Issue #8                                                       June '99

    As we welcome June and the unofficial start of Summer, we are excited to be bringing more music your way. Here to tell you about the disc "Unraveled" by The OutSkirts is our Guest Reviewer Matt Springer. Matt is the Co-editor/Writer/Jack of all Parades over at Pop-Culture-Corn - THE online e-zine that covers the culture of the millennium as it happens. Matt is going to be lending us his ears and insight every now and then as he helps us to burrow further into the ever expanding Indie field.
    With that, I turn the page over to Matt Springer;

    Try to imagine the sound--smooth maple syrup cascading over warm pancakes. A cold sip of lemonade sliding down your throat on a hot August day. The Andrews Sisters meet R.E.M. with some Allman Brothers mixed in. Gorgeous harmonies, inspired instrumentation and a smooth, occasionally sinister vibe.
    The OutSkirts are all these things and more. A quintet of musicians based out of Bowling Green, Kentucky, "Unraveled" is their second album and it will immediately draw you in and keep you there for the long haul. Finding this band is like discovering a delicate tea cup amidst the edgy, rough ruins of indie rock--they're almost too beautiful for their own good.
    This record is a lazy Sunday afternoon in the middle of July. You know the kind of day I'm talking about. Occasionally you're inspired to engage in some witty banter, or even take a walk around the neighborhood, but most of the day is wasted away on the couch in front of the TV. Hell, you've worked hard all week--you've earned a blissfully evaporated day. And you've definitely earned "Too Much Like Sunday," a sexy meditation on the aimlessness of wasted afternoons and the ambiguity of faith, and "Family Romance," a perky (and I mean that in the best possible way) commentary on the randomness of love and familial connections.
    "Unraveled" also displays the OutSkirts' amazing capacity for balancing perfectly packaged pop gems with longer jam-based tunes--and making both work equally well. When they do get into a jam, such as on "All Over Town," the solos actually have a beginning, middle and end, unlike most jam bands who aimlessly wander all over the song until they have to take another drag of their joint. I've never been a fan of excessive guitar noodling, but Alice Templeton's licks had me captivated throughout.
    Trust me on this one, folks: this isn't one of those "three great songs and they're out" indie releases. It's a solid gold gem from top to bottom-- songwriting, performance, vocals, vibe. The OutSkirts are as precious as a lazy Sunday afternoon, and listening to "Unraveled" is a just about perfect way to waste one away.

    "Unraveled" by The OutSkirts is available now for $10.98 + s/h.

    We at IndepenDisc would like to thank Matt Springer for his words, and we look forward to his next Guest Review.

    Now that we know how to spend our lazy summer Sundays, let's rewind (or fast forward) to what got (gets) us there; the beginning of the weekend, filled with romping raucous Rock 'n' Roll.
    The Cucumbers, with their first new release in almost 10 years - "Total Vegetility" - will have you hoppin' from the opening riffs of "My Birthday," a jammin' joyful pop beauty that should be played on everyone's birthday (along with The Beatles "Birthday" of course), to the final wind down power chords of "Five Problems," a frantic music/vocal exercise displaying that with a little blind trust the complexities of any problem can be reduced to a wink of an eye.
    In-between, The Cucumbers, a veteran indie band of prominence out of Hoboken with mid-80s hit singles such as "My Boyfriend" and "Don't Drop the Baby", several full length indie releases, a wide cult following, and a penchant for playfully sticking out their collective tongues; Rock us with a delightful mixture of adult suburbanite tales as told through the bloodshot eyes of grown city teenagers who refuse to connect with the so-called demeanor (Charlie), stability (Illegal), and conformity (Neighbors) that is labeled as socially acceptable in this day and age.
    As musically impressive on disc as they are live (at times you swear there are two bands playing effortlessly as one), The Cukes are just what you need to start the weekend off on a partying note. So get a little musical fun, get a little lyrical laugh, get "Total Vegetility". And if you don't fully get it, then listen closely when The Cucumbers tell you to "Get Over It".

    The Cucumbers "Total Vegetility" is a Home Office Records release
and is available now for $9.98 + s/h.

    Don't forget to check out the other works of Matt Springer over at Pop-Culture-Corn on a regular basis.

We now return you to summer.

Issue #9                                          July '99

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        ..O' say can you see
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        .."and that ends it folks secretsunday has taken Radiohead to school and kicked their ass."

        "Now I've seen it all Ken, who would've believed that a virtual unknown out of Houston, TX could come in here and beat them in their own backyard?"

