CD Reviews

Loli and the Chones

P.S. We Hate You

(Rip Off Records)

"P.S. We Hate You" is frantic, ticked-off punk in the `77 tradition from L.A. area trio Loli and the Chones. Void of any gimmick except for the idea that punk is still around, the Chones spit out less than fifteen minutes worth of catchy, ear splitting piss and vinegar. These kids from Boyle Heights sound like there's nothing that would put them in a good mood and they'd kick your ass for trying.

The best punk is made up of frustration and attitude, and the Chones have plenty of both. "I d-o-n-t like you and I l-o-v-e to hate you" they chant in "I D*o*n*t" which is just one of a dozen songs about hating your guts. Simple, repetitive and minimal in both lyrics and riffs, the Chones seem to exist on loathing alone. If they know you, they probably hate you.

The Chones' "Sick of You" can be added to the list of other great songs of the same title."You make me wanna punch you/Punch you in the face/ I think I'm gonna punch you/ And get blood all over the place" The Chones caution some unlucky loser in "I Think I'm Gonna." Retarded in their intolerance, there's no reasoning with these stompin' psychos.

-Fen Hsiao

The Donnas

The Donnas

(Super*teem!)

The Donnas are South City lolitas who could really show those jaded, aging old timers how the kids do it these days. If rumor is correct, the Donnas formed out of the existence of a teenage hardcore band, only to intimidate their way through multiple singles and finally a long awaited full length album. These Punk-rock High graduates have perfected the Ramones sound backed by the genius of song writer and behind-the-scenes-manipulator Darin Rafaelli (formerly of Supercharger) on their self-titled debut album.

So-called "girls doing it for themselves" could take a lesson from these mayhem rousing teenage punksters who learned at a young age it's better to just take than to ask. "Tonight I'm gonna make him mine/ I'm gonna get in his pants tonight/ And I'm gonna make him right/ I'm gonna make him mine," the Donnas declare with determined fashion in "I'm Gonna Make Him Mine (Tonight)" after other titles like "Hey, I'm Gonna Be Your Girl".

These cranky teens mean to take out any one who gets in their way as they make "kill, kill, kill" ass-wiping promises in "Get Rid of That Girl" but still maintain their flickering innocence in sweet-as-candy tunes like "Do You Wanna Go Out With Me."

Don't fucking waste your time questioning them - this isn't some sort of marketing ploy. One of the best of this year so far, "The Donnas" has been wearing my brand new needle thin.

-Fen Hsiao

On The Road Again

Various Artists

Kerouac-kicks joy darkness

(Rykodisc)

Forty years after the initial success of Jack Kerouac's "On The Road," people are just as enchanted by the work of the Beat generation icon as ever. While he is most well-known for "On The Road," Kerouac's published works fill nearly 20 volumes. He wrote short poetry which he called "pomes," pieces that came from dreams, works inspired by jazz choruses and, of course, fiction. But Kerouac considered his longer works, including "On The Road," to be poetry. He was in love with words, and just wanted to write.

People wanted more from him, though - they wanted him to be the symbol of a generation. This conflict of interest is what eventually led to his downfall. Even after the man himself was gone his words remained, and the passion enveloped within them is still here for people to experience and marvel at today. It's because of that legacy that the artists assembled on "kicks joy darkness (a spoken word tribute with music)" came together to pay homage to the man and his work.

This compilation features one of the most bizarre groups of public figures ever assembled in one place, including Steven Tyler, Eddie Vedder, Johnny Depp, Hunter S. Thompson and Warren Zevon. Most of the tracks are Kerouac poems set with music, along the lines of modern spoken word performances. In fact, the album includes a performance by Maggie Estep, perhaps one of the most skilled contemporary performers of this type of synthesis. She turns in the most powerful contribution, reciting "Skid Row Wine" with her trademark vitriol, backed by a band called The Spitters.

Also making appearances are some of Kerouac's fellow Beat writers, including Lawrence Ferlinghetti (with Helium), William Burroughs and the recently deceased Allen Ginsberg. There's even an old recording of Kerouac himself, performing "MacDougal Street Blues" with Joe Strummer.

Aside from the general appeal of a release like this, there's also the added bonus of four Kerouac pieces that have never before been released. Comedian Richard Lewis performs the longest of these, "America's New Trinity Of Love: Dean, Brando, Presley," a reflection on men and women and a new ideal arising between them. "Us kids swim off a great pier," an unpublished "dream," is performed by Steven Tyler, who backs himself up with some improvisational vocal wailing. Lawrence Ferlinghetti reads a second unpublished "dream," and between Ginsberg and singer-songwriter Eric Anderson we get all ten choruses of "Brooklyn Bridge Blues."

In addition, Juliana Hatfield provides a lighthearted moment with her happy-go-lucky storybook performance of "Silly Goofball Pomes," which is in stark contrast to the darker tone of some of the other performances, such as those of Lydia Lunch and Patti Smith. Hunter S. Thompson's track is really more of an impromptu interview, full of pauses and laughs.

The studio-recorded pieces are balanced by the live readings including those of Ferlinghetti and Ginsberg. Other celebrities paying tribute here include Morphine, Michael Stipe, John Cale, Lee Ranaldo, Jim Carroll and Matt Dillon. All in all, there are 25 tracks on "kicks joy darkness." While it isn't the kind of thing you'd really listen to straight through, there's enough great moments to make it worth multiple sittings. Plus, the full texts of all the pieces are included in the booklet so you can read along for maximum effect.

-Doug Levy