Last Dance @ the Shockcenter (Canada Lynx Records)

A local band named Roadbed dropped off this CD--and a 12-pack of Molson Export--to the attention of Mike Usinger, high sheriff of the Georgia Straight 's rock 'n' roll department. Now, being the model of integrity that he is, the towering music editor wasn't about to have his shiny silver badge tarnished by the suggestion that his opinion could be bought with a dozen brown rockets. At least not the domestic kind. So the bright-red case of beer sat uncracked beside Usinger's desk for several days--the Roadbed disc and bio planted conspicuously on top--until someone willing to sell their journalistic soul for a cheap barley buzz hauled the low-rent payola away.

No sooner had my fingertips grasped the "publicity material" than a booming voice called out: "Whaddaya think you're doing?" Turns out that although Mr. Mike had no intention of reviewing the CD himself, he had definite guidelines for anyone who took the bait. "You have to drink the whole thing before you write the review," he commanded, like Moses from the mount. Knowing full well that I can't write anything after 12 beers, I offered to douse half of them instead, and His Highness verily agreed. I pounded back six at home while watching the Flames lose the Cup, then cranked up Last Dance @ the Shockcenter .

What I don't get is why a band as obviously talented as Roadbed even bothers to include alcoholic incentives in its "press kits". On the 16 tracks that make up Last Dance @ the Shockcenter , the group proves itself a progressive jazz-rock outfit of the finest sort. Stellar musicianship, mind-bending lyrics, and adventurous arrangements make it clear that Roadbed would be much better off sending well-rolled doobies to prospective reviewers rather than lowly boxes of ale.