Mike Bennett reviews the latest from Mission of Burma, Doug Powell, Descendants, Various Artists: Who's Not Forgotten and The Living End. Mike also presents capsule reviews of releases by The Smugglers, Sodajerk, The Casual Dots, Van Hunt, X, Anton Barbeau, Magnus, From Bubblegum to Sky, Leatherface, Rocket From the Tombs, Herb Eimermann and The Gurus. Mike also has another CD-R of The Month. Gary Glauber reviews the latest from Jason Falkner, Doug Powell, Eric Anders, The Winnerys, Ben Kweller and They Might Be Giants. James Baumann reviews the latest from Ben Kweller, Dave Edmunds, Rockpile, Various Artists: Porky's Revenge, Autumn Defense, Thelonious Monster and The Townsmen. David Fufkin reviews Iron and Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days. If you are a first time visitor, visit our About Us page. Click here for back issues.

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Paul Atkinson of The Zombies: 1946 to 2004

The great Paul Atkinson, guitarist of The Zombies, died on April 1 after a long standing battle with cancer. In an era which spawned guitar heroes, Atkinson was a model of self restraint and taste, allowing Rod Argent to be the melodic focus on keyboards on hits like "Tell Her No", "Time of the Season" and "She's Not There". His masterful rythym and sometimes lead guitar work was propulsive and always appropriate...

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Franz Ferdinand: Do Believe the Hype

by Mike Bennett

There are some rock and roll shows that have a special electricity to them. I remember seeing the Beastie Boys with Fishbone at the Aragon Ballroom, right after Licensed To Ill went number one. That was quite an atmosphere. Even better was Midnight Oil's performance at Metro. It was their first Chicago appearance on the Diesel And Dust tour. The show had been postponed, due to lead singer Peter Garrett breaking his foot, and rescheduled. In...

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Singling Out The Searchers

by Michael Lynch

Who was the greatest Liverpool band of the 1960s? Well, even if not everyone answers that one the same way, we can all guess who'll come out the winner on that one percentage-wise, right? So therefore, let's change the question: That group aside, who was Merseyside's finest combo of the same timespan? Now it's anybody's guess who the majority will pick, isn't it. Gerry And The Pacemakers? The Merseybeats? The Escorts? All fine combos indeed, all of whom probably kept the fire on high all night down in The Cavern Club with their pint-filled souls cranking out their heartfelt deliveries of American-influenced rock and roll, but...

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Rock and Roll Has Chosen the Secret Machines: A Letter to Mom and Dad

by Kurt Hernon

Secret Machine #1: Hey man, did you see this write up we got on the 'net?

Secret Machine#2: Who...

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The World, and All Its Hall Monitors

by Alan Haber

In last month's column, I alluded briefly to Howard Stern's ongoing troubles with the government. The maverick broadcaster recently found himself dropped by Clear Channel, which carried his show on six of its radio stations. The day after the deed was done, a key Clear Channel higher-up testified in front of Congress on the topic of broadcast indecency. Fines against Stern and his fellow radio mouths could rise to as high as $500,000, and that doesn't even take into consideration the escalated financial hits that could be levied against broadcasting companies, if pending government legislation has its way.

People seem to either love or hate Stern. The self-proclaimed King of...

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Further Observations of a Jangly Music Fan

by Eric Sorensen

While the weather here in the Washington, D.C. area has been very fickle (75 degrees one day; 35 degrees with flurries the next day), there has been no shortage of new jangly discs and songs to keep me entertained. Roger McGuinn's brand new studio album, Limited Edition, was even mailed to online customers a week and a half before its official release date of April 1st. In addition, a Fufkin website column reader and fellow Byrds enthusiast, Ray Verno, brought several obscure Byrds-inspired artists and songs to my attention. I will give these artists and songs proper mention in next month's column. Until then, here are some of the new discs and songs that should keep the rest of you jingle-jangle enthusiasts entertained:

Song of the Month accolades are...

