Again, a new year comes, and we are faced with the feats and failures of our last 365 days. Now is the time to placate our consciences by misrepresenting our goals for our futures. And what better way to "ready" ourselves for what lies ahead than to consider the local soundtrack for the coming year, those songs and bands that will help us forget what we meant to do, and remember how to put it off.
A good place to start is with a guide, and our closest approximation of a direction is provided by the cassette Cognitive Mapping. A collection of music and audio-art from Chapel Hill, this documents numbers of creative people in our midst who, when given an outlet, could expand the public's conception of what is possible on a grass- roots level. MINERVA STRAIN, JUNE, YETI, DETERGENT, and others have contributed to this Friction Media project, whose proceeds go to WXYC's campaign to replace its transmitting tower. A worthy offering indeed. Also new from Friction Media are cassettes from MR. MERIDIES and JOBY"S OPINION, audio-art and madcap lo-fi art rock respectively.
Compilations seem to be the thing of the moment, as WXDU music director Jeremy Steckler releases A Day in the Park on his The Now Sound label. Legend has it that Jeremy set out to see if he could assemble a collection of songs by his favorite bands . . . and succeeded. These limited edition records and CDs contain pieces by local bands PORTASTATIC, ARCHERS OF LOAF, SPATULA, and SMALL 23 alongside such notables as the Grifters, Versus, the Dambuilders, and others. The album should be out soon.
When the medium of the 7" single begins to lose a bit of its glimmer, the best way to reinvigorate it may just be to double it. MINERVA STRAIN has already calculated the need; expect their third release, an inspiring double 7", in the coming weeks. This from a band which has come to produce some of the most exciting new music in the area. More innovative music from Chapel Hill's darling foursome, POLVO, is on the way from Merge. Celebrating the New Dark Age will grace the stores as a whopping triple 7", as well as in the regular CD and cassette forms favored by less enlightened folk. Merge will have a lot on its mind in the coming months, as it releases SUPERCHUNK's first album since its departure from Matador Records. The album is called Foolish and will be preceded by a 7" for "The First Part," released in mid-March. Also slated to make an appearance is the PORTASTATIC album, I Hope Your Heart is Not Brittle. Matador has released a single from the album for "Naked Pilseners."
Other struggling local bands with new music on the way include VANILLA TRAINWRECK, who will release both a new 7" (February 22nd) and a new album, Mordecai, on Mammoth at the end of March. PICASSO TRIGGER has been ready with its new album for what seems like months, but legal questions about samples on the song "Count to Ten" has held up its release for just as long. Will it ever be reconciled?? Jettison will release the third in a series of ANTISEEN/Rancid Vat split singles - a bi-coastal barrage accompanied by a 16-page discography. Decadence, excess, rock and roll. 81 MULBERRY is reportedly working on a new 7"; take heart, fans. And keep in mind YAGGFU FRONT's debut album release on Mercury Records as this fine local hip-hop group makes its bid for superstardom.
If the stalwarts of the local scene don't seem to be satisfying you anymore, maybe its time to do a little more searching for that fresh young band with the hot new sound that will really flip your switch. New bands that have been getting radio time and opening for the opening bands at area clubs include GLAMOUR PUSS, TRAILER BRIDE, HER MAJESTY'S SECRET CERVIX (or something like that, formerly Veruca Salt, including ex-Blue Green God Anne Gomez and ex-Munch drummer Michelle Polzine), DWAYNE, and RED STAR BELGRADE. Maybe it should be a new personal resolution that each person go to see at least one band previously unknown to him or her each week. Or maybe everyone should just start his or her own band and record their own stuff and sit at home and listen to it all the time. Then there'd be nothing to do.
Or everything, depending on how you look at it.
Madeleine Hensler is WXYC's Local Music Director.
The premiere of Young Rock, a video compilation of 17 Chapel Hill bands will take place Friday, Feb. 25 at Carolina Theater. SEX POLICE guy Norwood Cheek spent two years making Young Rock, which includes local bands big and small - SUPERCHUNK, DILLON FENCE, POLVO, FLAT DUO JETS, MIND SIRENS, ZEN FRISBEE, ARCHERS OF LOAF, HOP FLOP FLY, PIPE, SMALL 23, MIND SIRENS etc. Mammoth will distribute the compilation nationally. Locals can look for it at Dave's Videodrome, Visart, and probably Poindexter and Schoolkids.
GEEZER LAKE has a new single coming out on Squealer. The Greensboro band will also appear on a compilation being put out by Vernon Yard Recordings . . . D-Tox will release WELL NIGH FORGOTTEN's debut full-length, Betty's Wake, which originally came out on Moist. Also look for new BICYCLE FACE, a split Geezer Lake/Very Pleasant Neighbor single and a SLOWCHANGE MADAGASCAR EP.
Go to Stay Free! #6 Table of Contents.
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