Greg Ginn - Let It Burn Because I Don't Live There Anymore - Vinyl album by Ex Black Fkag guitarist on Cruz Records

Let It Burn marked Greg Ginn's third solo release in less than a year, following an extended period away from the spotlight to run his SST, Cruz, and New Alliance labels. (Only figures like Frank Zappa approach such prolific drive.) As is true of his other solo albums (Getting Even, Dick), the emphasis is on raw, angular noise that sneaks up and steps on your expectations. Ginn's songwriting remains preoccupied with personal freedom and the ways people betray each other. A resigned misanthropy hangs over tracks like "Drifting Away" ("If you want the truth, you'll have to wait for that"), and "I Don't Want It" ("I can't stand the waiting anymore/I need you like a hole in the head"). "On a Roll" fires off an edgy declaration of intent, while the guitars sputter and snarl underneath the rhythm ("I don't wanna think I'm wasting away"). There's no love or escapism here. Ginn naturally vents his paint-peeling instrumental side. "Lame Hollywood Cop" is punked-out hip-hop driven by shuddering guitars and ferociously slapped bass. Ginn plays with a similarly percussive slant on "Military Destroys Mind/Body." "Exiled From Lame Street," on the other hand, effectively flicks between low rider-style funk and a stoner's crawl to make its mournful point -- with plenty of squawking leads to match. On the minus side, this album's not as distinctive as other Ginn offerings. A nagging sameness dogs the arrangements -- "Lame" pops up in three titles -- and Ginn's vocals are workmanlike at best (when you can hear them). Students of the rapid-fire, dirty-bottomed guitar chunk that characterized his Black Flag days will probably appreciate Let It Burn most.

Greg Ginn - Let It Burn Because I Don't Live There Anymore - Vinyl album by Ex Black Fkag guitarist on Cruz Records

Evil Mothers - Crossdresser - Vinyl LP on Invisible Records

The industrial noise band Evil Mothers formed in Texas in 1990; comprising frontman Curse Mackey, guitarist Jason Ucab, bassist Patrick Sane and drummers Roland Bobles and B.O.B., the group released its debut album Crossdresser on the Invisible label two years later. After returning in 1994 with Pitchforks and Perverts, the Evil Mothers headlined the Invisible Route 666 tour, which also featured labelmates Psychic TV; in 1995, Mackey also toured as a member of Pigface, returning to record the I Love Fur EP in 1996. The full-length Spider Sex and Car Wrecks followed a year later, and in 1999 the Evil Mothers resurfaced with Beatings--Incriminating Fruit.

Evil Mothers - Crossdresser - Vinyl LP on Invisible Records

Christian Death - Iconologia - Cassette tape on Triple X Records

In the middle of pursuing his various goth/glam efforts and using the Christian Death name even while Valor Kand was still leading his own version of the group, Rozz Williams finally did the right thing and got the original lineup back together again for a one-off concert. Well, almost original -- bassist James McGearty sat it out, replaced by one Casey, but otherwise it was Williams, Rikk Agnew, and George Belanger together again, with Rikk's brother Frank adding some guitars as well. Iconologia captures the end result, logically concentrating on Only Theatre of Pain material but with a few ringers as well, including two honest-to-goodness new songs by this particular lineup. Casey actually gets the first word with the introductory "Excommunicamus," a collage of samples that purees everything from sex squeals and church choirs to invocations of Satan and destruction, but after that it's full-band business galore. Kicking off like Only Theatre did, with "Cavity -- First Communion," the revitalized quartet tears into everything with the appropriate punk-inspired energy. Williams wisely doesn't try to replicate his 1982-era singing, instead favoring his higher, clearly Bowie-inspired quaver and jettisoning the bored moaning; he sounds like he's having the time of his life. Agnew shows no slack either, cranking out some great, freaky solos when he's so inclined, while Casey and Belanger keep the band and enthusiastic crowd moving. When it comes to the new songs, "Cry Baby" makes for a nicely fried glammy treat, while "Some Men/The Other" is even more so, an explicit early Bowie tribute that works wonders. In a telling homage to roots, Lou Reed's excoriating "Kill Your Sons" gets a strong runthrough, accompanied by an amusing intro from Williams.

Christian Death - Iconologia - Cassette tape on Triple X Records

The Outfield - Bangin - Vinyl album on Columbia Records 1987

Ironically, given their obsession with Americas favorite pastime, the Outfield got their start in Londons East End. Playing under the name the Baseball Boys, the trio of bassist/singer Tony Lewis, guitarist/keyboardist John Spinks, and drummer Alan Jackman played around London and recorded some early demos, attracting the attention of Columbia/CBS Records. They were signed shortly thereafter and began working on their debut album, Play Deep, which was released in 1985. The album was a smash success, going triple platinum, reaching number nine on the album charts, and producing their biggest song, "Your Love," which was a Top Ten hit. To support the album, they launched an international tour opening for Journey and Starship. They began recording their second album in 1986 and in 1987 issued Bangin. While not duplicating the huge commercial success of their debut, it did produce two hit singles, Since You've Been Gone and No Surrender. The band's third album featured a bit of a stylistic shift and was more meticulously produced than their previous efforts. Voices of Babylon, released in 1988, produced a single of the same name, but the band's commercial success was slipping. Jackman left the band after it was recorded and they hired Paul Reed to step in as drummer for the Voices tour.

The Outfield - Bangin - Vinyl album on Columbia Records 1987

Northern Lights - Take You To The Sky - Vinyl LP on Flying Fish Records

Northern Lights is a New England-based bluegrass band known for their creative and distinct sound. The band consists of Taylor Armerding (mandolin and vocals), Billy Henry (guitar and vocals), Oz Barron (bass), and Mike Kropp (banjo).

Northern Lights - Take You To The Sky - Vinyl LP on Flying Fish Records

Spyro Gyra - Point Of View - Vinyl album on MCA Records 1989

Point Of View is the thirteenth album by Spyro Gyra from 1989. The album cover shows a lizard climbing from a puddle on the pavement, up to the sidewalk next to a fire hydrant. The puddle mirrors a somewhat bizarre view of what seems like a jungle right behind the hydrant.

Spyro Gyra - Point Of View - Vinyl album on MCA Records 1989

Patricia Shih - Leap Of Faith - Vinyl LP on Flying Fish Records

To date, Ms. Shih has written over 250 songs, both alone and in collaboration with others. She continues to perform extensively for audiences of all ages, appearing on T.V. and radio, in clubs, concerts, schools, libraries, major music festivals, and other venues, and touring internationally. She starred for a year on Cablevision's "Tell Me a Story" on the Extra Help Channel, seen twice daily, and also wrote and performed the show's theme song. She has appeared in concert with such luminaries as Pete Seeger, Bonnie Raitt, Richie Havens, David Bromberg, Tom Chapin, Livingston Taylor, Odetta, Billy Bragg, Janis Ian, and Peter Yarrow, among others. Her songs are recorded and performed by numerous other artists throughout the United States, have been published in national magazines such as Sing Out!, Broadside, and the Rise Up Singing songbook, and have won awards and accolades in the American Songwriting Festival and the New York Songwriters Showcase. Featured articles on Ms. Shih have appeared in the New York Times, Oakland Tribune, Newsday, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and AsiAm Magazine.

Patricia Shih - Leap Of Faith - Vinyl LP on Flying Fish Records