        "Right you are Vic, taking the OK Computer concept, secretsunday varied it enough to over come Radioheads' mistake of over indulgence. secretsunday gives us a look at the state of mind as formed and shaped by television, life as we know it, and can identify with."

        "Yes Ken, and even though we are now being formed and shaped by computers, the results of this will not be prevalent for at least another two decades"

        "And we're talking relevance to us now Vic, that is why OK Computer was left on the tarp tonight. Radiohead tried to predict our subliminal state of mind as it might be in the future, influenced by computers. A great thinking persons strategy."

        "But secretsunday matched that 'thinking-persons' level Ken, then took them out by turning it up a notch musically, and by bringing it down a notch to 'each-persons' thinking level."

        "Hate to interrupt you there Vic, but we need to cut to commercial right here
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        ..midway when the singer begins a surreal vocal accompaniment to the low-fi sinister lead guitar, each rise higher and higher - the vocal wailing a suffering "Good-bye" repeatedly, finally exploding in a mind boggling display of despair that chills the senses into seeing the awesome power of emotions spilling out endlessly into a 'do all or die' torrent of guitar bliss
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        ..we now present 'television' by 'secretsunday' Starring; Chris Hungate as voice, acoustic, keys, and trumpet. Robb Moore as guitars, keys, and voice. Joe Wesson as guitars. Stephen Wesson as bass and Rick Wiggington as drums. With Special Guest Kelley Cook as voices on 'the tristero'
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        ..suffer you no more
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        ..I suppose the essence here lies in the heart of this album - These guys jam
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        .."the church bells that toll towards the end gives way to a crescendo of instrumentation that finally gets swallowed by same church bells is a fitting finale to the song that serves as 'television's' core. Linked with 'safe', and 'transmission' earlier, and 'fed' and 'into the light' later."

"What is 'servo king'?"

"Correct. Please continue."

"I'll stick with song review bytes for 400 Alex"
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        ..the 'television' concept feeds and preys on the subliminal expectations of each individual
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        ..HEADPHONES!, HEADPHONES are a Must! Although in a car could be equally enjoyed, with the windows up
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        ..am I a freak? am I a freak?
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        ..I want to live/I want to die/ I want to know the reasons why
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        ..no great loss
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        ...each of these characters are making choices, as easy and as difficult as changing channels
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        ..I guess you'd know that it's all true/ if they fed you too
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        ..this is the television of the soul!
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        ..you want power, without being blown back? Something to drive you, yet not exhaust you? Something to let you soar, as you settle in?

        No Great Loss Records has the answer; A rock journey that has the "concept" album down pat, yet allows it to roam free. A journey that owes much to The Who, Pink Floyd, and Alan Parsons as masters of the concept album. This one can remove you from the everyday discs of 10 songs each to it's own. This disc gives you each song of it's own but then ties them together with a special touch that gives you the story; Except it's your slant on the story that gives it the uniqueness to make it attractive to each of you in your own way
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        ..guitar god riffs and jams galore
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        ..echoing reverb guitar which stimulates the senses that are being attacked by the vocal incantations that are driven by the bass as the drums pick it all up and guide it away
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        ..whose influences are recognized through the Tom York/Bono inspired school of vocalization. Bowing to Joy Division and Sonic Youth the guitars can be equally fuzzing and crispy strong
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        .."The answer is: When you first hear it, it sounds as if he's criticizing his girlfriend about her drug habits, but as he continues to repeat "When you're high" over & over, it sinks in that he's also referring to himself as well (and also creating another scenario where he could actually be referring to the drugs as a 'person'), and at the same time that he is criticizing it, he's also accepting it in an almost glorifying way. Then throw in the descending bass/guitar(?) run that seems to go on forever, and it feels as if you can relate to the slide/fall from grace as the grandiose self image of the drugs are taking over and crashing down all around him."

"What is amateur psychological interpretation of the song 'High'?"

