Deep
Sleep - “Three Things At Once”
(Grave Mistake Records)
About five or six years ago, I went through
a phase where I was all about certain hardcore
bands. Mostly the type of stuff that stayed
true to the old school formula that bands
like 7 Seconds set fourth for us. Bands like
Bane, Champion and even Modern Life Is War
were amongst momentary favorites, you know
that no frills, rarely any breakdowns hardcore.
It is in the breakdowns I lose interest. Deep
Sleep deliver exactly that, fast, heartfelt
songs that get to the point and end before
you even know what hit you. Man I love it!
The only thing is that as the title proclaims
it is three things at once, which includes
their material from the “You’re
Screwed” 7inch, “Manic Euphoria”
EP, and the “Paranoid Futures”
EP. All of which I previously own, so not
much new material here for me, but if you
are missing any of those great dynamic releases
from this Baltimore band, picking this up
should be a no brainer. Also, try to see this
band live they completely blew me away this
summer when I saw them.
Into It. Over It. - “52 Weeks”
(No Sleep Records)
Wow this is a great concept for a CD, or
double CD I should say. A man with a guitar
and some recording equipment writes and records
one song a week for 52 weeks and what you
get are 52 different songs covering the vast
array of emotions. The music is directly up
my alley but is definitely well put together,
for fans of Brand New, Piebald and Alkaline
Trio. My favorite part of this release is
the booklet, it is very well put together
and has lyrics to all the 52 songs and little
pictures and diagrams to fill the voids. Great
job, I only wish I could get into the songs
a bit more.
Le Face “Isolation” (Dead Beat
Records)
Oh man! The instrumentation was sounding
so good until those vocals came in. Its like
a 30 year old man trying to front a Germs
type punk band but his voice cracks like he
is going through puberty. Man, I hate instrumentals
but I kind of wish this was one. Great song
titles though, “Urinating Feet”
& “Christian Cunt” among others.
Get a new singer guys!
Mac Blackout “The Rabid Babies”
(Dead Beat Records)
What do you get when you have a bad Jay Reatard
impersonator fronting a middle school rock
band with amateur Devo styled synth? You get
Mac Blackout with their album “The Rabid
Babies” on Dead Beat Records. This is
terrible, in the first song he must have said
“It’s the year of the rat”
over fifty times. There is no excuse for this.
Not pleased, I’ll have you know that.
Stigmata
“The Wounds That Never Heal” (I
Scream Records)
Just by looking at the name of both the band
name, the title of the record and the artwork
I could tell you I would not like this. It
is sludgy metal with tons of riffing and double
bass drumming. The lyrics are all cheesy and
cynical. If you like listening to bad music
and being depressed this album is for you.
Fed Up! “Live At CBGB” (United
Riot Records)
Gotta love New York Hardcore! (Please not
my sarcasm there). Before the first song even
begins the singer begins a rant that starts
like this…“Good to see all the
skins here nice and early, drunk, high, whatever…”.
In between every song he proclaims either
“Old school” or “Skin Head”
like it means something. The first two tracks
are titled “Sick Fucks” and “Bitch
Slap” respectively and they are both
equally as horrible as the rest of this CD.
For fans of other NYHC bands such as Madball
or Agnostic Front I guess? Oi Oi Oi!
Transit
“Stay Home” (Run For Cover Records)
Transit, the newest version of that melodic
hardcore scene out of Boston deliver a six
song ep that comes straight from the playbook
of Set Your Goals. Completing the mix of screaming,
chanting and singing this band seems to be
a carbon copy of all the bands before, the
only difference is that their drummer is actually
really good but proves to be way too busy
at times, especially over the run of the mill
guitar work. I swear I have heard the opening
to this first track before, it sounds exactly
like that other song, but I casn’t put
my finger on which one it is. If you can figure
it out please get back to me. If you like
bands like Set Your Goals, A New Found Glory
and all of those others this is probably a
great album and will be right up your alley.
If not this is a pass.
CarCrashLander “Mountains On Our Backs”
(Jealous Butcher)
I have no idea what to expect from this,
starts off a bit hectic but then slows down
to a slow crawl with a flowing bass line and
almost spoken lyrics. I can’t tell if
I hate this or if I am indifferent towards
it. There is no doubting that they are good
at their instruments, but the songs just are
not interesting or captivating. I can’t
even label this into a genre, what is it?
