PLAYINT THE SKIN GAME

the boys in The Hoodwinks
(local cassette)

While they look and, at times, even sound like an alternative guitar band, the Hoodwinks really play middle-of-the-road hard rock. Which means that while they do have talent, these guys fall into the pack with a hundred zillion other acts. A band that has promise here degenerates into a big guitar sound burdened by arena-rock clich‚s and songs that sound too much alike. Biggest waste of a great song title: "Lack of Peanut Butter."

Deadly Arnaz
Teenage Wonderland
(local cassette)

Is this a joke? When I played side one of this tape, I was sure one of two things had occurred: the motor in my tape deck was shot or these guys had found the worst tape-duplicating service on Earth. The entire opening side is filled with banging and popping noises that sound vaguely like gunfire, ominously slowed-down voices and other annoying nonsense. When side two played fine, I began to suspect a darker purpose. Do I smell the rotting stench of "art," or is this just a mysterious technical problem? Either way, side two is filled with very listenable, strummy guitar workouts that sound like the Chili Peppers without the crunch. The Flea/Anthony comparison obviously works for this band. Otherwise, it would have stayed clear of titles like "jiggysugarlovecup.