May/June Reviews Part 2
Aanthems – Die Every Night EP (Self-Release)
“You’re The
Devil” opens up with a riff that would have made “Waiting Room” era Fugazi
proud. After the opening riff, the song builds into a Fugazi style punk song
like the ones Ian used to sing. Aanthems are a two-piece bass and drums band
that sounds like a full band. If you’re thinking Death From Above 1979, White
Stripes or other two-piece bands, do not. Aanthems is more punk and travels more
of a Gaslight Anthem road with ‘90’s alternative written into the mix. – Ed
Stuart
Action Jets – Tarot Cards 7” (Self-Release)
Action Jets are
back with Tarot Cards, which
according to the band is a revamped version of a previously recorded version of
“Tarot Cards.” I’m not that familiar with the original version. The new version
starts with a later Jam style chord progression while going into some Guided By
Voices territory for the verses and back to a Jam influenced chorus. The Jam is
always a good choice and Action Jets do it right. Action Jets have carved out a
little niche in the Phoenix scene playing this style, but unfortunately they may
be an army of one though. The B-side is an instrumental called “Action Jets
Muscle Theme.” On their LP, the band had song titles with the band name in the
title, almost as if the band was a character too. I thought this was more of
the same thing, but they kept it instrumental instead. – Ed Stuart
Barry Knoedl – Baby Don’t Give Up 7” (Frodis)
I can only
imagine what the original listeners thought after dropping the needle onto Baby Don’t Give Up after reading the big
Death Records logo on the record label? My guess is surprise to say the least.
Thankfully, Frodis released/re-issued Barry Knoedl. The story behind this
release is Knoedl, while bass on a recording session, asked to record the two
songs you hear on this single. Knoedl plays an American power-pop with a nod to
‘60’s bubblegum pop and ‘70’s AM radio. “Baby Don’t Give Up” is as if 1910
Fruitgum Company decided to go power-pop. The B-side “I Just Want To Make You
Happy” is a song that could have fit right in with ‘70’s rock radio. – Ed Stuart
Bloody Show – Root Nerve 7” (Heel Turn)
Bloody Show
plays a heavy MC5/proto-punk on Root
Nerve. Bloody Show definitely lean more toward the “Kick Out The Jams”
fuzzed out rock MC5 than anything on the band did on Back To The USA. Root Nerve
is full of rawk, fuzz and guitar driven mayhem that would be right at home in
the late ‘60’s/early ‘70’s. – Ed Stuart
The Bradburys – Marilyn 7” (Frodis)
The Bradburys
are the last of the Frodis four pack and doesn’t go back as far chronologically
as their other releases. The Bradburys was an Illinois band from the late ‘90’s
featuring members of The Good and The Stepping-stones. The most famous thing
about this release is that Ted from Material Issue played bass on this single.
“Marilyn” is a power-pop run through a mid-80’s new wave blender. The song is
catchy and a little dark at the same time. Maybe it’s the subject matter? “Hello
Hello” opens up with bravado from a series of horns then settles more into
‘80’s melodic college rock with early REM melody. – Ed Stuart
Bruce Moody – Fresh Out! 7” (Meanbean)
Unfortunately,
the world is a cruel place and the music scene is a prime example. Sometimes in
a sea of quantity, quality doesn’t rise to the top when it should and takes
much longer to surface. This is the case of Bruce Moody. Originally released in
1982, Fresh Out! was released at the
right time in the right place, but somehow never got the right results. Moody
writes and sings a power-pop with heavy Beatles influence, which was a staple
of American power-pop’s more radio friendly bent. Fresh Out! can be placed along with bands like Shoes or 20/20 more than
their UK counterparts. Moody’s songs feature melodies that shine and sore while
the distortion is kept at bay. It’s a fabulous release that power-pop ears have
been waiting to hear. – Ed Stuart
Chandeli’ers – Breaker LP (Dirt
Cult/Dead Broke)
Chandeli’ers are
mix of members from Brooklyn bands like Ringers, Besties and World Inferno
Friendship Society. Chandeli’ers is quite a surprise considering the usual
releases from Dirt Cult. The cover art doesn’t clue the listener into what they
are about to hear. Breaker is a blast
of Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, early Blondie with
touches of ‘60’s R&B and other ’77-’79 power-pop that is more on pop than
power. – Ed Stuart
Cult Values – S/T LP (Sabotage/Deranged)
Cult Values is a
pretty global project incorporating members from United States, New Zealand,
Germany and Austria. Cult Values plays dark punk hardcore not melodic hardcore.
