The New Music Report

Rip It Up, Issue 179, 1 June 1992, Page 21

The New Music Report

WARNER MUSIC

THE POGUES The Rest of the Best 1 4 more Pogues classics collected here — including 'Summer in Siam', 'Hell's Ditch', 'Boys from the County Hell', 'lf I Should Fall from Grace with God', 'Yeah Yeah Yeah', The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn', 'London Girl' and the new single 'Hony Tonk Wamen'.

MELI'SA MORGAN Still In Love With You Meli'sa's amazing voice was first heard with the 1985 R&B hit 'Do Me Baby' and a hit duet with Kashif, 'Love Changes'. With this fine album, her first for Pendulum / Elektra, the title track, Al Green's 'l'm Still In Love With You' is an R&B hit, she works with top jazz players and Daddy Freddy is guest rapper on Through The Tears'.

JIM LAUDERDALE Planet Of Love Modern, hip, rockin' country from a rising new artist who's a significant songwriting talent. Lauderdale with co-producer John Leventhal. The other co-producer is the legendary Rodney Crowell. Key Tracks are 'Heaven's Flame', 'Wake Up Screaming' and 'I Wasn't Fooling Around'.

TNT Realized Fantasies It's a long way from the band's early days in Norway (formed 1981), now the band has an American singer and an American drummer. This is their debut LP for Atlantic, using producer Ric Wake (Mariah Carey, Taylor Dayne) with Gary Lyons (Aerosmith, Queen) mixing. Hot tracks: 'Rain', 'Purple Mountain's Majesty' or 'Lionheart'.

ASIA CLASSICS 1 1 VIJAYA ANAND Dance Raja Dance This album is a collection of songs by Indian film composer Vijaya (pronounced Vee-Jay) Anand. India produced four times more movies than Hollywood and the popular Indian music comes from films — mixing Western pop sounds with traditional Indian instruments. "Sounds like John Zorn on acid?"

CLASS ACT Original Movie Soundtrack A brilliant collection of ten new funk from a movie starring top young black actors. There's songs by Monie Love (produced by Marley Marl), Kid 'N Play, Tara Kemp, B Angie B, Lisa Taylor etc.

WATERLILIES Envolptuosity A remarkable Gotham based duo, multi instrumentalist Ray Carroll and vocalist Jill Akikas. Discovered in New York clubs by Sire boss Seymour Stein, this nine-song collection exists in a magical musical territory somewhere between the familiar and the fanstastic. An evocative new voice in modem music.

STEVE WYNN Dazzling Display Wynn is a songwriter/ singer / guitarist I producer and the creative spark behind 80s legends, Dream Syndicate. Guests include R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Flo & Eddie, Johnette from Concrete Blonde and Vicki from the Bangles. A very cool album with a cool single 'Drag'.

SKYY Nearer to You Legendary dance I funk players from Brooklyn, who've had a string of hit albums from 1982's 'Call Me' on Salsoul to 1989's 'Start of a Romance' on Atlantic. Their classics have been sampled by the hip-hop generation. With rich melodies and fat grooves, Nearer to You is Skyy's finest moment yet.

BRONX STYLE 808 Gramma's Ghost’ This dude's debut is an imaginative collision of genres and styles— mixing 70s soul, folk music, hip-hop and a dash of metal in a set of songs ranging from smoky ballads to full-on funk jams. Bob's background is as a hardcore rapper with Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate. Now rap shares equal space with his singing and songs.

JOHN McVlE's "GOTTA BAND" With LOLA THOMAS The "Mac" in Fleetwood Mac is back with Lola Thomas, a phenomenal singer/ songwriter with a big bluesy voice. McVie's "band" includes legends Mick Taylor (ex Stones) and Billy Burnette, plus the infamous Memphis Homs. Recorded in a six week burst of creative energy, this album sparks! Try 'Evidence' or 'Shot Down By Love'.

LYNCH MOB Lynch Mob Here's the second album from George Lynch's band, the ex Dokken guitarist, who's been described by Guitar World as "the model guitar superhero." He's constnatly evolving, pushing the limits of his chops beyond what is comfortable and familiar. New vocalist is Robert Mason and new producer is Keith Olson (Whitesnake, Scorpions). A rollercoaster rock ride.

