Briefs - Not Boxers
Sometimes, there's some new music which deserves at least a quick mention. Here's a look at some of those - Bob Lowery, Step Kings and Ray Ashley - from Al Muzer.
Bob Lowery, Yellow Light . A warm-voiced singer / songwriter in the Freedy Johnston, Paul Thorn, John Hiatt, J.C. Mellencamp, Steve Earle vein; Jersey-based, Philly-raised, many-strings instrumentalist Bob Lowery checks in with an outstanding batch of sharp-eyed observations and pithy confessions topped off by the moving, dobro-riddled "Sad Stories" and an accordion-fueled Cajun alt. stomp titled "Dashboard Elvis." Check out http://www.caymanrecords.com for more information.
Step Kings, Let's Get It On . Kicking solid ass in the New York area for more than a few years, The Step Kings have taken it national with the recent re-release of 1999s 15-song Let's Get It On by New York-based Roadrunner Records.
A Newark, N.J.-formed post-grunge, hardcore-friendly, powerhouse power-trio, Let's Get It On was produced and mixed by Machine (White Zombie) and mines bassist/vocalist Bob McLynn's, guitarist/vocalist Mike Fernbacher's and drummer Mike Watt's love for louder-harder-faster-heavier influences such as Ozzy, Bad Brains, NWA, Sabbath, Jane's Addiction, Korn, Slayer, Monster Magnet, Bad Religion and Motorhead.
"Do It Again" and "Eleven" peel paint, "Right Is Wrong" smokes, and the group thoughtfully examines the many uses of the word fuck throughout the album while adding playful snatches of funk, rap, thrash, soul, metal, pop, punk, the Police and, on "One And One," enough melody, power and swaggering, Grand Funk-worthy hooks to sneak into the upper reaches of the Top 100 if given half a chance. For more Step Kings information, go to: http://www.stepkings.com .
Ray Ashley, Cinema Inferno . This leads off with a reflective oboe/clarinet duet that launches into a classically-structured near-hour of moving, hypnotic, emotionally performed, challenging, inventive, frequently transcendent Return To Forever/King Crimson/Santana/Esquivel/ Arto Lindsay/Mahavishnu Orchestra/Nektar-inspired prog-rock buzz performed with genuine heart and a genius soul.
The combined forces of Dema San Tuna (organ), Jim Speer (clarinet), Amy Ksir (oboe/flute), drummer Freedom Electric and touch-guitarist/composer Ray Ashley climax nicely on a 23-minute, Fripp-fried acid-wash called "Crazy Legs." Check out http://mars.superlink.net/~rayash/inferno.htm for more information.
