OUT TO BOMB FRESH KINGS

Doctor Nerve's first album is a wonderful piece of RIO jazz rock. But that hardly describes it. Composer and guitarist Nick Didkovsky writes in the oddest time signatures, often at the same time. For example, in one song, "Spy Boy" most of the band is playing in 7/8, while the drums alternate between 6/16 and 4/4. And that's just one song.

The music is heavy with horns and vibraphone, often giving the band a sound that sounds like Frank Zappa on acid (sorry Frank, but it does). The music somehow manages to be catchy and alien at the same time.

The only downside is that some of the songs were recorded in less than optimal environments, and the sound suffers because of it. Otherwise, this is a must for the true RIO fan.