Bonus Tracks

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THE GOOD MEDICINE BAND

Spirit of the Sharecroppers (Captive Audience)

Maybe the pairing of the words "urban" and "cowboy" isn't always a bad thing. The Good Medicine Band isn't peddling any wares on their debut CD that an Eagles fan couldn't stomach, but there isn't anything on Spirit of the Sharecroppers that wouldn't ring true while being plucked on the back porch, either. -- Ken Lieck

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STEAMROLLER

Cabin Fever (Redwood)

Although Kevin Dodd and Michael McLellan's quirky songwriting could almost be Cake/Ben Folds Five catchy, Steamroller's biggest problem is a matter of phrasing and influence. Simply put, the Steamroller 4 sounds a helluva lot like the Soulhat 3. -- Andy Langer

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SCREWTAPE

Tiny Me Trip (Trivia's Daughter)

This is a little like those old Reese's commercials: "Hey, you got your Seventies art rock in my alternative" and; "Hey, you got your alternative in my Seventies art rock." As far as flavors go, these are not the most complementary of tastes, but they do make a mildly interesting combination.
-- Michael Bertin

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THE LIVE PSYCHICS

There's a lot of Stevie on this cassette release, and there's plenty of dirt in the low-down, which is good. Too bad it's the same groove song after song after song. -- Michael Bertin

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NAVIN'S THERMOS

The trainwreck that is modern ska, a crash site where funk and metal are among the mangled bodies, currently evinces no survivors -- not even this energetic local quintet, whose six-song tape derails despite Kristi Moreno's underused alto sax and Sammy Rios' slide trombone. Without federal regulation, the tragedy that is ska will continue.
-- Raoul Hernandez

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THE STOCKMEN

On their debut CD, the Stockmen play the Jack Ingram and Jackopierce market way too often, brokering sorry Texas clichés, stiff performances, and stale production. But for what it's worth, both Jacks made equally bad albums when they were in college too. -- Andy Langer

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K.P. DEVLIN

Scarecrow Land (Manhattan Mule)

He's come to Texas from NYC via parts unknown with a swagger in his voice and an edge to his pen that will definitely raise eyebrows. Round these parts, though, that kind of shit better be backed up, knowhuddamean? Strong steel (guitar) and a quick wit give him an edge, though there's no reason to head for the hills just yet. -- Christopher Hess

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DEATH OF MILLIONS

Frozen (Texas Death)

While it's notable that Frozen was produced by Agony Column in their basement, what more is there to say about a cassette that opens with "Abortion Retrieval," hits its stride with "Salvational Rot," and closes with "Ceremonial Rites"? It's death metal, love it or hate it. -- Andy Langer

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MARY MELENA

Something Passing Through (Waterbug)

Most noticeable is the guitar playing, which at times is nothing short of stunning. Melena uses classical technique to tell her folk stories, which are full of mature observations and poignant anecdotes. She tries to push beyond this arena into the realm of jazz and blues, a journey that is wisely cut short and mostly shows her strength in the classical vein. -- Christopher Hess

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"Bonus Tracks" reviews all Texas-related releases. Send to: "Bonus Tracks," The Austin Chronicle, PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765