J Mascis Martin and

Me (Reprise): The voice of Dinosaur Jr., live, solo, playing a poorly-tuned

guitar. Charming, actually.

Smegma the Mad Excitement, The

Barbaric Pulsations, the Incomparable Rhythms of...Smegma (Tim Kerr): Not

what you'd expect from a band with this name: weird psychedelic everybody-solo

jazzy instrumentals.

Underworld Underworld: Second Toughest of

the Infants (TVT Records) Reminds me of when I was a young hacker, grooving

in after-hours clubs while my loving-but-uninvolved mother thought I was

baby-sitting, whizzing through cyberspace breaking into super-secret systems

and falling in love with the sexy-but-aloof computer-savvy hipster in my

English class.

Torcher, Home (Tim Kerr): Elastica and Heather Nova

tossed in an Osterizer and blended to the consistency of a lumpy

milkshake.

Borax, Kinky Krunchy Porno Monkey (Throbbing Cop):

Not only is it hands-down the best album title of the decade, but it's

got an infectious (and I choose that word carefully) blend of early-'80s punk,

the humor of Oingo Boingo, and a little sarcastic Okieness just to throw you

off.

Beatrice Nine, little stars hung upside down (Zero

Hour): Tight guitar, deep bass, awkward lyrics. Definite, yet subtle, Mermen

influence. Could be enjoyable, but those lyrics...kept expecting them to laugh,

stop playing and say "No, no, just kidding.