Local album reviews

Spin Cycle

Local album reviews

Ego Summit

"The Room Isn't Big Enough"

Web: old3c.com

A common complaint Alive heard about our list of the top 100 Columbus albums of the last 30 years was the exclusion of local supergroup Ego Summit. Ron House, Don Howland, Jim Shepard, Tommy Jay and Mike Rep are the Traveling Wilburys of Columbus underground rock, true movers and shakers of the Used Kids set. In 1997 they banged out this slapdash set of rickety rock 'n' roll. It's solid for sure, full of ramshackle indie-rock tunes, sleepy folk dirges and rambling trips to the dark side, all encased in the marvelously murky production that continues to dominate this city's rock underbelly. Should The Room Isn't Big Enough have made the list? Probably. But it's preposterous to proclaim this the greatest Columbus album of all time when most of these performers made better records under other guises. All the same, Old 3C Records' CD-R reissue is essential listening for those curious about Columbus music history.

—Chris DeVille

Take No Damage

"Shambles"

Web: myspace.com/takenodamage

Had a rebellious garage band refused to unplug during the War of the Worlds, greeted the alien invasion only by cranking to 11, the hectic mix would sound a lot like Shambles, the latest eight-song EP released by Take No Damage. The project of Regis Duffy, cofounder of local imprint All Hail Records, embraces organic and electronic sounds but then revels in their contrasts: the disillusionment of rock musicians sounding like machines, the triumph of a man's voice besting a distorted hiss. These competing forces clearly define "Future Warfare," and they continue elsewhere on one of the most exciting local projects of the year.

—John Ross

Hal Hixson

"The Whistling Ones"

Web: wide-eyed-collective.com

Don't listen to The Whistling Ones in the car with your windows down or you'll miss every beautiful nuance that creeps behind Hixson's gorgeously conceived melodies. And the nuances are many, from chiming bells to scraping static to synth sounds tip-toeing their way back to sweet silence. This is one of the most carefully produced albums I've heard out of Columbus. So pick it up immediately, and listen to it properly — with headphones, at night, in your time of deepest reflection.

—Chris DeVille

The Flashing Clock

"Hot Brown"

Web: myspace.com/theflashingclock?

When Dan Spurgeon isn't busy with Bush League All-Stars, the former Greenhorn mastermind plays in this ludicrously entertaining combo. It's a shame they don't play out more often because the Flashing Clock has tapped into something splendid with this new CD. Hot Brown sounds like Mudhoney playing would-be classic rock standards, covered in sludge and bursting with melody. There's no gimmick to buy into, it's just a great record.

—Chris DeVille

August 7, 2008