Think early Husker Du, goth-era T.S.O.L., Articles of Faith and Dag Nasty. This
S/T LP keeps the energy of hardcore,
but the guitar sounds as if Bob Mould is playing it. High energy, mid-80’s
influenced punk/hardcore that is equally aggressive and melodic. Sabotage is a
label that has been putting out good bands lately and this is another one that doesn’t
disappoint. – Ed Stuart
Cut Worms – Don’t Want To Say Good-Bye 7”
(Randy)
I had to check
the year of this release after starting to listen to it. “Like Going Down
Sideways” sounds like a folk-era record much like early Dylan with touches of
Simon/Garfunkel era Paul Simon. The B-side, “Don’t Want To Say Good-Bye,” is a
nod to early ‘60’s California pop like the Byrds with a hint of Everly Brothers
harmonies. Cut Worms is the solo project of Max Clarke from The Sueves. Max has
really nailed the songs and sound of the period so that it doesn’t a throwback,
but an honest homage to a musical time and place. – Ed Stuart
Daylight Robbery – Accumulated Error LP (Deranged)
Daylight Robbery
is a post-punk/punk trio out of Chicago. Imagine if the Wipers had X (the Los
Angeles version) style guy/girl trade-off vocals. Accumulated Error, the band’s third LP, is full of dark melody and
reverb without wallowing in its own brooding. The songs are up-tempo like “Goon
Beat” and “Telegraphing.” The self-described adult rock band has written an LP
that pulls influences from the past, but that the new kids will be into as well.
– Ed Stuart
Direct Hit! – Wasted Mind LP (Fat
Wreck)
Like their
previous LP, Brainless God, Wasted Mind is a concept album. Wasted Mind follows the story of a
person who takes drugs, the effects of the drugs on the person, what happens
when one takes drugs, the appeal, addiction, the treatment and rehabilitation
process as the result of drug use. According to the band, Naked Lunch, Fear and
Loathing In Las Vegas, an assortment of drug themed movies and personal use
were big influences. Wasted Mind is
the band’s fourth release, but the first for Fat. Direct Hit!’s sound is radio
friendly ‘90’s pop-punk. From other reviews I’ve read, writers have been
calling Wasted Mind Direct Hit!’s
punk opus. The band is definitely going for the opus concept LP feel by adding
piano and an assortment of other instruments. Direct Hit! is another band in
the Fat revitalization of the last few years and this release will be a nod to
Fat’s past and it’s future. – Ed Stuart
Drunk Couples – Blasted LP (Bob)
Drunk Couples
are a power-trio from South Carolina and pound their instruments as much they
play them. There really isn’t much finesse in the power chord riff mania on Blasted. Drunk Couples is early Helmet,
Melvins, Murder City Devils with some punk thrown in. Drunk Couples are being
billed as punk rock, but I think it would make more sense to call it rock with
punk. Blasted is for fans of riff
driven rock that isn’t interested in slowing down for stop signs or
pedestrians. – Ed Stuart
Excelsior – Punk Floyd EP (It’s
Trash)
At first, I
listened to this in my car and could barely hear anything at all of what
Excelsior was doing. I know this has been written about in other reviews, but
the sound quality is somewhere between super lo-fi DIY, recorded down the
street from the studio and garage practice recording demo. On the headphones, I
could hear a little better what the band was doing. Excelsior is a lo-fi garage
punk that has some melodic parts that are buried/lost in the recording. Punk Floyd makes some of the Rip Off
Records bands seem overproduced. –
Ed Stuart
Faz Waltz – Callin Out Loud LP (Contra/Longshot)
On previous
releases, I felt Faz Waltz, had a more a T. Rex feel, but Callin Out Loud is full of glam stompers straight from the
Slade/Sweet songbook. Faz Waltz really knows the ‘70’s UK glam/Bovver sound and
it’s in full effect on their new LP. Callin
Out Loud is the band’s fifth LP and the Italian bootboys don’t show any
sign of stopping. Slade/Sweet were masters of tough edge glam pop songs filled
with rock n’ roll riffs and Faz Waltz is doing precisely the same thing. How
Faz doesn’t get the attention Guida does is a mystery to me? For those already
clued into Faz, this new LP is for you. – Ed Stuart
Guitar Gangsters – Aftershow EP (Wanda)
Aftershow shows Guitar Gangsters playing the Cocksparrer
style mid-tempo streetpunk with punchy melodic catchy choruses that should be
of no surprise to their fans. Guitar Gangsters have been doing this since 1987.
