Mr. Doctor - Bloccstyle 2 (18922720712)

Mr. Doctor is a well established artist from Sacramento, Ca. He started his career with Brotha Lynch Hung from Black Market Records and went on to featuring in "Season Of The Siccness". He was then signed to Black Market Records and released his first solo album titled "Setripn' Bloccstyle" that sold over 100,000 units to date. Mr. Doctors has over 2000,000 soundscans in his career and has released two more solo albums a "Best of" to reach that number.

reviewed by the Minister of Information - Stephen Schnee

The Simpson's Movie

I can't imagine that anyone at Fox realized what they were unleashing when they put The Simpsons on as a Prime Time cartoon some 20 odd years ago. Years and years of fans have made the movie a smash hit, taking in over 75 million dollars in its first week.

Sunday Morning Songs (094635517729)

2007 double disc perfect for those relaxing Sundays recovering from a crazy Saturday night out on the town or coming down from an extra long workweek. No matter how active (or inactive) a person is, everyone needs to take a few moments and just reflect and enjoy their surroundings and this is the perfect soundtrack for it. 37 musically calming moments from artists like Brian Eno, Jose Gonzalez, Air, Athlete, The Zutons, KT Tunstall, Crowded House, Pink Floyd, Jeff Buckley, Roxy Music, Blur, Corinne Bailey Rae, Kate Bush, The Beach Boys, Norah Jones, Coldplay and many others. Virgin TV.

reviewed by the Minister of Information - Stephen Schnee

TOWNCRAFT (88113100083)

Every city should have it’s own music scene, whether it’s Punk, Metal, Jazz or Country. Local music scenes help keep music alive and they bring likeminded people together to have fun, to create and to live. This outstanding package (DVD + two CDs + 56 page book) focuses it’s sights on the Little Rock, Arkansas music scene and not only proves that local music scenes are vital to the community but also shows that the world missed a lot of great times in Little Rock during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s (and beyond). Although I lived through the original Punk and New Wave scenes in L.A. and O.C. during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, I’ve always had a desire….a NEED…to explore music and scenes that had passed me by as I grew into ‘adulthood’. Within the first few moments of this film, I was hooked and fascinated. Not only did this Punk scene happen in Little Rock a good decade after it had taken over the major East and West Coast cities, but it helped to keep Punk alive when all but a few labels had given up on it years before. With actual footage from gigs and interviews with the scene’s key players, Towncraft explores the attraction of the music, the power of expression and the importance of community all in one package called a ‘music scene’. Apart from Econochrist and Trusty, not many of these bands made it outside of their local scene and many of them deserved to. The two CDs span 20 years of Little Rock’s scene and features many of the bands that are included in the film plus so much more. 40 tracks, each filled with more spirit than a high school cheerleading team! The book features memories and short essays by many of the scene’s key players , photos and more. If you are a local music supporter, a Punk fan, an Alternative fan of just like music, you must own this. If you miss the local music scene of your youth, then you’ll find yourself whisked back to a time when music was life and life was all about music. It looks like those times never ended in Little Rock. I’m booking the next flight out there! (MATSON FILMS)

reviewed by the Minister of Information - Stephen Schnee

THE SECRET MEETING/Ultrashiver (80845880002)

The Secret Meeting is kaRIN and Statik from Collide joining forces with Dean Garcia, formerly of the UK Britpop shoegazers Curve. Some would call their music ‘Gothic Electronica’ but there is so much more to The Secret Meeting than meets the ear on the first listen. The word ‘Gothic’ conjures up images of darkness, hopelessness and torment. The Secret Meeting, on the other hand, create atmospheric sounds that swirl around like Electro-Psychedelia, allowing enough light in to create shadows within the textures of their music. Their ethereal vibe and warm production breathes hope into Modern Rock and vocalist kaRIN, with her Kate Bush-like coo, creates a mood that casts away demons instead of drawing them in. So, in essence, Gothic they ain’t! Their songs are rhythmic without being classified as ‘Dance Music’ although you can actually move along with the infectious grooves that seem to gravitate within the context of each song. The first set of songs, produced by Garcia, are more guitar heavy than Statik’s productions on the second half of the album, but the mood that each set of songs creates an underlying tension that continues to build throughout the album, although the tension is never too much and there are moments of beauty around every corner that helps to relieve that tension. There are highpoints on the album including ‘Every Little Thing’, ‘Shooting Laser Beams’ and ‘Touch’ but this is a work that is best heard as a whole. (NOISEPLUS MUSIC)

reviewed by the Minister of Information - Stephen Schnee

KIM RICHEY/Chinese Boxes (01570798232)

