By: Carlos Aranibar
Rating: 7/11

Remember the kid with a mustache in fifth grade who went around bashing in everyone’s faces?  Yeah, that’s pretty much what it feels like to hear South Central’s very own Pristine.  “The Seams of Why” was the song playing as my lower lip was pierced by my incisors.

And then I remember crossing paths with the same kid leaving the school grounds later that week.  I expected another thumping but he looked me dead in the eye and offered an apology.  Taken aback by his somber humanity, I accepted his truce.  “Milligrams for Migraine” wafted through the afternoon air from the loudspeakers on the passing ice cream. 

Pristine Kills exhibits much control and maturity in their music.  Some songs dabble in pop/rock with catchy vocals and upbeat guitar riffs while other songs emphasize the punk with scratchy, metal-like vocals and a heavy drumbeat.  They can tear it up one second then coo and comfort their audience the next. Definitely worth a listen and the price of admission.  But remember to bring a first aid kit.

By: Carlos Aranibar
Rating: 2/11

If my current lack of facial hair and relatively low blood toxicity are signs that I’ve become a square, then the fact that I just couldn’t get into LA’s jam band, Underground Orchestra, is further evidence that I’ve become a walking IKEA ad.

There’s nothing that stands out about UO. The musicians sound talented enough. The music flows well enough to surely keep people gyrating, eyes closed, dirty blonde dreadlocks swaying. But it just doesn’t sound any different than other bands. Their songs play and play, but there are no sudden changes in tempo, no mind-blowing solos, no nasally vocalist to make it interesting.

When listening to music, it’s fun to listen for possible influences, either inferred by my own cognition or because the band covers a tune by a favorite artist. With Underground Orchestra, there are no interesting back stories or reference points, nothing gripping or exciting. It simply sounds like a good practice session that ran over a bit too long.

By: Jay Scott Goldberg
Rating: 7/11

At a chance encounter at a Hollywood Halloween party, the three musicians comprising The Reveal immediately took a creative test spin and booked an open mic gig to see if they would vibe well together. Now, just a few months later, here they are, notebooks overflowing with original songs. The band is currently on the look out for a lead guitarist, their “George” as they like to say. They hope to find their fourth member soon, but in the meantime they are not letting anything get in their way.

In only a few short months, The Reveal has created many original tunes and put their own spin on some familiar cover songs. The band is always ready to hit the stage and is currently booking gigs. For more information and a great selection of tunes, check out their myspace.