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December 26, 1997 - January 2, 1998
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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

[popgunpicnic] 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.

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