Record Reviews: Badd Santa, Beanie Sigel, Regime Noir

Holiday music that doesn't suck, unhinged thug talk and a MySpace page

Comments (0) By L.A. Weekly Music Critics Wednesday, Dec 12 2007

Of course, its the music that makes a chance cyber meeting with Regime Noir such a nice surprise: serious, best-kept-secret talent. Making good on their claim to be born from the dystopia found in the streets of downtown and East L.A., Regime Noir marry ultra-articulate bass lines, swaths of post-punk/new-wave guitar and frantic faux-flamenco flurries  and add imploring emo vocals dipped in juicily exotic harmonies. Beats are urgent and garagey; hand-percussion is of the streets and in the moment. Mood is confrontational yet palatable; theres melody, momentum and a genuine sense of flab-free sonic purpose. They recall Mars Volta, with proggy structures and multicultural mashups, but so do Fugazi and Gang of Four.

To date, Regime Noir  as documented in four impressively emotive live vids (complete with deft mystery drummer)  have mostly played Eastside and Hollywood dives and loft parties. Hopefully theyll shake off the siege mentality that seeps from their page (and keep the site updated with upcoming shows), because the band makes some gorgeously adventurous and authentic sounds.