Bonus Tracks
Fri., Feb. 20, 1998
THE CARTER FAMILY
On Border Radio, Vol. 2 (Arhoolie)
Though not from Texas, by 1938 the Carter Family had moved to San Antonio for the winter months, in part to broadcast their mountain harmonies on border radio. Here, then, are radio transcriptions taken from acetates that feature not only rare solo turns from A.P. Carter, but really priceless turns from Sara, Maybelle, June, and Jeanette. The kids running through "Polly Wolly Doodle All Day" is especially fun given that today, the phrase "Carter Family harmonies" is finding a lot of ink. - Raoul Hernandez
LUST FOR JADIES
4-Track Mind (Palli)
Not unlike Ben Folds on a bad day or Ween on a good one, Lust for Jadie's G Langholtz and
J. Presti have a subversive flair (however unfocused) for witty pop tunes and wicked ballads - not to mention fine ears for sampled answering machine messages, speeches, and everyday noise. Although it's unclear whether they consider their home four-track the album's concept or a financial necessity, 4 Track Mind nonetheless stands as more proof that hooks and melodies will beat studio bells and whistles nearly everytime.
- Andy Langer
CORDIAL
Charmed
Like 7% Solution's All About Satellites and Spaceships, San Antonio's Cordial have produced a nice little package with Charmed. Contained in a smart, red cardboard foldover, this well-produced, full-length debut finds its groove from the word go, twisting and winding its way through a post-grunge landscape with aplomb. If Cordial's singer isn't what he could be, the single-minded direction of the music - Archers of Loaf go commercial - makes up for it. - Raoul Hernandez
THE NONCHALANTS
Live at Sun Mountain (Found Dog)
The Nonchalants (formerly known as Kick at Heaven) feature the vocal work of Jean Synodinos (formerly known as Jean Ganias). Under one of these names (and in neither of these bands), Synodinos was the Kerrville New Folk winner in 1996, and here she's teamed up with Steve Uhler to make some stripped-down folk music with scattered touches of blues and country. It's recorded live, not unpleasant, and unsurprising, the name and title say it all. - Christopher Hess
10-INCH MARIA
(100% Fret Free)
"Maria, I just heard a band called 10-inch Maria, and suddenly I've found..." that they are making girl-rage rock, not show tunes. This five-song EP of Concrete Blonde meets L7 is loaded with chick angst, and maybe a little too loaded as the ennui occasionally overpowers the music. - Michael Bertin
PHIL GILBERT
Britannia Coffee Lounge (Voodoo Children)
"TVZ," a quiet and heartfelt tribute to Townes Van Zandt aside, Britannia Coffee Lounge is a difficult pill to swallow. It's a gleamingly white hodge-podge of rock-riffs, horn lines, badly placed backup vocals, ill-advised synthesizers, and drum machines arranged as a whole bunch of misguided "blues" tunes. "Killeen Texas" sounds like Jon Dee Graham doing new age, "Rock and Roll Heart" is a rote anthem and an unintentional satire; the songs just don't live up to the life they describe. - Christopher Hess
"Bonus Tracks" reviews all local and Texas-related releases. Send to: "Bonus Tracks," The Austin Chronicle, PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765.