After playing for twenty plus years and having nine releases under their belt,
they know a thing or two about how to write a song. The title track,
“Aftershow,” has a little Buddy Holly chord progression mixed with Cocksparrer influence
while the other three songs showcase their love of ’77 with big football
sing-along chorus. – Ed Stuart
Heart Attack Kids – S/T EP (It’s Trash)
Two-piece that
doesn’t sounds like one at all. The band is from London, Ontario. Heart Attack
Kids play a raging fuzzed out dirty, trashy, garage-tinged punk rock n’ roll.
These four songs don’t seem to let up at all. “Platonic Love Bomb” opens up
with a Hives style riff that would make most indie bands jealous and that’s
only the beginning. “Shoulda Come From Japan” and “Eh OK” capture the energy of
a band that sounds like it has more members than it actually does. This release
is from 2014, but it looks like the band is still going and recently put out an
LP with Underground Options. – Ed Stuart
Hi-Fi’s – Look What You’ve Done 7” (Meanbean)
I don’t know
where Meanbean keeps finding these power-pop diamonds in the rough to re-issue,
but I don’t want them to stop. Hi-Fi’s, from Toronto, were formed in the late
‘70’s and feature future members of Blue Rodeo. How was this single missed? Who
knows? Originally released in 1980, this release features “Look What You’ve
Done” which by all rights should have been a hit, but wasn’t. It’s full of ’77
energy with ‘60’s pop melodies. This song fits on any Powerpearls comp. “I
Don’t Know Why (You Love Me)” sounds more like a ‘60’s Beatles/early Who that
is more mid-tempo, but is equally catchy. Hi-Fi’s could have run with either
style, but all we get is two songs on this release, which is unfortunate for us
listeners. – Ed Stuart
Impo & The Tents – Anxious Times EP (Alien Snatch)
What if The
Dickies singer fronted an Undertones/’79 Power-pop band heavily influenced by
bubblegum bands like 1910 Fruitgum Company? Impo & The Tents would be the
answer. Listen to “Do The Things You Wanna Do” and you’ll see what I mean. Anxious Times is a fun release much like
their previous LP, Peek After A Poke
is. Anxious Times leans more power-pop than its predecessor LP did. The new
addition for Impo is the farfisa sounding organ which gives the band a more
‘60/s mod dimension. – Ed Stuart
La Flingue – Piss-Tape Zero Quatre 12” EP (Wanda/P.
Trash)
Ex-Hatepinks and
Irritones have conspired to create La Flingue, which means The Pistol in
French. Piss-Tape Zero Quatre is a
high up-tempo garage punk with treble guitars that slice and a rhythm that
doesn’t stop like Teengenerate/Registrators/early Kids. When you think that all
La Flingue is about, you would be wrong. Songs like “Hamster Norvegius”
and “ABC Not D” sound like a catchy
’77 influenced Briefs. “Porcelaine God” uses the melodic bass driven verse
style of Joy Division to great effect. La Flingue might just be the sleeper hit
of the Wanda roster. – Ed Stuart
Los Pepes – All Good Now LP (Wanda)
For having three
straight releases in as many years, Los Pepes have been putting out quality
records that seem to go a little too unnoticed. I realize that Canadian
power-pop bands are all the rage right now, and believe me a lot of those
Canadian bands are top notch, but so are Los Pepes. All Good Now is a heavy Buzzcocks/Undertones power-pop/punk one-two
punch with all the pop in the right place to soothe all the punk bite marks.
