[ Music Index | San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]

Audiofile Brickhead Self-titled Self-produced Delivering bratty indie-styled pop with a punk flavor, this local fourpiece has a knack for writing super-catchy material. Featuring Moe on vocals, Bobush on guitar, Marlon on bass and Alex on drums, Brickhead specializes in a crunchy, bouncy sound that's perfect for radio. Full of melody, Brickhead's songs fall in the same pop vein as bands like Oakland's the Chums (which got ripped off by radio darlings Third Eye Blind). The standouts on Brickhead's six-song album are the lively "Seven Days" and "Pig," with its hooky lyrics: "Why are you so blind and stupid?/Why don't I answer the phone?/I want to touch your new girlfriend/The one who is drunk and in my bed." (Sarah Quelland) Dreams of the Fall Self-titled Tristessa Records Opening like an interlude from an Anne Rice novel--dark, orchestral, romantic and mysterious--Dreams of the Fall conveys the mood of serenity in a graveyard. The atmosphere is chilly, the instrumentals eerie and the lyrics isolating: "You look so pretty when you're all alone" (from "Absolution"). The album brings elements of the Smiths, the Cure and other melancholy artists to its palette and expresses a strong sense of longing. Made up of former Spitkiss guitarist James Perry, current Spitkiss bassist Jason Shaw and vocalist Benja, the band moves dramatically through synthesized soundscapes. Still, it's the sorrowful instrumentals that are captivating; the dismal vocals contribute little to the band's allure. (SQ) [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]