Unsung Disciples

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#111111" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="04900840dyxtip.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>The First Church of Holy Rock and Roll</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT><B>    |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The First Church of Holy Rock and Roll"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Commandments"><U>The Commandments</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sermon"><U>The Sermon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Reviews"><U>New Reviews</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Short Takes"><U>Short Takes</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blasts from the Past"><U>Blasts from the Past</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Interviews"><U>Interviews</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Books That Rock!"><U>Books That Rock!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Movies That Rock!"><U>Movies That Rock!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="On the Front Line: Shimamoto Reports"><U>On the Front Line: Shimamoto Reports</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dimitri Monroe: Letters from a BurntOut "><U>Dimitri Monroe: Letters from a Burnt-Out Recluse</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Josh Slates on Cinema"><U>Josh Slates on Cinema</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cravens RockORama"><U>Cravens' Rock-O-Rama</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Holy Mix Tape"><U>Holy Mix Tape</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="KCOUs Shake Em On Down! 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They get mentioned here, they got the spirit, sho' nuff! Got a rockin' demo? Send to <B>THE FIRST CHURCH OF HOLY ROCK AND ROLL, 106 West Phyllis, Columbia, MO 65202</B>.</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="ilr"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2851f1f0.jpg" border=0 width="287" height="287" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Hot Wind from Chi-Town:</B></div> <div> <B>I Love Rich's </B><I><B>The Greatest Rock and Roll Record </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>of All Time </B></I><B>(ILR Music)</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>You have to have serious 'nads to plaster the above title across your own self-distributed record, but that's about all that's serious about the rawk gawds in Chicago's I Love Rich. Stomping out tunes like "You Want My Action," "Touch My Sexx," and "Doctor Tung," these guys will settle for nothing less than a bloody victory (or, as a writer in their promo pack suggests, a multiple orgasm) when they've finished rocking your playing field. This is a hard-packed cheeseball of a record any unashamed fan of Kiss, Slade, or Spinal Tap must own, and, judging from the sleeve photos, a band s/he ought to see live as well. I should mention that ILR combines horny lyrics, thrusting power chords, and </I><I>irresistibly magnetic good looks</I><I> better than any current band I can think of.</I></div> <div> <I>     For those more resistant to such strains of rock and roll disease, it should be noted that ILR moves several MPHs faster than the above three bands, often verging on punk, and seem more interested in rocking than making your laugh (though of course that's on their agenda, too). My only quibble, however, is they need to be funnier more of the time in order to stand next to the Dictators and still be noticed, a tall order, true--but rock and roll proves you can shoot low and shoot high at the same time. Had they taken it further over the top (as in their earlier "Debbie's Got the Runs") at least a couple times on this record, that record title might have been less (and more) of a joke.</I></div> <div> <I>     If you need some comic relief from these dark days (on the radio and local stages as well as in the world at large), you can do MUCH worse than slip this disc in and let it spin. For ordering info and more, go to </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#669900" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="http://www.iloverich.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.iloverich.net"><U><I>www.iloverich.net </I></U></A></FONT><I>(their website is a laff riot). But don't forget to wear your codpiece or spiked chastity belt, as the case may be.</I></div> <div> <I>     Recently, I had a chance to interrogate Rich....</I></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="rich_int"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>How did four guys become of one mind to engage in the carnal pursuit that is I Love Rich?