Los Pepes, amidst the line-up changes, have continued to write and produce
quality and All Good Now continues to
showcase this. – Ed Stuart
Lost Balloons – S/T LP (Alien Snatch)
Lost Balloons is
a project four years in the making. The origin story starts when Jeff Burke
(Radioactivity, Marked Men) took his Japan sabbatical/extended stay and was
asked to work on a song by Yusuke (Suspicious Beasts, Blotto). One song wasn’t
enough for these two and after both moved back to the US, more songs were
written and recordings were finalized. The product is this S/T LP. Both men share songwriting duties. Yes, some songs sound
like their other bands, but oddly some of the experimental stuff sounds like
Mind Spiders. Songs like “Back Again” and “Don’t Count On Me” are more ‘60’s
influenced and more melodically driven than velocity. “Jump Ship” could fit
right into a Radioactivity LP. Lost Balloons is a very good release, which
isn’t a surprise to Jeff Burke fans, but don’t be expecting a carbon copy
Radioactivity style release because Lost Balloons are going for the poppy at
heart. – Ed Stuart
Lovesores – Rock N’ Roll Animal 10” (Hound
Gawd)
If you already
liked/loved Lovesores, Rock N’ Roll
Animal will keep the love affair going strong. Lovesores have been prone to
changing some band members in the past, but this is the same line-up as Focke-Wulf vs. Spitfire. Should you be
surprised when I tell you this 10” is killer? No. Lovesores set the bar so
high; you shouldn’t expect anything less. Rock
N’ Roll Animal is more NY Dolls/early Humpers/LAMF/Chuck Berry/MC5 dive bar
rock n’ roll madness played by rock n’ roll warriors who know this game inside
and out. – Ed Stuart
Maniac – Midnight Kino 7” (Modern
Action)
First of all,
Modern Action is back?!? When did this happen? The label that lay dormant for
so long re-enters the game with Maniac’s new single, Midnight Kino. Maniac, LA’s all-star band made up of Cute
Lepers/Clorox Girls/Images/LA Drugz members, may be the best band in LA right
now. The Gentlemen Punks do not disappoint on their new 2-song single. More
‘77/early LA meets Briefs that is both catchy and effortless. My main issue is
that I can’t decide which song I like better and that’s always a nice problem
to have. – Ed Stuart
Marchildon – Night Screamer EP (Purple
Hill)
Owen Marchildon
has gone under a few aliases like From Fiction, Purple Hill and now he’s just
using his last name. Marchildon’s voice sounds a little like Lou Reed, but more
melodic and less deadpan. Night Screamer
is a mix of rock, folk, country and a touch of indie Americana. – Ed Stuart
Marshmallow Generation – VA-Ontario LP (It’s Trash)
This compilation
contains bands from Ontario. Compilations are great ways to hear a lot bands at
once, but really sink or swim based on which bands make the cut. On Marshmallow
Generation, some of the bands are Terminal Licks, Zex, First Base and Strange
Attractor. VA-Ontario is mostly punk
in either a ’77, rock n’ roll, street punk, power-pop, or garage way. Terminal
Licks, First Base and Zex are the standout bands. – Ed Stuart
Mean Jeans – Tight New Dimension LP (Fat
Wreck)
I’m not sure
what I could write about Mean Jeans that most of you don’t already know. Tight New Dimension is the Jeans’ third
LP and the first one for Fat Wreck. Mean Jeans mix a healthy dose of Ramones by
way of The Queers pop-punk filled with songs titles like, “4 Coors Meal” and
“Michael Jackson Was Tight.” Tight New
Dimension doesn’t have the recklessness party abandon of Are You Serious, but most third LP’s
don’t. It would be the like the party master of yore still hanging at the frat
house long after his kegger reign was over. Eventually, you have to leave the
party, go home and move out. Does Mean Jeans deliver on the Ramones-infused
punk-pop that they are known for? Yes. The production on Tight is a bit better, but the fun is still there. – Ed Stuart
Moped – Eklig LP (Wanda)
I believe Moped
