Local Spins

EastonAshe
‘From the Ashes’

There's no denying that EastonAshe are good musicians but there isn't anything remotely original about their latest alternative rock effort “From the Ashes.” The EP, which is ably produced, is filled with six mellow tracks that leave so little impression some might even call them elevator music. There's no real hooks on any of the songs, which makes the EP about as exciting as an algebra lecture. It's nice to know that the band can play their instruments, but they need to find some hooks and embrace them. Otherwise, they might as well be playing for loose change on Mill Avenue. D

Next show: 9 p.m. Friday at Shadey O’s, 10893 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, . $5 for guys, ladies are free.
Web site: www.eastonashe.com

— by Kelly Wilson, Get Out

Greeley Estates
‘Outside of This.’

Hardcore purists may loath the evolutionary process that has taken the once stiff, political vehicle the genre was and made it touchy-feely. Greeley Estates make the mistake of bending the lyrics of a once moralistic, subversive medium into a personal one. Not that there’s anything soft about the music of Greeley Estates; “Outside of This.” is a brutal post-punk assault of hard-edged, electric guitar-driven material.

Tracks are tight with textured riffs, vocal layers and practically no transitions between songs. However, themes of waiting for, recoiling from and reconciling love, would appeal more to those who lean-o toward scream-o (a bastard amalgam of industrial vocal wailing and the painfully mawkish dredges of emo lyricism). While Greeley Estates seem to have mastered their craft musically, they make the unforgivable mistake of penning insipid words that fail to inspire or produce a stand-alone track. “You say just breathe/but how can I/when you suffocate me,” they sing on “Until Tomorrow.” And if you think it might get better, be advised not to hold your breath. C-

Next show: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Mason Jar, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. . $10, all ages.
Web site: www.greeleyestates.net

— by Jenna Duncan, Get Out

Intrinzik
‘Double U I Double L’

Fallguy front man Will Glass showcases his rap skills with his side project Intrinzik on “Double U I Double L.” The solo album is a far cry from the rap-metal fusion of Fallguy. It's straight-up rap. And some of it is pretty catchy. Take the track “Company Time,” where Glass channels the energy and sound of Phunk Junkeez emcee Soulman. The soul-searching “Roads” is another strong track on the CD, but at times the album is hard to swallow because some of the songs are downright vulgar. In “$” Glass angrily spews the line “You probably won't ever get to ride this (expletive) unless you're hooking me up with some icy wrists.” What? Intrinzik sounds best when Glass is keeping it real and not lacing his melodies with vulgarities and wannabe gangster lyrics. After all, 2 Live Crew was so 15 years ago. Let's move on. C

Next show: 7 p.m. Saturday at the Mason Jar, 2303 E. Indian School Road, . $8.
Web site: www.intrinzikweb.com

— by Kelly Wilson, Get Out

The Strand
‘Diatom’

Not to be confused with the local late ’80s Bruce Connole-led power pop trio of the same name, this outfit calling themselves The Strand is a six-piece industrial ensemble whose new disc, “Diatom,” fuses rock and dance beats with a wide spectrum of synth textures. While electronic experimentation is the cornerstone of the industrial genre, this disc is surprisingly formulaic, repetitive and ultimately lacks innovation.

A pattern emerges with the first cut, “Never Fail,” and rolls through the rest of the overly long 11-song disc: Nintendo-like gurgles and burps, pounding dance beats, synth riffs and grating, screaming vocals from lead singer Dave Strand. The lone bright spot is singer Kimberly Brown, whose vocals are rich and mellifluous, lending some sorely needed melody to the proceedings. Fans of industrial music might skip this disc in favor of the masters, Skinny Puppy and Nitzer Ebb. C-

Next show: 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Mason Jar, 2303 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, . $8, all ages.
Web site: www.strandland.com

— by Chris Holly, Get Out

Treasure Mammal
‘Treasure Mammal’

Treasure Mammal’s self-titled disc couldn’t kick off with a more aptly named tune: “No Professional Training.” The eight-track album is like one 30-minute inside joke, packed with yelling, inane lyrics (“The way you dance is disgraceful; you eat too much salt in your diet”) and lots and lots of drum machine. The band — Abelardo Gil and Nick Kroll — clearly have distinctive senses of humor (they have to in order to name a song “Tone Loc” — yes, the “Funky Cold Medina” guy). But while the duo’s quirkiness is admirable, it’s sure to be lost on 99 percent of listeners (this reviewer included) who just don’t get it. The peppy, fun “Laptops,” which features guitars and lots of enthusiastic clapping — a welcome reprieve from that drum machine — is the highlight of the disc, which is otherwise just plain odd. If “Treasure Mammal” is indeed some sort of inside joke, the punchline needs some serious explanation. C-

Next show: 9 p.m. Friday at Modified Arts, 407 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, . $6, all ages. Web site: http://homepage.mac.com/nickandsara/treasuremammal/home.html — by

Adrienne Frank, Get Out