Various Artists
Tastes Like Chicken
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
Moo Town Records has released another compilation album of 16 unsigned artists. The styles vary, but most fit into the modern rock genre, which means some of it's heavy and some of it ain't so heavy. Because this whole scene is huge, you see a lot of bands that fit into a college rock/modern rock/grunge category. Immortal Chorus and Jawbone Hill mix this whole style with a little bit of U2 emotion and hollow guitar tones. These bands are worth keeping an eye on. I really like the Jawbone Hill tune "Mae." Cain's Pain knows how to get a good fuzz out of its guitar cabinets as well, as evidenced in "I Should." Third Day does its best Pearl Jam emotive in "Mama," without never doing an Eddie Vedder explosion. The band f.o.i. gets the award for loudest and dirtiest guitar tone, on its mysterious "Black Point."
The most memorable song is the chilling Lou Reed-like tune, "Incest In America," by Bob Riley & the Fishers. The prettiest and most atmospheric moment comes from both Dan Michaels' (The Choir) solo tune accompanied by his lyricon; and Burning Icons, with "Why." This is a good CD that could fill up an hour's worth of college radio air time easily. For ordering info, write: PO Box 724973, Atlanta GA 31139.