I do not know, nor do I care much. Also there
is never a need for an opening track to be
over eight minutes long. You hear me? Never!
Frankenstein
3000 “Where Do We Go From Here?”
(Main Man Records)
I have had enough of this cheesy rock n roll
crap. If you aren’t going to do something
new why bother. Every song is a sub par version
of an older song, no hooks what so ever, what’s
the point? Also the embarrassing cover of
Elvis Costello’s “Green Shirt”
was a bad idea, but I’ll pretend that
didn’t really happen.
The Cold Beat “Dumbwaiter” (Self
Released)
What do we have here? Is it Boston’s
answer to The Replacements? Maybe. Simple
songs with heart felt lyrics spit from the
mouth of a Bostonian with a sad story to share.
The only problem here is that they are not
The Replacements and no matter how much I
can enjoy this I will always crawl back to
my record player to give “Sorry Ma”
its weekly spin. There is an ex-member of
the Jade Tree band Lock and Key somewhere
in this band, to him I’d like to say
sorry dude, but I think I like Lock and Key
much better. Not a bad album, just not great,
but I do know I’d love to watch this
band rock out in a small bar, that I can tell
would be excellent.
Sea Sick Music “Shark Speed” (Self
Released)
By the looks of the cover and the band name
I was expecting this to be a speed metal album.
Boy I could not have been anymore wrong. The
album opens with light horns for a few stanzas
and then the rest of the band comes in accompanied
by Dent May sounding vocals. I didn’t
know Utah was now in the United Kingdom and
people spoke with such heavy British accents
there. I guess we learn something new everyday,
this album would be kind of cool, but now
these vocals are going to kill me before the
music puts me to sleep. So if you like your
fake British rock and your dance beats this
might be the album for you, if not just go
buy Dent May’s latest album and listen
to him croon over is ukulele.
The
Ghost Is Dancing “Battles On”
(Sonic Unyon)
Aside from having one terrible, down right
awful band name, it is safe to say that The
Ghost Is Dancing know how to write some pretty
decent pop hooks. A better name for this band
might be Modest Mouse Jr. but hey who is to
judge. I am really enjoying the overall production
of this album more than the songs themselves
maybe that is saying something? Maybe not.
Going along with some of my pet peeves though
this band includes dance beats and a song
that is over eight minutes, and I know I have
said it before and I’ll say it again;
there is never a need for an opening track
to be over eight minutes long. You hear me?
Never!
Burning Image “Fantasma” (Alternative
Tentacles)
Is it wrong for me to hope that everything
and anything that Alternative Tentacles releases
will sound like “Bedtime For Democracy”?
This sounds like the exact opposite of that,
slow turning goth rock comparable to what
I’d imagine Nine Inch Nails to sound
like. I love Jello Biafra’s music, just
maybe not his taste in music.
Dredg “The Pariah, The Parrot, The
Delusion” (Self Released)
I usually don’t like digi-packs because
they are usually made cheap and break really
easily, however this package looks great.
From the looks of the cover art I am expecting
some southern hard rock, since the artwork
kind of reminds me of the band Down’s
artwork, and if you know who Down is it’ll
make sense. With all of my Phil Anselmo reference’s
aside Dredg sounds nothing like what I described
above. Their music proves to be a more technical
version of what the Rx Bandits have been doing
lately, lots of instruments and weird recording
techniques coming together to create long
drawn out songs where the message is lost
in its jumble. Also it is very rare these
days for an album to run over an hours time,
but this does it and I will personally congratulate
anyone who can sit through this for that long.
The
Blackout “The Best In Town” (Epitaph
Records)
Another well put together digi-pack with
multiple panels. I see these things getting
more and more popular before my very eyes.
The reason why this looks real good is because
it is covered in Tim Burton-esque cartoon
paintings that contain what I imagine to be
some of the bands favorite lyrics. Now, to
the music! What we have here is an amaped
up and riffing out of control over screamed
vocals, but then the tides turn the music
slows and now he is singing. I wish they’d
just make up their minds instead of being
a bunch of flip-floppers. I can’t stand
that, damn flip-floppers. If you want this
I am sure you’ll be able to find it
in your local Hot Topic, just look behind
the fat girls dressed in all black.