SUBURBAN COMMANDO Original Movie Soundtrack From the Hulk Hogan hit movie, here's the Rhino soundtrack featuring the KC & the Sunshine classic 'Do You Wanna Go Party' and songs by Nitro, The Next Big Thing, Robert Jason, J-Rock (featuring Hulk Hogan) and Rank & File.

WEDDINGS, PARTIES, ANYTHING Father's Day Australia's finest, deliver five songs here, 'Father's Day' recorded by Alan Thorne and remixed by Hugh Jones at Master Rock Studios, while the other tracks were recorded by the legendary Jim Dickinson at Ardent Studios, Memphis. An exceptional collection of songs including Hank Williams' 'Alone & Forsaken'.

TESTAMENT The Ritual After touring Europe on the "Clash of the Titans" tour and opening for Judas Priest and Slayer on USA tours, Testament went into the studio to record with producer Tony Platt (AC/DC) and engineer Nigel Green (Def Leppard). Key cuts are uptempo 'So Many Lies', dark 'Deadline' and the burning 'Electric Crown'.

SAIGON KICK The Lizard Horida's finest recorded The Lizard jtockholm, Sweden in 13 days with sandmember Jason Bieler producing, 'racks range from the punk / thrash nsanity of 'My Dog' to the metal nuscle of 'Hostile Youth', to the omantic pop of 'All I Want'. With its nany moods and modes, The Lizard ets a new standard in reptilian rock & oil.

LEMONHEADS It's A Shame About Ray From the cool USA scene, with their fifth album, a showcase of the talents of lead vocalist / composer Evan Dando. Here he works with drummer David Ryan (played on Lovey) and bassist Juliana Hatfield (Blake Babies). Cool tracks: 'Confetti', 'Rudderless', 'Ceiling Fan in My Spoon'.

THE BLACK VELVET BAND King of Myself Featuring Maria Doyle Kennedy from The Commitments movie, this album follows-up the band's 1989 debut When Justice Came. There's tracks produced by Clive Langer (Elvis Costello, Morrissey) and there's a spirited cover of Dusty Springfield's 'Son of a Preacherman'. A passionate musical adventure.

SWEET LIZARD ILLTET Sweet Lizard llltet A band for the Lollapalooza generation from Hobboken — a hip-hop happening of funky rhythms and guitar freakery. Big on the East Coast, these guys mix street sass with free jazz suss; their influences range from reggae to rap and hardcore. Key tracks: 'Soule', 'Muitiny Zoo', 'Rat Funk' and 'Freekdom'.

LETHAL WEAPON 3 Eric Clapton Soundtrack A phenomenal new movie soundtrack largely written by Eric Clapton with Clapton collaborations with Sting, Elton John and David Sanboum. Clapton performs on the Elton John / Bernie Taupin song 'Runaway Train' and Sting wrote lyrics for the Clapton music 'lt's Probably Me'. Clapton at his best.

KEVIN WELCH & the Overtones Western Beat The album title describes Welch's style, American music that draws from the country tradition and the example of maverick tunesmiths like John Prine, Guy Clark and Lyle Lovett. Here, Kevin writes his own material but also does great renditions of songs by John Hiatt and Joe Ely.

BIG CAR Normal From Austin, Texas, here's high-octane alternative pop that straddles the gap between Badfinger and the Replacements. The album was produced by Dennis Herring (Throwing Muses, Camper Van Beethoven). Cool tracks include 'Venus', 'Rosalita', 'Amazing Contradiction'.

CHARLIE RICH Pictures & Paintings The Sire label has reactivated its "Blue Horizon" label to release great American roots music. Here's a new album for Chadie Rich, after five decades in music, one of the infamous stars who recorded rockabilly at Sun studios (with Elvis, Jerry Lee etc). Great new songs and reworking of classics. Superb.

EPHRAIM LEWIS Skin A new soulful sound from England, Ephraim Lewis (pronounced E-frame), mixing soul gospel with jazz feels. "It's a positive record, future looking about being open to spiritual opportunities," says the singer. A stunning, effortless voice—technically impeccable. Check him out!