Best of 1997
A great effort on the local front
by John O'Neill
While 1997 was an odd year for music on the national level, it
was a solid one as far as local output was concerned. With technology becoming
more affordable, more bands are releasing quality material. What follows is the
"On the Rocks" Top 10 releases for the past
year. Thanks to everyone who took the time to send us material; keep it coming
in '98, and we'll try to get to it more frequently. At least that's the New
Year's resolution.
1. Halobox: 1997 demo (self release)
Five-song tape
These guys are the most exciting new band on the local rock scene, and their
recent demo should get some interest from a record label. What Halobox deliver
here are five nuggets of hard-driving, melodic indie-pop that stand toe-to-toe
with anything being played on college radio today, and they're better than most
of it. The guitar work of Jay Reslock and Jason Carlin is sweetly schizophrenic
as they chase each other up and down the fretboard with a chugging double
attack. The rhythm section of Pete DeGraaf and drummer John Ledoux is
top-notch, and Mark Santoro provides emotional vocals that stay clear of the
popular indie-whining. Although nothing is etched in stone, Halobox stand as
the band to watch in 1998.
2. Popgun Picnic: Stinks like Truth (self release)
11-song CD
This one was a great, big surprise; yours truly was under the distinct
impression that these guys stink like, well, not truth. Apologies to all in
Popgun Picnic for my misguided opinion -- this CD proves beyond a shadow of
doubt that these cats are indeed very good. From the opening "Makeshift
Toothbrush" in all its STP-ish glory through to the understated closer,
"Trampoline" (not to be confused with that pop classic by the Greenberry
Woods), Popgun deliver 11 solid songs that mine the terrain between
alterna-rock and straight-ahead power pop. The disc was recorded at Longview
Farms, and Mark Berry's production is flawless. A super CD.
3. Puddle: Loner (Aposrophe)
14-song CD
Of all the bands who have called Wormtown home in the past 10 or so years,
none has been as criminally overlooked as Puddle. If you put together a list of
all the great albums to come from Worcester, you could argue for all three of
Puddle's releases. Nineteen ninety-seven brought Loner, Dave Parent's
autobiographical punk opera about growing up and growing apart. Fourteen songs
of blistering Bob Mould-influenced confessionals bring the listener through
Parent's world of struggle, uncertainty, confrontation, and ultimate acceptance
and forgiveness. Another great album no one will own.
4. Various Worcester artists: Union Station (Head Strong)
16-song CD
Union Station showcases 16 Worcester-based outfits of various styles in
what is the most ambitious compilation since the now-legendary Wormtown
'78 album. Highlights include the then-East Coast Psychos metal-wrap "Day
After Day," Huck's pop-perfect "Clear," Bearfoot Republic's textured, catchy
"Out," and SBGB's Ramones-on-downers "Empty Problems." A must-own for no other
reason than it's a great document of the mid-'90s scene.
5. Chillum: 1997 (East Coast Audio)
10-song CD
What a year these boys had, what with their inclusion on MTV's Real World
Boston soundtrack. Chillum are ace practitioners of the cross-pollinated
funk/rap/ metal/punk thing, and this CD finds them in peak form ("Eggplant" is
the bands tour de force). Watch for Chillum to break out in '98.
6. The Deal: Four by Three (Big Deal)
Four-song tape
Although the Deal often make their bread and butter as a cover band, Bill
Nelson and John Donovan are actually pretty good songwriters, and Four by
Three shows off their talent as they blast through four '60s mod and '70s
power-pop influenced numbers. Hopefully '98 finds them writing more.
7. Pothole: "Linsey Collins"/"Kingfish" (Kong)
Seven-inch single
You gotta hand it to Gregg Levins. The guy's been on the never-ending quest to
write the perfect pop song; and '97 saw the release of "Linsey Collins," a
number that comes darn close. Give us more!
8. The Stags: Raw Rock in a Cool Room with a Small Crowd (self
release)
33-song tape
A posthumous release from the greatest band no one has ever heard of.
Thirty-three slabs of burning rock and roll, R&B, and soul, featuring Artie
Sneiderman, Wormtown's All-Time Coolest Swinger. A ton of fun.
9. Lee Totten: Sleeping Alone (Ninibudu)
12-song CD
This album was released in '96 but didn't make the Phoenix till
mid-'97, so we'll count it. Totten has a great ear, and songs like "Me," "She
Says," and "Never Meant To Last" shimmer with pop beauty. This guy has
"adult-contemporary hitmaker" written all over him.
10. Walter & Valerie Crockett: Unbutton Your Heart (Daring)
13-song CD
Proof that sometimes you get better as you get older. A bluegrass vibe
prevails here and Valerie's vocals are as sweet as anybody else's on the folk
scene today. A fine effort.