</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> Well, there are a few important things you need to understand to be in this band. First off, obviously, you need to know how to rock. And of course, you've got to be sexy. Then, you have to understand "the Magnitude of Me" and realize how much I rule. Plus, you need to be kind of cocky. </div> <bR> <div> <B>I noticed that you've been on bills with some of the "Swedish Invasion" bands, who fucking rock most of the time, but don't always seem to have a sense of humor about the music they make. What have been their reactions to your approach? Which band that you've shared the stage with most overwhelmed you?</B> </div> <bR> <div> Usually, there are 2 responses we get from bigger bands when we play with them, and from people in general, really. Either they realize we're the coolest band they've seen (or heard) in a while, or they're offended by our act and think we're assholes for doing what we do. We've gotten nothing but good reviews for the new record, so that's a good sign. But there are always people who are going to take things too seriously, which is stupid. I'm not saying every band has to be the smart asses we are, but there's a ton of people in rock who need to fucking lighten up. C'mon guys, you're (relatively) young, having fun playing music you wrote and people are digging it, quit complaining and have some fun with it. Most of my favorite bands (The Dickies, KISS, D.L.R. era Van Halen) have an obvious sense of humor, and their sense of humor is one of the reasons they stood the test of time. It's when bands start taking themselves too seriously that they end up looking really ridiculous. </div> <div>      As for what band most overwhelmed me, it's tough to say because we've played with a lot of great bands. But if I had to pick one, performance, I'd say the first time we played with the Orphan Punks. I almost needed to change my pants by the time their set was over..... </div> <bR> <div> <B>What's the biggest frenzy you've ever whipped a crowd up into? What city's given you the best reception outside of Chicago?</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> Ever see a room full of a few hundred people have a volcanic orgasm at the same time? If you haven't, just go to one of our shows. It's hard to pick just one town outside of Chicago, but I'd say Green Bay is probably our next favorite town to play. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Do any of your fans come backstage and try to act out "Ladies in Waiting"?</B> </div> <bR> <div> Only the lucky ones.... </div> <bR> <div> <B>For readers who may be skeptical, why check out I Love Rich when there's the Dictators, Kiss, and </B><I><B>This is Spinal Tap</B></I><B>?</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> I think it's obvious why the ladies would want to check us out. And the same principal applies to guys, too. See, guys, let me let you in on a little secret. Listening to an I LOVE RICH record with a girl, or better yet, bringing a girl to see us play, will work like Spanish Fly. If you take a girl to see us play, you will score on the drive home, probably twice if you can handle it. In fact, The "I LOVE RICH effect," as it is known in some circles, is so strong that it counts as foreplay in certain regions. And if you don't have a date, there are plenty of excited young women at our shows, but you may have to wait 'till we're done with them. Plus, if you get past our good looks and the flashing lights, you just might realize that we're a hell of a rock and roll band too....... </div> <bR> <div> <B>(How) Was the band talked into its name? And do you all get equal amounts of action?</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> The bands name came about (and keep in mind, it was Drewblood who came up with it) because all the guys kept hearing was good looking (and honestly, a few not so good looking) women repeating the phrase "I Love Rich" over and over, so it just kind of stuck. It was either ILR or "Oh, Rich, don't stop, you are the KING", and we thought ILR was a better name. And, of course the other guys don't get the action I do, but then again, who does? </div> <bR> <div> <B>Have you written any songs that you yourselves have been wary of performing or recording (due to scabrous content)? </B></div> <bR> <div> Uh, I have no idea what the word scabrous means.</div> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Any plans to write a definitive, career-topping power ballad? What would be its gist?