is from Germany. First of all, Moped sing in their native language so; unless
you speak the language, you never have any idea of what is being sung. Maybe
it’s fitting that Wanda, a German label, released their record. Moped reminds
me of ’77 bands likes PVC, Newtown Neurotics and Chron Gen. Eklig, is the fourth LP from the band
and it’s a brand of self-described power-punk. – Ed Stuart
Nasty Rumors – All Alone 7” (No Front
Teeth)
From the first
chords of “All Alone,” I knew this single would be damn good. Nasty Rumors are
very good and this single is killer. “All Alone” starts off with a riff Steve
Jones himself could/would have written for The Professionals, but could have
worked in the Pistols. The B-side, “T&M” continues the Professionals/Boys/’77
UK punk rock n’ roll love fest. Nasty Rumors have been putting out solid
singles for a while, but I wonder if an LP is in the works for these Swiss
punks. – Ed Stuart
Noise Pollution – VA-Hamilton EP (It’s
Trash)
While VA-Ontario was an LP, VA-Hamilton is only an EP. My guess is
Toronto is a much bigger city and scene than Hamilton, which might be the
reason for the format difference. Noise Pollution has four bands, which are
Flesh Rag, Jimmy and The Jerks, Get Off The Cop and Nobles Savages, Much like VA-Ontario, VA-Hamilton, is a punk compilation. The songs all fall into a punk,
rock n’ roll garage description and provide a good introduction to these bands
if you haven’t heard them before. –
Ed Stuart
Pezband – Women and Politics 12” EP (Frodis)
When I first
Pezband, it was with “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” which was awash in American
Power-pop and Beatles influence. Women
and Politics has Pezband playing with a little more bite without
sacrificing their melody. Women and
Politics was recorded in ’82 was never released until now. At the time of
the recording, Pezband was trying to revive interest in the band again after
the labels had lost interest. Pezband ditches the The Beatles influence for
more of a Knack/Vapors style, but sadly it didn’t grab label’s ears. It’s
interesting because the ‘80’s had hits from the same musical ballpark as the
songs on EP especially “Office Girls” and “Waiting In Line.” Instead of trying
to figure the decision label suits, Frodis release of new/old Pezband material
is their loss and our gain. – Ed
Stuart
Pkew Pkew Pkew – S/T LP (Royal Mountain)
First of all
this band does not take it seriously at all. If you watch their video for “Mid
20’s Skateboarder,” they spoof Tony Hawk Pro Skater by combining beer with
skateboarding to get added points. Pkew Pkew Pkew, which is the sound a gunshot
makes, plays pop-punk that likes to party. The band takes a lot of bits from
Rocket From The Crypt minus the horns and early Against Me! and Teenage
Bottlerocket style pop-punk that isn’t reinventing the wheel. It seems like all
the vocals are gang vocals that collectively sing about topics like pizza,
starting a band, drinking and skateboarding. The gang vocals make the verses
and actual chorus seem like one big extended sing along chorus, but it actually
works here. These Canadian party boys may have one-upped early Mean Jeans and
Dirty Fences on the party meter. This LP is enjoyable and should find it’s way
to the kids because Pkew Pkew Pkew tours with the likes of Direct Hit and PUP. – Ed Stuart
Public Eye – Mood Change EP (Sabotage)
Public Eye is
Autistic Youth when they switch instruments and start a new band. Sabotage has
re-released the band’s cassette release from last year. Public Eye has a sparse
songwriting style that falls in with Fall, early Wire and Joy Division. You
wonder how much of the keep it simple style songwriting is by choice or lack of
familiarity with their new instruments. Mood
Change is post-punk that contains droning/dirge like moments of early goth
that most of the time presents a bleak picture like an industrial town whose
constant tower smoke has blocked out the sun. – Ed Stuart
Pussywhips – S/T EP (Surf & Turf)
