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TIP OF THE WEEK
Mooney Suzuki

Dave Chamberlain

The last two years or so have seen major music media declaring the return of rock. I'm not sure what they were all listening to--rock never went away, and no band proves that more than the Mooney Suzuki. Four years ago this New York-based quartet released a self-titled EP, and the Suzuki has been making people shake their collective ass ever since. These guys are a throwback to a time when rock music made the heads snap their necks, the party kids dance and the drinkers reload; all dressed in black and seemingly born with hooks in hand, Mooney Suzuki play rock music that spans the influential decades. Everything from the Beatles and Rolling Stones to Devil Dogs and Headcoats can be heard seeping through the chords, but never to the extent that MS sounds totally derivative. The band's latest, "Electric Sweat" (Gammon), is a big, wide mile of toe-tapping rock. Hooks and sing-along choruses go hand in hand with a swaggering strut, whether the tracks are uptempo or down. Though the musical highlight is the instrumental "It's Showtime Pt II," an organ-heavy dancefloor R&B number that could make a devout Muslim dance, the Suzuki isn't without lyrical acumen. Philosophy and literature be damned, the band transcends them all and cuts to a universal truth when they sing "In a young man's mind/it's a simple world/there's a little room for music/and the rest is girls." Pure rock music--no crap.

The Mooney Suzuki play April 1 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 North Western, (773)276-3600.

(2002-03-28)

Also by Dave Chamberlain

RAW MATERIAL
Pinetop Seven, one of Chicago's most underrated bands, plays March 23 at the Abbey Pub. Go see them--their music is soft, very laid-back, extremely textured and highly personable. In fact, Pinetop Seven is so personable, a fan was recently able to see them outside the normal rock-show arena.
(2002-03-21)

TIP OF THE WEEK
Here's a recommendation that assumes people interested in seeing this movie aren't expecting "Mulholland Drive." Dig vampires? Well this is next level shit. Dig comic books? Than you'll appreciate Guillermo del Toro's take on Marvel Comic's "Blade" series.
(2002-03-21)

TIP OF THE WEEK
Unlike his Parisian contemporaries (Daft Punk, Air, Cassius), who would rather re-live seventies soft-jazz and prog, former Respect DJ Dimitri From Paris revels in the early sixties, kitsch-heavy lounge; for those interested, check out last year's "Sacrebleu."
(2002-03-21)

TIP OF THE WEEK
With the current musical climate that makes rock stars out of DJs--and compilation/mix CDs more important than purely original music--the denominators of rock criticism fall to the way side. Instead, it's far more vital to critique a vibe presented by a DJ, and in those terms Miguel Migs stands tall.
(2002-03-14)

RAW MATERIAL
(2002-03-07)

TIP OF THE WEEK
(2002-03-07)

MUSIC TIP OF THE WEEK
(2002-02-28)

RAW MATERIAL
(2002-02-28)

RAW MATERIAL
(2002-02-14)

RAW MATERIAL
(2002-02-07)

RAW MATERIAL
(2002-01-31)

BAD GIRLS
(2002-01-24)



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