The Five Dollar Review
Compiled by Nick Smith and KSPC 88.7 FM
Staff Writer

Paul J. Bosse
Live
Angry Rodent

For this live recording (there is some post-recording tape manipulation), percussionist Paul Jon Bosse uses a vast array of "instruments" from the traditional drums and cymbals to the unconventional tuned oxygen and propane tanks and skillsaw blades to create music. Bosse is able to make interesting, although very basic rhythms and structures out of these tools. Surprisingly, given the nature of some of the objects he's attempting to play, most of the material on this disc is very accessible and pop oriented. The best music on this record is not the 4/4 pop rhythms but the beautiful gamalon-esque pieces like "BreatheInYourNose&outyourmouth" and "25 Bells."

Steffen Basho-Junghans
Rivers and Bridges
Strange Attractors Audio House

Rivers and Bridges is East German painter and guitarist Steffen Basho-Junghans' fourth release and easily his most accomplished. Basho-Junghans' musicianship is superb. Like his previous effort Waters in Azure, Basho-Junghans evokes feelings of loneliness throughout this album. The emotions surrounding this album and the guitar work place Steffen Basho-Junghans in the same league as John Fahey. Rivers and Bridges is a beautiful release.

Rye Coalition
Jersey Girls
Tigerstyle

On this seven song EP, Rye Coalition celebrate all things New Jersey (their vision of New Jersey is similar to Kevin Smith's conception of the state, i.e. muscle cars, airbrushed shirts, strip clubs, etc) and in doing so they bring the rock. The music on Jersey Girls is the same kind of ironic retro-70s heavy metal that the boys created on their last full-length, On Top. Musically, the songs are indistinguishable, which is why hilarious song titles like "Stop Eating While I'm Smoking" and "Snow Job" are almost essential. Despite the clear lack of creativity that went into creating this record, it is an enjoyable and fun listen and it rocks.

Lightning Bolt
Wonderful Rainbow
Load

Wonderful Rainbow is the second full-length release from Providence, RI rock gods Lightning Bolt. Lightning Bolt is comprised of bassist Brian Chippendale and vocalist/drummer Brian Gibson. Fellow Providence rockers Black Dice, who shared a drummer with Lightning Bolt, defected to New York City and became pretentious "artists." Lightning Bolt remained in Providence, maintaining their distinctive thundering, noisy, tribal, punk rock sound and energy. Wonderful Rainbow, while still as rocking and noisy, is a great deal more listener friendly than Lightning Bolt's debut Ride the Skies, as there are more melodies present on the record. Recently Brown University's student newspaper, The Indy, printed an article charging Lightning Bolt with allegations of homosexuality and drug abuse. Though this has little to do with their latest release-although cocaine abuse might explain the breakneck speeds they play all of their songs-it gives Lightning Bolt the same "junkie-fag" status as such late '70s rock icons Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie.