Madame X - Funnel Of Love 7" (Estrus)
"Here is the sound of smokey juke box joints and warm liquor, hi-balls and stiletto heels."
The three tunes here go for a swingin' lounge sound from a different angle. Instead of using xylophones, horns and other vintage instruments, this duo uses only guitar, a female voice, and snapping fingers to keep time. They conjure up the mood of a smokey lounge without merely emulating the stereotypical lounge sound. This one comes in a deluxe Art Chantry designed gold foil jacket. (Hmmm...#7)

The Makers - This Is The Answer 7" (Get Hip) These guys are the present and future of garage rock. I have loved 'em for years and it seems like they are now getting a lot of attention from the press and music fans all over the world. Their records are great, but the best way to experience 'em is to see them live. This three track 7" was recorded back in 1995 when Tim Maker was still in the band. The Makers pack quite a punch into each track - This Is The Answer, Spoonful, and On The Train. (Continental #5)

The Mants - I Smell Woman 7" (Estrus) This is the latest release from The Mants, and damn, it's their best yet! There are three smoldering tracks on the 7" pressed on clear vinyl (available by ordering direct from Estrus). The title track is a lo-fi, full-tilt boogie with screamed vocals. The two tracks on side B are high octane instro numbers that'll appeal to both surf and garage fans. (Continental #5)

The Mants - The Mant From U.N.C.L.E. 7" (Lance Rock) The Mants are one of the coolest garage bands around. They put together great tunes, have a great sound, and have a great schtick. On-stage they dress up as half-man, half-ant creatures that have annihilated audiences all over the U.S. and Canada. On this 3-track 7" they plow through Friends To None, Bow To Your Masters and Fuzz From Planet X - all original tracks. (Continental #5)

The Mants - The Mants 7" (Roto-Flex)
"The Mants explode with their unique brand of bug rock - the sound of tomorrow, today!"
Dirty garage rock with hi-fi guitars that are cranked up to maximum volume, with lo-fi vocals that are as menacing as they are loud. "Mants In Your Pants" is an all-out rage-a-thon, then flip it over for two more tunes ready to blow out your eardrums. "The Mants! The Mants!" and "Rebel Set" will ant-ihilate the rest of your senses. I love their gimmick, ant masks and pinstripe suits. (Hmmm...#7)

McRackins - Short & Sweet 10" (Shredder)
"They wanted to go for a less produced sound, influenced by the first Ramones album."
Short & Sweet contains eight punk tunes that do sound a bit like The Ramones, following the basic blueprint of punk rock to the letter. I like punk that is fun to listen to, full of melody and energy, and the McRackins seem to come up with that sound time and time again. I guess they were almost killed in an accident last year while touring the US. The full story is documented on the back cover of this 10" (Shredder Records, 75 Plum Lane #3, San Rafael, CA 94901.) (Hmmm...#7)

(*)Glenn Miller - Plays Selections From "The Glenn Miller Story" LP (RCA)
This one was a steal for a puny little dime. For five years, between 1939 and 1944, Gelnn Miller was the king of big band music. Among his signature tunes, there was "Moonlight Serenade", Pennsylvania Six-Five Thousand", "In The Mood", and "Tuxedo Junction". All of these are included on this compilation LP. Unfortunately, a few of the tracks have major skips on them, but what can you expect for a dime? (Hmmm... #7)

The Mill Valley Taters - Hey Mr. Rock N Roll Cassette (Bone HQ)
The Mill Valley Taters love to come up with crazy instrumental rock medleys. This one adds a bunch of drum machine and sound effects to the mix. It all sounds very robotic - I wonder what these guys are like live! (Continental #5)

Mr. Z - Dot’s Polkatainment! CD (Ryko/Tradition)
"In it’s own way, Mr. Z and his big band were swinging hep cats who lived in the shimmering world of Hollywood and, on this album, they’re trading polka licks with panache."
It’s great to see this series of lounge reissues branch out a bit. Most comps have emphasized artists similar to Esquivel and Martin Denny, but Ryko has gone out on a limb with this one. It is polka music, which people tend to hate, tolerate, or love. What makes this great is the variety of styles, from ‘The Texas Polka’ and ‘The Beer Barrel Polka’ to ‘The Strip Polka’. So grab your partner and swing to the sounds of Mr. Z. (The Continental #2)

The Mono Men - Another Way 7" (Estrus)
"A clutch burning two-minute crapfest up top with a twangy tequila tinged instro on the flip."
How these cats manage to put out one consistantly great 7" after another is beyond me. This one features a cool jacket with pressed glitter used to form a devilish purple shape against a yellow background. Believe me, it is cooler to see this in person than to imagine what it looks like by my description. Oh, you're wondering about the tunes? "Another Way" is classic Mono Men, Dave on lead vocals with Mort's angelic harmonies in the background. The flip has an instro tune called "Behind Bars" that caught me completely by surprise. This one is a booze fueled country hoedown with twangy guitars and a boom-chuck-boom-chuck drum pattern. (Hmmm...#7)

