Russ Stedman - "Here's Your Change" (C-45, 1993)
RUSS STEDMAN - "HERE'S YOUR CHANGE" : (HOMEMADEMUSIC.COM) Russ Stedman has been very active in the cassette networking scene, producing compilations and whatnot. Over the past year or so he's released a lot of his own stuff, digging up songs that go way back in his one recording history. While these tapes were admittedly archival in intent (with a few gems here and there) this latest release is all new stuff and is a very welcome release to my ears. If you like layers of fuzzed-out guitars, a heavy Zappa comedic/musical influence and high energy hard rock (old Kiss-type metal) this tape will definitely fit the bill. This one will be receiving a lot of airtime at my house. (Bryan Baker)
RUSS STEDMAN - "HERE'S YOUR
CHANGE" : (FACTSHEET FIVE, #50)
- Russ is really pumping for a review. The cover of his latest tape has a photo
of him sporting an original FACTSHEET FIVE T-shirt. Hell! Those things are so
rare, even I don't own one! This tape has eight strangely hilarious songs with a
really full production. I actually liked "3" a bit better, but with 20 different
home produced tapes available, this guy really blows me away. He definitely
rocks on this one. Jammin' guitars and clever lyrics. What a great combination.
Get this one, get his tape "3", or get "THE WORST SONGS OF ALL TIME". At least
send for his two-page catalog. I'm sure you'll find something. He trades tapes
too. (R. Seth Friedman)
RUSS STEDMAN - "HERE'S YOUR
CHANGE" : (ALTERNATIVE PRESS,
#68 MARCH 1994) - RUSS STEDMAN "Here's Your Change" and EVAN PETA "Glad to be
Back" : Stedman, who's self-released about two million LP's on his cassette
label, here offers spirited garage-rock with a bent humerus. Long-time associate
Peta serves a similar meal with less fi and more bluesy flash. As MOTHER
INFERIOR, the pair recorded an LP that TVT's Tom Sarig "didn't love". Good for
them. (Jim Santo)
RUSS STEDMAN - "HERE'S YOUR
CHANGE" : (CAKE, VOL. II, #21,
EARLY 1994) - Well, I knew l was in for it the second I opened the sleeve and
started reading the song lyrics and credits/thank-yous. The end credits thank
Kiss for teaching him about rock and roll - EEK ! Now, I know that most of us in
the late 7o's-early 80's grew up listening to Kiss, buying the dolls, joining
the Kiss army ; but Kiss had something that Russ somehow missed the boat on -
songs that are unique that stand out, and some sod of "gimmick". Many of the
lyrics are written on a very adolescent level ; for example, here's some lyrics
: ''Sitting In My Room With a Bunch of Candles Burning Listening to Bob Marley
and the Red Hot Chili Peppers'' Or, ''I Eat A Lot of Rolaids When I drive" And
''I Don't Drink Beer Anymore Since I Got religion" I'll let the lyrics speak for
themselves. (Tim Schloe)
RUSS STEDMAN - "HERE'S YOUR
CHANGE" : (BABY SUE MUSIC
REVIEW, #16 SPRING 1994) - Russ Stedman is quickly becoming one of my favorite
underground cassette artists. "Here's Your Change" is BRILLIANT. The songs,
arrangements, and production are all top-notch for home recordings. If you want
truly underground garage rock, this man is producing some of the best. Russ is
gearing up now to unleash his new live band called MOTHER INFERIOR, which ought
to be great. The band also features Evan Peta on guitar and Michael Reeves on
drums. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and order this tape. You can get
into that Jovial Milkman kinda feeling. (Stephen M. Fievet)