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So Much Music....So Little Time

by Kevin Mathews

Hah! It's always a risk to insert potential self-fulfilling prophecies in the title of your column! So here I am a little under deadline pressure as I attempt to bring you the most CD reviews utilizing the least amount of words. So pardon me if I cut out the chitchat and present to you…

Blurb-O-Rama!

Anton Barbeau Guladong (Pink Hedgehog) Anton has been delivering top notch quirky and whimsical psych-pop ala Lennon, Barrett...

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A Conversation with Chris and Rocky: the see venus Interview

by David Fufkin

see venus is a band from Miami, Florida whose debut, hard time for dreamers, was released last month on March Records. Some have compared the band to Stereolab and Ivy. The sound of see venus is orchestral and detailed, all the while based in classic pop songwriting. I had a chance to chat with them recently about their new record and the band itself.

Christopher Moll (guitar, songs, sounds, producer):

DF: see venus. How did you guys com...

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Liner Notes: A Real Life Guide to Independent Living

by Kurt Hernon

1. Poker: Texas Hold 'em to be exact; tournament style to be very exact. No-limit, all-in, like you see on TV (which is a bit grating to us long time players…but hey, more amateur chips to be won!) This isn't about "gambling", it's about competing. Against yourself, the cards, the chip count, the odds, the math, and all of the other punks around the table. Probably the finest game ever created!

2. Marah: They were...

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Gary Pig Gold Recalls His Breakfast with Boone

by Gary Pig Gold

As bizarre as even I still consider this li'l factoid to be, Yours Truly honestly did spend the majority of the Reagan administration touring Canada's hepper lounges and ski resorts as one-fifth of the one and only (…ah-hemm: but authorized, I'll have you know) Beach Boys "tribute" act known as Endless Summer.

So there!

Now I exhume...

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The Tony Poole of Starry Eyed and Laughing Interview

by Robert Pally

The obscure UK band Starry Eyed and Laughing had a great sound. With albums like Same (1974) and Thought Talk (1975), their sound was unmistakably influenced by the Byrds.

Their guitar player Tony Poole tells all.

Robert Pally: Was there any particular song that
inspired you to start music?

Tony Poole: It has to be "Mr Tambourine Man" by The Byrds - up...

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Kurt Cobain: the Tenth Anniversary

by David Fufkin

On the tenth anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death, the debate of Cobain's importance is at a fever pitch. There is not much to add to the debate except for each one of us to contribute what we experienced or experience when we listen to his music.

I am in the camp that feels that Cobain is in the select...

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Condoleezza Rice, Bessie Smith and the Truth

by David Fufkin

"I ain't no high yella, I'm a deep killer brown.
I ain't gonna marry, ain't gonna settle down.
I'm gonna drink good moonshine and rub these browns down.
See that long lonesome road, Lawd you know it's gonna end,
and I'm a good woman and I can get plenty men"

Bessie Smith - "Young Woman's Blues" (1927)

Mamie Smith purportedly recorded the first blues song of all time, "Crazy Blues" in 1920. From her first recording around 1923, however, Bessie Smith may have been the greatest blues singer ever. "St. Louis Blues", recorded by Ms. Smith with Louis Armstrong, defined the blues as a genre to many. Bessie was a strong, independent black woman before Rosa Parks, integration, forced busing, race riots, Black Power and, dare I say it, Condo Leeeezza. Bessie drank, she drugged and she had lots of sex with...

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Additional Writers Needed

We are looking for additional writers with significant working knowledge of at least one genre of music, past or present.

E-mail us for more information. Take out the no_spam so that all you are left with is fufkin.com. Spider programs harvest our address and the spam is unbelievable.

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Fufkin was honored to attend the 2004 SXSW Web Awards last month as a finalist. We did not win, but it was a great experience. Thanks to all of you who voted for us in the People's Choice category.

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