The Mistakes         "Dressed for Suckcess" CD

This is the second major release of L.A.'s The Mistakes. They still sound like a cross between Sex Pistols and Twisted Sister but the music has developed a bit since their last album - "Angry Youth". The songs on "Dressed For Suckcess" is more melodic, not polished just more catchy.

"Let's Go" is an intro similar to "Oh Yeah" with lead vocalist Todd Wiltse's former band The Zeros. "American Dream"and "Riot" are awesome and aggressive with typical punklyrics. "Freak", from "Angry Youth", is still punchy poppunk of the finest order. The Album closes with a cover of Twisted Sister's "We're not gonna Take it". The Mistakes have put some punk into the hit (remember the video??) of the early eighties. The Result is smashing.

"Dressed For Suckcess" is another impressive release from Todd and the boys. Even if their name suggest different, The Mistakes do almost everything right. Visit their website or e-mail

Exit 21         "The Machine" 7 song tape

"The Machine" is a new release from hands-in-everything Darren Lee (formerly of Rat Pack, Electric Religion and Lipgloss) and proves that he is a true chameleon. Exit 21 is elektro/pop with lots of samples and beautiful sounds. Do you get the picture? This is far from the ordinary Glitzine review but that doesn't make it less interesting. Darren has quite a talent in creating atmospheres and moods.

Anyone with a open mind and a devotion to dancefloors should check out the drum- and bassoriented Exit 21. Darren has created a beautiful website as well where you can hear samples of the songs on "The Machine". Visit the Website or E-mail

The Scarecrows         "Go to Hell"  6 song demotape

There must be something in the water... How can one otherwise explain the punkrock explosion in the south of Sweden? The Scarecrows come from Nässjo and they have quite a lot in common with fellow natives Backyard Babies.

Scarecrows is garage/punk with a little touch of glitter. They flirt with b- and horror- movies, comics, rock ´n roll myths and manage to get away with it. The music is promising as well. "Glammy You", "Go to Hell" and "I say Yeah" are peaks and good punk but the competition is stiff in this genre. The Scarecrows need to mature more before they can challenge Plan 9 and the rest of the elite underground.

Write to The Scarecrows

Skinny Vein         3 song demotape

Skinny Vein is the new glam/sleaze export from Italy. On the contrary to glamrockers Smelly Boggs and Starry Eyes, Skinny Vein is sleazy street/gutter rock. Drummer Dog has spend some time in L.A. and that has put an obvious mark on the music.

"Hey Man" kicks off the tape in fine style, reminding me of the underground sleaze of the early nineties. A movement that brought us bands such as The Jones Street, Slamhound and Jo' Mama. "Nice Day" is more traditional, similar to Guns n Roses or Faster Pussycat. The Background vocals on the tape are quite influenced by Axl and the boys. The tape closes with "You'll Never Walk Alone", a moody ballad. Far from the usual power- ballad and without a single cliché.

Skinny Vein has got lots of potential but need to work a bit on their image and songs. With a few improvements these Milan menaces could make a name. Write to: Skinny Vein c/o Vera Servi, 259 W.Channel RD. 90046 S.Monica, CA, USA

Romeo's Dead               "So Far"    Twotrack Single

Romeo and romance may be dead but trash and glitterpunk certainly aren't! San Francisco's finest do everything right on their path to stardom. "So Far" is a single pressed on vinyl (remember?), produced by Frisco godfather Davy Vain.

"So Far" is a hit if I've ever heard one. Catchy, crunchy and totally irresistible. Romeo's Dead isn't an L.A. clone left from the 80's. Their influences goes back further and beyond, glitterpunk from the old school but Romeo's Dead manage to put a new twist to a sometimes conform genre.

"Four" is more glamourous poppunk marked by melody. Vocalist Zane Smith has a tasteful sleazy snare in his voice and the backing vocals from Jayson James are as good as it gets.

The Tapeversion of this release contains a third song - "My Solution" - which actually is even better than the two on the single. Zane comes across as the cockiest vocalist since Tamie Downe or Davy Vain on this one. I haven't heard a weak song from this band So Far (!). Be a part of the beautiful mess and get yourself some trash from Romeo's Dead.

Contact Romeo's Dead:  Website    &   E-mail

The Jones Gang         "So Now You Know"  CD

The Jones Gang is a talented four-piece out of Luisville Kentucky. "So Now you Know" is the gangs debut but they are already writing for the follow-up.

