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

Last Days of May
Inner System Blues
Squealer

Last Days of May are an instrumental guitar driven psychedelic trio featuring guitarist Karl Precoda (former Dream Syndicate member). The first two tracks are relatively benign, unimpressive soundscape/drones. By the third track "Bridge of Smoke," the band finally gets into gear and starts playing highly enjoyable psychedelic rock. Overall, this is a fine release from a promising band.

Kobi
Projecto
Silber

Projecto is a superb experimental soundscape record. Kobi, featuring Kai Mikalsen, a member of the European folk-noise collective Origami Arktika, makes great elcetro-acoustic music. While the individual tracks are nearly indistinguishable, the album taken as a whole is a powerful epic sonic masterpiece.

Alvarius B and Cerberus Shoal
The Vim and Vigour of…
North East Indie

The Vim and Vigour of…is a superb collection of acoustic experimental songs. Cerberus Shoal and Alvarius B (the pseudonym for Sun City Girls' guitarist, Mr. Alan Bishop) perform each other's songs. The highlight of the record is Cerberus Shoal's Residents-like version of Alan Bishop's "Viking Christmas," which sounds like its being performed by a high school marching band. Bishop's cover of Cerberus Shoal's "Ding" is equally impressive. This record is relatively accessible considering its weird and creepy experimental style.

Califone
Quicksand/Cradlesnakes
Thrill Jockey

Califone plays melody driven, slow, Americana-influenced indie rock. Their previous releases were boring and uninspired-I had suspected that the only reason they were signed was because they were consistently mistaken for Calexico. Indeed, I picked up this record thinking it was the new Calexico LP. On Quicksand/Cradlesnakes, Califone retains their signature sound but also manages to put together quite a few inspired little numbers. "Your Golden Ass" has the distinction of not only being the best song on the album but also being the best song name ever. All in all, this is a suprisingly solid album from a generally mediocre group.