Disclaimer: This, and every issue, has been slightly modified from it's original version to fit the format of the new Underground Music Monthly site. Also, these issues are 10 years old or older. These links are likely no longer active. Enjoy the silly reading.
ezcdlogo.gif (10208 bytes) Has every angle covered, from frames to no-frames, from buying a CD, to signing up with them.

The first thing I noticed when I got on EZCD.com is that it seemed a bit difficult to use. But that's before I tried to use it. When you get on to the site, you will see a frames-based site, and if you don't have a large monitor, it can be overwhelming at first. However, you can change to the non-frames site by going to the lower left hand corner of the site. I recommend this for first time users. After you know what you are doing, I suggest going back to the frames site because it is quicker, and more convenient. You also need to download shockwave to hear the soundclips on their site, but it takes less than 10 minutes to download and install. It's definitely worth it if you don't already have shockwave because shockwave is becoming more popular all the time on websites. They do have a shockwave icon on their page, which makes it easy to download the free software as well.

They have a very cool way of putting a CD together, which is the main purpose of their site. You can go to EZCD.com to buy custom CDs. Let's say you like "Intro To My Mind" by Mission Man, "What I Knew" by Bumblefoot and "Suzy" by Kelly Pardekooper. Unless you have all the CDs already, and a CD-R, you aren't going to have all of them on a single CD. That is, until EZCD.com. I know those particular artists aren't available, but it is just an example. The first track on your custom CD is $4.99, and each one after that is only $.99. Not bad at all when you consider that buying a single CD from a major label at a store will cost you up to $7. Putting a CD together is very easy, and fun to watch as well. Just click on the plus sign by the name of the track, and watch as the track is added to your custom CD, and the price is automatically adjusted in the lower left-hand corner of your screen. You can start a new CD by clicking the plus sign with a circle around it. All of the commands for changing your CD(s) are on the bottom left hand of the screen. If you're ever not sure what something does, leave the mouse pointer over the icon for a couple of seconds, and a little rectangle will pop up explaining the function of the item.

There are a couple more things worth mentioning. First of all, they have an easy-to-use search box at the upper left hand corner of the screen. Simply type in the name of a track or a band, and hit enter. The search results will pop up pretty quickly in middle of the page. They have something called the lounge, which is basically a links page to other music related sites.

EZCD has a picks section, which are CDs the staff has created. This section is very useful for the new indie music fan, and it's very nice to be on one of these compilations. They have a very informative help page if you can't figure something out on your own.

Onto the registration process. It's pretty simple to do. You just find the link for band registration at the bottom of the main page, and click on it. You answer a few questions, which takes about 2 minutes, and then they email you. I am going to send them my CD as soon as I get the email response from them (I just registered about 2 days ago). I suggest using EZCD.com to anyone who has one or two awesome tracks, but not enough to sell an entire album, or to any new artist who wants to get their name out.

Overall, EZCD.com is a great site. If you are looking for easy distribution, lowered manufacturing costs, and exposure, I'd definitely get your music to them. I will elaborate just a little bit on the saving of manufacturing costs. EZCD.com only requires that you send them one CD I believe, and when someone buys a track from your CD, they simply put it onto a CD they create themselves, and send you a check. There is no reason to continually make CDs yourself.

Update on Underground Music Monthly

Well, here we are again. Another month has passed by at Underground Music Monthly. Another month of realizing there is so much to learn that it's impossible for one person to know it all. I have discovered a new problem, which really has been there all the time. That problem is distribution. The concept is actually pretty simple. You get a CD onto a radio station, and you put the CD into stores in the area of the radio station. The execution is a little tougher. You have to convince the radio station to play it, and then you have to hope someone likes it well enough to play it a lot. You also have to hope a record store will take your product into their store. Even before that, though, you need contact information for the record store you want to get your CD into. That's why I've decided I'm going to take on a little summer project for Underground Music Monthly. I want to do a section completely devoted to record stores. I need everyone's help on this one. If you know of any record stores in your hometown, please email me, with the address, phone number, and contact name if you have it. Any other information, such as whether they deal on consignment, what their mark up is, etc. would be very useful as well. Exposure is a wonderful thing, but without proper distribution, your name could be known worldwide, and you could still be working at McDonald's trying to support yourself and your music habit. I'd like to have information on at least 250 record stores by the end of July. Without your help, however, I don't think this will be possible. Thank you in advance to anyone who helps me in this research topic. I believe this will benefit all of us, including the music-buying public.

That's the near future. The even nearer future brings new products to Underground Music Monthly. First of all, and available now, are T-Shirts. We have two kinds right now, available in Large and Extra-Large. One is a black T-Shirt, with this month's cover printed on the front. The other is a white T-Shirt, with the cover of November's issue printed on the front. You can buy either one by sending a check or money order for $15.00 (includes priority mail shipping and handling of $3.20) to

Gary Milholland, Underground Music Monthly, P.O. Box 503, Oxford, OH 45056.

Make the check payable to Underground Music Monthly.

