Thunderdome Extra

[Music] City Weekly contributors Jenny Poplar and Ryan Bradford entered the critical Thunderdome to discuss this month's CD releases. While their opinions might not seem divergent enough to merit a battle-to-the-death comparison, by revisiting the classic Road Warrior sequel you'll notice that Mel Gibson showed a rare moment of compassion for his opponent thereby proving that some competitions can be settled in a civil matter--and occasionally with some level of agreement. For more Thunderdome fun, pick up a copy of the July 12 issue of City Weekly. You'll be glad you did.

Foo Fighters, The Colour & The Shape Reissue (Roswell/Capitol)
RB: Has it really been more than 10 years since we've been graced with the giant hand/Evil Dead-inspired video for "Everlong"? As far as a re-release goes, the extras are kind of bare: only six bonus songs (B-sides and covers recorded at the time of the album), and despite the awesome cover of Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street," I wonder if this album is really necessary.

JP: I really don't think a re-release is necessary. I experienced this dreadful Foo Fighters saturation in the late '90's from which I have never been able to fully recover. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I kept hearing the same handful of songs from this album, and to this day The Foo Fighters induce of visions of frat boys chugging Natural Light in a brown-carpeted basement.

RB: I will say that I've always found Dave Grohl immensely enduring and the Foo Fighters slightly subversive. Given the members' histories in harder, underground rock, each radio-hit from Colour sounds like an inside-joke or a template to faking commercial viability (or winning the hearts of Natty Light-chugging frat boys). It seems that the Foo can now venture into harder material and still produce hits, but on Colour, it's nice to hear that their playfulness holds up as one of the only bands from the '90s that doesn't sound dated.

JP: Perhaps I should give Dave Grohl & Co. a break, but I sincerely believe that-even with the bonus tracks-everyone on this green earth who ever wanted a copy of this disc probably already has one.

BR6, Here to Stay: Gershwin & Jobim A Capella (NuVision)
JP: Hmmm. This record certainly isn't for everyone, but I think Brazilian A Capella arrangements of jazz songs is the type of thing that can really grow on you. Or completely repel you. Possibly give you a violent stomach ache. Or, make you want to sing in the shower. Depending on what you like.

RB: Very ambitious. I feel like I have to slap myself in the face infomercial-style and exclaim: "Really? No instruments were used in the making of this album?!" I think of it more of a cocktail-party album, where you'll find an anxious crowd raring to sing along to "The Girl From Ipanema."

JP: I'm in the sing-in-the-shower category myself, but I like jazz.

RB: It's like, a hundred times better than my Jay-Z A Capella Black Album that I recently, accidentally, bought.