Time
Again - Darker Days (Hellcat Records)
Time Again outdid the majority of their late-millennial
punk rock peers when they released The
Stories Are True last year, and now find
themselves standing on the verge of releasing
that all-important "sophomore album."
It's usually make or break time (unfortunately),
by todays music standards, that determines
if a band is here to stay.
There are two ways in which bands or artists
usually tackle this daunting prospect: The
first is to produce a second album that sounds
like the tried and true formula which got
them to this point; or, a band can view their
second album as an opportunity to mix things
up. Bands that take the second approach and
are successful begin to build the foundation
for a long career, like those of The Casualities,
or Rancid, to name a few.
Time Again have take the latter approach
to their new album, Darker Days.
I don't usually like to quote press kits but,
vocalist Daniel Dart sums up the albums groove
the best with, "I finally feel like we
made a record that totally captures who we
are and what we stand for. I've been waiting
my whole life to make a record like "Darker
Days." It's everything we are as a band
and as a family."
The 14 songs, especially "You're Goin'
Down," "TV Static," and "Shell
Casing" combine the proto-punk of The
Stooges with the psychedelic soul of The White
Stripes. The squalling guitar licks of Elijah
Reyes, ride over the maxi- garage rock rhythm
section consisting of bassist Oren Soffer,
and drummer Ryan Purucker. This is a profound
and exciting album!
The future of the music industry, at least
the majors, is currently more unstable and
unpredictable than at any other point in recent
history, and while the prospect of uncertainty
may make most labels uneasy, you have to give
a lot of credit to indie labels like Epitaph
and Hellcat, and thankfully I can name a lot
more cool labels like Drive Thru, and Fat
Wreck. Living up to their DIY punk rock ethic,
sets them apart from their peers, and are
one of the prime factors why a band like Time
Again will have longevity and staying power.
- Phil Rainone
The
Armed Forces - Modern Gospel for Modern Men
& Women EP (myspace.com/thearmedforces)
Brandon Jazz, as head of the long-hyped"World's
Most Dangerous Pop Band," takes these
five songs (their forthcoming debut album
should be out later this year) and cuts them
up into seven-inch single bites (any song
here has "Hit" written all over
it), and soaks them with his short stories
of want and danger ( "Now, Now People"
& "Everything You Know is Wrong,"
respectively), and drench them with fuzz guitars,
squealing-tire feedback, his glam rock vocals
and harmonies.
After a 47 second blast of CBGB basic punk
("Rock N' Roll Niigger (Part Two),"
the closing song "In the Free World,"
is filled with distortion, echo, and an unrelenting
riff. Beauty and beast in equal measures leaves
you wanting a full album of this stuff!
And, to borrow what Roger Clemens said in
front of The House Oversight Committee, don't
"misremember" to buy this album
when it comes out! - Phil Rainone
CD Reviews 
