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ARTIST "ALBUM TITLE" [FORMAT, LABEL] - REVIEW (duh)
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Surprise surprise! More reviews of stuff that people have already reviewed to death months (possibly years) ago!
Cam’ron “Purple Haze” [CD, Roc-a-Fella] – I don’t know what it is about Killa Cam and Dipset that I like so much… maybe it’s the abundance of ignorant, simplistic rhymes, maybe it’s because Cam stays “undercover under covers,” and Juelz Santana “…is a baller baller and you’re not at all a baller.” Who knows. What I DO know is that these dudes spit fire on every track they grace. A lot of hipster fucks who don’t normally listen to hip-hop will listen to Cam’ron because they think it’s “ironic” or some stupid shit like that…I listen to Cam because he’s fire and one of the hottest emcees on the streets right now. Believe it.
Circle Jerks “VI” [LP, ??] – This record is a test press. Hand written labels, straight from the studio, maybe like another 3 or 4 copies exist in the world. For some reason, I always get the Circle Jerks confused with the Germs. Don’t ask me why (seriously, don’t. the reason is really lame).
Kanye West feat. Jay-Z “Diamonds are Forever (remix)” [mp3, Roc-a-Fella] – I really like the original version of this song when I heard it, great beat, great flow, blah blah blah. Anyway, I was put on to the remix a couple weeks ago, and honestly, since then I’ve probably played this song like 1000 times. Jay-Z is the man. I haven’t heard a verse as good as his in a while. Just the line, “I’m not a businessman/I’m a business man/let me handle my business, damn” is worth finding this song. Do it.
The Mars Volta “Frances the Mute” [CD, GSL] – Honestly, I just assumed they were on GSL. Really, I didn’t even look at the cd. They probably aren’t anymore, I mean, I hear them on the radio and see them on TV all the time. Some blood sucking major had to have picked them up by now. I didn’t feel the same way listening to this record as I did “Deloused…” Maybe I just hate prog-rock. Maybe I just hate you. I don’t know.
Mudhoney “Touch Me I’m Sick” [7”, Sub-Pop] - What I really wanted was Sonic Youth covering this song, but this is fine. There’s a pretty good interview with the dude from Mudhoney on Buddyhead, but really, who cares?
Cam’ron “Purple Haze” [CD, Roc-a-Fella] – I don’t know what it is about Killa Cam and Dipset that I like so much… maybe it’s the abundance of ignorant, simplistic rhymes, maybe it’s because Cam stays “undercover under covers,” and Juelz Santana “…is a baller baller and you’re not at all a baller.” Who knows. What I DO know is that these dudes spit fire on every track they grace. A lot of hipster fucks who don’t normally listen to hip-hop will listen to Cam’ron because they think it’s “ironic” or some stupid shit like that…I listen to Cam because he’s fire and one of the hottest emcees on the streets right now. Believe it.
Circle Jerks “VI” [LP, ??] – This record is a test press. Hand written labels, straight from the studio, maybe like another 3 or 4 copies exist in the world. For some reason, I always get the Circle Jerks confused with the Germs. Don’t ask me why (seriously, don’t. the reason is really lame).
Kanye West feat. Jay-Z “Diamonds are Forever (remix)” [mp3, Roc-a-Fella] – I really like the original version of this song when I heard it, great beat, great flow, blah blah blah. Anyway, I was put on to the remix a couple weeks ago, and honestly, since then I’ve probably played this song like 1000 times. Jay-Z is the man. I haven’t heard a verse as good as his in a while. Just the line, “I’m not a businessman/I’m a business man/let me handle my business, damn” is worth finding this song. Do it.
The Mars Volta “Frances the Mute” [CD, GSL] – Honestly, I just assumed they were on GSL. Really, I didn’t even look at the cd. They probably aren’t anymore, I mean, I hear them on the radio and see them on TV all the time. Some blood sucking major had to have picked them up by now. I didn’t feel the same way listening to this record as I did “Deloused…” Maybe I just hate prog-rock. Maybe I just hate you. I don’t know.