The other new product, which will be coming out within the next couple of weeks, is a compilation CD of some of the better musicians we reviewed in 1998. It includes 3 tracks from MISS, Underground Music Monthly's band of the year for 1998. There are a total of 14 tracks. I am waiting on Rachel to finish some artwork, and I have to put together the soundclips a little bit as well. I'm thinking about adding a hidden Mission Man track on the end. We'll see, though. The CD will be available for $10, including shipping and handling (which will cost just over $1), and can be bought the same way as the T-Shirt. Please make a comment in the memo subject as to what you are buying. Some time in May, I will have all of the information for the compilation CD on the webpage. If you'd like to see Underground Music Monthly grow, please support it by buying a T-Shirt or compilation CD. Of course, it is not necessary to buy anything. You can use any of the information from this website for free. That's how it will always be.

Update on Wakefire Records

For those of you who don't know, Wakefire Records is my record company, and the reason Underground Music Monthly exists. Like Underground Music Monthly, Wakefire Records is starting to grow a little bit. We have a new artist on our label, by the name of Cain's Rage. Right now, we are just in the beginning stages of working with them, but they can be heard on 97X in Oxford, OH and purchased in Looney T. Bir'ds in the same town. You can also purchase a copy of the CD yourself by sending a check or money order for $12 (includes shipping and handling) to

Gary Milholland, Wakefire Records, P.O. Box 503 Oxford, OH 45056

Make the check payable to Wakefire Records. Sometime in May, all the information on the band and the CD will be put up on WakefireRecords.com. That is the new site for Wakefire Records as well. There is not a whole lot there right now, but look in May for updates on the site.

Unzipt Has Proven To Be Difficult To Review

Review by Gary Milholland

I've listened to this CD probably 25-30 times now. Perhaps even more. It's kept me entertained numerous times while I've driven around, doing this or doing that. The difficulty in reviewing comes in because there are many good things to say about this band and their album "First Cum, First Served." Their music is very high quality and very soothing in a lot of ways. The intricate guitar work is absolutely beautiful at times. Bobby Sims' voice complements the music very well. His voice is smooth and strong, and he has a decent range when singing. The background drums are pretty simple most of the time, making it very easy to stay with the music.

As far as individual songs go, I definitely recommend listening to Angel. It is the first track on the CD, and, in my opinion, is the best. It starts off with a beautiful musical intro, and is very sad. "6 years ago, Angel left her home. Her daddy said she could. 16 years old, and there's nowhere to go. Her daddy was no good." The first two lines of the song there set the tone for the entire track, and pretty much for the entire CD. "Angel" gets more depressing as it goes on, as it talks about the girl trying to make a living by being a prostitute, and doing heroine. The chorus is also very addicting, definitely catching. "Things have sure enough changed, now Angel, just like you said that they would. Things have sure enough changed, now Angel, not always for the good." I'm singing along with it right now as I type, as a matter of fact.

The CD continues on an unhappy note when moving to the song "Don't Want You Anymore." The song is essentially about a man (or woman) and their feelings about their ex-mate. I love the guitar rift in this song, and the guitar work is again excellent.

If you want something heavier, try "Drummer In My Head." Another addictive song, but with a harder edge to it.

Every song on the CD is worthy of listening to at least once, and some, like "Angel" are addictive, and could be major hits if more people were exposed to them. I would definitely suggest checking them out, and wouldn't be surprised if they are in the running for band of the year in December.

You can buy their CD at www.j-birdrecords.com. In case you missed it, the name of the band is Unzipt, and the album is "First Cum, First Served."

A COLLECTION OF LOVE SONGS BY KATHY MAFFEI

Review by Carrie Wagner

Remember the ballads of those Classic Love songs? That is what is featured in this 12-track CD.
The CD is a collection of Jazzed-up piano beats of those tired old songs of yester-year. Sadly, there's not much to say about this CD. It's not Original, or overly creative. It doesn't drive you to emotion or thought. It's just simply a CD of songs that reflect a rendition of elevator music. For when my Editor gave me the CD, I felt like I was unwrapping a strange christmas present. While I listened to it, I thought of my grandparents rocking-rolling in wheel chairs. For the covers are songs of "Summertime" by George Gershwin and "Try to Remember." Maybe they are right, my grandparents I mean, that I am too young to understand "Good Music" To me the music was like the enchanting elevator ride. And it my plug that it will empress someone of the elderly generation. It's not the bad.....I know my romantic side tells me, it be good for the summer nights underneath the stars, and it might make your parents go into a high school story of their first slow dance, but that all I can see for the purpose of listening to the cd.

So i know that someone in the world will like it so I shall give credit to where credit shall be due

The mixer is Kathy Maffei

To order the Cd, send a check or money order for $15 or $12 for a cassette,
plus 2.95 for shipping and handling to- Kim Productions/P.O.-Box485/Gustine,
Ca 95322

or check out the web site (which i recomend first) at
http://Kathrynmaffei.iuma.com

and be presently surprised....