Dave Chamberlain

Lair of the Minotaur, self-titled, self-released (but out on Southern Lord Records in September)
What would you expect from two members of the late 7000 Dying Rats and Pelican's drummer? Acoustic polka? No. Anything less than gum-ripping death/doom metal would disappoint, and Lair of the Minotaur offers no letdown. This six-song EP composed of tracks centering around the dark side of Greek mythology might stand as the greatest, truest slab of evil metal ever produced out of Chicago, a brutal meeting place for influences from Celtic Frost, Slayer, early Napalm Death and Venom. Though the record's initial, five-second launch to "Carnage Fucking Carnage" is akin to extreme-speed thrash, the majority of the record approaches a more palatable pace; that's a good thing, too, because when they slow it down the power is tangible. The guts of the record, "Lion Killer" and "Enemy of Gods," are trudging, angry gusts of wickedness, siege marches for a malevolent army of the already dead--or at least a thousand kids in corpse-paint.

The Like Young, "So Serious" (Parasol) release date, June 22
Says my friend, who books a local music venue: "You need to get off these guys' dick." Says me: "Never, until they put out a bad record." With this husband-wife team's "So Serious," the bad record still hasn't come. For The Like Young (two former members of Wolfie) to trump or even equal last year's "Art Contest," they needed a superlative effort. And they did it. Guitar-driven pop songs with strong drum support are the Like Young's raison d'être, with alternating boy-girl vocals and hooks so sweetened with real sugar, you'll get the cavity of your life if you listen too much. But this isn't the Archies; inside the candy sits a seriously bitter center, and it creates a great contrast. Even though the mile-wide chorus for "Out to Get Me" sounds upbeat, they sour it with the lines, "And I know/you want to see me fail." Each of the twelve tracks on this record has that little dissonant edge, a stinging backhand to every warm embrace. And bless them for it, too: it's records like this, bands like this, that remind me why I love music.

The Eternals, "Rawar Style" (Aesthetics Records)
Here's a record that upon first listen absolutely screams the word "unique," though I'm still chewing on whether or not I actually like it. An absolute convergence of funk, soul, electronic music, hip-hop, and various world musics with tangible atmosphere, the final product can't be pinned down, except for the fact that it's all out of distant left field. A saturating organ keeps a majority of the tracks from filling with empty space, constant and unpredictable percussion elements amp up the noise level (as do the production-manipulated effect), and Damon Locks' jarring vocals and esoteric lyrics force additional listens. Is it pleasant or catchy? Not really. But it's impossible to reiterate enough the uniqueness of the record taken as a whole.

The Mentally Ill, "Gacy's Place: The Undiscovered Corpses" (Alternative Tentacles)
This little-known or remembered Chicago splatter-punk band benefits from Alternative Tentacles' recent splurge of re-releases. Recorded and released in 1979, The Mentally Ill staked their claim as the first fuzzed-out three-chord punk band to not give a whit about politics--this band wanted one thing, and that was to offend you. Almost-chipmunk-pitched vocals smarm their way through such lovely ideas as "Cum Twat," "Tumor Boy" and "Doggie Sex," supported by guitar, bass and drums that could have been played by "South Park"'s Jimmy and Timmy. Is it good? Not even close. But for fans of The Hard Ons or Dayglo Abortions (who, incidentally, sound like Mozart in comparison), this is a golden little piece of history.

"Trax Records: The 20th Anniversary Collection" (Trax)
Here's the three-disc collection that should be in every dance-music fan's collection. Actually, not should, must. Though I realize that this collection of early house music tracks, the majority of which are from the mid-eighties, are staples in most house-heads' musical libraries, here, mixed by Maurice Joshua and Paul Johnson (and in remastered form), they're invaluable. I'm not about to make any critical evaluation on any one of these tracks or the CD set in general--especially considering that the entirely of this collection arguably laid the foundation for modern club culture, the breadth of modern European music and the inspiration for today's giants (Paul van Dyk, Moby, etc.). But it's amazing how fresh many of these tracks sound from the likes of Marshall Jefferson, Ralphi Rosario and Larry Heard, no doubt all benefiting from improved sound standards.

The New Constitution, three tracks
These extraordinarily fun power-pop act, also with a remnant of Wolfie amongst its membership, follows up last year's completely underrated "On 4" with a three-song EP, and if this is any indication of the growth made over such a short term, watch out. "Oh! Trouble" launches out of the gate like a song England's Sloan wish it could have written: upbeat, uptempo and driving with the snappiest rhythmic pulse since "Meet the Beatles." The next two tracks keep the standard high--high enough to think that this might just be Chicago's next best export.
(2004-05-25)

Also by Dave Chamberlain

Tip of the Week
This British quintet was among the U.K.'s first doom/metal revivalists in the mid-nineties, a long-haired, biker-borne slab of big hooks and low-tuned guitars played with equal shades of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Motorhead
(2004-05-18)

Raw Material
It's the evolution of Tortoise that pushes itself to the forefront
(2004-05-18)

Tip of the Week
One of punk rock's original car wrecks, The Testors were an integral part of New York's sleazy scene in the seventies
(2004-05-12)

Raw Material
After enamoring me during her days in Sarge, a sweet but hard-edged punk-rock band that worked so well just because of that dissonance, Elizabeth Elmore launched her band The Reputation with a self-titled debut...
(2004-05-12)

Discovery
(2004-05-12)

Tip of the Week
(2004-05-05)

Raw Material
(2004-05-05)

Raw Material
(2004-04-27)

Tip of the Week
(2004-04-22)

Raw Material
(2004-04-22)

Tip of the Week
(2004-04-14)

Raw Material
(2004-04-14)

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