Do You Feel It Baby?
The Captivating Sounds Of Question Mark?
And The Mysterians (Norton Records)

O.K.! Hop into Question Mark's Time Machine, and travel back, back, back... to Coney Island High on St. Mark's Place, October 25th, 1997! But then... travel even further back, to the fabulous 1960's, not the 1960's of misinformed '90's lore (which was actually a time called the "early '70's"), but the real 1960's; a nitty-gritty time when theories of Peace and Love got put to a lot of hard tests at the end of cop's night-sticks, "Redneck's" burly fists, and the bayonets of the National Guard. A time when a young man whose hair went below his ears was considered a Freak in 99% of these United States, Founding Fathers and Jesus Christ notwithstanding! A time when broad social issues could find their expression focused in the passion of one night: the one ahead of you!

Remarkably, this immediacy is still palpable on "Do You Feel It Baby!?", a "live" record untainted by the poisonous influences of the present decade. It is as though Question Mark and his bandmates have just stepped out of a time machine, or perhaps off a spaceship back from Mars, as to look at them you can see they've certainly been somewhere for the last thirty years, even if evidently not on earth! But to listen to them, no, it must be the time machine!

Question Mark's voice is amazingly supple for a man entering his fifth decade, if anything it has improved, while retaining the youthful angst and vigor so evident on "96 Tears". His delivery and phrasing are excellent. Wonderfully, he does not surpass the Mysterians. Incredibly, this is the original line-up. In Rock and Roll, musical knowledge is somewhat like nuclear weapons, a dangerous power that you don't want to use unless you have to! Despite years of experience with their respective instruments, evident in their finess,the Mysterians never overplay (or underplay), but deliver their punchy pop-rock-soul repertoire with panache and good taste. Bobby Balderrama's incisive guitar interplays gracefully with the signature organ of Little Frank Rodriguez. Robert Martinez's drums never lag, but propel each song forward without ever rushing the beat. And Frank Lugo's bass is always on the money, solid, dependable, and groovey baby! As youngsters these men enjoyed national success, and, in later years, the kind of immortality conveyed on those who make a permanent impact on American culture. Unlike other artists of their generation who chase the fleeting spectre of fashion in an attempt to recapture mass popularity, Question Mark and the Mysterians understand the value and quality of what they were doing in the first place, and don't attempt to fix what isn't broken.

Incidentally, this record sounds great! Recorded at the Cavestomp Festival last winter, with the Krispy Kreme Recording Mobile Unit, and produced by David Mann and Jon Weiss (ex-Vipers), with the Mysterians, all the instruments retain their classic sounds: the snare is cracking, the bass guitar fat and round, the guitar alternately biting and clean or aggressively thick and fuzzy, the organ bouyant and melodic. The production is enjoyably "krisp", full, and balanced, with Question Mark's emotive vocals on top. There isn't a weak track on the disc, although "Can't Get Enough Of You Baby", with it's reprise of the famous "96 Tears" lick, "Do Something To Me", genuine bubblegum, no additives!, and "Love Me Baby (Cherry July)", Tex-Mex soul, are among the standouts. This record is a gas, but don't take my word for it! Buy this disc!

Charles E. Hall

Hear ? and the Mysterians

• Make You Mine(.wav 247k)

SUPERNOVA-Self Titled-CD (Amphetamine Reptile Records)

Those 3 swinging spacemen from Cynot 3 are back with a new CD packed full of fun punk. As on their Full length debut AGES 3 AND UP, Supernova play it fast, loose and silly, covering all the issues that matter; purple ponies, phone sex, barnyard animals, mommies and an ode to that chocolate cream filled confection, Ding-Dongs. Plunk down some foil and pick it up today.

Johnny Pontiac

DICTATORS - Who Will Save Rock & Roll/The Savage Beat-45 (Norton Records)

Two fine doses of Dictator tuneage inhabit this lovely little slab. The first cut, "Who Will Save Rock and Roll", is a fantastic mid-tempo number, which has the Dictators hallmark sound stamped all over it. Who will save rock and roll? The Dictators, and if the A side weren't enough to prove it then the flipside , "The Savage Beat" surely will.

Johnny Pontiac

THE QUEERS- Everything's OK-7 EP (Hopeless Records)

The Queers latest release serves up a four course meal consisting of everything you've come to expect from them; tight playing, great production and above all, catchy hooks. The first 3 courses are Queers originals, but save room for desert, an amazing cover of the Banana Splits' "I Enjoy Being A Boy". Ever since Brian Wilson sidled up as an influence, alongside the ever-present Ramones, the Queers have sounded better than ever. Dig in.

Johnny Pontiac

THE REVILLOS- Totally Alive- LP (Sympathy For The Record Industry)

The Revillos, possibly the greatest B-Movie come to life as a band, played a reunion show in 1996 and this album documents it. I've never been a big fan of live albums, but this one cuts straight through. Judging by the album, it must have been one hell of a show. All the Revillos/Rezillos best are on here, Motorbike Beat, Good Sculptures, Flying Saucer Attack, Yeah Yeah, Destination Venus, Where's The Boy For MeŠ plus a slew of other great Revillos songs. Totally Alive really makes me wish I had been there. If you're a Revillos fan it will make you wish so too, if you're not, this is a great introduction to the band. Also released by Sympathy is a 4 song 7" EP that features 2 cuts from the album plus two non-album B-sides.

Johnny Pontiac

James Brown- Dead on the Heavy Funk (Polygram)

This double CD set which traverses a pivotal period both in the history of American music and in the tumultuous life of the Godfather of Soul (1975 - 1983) is a must purchase for anyone who appreciates the finest in nasty fonk music. In the mid-to-late 1970's, soul and funk were falling off the charts, disco was on the rise and James Brown was fighting for his very life. The JB's left him, the IRS was on his back, his record company, Polydor, wasn't happy and he was being replaced on the charts by the very bands and rhythms he had directly influenced. Despite these hardships, James Brown would not be denied In his words, "I started Disco. It's easy for me." The meeting of James Brown's traditionally funky beats and rhythms and the new era of dance floor disco flavor is evident on almost every track of this album. Starting with the twelve minute "Sex Machine Part I and II" (1975), the last effort of the Fred Wesley/Maceo Parker JB's, a greater emphasis on guitar and synthesizer (a la Stevie Wonder) but without forgetting the horns, this album exemplifies the Godfather's ability to grow with and shape the public's taste for disco while keeping his feet rooted in basic soul spanking rhythms. But make no mistake, this album is, in the words of Rickey Vincent, "fonk from the Funkschool, not the 'soulschool'. Does it carry the weight? Let your booty make the final call."

Alex Kriney

Dusty Springfield- the very best of (Mercury)

What can you really say about the "very best of Dusty Springfield?" It's a shame that the younger generation isn't familiar with Dusty Springfield. Dusty, besides being a magic performer, came out of a magic time; the 60's. She has become one of the symbols of the 60's, and she had one of the most unique looks of the 60's. That teased up frozen hair, and those thick false eye lashes, and those empire waistline dresses. Let's not forget the pink or white lipstick. Put all of that together with her sultry "Blue Eyed" soul voice, and you have one of the most unique artists of all time. I advice anyone who is not familiar with Dusty Springfield to buy this CD. I guarantee hours of musical enjoyment. If you don't get what Dusty was all about, you're either dead or too retarded to recognize true talent.

Jayne County

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