ALTROK Ordinals 5

Joydrop - Viberate (Tommy Boy)
Jeff says: Toronto band's sophomore effort (You do remember their song "Beautiful", right? "I'm not beautiful like you, I'm beautiful like me!" That's them.) Comes out next month. More intelligent, melodic, rocking from the Great White North. If there were any justice in this world they'd be bigger than that "garbage" that's out nowadays...

Travis - The Invisible Band (Epic)
Rich says: It's an incredible cd. The type of cd that you put on and play incessantly, without ever growing tired of it. They basically took the insightful style of Nick Drake's songwriting, added in some brit- pop sensabilities and then mixed it liberally with some Smiths era melodies. Think Belle and Sebastian, but with more radio friendly songs. The good news is that unlike the Silos, these guys actually have a chance at wide recognition, thanks to a major label, and enough "alt-cred" that radio might really play this.

Nikka Costa - Everybody Got Their Something(Virgin)
Sean says: I'm always worried about recommending something that I know will become a huge hit, but the joy lies in having a chance to absorb it before saturation sets in. The lead single, "Like A Feather", sounds like Trent Reznor producing En Vogue while channelling Prince, and that's what got me hooked. Enjoy it now, then keep it filed under "guilty pleasure".

Steve Wynn - Here Come The Miracles (Down There)
Jeff says: Former leader of The Dream Syndicate and Gutterball returns with his latest solo album. Actually it's 2 albums. And will probably go down as his "watershed" album. Plenty to choose from here...pop songs, psychedelic spaceouts, guitar-god solos.

The Silos - Laser Beam Next Door (Checkered Past)
Rich says: Quite possibly the best songs and recordings that Walter Salas-Humara has released in close to 15 yrs. Some incredibly catchy hooks, sing-a-long choruses, latin infused beats and great singing that should be heard on every alt/triple A stations in America. Unfortunately, it won't. Try and find it. It's worth the trouble.

The Sadies - Tremendous Efforts (Bloodshot)
Sean says: The reverb knob has been turned past eleven on this collection of countrified garage-a-billy, sounding like a front-end collision between the Beat Farmers and the Cramps. Some songs brood, and some rock out; both are effective. And with the inclusion of a Byrds cover, the setting is complete - you're gonna need that pompadour when you get where this record's taking you.

Hub - Daylight (Soul Selects)
Jeff says: Hub is primarily Hub Moore. He/they had a record on Slash/London a couple of years ago that you should go find. A couple of the tracks here are from that record. Quiet, introspective singer-songwriter stuff, but done with more than just the ubiquitous acoustic guitar.

Eric Gales - That's What I Am (MCA)
Rich says: If LIVING COLOUR had a new album out (which they may actually do sometime in the near future), this is what it could sound like. Gale's guitar prowess rivals any guitarist whos currently out there, including Bucket Head, Vernon Reid or Angus Young. Of course, being that Eric is African American, good luck hearing this on the radio. Here's a good topic for an Altrok essay: Find one Black person who's on any rock chart, or find any female other than Gwen Stefani on any rock/alt chart. We've really progressed, haven't we?

Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American (Grand Royal)
Radiohead - Pyramid Song (from Amnesiac, Capitol)
The Living End - Dirty Man (from Roll On, Warner Bros.)
At the Drive-In "Invalid Litter Dept." (from Relationship Of Command, Virgin)
Idlewild - Little Discourage (from 100 Broken Windows, Capitol)
The Bicycle Thief - Stoned (from You Come & Go Like A Pop Song, Artemis
Jason says: Some of these have been around a little while, some are still pretty new... They're all great records that should be played on a Modern Rock station...

(This week's Ordinals courtesy Rich Robinson, Jeff Raspe, Jason Ulanet and Sean Carolan.)