Choice Cuts: March 2005

Artist: GYM CLASS HEROES

Album: The Papercut Chronicles

The Scoop: Now that the Judgment Night soundtrack-"Judgment Niiiiiiight!"-has faded well into history, it's again fashionable to combine hip-hop acts with rock bands. In a perfect world, Jay-Z would have retired before he and those tortured little dudes in Linkin Park had their meeting of the accountants...er, minds. Meeting of the minds. But as flawed as these marriages so often are, the idea of crossbreeding between the genres isn't a bad one. Gym Class Heroes attest to this, playing an organic style that weds an old-school hip-hop flow to live instruments and homemade beats. It's certainly refreshing to nod along to a smart beat that isn't simply looped and recycled from some great song from 30 years ago. Frontman/MC Schleprock (whose chosen moniker is an apparent salute to the 90's Bay Area punkers of the same name) has a crisply articulate, mellow flow and, even better, has some interesting stories to tell. There is room for improvement: Schleprock is witty and charismatic, and he turns a lot of well-crafted phrases, but he also hits a few sophomoric snags, and the band sometimes drifts out into some prosaic college-band funk. But The Papercut Chronicles is a skillful and valiant attempt at carving out a safe haven in a genre that's been a bit of a minefield.

Highlight Tracks: "Papercuts" and "Petrified Life and the Twice Told Joke / Decrepit Bricks"

For More Info: Jump to http://www.gymclassheroes.com

Artist: CASTLE OLDCHAIR

Album: Sad Pants

The Scoop: As a music fan, the only thing more thrilling than meeting a band that bowls you over is meeting a whole label that bowls you over. A well-stuffed introductory envelope from Standard Recording Co. has been one of my inbox highlights from the first part of 2005. They aren't tied to a genre, but fans of Americana and clever singer-songwriters would do well to seek out their stamp. The best of the batch was Castle Oldchair's folksy Sad Pants. Though his songs are relatively simple, Oldchair is a compelling and off-kilter songwriter, sometimes sounding like a missing Oldham brother. "Swallowing Stars" is the clearest take-off on the earthy Anomoanon vibe, while the buoyant "Speaking of Diamonds" has an echo of the wounded warble of J Mascis. Oldchair's tales and characters are often memorable (especially "Joanne Creasy"), and nothing besides the intro/outro sounds weird for weird's sake.

Highlight Tracks: "Sad Pants" and "Speaking of Diamonds"

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