By Jason Thornberry

What does the term 'selling out' mean to you? If you're about to tell me it's when a band finally gets paid to do what it loves, I'll roll my eyes. Then I'll assume that you still live with your parents.

I think to 'sell out' in the musical sense involves completely giving up a previous identity or uniqueness. It means shedding that original, fundamental skin, and writing radio-friendly songs because you're being instructed to. 'Who's Sold Out This Week' gets argued about almost endlessly, but only happens with any lasting success for bands on very rare occasions. That's why the mysterious brass ring glistens so luminously. If anyone were actually capable of touching it, don't you think there'd be a few fingerprints and tarnish spots by now? Many, many, many bands have been accused of selling out over time.

Now it's Cave In's turn to lead the deliberations.

Far from being Johnny-Come-Latelys, they've had a lengthy career in the so-called minor leagues. They've released numerous seven-inch singles, played empty-house gigs, and car-pooled to various recording studios when they were too young to drive. Then they finally got a tour van, traveling the country playing shows with anyone and everyone, and watched all of their equipment catch fire in that vehicle one fateful night. Now they've gone and shaken hands with The Enemy. A major label is set to release their next album.

I couldn't be happier for them. They completely deserve it.

No, Cave In didn't learn to keep their guitars in tune for the duration of a song finally. They've grown as a unit, and have been bringing out challenging music since 1995. My original headline idea ("Cave In Grow Up") suggested that their music is now "acceptable," or ready for the sheeple in the greater listening public to comprehend. Sheeple are the sad schlubs who listen to only what plays on the radio, and have considerable difficulty counting past ten with their shoes on. Cave In have progressed as a band. Few are capable of doing that and still being musically relevant. I've been watching them do it, and rather than shake my head at their maneuvers toward a very creative use of melody, I'm actually nearly wearing out their albums the same day I get them. In fact, they're one of the few "rock" bands I can tolerate anymore.

Cave In still do that whole tarantula-on-my-genitals singing once in a while, but Stephen Brodsky also seems to have added some Brian Wilson-isms to his vocal palette. He claims to have been in pain from screaming at the top of his lungs night after night. Listen to Until Your Heart Stops, an early album, and you can see why. Both Heart and Beyond Hypothermia seem influenced by Slayer via early Black Flag or Drop Dead, but the more recent album Jupiter sounds like they've been listening to The Catherine Wheel, Hawkwind, The Beach Boys and Pink Floyd. The bridge between these sounds was found on their Creative Eclipses mini-album (1999), whose dark, chilly resonance evoked space rock, gothic, and "alternative" noises, but spared them the stigma of ever accidentally being enjoyed by parental units.

As of this moment, Cave In are anxiously waiting for the ex-members of Rage Against The Machine to wrap up their latest project, so pre-production on the follow up to 2000's Jupiter can begin at the same studio. In the meantime, Cave In will be releasing an EP on their old label, Hydra Head, and I'll be counting the seconds until I can hear it. When the next album hits there will no doubt arise an uninformed crowd of strident naysayers and headshakers. There will probably also be a new consignment of disposable heroes for them to cling to.

Cave In could go country this time around, and my guess is that they'll probably be brilliant at it.

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EXTRA FEATURE: To celebrate seven years of Cosmik Debris I thought I'd pretend I was going away for a year with just ten cds and a portable stereo. What albums would I bring? Why would I do that? Because I love making useless lists! They're sooo "Hi Fidelity" (the book, NOT the fucking film)!

1. BEACH BOYS: Pet Sounds
Simply the most engrossing record of all time, and one that will forever dispel complaints that the Beach Boys were ever "nice boys"

2. GUIDED BY VOICES: Bee Thousand
The best poppy songwriting-based album in eons, that puts more melody into a thirty second tune than some bands can come up with in their entire careers.

3. DR. OCTAGON: Dr. Octagonecologyst
One of the greatest hip hop albums ever made, with The Automator producing, DJ Qbert at the wheels of steel (turntables), and Kool Keith's twisted brilliance on the microphone.

4. THE BEATLES: The White Album
The morning hangover to the all night party that was Beatlemania.

5. NAPALM DEATH: Inside The Torn Apart
"The End of Music As We Know It" at their horrific best.

6. DJ SHADOW: Endtroducing
A landmark instrumental hip-hop album, with forgotten scraps of old records pasted together to become one beautiful, flowing piece of music that is simultaneously familiar, yet alien.

7. THE JAM: Sound Affects
Boiling down The Kinks, Zombies, and every other great 60's pop band, with the immediacy of the Sex Pistols sprinkled on top.

8. BEASTIE BOYS: Paul's Boutique
A musical photo album of different styles, with every one of them better than any other hip hop album that came out in that era (1989).

9. WU-TANG CLAN: Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers
A startling introduction to one of the greatest rap groups of all time.

10. THE WHO: Quadrophenia
A concept album, and sequel (sort of) to Tommy with a young "Mod" coming of age in London.

(C) 2002 - Jason Thornberry

Official disclaimer: The editors and publisher of Cosmik Debris wish it to be known that when Jason took off for that island he took way, way more than ten CDs. The little rat bastard cleaned out the office shelves. If you see him, tell him we're gonna get him sooner or later. The Rap CDs, okay, fine, but The Partridge Family's Greatest Hits... now that was just plain mean!