June 21, 1994 This issue of Consumable Online contains the following: Review - John Mellencamp, _Dance Naked_ Tour Dates - John Mellencamp Review - Vinyl Devotion, _If They Know You're Trying_ Review - Blur, _Parklife_ Review - Soundtrack, _The Cowboy Way_ Sarah McLachlan to appear on national television. Review - Toad the Wet Sprocket, _Dulcinea_ Tour Dates - Toad the Wet Sprocket NEWS INFO: Oglio Records release. NEWS INFO: Bands to appear at New Music Seminar, '94. (All reviews written by Bob Gajarsky The next issue will contain a review of the new Spin Doctors, the soon-to-be released Pop Will Eat Itself and whatever else comes along the way. Thanks as always! - Bob Gajarsky (Managing Editor) === John Mellencamp - _Dance Naked_ (Mercury) Midwest rock star John Mellencamp has returned to reclaim his chair amongst rock superstars with _Dance Naked_, his finest effort since 1989's _Big Daddy_. In fact, _Dance Naked_ could be considered _Big Daddy's_ younger brother - less serious and more fun to be around. The leadoff single "Wild Night", a duet with Me'Shell NdegeOcello (who hit with "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" is a playful romp through the Van Morrison-penned tune. That doesn't mean that Mellencamp has relented with some sense of cynicism. "Another Sunny Day 12/25" looks with disdain at naysayers, with lyrics such as "To say that we're doomed is an obvious remark / But it don't make it right to keep us in the dark." "This is as naked a rock record as you're going to hear," says Mellencamp. "All the vocals are first or second takes and half the songs don't even have bass parts. Others have just one guitar, bass and drums, which I haven't done since 'Hurts So Good'". The album continues rocking on other tracks, such as the jangling guitar on "Brothers" or the easy radio accessibility of the title track. In addition, "L.U.V." is a fun and funny protest song you can sing along with. Mellencamp had sought to restore a "true" rock sound to this album and he's accomplished this in every way. In the face of successful copycat bands (such as Counting Crows and Buffalo Tom), _Dance Naked_ is a welcome return for Mellencamp to his rock roots. === John Mellencamp tour dates: Mellencamp will be touring with veteran band members Kenny Aronoff, Toby Meyers, Mike Wanchic and Andy York. July 20 Vancouver Festival July 22 Red Deer, ALB Festival July 24 Winnipeg Festival July 26 Toronto Festival July 29 St. Johns, NFLD Festival July 31 Moncton, ALB Festival Aug 2 Montreal Festival Aug 3,4 Mansfield, MA Great Woods Aug 6 Portland, ME Seapac Aug 8,9 Wantagh, NY Jones Beach Aug 10 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Aug 12 Hershey, PA Hershey Stadium Aug 13 Holmdel, NJ Garden State Arts Center Aug 14 Saratoga Springs SPAC (New York) Aug 16 Philadelphia Mann Music Center Aug 17 Weedsport, NY Speedway Aug 19 Stowe, VT Mountain Amphitheatre Aug 21 Columbus, OH Polaris Amphitheatre Aug 22 Pittsburgh Star Lake Aug 23 Detroit Pine Knob Aug 25 Cleveland Blossom Music Center Aug 26, 27 Chicago The World Aug 29 Milwaukee Marcus Amphitheatre Aug 30 Minneapolis Target Center Sep 1 Cincinnati River Bend Sep 2 St. Louis Riverport Sep 9 Seattle The Gorge Sep 12 San Francisco Shoreline Sep 13,14 Los Angeles Greek Theatre Sep 16 San Bernadino Blockbuster Pavillion Sep 17 Phoenix Desert Sky Sep 20 Dallas Starplex Sep 21 Houston Woodlands Sep 23, 24 Atlanta Chastain Park Sep 27,28,30,Oct 1 Indianapolis - Deer Creek === Vinyl Devotion - _If They Know You're Trying_ (Widely Distributed) The sweet voice of Shalini Chatterjee and a twelve string are the constants throughout "Aren't You Bored California", one of six tracks on the Vinyl Devotion E.P., _If They Know You're Trying_. Chatterjee wrote this track, which seems to claim as influences bands like R.E.M. and the Byrds. The lead vocals smoothly flow throughout; if Kim Deal (Pixies, Breeders) were taking sedatives, this is what she might sound like. Think you've read this before? Well, in a way, you have. A review of this track appeared in this very spot in 1993. In the ensuing time period, the San Francisco based group has garnered a distribution deal and released their debut CD through Widely Distributed Records of Chicago. The Byrds' influence can be heard throughout most of _Trying_ and continues on "Antagonist", which combines the 60's multi-track vocal sound with a definite "alternative" sounding guitar and drum section. The cause for this influence might be found in the producer of the album: Scott Miller (Game Theory, Loud Family). In fact, Gil Ray of Game Theory stops in to help with drums on one of the tracks. Miller also co-wrote the leadoff track with Chatterjee, "Be The Quarter Monster". It's this song that prompted the album's title, with the line "Everyone's cold if they know you're trying - or if they know you're hurt". The guitars that carry the song remind one of a Killing Joke riff. "Sorry Isn't Good Enough" is a beautifully crafted 2 minute tune, in the musical style of Lush or the Primitives, which will immediately capture the listener's attention. The lyrics tell a different story; "After wheels came motorcycles smeared with blood and scorn / Angels fighting for teenagers hardly worth to mourn / Sorry isn't good enough when there's time to think / in a million different places wallpapered in pink". Nothing fancy musically here, but quite enjoyable nonetheless. "Antagonist" musically, is a throwback to some Pixies tracks - the guitars and drums sure don't get lost in this one. As is the case for most of the album, Chatterjee tries creating her own wall of sound in the length for the "perfect" pop single - under 3 minutes. So, why is this release only available on disk? According to Chatterjee, the name Vinyl Devotion does not refer to the band's love for vinyl, but instead refers to "people fooling themselves that they are obsessed with something". The debut from Vinyl Devotion, _If They Know You're Trying_, is heartily recommended to fans of indie sounding bands (such as the early Pixies), Big Star or any of Scott Miller's various groups. For more information, the band can be contacted through Mitochondria Records at P.O. Box 411122, San Francisco, California, 94141-1122. === Blur - _Parklife_ (SBK/ERG) The English alternative group Blur has returned with their third album, and second in the last 12 months, with a pop masterpiece: _Parklife_. The first single, "Girls and Boys", sounds like a brilliant combination of Gary Numan's "Cars", Human League and the Jam and meshes the early 80's sound into one terribly addictive song. The strength of this track helped catapult _Parklife_ to a Number One debut slot in their native England, knocking the recent Pink Floyd release out of the top spot. But, _Parklife_ is more than just one song - it's a leap through the last 25 years of the best British music can offer. Lead singer Damon Albarn has the most "English" voice since Paul Weller captured the scene with the Jam. The influences of the Jam are still present, but that's where the similarities to their last effort, _Modern Life Is Rubbish_, end. On this effort, it's not a context album, but 16 diverse songs. "We're trying to lift normality into an arena where everybody is sort of exceptional. I really like romaticizing very mundane things," says Albarn. "All our characters are on a journey somewhere and most of the time they're trying to escape from Britain without really succeeding. Their destinations are rather tragic, but we couple that with quite upbeat, optimistic music." The title track, "Parklife", has a bit of Madness' horns and lunacy tossed in; "To The End" sounds like a lost should-have-been Adult Contemporary hit from the 70's, without being a sellout and the instrumental "Debt Collector" harkens to a Sgt. Pepper-esque Beatles scene. Allusions to the English punk scene are present, as well, on "Bank Holiday" and "Jubilee". For five years now, Blur has remained on the peripheral edge of alternative success in the United States. _Parklife_, with a diversity seldom found in today's releases, stands to be the defining moment for Blur. =================================== Soundtrack - _The Cowboy Way_ (Epic Soundtrax) Woody Harrelson and Kiefer Sutherland have helped catapult the film _The Cowboy Way_ into a box-office smash. The soundtrack with the same name features some of the biggest names in rock and country. So, it should be a great effort, right? Well, not really. Rock and pop stations are playing Bon Jovi's "Good Guys Don't Always Wear White". Bon Jovi's effort is reminiscent of his solo work for the film _Young Guns II_ and should eagerly be snapped up by the New Jerseyan groups loyal fans. The marketing department is working overtime, pushing another single to country radio stations, a cover of the Willie Nelson/Waylon Jennings song, "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Cowboys" by the Gibson/Miller Band. The band, who were voted the best New Vocal Duet Or Group at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards, bring a 1990's sound to this country classic. However, the soundtrack leans heavily on substandard efforts by a wide variety of bands. Alternative artists, such as Blind Melon and Cracker, don't produce the quality which has been expected from these groups (in a cover of Lou Reed's "Candy Says" and the new "Blue Danube Blues", respectively) while almost trying to sound country. The cover of the Drifters classic "On Broadway", is poorly covered by Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers. The best part of the soundtrack is the inclusion of country stars Travis Tritt and Emmylou Harris. In conclusion, _The Cowboy Way_ is really only recommended to those who are into country-rock. Those artists who aren't already country stars, as a rule, just don't deliver quality performances on the release. Track listing - Jon Bon Jovi - Good Guys Don't Always Wear White; Travis Tritt - The Cowboy Way; Gibson/Miller Band - Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys; Cracker - Blue Danube Blues; The Allman Brothers Band - No One To Run With; Jeff Beck & Paul Rodgers - On Broadway; James House - Days Gone By; Blind Melon - Candy Says; Emmylou Harris - Too Far Gone; George Thorogood - Sonny Rides Again; En Vogue - Free Your Mind =============================== Sarah McLachlan will be appearing on the Conan O'Brien show, "Late Night", on July 13. Her entire band will be there with her. === Toad the Wet Sprocket - _Dulcinea_ (Columbia) College favorites Toad the Wet Sprocket have returned to the forefront of alternative radio with their fourth album, _Dulcinea_. Lead single "Fall Down", which recently pushed its way to the top of Billboard's Modern Rock charts, is atypical from anything Toad have heretofore performed. This straightforward rock song hides a deeper lyrical content; the story of someone that fails to step in and help a friend whose life is falling apart. As is the story on previous releases, such as the platinum album _Fear_, Toad combine a serious message with a positive sound. Strangely enough, however, the music on the rest of the album is much more stripped down. Two standout tracks, "Fly From Heaven" and "Woodburning", feature a kindler, gentler Toad that is one step away from pop smashes without giving in to the mainstream success they had with "All I Want". Why didn't they just duplicate that album's format? Lead singer Glen Phillips explains. "For us, there was something missing on our last album that I think we've captured with _Dulcinea_. _Fear_ was very manicured; our first experience in a studio with the luxury of time, so we