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3> PETE YORN JIlllsicfol'tilcmol'lling'lft.el' (Colmnbia Rm;ol'ds. 2001) The album opens with "Life on a Chain," and whether it's the Pink Floydesque intro or the pull of the lyrics, "I hadn't time to regret you, and I was waiting over here for life to begin," the songwriting is a lonely, wrought reflection on a lot of relationships gone bad. Whether it is Yorn lamenting the girl still around or yearning for the girl just gone, the smell of smoke and the taste of bourbon is never far off. The music is a refreshing blend of crisp acoustic riffs, electric rushes of angst and wallowing harmonicas. While the elec- tric guitar never steeps as rich as Lou Reed, you can hear hints along with Obscured by Clouds Floyd, mid-80s Cure, and even bits of Neil Young and 199y Pop. 4> RES How I Do (MCA Hecol'ds, ;WO 1) Res (rhymes with peace) gives a heartfelt expression of spiritual optimism pulled from knowing both joy and blues. On "Tsunami" she makes clear, ''I'm gOing to live and let for- give things said in spite; clear out the smoke and usher in the light." Her soulful vocals blend with marching drums, cymbals and a straight shot of rolling funk guitar licks. She is self-assured and not afraid to tear back the curtains on bullshit hype and misguided faith. This is an R&B soul-hop album with hints of Lauren Hill, Alycia Keys and maybe even Julee Cruise. At one point, Res purrs "What's your soul taste like baby?" How I Do may be a taste of hers. 5> SOULIVE Doin' Sl1lll('lhlllg (mIlt Noh' H(!(;(")l'lls. :.!OOl) Part of the Blue Note stable, these guys are making waves in the jazz world (a leap ahead from the Acid Jazz revisionism of Groove Collective and other mid-gos bands), as well as packing dance halls with throngs of noodling "heads." The brothers from Moon Boot Lover added a horn, kept Al Green's inspiration at the roots and headed into territory all their own. Fundamentally a jazz trio, their bumpin' cred flows from the same vein as Karl Denson's. Their name says everything about their sound, with funk, soul and jazz collid- ing in a tightly stuffed musical pomegranate. As a three-piece, these guys playa room full of music; plug any other musician into the mix (as they've done with Talib Kweli and Robert Randolph on separate occasions) and the results are not to be missed. 6> THE LIVING END RoIl all (R. prise lkCOl'ds "000) While this band was rocking at home in native Melbourne, Australia, we were growing concerned that the Strokes would be the only great thing to happen to rock 'n' roll last year. Fortunately The Living End found their way into our living space. This is a three- piece punk rockabilly band that comes as close to an anthem rock band as anyone you've wanted to hear in a while. The array of influences that litters this album is dizzying. Whether it's Electric-era Cult on "Don't Shut the Gate," or the nod to ska on "Dirty Man," this music touches everything from the Sex Pistols to the Ramones to the Stray Cats. Think Green Day with the Edge pulling pages from U2'S song book-only the rebels on this album are drunk uncles pissing in the bathtub. Scratching Grizzly· Growth Chart 58" x 25" • $18.00 Wildlight Press 1,800,729,5302 The Last Wilderness • Book 160 pages • $25.00 Bear in Water • Poster 24" x 32" • $30.00