THE VIEW
3=4
12-song cassette, Viewscape Studios,
Orlando, 1992 • Produced by The View

Well, this one starts out with a bad cover of the old Star Trek theme and, sadly, doesn't exactly go where no man has gone before. Where no man wants to, maybe, but certainly not where no man has.

The packaging suggest a concern for quality (there's even a sticker), but the recording shows that despite whatever good intentions the band had when making this music, something went horribly awry.

The most annoying thing about the collection, particularly on the cuts "Why Can't the Future Be Now," "The Wildest Ride," and "Confusion Reigns," is the blatant misuse of synthesizer. Either Patman or Rick Hines is the guilty party (both play keyboards), throwing unmelodic synth runs in wherever there's space.

On the other hand, "The Guitars Cry," a fifties-ish punk ditty, is better: it has no real noticeable synth, featuring Hines' raw fuzz guitar. "Another Day, Another Way" is enjoyable for its rebel rock wail. "Slut Bitch From Hell" is easily the band's shining moment. The humorous quality is perfectly matched to the raw three-chord assault and the song is a lot of fun. I'd say this is the direction the band should go in.

"Inner Space" opens side two with more synth, though it isn't too bad. Not great, but not intolerable. The production is pretty weak, but at least the hook is there. The instrumental "Jade" is something of an aural exercise highlighting John Hager's drumming ability. He shows some fine work here, and thankfully there are no vocals. "The Invisible Man" returns to rock and rouse, and "Feel," "So Tired" and "Sittin' On Top Of The World" feature more of that inappropriate synth (have I mentioned that?).

Write 'em at PO Box 576, Orlando, FL 32802-0576.