Pussywhips are a
trio from Portugal that is blender of styles mixed up of Cramps, post-punk,
‘80’s goth, rockabilly and ‘60’s garage. The guitar is soaked in reverb just
like how Cramps and Gun Club used to make it sound, but doesn’t stick only to
rock n’ roll. Some of the rhythms are very primal like on “Fifty Shades (To
Summer Days).” It reminds me of Bauhaus or early industrial. Pussywhips is a
walk on the road less traveled, but not to those wholly familiar with the
recipe. – Ed Stuart
Razorbats – Camp Rock LP (Self
Destructo/Glunk)
Razorbats are
from the home of black metal, deep in the heart of Norway. While Razorbats may
share an affinity for denim and leather, they listened to Hanoi Rocks, Cheap
Trick, early Def Leppard, KISS, and Judas Priest. Camp Rock came out late last year on Self Destructo, but Glunk is
issuing the LP again. The first song title says it all, “Planet Riff.” The LP
songs are catchy metal tinged rock n’ roll with a bunch of pop hooks and even a
couple power ballads to boot. What makes Razorbats pull off this style is that
they understand that the early ‘80’s metal bands were really rock bands with
pop hearts and Camp Rock is no
different. – Ed Stuart
Razz – Pleasantries 7” (Warm
Wet)
Oakland is
slowly becoming a hotbed for bands right now. It might be because San Francisco
is so expensive now that only tech employees can afford to live there so
everyone else had to move to the East Bay for cheaper rent. Razz is members of
The Pets, Glitz, Reptoids and Cocktails. Razz plays a power-pop of an early Who
meets Raspberries meets Twilley/Seymour meets dB’s. Razz falls more on the
American Power-pop side with the subtle Beatles-esque melodies nestled inside
solid songwriting that may not have the flash of the UK model, but has the all
the qualities. – Ed Stuart
Sightlines – “North” LP (Alarum/Big
Smoke)
Sightlines have
finally released their debut LP, “North.”
It seemed like the band had released every other format previously except
the LP. Sightlines debut LP seems heavily influenced by Jawbreaker’s Dear You in vocals and songwriting. The
band has a melodic pop-punk meets ‘90’s sound informed by early emo, fuzz,
lo-fi and alternative. – Ed Stuart
Shameless Idols – Shamed and Defamed LP (Self-Release)
The Shameless
Idols are a four-piece band from Boston. There wasn’t a lot of information
about the band other than their bio. The bio described the band as having “elements
of roots, garage, alt-country, power pop and zip-a-dee-doo-dah.” Shamed and Defaced leans more to
alt-country and rock n’ roll. The songwriting reminds me a lot of bar rock n’
roll band influenced more by Wilco than the Stones. – Ed Stuart
Shitty Life – S/T EP (Surfin Ki)
Shitty Life is
all about the barn-burners. This 7-song EP is full of Rip-Off Records mixed
with Group Sex-era Circle Jerks. The
band is from Italy and made up of members of Drug Problems, VAM Society, You
Sucks!, and The Secret Tape. 7 songs in 8 minutes according to the Surfin Ki
website and that’s about right. High energy garage punk with a touch of early
punk-hardcore or as the band bills it, “power trash.” – Ed Stuart
Spit Pink – Night Of The Lizard LP (Wanda)
Germany’s punk
scene is either blowing up or just being so well documented by Wanda that us
foreigners are getting an inside ear into the scene. Spit Pink plays
Stooges/New York Dolls mixed with Saints, Radio Birdman and Fun Things
blues-based punk rock n’ roll. Night of
The Lizard is as much a rock n’ roll record as it is a punk record. The
riffs are a plenty on this record and the style of Thunders is well heard
throughout. Spit Pink is a band for fans that like their guitars and riffs
leading the show. – Ed Stuart
Terminal Licks – S/T EP (It’s Trash)
Members of Cheap
Thrills, Diemonds, City Sweethearts, Absolut get together to make some really,
really good power-pop rock n’ roll. Yes, Canada is at again, this time its
Toronto. There is a heavy Exploding Hearts influence on “You Won’t Se Me Go.”
