I have, from time to time, played music reviewer for the indie music community. It’s a fun and somewhat rewarding job, I get to listen to music that hasn’t made it to the mainstream radio but really don’t get paid for it. About a year ago, I promised to write a review for a couple of bands (ok, there was three different bands all with the same drummer…sorry this is so late, Tom) that I had received cds-and one 45 single from. Well, as things go, I got too busy with trying to get my books noticed by the general public and, well, the review was put on the back burner. Then, I went to college and my books sort of took a back seat as well. When I fell ill, my dreams of furthering my education was shattered.

With all this said, I shall now turn my attention to what I set out to do almost a year or so ago…review one of those three submissions. I shall start with  the cd released by Mon Cousin Belge.

Band: Mon Cousin Belge

cd title: Quelle Horreur

songs: The Crossing, Washed Up, The Ugly American, Tweaker Bitch, Pigdog, Unicycle, Bundle of Contradictions, Sodomy, Lola, Girl Stuck in a Parade.

Over all, this cd is an excellent escape from the corporate over use of new metal. The songs are guitar and keyboard(or organ) driven classic rock stylings with solid lyrics and a vocalist whose range is phenomenal. With a wild and whimsical look on life in general and a strange tinge of slight anger over how expatriots are treated abroad (which oddly mirrors their treatment here in the states–as expressed in The Ugly American), their songs give us a view of their world as they see it. 

available through: World Famous In San Francisco (2008)