PEEPING TOM - PEEPING TOM published July 2006, Zero Magazine

Mike Patton might as well be Austin Powers. He is an international man of mystery if there ever was one. The man surpasses genre, singing, and music as a whole with every project he puts his hands on. The latest is Peeping Tom, Patton's vision of pop music resulting in a commanding mix of alt rock and r&b sprinkled with the best elements of gangsta rap.

The collaboration king ventures out with a laundry list of talent that includes The Roots' human beatbox Rahzel, Massive Attack, Dan the Automator and jazz-textured singer Norah Jones. Some may have been under the impression that Jones was going to be uncharacteristically cursing a blue streak on one of the tracks. Instead the song "Sucker" only really has one dirty word in it but god, is it worth it. Jones' clean and skilled vocals are transformed into sublime sleaziness.

Patton's vocals are renown for their flexibility and this project only reiterates that. Remaining constant are lyrics that will make you do a double take which is again one more thing I love about Mike Patton. "I know that assholes grow on trees/ but I'm here to trim the leaves." Whether it makes you think or just giggle, who cares? This is a good album for anyone, Patton fan or not.

18 CANDLES: THE EARLY YEARS - SILVERSTEIN published July 2006, Zero Magazine

Imagine that long after The Descendants were at their peak, Milo Aukerman was dumped by a woman and while in the midst of his depression he was jumped by gang-bangers. Imagine that this happened like once a week. One of two things would happen. The Descendants would switch to death metal and tour with Cannibal Corpse because Milo would be just too pissed off to be emo/punk anymore. Or Milo would start to sound like Shane Told from Silverstein because in his extreme vulnerability he would have lost the will to rock.

Silverstein could be a solid band to those who grew up on good ol', whiney, "she left me" punk rock and this chronicling of their six-year career is good evidence of that. It adequately shows their progression over the years from emo to screamo, from crying babies to sniveling adults. It's their niche and they fit into it well and even make it their own with pleasant violin additions and a refreshing variety of tone colors. But my god. There is something in Shane Told's voice that can ruin it for you. Something that makes Silverstein seem melodramatic to the point of hilarity. If you can disregard that, you're in the clear and you can get this otherwise well put-together collection.

TOMIHIRA - PLAY DEAD published July 2006, Zero Magazine

I don't know about you but I actually miss when I when hear a band and the first thing that would strike me are the vocals. Fortunately for me and anyone else who shares my longing, Dean Tomihira has such a voice.

San Francisco Bay Area's Tomihira is a band that satisfies a masochistic sweet tooth one might have for other bands such as Joy Division or Interpol. In fact the vocals can also be said to have the likeness of other melancholy crooners such as Chris Martin and at darker moments, Peter Murphy.

Let's talk about these darker moments for this is the saving grace of Tomihira. The 80's nostalgia music movement is getting a little obese here. It seems that bands have been skulking in the woodwork, waiting for someone to finally tell them that it was ok to once again proclaim how their lives are like a black rose. Woe. Is. Me. At first glance, you could say Tomihira is in the same box yet with songs like "Maddy & Josh," the band revisits darker sonority that is completely neglected by other like-minded bands. So maybe there is hope. If this band explores the goth side of pop even a little further and without becoming just another Bauhaus, they'd be wisely redirecting an already solid and intriguing sound.

PANSY DIVISION - THE ESSENTIAL PANSY DIVISION published July 2, 2006, The Owl Mag

When other rockers were flirting with gay or bisexual undertones, Pansy Division were painting the town pink with their blatant homosexuality. This essential collection showcases the best of their trail blazing career, including rare videos and TV appearances.

Their lyrics raised a new pillar in vulgarity. They were here and queer. They didn't speak for gay rights: they just spoke the minds of gay men. But when the dust clears and the shock wears off, Pansy Division is just another great band that wrote great songs. The first time you hear "Homo Christmas," you could swear it's just another hetero punk band trying to make a stupid joke. So you laugh and feel slightly guilty. Then you realize it's just the fruit of Jon Ginoli's horny mind. And hey, why not? Nastier things have been coming out of the rap and R&B genre for decades, and it hasn't made us laugh nearly as much.