For her first album in five years and her first for the Vanguard label, you’d think that Richey would play by the rules. In the past, she’s been called a Country artist and a Folk artist, or a cross between the two. With a dozen years of playing the music business game and becoming a songwriter of note, you’d think that she would offer Vanguard a damn good Folk album, right? Well, she did put together a damn good album alright, but Folk it ain’t! Chinese Boxes is an absolutely splendid Pop/Rock album filled with great melodies and Richey’s beautiful, heartfelt vocals right out in front. Yes, it’s still an acoustic-based album, but producer Giles “Son Of George” Martin adds Wurlitzer, horns, harpsichords and layers of warmth that wrap around the listener like their favorite security blanket on a cold night. Richey’s perfect, crystal-clear voice adds so much depth and emotion to the songs. “I Will Follow”, “Jack And Jill” and the title track are instantly memorable, but this is one album that you will not find any filler. There are 10 songs, each with it’s own purpose and each one of them a real gem in Richey’s crown. If you’re looking for something that’s mature, a little bit sweet but has real substance, then check out Chinese Boxes. (VANGUARD)

reviewed by the Minister of Information - Stephen Schnee

JUNIOR SENIOR/Hey Hey M My Yo Yo (01443109272)

Finally, a U.S. release for this irresistible album from the Danish duo, released four years on from their American debut D-D-Don’t Stop The Beat. This sophomore album was originally unleashed nearly two years ago in their homeland, but the production and overall sound of the album has not dated at all. Junior Senior knows that you can’t spell ‘funky’ without the ‘fun’ and they offer huge amounts of fun to this mix. Like their debut, the duo mix dance, Hip Hop (more Old-School than New School), Pop and Funk into an upbeat musical buffet that offers new tastes and twists with each track. Yeah, it can get silly at times, but this album is so full of good vibrations that it’ll charm you into submission before you realize it. There’s Motown beats, Funk guitar, Disco strings, fabulous harmonies, Bubblegum hooks and so much more on display here. Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson from The B-52s pop up on the glorious ‘Take My Time”, a feel-good single for those looking for a light in the dark. This U.S. version even includes a bonus CD featuring seven brand new songs! Plus, any band that has a song called “Hip Hop A Lula” deserves your attention. (RYKODISC)

reviewed by the Minister of Information - Stephen Schnee

COPPERPOT/WYLA? (82848100035)

Indie Hip Hop is where it’s at. On the surface, it seems that Copperpot’s WYLA? (What’re You Looking At?) is an Urban album through and through: great jams, killer Raps and inventive samples galore plus guest appearances from KRS-One, Masta Ace and Rodney P. But look a little closer and you’ll notice that this sly release also features members of Tortoise offering musical support for this Chicago Hip Hop artist! What? Tortoise and KRS-One on the same album? Yeah, that’s brilliant! And British rapper Braintax makes one hell of an impression on “Demo” (you’ve got to hear this one!). Vocalist Valeska Jakobowizcz’s turn on the mic during “I Put A What” pulls the album in yet another direction. With all these guest appearances, Copperpot never gets lost in the mix. It’s his party and he’s in control, but he makes sure that everyone in the room is having a great time under his supervision. Although some of the language might earn the album a PA sticker, this is no Gangsta Rap album. This is a refreshing, unique Indie Hip Hop album that has an agenda, but certainly not an iron fist. And like all good Indie and Underground Hip Hop, it’s an album that invites the listener in instead of scaring them away. This one will appeal to Hip Hop and Indie kids alike. That’s always a good thing.

reviewed by the Minister of Information - Stephen Schnee

SARAH BORGES & THE BROKEN SINGLES/Diamonds In The Dark (01589140282)

This is Borges’ second album, and first for Sugar Hill, and it’s like an aural date with the coolest chick in class. Diamonds In The Dark is fun, spirited and extremely entertaining on all levels. Sarah and her band, The Broken Singles, play Rock ‘N’ Roll mixed with Country, a little Rockabilly and some Blues, all laced with melodies that were sent from heaven. The opening kicker, “The Day We Met”, is cotton-pickin’ fun with a girl that sounds like she’s frequented every Rock and Honky-Tonk bar in her hometown of Boston and has still managed to retain her innocence and charm. “Stop And Think It Over” is one of the greatest Power Pop songs written in the last two decades. This track could have been on an early Phil Seymour or Dwight Twilley album with its killer hooks coming at you from all sides.. Even when the beat slows down to a gentle shuffle, Sarah and the band sound like they’re having fun. They take their craft seriously, but they realize that making music is fun…and it shows. Other highpoints include “Modern Trick”, the bluesy “Come Back To Me”, “False Eyelashes” and “Blind Love”. Whether you want to call it Rock, Americana, Country or Alt.Country, just make sure you get your hands on a copy.

reviewed by the Minister of Information - Stephen Schnee