Elastica
“The Menace”

Elastica turned a few heads, if only a few, back in 1995 with their self-titled debut.

For their sophomore effort, Elastica have gone a little gritty–and it’s fun.

Their debut was much more infectious—glittery, with glam-pop appeal and a sexy femmefatale of a lead singer, Justine Frischmann.

“The Menace” is more subversive, maybe because men have joined this once all-girl group.

The band’s sound has gone back to 1980s new wave with hints of punk rock.

A spunky and courageous effort this album is, you’ll love their cover of Trio’s 1982 “Da Da Da,” (you know, the Volkswagon song.)

But underneath the sonic clutter and overbearing layers of synth-generated sound effects, you’re left with quite a few second-rate songs.

Taproot
"Gift"

OK, so I’m being rather harsh with my selected albums.

But here’s yet another cog in the wheel of modern rock/rap machinery–Taproot.

Thanks to the flood gates Limp Bizkit and Korn opened, about a thousand goatee-wearing clones, including Taproot, are being packaged and marketed by sinister record labels.

"Gift" sounds mysteriously similar to Korn, both vocally and lyrically.

But it’s all been said before.

Expect the expected from this album: angst, noise and screaming, three attributes the modern American male favors in his music library. It’s a pleasure to know that darker music is being made in lieu of the continuing success of N’Sync and the like. But Taproot is merely the lesser of two evils.

EVE 6
“Horrorscope”

You know the story. A band puts out an album of filler that contains a one hit single.

That single goes on to dominate the radio and MTV and about a year later that band tries to recapture the magic but gets bit by the notorious sophomore album jinx.

That band is Eve 6.

Eve 6’s doomed second album “Horroscope” contains the same tired rock songs you’ve heard by other white-boy rock bands Vertical Horizon, 3 Doors Down and Third Eye Blind.

It’s a joyless and typical rock record, chock full of the same shlock you’ve come to expect from a band of this caliber.