Heard Here

Ex
Dizzy Spells 


To most, Holland is known for liberal Amsterdam, tulips, wooden shoes and really good pancakes. Punk rock doesn’t often make the list. Although they’ve been cranking out albums since 1979, the Ex is one of Holland’s and punk’s best-kept secrets. The songs on their newest album, Dizzy Spells, remain as snottily inaccessible as always, but super-producer Steve Albini brings the Ex closer to the mainstream. 
In many ways, the Ex are a less heralded version of fellow political punks Crass, although the Ex has always adopted a more consciously anti-musical stance. Originally, they drew straws to determine who would play which instrument and stylistically fell in line with the short-lived No Wave movement, which downplayed musical proficiency in favor of the destruction of standard pop form.
Dizzy Spells is atonal and frantic but Albini’s production reduces the chaos that makes the Ex’s music exciting. In typical Chicago style, the drums and the bass are emphasized, lending a crisp but standardized feel to the album.
Part of the Ex’s message is communicated through their visciously un-musical music. However, their manifesto lies in the lyrics. “Walt’s Dizzyland” expresses scathing contempt for the essential symbols of America: Hollywood, fast food and Disneyland. “Burnsome” describes the psychology of “world-wide crisis management consultants” who work to maintain the culture industry by perpetuating dumbed-down media and entertainment.
It’s not long into Dizzy Spells before it becomes clear that the Ex is a band with a specific far-left agenda. Such a stance seems like a difficult thing to maintain for more than 20 years, but the Ex have done so admirably, never compromising their musical creativity. The songs on Dizzy Spells are almost uniformly ass-kicking, although Albini’s production waters them down slightly. Still, before criticizing the Ex for selling out, consider the probability that by exposing a new audience to their music, they increase the likelihood of converting more to their cause.

-Nick Stillman

Janet Jackson
All For You

Janet, or Miss Jackson “if you’re nasty” has done it again with her latest album, All For You. Teaming up with mix masters Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Carly Simon and other producers and song writers, Janet has put together an album full of great dance tracks, slow jams and the fun stuff we’ve all come to expect from this amazing performer. 
Her last two albums, janet and The Velvet Rope gave her listeners a more intimate look into her life. The album touches on personal subjects such as love, heartbreak, domestic abuse and issues of sexuality. All For You steps back from this trend, which you can hear from the title track. The song’s funky beat is very reminiscent of a 70’s disco track. This is a fun, summer, top-down-with-the-wind-in-in-your-face kind of track. 
“Come On Get Up”, one of the best tracks on the album, is a definite dance track, and you know this when Janet screams, “Now what I wanna see is you shake that ass for me!” It opens with a west African drum break, so you can’t help but shake it! 
Similar to the style of “This Time,” the spunky rock-fusion song from janet, Jackson rocks it out in “Trust A Try.” This song opens with Janet singing over a pulsating string orchestra, mimicking their rhythms with a catchy tune that draws you into the song as the beat drops and the guitars start wailing. Mixing a hard- hitting hip-pop type beat, and screaming electric guitars, this song is one to bounce to. 
Though this album has a plethora of fun tunes, not to worry, Janet still maintains the sexy, scandalous character her fans have come to love. In “Would You Mind”, Janet slows down the pace, and let’s you know what she really wants. The chorus is enough to give any listener something to moan about, as she sings, “I just wanna touch you, tease you.” And if you think it can’t get any sexier, keep listening. These are just four of the 20 non-stop, bangin’ tracks on the album. 
Janet, once again, has given the public something to rant and rave over. She’s managed to mix fun and friends, love and sex in a catchy yet interesting and unique package that any mainstream music lover can enjoy. Are we surprised? Of course not, because with Janet, there’s always something for everyone. 

-Keith Lawrence