</B> </div> <bR> <div> Of course. Right now, the plan is for us to get signed to a major label, release 2 or 3 critically acclaimed, balls out rock and roll albums that will give us a reasonable sized following but aren't exactly platinum sellers. Then, when we realize that we're in our mid 30s and totally in debt, we will release a record that is a total "sell out," with a bunch of matchbox 20-esque pop ballads and love songs. Then, after we become millionaires, we will dump our girlfriends and stop talking to all our old friends. I'm going to move into MC Hammer's old place, and I'm sure one of us will end up "dating" Pamela Anderson. All the usual rock star crap. And we'll only talk to the big rock people, like MTV, <I>Rolling Stone</I>, and of course, The First Church of Holy Rock and Roll. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Besides yourself, who's the ultimate be-Spandexed, glammed-out, long-locked rock and roll front man?</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> Well, my obvious love for Paul Stanley aside, I would have to say that in his prime, David Lee Roth was probably the ultimate rock and roll front man. But you would also have to include Leonard form the Dickies on that list, too. </div> <bR> <div> <B>What records are keeping I Love Rich sane these days?</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> So far, my favorite 2 records from this year would be "Are You Man Enough?" by Betty Blowtorch and the Mushuganas self-titled disc they put out. All of you reading this should check out both discs, right after you purchase a copy of "The Greatest Rock'N'Roll Album of All Time." (<B>see above website for info!</B>) </div> <bR> <div> <B>Any upcoming touring or recording plans we at The First Church need to know about?</B><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> We will tour some next year, we're going to try to go to California early next year (it gets too cold here in Chicago) and we're going to make a trip or two out East soon. If anyone thinks we should hit their town or club, by all means, drop us a line and let us know.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1cbabac0.gif" border=0 width="171" height="172" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="sovines"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Grinding Gears with the Sovines</B></div> <div> <I><B>The Sad Last Days of...The Sovines </B></I><B>(Oahu)</B></div> <div> <B>(see also </B><A HREF="id41_sovinesint.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Interviews"><U><B>our interview with Sovines guit-picker/songwriter Matt Benz</B></U></A><B>)</B></div> <bR> <div>      You gotta admire the commitment of a band who name themselves after the greatest of all truckin' songwriters (Red Sovine), then apply themselves almost exclusively to truck-driving songs at a time in rock and roll history where that approach seems, well, nuts. But the Sovines and their lead singer, Bob Starker, go beyond mere commitment on their new album <I>The Sad Last Days of...The Sovines</I>--the songs are damned fine, and the band, country-punk if you haveta call 'em something, make a nice, raw racket.</div> <div>      You'd figure that, given the concept, we'd be talking comedy here, but one of the neat things about this record is that only one of the songs ("Some Blame Truckers," about needing to piss like a racehorse) could even be called novelty.  In fact, I'd go so far as to say that "Smoking in the Rain," written by lead guitarist Matt Benz, transcends its genre and is simply classic Midwestern songwriting. It certainly stands up next to the Bottlerockets' best, and that's the current standard, far as I can see, but this sad, observant tale about a very methodical guy even gives Dave "4th of July" Alvin a run for his money. For a bunch of Columbus, Ohio roots-rockers, they've got a nice lyrical streak (Benz's "40 Watt Light" and "About a Hundred Years Ago" are two other mournful highlights), which really creates a dynamic tension when they're juxtaposed with the rowdy cuts that dominate the album ["Breaker Breaker (One Heart)," "Just Got Back (in Town)," "30-20-10," and "Comin' In Loaded" are my personal fave raves in this mode]. In case you haven't noticed, dynamic tension ain't exactly a staple of many of today's scenes, folks.</div> <div>      Starker is a quadruple threat: his tenor-baritone is squarely in the 18-wheeler tradition (nicely reminiscent of Joey Doerr of the LeRoi Brothers, it sometimes tiptoes the line between sincerity and parody a little too perilously, though), and he not only plays grinding rhythm guitar and writes fast 'uns <I>and</I> slow 'uns, but he even honks a dirty, raggedy sax. He needs to keep that up; it's high time honkin' made its way back into REAL rock and roll. In fact, the raucous blowing on the three live bonus cuts comes damn close to stealing the record.  </div> <div>      Like Atlanta's Ditchdiggers, the Sovines are making music of the spirit and more than deserve a wider audience. Check out this record by writing <B>Oahu Records,1487 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 234, Columbus, Ohio 43212 </B>or writing <B>thestarkers@earthlink.net</B>. And don't get the wrong idea from the record's title--they're alive and well, folks.