The Sorely Trying Days “Survival Mode”
(Useless World Records)
Is there a competition that I don’t
know about where the band with the worst name
wins a prize? If so this band gets my vote.
Hahah! Even better, their name when using
the initials is The STDs. This can’t
get any better! Oh wait it just did, they
are from Kokomo. Haha there is actually a
place called Kokomo in Indiana. Wow. Husker
Du Midwestern rock mixed with bro-dude hardcore
is what we have here, and let me fill you
in on a little secret, this is not a good
mix of sounds. I give up.
Only Thieves “Greetings From Levy Park,
T. L. H.” (Self Released)
This is beginning to remind me of the middle
Against Me!. Not the straight forward early
stuff, but not quite the complicated newer
stuff, but somewhere in the middle? Did Against
Me! Even have an album like that? I don’t
think so I remember it being a pretty drastic
change. The first song “Hammered For
The Holidays” is great, great enough
to make the rest of the album worthwhile.
Take my advice and take a chance on this,
I think you’ll be surprised, I sure
am.
Goonies Never Say Die “In A Forest
With Out Trees” (Deep Elm Records)
Yeesh! Another horrible band name, The Goonies
was a great movie but no need to name a band
after them. The best musical thing dealing
with The Goonies was Cyndi Lauper’s
song for the movie “Goonies Are Good
Enough”, now that’s a jam! I digress,
here we have songs that are way too long and
that have no vocals. Frickin’ instrumentals
dude! How am I supposed to sing along if there
are no words? The obvious comparison is Explosions
In The Sky, and that is about all I know of
instrumental music. Could be cool reading
or studying music. Definitely good for the
background!
Rich
White Males “We’ve Come To Kick
Ass And Play Bubblegum” (Cheapskate
Records)
This may just be right up my alley. Simple
three-chord Ramonescore music featuring Dangerous
Dave (of The Queers and The Bugs) that is
so catchy you’ll find yourself singing
along before the first song finishes. Being
that one of my favorite Queers record is “Beyond
The Valley Of The Assfuckers” this is
perfect for me. I’d definitely recommend
this for fans of the grittier pop punk ala
early Queers, Vindictives or Sloppy Seconds.
Now the question is which do I like more this
or The Bugs? And the answer is they are both
totally kick ass. I am hoping this band comes
to the east coast sometime in the near future
so I can sing along and pump my fist to all
the songs.
The Gateway District “Sometimes You
Get The Thunder” (It’s Alive Records)
A few years ago I took a chance on a 7inch
record from a band from Minnesota not knowing
what to expect and it was excellent. This
7inch was by The Gateway District it was so
good and never left my turntable but I was
worried I’d never get any new material
out of them due to the fact that they were
all in other excellent bands. Consisting of
members of bands such as The Soviettes, Dear
Landlord, Off With Their Heads, Banner Pilot
and my personal favorite from Minnesota Banner
Pilot you could call this an all-star band,
but whatever you call it don’t call
it a side project because this band is the
real deal. Also I believe they are touring
again real soon so you better make sure you
go see them, because you are sure to regret
it if you do. Like all things from It’s
Alive Records, you know you will be getting
high quality in terms of music as well as
the finished product its self. Each band member
contributes his or her own artwork to accompany
their songs in the liner notes in the cd and
the orange vinyl would look great in any record
collection. For this review I have been thinking
of choosing which song is my favorite but
it seems like the more I think about it the
more I change my mind because they are all
great, however for this review I am going
to say the standout track for right now is
the opening number “Keeps Track Of The
Time”, but if you ask me again in 5
minutes I’ll give you another. So good!
Dan Webb And The Spiders “Self Titled”
(Self Released)
Decent Boston tinged pub songs here, the
only things keeping them from being good or
great is the quality of the recording and
the simplicity of the songs, that dynamic
duo leads to me losing interest a lot of the
time. That said, I would not be upset if I
was hanging at a bar in Boston and this band
took a small stage and started to rock. However
the chances of me being in a bar in Boston
anytime soon is a long shot.
Merman
Records Presents: Sea Creatures #1 (Merman
Records)
This is the first installment of a four way
split series that I am very excited to watch
grow. It’s also Merman Records’
first release, and an excellent one at that.
