Slicker, "Latest" (Hefty)
The second full-length by Slicker (the one-man project of Hefty Records owner John Hughes), takes IDM (intelligent dance music) to emotionally specific highs. In reaching beyond the impeccably produced blips and scratches and pops that generally define the genre, "The Latest" imparts a richer, creamier version of experimental music, spread evenly by complex rhythm patterns. Just try to follow the various beat direction on "Swap Track"; if you let it flow through you, you'll get it. If you try to nail it down, you might as well be looking for protons.

Atom Bomb Pocket Knife, "God Save the ABPK" (Southern)
A nine-song dose of louder than bombs, obtusely angled guitar rock, a co-mingling of Sonic Youth and Fugazi run through a psychedelic grater and reconstituted into a different beast entirely. ABPK's second full-length record found the band relying less on overwhelming volume and more on songwriting, resulting in well conceived songs that seamlessly flow, are not repetitive and have the same sonic punch. I've got to think that somewhere there's an old vet of the hardcore scene listening to the main guitar riff on "The Methadone Actors" with a nostalgic tear.

Handsome Family, "Twilight" (Carrot Top)
The Handsome Family packed up and moved to New Mexico, but when they recorded this record they (Brett and Rennie Sparks) were still officially Chicago residents, so it counts. To say "Twilight" is the Family's best record to date is debatable, but it certainly gives a mainline dose of what you want from the band: slow, almost morose country balladry pushed forward by Brett's bassitone mourn and Rennie's borderline insane lyrics. Like all the family Sparks' efforts, completely worth buying.

Molemen, "Ritual of the Molemen" (Molemen Records)
This crew of producers assembled an all-star cast of underground rappers from the local scene (including Juice, Vakill and Rubberoom), and just for a bit of NYC cred, the likes of Aesop Rock, MF Doom and Rasco. Though some of the tracks from "Ritual" date back to the late nineties (including one of the best tracks, "Keep the Fame," featuring rappers Vakill, Rhymefest and Percee P), the beats are forceful and up front, the rhymes are often glimpses of fractal math and the production is impeccable. Hip-hop fans should do what they've gotta do to own this.

Derrick L. Carter, "About Now" (611 Records)
Nearly a year after I began thinking house music had lost the capability to be cool thanks to over watering, Chicago House legend Derrick Carter hit with this mix CD which emphasizes soul over beats and funk over production. Featuring an underground who's who in the house music world, from 95 North's ultra-dirty "Funk With Me" to the 6400 Crew's superfly "Brother's Hand," Carter proves himself not just a superior DJ, but the superior DJ.

Milemarker, "Anaesthetic" (Jade Tree)
Hopes were not high for this record: Any band pretentious enough to not list song titles anywhere on the CD packaging generally doesn't get the time of day from me. Alas, I'm glad this record fell into the disc player. A smart rock record that doesn't forget the prurient side of rock music, Milemarker's prog-indie rawk still manages to knock me down every time I listen to it. Though "Anaesthetic" only has seven tracks, they're all injected with magnificent riffs that are equal parts razor sharp and cuddly warm. Fans of "plain old rock music" would do well to check this out.

Nerves, "World of Gold" (Thrill Jockey)
It took me a while to warm up to the Nerves third full-length record, as I was loath to give up on the band's faster, more aggravated material from records past. Where the band made jittery, angry rock for the schizophrenic in us all, "World of Gold" is more like the internal soundtrack for a serial killer-brooding, taut like a maxxed-out rubber band and thoroughly unsettling. If you must have a name for it, call the record psycho garage.

Extremely honorable mentions:
Brother El, "Through the Cracks in Concrete"; The Owls, "Owls"; Fred Anderson Trio, "On the Run Live at the Velvet"; Tub Ring, "Drake Equation"; Rise Against, "Unraveling."

Also by Dave Chamberlain

RAW MATERIAL
The hullabaloo surrounds recent events at the California Clipper, a West Side bar known for its retro-chic atmosphere, sideburn-having patrons and Rheinlander beer. Some members of Chicago's music community have been crying foul after several events that led to full changeover of the tavern's staff, though the whole deal reeks of he-said-she-said finger pointing and adolescence.
(2001-12-20)

RAW MATERIAL
From the time I first moved to Chicago, the Handsome Family was a fixture; whether the two-person team of Rennie and Brett Sparks were playing their strange, morbid brand of country music on stage, or just in the peanut gallery enjoying a show at the Hideout, they were always around.
(2001-12-06)

NET EXPERIENCE
Tretiak, even then, was considered the greatest Russian hockey player of all time. But that night he watched from the bench as the Americans scored two goals against Myshkin to pull off the most stunning underdog victory in the history of international hockey.
(2001-12-06)

RAW MATERIAL
Count the season for year-end best-of lists officially open. I'm getting an early start this year, because there's one best-record list in Chicago that I've always wanted to do, but never planned with enough time: the best records released by a Chicago label, but NOT from local artists.
(2001-11-29)

ON THE MAKE
(2001-11-15)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-11-15)

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(2001-11-08)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-11-01)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-10-18)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-10-11)

WEASEL WORLD
(2001-10-11)

RAW MATERIAL
(2001-10-04)