ClayBaby
Style: riled up rap
Line-up: ClayBaby (rapping, DJ-ing, singing) with guests
Contact: Peter Woolcock, 99 Harbour Square, #306, Toronto, ON, M5C 2H2 (416) 203-1596/(905) 513-7717, FAX (905) 513-8434;

Ooooh baby, baby, forget the baby won’t cha? There’s nothing cute and coddling about this Toronto rapper/songwriter. ClayBaby’s debut album, Figareenz (Got Dem All Riled Up), tells the hard to refute truth of criminal addiction in 'Hooked' and dreams of dismantling social havoc in 'Unaty'. Possessing a tight, aggressive rap delivery, the 26-year old also displays his singing and dancehall skills. Guests include soul sista Shandra 'Sweets' on the lead single, 'Ain’t Nuten At All' and Juno-winning R&B/soul singer Carlos Morgan on 'Bottom of Da Bottle' and 'Do Wit Out'. The album was produced mostly at Metalworks by Orville Malcolm of Wizard Pro-ductions, who also played or programmed all the music. This Clay is also a world contender.

The Miller Stain Limit
Style: carnal
Line-up: Jay Miller (vocals, some guitar, percussion); Terry Sawchuk (bass, guitar) with guest musicians on drums and bass.
Contact: Terry Sawchuk, Sessions Recording Studios, 3886 Chesswood Dr., Downsview, ON, M3J 2W6 (416) 636-6725

'a devil inside of your head' so intoxicating ' smile for me . . . wearing me down . . . These snippets of The Miller Stain Limit’s lyrics can be applied to frontman Jay Miller’s voice ' chilling, fierce, sexy and penetrating. Initially a studio project, Toronto songwriting partners Miller and Terry Sawchuk have been circulating a four-song demo they’d worked on for a year. The mercurial material rummages around in your gut, until it finds the barest emotions. It’s raw, cool and intense, but possessed of an unusual subtlety and restraint in places. Produced by Sawchuk at Sessions Recording Studios, 'Radiate' does, 'Drop' is unsettling, while 'Cellophane' and 'Unaware' suck you right in, chokes the life out of you, leaving you emotionally spent' just like sex. Great sex.

Tuuli
Style: xox
Line-up: Jennie MacIsaac (vocals, guitar, drum programming); Swaine (guitar); Claire Blake (bass)
Contact: Tuuli, 1148 Pilgrims Way, Oakville, ON, L6M 1H1 (905) 827-7020;

Hyped on fun, fashion and rockin’ out, this laboriously creative trio, aged 16 to 20, puts the splash back into pop. Giving its three-song cassette, Refried Teens, the personal touch, the Oakville, Ontario-based gals handmade the metallic J-cards, Gluesticked pics ‘n’ info inside and paint-penned on the tape. Crudely recorded using drum machine, their Lucky Charming rock, however simple, is a refreshing mix of Joan Jett, Veruca Salt, Hole and Josie & The Pussycats. From the lotion-slathered vocal of “SPF Million” to the nastier grind of “Refried Teens' and ink-spit of 'Sharpie!', Tuuli gets three gold stars, for effort, at least. All songs were recorded, produced, reduced, mixed, shaken and stirred by MacIsaac.

Red Autumn Fall
Style: avenging Brit pop
Line-up: Simeon Ross (vocals, rhythm guitar); Richard Ragany (guitars); Jackie Duncan (bass); Gail Thompson (drums)
Contact: Red Autumn Fall, 64 Tanbark Cres., North York, ON M3B 1N6 (416) 444-4859

Calgary’s Red Autumn Fall has appeared in society before, but without the style and panache demonstrated on the five-track EP, debutant. Whereas before, they might have unwittingly had toilet paper stuck on their heel, now they appear tie done up properly and socks matching. Amped racket has never been their thing, more like clean, Brit pop, circa the Smiths and now they’ve got some bona fide hits on their hands, particularly with the haunting 'The Revenge of the Blazer Boys' and 'Drowning' lament. Other cuts include the melodic pop of 'Josephite', seemingly about domestic assault ('whose gonna bruise you if he’s gone?') and the fervent pop rock of 'Amazed' which blazes 'I’ll show you anger'. The closing cut, the eerily sexy 'Leopard Skin Seat Cover', was recorded live at The Farmhouse and sounds like a theme to a 007 flick. All other songs were produced by Robert McAlister at Band of Gold Studios, except 'Amazed', produced by Krisjan Leslie at Sundae Sound.

Credit: Karen Bliss is a Toronto-based freelance writer.

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