THE FAKES Real Fiction 1995

 

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Real Fiction Review by Chris Nelson

The Fakes' Real Fiction works better as a manifesto project than a listening experience. The band is a Traveling Wilburys of the Olympia, WA, indie set, with primary players including Bikini Kill and Le Tigre singer Kathleen Hanna, Nation of Ulysses and Fucking Champs guitarist Tim Green, and Kicking Giant and the Need drummer Rachel Carns. Their sole album is designed as something of a rock opera, but without a lyric sheet (and with song titles apparently listed entirely out of running order), it's difficult to ascertain a story line. There is, however, a clear theme of confronting sexual abuse, its perpetrators, and the scars of survivors. "This is not a piece of art, this is my life," guest Billie Strain says with angry vulnerability at a spoken word piece. In another song, Hanna appropriates lyrics from the Charlie Rich hit "The Most Beautiful Girl" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" to draw an especially creepy portrait of a predator. Sonically, however, the album is less compelling, a mish-mash of ragtag punk with occasional touches of keyboard that play like an early blueprint for Hanna's later work in the guise of Julie Ruin. Still, the album's artwork is chock full of intriguing essays, statements of purpose, and pointed rock criticism, such as "why do all the indie boys like women who sing like angels or children?" Ideas, rather than execution, are key here.

 

Tracklist

1		Identity Smidentity	2:43
2		No More Scary Moustache Men	1:17
3		Li'l Mommy	1:49
4		Pop Song	1:25
5		Fake Country Song	4:26
6		New Wave Song	2:34
7		Steve Society	2:23
8		Held	5:39
9		Official Hex	1:45
10		Competition Fiction	2:11
11		Freak	2:03
12		Humunculous	1:16
13		Burnt Girl	1:11
14		Holly Hobbie Outfit	3:10
15		Pretty Ballerina Pleasure	2:27
16		Secret Weapon	4:49
17		Safety Cuts	2:50
18		Sgt. Fuckerman	5:14

THE NEED The Need 1997

 

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A cross between Yoko Ono and Sleater Kinney. Sort of.

Artist Biography

by Jason Ankeny

Olympia, WA experimental pop duo the Need teamed singer/drummer Rachel Carns (formerly of Kicking Giant) and guitarist/bassist Radio Sloan. Debuting in 1996 with a contribution to the Destination compilation, the Need issued a series of seven-inches on labels including Kill Rock Stars and Outpunk prior to releasing a self-titled full-length on Chainsaw in 1997; more compilation appeances preceded the appearance of their sophomore effort, 2000's The Need Is Dead. That same year Carns and Sloan also co-wrote the indie rock opera The Transfused -- first performed at Olympia's Capitol Theater, its soundtrack was also issued on Yo Yo. 2000 found the Need busy touring Europe and North America with Blonde Redhead and working on a split single with Le Tigre

Tracklist

1		Whitewash Cannonball
2		Jacky The Ripper
3		Crown
4		Don't Touch The Ribbon
5		Majesty
6		Rim Me Isabella
7		Sam
8		Pony 4 Honey

KICKING GIANT Halo 1993

by request

 

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Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny

The indie-rock duo Kicking Giant comprised singer/guitarist Tae Won Yu and drummer Rachel Carns, who first teamed while both were attending art school in New York City in 1989. That same year they issued their first cassette-only release, January; three more tapes -- Boyfriend Girlfriend, Secret Teenage Summer and Present -- appeared on an annual basis before Kicking Giant
relocated to Olympia, WA in 1992. There they compiled 1993's Halo, a collection of material from the earlier cassettes; the duo then signed to K Records and released a single, "She's Real," as part of the label's International Pop Underground series. The full-length Alien iD followed in 1994. 

Tracklist 

1	Satellite
2	Weird
3	Three
4	Throw
5	Five
6	The Way That You Are
7	Rocket
8	Ruby Red
9	Suck
10	Go Girl (Riot)
11	Rachel's Song
12	Fuck The Rules
13	13. 13. 13.
14	This Sex
15	Mario
16	If Not You
17	Halo
18	Hi
19	Rocket Dreams
20	Stereo Hi Fi
21	Love Science
22	Come In Colors

KICKING GIANT Alien I.D. 1994

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biography

by Jason Ankeny

The indie-rock duo Kicking Giant comprised singer/guitarist Tae Won Yu and drummer Rachel Carns, who first teamed while both were attending art school in New York City in 1989. That same year they issued their first cassette-only release, January; three more tapes -- Boyfriend Girlfriend, Secret Teenage Summer and Present -- appeared on an annual basis before Kicking Giant relocated to Olympia, WA in 1992. There they compiled 1993's Halo, a collection of material from the earlier cassettes; the duo then signed to K Records and released a single, "She's Real," as part of the label's International Pop Underground series. The full-length Alien iD followed in 1994. 

 

Tracklist 

1	Alien I.D.
2	Appetite
3	Dreamland Burns
4	Inside Out Flower
5	This Song
6	Drownings
7	A Blonde's Blonde
8	The Town Idiot
9	Wire
10	Lucky
11	Dubious
12	Serrated Edge
13	She's Real (Version)