Opener "You don't need me... yeah right!" is great hard rock with a personal touch. "Tainted Shades of Blue" sounds like a cross between Stryper and Enuff znuff. Vocalist Ronny Jones is a budding Michael Sweet. "Keeper of the Sad Songs" is premier popmetal. "Looking Back Satisfied" and "Everything... Alone" are other peaks.

The Jones Gang are hard rock characterized by harmonies and hooks. If Red Kross ever decided to play hard rock, this is probably how they would sound. An impressive melodic debut, I'm looking forward for future releases. By the way, The Jones Gang are looking for a new bassist. Anyone interested should mail: thejones69@aol.com

Contact The Jones Gang:  Website  &  E-mail

Horse Nation   "A Tribute to the Life, Music and Spirit of The Cult"

I respect what The Cult has accomplished eventhough they don't shine in my collection of CD's and vinyls. I remember that "Sonic Temple" was a true grower and how "Electric" electrified me with bluesy boogieriffs. Ian Astbury was a gothic mysterious frontman with a banshee-voice, in contrast to the more straight forward guitarist Billy Duffy.

The Band started out as the Southern Death Cult but changed their name, via Death Cult, to The Cult. Their music was an unique mix of traditional british bluesy hard rock, punk and goth. Like a chameleon, The Cult always changed colour and it was impossible to know what to expect.

"Horse Nation" is a 10 track tributealbum. Ten different bands have recorded very personal versions of their favourite Cult songs. No one sounds the same or as the original, a very varied album indeed which was The Cult's trademark. The Peak is Oh Mr Grant!'s recording of The Cult's first U.K hit "She Sells Sanctuary".

"Horse Nation" is a must for fans of The Cult. Executive producer Joe Campbell says "I truly believe that if it weren't for The Cult bands like Oasis, Guns n Roses, Nirvana and Peal Jam would not be where they are today". That may be an exaggeration of The Cults influence but it still shows the amount of respect Astbury and Duffy have earned. Available from mudwax@aol.com

Space Age Baby Jane      "The Electric Light Parade"

Space Age Baby Jane is Sweden's brightest stars at the moment. From Borlänge (of all places) this project is destined to conquer every planet. Vocalist/guitarist Anders Ljung is an androgyneous gypsy with a magical pen. "Welcome to the Planet", "Into the Divine", "Turn to Stone" and the hit " The Electric Light Parade" are popsongs that have to be heard to be believed. Contrary to the common glamoriented scene in Sweden at the moment, Space Age Baby Jane leans much more towards pop and glitter than punk. Their influences are Bowie and Cheap Trick among others. An unique mix by todays standars, which should lift this spacecraft off the ground.

These stardust sprayers have travelled throughout Sweden to spread their name. Hell, they even came to my hometown and played in front of... 20 people, which tells you more about my hometown than Space Age Babye Jane's ability. "The Electric Light Parade" contains 11 quality pop/glitterrock songs. Anyone into 70's glitterrock with a 90's twist (similar to The Conscience Pilots and early Manic Street Preachers) should buy a ticket to the space parade.

Stevie Rachelle      "Who the Hell am I?"

Rachelle used to front one of L.A.'s biggest glam/sleaze bands - Tuff. The Band defunct as Tinseltown closed in the early nineties. After devoting some time to rap/hip hop music, he's returned as a soloartist but without the make-up, flash and music that made him fameous ten years ago. Stevie Rachelle follows the same path as Joey Tempest, Jon Bon Jovi and Mike Tramp. All of them used to front popular bands in the eighties/early nineties, decorating every schoolgirls walls with posters. They were young successful rockstars that seem to have the time of their lives. Then suddenly they woke up one morning, realizing that they had reached their thirties and that life was more than a bowl of fun. That there are more important aspects of life than music. As therapy, these former frontmen record mellow albums of self-reflection.

Rachelle's contribution to this phenomena is "Who the Hell am I" a ten song affair. Most of the songs are written by Rachelle and producer Michael Raphael (of Jailhouse fame). Tuff fans will be happy to find a pianobased re-recording of "So Many Seasons", a song about Stevie's father and brother. The general theme of the album is LIFE and all the turns that it might take. "Path of Choices", Harbor Valley" and "Who the Hell Am I" are pretty enjoyable music. One wonder if this album would receive any coverage at all, if Stevie Rachelle wasn't the former vocalist of Tuff though. This new path that he's chosen, many other established musicians do much better. I guess I'm a bit too young for this acoustic songs about middle-life crises but growing up don't have to mean grow old. All in all, "Who the Hell Am I?" is predictable and not 100% convincing. I rather take a walk down Sinner Street.

Available from Cheezee Records