Need New Body's self-titled debut plays like the soundtrack of a walk through your neighborhood -- if your neighborhood is a mix of Whoville, pre-World War II Berlin, and post-Industrial America, that is. Maybe this isn't even close, as it defies accurate mapping and description, but it provides a good ride, whether it's a round trip or you're never coming back. One can detect elements of Tom Waits, Lozenge, Gil Scott Heron, Raymond Scott, and possibly even a bit of Stravinsky rolled up in there, but they manage to keep moving enough so you can't lump them in wholesale with the aforementioned acts. Not exactly aural comfort food, but a fine trip nonetheless. (AP)
(File 13 Records -- P.O. Box 804868, Chicago, IL. 60680-4110; http://www.file-13.com/; Need New Body -- http://www.neednewbody.com/)