Mudhoney “Touch Me I’m Sick” [7”, Sub-Pop] - What I really wanted was Sonic Youth covering this song, but this is fine. There’s a pretty good interview with the dude from Mudhoney on Buddyhead, but really, who cares?
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Eight new reviews of stuff that's not really new.
Alkaline Trio “Crimson” [CD, Vagrant] – I sort of gave up on this band. Their first releases had me floored the first time I heard them. I still listen to their older records like I’ve never heard them before. After “Good Mourning” came out, I felt their music was kind of forced. I haven’t really given this album a thorough listen, but as someone who judges things solely based on first impressions, I wasn’t really wowed. Eh. I’ll give it some time.
Belle and Sebastian “Push Barman to Open Old Wounds” [2XCD, Matador] – What a good release. Nothing new here, just b-sides and vinyl only stuff, now available on cd (and vinyl, oddly enough). I’m just psyched because I’ve wanted to hear “I Know Where the Summer Goes” in my car for a long time.
Charge “Universal Tribe” [CD, Hellbent] – I got this cd at the Fahrenheit 451 reunion show earlier this year (which, by the way, was awesome). Groovy hardcore, very similar in style to Fahrenheit but with lots of dub and reggae influences. The singer said he was like 17 or something, which I find hard to believe, but this band is pretty talented. Haven’t heard anything from them since.
The Game “300 Bars and Runnin’” [mp3, ??] – In case you’re not to familiar with musical terms, a “bar” is a unit used to measure time in music. 300 bars is approximately 15 or so minutes of music, which means Game rapped for that amount of time continuously, with no hooks or a chorus. Sounds like a big feat, but not really. The song is choppy (which leads me to believe he didn’t rap 300 bars straight through [which would actually make the song an even lesser deal than it is]), but the production and beat selection are great. I love the attention to detail, like when Game says “Lucifer” in a line, and you hear a few piano hits from Jay-Z’s “Lucifer”. Other than that, this kinda sucks. I’m not really into the Game as it is, so whatever. Take that how you want.
Jawbreaker “Dear You” [2XLP, Geffen] – Jawbreaker’s first (and last) major label release. Many people had lots of bad things to say about this record when it was released, but I’ll be honest, it’s one of my favorites. Every time I listen to this album it gets better. “Accident Prone” might be one of the best songs ever (not even best Jawbreaker song, just straight up best song ever), with “Sister,” and “Friendly Fire” following closely. Blake really DOES sound like the guy from the Psychedelic Furs. Like, REALLY.
The Muffs “Hamburger” [2XLP, Sympathy] – Once again, The Muffs are awesome. This, I guess, is an anthology of sorts, with tracks from their 7”s, soundtracks, and major label stuff. Great material here. This is probably also available on cd (which is probably what I should have gotten so I could listen to this more often), but whatever.
Screeching Weasel “My Brain Hurts” [CD, Asian Man] – My personal favorite album by Weasel. Most people will probably say they like “Anthem…” better, but I like this album. Yeah it’s old, but whatever – these songs are timeless (did I just refer to Screeching Weasel as “timeless”? umm…). Check out Ben Weasel’s blog when you get the chance.
Trauma, Walter “The Lost Demo Tapes” [cassette, no label] – Ahh…my old band. These tapes weren’t actually “lost” per se; I just didn’t know they existed. No vocals, pretty poor recording quality (well, pretty good if you take into consideration the circumstances of every “recording session”), but what a great band. Probably the best band I’ve been in. Steve (the drummer) is currently fixing up the tapes and will probably have them on the internet at some point in the near (or distant) future. I can’t really describe how we sounded, but it was good, trust me. We’d probably be your favorite band if we were still around.
Alkaline Trio “Crimson” [CD, Vagrant] – I sort of gave up on this band. Their first releases had me floored the first time I heard them. I still listen to their older records like I’ve never heard them before. After “Good Mourning” came out, I felt their music was kind of forced. I haven’t really given this album a thorough listen, but as someone who judges things solely based on first impressions, I wasn’t really wowed. Eh. I’ll give it some time.