On “Come Over Tonight,” it’s like Thunders joined Cheap Trick without losing
his rock n’ roll swagger and keeping those sweet Cheap Trick choruses. The only
problem for Terminal Licks is this is looking to be their only ever release
because their drummer passed away before this S/T was released. – Ed Stuart
The Toms – Fake Christmas 7” (Frodis)
The Toms is
really Tommy Marolda. The origin story of The Toms is that Marolda wrote over
forty songs, played all the instruments and recorded all of them in one
weekend. The result of his efforts was called The Toms. The Toms had an LP
release called The Toms, which is
full of potential hits that were never realized. Later, there was a 2-CD release of all The Toms songs, which
included the B-side “It’s Needless (demo). The A-side, “Fake Christmas” is not
on the 2-CD release, but was originally released on a Christmas LP, Marolda
released. The Toms always had a heavy Beatles influence and attention to
guitar/vocal melody and Fake Christmas
is no different. The title track is American power-pop with Beatles harmonies
and other Lennon/McCartney songwriting signatures mixed with late ‘70’s/early
‘80’s pop/new wave. Marolda who has made a bigger name producing may get his
just rewards for the songwriter he always was. – Ed Stuart
Torpedohead – III LP (Woodhouse)
Torpedohead,
from Germany, are more rock than punk. III
reminds me of the rock LP’s from the early to mid 80’s when bands like LA Guns,
Faster Pussycat and The Cult were putting out records. You could even argue for
Backyard Babies and Hellacopters too. Torpedohead are a 3-piece that plays a
rock that is not afraid to show the guitar chops with big riffs, big rock and some
poppy choruses. – Ed Stuart
Useless ID – We Don’t Want The Airwaves EP
(Fat Wreck)
This EP opens up
with the title track “We Don’t Want The Airwaves,” which is an ode to The
Ramones and a play on “We Want The Airwaves.” So you would think, three more like
this are coming, but you would be wrong. This EP jumps around stylistically.
First, it’s aforementioned pop-punk honoring the Ramones. Second and fourth is
Billy Bragg-ish/Against Me! politically tinged numbers more reflective of the
singer’s solo career. The third song veers more toward Rise Against/Foo
Figthers rock. Useless ID is releasing a new LP later this year and I feel this
EP is to hold over fans until then. – Ed Stuart
Useless ID – State Is Burning LP (Fat Wreck)
Useless ID
channel their inner Bad Religion, NOFX, No Use For A Name for their eighth LP, State Is Burning. Useless ID have been
around for twenty years now and they figured they would celebrate by returning
their roots and dust off the Bad Religion LP’s they cut their teeth on. Two of
the songs from their previous EP made it to this LP. While We Want The Airwaves seemed unfocused, State Is Burning is the opposite. From the opening track, “Land of
Idiocracy,” you know what you’re in for. Despite the flourishes of ‘00’s punk,
this LP is call back to Fat and Epitaph of yesteryear. – Ed Stuart
Yum Yuckers – A Tragic History 7” (Dig
My Grave)
Verge Campus
named Yum Yuckers one of the bands to watch at this years’ Punk Island in New
York City. Yum Yuckers is ex-members of Coffin' Fit, and The
Devotchkas. Yum Yuckers play a tough heavy, dirty, grungy, sludgy punk
rock n’ roll like Murder City Devils did, but with a singer that sounds
somewhat similar to Danzig. If you can imagine a heavier, slower Walk Among Us
minuses the whoa-oh’s, you’ll be in the right ballpark. – Ed Stuart
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