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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 5, 2008

BOREDOMS:

SUPER ROOTS, VOL. 9

(THRILL JOCKEY) **

To call the Boredoms extreme would be to damn them with faint praise. The Japanese outfit took noise terrorism to new heights of hilarity on its first few albums, while later efforts have seen them on a major percussion jag.

A live recording, "Super Roots, Vol. 9" features the Boredoms, three-fourths of them on drums, and a choir performing a 40-minute piece titled "Livwe." Non-drumming Boredom Yamataka Eye handles turntables as well as manipulating samples of the choir.

For what it is, "Livwe" is surprisingly listenable. Of course what it is, is a choir singing single, sustained notes over frenzied but unvarying beats with occasional contributions from Eye's decks and turntables.

Maybe you had to be there.

Download this: "Livwe"

Curtis Ross

NINE INCH NAILS:

THE SLIP

(WWW.NIN.COM) ***

If 2007's "Year Zero" provided a glimpse of the beginning of the end, then Nine Inch Nails' latest, "The Slip," shows the aftermath - and it ain't pretty.

Trent Reznor, working at a furious, prolific clip these days, has unleashed four amazing albums since 2005, including the haunting, instrumental "Ghosts" and a remixed version of "Year Zero."

Now he's giving the fans something for free, a new album to download. It's not a gimmick and it doesn't mean a lesser effort.

"The Slip" opens strong and doesn't let up. Highlights include the bleak, blistering "1,000,000" and "Letting You," two songs that focus on loss of identity (both talk about not recognizing one's own face). "Discipline" could have been a standout track on 2005's "With Teeth."

Download this: "Letting You"

John W. Allman

TRISTAN PRETTYMAN:

HELLO

(VIRGIN) ***

Tristan Prettyman's sophomore album, "Hello," is a delightful melange of pop, funk and blues.

While musical influences such as Jack Johnson and Bob Dylan are present, Prettyman's sultry voice and guitar-playing are what set her apart. The title song speaks of lust, liquor and a crush, and has a light punk-rock feel to it. She changes the tempo with "In Bloom," a groovy bossa nova number about a dying relationship.

"War Out of Peace" expresses her political views to a funky drum beat that may even inspire dancing. "Hello" is an eclectic work that shows Prettyman's growth as a vocalist and musician.

Download this: "War Out of Peace"

Camille O. Scringer

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