Tim Den – Page 104 – Lollipop Magazine

Pop’s Not Dead – Songs From Sacramento – Review

June 1, 2000

19 artists, some local and some national, who have quite a knack for writing melodies that sometimes twist, sometimes turn, but are pop-oriented at the core.

The Casket Lottery – Moving Mountains – Review

June 1, 2000

Pop-punk’s melodic know-how blending with art rock ala Big Black/every other Chicago band to produce a new genre all its own. Why didn’t I think of it first?

The Apples In Stereo – The Discovery of Life Inside the Moon – Review

June 1, 2000

The Apples In Stereo are revered by old-timers who dig that ’60s sound and college rock kids alike.

The Anniversary – Designing a Nervous Breakdown – Review

June 1, 2000

The Anniversary is a group of ex-punk rockers playing them “emo” chords backed with keyboards. The only thing that sets them apart is that they’re better.

Exposed III – Hotdoggin’ tha Great Midwest – Review

June 1, 2000

A shitload of unsigned talent from the Midwest, ranging from folk to acoustic to punk to hardcore (oh, and electronica somewhere in there too).

Starmarket – Four Hours Light – Review

June 1, 2000

When you strip everything away from a song – attitude, delivery, distortion – and still have something touching and relevant, that’s songwriting at its best.

River City High – Richmond Motel – Review

June 1, 2000

River City High doesn’t rely on a schtick (unless you count dressing like Social Distortion) but only comes up with half-original tunes.

Shiner – Starless – Review

June 1, 2000

A discordant sense of melody that somehow works, a liver-than-a-live drum sound, and positive art school experimentations. Original and pleasing heavy rock.

Shelter – When 20 Summers Pass – Review

June 1, 2000

Youth of Today’s raw positivity blended with Ray Cappo and Porcell’s infamous “untitled EP” project, catchy fast hardcore at its unfurnished heart.

Trans Am – You Can Always Get What You Want – Review

June 1, 2000

Not only does this instrumental trio know how to create deafening screeches and Voltron keyboard sounds, they know how, and more importantly when, to use them.