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Jeff Elbel is a real original. You might not like it &you might love it, but one thing is definite Jeff Elbel and his pop outfit PING are true originals. Taking acoustic-based pop melodies with hooks bigger than Ali and Spinks, and wrapping them tightly around coy and playful lyrics, Elbel + PING create a disc of nursery rhymes for adults.

If you're a parent, you might be familiar with melodic artists such as Ralph Covert and Laurie Berkner that are writing catchy pop songs for children. Elbel crafts his songs in a similar fashion, but instead of gearing his songs to the kids, he uses metaphoric craftiness and adult themes to motor his tunes into your heart. And, make no mistake; it is the heart that takes the full frontal blow here. These songs that are included on PING's "The Eleventh Hour Storybook" are a slice of "Americana," if you will. Elbel is a storyteller that almost anybody can relate with. In "Bark Along With Cody," he tells us of the headaches that come with his neighbor's barking dog. The song has a large dollop of humor and realism, and has been featured on the classic "Dr. Demento Show." He also covers the realism of pregnancy in the same humorous and creative manner by way of "Muffin In The Oven," another song that has made its way to Dr. Demento. These are very real issues that Elbel toys with, and his songs are a real comfort to the ear. Let me share one of my favorite lyrical passages, which comes from a song called "Goodnight, Rabbit" - it goes something like this: "This is how I mix my metaphors / Stop me if I used this one before / Any nimble tongue can stumble / That's the way the cliché crumbles." This is beautifully written stuff that's a pleasure to listen to.

Besides featuring Elbel's writing skills, "The Eleventh Hour Storybook" has some wonderful musicians and studio people involved in the project as well. Hammond B3 player Phil Madeira (Emmylou Harris) plays on three tracks, and the mastering is done by Dan Stout of Wilco fame. Everyone involved with this disc seems to be on board with Elbel's style, which makes for a very solid recording. Do yourself a favor, come home to the sounds of Jeff Elbel + PING, and most of all &.have some fun.

Jeff Elbel + PING: www.myspace.com/jeff_elbel
Official website: www.marathonrecords.com/ping

"This is how to do it."

That is the meaning of Zomotta, and this band can show you exactly how to craft a dirty, back alley, "trash pop" album. Taking The Sex Pistols and The Strokes, and sprinkling them with The Pixies rhythmic dust, The Netherlands' Zomotta has a formula that's perfect for those that crave a retro, garage pop sound.

It was their song "Disco" that stapled my ear to their MySpace profile. The spacey keyboards, the galloping bass line, and the raw raunch of singer/guitarist BJ Antens voice were enough to stop me dead in my tracks. After I clicked on another tune, "Notorious," I realized that the style had changed a little, but the same important elements that make this band shine were still in place. Bassist Jacqueline van Haren was nailing down another rock solid foundation, while her bandmates built a stone fortress of catchy melodies around her. I was anxious to hear the rest of what this band had to offer, and I was pleased to hear that their "Call 4 Glory" CD was filled with the same intriguing sounds. The band has been active since 1998 and has garnered local, as well as international, media acclaim. They have also been a support act for bands such as Danko Jones and Magnapop, among others. Any fans of Sonic Youth, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, or even White Stripes, will find Zomotta's "Call 4 Glory" CD to be a welcome addition to their collection.

Zomotta: www.myspace.com/zomotta
Official website: www.zomotta.com

Oh man. I am maliciously rubbing my hands together, looking like the cat that ate the canary right at this moment. I've finally found something to fill the emptiness that the Rage Against The Machine breakup left me with. This band not only brings that deep and heavy groove to the table, but they can write excellent melodies in which to hold it as well. Singer Jordan Harris has a knack for joining smooth urban rap with classic rock harmonies. Not too many can join these two styles and still sound believable. Potent is the real thing. Over the five songs that are available from the band, Harris displays vocal similarities to Corey Glover, Dr. Dre, Ike Willis, Zach de la Rocha, and maybe even a few others. He adjusts to the mood, melody and attitude of the song perfectly. These five songs that they have recorded are nearly flawless. The production quality is superb, the flow from song to song is steady and interesting, and the instrumentation and attitude is right on target. From the Living Colour-inspired vocals and the Rage Against The Machine rhythm section groove of "Run And Play" to the tender balladry of "Footsteps," Potent has something for just about everyone.

The band is from Hollywood, California and has been tearing up the area quite a bit. With gigs at such legendary venues as The Viper Room, Whiskey A Go-Go, and The Roxy, the band is starting to get the respect that they deserve. Having had their songs featured in the film, "National Lampoon's Adam & Eve," and getting the drummer from Incubus to play on one of their songs, the band continues to gain exposure every day. So, do yourself a favor if you like the rap-rock sounds of Rage Against The Machine, get familiar with the sounds of Potent.


Potent: www.myspace.com/potentmusic
Official website: www.potenthome.com