Russell’s Shorts The Arrogant Worms

(Independent)

The Arrogant Worms’ second album is almost as amazing as their debut. Russell’s Shorts contains more of the Worms’ rather offbeat humour. With songs suchas ‘‘ William Shake- speare’s in My Cat’’, ‘“The Cannibal Song’’ (about the torture of vegetables) and my per- sonal favourite, ‘“Rippy the Gator’’ (who filled his time ‘‘ending children’s lives\ down at the bottom of the swamp, swamp, swamp’’). The Arrogant Worms are a comic band of great talent and this album, like their self-titled debut, is well worth listening to as often as possible.

(4.5)

-- CA. Schneider

Throbbin’ Hoods Ambush

(Raw Energy\A+M Records)

This infected little release is one of the most consistent ablums I’ve ever heard. In other words, all the songs sound the same. The music is a terrible mish-mash of guitar-man- gled riffs that combine to make a bad imitation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The underlying vocals are an imitation of The Tragically Hip gone tragically wrong. The lead singer is almost completely monotonal. There’s no re- lief in the lyrics; they are the most inane lyrics this side of a Wierd Al food-worship tune, but without any humour. One song ("Tight White Dress") was a pathetic tune about a guy drink-

ovember 8, 1994

ing away his money and looking for women. Wonder why he doesn’t succeed? The best title (and worst song) is ‘‘Jesus Was an Alien.”’

In fact, the most accomplished and original thing on the tape is the neat cover, which is great fun provided you take pleasure in seeing Errol Flynn impaled through the triceps with an arrow.

On the up side, this stuff could be mistaken for good alternative music. If it becomes popular on college radio, it could lead to a second album. That hypothetical album might even be good. Who knows?

(2.5) --Trent Drake

Jules Shear Healing Bones

(Island)

Jules Shear is an artist who refuses to follow the album formula of three or four high quality songs mingled among a lot of low-grade filler. He is original enough to leave out the high

quality songs. This is not a bad recording, but

Think about it. a trip to Florida!

it is less interesting than an empty aquarium. The style is mediocre, commercial light rock, with just enough folk and country thrown in to make the album completely unbalanced. In short, don’t bother.

(2.5)

-- Mike Beagan

The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (Soundtrack) Various Artists

(Island Records)

Thisis avery eclecticcollection ofsongs. It has two or three different versions of each of the classics ‘‘I Will Survive’, “‘Shake Your Groove Thing’’ and ‘‘ILove The Nightlife’’ by the original artists. Throw in artists like Ce Ce Peniston and Vanessa Williams and you get the idea. You get ballads, some soft fluff, sing- at-the-top-of-your-lungs songs, and dance tunes. This CD has everything you could want. With a soundtrack like this I can’t wait to see the movie (which is at City Cinema later this

month). Ifyou like seventies musicand remi, of seventies music along with some curr stuff, you could like this CD.

(3)

-- Colleen Easter

Megadeth Youthanasia

(Capitol/EMI)

Dave Mustaine and friends have returned astonish us with... more ofthe same. Thisis ever-so-slightly more commercialized vers of the insanely outdated speed/thrash/gr metal that Megadeth has always played. ‘*crunch scream crunch’’ formula of this lease will likely please the band’s alr devoted fans. For the rest of us, this is a se rate version of Metallica playing unorigi reheated, 1980’s style metal. Irecommend album to previous Megadeth fans only. (3)

-- Mike Beagan