Wanna get your material reviewed on this site? Check this page out for further info.

AVERAGE SUN - LIGHT & SHADOW

A band who take the time to get their sound down tight is pretty rare in the rock scene, but Average Sun do indeed take that time, as is evident on their 5 track ep Light & Shadow. While the band excel at original material, they also traverse the shaky path of classic rock covers too, here including a pretty good version of "Stuck In The Middle".

The band come out of the US & their original material is pretty cool, especially "Stan", which takes the band's guitar sounds to their best, plus opener "Light & Shadow" showcasing the band's vocalists to good effect.

It's pretty hard to narrow down a favourite here, but "Stan" is one of my favourites, which I reckon in a live environment would get a crowd moving pretty well. The band already have one other release out, an album & hopefully this means we'll get to see a little more of what the band are capable of in the near future.

For more information, write to 4518 W 7th St, Duluth, MN 55807, USA or bnelson@htklatzky.com

BILLY GARZONE - (SELF TITLED)

While many bands & artists make an effort to promote their image over their music, Billy Garzone takes the time to structure & perfect his songs into 9 excellent tracks on this debut solo effort. Billy has apparently also played in numerous bands inccluding one called Pigpen, which comes from the Boston Massachusetts area where Billy lives.

The album primarily consists of acoustic or electric guitar with vocals over a solid framework of other instruments, though it's the elegant simplicity of the songs themselves which will sell many on this album.

Some of the best tracks here are the opener "Mother Nature's Law", which reminds me of Crash test Dummies songs (lyrics not style), "Melody" & "Love Will Keep You From Hell". As usual though, it's the simpler things that work the best, highlight being a very sparse acoustic & vocal track which closes out called "Have I Told You". Very well written & performed, this album will be an asset for Billy on any future project.

For more information, write to Good Times Records, 18 Tracey St, Peabody, MA 01960, USA or goodtimes@nii.net

BROTHER ANDREW - FLYING GUITARS

There's a certain something about acoustic music that can work well like this album or it can basically be just a means to set the boredom in when done badly. Fortunately, as just mentioned, this album works quite well, almost entirely instrumental, save one track "Pacheco Pass", which has a vocal attached.

There's a number of interesting songs featured here from the classic cover of "Girl From Ipanema" (a track I don't believe I've ever heard done with acoustic guitar before), the very cool & upbeat "Caffeine Machine" to the more conventional "Spanish Flang Dang", which isn't exactly what the title of the song might indicate.

Lovers of acoustic guitar will revel in the music here, while those searching for rock will need to look elsewhere. Primarily, this is an album for those looking for relaxing listening experiences - as such, this album is a prime example.

For more information, write to 757 Buckley Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, USA or bro@broandrew.com

BROWN SOX - LUCKY !?@#13!?!?

The closest I can get to e reference point for readers for this band would have to be like a slightly less intense style than Rollins Band, perhaps slightly influenced by bands like Alice In Chains, with some cool metal riffs & a great production technique used here which brings out the exceptional percussion section.

There are quite a lot of good songs to be found here for the harder edged music fan, particularly during the second half of the album, where the band's music really comes into it's own on a successive row of tracks, the pick of which for me is "Young Punk Guns", though others are also cool.

Other highlights here for me were closer "Around Me", "Tumblin' Real" & "Country Dan", all of which have a cool vocal style (which is where my Alice In Chains reference comes from), plus very well rounded guitar & bass sections. Certainly you should take the time to check this out if you;re into the heavier stuff.

For more information, write to Nine Mile Music, 9800 Westbank Expway, Westwego, LA 70094, USA or NineMileMusic@Worldnet.att.net

CHASE AVE - (SELF TITLED)

A very cool 5 track ep from Los Angeles based trio Chase Ave, takes from a number of cues, sounding most like Australian band Front End Loader, with their slightly off beat grooves & melodies, but excelling in the slow start/ building songs that grab any listeners ear, a highlight being vocalist Jason Akana.

All the tracks her are very good & show a band who are more than willing to press their efforts as hard as possible to give their listeners the best music they know how to produce.

Such songs are my pick "Enough For Me", which as the band indicate themselves, has a certain 'lounge' groove that ccuts the funk quite nicely, coupled with an amazing chorus section , while other highlights are closer "This Town" & "Don't Have That Kind Of Time". I'm very interested to see where the band's music will progress from here.

For more information, write to 955 Carrillo Dve, Ste 100, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA or jakana@earthlink.net

DAN MARKELL - BIG IDEAS

An artist coming out of Burbank California, with an album of material that for some reason, reminds me of the songwriting behind XTC' sound with just a touch of Beatles influence, though the songs found here aren't really of that style, just the general feeling.

The various songs featured on this album take a number of different influences, with many of the tracks relying on an acoustic sort of backdrop, while there's a cool organ sort of sound that's found on "Should Be You", which is listed as a Wurlitzer Electric piano & certainly gives a much different sound to the song than an ordinary piano might.

Pick tracks are quite a few, the highlights being closer "Do It All Again", "Element Of Chance", which kicks along with a great rocking pace & "First Kid On The Block". There are quite a number of people Dan has to thank on this album, with various guests & these people all help to give us a good listening experience.

For more information, write to PO Box 7058, Burbank, CA 91510, USA

DAVE ENGLISH - (SELF TITLED)

An interesting collection of 4 songs on this demo tape that by the artist's own admission is very much in the vein of Joe Jackson, relying heavily on the foremost instrument, the keyboard, which also reminds me a lot of the music of Bruce Hornsby.

The opening tracks "You Could Use A Little Imagination" & "Lost & Found" both have that rich keyboard well in front, almost up to the level of the vocals, though some careful procudtion has seen that the voice isn't drowned in a sea of instruments.

Pick of the tracks though, is "Love Bows Down", which uses a great melody to do the driving & the vocal performance here works the best of the lot. Take a listen to these songs, because I'm looking forward to hearing a more comprehensive collection of songs on the album, which Dave says should see release early to mid 2000.

For more information, write to 2662 Cowley Way, San Diego, CA 92110, USA or Dave@funtv.com