MECCA BODEGA City Of Rocks Fang Records FORMERLY A PERCUSSION duo comprised of ex-Fetchin' Bones drummer Marc Mueller and his brother Paul, M.B. is now a quintet that includes space-guitar virtuoso Pete Cherry, bassist Wolf Knapp (ex-Antietam) and Aussie didjeridoo whiz Simon 7. And all-star guests on this mesmerizing record include Soul Coughing's Matt Doughty and Madder Rose's Mary Lorson. Among the many highlights: a pair of polyrhythmic tribal/trance numbers, "Sekou" and "City Of Rocks," both of which recall Santana's early flights of glory; "Udda" and "Sanctuary," spotlighting Cherry's Hendrix-plays-Coltrane fretboard magic (the latter tune also incorporates psychedelic hammered dulcimer); and "Oob," with sitar textures that make an already exotic brew all the richer. Also, several cuts offer otherworldly female vocals not unlike Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard--diverse stuff. --Fred Mills SEX PISTOLS Filthy Lucre Live Virgin RUSH-RELEASED FOR mass consumption (to cash in on this summer's world-wide tour), the reformed Sex Pistols regurgitate this mediocre live show which covers their debut Never Mind The Bullocks... in its entirety, plus a couple rarities. Unlike recently reconvened Kiss, the Pistols have little to offer. At least for the buck, Kiss presents an awesome pyrotechnic stage spectacle. The Pistols resemble bloated and decaying has-beens strictly along for a ride on the gravy train--greedy and pathetic caricatures of the 1977 punk explosion. The main culprit is Johnny Rotten: He's lost his nihilistic sneer, and now relies on the annoying whine of his Public Image alter-ego. The only redeeming quality is the corpse-grinding, aural feeding frenzy. From Steve Jones' churning power-chord blasting to Glenn Matlock's rock-steady bass mauling through the controlled-but-chaotic drum bashing of Paul Cook, the Pistols sonic muscle has remained taut and strong. --Ron Bally SHAVER Highway Of Life Justice Records COUNTRY LEGEND BILLY Joe Shaver is generous in giving his band a family name, due to the presence of his son on lead guitar. It's no act of nepotism though, as is clear upon hearing young Eddy back his father's weathered howling with some seriously hot picking. The two of them deliver Texas-flavored music as solid as what first made Billy Joe Shaver a name back when his music helped make honky-tonk heroes out of Waylon and Willie. Shaver's country blues roots show the most on the title cut, situating him within spitting distance of Hank Williams and Jimmy Rogers. No country artist could receive a higher compliment than that. --Dave McElfresh

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