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Rocking Out of Mid-Misery</B></div> <div> <I><B>KCOU/Directory Assistance</B></I></div> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="kcou"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I></div> <div>     <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >  KCOU, the University of Missouri-Columbia's stellar radio station, and denizens of the town's local music scene weigh in here with a jim-dandy aural guide to the tortured soul that's trapped in "The Heart of Mid-Missouri."</FONT></div> <div>       Is it rock and roll? A good question. There ain't much roll, but these guys (and a girl or two) love guitars and use them like a Luddite'd use a baseball bat--to knock the stuffing out of their too-processed world. And not just the six-string variety; the various bass players here, with some assistance from a bass player behind the board, testify to the influence Primus and Fugazi has had on indie rhythm-throb. Most of these cuts tend to either sway back and forth like sea chanteys before they spill over into cathartic release or stop, start and zigzag like good postmod should. When the more conventional units, the alt-country Fugitive Kind and pop-punkins Juvenile Wreck, pitch in halfway through, it's as if they're from another planet entirely. As such, this compilation embodies a thorny musical dichotomy in American rebel music: complication and strife vs. simplicity and pleasure. <I>Directory Assistance </I>holds with the former, the good Reverend still ain't sure, and who knows about the congregation.</div> <div>      Highlights? Wouldn't you know, two of my faves don't feature electric guitar at all! The two-man Arpad Leen, sounding like early Mofungo, actually make bass 'n' drum duet work in a rock context (lots of skronkjazz touches on this collection, by the way). The one song I've kept coming back to is "Arc6ery," by the mysterious Mah-Jongg, on which the inspirational noises are handclaps.  A third, by the piquantly named Andy Cigarettes, is stolen outright by mad keyboards--this is what Eric Bachmann oughtta be doing with Crooked Fingers, instead of broken-hearted junkie imitations. Scene vets Amputee Set and the previously mentioned Fugitive Kind do their respective things with skill and inspiration, and, in case you thought "pop punkin" was a dig, Juvenile Wreck ring my pleasure chimes. Wise or Otherwise, mere junior high whippersnappers, show some laudable attitude on "Fucking Yourself" (what are they <I>teaching </I>those kids?), but don't quite get the fat part of their bat on the ball. Saw the boys live at a talent show last year, though, and they made my short hairs stand up despite technical problems galore. Also, I kinda like Autosleeper's "Anything Majorly," the lyrics of which ("Holding on/Doesn't mean you made it...Could this be the end of us?") are a refreshing change of pace from the norm in their straightforward, convincing soulfullness. </div> <div>      Elsewhere, though I've certainly heard a lot worse on similar collections, the other bands often get mired in their own derivativeness and self-indulgence. This is a college town, after all. But the music's alive here, which is just what <I>Directory Assistance </I>sets out to prove. Check out <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#CC0033" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="http://kcou.mu.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://kcou.mu.org"><U><B>http://kcou.mu.org</B></U></A><B> </B></FONT>to snag a copy and find out more about these promising folks.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Head First</B><B> <A NAME="rude"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <B>Rick Rose Rude: </B><I><B>Murder by Guitar </B></I><B>(Bleeding Rose)</B></div> <div>  <A NAME="rrr"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >    </FONT> Glenn Barber. Lew Williams. Sonny Fisher. Glen Glenn. Junior Thompson.  All lumped together as "lesser rockabillies" by your average rock historian, yet when I go back to their recordings, I hear and feel a balls-out drive for self-realization--as if it's gonna be their last chance <I>ever</I>--and a whacky yet determined faith in self despite overwhelming odds (Elvis, Gene, Buddy, and Jerry Lee were the competition, after all) that's nothing if not inspirational. 'Round these parts it's called <I>heart. </I></div> <div> <I>     </I>Listening to the newest recording by Ocala, Florida's homegrown hero, Rick Rose Rude, gives me that same feeling.  