PusciferV is for VaginaPuscifer EntertainmentFour out of five stars
Akin to fellow experimental music icon Mike Patton’s foray into avant-garde sex music, Lovage, Pusicfer’s debut album, is a bizarre glimpse into the subconscious maelstrom of Tool mastermind Maynard James Keenan. However, where Lovage gleaned inspiration from early funk and soul, foreign lounge and hip-hop production, Puscifer journeys into dark recesses of minor melody and industrial percussion — at times flirting with the macabre strains of Patton’s classic horror score covers (“Drunk with Power”). The darkness gets darkest over electronic playgrounds “The Undertaker” and “Indigo Children.” V is for Vagina is an excellent endeavor into the shadier corners of human nature as it provides an intriguing behind-the-music-esque glimpse into one of heavy music’s most important luminaries.
The Color FredBend to BreakEqual Vision RecordsThree out of five stars
Some will recognize Fred Mascherino from his work with recent limelighters Taking Back Sunday. Others will recognize him from his time spent with avant-indie rockers Breaking Pangaea. The endearingly open-hearted storytelling of Mascherino’s solo endeavor, The Color Fred, promises to befriend all who come in contact. Consistently clever and ultra catchy, Bend to Break is built upon power pop songwriting a la Weezer and heartstring-tugging lyricism reminiscent of early Saves the Day. The driving pop sound is nicely diced by piano ballad “It Isn’t Me” and folksy acoustic ballad “I’ll Never Know.” Although The Color Fred breaks no new ground, its consistency turns out to be its greatest strength, yielding classic pop without the classic error of overthinking.
SandpeopleHonest RacketSelf-ReleasedThree out of five stars
Honest Racket is an excellent hip-hop record. That said, casting 10 talented emcees and DJs across 16 tracks can cause some identity issues to arise. As skilled as each one of these Portland-area hip-hop aficionados is, it becomes tough to distinguish each voice amidst such an outpouring of creativity. “Real Estate” and “All In Your Head” stand out with otherworldly insights from Living Legends’ The Grouch and Boot Camp Clik’s Sean Price, respectively. Fans of the recent rising stars of the Rhymesayers and Def Jux camps definitely take note, because Sandpeople might just be the next reigning hip-hop clan.