Death By Chocolate
s/t CD

What could be more cuter than a cutie British gal named Angie Tillett singing cute but smart songs over an unassuming music arrangement with spoken word inbetween them in a cute British accent ? That's right. Nothing. Just a fair warning - this is cute, almost nauseatingly cute at times. Imagine The Doors being fronted by a pixie and that's what Death By Chocolate reminds me most of. Jetset Records. 67 Vestry St. NY, NY 10013.

 For Stars
Airline People EP

This review is going to be an understatement. All I can say is these are five beautiful songs so sad they made me mopey for days. The song "Airline People" makes me cry. You have no idea how sad this makes me. I'm really glad this came my way. Reference: Belle and Sebastian. Acuarela Records. PO Box 18136, 28080. Madrid, Spain.

 Graig Markel
Hard Grammar CD

This CD renders me speechless. It's just so...... right-on on so many levels. Graig Markel is known for his other music projects Tagging Satellites and New Sweet Breath. Here he ventures into his second studio solo album where he plays all the instruments. It's part rock with tons of tastefully used effects and slow spacedout confessionals. Sometimes laid back and others right up in your eardrum screaming. The guitar playing is catchy and just sounds so good! I love every song! Great lyrics throughout. The first song "Texas Hedging" blows me away. It's led by a powerhouse drum riff that has caused my neighbor to come bang at my door because I play it too loud. I see this becoming a favorite of mine for years to come. Reference: Seely, David Gray but tons better and more rocking. Mag Wheel Recordings.

 Heidi Saperstein
The Devil I Once Knew CD

Unless you're Alanis Morrissette I'm not so big on girl solo artists that don't pour on the cuteness. Heidi hovers nearer the Ani DiFranco side rather than, say, Rose Melberg. So this doesn't catch my attention right away. Heidi performs most of the songs herself. It's pretty raw sounding. She does get random help on just about every song from people like Jeff Goddard from Karate and Thalia Zedek from Come. Reference: PJ Harvey, Ani DiFranco. Kimchee Records.

 Mary Timony
Mountains CD

I love you Mary. You can do no wrong. Play "The Hour Glass" for me again and again. Matador Records.

 Ours
CD Single

Three mellowish rock tunes that would fit on any modern rock station playlist. It's nicely produced and recorded . Anyone who likes dreamy sugar coated radio music would like this, even if it sounds like everything else. These songs come from their full length 'Distorted Lullabies'. I don't know if I'd pick it up or not. I'd prolly get into it if I heard it. Reference: Radiohead, Our Lady Peace, U2. DreamWorks Records.

 Polline
Parallel Canvas CD

Polline are from Gainesville, FL and I can tell right off the bat they must be in love with Sister-era Sonic Youth, mixing intense guitar sounds with undertoned electronica and flute playing. "Iridescent" is straight out of the Sonic Youth songbook with its reverbed dissonant guitar lines, Steve Shelly beats, all the way down to the vocals delievered in Lee Renaldo spoken word style. This is a good thing. Good record. Reference: The Mercury Program. Boxcar Records. PO Box 1141. Melbourne, FL 32902.

 Tortoise
Standards CD

I didn't even know this was out yet. I read on the internet it came out this week so I drove over to the record store to get it. They had, of course, about five million copies of it in stock because everyone knows that more elevator rock music is such the rage. Especially when it comes from Chicago. I picked one out and began browsed around the rest of the store. I spied a copy of it in the used section. It was $9.98. Score! The album is all right. It's pretty much like the last one minus string arrangements and a mighty-might amount of studio trickery. Hmmmmm were there string arrangements on that one or was it the one before? I can't remember. Tortoise's music sounds all the same so it's not an issue really. Jeff Parker makes the sweetest sounds on that guitar! I still like the first one the best. Thrill Jockey Records. PO Box 08038. Chicago, IL 60608.

 Weston
The Massed Albert Sounds CD

Why haven't I heard Weston before? And why had no one recommended them to me? For some reason I thought Weston was a hardcore band. I don't experiment in listening to hardcore bands so I never checked them out. I'm pretty picky. And this record is on Mojo Records, home to Reel Big Fish, who I love more than life itself. Sweet sing-a-long songs about kissing, girls and radio hits backed with dreamy rock guitars and keyboards are right down my alley! If this gets any cuter I may explode. Right now, as you are reading this, you should bet money I am humming a Weston song in my head. I give a scream- this is good stuff. Reference: Kincaid, Six Going On Seven, Silver Scooter. Mojo Records. 1453 14th Street Box 284. Santa Monica, CA 90404.