CRASH STREET KIDS - Chemical Dogs
Hot City

If you're not already familiar with this great band, the subtitle of the album, The Supersonic Star Show Part II, should give you an idea of what to expect. Take the lyrical style of T Rex's Marc Bolan and put it to a Cheap Trick riff and you have "Space Rock Time Bomb;" "Space rock time bomb/Junior's got the Tommy gun/Detonate the last hurrah now." CSK have definite glam leanings but it seems that they are equally influenced by bands that are big on "show" but that you wouldn't consider glam. Singer Ryan McKay can sound a lot like Paul Stanley and much of Chemical Dogs is played in a style that could easily go head to head with Kiss. "Mandy and the Leapers" features a more eloquent vocal and sounds like something 10CC might have done back when Godley & Creme were still in the band. The group shows that they're comfortable with the spotlight dimmed a little, too, with a quiet acoustic (and Bowie-esque) number "Mr. Starlight." Mott the Hoople is the mentor for "It's a Killer" but "Penthouse," sung by bassist "Deuce" Gregory is back to a Cheap Trick buzz. It's nice to hear a band that doesn't try to do everything---Crash Street Kids have picked out a style that they obviously love and it shows in their work. Fun stuff! http://www.crashstreetkids.com

ROGER CLYNE & THE PEACEMAKERS - No More Beautiful World
(Self released)

Clyne was the leader of the Refreshments, the group that did the snappy little theme song for the TV show King of the Hill. But his "new" band the Peacemakers has been around for quite awhile now and they are well ensconced as one of the southwest's premiere party bands. Clyne is partial to taking his band down to Mexico to perform and those who make the drive down to see the show couldn't ask for a better "road trip" record than No More Beautiful World. "Hello New Day" starts off the record, all bouncy and fresh like the first 50 miles in the car while the smuggler's tale "Contraband" is a rest area stop to roll one and roll on. "Lemons" is a juicy glass of ska and a reminder that something is bound to go wrong on this little expedition; "I'm suckin' on lemons and spittin' out the seeds." "Andale" with its bit of "Day Tripper" guitar riffage is the party in full swing but alas "Hourglass" signals the end. But as Clyne points out in the last line of "Hourglass," you can turn it upside down and start again; similarly the good vibes flow every time you punch up No More Beautiful World. This package includes a bonus DVD with over an hour of video footage. http://www.azpeacemakers.com

WENSDAY - A Taste of Torch Rock
Desert Dreams

Wensday is a friend of Alice Cooper and Coop's guitarist from the early days, Dick Wagner plays on and produces this 4-song E.P. Wensday calls her music "torch rock" because the songs are about or at least done in the style of "torch songs"---songs where the singer is conflicted because she is "carrying a torch" for someone. "After You" isn't really rock at all, it's orchestrated and a bit weepy with steel guitar. "Arizona Man" is done in a similar vein but the steel is joined by fiddle and the tune veers down a dusty country road. In tribute to her pal Wensday covers Cooper's "Only Women Bleed;" Fred Mandel's organ playing giving the song a bit of a funky edge. The only real rock song here is the opening cut "The Rise and Fall of Love" and even it is on the mellow side, kind of like the sort of thing Ellen Foley did working with Meatloaf. This material is clearly aimed at a more mature audience which means that it will probably have a hard time getting on the radio, so take matters into your own hands and check it out at: http://www.wensdaymusic.com

PAISLEY YANKOLOVICH - Real Man
(Self released)

Paisley is a one man band who sings over programmed beats and synth music, he loves God and writes Him into a lot of his songs, and he's, well, a little wacky. On "Stop Smoking" Yankolovich is quite serious about tuning into the Almighty to slough off the vice but he delivers the song as if he's Devo; it's easy to imagine a campy stage show that might go along with the song---a bevy of dancing cigarettes that burn out, their last puff rising skyward in the shape of a halo. Yankolovich actually has the voice of a bluesman---a bluesman on the edge---and the unlikely juxtaposition of that voice with modern beats works nicely for him. Yankolovich works tirelessly; you can find him out performing almost every night. He's also been known to give away his music; check it out at http://www.paisleyyankolovich.com

blessthefall - His Last Walk
Science

This Scottsdale-based five-piece screamo outfit has landed a spot on this year's Warped Tour. There's plenty of high-energy music here, full of throat-ripping vocals, stinging guitar leads and thunderous machine-gun drumming. But the boys aren't afraid of showing their tamer side; a dreamy, orchestrated instrumental break in the middle of "Guys Like You Make Us Look Bad" is downright pretty, a term usually not used to describe screamo. Also starting out in a mellower groove is "Pray;" the song mostly foregoes the screams in favor of regular vocals but builds up to a big crescendo where the guitars wail like Iron Maiden and the screams finally kick in. These guys sound good working in this vein but His Last Walk makes it clear that blessthefall can take their sound in any direction they choose at any time. http://www.myspace.com/blessthefall

JON RAUHOUSE - Steel Guitar Heart Attack
Bloodshot

Rauhouse has long had an affiliation with the Tucson scene and an affinity for music that just sounds great in the Sonoran Desert. The album starts off with two great western swing numbers, "Idaho" and the self-penned "Bongo Ride." While Rauhouse's steel is the star throughout, he shares the spotlight with lots of guests. Sally Timms takes the vocal on the simmering "I'll Be Seeing You" while Kelly Hogan checks in on the Marty Robbins classic "Big Iron." Neko Case is aboard too ("East of the Sun") as are Joey Burns, John Convertino and Jacob Valenzuela of Calexico. Rauhouse shows off his prowess on banjo on another self-penned tune, the rollicking bluegrass number "5 After 5" and closes out the album playing Hawaiian guitar and singing "The Fishin' Hole," a song you'll no doubt recognize as the theme song to the old Andy Griffith Show. http://www.jonrauhouse.com

ROSEBUD - Rosebud
(Self released)

Rosebud start off their extended player with "My Girl," an ode to a valium-popping, vodka-swilling sweetie who swears that "Elvis is not dead after all." The song's subject might be a little crazy but the song itself is the embodiment of radio-ready rock'n'roll---strong lead vocals, nice harmonies and a catchy melody. The production here is crystal-clear too which is a good thing when you deal in power-pop like Rosebud's. Just about everything here is about breaking-up or getting some on the run, subjects that are near and dear to these fellows and their primary audience. There are only 6 songs on this E.P. but it's loaded up with good stuff---it'll be interesting to hear what Rosebud come up with as they get a little older. http://www.myspace.com/rosebud

Well that's it for this episode of Hot. Remember to tune in again soon and please do visit our friends the Loveblisters for some sophisticated rock http://www.myspace.com/theloveblisters and our other friends, Johnny Blood and the Transfusions, who will kick your ass, punk. http://www.myspace.com/johnnybloodandthetransfusions