"Judges?.....Correct, please continue"
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        ..a psychotic subliminal manifestation that I'm probably reading TOO much into and getting twice TOO much out of, but that's the whole joy of this disc. It takes the listener on an odyssey of their own, allowing the individual to reach into the depths of their subconscious and let the music create an image that is unique to each in their own way
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        ..'Foster Child' offers a slight variation on the piano transgression of Chicago's 'Colour My World' that slowly dissolves away to a noodling guitar then re-enters only to back off to the noodling guitar again before a heavy guitar riff takes command as 'Physical Graffiti' era Led Zep orchestrations lay low in the background. Pure productional genius
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        ..swooping vocals carried on the shoulders of a bass line whose strength will remind you of early Who John Entwistle. A drum beat of great strides as the guitars layer on top of each other again and again, all combined at times with trumpet and/or keyboards that evoke beauty and the evil it conceals along with duel channel sound bytes to deliver the message home
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        ..by the end it is all coming together as you fall apart. Suddenly any conspiracy you ever felt begins to take on true significance and meaning
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        ..vocal tape samples abound giving the disc an overall cohesion as the meanings of each song drift in and out like that of falling asleep in front of the TV. These songs are just a sampling of the dreams that are then experienced when you leave the normal behind as you are swallowed into the void of life that is know as 'The Tube'. Like changing channels each song offers us different stories of different people in their own individual ways yet all bound together by 'The One-eyed Monster'. And those of us who recognize the 'Electronic Baby-sitter' can identify with this iconoclastic statement that will lyrically force us to look over ourselves as a product of the 'airwaves' while musically allowing us to enjoy it
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        ..'into the light' is significantly placed to take advantage of the mind alteration that the 'television' set has so valiantly pursued, as we feel ourselves being drawn to it we are comforted with the mantra that "This is the television of the soul". With a little less than 60 Minutes secretsunday has exposed a generation; Yes. Music IS the television of the soul
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        .."television" by secretsunday is available now for $9.98 + s/h.
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        ..all this and more at our Catalogue page
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        ..to our roving corespondent, G.Gone with his report on The Guinness Fleadh
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        ..so tune in next month when we hear the band say
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        ..and the home of the
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Issue #10                                Aug. '99

    Woodstock '99 -

    Ha! 4 weeks ago our own G.Gone's review of the Guinness Fleadh started with a spot-on commentary previewing this years version of the '69 festival. Read it for yourself here on our Tremens page. All we have to say is - After watching the video, listening to the audio, reading the reports, etc., etc. - What? We ask - What, were the promoters thinking? How dare they tarnish the legendary history by stealing the name for commercial purposes only. As G.Gone so aptly stated; They weren't interested in recreating the Peace, Love, and Harmony of the original, they were only interested in the MONEY - Plain and simple.
    By signing a slew of *RageRock* acts, they guaranteed themselves higher ticket sales by attracting the MetalHeads and FratBoys - A demographic known for their high levels of disposable income. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just don't sell it to us under the false guise of "Woodstock". A more fitting name would've been "RageFest". Now we're not knocking the bands (RageRock or not) that did play, and in fact there were a number of Artists who did hold the distinction of carrying on the "Woodstock" tradition. We're just a bit disturbed and disgusted by the motive (greed) of the promoters, as well as the actions of the crowd. But what's to be expected when the music that's presented is, by design, created to push the limits? How could you not expect it to spin out of control? As promoters, they let the glare of the green blind and corrupt their common sense.

    On the other hand, we here at IndepenDisc have been kicking back in the heat of these Dog Days of Summer and having our own little private Woodstock featuring:

    Moss Browne and their CD "Wandering and Wondering".

    This 5 piece band out of Kentucky is not only heading up IndepenDisc's Woodstock, but would've fit in nicely with the Bands/Artists of the time in '69.
    The release of "Wandering and Wondering" on Rasselas Records, home of The OutSkirts, featured in our June '99 Issue, shows these rockers covering all the territory of Southern Rock through the hippie stylings of the late 60s/early 70s right up to the Alt.Country movement of today. With the spirit of Lowell George and Little Feat, the talent of The Allman Brothers, the craftsmanship of Traffic, the harmonies and feel of Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, the funk of Santana, the rowdiness of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the aura of Blind Melon, the groove of the Dead, and the diversity & attitude of Neil Young, Moss Browne delivers.
    Check out the song clips for "Final Plea" and "18 Miles" over on our Catalogue page, marvel at the wonderful construction of these controlled jamfests. Musically and spiritually fulfilling; they are great examples of the type of gems that make up this solid disc. From beginning to end each song stands on its own as they flow forth inviting you to sing and groove along in a state of peace, love, and harmony that would do the Woodstock generation proud.
    It's been said that Woodstock can never be repeated, and we agree with that. But, here (hear) Moss Browne will get you as close to1969 as you can be. Relax, mellow out, put on "Wandering and Wondering" and experience the beauty of the music as 30 years melt into the future.

    It's time we got ourselves back to the garden with:

    Moss Browne "Wandering and Wondering" now available on CD for $10.98 + s/h.