experimented with over-dubs and the like. As a result, we lost some of that "band" feel. We missed that." Most of _Dulcinea_ sounds like an alternative Simon and Garfunkel for the 90s; laid-back, almost acoustic music with a deeper meaning about life and death. But, on the track "Nanci", the group compare the relative merits of Nancy Griffith and Loretta Lynn while playing around with a country and western beat you can bop along with. There are two kinds of Toad the Wet Sprocket fans; 100,000 who bought _Fear_ before a hit single, and many times that number who were inspired to buy it based on the strength of the top 20 hit "All I Want". For the first group, rejoice; Toad didn't sell out. For the second, and larger group, the pull of the music lies in the acoustics. Relax, and enjoy - your perception of _Dulcinea_ won't be of a Don Quixote homely townswoman, but of a beautiful album. === Toad the Wet Sprocket tour dates. In addition, the band will be appearing on "Late Show with David Letterman" on Thursday, July 7. 6/22 Atlanta Masquerade / Music Park 6/24 Charlotte Capri Theatre 6/25 Raleigh The Ritz 6/26 Hampton, VA Strawberry Banks 6/28 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall 6/29 Cleveland Agora Theatre 6/30 Detroit St. Andrew's Hall 7/1 Toronto Ontario Place Forum 7/3 Ottawa Grand Central 7/4 Montreal Club Soda 7/6 Boston Avalon Ballroom 7/7 New York Roseland 7/9 Greenwich, CT Pappas Pavillion 7/10 Washington DC WUST Radio Music Hall 7/11 Upper Darby,PA Tower Theatre 7/13 Pittsburgh Metropol 7/14 Cincinnati Bogart's 7/15 Nashville, TN 328 Performance Hall 7/16 Columbia, MO Blue Note 7/19 Minneapolis First Avenue 7/20 Milwaukee The Rave 7/21 Chicago Cabaret Metro ==== On July 19th, Redondo Beach-based Oglio Records will release the compilation disc titled _The Obscurity File_. The disc, which can best be described as Dr. Demento meets one hit wonders of the New Wave era, will include the following tracks: Ogden Edsl - Kinko The Clown Killer Pussy - Teenage Enema Nurses In Bondage Wild Horses - Funky Poodle Unit 3 With Venus - Pajama Party Little Girls - The Earthquake Song Bouquet of Veal - Dwarf Tossin' Angel & The Reruns - Buffy Come Back Klondike Karl - Time Is A Ticky Talk Brian Briggs - See You On The Other Side Bollock Brothers - Harley David LAX - Ronnie's Song Vandals - Urban Struggle Scott Goddard - Cowpunk Bird & MacDonald - The Rodeo Song Ogden Edsl - Kinko Returns Oglio releases are available at most major chains, or by telephone at 1-800-COOL-CDS. ========== What follows is the first part of the confirmed bands playing at New Music Seminar '94 in New York City. There will be more than 400 bands playing as part of the NMS, scheduled for July 20-23; more bands will be announced in the coming weeks. Acetone, Action Swingers, Amy Rigby, Ann, Band of Weeds, Bettie Serveert, Blue Hearts, Bracket, Brainiac, Brown Betty, C.C. Adcock, Catherine, Chimpanzees, Chokebore, Circle of Dust, Collapsing Lungs, Cool Joe, D Note, Dag, Daryll, Don Cabellero, Droop, Earthmen, Echobelly, Freedy Johnston, Fudge, Fuzzy, Galliano, Girls Against Boys, God Street Wine, Gontitti, Gray Boy, Gunny Vamps, Guzzard, Hammerhead, Hatters, Helium, Highly 1, Hootie & The Blowfish, Idaho, Inch, Into Another, Ivy, Joan Osborne, John Spencer Blues Explosion, Lister, Little Sister, Low, Luna Cell, Marxmen, MC At, Mercy Rule, Michael Mills Explosionm Mondo Grasso, Orange 9MM, Overwhelming Colorfast, Pizzicato 5, Pony, Pscaroma, Quicksand, Rakes Progress, Rattletrap, Riot Goin On, Rodan, Roots, Sammy, San Francisco Seals, Scarce, Screaming Headless Torsos, SIlent Majority, Slide Five, Small Factory, Smash, Sob, Sophia's Toy, Soul Coughing, Surgery, Syd Straw, Tab Benoit, Tacklebox, The AUthority, The Source, These Animal Men, Today Is The Day, Truffle, Urban Species, Vic Chestnut, Violent Femmes, Wig Sponge, Wilco, William Hooker, Xanax 25. --