Belle and Sebastian “Push Barman to Open Old Wounds” [2XCD, Matador] – What a good release. Nothing new here, just b-sides and vinyl only stuff, now available on cd (and vinyl, oddly enough). I’m just psyched because I’ve wanted to hear “I Know Where the Summer Goes” in my car for a long time.
Charge “Universal Tribe” [CD, Hellbent] – I got this cd at the Fahrenheit 451 reunion show earlier this year (which, by the way, was awesome). Groovy hardcore, very similar in style to Fahrenheit but with lots of dub and reggae influences. The singer said he was like 17 or something, which I find hard to believe, but this band is pretty talented. Haven’t heard anything from them since.
The Game “300 Bars and Runnin’” [mp3, ??] – In case you’re not to familiar with musical terms, a “bar” is a unit used to measure time in music. 300 bars is approximately 15 or so minutes of music, which means Game rapped for that amount of time continuously, with no hooks or a chorus. Sounds like a big feat, but not really. The song is choppy (which leads me to believe he didn’t rap 300 bars straight through [which would actually make the song an even lesser deal than it is]), but the production and beat selection are great. I love the attention to detail, like when Game says “Lucifer” in a line, and you hear a few piano hits from Jay-Z’s “Lucifer”. Other than that, this kinda sucks. I’m not really into the Game as it is, so whatever. Take that how you want.
Jawbreaker “Dear You” [2XLP, Geffen] – Jawbreaker’s first (and last) major label release. Many people had lots of bad things to say about this record when it was released, but I’ll be honest, it’s one of my favorites. Every time I listen to this album it gets better. “Accident Prone” might be one of the best songs ever (not even best Jawbreaker song, just straight up best song ever), with “Sister,” and “Friendly Fire” following closely. Blake really DOES sound like the guy from the Psychedelic Furs. Like, REALLY.
The Muffs “Hamburger” [2XLP, Sympathy] – Once again, The Muffs are awesome. This, I guess, is an anthology of sorts, with tracks from their 7”s, soundtracks, and major label stuff. Great material here. This is probably also available on cd (which is probably what I should have gotten so I could listen to this more often), but whatever.
Screeching Weasel “My Brain Hurts” [CD, Asian Man] – My personal favorite album by Weasel. Most people will probably say they like “Anthem…” better, but I like this album. Yeah it’s old, but whatever – these songs are timeless (did I just refer to Screeching Weasel as “timeless”? umm…). Check out Ben Weasel’s blog when you get the chance.
Trauma, Walter “The Lost Demo Tapes” [cassette, no label] – Ahh…my old band. These tapes weren’t actually “lost” per se; I just didn’t know they existed. No vocals, pretty poor recording quality (well, pretty good if you take into consideration the circumstances of every “recording session”), but what a great band. Probably the best band I’ve been in. Steve (the drummer) is currently fixing up the tapes and will probably have them on the internet at some point in the near (or distant) future. I can’t really describe how we sounded, but it was good, trust me. We’d probably be your favorite band if we were still around.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Some new record reviews, which I didn't want to add to all the old ones. I'll probably end up creating a new post for every new installment of reviews.
Botch “Anthology of Dead Ends” [CD, Hydrahead] - For a band that spanned over a decade, this “Anthology” is quite short. That said, it’s short and sweet. Droning, heavy-as-fuck rhythms and enough guitar intricacy to satisfy any hardcore mathematician. Botch was a great band that sadly I never got a chance to see live. I believe this was their last release (in 2002), but there may have been another since.
Goretex “The Art of Dying” [CD, psycho+logical-] – Goretex was always my favorite member of Non-Phixion. I love his voice and his flow, and his rhymes always seem to be the best. So when I found out he was dropping a solo album I got incredibly excited. Unfortunately, Goretex is going to become another one of those rappers who only shines on other people’s tracks. I really don’t think he does his best as a solo artist. “Celebrity Roast” is an awesome track though.
Immortal Technique “Revolutionary, Part 2” [CD, Viper] – Listen, just go buy this, ok? You can thank me later.
Jedi Mind Tricks “Legacy of Blood” [CD, Babygrande] – Not their best, but a solid release. If you know JMT, then you know what this is about. Lot’s of militant Islamic views, lots of gory imagery, and Stoupe making beats better than anyone.