The artwork is some of my favorite that I
have seen in a while, and fits the release
accurately. When I first started writing reviews
for Jersey Beat about two years ago, I received
a 7-inch from the first band on this split,
Fear Of Lipstick, and just as I enjoyed their
fun punk-rock-n-roll songs then, this new
song just adds to evidence that Fear Of Lipstick
isn’t just some half-assed side project
group. The Roman Line is a band I wasn’t
too familiar with prior to this release, but
I will definitely be checking out more stuff
from them in the near future. Reagle Beagle
is a band that I wasn’t to sure about.
I bought their full length on Rally Records
and wasn’t too impressed, aside from
the song they did with Joe Queer, so I was
kind of hoping this would restore my faith
in them. But this song seems to be the only
track on this release that is skipworthy.
Lastly, the Neutron Bombs song is really fun
but the intro reminds me of a Screeching Weasel
song but I can’t put my finger on. Don’t
get me wrong, I don’t mean to call them
a Screeching Weasel ripoff band, because aside
from those few notes, they aren’t all
that comparable. The Neutron Bombs have their
own well-thought-out and distinct sound. On
compilations, there’s usually about
75% crap and 25% decent stuff, but Merman
Records deliver 75% awesomeness and 25% decency.
Not a bad start at all for a new record label.
Here’s to many more releases!
BARRAKUDA
McMURDER - “Slow Crawl” EP (It’s
Alive / House Party Records)
Barrakuda McMurder is Grath Madden’s
first release post-Steinways, and needless
to say it is a great, great record. You still
have his fun lyrics accompanied by catchy
singing, only everything here seems to be
a bit more mature and better executed than
some of the stuff from The Steinways years.
Each of the four songs brings something new
to the table and there isn’t a single
track that I would ever skip, but “The
Royal You” has to be my favorite song
here (and maybe even one of my favorite songs
of the year.) I mean, hey, it’s already
June and this is still my favorite 7-inch
release of the year and it seems to be holding
up well. The only concern is that you better
get your hands on a copy before it sells out
because it is sure to do so, and you don’t
want to have to wait for the second pressing.
DEAR
LANDLORD - Dream Homes (No Idea Records)
I don’t usually do this but I am going
to start this review off with a short anecdote.
The year is 2004, I believe; it is a blazing
hot Memorial Day in our city on the beach,
and there is a punk rock show going on in
my friend’s basement showcasing bands
that I had heard little to none of at the
time (but are now some of my favorites.) We
are all crammed in a small basement with short
ceilings, it is so hot down there that it
seems that the room is sweating, and we are
mopping the floors after each set. Bands such
as The John Stamos Project and Bent Outta
Shape play, and I am loving life. I dare not
leave my spot even if I haven’t yet
heard of the two bands who are about to play,
one called Rivethead from MPLS and the other
The Copyrights from Carbondale, Illinois.
Those two sets flew by and I was left standing
there with my mouth hanging wide open. I quickly
made it over to the merch table where I bought
anything I could get my hands on, which left
me with a 7-inch from Rivethead and a CD from
The Copyrights (We Didn’t Come Here
To Die, which I think is still their best
album). So in 2007, three years after I first
saw these bands, I heard they were combining
forces for a band called Dear Landlord. I
knew they could do almost no wrong and to
this day I still believe I am right. I immediately
bought their first 7inch split with the Chinese
Telephones and fell in love with it, and even
reviewed it for Jersey Beat when I first started
out as a writer. I then got the split with
Off With Their Heads and thought that was
brilliant as well. However, the past is the
past and the future is now and Dear Landlord
is releasing their full-length album on No
Idea Records… and it is outstanding
from the first note till the last. You have
a rerecorded version of one song off of each
of those splits (which sound incredible) plus
12 brand new songs that will have you in punk
rock heaven in no time. Picking your favorite
track off of this album is like picking a
favorite child; it will be impossible because
you love them all equally, because they each
have so much going for them. This album is
in the running for the best record of the
year in my book and I think you’d be
a real dummy not to pick this up; and if you
don’t love it, you should turn in your
ears because you probably aren’t using
them correctly. In summation; Dear Landlord’s
Dream Homes is an instant punk rock masterpiece.
