Sound Bites

Brian Evans, The Las Vegas Special Edition. In the liner notes to The Las Vegas Special Edition, Bally's crooner Brian Evans writes that he was born in the '70s--"not the coolest decade to be born, but still." It's the kind of blanket statement that makes rock purists retch and vomit, but Evans was suckled on the swinging tenors of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. To his credit, Evans proves himself a competent forger on "Witchcraft" and "Summerwind," but his schmaltzy cover of Van Halen's "Jump!" may inspire you to do just that--off of something tall.--NB

The Mothers Anger, self-titled. Longtime indie Dionysus has long been a clearinghouse for back-to-basics rock, but the label that sometimes trafficks in too much of a good thing has a winner with The Mothers Anger. This Israel-based roots-rock outfit distinguishes itself not with the wild-style chops and marketable zeal that marks the genre these days, but meaty 101 hooks and a clarity of purpose that frequently calls to mind the scratchy splendor of Husker Du. You'll be humming the bubbling bassline to "Requiem 4" for days.--AK