THE KAISERS

Twist with the Kaisers

(Bloodred)

****

I love me some Kaisers! 'Em Scotties... er, Scotsmen, got the speediest, most exceptionally executed BEAT music inside, outside, upside, downside... shit, ANY side o' the fuggin' Mersey! I'd even go so far as to say, based on the ferocity with which they assault 'n' batter 'at beat music, they the BEST inna bizness... both then AND now! WHA? The BEST? Ever...?

Whelp... they at least near 'bout the BEST, as they, the Kaisers, got solid action soundin' 'n' poundin' kinda like the Searchers, as recorded live at the Star Club, Hamburg, but the Kaisers' "beat" it up, like if they was playin' an "all nighter" and way f-f-fueled on j-j-jitter b-b-blues. Um... fer y'all not inna know, "blues" was also knowed as "speed," dude. However, that ain't to say these fellas doin' the speed.... Anyhoo, the Kaisers don't bother pop-pin' the beat, please blow me, oh yeah, like the Beatles blew you, or get shrimpy wimpy like Gerry and his Pacemakers pushin' meek young ladies onna swing? What mo' proof y'all need... ain't my big-assed, self assurin' mouth ENUFF? Nope, then dig yerself on the Kaisers' bright hot LPs, 45s, 'n' EPs... tho' most available only as limited imports, I know of one LP, Squarehead Stomp, been issued domestically on CD.... It's a worthy testimonial.

Oh, and they ain't just about playin' beat... they also looks damn hot as they dress in the "beat" style, pistol-barreled britches, leather vests over white shirts, skinny ties, and swank, piled-a-mile-high pomps!

Fine, 'nuffa the "you heard the REST, now hear the best" bullshite, my point... they done got 'em a live LP, recorded in Indiana, Twist with the Kaisers, which, truth be told, is a goot "greatest hits" collection 'n' ain't really delivered too differ'nt than what they've done in the studio, 'cept LIVE they sounds "cruder." Uh, "cruder" meanin' mo' like what you'd 'spect as "normal" soundin' fer action outta thee famous Toe Rag Studio! Hell, I think y'all might oughta git "Twist..." fer no other reason 'sides don't NOBODY do a better version o' Mister James Brown's "Good, Good Lovin'"! Oh... and you ain't only gotta do the TWIST either, as I found myself doin' a li'l bit o' the Monkey, Pony, AND the Mashed 'tater! MIKE NIPPER

PETE HAM

Golders Green

(Rykodisc)

***

In the early '70s, Pete Ham and Tom Evans, members of the ill-starred British band Badfinger, co-wrote "Without You," which went on to become a monster hit for Harry Nilsson (and later Mariah Carey), making pots of money for just about everyone except Ham and Evans. The two eventually succumbed to depression, Ham committing suicide in 1975, Evans following suit in 1983. Golders Green is the second set of Ham's demos to be released (the first set, 7 Park Avenue, appeared in 1997), and is a collection of little gems. Badfinger fans, along with other devotees of '70s-era pop, will be intrigued to hear the original demos of songs like "Shine On" before they were all popped up. And the demo of "Without You" has a sweetness not found on the later classic rock-styled versions, and shows how Evans' contribution (the music and lyrics of the chorus) was an essential element in the song's completion. GILLIAN G. GAAR

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Stigmata

(Virgin)

****

Soundtrack albums are oft times sorry excuses for compilation albums, featuring one or two new tracks to sucker you in, and songs that weren't even in the film but allegedly "inspired by" the movie (yeah, right). Stigmata is a happy exception to that rule. Among the album's seven songs is a fab "Stigmata Mix" of Chumbawamba's "Mary, Mary," the fuzz-toned "The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell" by David Bowie, and eerie, atmospheric wailing courtesy of songs by Björk, Sinead O'Connor, and Natalie Imbruglia. There's also 40-plus minutes of instrumental music composed for the film by Mike Garson and Billy Corgan, a collection of haunting, gentle melodies that live up to Corgan's desire to make music that would stand on its own. The jury's still out on the film itself, in which Patricia Arquette discovers she's possessed by demons. Well, at least she'll have decent music to listen to. GGG


IN STORES AUGUST 31

Various Artists, Appetite for Reconstruction: A Tribute to Guns N' Roses (Cleopatra)

Various Artists, Not the Same Old Song: A Tribute to Aerosmith (Cleopatra)

Colie Brice, Chameleon (Songhaus) [instrumentals]

Vanessa Daou, Dear John Coltrane (Oxygen Music Works)

Days of the New, 2 (Interscope)

Dixie Chicks, Fly (Monument)

Eve, TBA (Interscope)

Gay Dad, Leisure Noise (Sire) [British band]

Lisa Hayes and the Violets, TBA (Atlantic)

Jazzyfatnastees, The Once and Future (MCA)

The Madd Rapper, Tell 'Em Why U Mad (Columbia)

Magic, Thuggin' (No Limit)

Megadeth, Risk (Capitol)

N17, Defy Everything (Island)

Neve, Identify Yourself (Columbia)

Rammstein, Live Aus Berlin (Island)

Julie Ritter, Songs of Love and Empire (Luxstar Musical Recordings)

Jon Secada, TBA (550 Music)

Ben Taylor, Green Dragon, Name a Fox (WORK Group)

Mike Viola and the Candy Butchers, Falling into Place (Columbia)

Aggregation, Mind Odyssey (Sundazed) [w/bonus tracks]

Julie Andrews, Christmas With (Legacy)

Tony Bennett, Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook (Rhino)

Tony Bennett & Bill Evans, Together Again (Rhino)

Blue Öyster Cult, Don't Fear the Reaper: The Best of (Legacy)

Billy Bragg, Reaching to the Converted (Rhino) [rarities collection]

Canterbury Fair, Canterbury Fair (Sundazed)

Johnny Cash, At Folsom Prison (Legacy) [expanded edition]

Charlie Daniels Band, A Decade of Hits (Legacy)

Marvin Gaye, 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (Chronicles)

Merle Haggard, Big City (Legacy) [expanded edition]

Millie Jackson, Between the Sheets (7N Music) [ballads collection]

Janis Joplin, Big Brother & The Holding Company (Legacy)

Janis Joplin, Cheap Thrills (Legacy)

Janis Joplin, I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again, Mama! (Legacy)

Janis Joplin, Pearl (Legacy)

Janis Joplin, Box of Pearls (Legacy)

Janis Joplin, Greatest Hits (Legacy)

Josefus, Dead Man (Sundazed) [both versions of the album]

Mitch Miller, Holiday Sing Along with Mitch (Legacy)

Willie Nelson, Stardust (Legacy) [expanded edition]

Poco, The Very Best of (Legacy)

Marty Robbins, Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (Legacy) [expanded edition]

The Supremes, 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (Chronicles)

The Temptations, 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (Chronicles)

Three Dog Night, 30th Anniversary (MCA) [two CDs]

Tower of Power, What Is Hip?: The Anthology (Rhino) [two CDs]

Stevie Wonder, 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (Chronicles)

Tammy Wynette, Stand by Your Man (Legacy) [expanded edition]