
the valley squalls
as rain falls and falls
they all drive on past

Short Cuts:

Roger Fitzwater, [Rockin' Horse magazine]:

"...McCabe's seamless transition to the digital domain, combined with his still uncompromising garage four-track production is a joy to hear....uplifting, oozing style, and totally unique.... a true gem"

Andy Gordon, [Digtal Mediums]:

"I always thought McCabe's extraordinary vision would make the transition to the digital medium well. Just how well I didn't realize until I received the pre-release copy of 'Generations'.... breathtaking, magnificent and lush."

Yzette Jobim, [Latin Music Post]:

"...McCabe's espousal throughout 'Generations' of Latin themes and stylings, amongst the rich juxtaposition of other contemporary and older styles harks eerily back to Getz/Gilberto's 60's work... I could have sworn he had just come in on the last boat from Ipanema"

Angelo deCarlo [The Crit magazine]:

"...the intensity and luminosity of McCabe's vision espouses the quintessential essence of McCabe's literary stream-of-consciousness imagery; Joyce-ian references abound - 'Generations' is a treat for anyone who loves to analyze."

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