Regular Corporate Mofo readers are familiar with our SoundPhile column, in which we draw you a road map through the somewhat confusing downtown indie scene. It's been a few months since Afrodite or I have written anything, but it hasn't because we haven't been going to shows. To the contrary, we've been quite busy playing as hard as we work. For instance, I saw a terrific Motor Betty show last Wednesday, where Matt and the boys ripped up Brownie's with their usual glee, despite the fact that the audience consisted mainly of me, Bea, and some drunk German guys. The week before, Afrodite and I caught Lourds at the Cutting Room for an awesome show.

The thing is, we haven't seen anybody new. Not because we've been slacking, but because we've been inside, listening to CDs! Here's the pick of the litter:

Minus Bluff
Red Hot Deal

Every so often, we get a CD from some unknown indie band in the mail. Eventually, we get around to listening to it. True, this usually involves shackling Ken to a chair and slapping some headphones on him, Clockwork Orange-style, but we do listen to it.

This week's contestant is Minus Bluff, originally from Lock Haven, PA. (I have no idea where that is. Somewhere west of 8th Avenue, I think.) They have kind of a kind of a mellow-loungy thing going on, with some clear jazz influence. Overall, rather pleasant. Quite a few of the songs ("Pussy Cat," "Who's Crazy") are really catchy, but they suffer from a lack of discipline in the execution. Make them shorter and tighter, and you've got some hits, there.

Together with the Asher Kahn Band and the Johnson Bros., Minus Bluff is a welcome addition to the Pennsylvania music scene. We'd welcome them any time they decide to come to the city to play. You can check the band out on their Web site, www.MinusBluff.com.

Joey Ramone
Don't Worry About Me

Though he has shucked off this mortal coil for the great CBGBs bathroom in the sky, Joey is still with us. Don't Worry About Me will be remembered as being his Innuendo, only we won't have to put up with Freddy Mercury's overt theatrical whining. Instead, we get 11 tracks of the straightforward, '50s-inspired punk that made the Ramones great.

Without question, the gem on this album is Joey's cover of "What a Wonderful World." However, "Mr. Punchy" (with backing vocals from Captain Sensible of The Damned) and Joey's paean of financial-reporter love, "Maria Bartiromo." We first heard some of these songs at Joey's Birthday Bash last year, and, honestly, we couldn't wait for them to release the CD.

Buy this album. If nothing else, Joey's legacy demands it.

Got some sounds to turn us on to? Send mail to editor@corporatemofo.com.