B - Ribviews

Whether they’re straight out of the kitchen or have been sitting under a heat lamp for a minute, here is a sample of releases Ribbers decided to taste. Like other zines, we have rated them, but with our own complicated culinary system – from one rib (lowest) to five ribs (bestest).

Balance Presents "Electric" (WQ/Stomp). Put these babies back on the grill: 3 ribs.
From staid old Melbourne, Australia, comes this first in a series of compilations from up-and-coming mostly German minimalist house spinners mixed by veteran DJ Gavin Keitel. Melbourne may be several time zones ahead of Miami and Ibiza but, if this disc is any indication, as many years removed from those locales' cutting-edge innovations - after all, isn't it the Germans who think David Hasselhoff is hip? Not to say it's all bad - Drama Society puts some snap, crackle and pop into "Crying Hero," Einmusik's "Jittery Heritage" moves along at a dirty old-school pulse, Hugg & Pepp clean up with the wah-wah wash of "Snabeln" and the final cut trances up a My Bloody Valentine vocal effect - but this disc is more for rolling the windows down and keeping things between the lines on a hypnotic late-night car ride than ending up out of bounds on a hot and sweaty dancefloor. David Thornton

Beck Guerolito (Interscope). 5 ribs-chewy chopped chorizo.
While Guero was a damn good album, the remix is arguably even better. The companion piece features an eclectic lineup of artists handpicked by Beck to create a completely new twist of the familiar songs. Guerolito wears Beck’s stamp of approval and is obvious with the impeccable production. From E-Pro (“Ghost Range”) to Air (“Heaven Hammer”), Adrock (“Shake, Shake Tamborine”), El-P (“Scarecrow”) and John King of Dust Brothers (“Rental Car”) the remixers range is deep and never gets monotonous. The only worry about Guerolito is that it gets too much radioplay hence played out. Will Jordan

Benzos Morning Stanzas (Stinky). Prime cuts: 5 ribs.
Expect big things from Benzos, a five-piece "rocktronica" outfit whose debut emanates ear candy of the first order. Track 2 features the interchanging vocals of Michael Ortega and Christian Celaya, whose Jeff Buckley-like vox chops really soar on the Radiohead-esque "It's Amiable" and "Elia." Following the ambient atmospherics of "Warm Road" are the flamenco guitar flourishes on the otherwise less-than-stellar "Glass Souls," but the situation quickly remedies itself with "The Blue Around You" and a sound that defies description on "Sore Eyes." The CD continues with a lesson Coldplay could learn from ("Ideal Magnet") and an Afghan Whig-out called "Mechanical Comrades," but what stands out most is the quality of the singing - so sorely lacking in the vast majority of contemporary music. David Thornton

Bigg Jus (orchestrated by DJ Gman) Poor People’s Day (Mush). 4 ribs-sticky.
Poor People’s Day is a steady march down the back alleys of the poorest areas of the world. No one is left behind as Bigg Jus and Gman hold folks accountable with a robbin’ hoodesque philosophy. They go right to the top dawgs in true conscious fashion, slammin’ on Bush, Karl Rove and the like and pointing out the folks who have been left behind in their wake. As a founding member of Company Flow, Jus defined himself as a ruthless lyricist. As a solo artist, his spirit has only grown stronger. Will Jordan

Blockhead Downtown Science (Ninja Tune). 5 ribs-smacks of flava!
Yeahh!!! Painting a sonic landscape that smacks of New York City flava, Blockhead’s release of Downtown Science is a smoking batch of grooves that journey’s through the backstreets of tha big apple. Plug in and listen as the city’s landscape coasts slowly by. Blockhead has made beats for the likes of Aesop Rock, Slug and Atmosphere and though he’s made some strides in the past, it’s bout time for him to make some for himself. The only thing better than the CD is the accompanying DVD, which has over 3 ½ hours of psychedelic footage. Put that stuff in ya spinna right now and lay back hard! Will Jordan

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