7 and 7 is

I've heard this town's single of the year, and it's got to be Junior Brown's "Highway Patrol" (MGC/Curb). This three-and-a-half minute turn captures all of Brown's formidable attributes, from his guttural, low-end drawl to a guit-steel solo that blazes without denying the pop aspirations at the song's base. DPS ought to make this catchy number their anthem. Turning to pop aspirations of a wholly different nature, San Antonio's Jet Jaguar touches down with a strong backbeat, simple chords and hopeful, adolescent harmonies on "Smile/Juliana Says" (Blopop). It's a very pleasant articulation of heart-opening within the confines of young maledom and feelings you were probably never quite able to spit out to the gem of your dreams. Also hailing from S.A., Thirteen mine the same psych-pop as mid-Eighties Paisley Underground artifacts like the Three O'Clock or Plasticland on "There's Someone You Should Know" b/w "I Dig Trains" (Brilliant). However, they're rougher around the edges and more lackadaisical in their vocals, which is good. The songs don't quite suck you in, but the sound comes pretty close. Finally, we have a wheel-spinning, muddy helping of Austin's Kytsch and their three-song 7-inch "Peya" (Three Little Pigs). There's plenty of fuzzed-out assault and gee-whiz chord changes to go around, but not enough attention is paid to the sum of the parts. This band has merits, but none presented here are likely to convert those not already immersed in the trenches of prog-core.

- Greg Beets

"7 and 7 is" reviews local and national 7" singles. Send to: "7 and 7 is," The Austin Chronicle, PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765.