Maps & Atlases – I’d like to get this outfit a map or an atlas so maybe they could set out on the road in search of a clue. There is very little I like about this kind of music and they do it at a more annoying level than most. Hand me the screwdriver point it in the direction of my eardrum please! 1

Imperial Teen – I’m not ready to proclaim that if you don’t like Imperial Teen, there’s the fuckin door and come to think of it, it is probably more appropriate to say if you don’t like Imperial Teen, there’s the fucking BACK door, but, geez, that would be fairly gratuitous swipe. The bottom line (oops, I said bottom – a double double entendre) is that once you can get past some of the….let’s say awkwardness of the overtly gay stuff, this is a simply fantastic pop record. One of my favorites. I’ve always liked guy/girl harmonies and they sound great on this record and they don’t overdo it. I love the overall sound – so much more interesting than the alternative shit coming out at the time and I’ve always said that good songs are good songs and when they are played with enthusiasm and a degree of fun – as they are here – you’ve got a winner. 4.5

Little Stevie – Kind of like a Southside Johnny record sung by someone who really can’t sing. And there-in lies the problem. White man quasi-soul music NEEDS a competent vocalist, not just one with passion. These are listenable, but I just kept thinking how much better it would sound with Johnny Lyon singing on all of it. Stevie gets this type of music, which is a plus, because not all white man quasi soul music sounds nearly this good, but it still only gets a 3

Amy Winehouse – I guess this is great, but I don’t really have a point of reference. She obviously has a pretty good voice, these are mostly catchy, well produced songs, but eventually this bores me. Put a voice like this behind soul music that is a little more aggressive – see Detroit Cobras – and you could have something interesting. As nice as this is, I’m not looking for nice very often. If I was going to review this as a professional, it would probably get something north of a 3.5, but for my tastes, it’s a 2. One point for it not being one of Jenn’s crazy flirtations with modern music and one point for the song Rehab

Poster Children – The frustrating thing about this band, despite the fact that they are, on balance, consistently engaging is that at their best they rock out with great hooks, but too often choose to be engaging instead of great.

Tribute Band Topic

The Clash because they represent a range of styles that makes it interesting for anyone to cover them in any style. Would NEVER allow bands to merely copy the songs, but would demand that bands re-interpret the selections. Name would be He Who Fucks Nuns (those in the know will know why) and why not, as a Clash tribute record will never be popular. Encore Song – Death Or Glory of course.