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Monday, March 16, 1998

Soundbites

The Din Pedals, "The Din Pedals" (Epic) Hailing from San Luis Obispo and fresh from conquering the L.A. club scene, the Din Pedals have said goodbye to their indie days and released their major-label debut, which, simply put, rocks.

This fresh foursome takes an unflashy, contemporary guitar sound, sans all the loops and electronic beats, and gives it raw passion and life. The Din Pedals create charged, well-crafted melodies that easily compare to such vital alternative bands as Radiohead and Live. One can even hear early U2 and Nirvana in areas.

Most of this comes from the evident talents of guitarist Harrison's skilled riffwork and lead singer James Grundler's soaring vocals, which sound a lot like those of Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Brit- band Marion's Jamie Harding. Their combined talents on every track make for some of the most moving and engaging music in rock today.

The first single and new KROQ add-on, "Ashtray," reflects a lot of the album's darkness and bleakness, but there's something exciting about the proclamatory chorus ("I'm coming back in all / I'm counting on the ashtray") and throbbing rhythms that contradict the melancholy themes. Leadoff track "Kangaroo Kourt," "Downtown Sister" and "Not Much For Saturdays" have the same powerful effect.

But plenty of slower, anguished tunes balance out the rockers, and do so quite beautifully. The dependency-themed "Emotional Drugs" haunts and cries out with beautiful ache. "Porn Star" and "Waterfall" also emote a tender yet confident power which makes the listener drop everything and just listen in awe. The lyrics, while usually ambiguous and enigmatic, deliver images of Prozac-riddled confusion and troubled relationships of all sorts (like in "Ashtray") befitting the darker music. And Grundler's stellar vocals certainly do the words justice.

The Din Pedals have crafted some extremely impressive and effective rock 'n' roll. If radio and subsequent record buyers embrace this resonating record, the Din Pedals could offer the dying American rock scene a little more life. Mike Prevatt A

Two, "Voyeurs" (Nothing) He's angry. His head's full of poetry that he can't express. But he's got a lot of expensive toys to bang on, so he figures it will be OK. In this way, Two, a shiny, cue-ball-headed guy with a fu- manchu, manages to channel his wealth of bitterness through electronified sound. What results is a combination between the poignant, isolatory feelings of Nine Inch Nails, the harsh, misunderstood wails of Tool and the cock-metal guitar riffs of Alice in Chains.

However, though Two clearly understands what's necessary for creating a growling fan base of disenchanted, restless teenage boys, it seems unlikely that his sinister screeches will affect many of the college set. While he maneuvers well within the confines of a genre which embraces grumbly, guttural bass work and monotonous, pissed-off drum beats, Two fails to shed any new light on the industrial/grunge music scene.

Still, "Voyeurs" would provide a sense of solace on particularly ruthless days, when you're just fed up with everything. However, if you've just experienced a sunny, kick-back morning listening to Chris Isaak croon, "I believe in a beautiful day" and you've been sold, saying, "Me too! Me too!," and then spent your evening listening to your neighbor's Rush albums, deciding, "Hey, they're not that bad," getting sucked into their expansive melodies and almost fairy-tale lyrics, Two's "Voyeurs" wouldn't be the best CD to pop in. But maybe all that sweetness and beauty's been grating on you. Go figure. Vanessa VanderZanden C+

Pure, "Feverish" (Mammoth) Don't you hate it when an album lets you down? You love track one, dig track two, chill to three and then all the rest leave you thinking, "What the hell just happened?" Enter Canadian band Pure's new album, "Feverish." A couple of really good songs comprise the total of their capabilities, with fast rhythms and dancing beats, but the album as a whole limps its way through every remaining song.

Two noteworthy songs save the album from total ruin. "Chocolate Bar" mixes techno grooves and electric madness through even better deals in the chorus. "Feverish" swims through smooth mellow vocals and heavy melodies. The song, however, serves to show lead-singer Jody Birch's own sex appeal more than anything else.

Other songs prove hilarious, but not hilarious in a good way. "Sunshine and Happy Hour" sounds almost like a pop-y Brady Bunch cheese-fest but it's even worse. Imagine a Brady Bunch reunion with a drunk Peter Brady at the mic and turntables. Not pretty stuff.

Pure fans beware: this won't be the album of your dreams. Michelle Zubiate C-

Various Artists, Music from and inspired by the Motion Picture "The Player's Club" (A&M). Warning: this album is not to be played in polite company. If you wanna see some rumps shakin', go out and see "The Player's Club," Ice Cube's new movie about life in a strip club. If you wanna hear about the same thing then go get the soundtrack. This is the perfect album for those who haven't had their fix of trite metaphors and references to sex. If that's what you want, then let the clubbin' begin!

The album starts off slammin' with the first two tracks, both by Ice Cube: "We Be Clubbin'" and its remix featuring DMX. As one of hip-hop's most anticipated new artists, DMX, known for his growling lyrical delivery, turns an otherwise mediocre joint into a sure-to-be bona-fide hit.

Representing the East Coast is Jay-Z, with the hustler-turned-player jam "From Marcy to Hollywood." Master P and Ice Cube team up to pay respects to the old-school with an X-rated remake of the Whoudini classic, "You Know I'm A Ho." The various R&B tracks laid down by the likes of Changing Faces, Brownstone and Mr. Dalvin (one-fourth of Jodeci) provide a little cross-genre flavor to an otherwise solidly hip-hop album.

With the exception of a few songs, "Players Club" is essentially about sex, sex and mo' sex, and that's it. It seems that entire albums dedicated to this theme would have gotten played-out a long time ago, but perhaps not. If butts and breasts are your idea of a good time, then "The Player's Club" is where its at. If not, then don't waste your time. J. Jioni Palmer C

Sony Music

THE DIN PEDALS

"The Din Pedals"