New Releases

Scots Pirates, Revolutionary Means, Schoolkids' Records It's easy to make mediocre rock music: an electric guitar, an electric bass, a massive drum kit, pedestrian lyrics, a muddy production, and an element of musical bravura. Great rock music requires much more. Not to claim that every cut on Scots Pirates' new CD Revolutionsry Means is a rock masterpiece, but every cut on this recording does contain elements found in great rock music. First, great rock music is a sound- a combination of instrumentation and production. Itrequiresascreamng electric guitar, a booming amplified bass guitar, and a ringing drum kit It is the sound of electricé that defines the energy, power and aural quality so important to the genre. Besidesexceptional musicianship, great rock music also depends on the ensemble working as a unit, understanding both the abilities of the bandmates and the aesthetic they are trying to acheive. It is this unified visión and understanding that separates the great rock groups and theirmusic from the mediocre. For instance, Led Zeppelin's rock music is more than guitarist-extraordinaire Jimmy Page. The power and definitive mastery of their music is equally due to their brilliant drummer John Bonham and the superlative bassist John Paul Jones. Simliarly R.E.M. 's rock music is memorable not because of Michaels Stipe's singingor lyrics but becauseof the way the group workstogetheron the music. Likewise, Bruce Springsteen's work has never been as strong as when he worked with the masterful rock semble, the E-Street Band. There the band augmented his musical visión with the aural power of rock. And contrary to some critics' assertions, much ofthechemistryofthe Rolling Stones' sound is gone with the absence of bassist Bill Wyman. Great rock music also needs to say something both lyrically and musically. It has to make a statement - be it through musicianship, energy, and drive; a musical hook; an inspired lyrical phrase; or an tudethatchallengesthelistener- which transcendsthe hackneyed. And no matter how the statement is made, great rock music must use thundering power chords, searing guitar wails, heavy rhythmic bass lines, and bone-crunchng drumming. Great rock music must be electric. From the opening of Revolutbnary Means - the electric feedback-laden wah-wah guitarlicks on thefirstcut, 88, through the ethereal siren-guitar squeals found on Flawed Diamonds, it is clearthat this ensemble understands the defining element of rock music. From the ensemble's tightness, it is likewise clearthat Gary Rassumussen on bass; Scott Asheton and Johnny Arizonaondrums;Scott Morgan, Bobby East and Mike Katon on guitar; and KathyDeschaineonvocals;understand the nee essity of ásense of cameraderie and single visión a great rock band must have. Stylisitically, each song on this album seems have a musical antecedent Not to cali them derivative, but some tunes do have the similar guitar harmonies found in many of the great southem rock ensembles of the earty seventies, e.g., The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Some songs have hooks like those found in the late '60s British groups Traffic and Ten Years After. You'll hear more than one passing musical reference to Jimi Hendrix on virtually every cut But this album is by no means a throw-back. On the contrary, the energy, power and drive found on the up-tempoed Stick to Your Guns and Lover's Leap put Scots Pirates in a class by themselves. Scots Pirates make great rock music. A real strength of Revoluthnary Means is the audio production. This recording is a sonic gem. The vocals are clearand distinct, the guitars are evenly balanced, the bass line is succinct and the drums are centered perf ectly. Scott Morgan and Gary Rassmussen seem to understand the point of exceptional audio production - to present the music as uncluttered as possible. Each time I listen to this recording it getsstronger. Upon one listen thedrumming of Scott Asheton and Johnny Arizonadominates, the next time its the contrapuntal work of bassist Gary Rasmussen, orthe soaring harmony of Kathy Deschaine. This recording is a real joy. I recommend it wholeheartedly.