State of Grace – Jamboreebop – Review June 1, 1996 Goodness, this is relaxing, isn’t it? Lovely trip-hop with bright, melodic vocals, that feels like streaking sun rays behind storm clouds.
Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hot – Review June 1, 1996 The Kings and (Queen) of Dixieland are back, and this time, they’re on fire! The uptown beat is way up, and the singing is laid down low and neat.
Smegma – The Mad Excitement… – Review June 1, 1996 Record loops, free-floating rhythms, and other random elements make this something that requires repeated listening (if you can handle it).
Shonen Knife – The Birds and the B-Sides – Review June 1, 1996 This compilation is a “froot roop” dream come true. A lot of the songs are rare and unreleased with some live tracks and covers.
Sayhitolisa – Review June 1, 1996 Sayhitolisa, from Cambridge, MA, who are essentially hat-tippers to the sentimental side of ’70s funk, are looking for a new bassist. They said so.
Rye Coalition – New Sheriff in Town – Review June 1, 1996 “Great Communicator” is more distorted than bad vertical hold on a TV. “Jimmy Walkover” features urgh-aagh-bleah vocals and sounds like a mudslide.
Rocket Fuel Is The Key – Consider it Contempt – Review June 1, 1996 This band is dissonant, angry, hard, and tight – a “power trio” of nuclear capabilities, as it were. Yes, I say. Yes.
Nada Surf – “Deeper Well” – Review June 1, 1996 Noisy, post-modern garage punk. They included the lyrics and the guitar chords to “Deeper Well” so you can sing and play along. All this on pretty blue vinyl.
Marlo Thomas and Friends – Free To Be… You And Me – Review June 1, 1996 Take my hand, come with me, where the children… are subjected to some of the most blatantly subversive children’s songs ever made.