Bonus Tracks

PAYNE

Like the folky version of Alice in Chains, their obvious influence, Payne seem to buy the notion that the insinuation of power can be more powerful than the actual display, and, at their best, actually manage to prove it in a convincingly dark semi-acoustic haze -- teasing but, to their credit, never delivering full-on Nine Inch Nails doom. -- Andy Langer

BLUE FACE

(Ahoy)

Self-described as "...rock music with a lean, trim, yet deceptively full sound," Blue Face the band actually shrink to a foil for Analisa the singer. Only occasionally does the buzz saw sound let up. Otherwise, creeping monotony is the order of the day. This only accentuates the one-trick style of a potentially strong singer.

-- Stephen McGuire

STEVE FISHER

A Boy's Life in Texas (Waterbug)

Understatement's one of the hardest tricks an artist can pull off, and Steve Fisher's a master. One of the finest and least-celebrated of Lone Star singer-songwriters, his melodies and lyrics are like children's songs for adults, delivered in a voice as laid-back as prime Willie. -- Steve Brooks

BARBARA DENNERLEIN

Take Off! (Verve)

Though organist Barbara Dennerlein is from Munich, her trumpet player on Take Off! is Dallas' Roy Hargrove, and plugging in on the guitar is Austin's Mitch Watkins. Unfortunately, like her WWI and WWII ancestors, Dennerlein is into total domination, and lets neither musician do much, which leaves only her incessant noodling.

-- Raoul Hernandez "Bonus Tracks" reviews all local and Texas-based releases commercially available. Send to: "Bonus Tracks," TheAustin Chronicle, PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765.