Music FROM THE MOTION PICTURE

ALMOST FAMOUS Dreamworks

Contained on this CD is half of a really great soundtrack. The half that's missing includes familiar classic rock songs like Paranoid, Search and Destroy, and (Jimi Hendrix). But the half included has all sorts of

JOHN WESLEY HARDING Confessions of Saint Ace Mammoth

Harding is heavily influenced by Elvis Costello in both vocal deliv- ery and song writing style, but, despite having intelligent lyrics and a consistent sound quality, it never quite lives up to Elvis.

-SML

PHOTEK Solaris Astralwerks

Drum and bass music can either be really cutting edge, or extremely dull. Photek falls into the later cat- egory. Chock full of repetitive, seven minute long techno music cliches, this album grows tiring very quickly.

-SML

70's rock rarities often overlooked by people who put soundtracks together. The Almost

. Famous soundtrack also includes a

fictional band from the movie, Still Water, and their Zeppelinesque sta- dium rock anthem, Fever Dog fea- turing Pearl Jam's Mike McCready on guitar. Even though the music works better in the film than on this CD, there are enough good songs on it to make it almost perfect.

-SML

MARK BROWNING

Years of Sadness Little Mountain Records

Browning is a rootsy-folk singer from the Vancouver area. He’s coming to town. He phoned me six times. While my initial reaction to this was, “What kind of dweeb phones me six times,” after listen- ing to his CD, it changed to “Hmm, this guy is talented.” I hope I see

eee ewe ee ee ee ee eee ee ee ee ee ee ee eee eee ee ee eee ee eee ee eee eee ee ee eee ee

you at his show on September 27th at Baba’s.

-ROC

BUCKETHEAD Giant Robot Virgin-EMI

Buckethead wears a Kentucky Fried Chicken container on his head. He also plays guitar. He’s also wackier on his twanger than Steve Vai. If you’re looking for some insanity, this is it. In a nut- shell, this CD features 19 different tracks that evolve into amusing sto- ries about Buckethead and his adventures within his little world. If you’re looking for an album that is equal parts Leatherface, Frank Zappa, and Colonel Sanders, this is it.

-ROC

THE VANDALS

Look What I Almost Stepped In... Nitro Records

Plus ca change, plus c’est pareille... After their 1998 release Hitler Bad, Vandals Good, one of SoCal punk’s little miracles, I expected a little more from these “Chinatown” chanting chaps. Unfortunately Look what I almost stepped in... had a bit of reheated beef chow mein aftertaste — the first serving was better, tastier.

-SKM

BABY BLUE SOUNDCREW Private Party Collectors Edition Mixed CD

Universal

If you like hip hop, R&B and rag- gae, this is definitely a mix for you. Toronto’s Baby Blue Soundcrew put together this mix CD, which has some of the best American hip hop hits from last year, and some of Toronto’s finest representing on this compilation. My only problem is that tha shit is edited, which is good for radio DJs, but for the average fan, it’s annoying.

-JMAMA

SHIRLEY BASSEY The Remix Album...Diamonds

Are Forever EMI

To review this album with even a small amount of seriousness would be impossible. The Remix Album...Diamonds Are Forever has to be one of the cheesiest albums of the year. The album has 10 tech- no/dance remixes of old Shirley Bassey songs. Each track has been remixed by a different artist, including two different remixes of Bassey’s cover of the Doors clas- sic, “Light My Fire.” Combining 60s cheese with 00s cheese is amusing for a while, but then I just have to pause and ask, “Why?”

-JC