In love with overdriven guitars and that good ol' contradictory born-to-lose-but-never-say-quit rock and roll ethos, Rude makes music that's uncalculated, unpretentious, and unabashedly expressive. It ain't punk. It ain't power pop. It ain't glam (though its roots are showing). It's just stuff Rick's betting everything on (he plays everything on it, too). You can hear it in his singing, and the lyrics make it plain: his life was saved by rock and roll. </div> <div>      The album leads off with the hard-driving, black-humored "Nothing's Up" ("...but the suicide rate!"), which is followed by the furious, chooglin' ' "Model Girlfriend." Those two cuts and the autobiographical "Reckless, Restless, and Rockin'" reveal Rude's gift for penning catchy rocktoons with guts.  Unlike your typical 2000-vintage rocker, who clutches "irony" to his breast for fear of revealing anything real about himself, Rude is also far from afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. "Can We Go Steady Again" and "Try So Hard to Smile" are primo hurtin', yearnin' ballads like the even the Dolls (and more recently, the Replacements and Dramarama) dared.  Rick even ends the album by breaking out of the personal mode and into the political with "American Heartbreak" ("...it's killin' me!").  Along the way, he covers the Dolls ("Chatterbox," shaky but charming...takes gonads to tread in Johnny's tracks!) and T. Rex ("Baby Strange").</div> <div>      <I>Murder by Guitar </I>is grassroots, self-propelled rock and roll fun, the real goddam deal, folks. Rick Rose Rude dives head first into what have become murky musical waters, and surfaces with a pearl. Check it out! See below for ordering info....</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0e3a5940.gif" border=0 width="421" height="404" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Coming soon????</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A Message from Rick Rose Rude</B></div> <div> <I><B>Have Faith</B></I><B>/</B><I><B>Murder By Guitar</B></I></div> <div>      </div> <div>    <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >  It seems like a distant dream, doesn't it? That rawking piece of relentless kamikaze revolution starter that was aimed at the heart of the record industry all the way back in August of 98. We are speaking of the Rude one's flawed but magnificent "Have Faith." Since then, Rick Rose Rude has been hailed as "the saviour of Rock & Roll," almost died several times & has threatened us with a new release, on CD even! </FONT></div> <div>      Anyone who know Rick knows he always makes good on his threats & here, at long last is the inevitable follow up to<I> Have Faith</I>--Murder By Guitar. </div> <div> Originally titled "Rebel Without Applause," the title was changed at the last minute(literally) when the original cover work became unobtainable. I feel it's for the better, because Rick has really topped himself with this one! </div> <div>      This all stunning platter will be released 10/31/2000 & advance orders will ship the day before. On that same day, <I>Have Faith </I>will also see the light of day as a bright, shiny compact disc (the tape version is now long out of print). For collectors keeping track, only 360 copies of the <I>Have Faith </I>cassette were pressed: 120 of the original track listing with white labels,120 of the re-issue with red labels,120 of the re-issue with purple labels. There were also 10 test pressing CD's made up in 98. VERY RARE! </div> <bR> <div> <I>Have Faith </I>& <I>Murder By Guitar </I>are available for $7.00 each, S/H included. Make Money Order payable to Rick Rood. </div> <bR> <div> Some of the picks Rick used to record the <I>Murder By Guitar</I> CD were recently auctioned off on E-Bay. The lucky winner was Dweeb101, who got them for the outrageous price of $0.01. Dweeb101 was quoted as telling Kurt Loder, "They were worth EVERY penny!" </div> <bR> <div> <B>THE FUTURE </B></div> <div>      Rick is hoping to be sued by Christina Aguilera over the cover of the new CD so he can "get some really good exposure." "I'm sure she'll wait until it goes #1 on the <I>Billboard</I> charts before she says anything, though!" said a disgruntled Rick Rose Rude at a press conference earlier today. He also mentioned that he will start recording the acoustic CD <I>Lullabies For The Damned</I> "any year now" & "might very well put a celebrity on its cover as well." </div> <bR> <div> In closing, Rick just wants to say, "Thanks for the advance orders! And, if anyone offers you drugs, please don't take them. Point them in my direction!" </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Rick Rose Rude </div> <div> 1806 NE 29th PL. </div> <div> Ocala, FL. 34479-3351 </div> <div> OR E-MAIL ME AT: </div> <div> rickroserude@hotmail.com</div> <div> <B>Rick's website:</B><A HREF="http://homepages.go.com/~rickroserude/index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://homepages.go.com/~rickroserude/in"><U><B> http://homepages.go.com/~rickroserude/index.html</B></U></A></div> <div>  <A NAME="die_electric_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Die Electric: </B><I><B>We're a Believer</B></I> </div> <div> <B>(Awesome Robots! Records)</B></div> <div> Keeps your ears and eyes wide open for<B> Die Electric</B>, a potent quartet from Arlington, Massachusetts, and this, their full-length debut. Die Electric specialize in loud but lilting songs of fucked-up love ("Goldmine Disaster") and lives ("Robbie"), and can craft a melody to catch in your craw ("Sara B"). Strongly recommended to our congregation members who dig Dramarama or any other bands from those bygone days when rockers laid their life on the line <I>right there</I> in their songs. </div> <bR> <div> Dig this testimonial:</div> <bR> <div> <I>     Upon graduating from Xavier University, drummer </I><I>DAN O'CONNOR</I><I> and his brother, MARK, the driving-forces behind GINGERFINGER, went on to form the Material Issue-style power-pop-trio YOUNG LOVE in Boston, right around the time pop-groups with a similar-appeal, like the LEMONHEADS and GIGOLO AUNTS were breaking national. YOUNG LOVE were generating another underground "industry-buzz" after only a handfull of showcase gigs and an appearance on the popular Cambridge cable-access cult-favorite television show,"Welcome To Weird City"; amidst that era's bizarre feeding-frenzy, as misguided businessmen and would-be A & R hipsters clamoured desperately to catch more lightning in a bottle ala Nirvana. </I></div> <div> <I>     Disenchanted with the prevailing insincerity, careerist-attitudes and ruthless social-climbing so typical of these college town music scenes in the "years punk broke" mainstream, singer/songwriter </I><I>MARK O'CONNOR</I><I>, abruptly disbanded YOUNG LOVE, taking a long-hiatus to travel and reassess his artistic goals,leaving alot of talent-free temporaries and "just visiting" cultural-tourists to fight tooth and nail for short-lived record deals and scraps of small-pond celebrity. The results of his rejuvenating visionquest,and its subsequent restoration of his dedicated, life-long enthusiasm for poignant songcraft, can be enjoyed on his new group, </I><I>DIE ELECTRIC</I><I>'s promising debut full-length, </I><I>WE'RE A BELIEVER</I><I>. </I></div> <div> <I>     Mark & Dan's brother-harmonies have always garnered them comparisons to the Everly Brothers and Crowded House,and are boosted this time out by the additional voice of their talented,songwriting bassplayer Will. Citing influences as broad and eclectic as the Meat Puppets, Go-Betweens, Paul K., Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, </I><I>DIE ELECTRIC</I><I>'s songs are also complimented by the Brit-Pop sensibilities of their new guitarist, Anthony--his and Mark's yearning, torch 'n' twangy, neon-lit guitars clang and cascade with the exquisitely understated, subtle grace of a Chris Isaak or James Honeyman-Scott, while occassionally flirting with the arty, picturesque grandeur of Robert Quine or Tom Verlaine. Alot of groups have climbed aboard the "pop" bandwagon in recent years, but precious few remembered to bring along any meat for their hooks, whereas Mark O'Connor, in the tradition of Westerberg or Tweedy, paints stark polaroids of lost souls living real lives,where co-dependant couples inexplicably stay in loveless relationships for years on end, betraying and wounding one another senselessly, where no one can seem to stay drunk enough to forget how degrading their meaningless jobs were all week long, where crestfallen losers cling desperately to once-vivid dreams that ain't never comin' back, and no one seems to know any of those under-thirty dot com millionaires we keep hearing about with deadening repeatition,on the evening news. While no song on this album is as immediately infectious as YOUNG LOVE's joyously-conjured, minor college-radio-hit, "Who Needs Love", songs like "Sarah B." and "Robbie" will remind you of the actual everyday-people you know from the little-old-man-bar down the street,and they grow on you--after a few listens, you'll find yourself humming them at the bus stop. </I></div> <div> <I>     Teeming with radio-friendly melodies and meloncholy lyrical themes typical of this indie-oriented, whatever that means, type of college rock, </I><I>We're A Believer </I><I>should hold an immediate appeal for people who bought that big Gin Blossoms record, or fans of Wilco, Pavement, Mercury Rev, the Flaming Lips, or Fountains of Wayne. </I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Dorian Shelley</B>, October 2000</div> <bR> <div> Interested parties can contact <B>Mark O'Connor</B>, the band's driving force and one helluva songwriter, at 220 Massachussets Avenue #3, Arlington, MA 02474</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>