The Mono Men - Cross Alley Stomp 7" (Estrus)
"Four full hit fandangos recorded live and raw at Tom Sparrow's now infamous "Strip n' Bowl" bachelor party!"
Here are four more tracks from the same boozefest that spawned last year's T.S.B. 10" pressed onto red vinyl and housed in a cool bowling ball shaped sleeve. Side one features two instros, "Wrecker!" and Link Wray's "Rumble". On the flip you'll find two more tunes. "One More Time" has Mort on vocals, while the final song, "Remind Me", has Dave tearing his lungs out. If you dug the 10", you'll definitely want this. (Hmmm...#7)

The Mono Men - Have A Nice Day, Motherfucker CD(Estrus)
I've heard most of these tunes before at recent Mono Men shows at the 3-B, so it's really cool to get 'em on wax (I got this on a little plastic 5"er, but the way you're supposed to listen to this stuff is on vinyl!). You know they're ready to take care of business just by looking at 'em on the back cover - man do they look pissed off! They're now a trio, although Mort is on a few of the tracks here. You really can't tell the difference between the songs he's on and the other one's. It's just as loud and aggressive without him. With Tim Kerr & Jack Endino twiddlin' the knobs you know this one's gonna sound right. If yer a Mono Men fan or just dig the sound of nuclear-fueled rock n' roll this is one of the better releases yer gonna hear this year. (Continental #4)

(*)The Mono Men - Shut Up! CD (Estrus)
I should have shelled out the extra cash for the import version of this, since it has a few bonus tracks. But hey, this is still pretty damn cool. This disc has The Mono Men goin' instro on a collection of eight songs, covers and originals. In my opinion, their originals blow away the tunes written by Link Wray and Dick Dale. It's short and sweet, clocking in at a mere 17 minutes, yet at a buck a song how can you go wrong?

The Mono Men - Ten Cool Ones CD (Scat)
"Rock and Roll. Does anyone still believe? Say hello to the true believers."
The Mono Men do and they prove it as they plow through 10 cover tunes, all classics, like "Kick Out The Jams", "You're Gonna Miss Me", "Gypsy Woman", and "Run Chicken Run". The guitars have been cranked up and Dave and Mort have been gargling on moonshine to get their sound revved up to a fever pitch. This one has been on the burner for months, and is well worth the wait. The Mono Men really know how to pay tribute to the masters of rock n' roll! (Scat Records, 6226 Southwood #3-E, St. Louis, MO 63105.) (The Continental #1)

The Morning Shakes - Lotta Trash! Lotta Action!! CD (Cacophone)
"Shimmy shakin', guitar-chompin', booze soaked, balls-out, screamin' n' quakin' rock n' roll…"
The 'Shakes have created a loud and mean set of tunes recorded in glorious lo-fidelity. From first chords of Frankenstein Girl to the closing Look What You've Done To Me this is wailin' rock n' roll at it's finest. Includes an intro of the band as recorded on Serbian radio. (Continental #4)

(*) Ennio Morricone - The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly Soundtrack LP (U.A.)
Everyone know the title theme to this Clint Eastwood film. I have looked for years just to have that song. When I finally found it, I was quite surprised that the album as a whole is amazing. I have pretty much ignored soundtrack albums, thinking that most of the material was boring instrumental tracks. This album changed my mind. (Hmmm... #2)

The Mortals - Last Time Around CD (Estrus)
"Sit back, stomp on the accelerator and get ready for some motorized myopic mortification."
If you like yer garage rock hot n' heavy, with enough booze fueled emotion to shake your senses, The Mortals are your band. This 16 track compilation has tracks previously issued on various singles and compilations. No need to search for hours to get a hold of these hard-to-find tracks, becuase Estrus has done all of the work for you. This is the last yer gonna hear from The Mortals, so pick it up and relive the magic of this Cincinatti, OH combo. (The Continental #1)

The Mulchmen - All The News That's Fit To Surf 7" (Luna)
"Led by the guitar toting and coffee slinging Nick Kizmis, The Mulchmen take you to places you've only feared you'd have to go."
The Mulchmen's debut EP has the same feel as the best instro tracks from the 60's. Although they used modern recording equipment, the four original songs take you back to a time where beer, a fine-tuned hot rod, and a good wave to ride on were the only things that mattered. Billed as Dayton, Ohio's only surf/instrumental band, the tracks on this disc are bound to carry them far beyond the confines of that mid-west city. If you dig Dick Dale or The Chantays, you will definitely like this. (Luna Music, 1521 W. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46260.) (The Continental #1)

The Mulchmen - Louder Than Dirt, Thicker Than Mud CD (Big Beef)
"From deep in America's beachless heartland, raised on a steady diet of grade A rock (everything from Link Wray to The Clash) come Ohio's only KAPOWEE! surf instrumental trio, The Mulchmen."
The Mulchman take what they need from the past and blend it with the future to create a stompin' combination of rock, surf, and sci-fi sounds. Several of the tracks include the way-out sound of the Theremin, perhaps one of the coolest instruments ever invented (next to the electric guitar, of course). There are 13 original tunes and one choice cover, a theremin and guitar frenzy called Rumble 3000. If you dig the modern surf sound, The Mulchmen are the band for you. (Continental #4)

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