these reviews were done by Eduard Newton courtesy of rolling stoned

1998's "I am jake" was only released with 25 copies. when it was re released in early 1999, it was alread a classic and a favorite to millions, an essential to everyone's record collection including mine. It starts with "crackhead" a disturbing look at the reality of life. it was recorded at richmond high. the next four tracks "if the shoe fits" "negitive way of thinking" "stranded" and "all the time" were instant platinum hits (in fact stranded was the number 1 on the billbored singles charts and its video was number 2 on MTV's total request live, beaten only by those kings of pop the bakstreet boys). eaach song is a journey into the mind's and hearts of off balance. the closing track "our generation" is an old song with such importance to now that including it on this cassette only release was a must. l give it an 11 on a scale of 1 to 11.

In Contrast, "the sea travels of john starbuck"(1999, annex records) is recorded even more shittally that "i am jake" that was recorded on the same 4 track recorder. however, the pure raw emotion in the six songs included on this album is enough to cover for it. the opening song "(my name) is (kumar)" touched many a heart. "Kosher" is...wow i cannot explain how much this song means to me. "Nathan Radley" has a driving bassline that would make anyone jealous, not to mention great lyrics. on the flipside, "a Song for Mia" really made me cry i mean shit this is the most beuatiful song i have ever fucking heard. this is a love ballad that no one expected off balance could pull off (after all, everyother song on this album is about meaningless shit). "it's perfectly normal" is melodic and graceful. the closing song is a cover of the snoop doggy dogg song "jin 'n' guice". this song, despite dillion's fuckups and a horrible mix, is worth every cent. i give it four stars out of four.

well there back, and this time it doesnt sound like they recorded with one of those funky hand held recorder things. BALANCE THIS is a passionate and emotional epic of an album going deep into the hearts of four troubled kids and their roadie/bartender jake. it combines the truly breathtaking classics that put off balance up there with backstreet boys, and adds new flavors like "high school bomb threat", a peculiar, slightly perverse tale that hands you a splash of reality. and "take me away to greener pastures" may have some of the most brilliant lyrics of my lengthy career in the music critic's business. and what is off balance without some cover songs? a fun and edgy remix of jin & guice adds to the overall mood of the album, and an odd, yet intriguing version of the classic folgers song, first done by those loveable guys from Rockapella. the cd quite possibly is worth ten fold the 6 dollar charge, even though it is cheaply burned out of obvious laziness by the band to do a professional job. but at least you get a charming sticker with purchase. Roger ebert gave it 1 thumb up, and gene siskils dying words were for every music lover out there to go out and buy BALANCE THIS.

all tapes 3$ at shows or write to offbalance@home.com

eduard newton is the editor of rolling stoned magazine

kumar alfred butler is a guitarist for off balance who also stars in adult films. check out his work here