Music and more

Artist: The Donnas Title: Get Skintight Label: Lookout Rating: 7.5/10 The Donna’s have me baffled, as they seem themselves. I think they’re these hard rocking punk tramps who just want to be loved. After enduring numerous injustices at the hands of the other gender, they realize that they really don’t need guys, and are better…

Artist: Dr. Frank Title: Show Business is My Life Label: Lookout Rating: 4/10 He’s not the kind of doctor that you would go to with a sore throat. He’s Dr. Frank and he’s got a Ph.D in songwriting, though in my opinion he could use a few more years of schooling. Apparently Dr. Frank, who…

Artist: The Dave Matthews Band Title: Live At Luther College Label: RCA Rating: 8/10 Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds recent release, a two disc set entitled Live at Luther College, is a stripped to the core, no- nonsense album that gives Dave’s fans a chance to hear the man in the raw. The set offers…

Artist: Paul Westerberg Title: Suicaine Gratification Label: Capitol Rating: 6/10 Paul Westerburg, former frontman for The Replacements, has finally released this mix of upbeat pop and sweet love songs. Suicaine Gratifacation is a smooth ride as each song gently melts into the next. Westerburg’s rich voice lulls you into the album and the longing in…

Artist: Weed Title: Hard To Kill Label: Nettwerk Rating: 6/10 Weed’s Hard To Kill is a mellow album packed with rich beats and vocals. Made up of Cristina and Dan Handrabur, this band sounds like a sleepy, almost dazed Bjork. This married couple’s low-key electronic beats are both contrasted and improved by Cristina’s surreal and…

Artist: Videodrone Title: Videodrone Label: Reprise Rating: 7/10 The latest release from Videodrone (previously known as Cradle of Thorns) is their first with the new name, as well as their first under Korn’s label, Elementree. Their evolution is quickly apparent, as they have transformed their sound to another level through musical ability. Their long time…

Artist: The Verve Title: This is the Music: The Singles 92-98 Label: Virgin Rating: 6/10 CORPORATE LINE: This Is Music The album featuring two unreleased tracks and DVD features all the band’s music videos will also be released on the same date. This Is Music is a collection of all The Verve’s singles including two…

Artist: The Verve Pipe Title: The Verve Pipe Label: RCA Rating: 8/10 The Verve Pipe isn’t going to lay down and play dead. I’m sure many of us were hoping to never hear “The Freshman” again, but you won’t hear anything like that on their latest self-titled album. What you will hear is a magnificent…

Artist: Coal Chamber Title: Chamber Music Label: Roadrunner Rating: 8/10 With Y2K approaching at a rapid pace, many bands are trying to release that revolutionizing album that nobody will forget. Coal Chamber’s Chamber Music, their second opus on Roadrunner Records, is a new twist on their patented spookycore sound. It’s evil in an odd way,…

Artist: Choclair Title: Ice Cold Label: Priority Rating: 7/10 Straight out of Canada comes Kareem Blake, better known as Choclair. It has taken Choclair a decade to make a name for himself, but it won’t take him that long to get to the top. In his anthem, “Ice Cold”, the beats are hot and the…