    Issue #11                                                      Sept. '99

    "I tell ya Bob, I'm sick of what's on the radio, it's all the same. I love music so much, but I'm tired of what the radio has to offer. I just don't know what to do."
    "The next time you're in the record store buy something you never heard before."
    "But, what if I don't like it?"
    "But, What if you do?"

    It's hard to believe that conversation took place 22 years ago, yet it is still relevant today.

    I regard music in the highest order, along side that of love. Without music there is no life. Everyone needs music in order to survive. Try to imagine a day with no music, that includes the singing of the birds, the idle of car engines, the whispering of the breeze, the murmur of far off conversations, the rhythm of your own breathing. All those sounds are in themselves music. Music is all-encompassing of sound. Sound equals music, music equals life.
    What of those who can not hear sound? It is known that the deaf (I never claimed to be Politically Correct) can experience sound/music on higher sensual levels than most, thus at times sharing with us, sometimes exceeding, the pleasures we know and derive from it.
    Music, like love (therefore the love of music/the music of love) can be the highest emotional level that we achieve. It presents itself in so many forms over the course of a lifetime, how can we not reach out and attempt to hold, feel, live and love it in as many of it's personifications as we can within the course of our own lifetime? There is no limit on how much music/love we can possess, but life tends to limit us to how much time we have to experience/enjoy it.
    IndepenDisc is 1 year old today. In the past year I have once again rediscovered the love of music by breaking away from the established criteria set forth upon us by preprogrammed (to sell advertising) radio. I did it in '77 when I blindly purchased "My Aim Is True" by Elvis Costello. I did it in '91 with "Gish" by Smashing Pumpkins (pre "The") and again in '97 with "Burner" a compilation disc by Home Office Records.
    I walked into the record store and bought something I never heard before. It didn't always work, there were Artists/Albums that I didn't like (not to say there was anything wrong with them, if anything they helped to expand my knowledge just as much as the ones I did like), but the Artists/Albums I did like led me to others, that in turn led to changes in my life that still bring smiles to my face.
    My passion and love of life through music, is sustained by the rediscovery and rebirth of ideals which are fed by the uncovering of obscure musical gems delivered to my ears by an Artist(s) who knows not of corporate dollars to produce, but only to produce through that of the love of music, the love of life.
    These feelings, these emotions that can be brought forth through an Artists musical vision, I have always strived to share with those around me. With the birth of the internet I have been able to realize this calling all the more so, to share this music/love/life with anyone who is willing to listen, with anyone who is willing to walk into the record store and buy something they've never heard before. I created IndepenDisc for anyone/everyone for this reason.
    IndepenDisc is the record store that stocks only the music you have never heard before.

    "But, what if I don't like it?"
    "But, What if you do?"

Striving to serve your out of the ordinary, anti-herd, music mentality,
Gary V.

    What follows is our liner notes of Thank You's for everyone that helped us to realize this endeavor...

    Many Thanks to Linus Gelber and everyone at Home Office Records for supplying the spark, to Wally Ingram and Bulldog Records for fanning the flames, Wenda Gaile Jamieson for guiding us into the present and onto the WWW, Jeff Cuscuna for 24 hr panic mode tech support, Cary Crisp and his ears, Nancy, Valerie & Melanie V. for their patience, Glenn V. for being there, Liz V. for the road trips, My cousin Bob Curcio for the conversation quoted above, Charlie Burton, Jessica's Attic, emil muzz, Rocket Frog, Crustaceans, Beth Profitt, Midway, The Runes, WOW, The Need, Dan Bacon, RAW Kinder, the badge, Pawnshop, C&D Records, D.J.Lauria Band, Black & White, Mitch Scherr, Crenshaw, Hyland Thomas, Steve Groce and Rasselas Records, The OutSkirts, Moss Browne, The Cucumbers, and secretsunday for believing and allowing us to promote them, Matt Springer and Pop-Culture-Corn for their continued support, Dean Martucci and Unicycle Records, Joe "Sparky" at Online Express Music, All our friends on costello-l, Chris W. & Mark C. across the pond, The people down under: Aussiedave, Ian H, and Kieran McCarthy, Matthew "Zot" Riddle and everyone at Elvis Costello-Online and in the ECO chat room, Lisa Armstrong at Second Nature Entertainment and Melissa Kelly for helping us look to the future, and of course everyone I've forgotten and will remember after this is sent; you know who you are, Thank You One & All!!