Lagwagon “Live in a Dive” [CD, Fat Wreck Chords] – You know, I used to LOVE Lagwagon when I was younger. Like, totally love them. Then I saw them live at a Warped Tour in maybe 96 or 97, and my love for them grew exponentially. I can remember the show exactly – they were playing “Sick” last, and the sun was setting in the distance and there was a huge circle pit going on in a New Jersey parking lot. Incredible. “Live in a Dive” is (obviously) a live album. Part of a live album series, actually. I swear, they play stuff live tighter live than on record.
The Like – I’m not too sure about anything about this band. All I know is that I randomly heard about them like six months ago and haven’t been able to stop listening to them since. They’re an all-girl trio from California and they kind of remind me of Rilo Kiley. Whatever it is about them, they’re good. The singer’s voice is absolutely haunting. Check out the website and get their stuff, ok? www.ilikethelike.com.
Q-Unique “Vengeance is Mine” [CD, Uncle Howie] – I saw Q perform alongside Ill Bill not too long ago, and he without a doubt stole the show. His record is an extension of his live performances – energetic, flowy, and on point. Lot’s of Scarface references, but that’s ok. The last track with Ill Bill is sick.
R.A. the Rugged Man “Die Rugged Man Die” [CD, Nature Sounds] – Rugged Man? You mean, THAT Rugged Man? Yeah it’s him. He’s just as grimy as he was in the early 90’s, and maybe a little more bitter after what the industry has done to him. The record is great, a few songs are recycled from other stuff, but that doesn’t bother me. Check him out soon the new mixtape “Whatever Happened to MC’s That Could Rhyme”.
Botch “Anthology of Dead Ends” [CD, Hydrahead] - For a band that spanned over a decade, this “Anthology” is quite short. That said, it’s short and sweet. Droning, heavy-as-fuck rhythms and enough guitar intricacy to satisfy any hardcore mathematician. Botch was a great band that sadly I never got a chance to see live. I believe this was their last release (in 2002), but there may have been another since.
Goretex “The Art of Dying” [CD, psycho+logical-] – Goretex was always my favorite member of Non-Phixion. I love his voice and his flow, and his rhymes always seem to be the best. So when I found out he was dropping a solo album I got incredibly excited. Unfortunately, Goretex is going to become another one of those rappers who only shines on other people’s tracks. I really don’t think he does his best as a solo artist. “Celebrity Roast” is an awesome track though.
Immortal Technique “Revolutionary, Part 2” [CD, Viper] – Listen, just go buy this, ok? You can thank me later.
Jedi Mind Tricks “Legacy of Blood” [CD, Babygrande] – Not their best, but a solid release. If you know JMT, then you know what this is about. Lot’s of militant Islamic views, lots of gory imagery, and Stoupe making beats better than anyone.
Lagwagon “Live in a Dive” [CD, Fat Wreck Chords] – You know, I used to LOVE Lagwagon when I was younger. Like, totally love them. Then I saw them live at a Warped Tour in maybe 96 or 97, and my love for them grew exponentially. I can remember the show exactly – they were playing “Sick” last, and the sun was setting in the distance and there was a huge circle pit going on in a New Jersey parking lot. Incredible. “Live in a Dive” is (obviously) a live album. Part of a live album series, actually. I swear, they play stuff live tighter live than on record.
The Like – I’m not too sure about anything about this band. All I know is that I randomly heard about them like six months ago and haven’t been able to stop listening to them since. They’re an all-girl trio from California and they kind of remind me of Rilo Kiley. Whatever it is about them, they’re good. The singer’s voice is absolutely haunting. Check out the website and get their stuff, ok? www.ilikethelike.com.
Q-Unique “Vengeance is Mine” [CD, Uncle Howie] – I saw Q perform alongside Ill Bill not too long ago, and he without a doubt stole the show. His record is an extension of his live performances – energetic, flowy, and on point. Lot’s of Scarface references, but that’s ok. The last track with Ill Bill is sick.
R.A. the Rugged Man “Die Rugged Man Die” [CD, Nature Sounds] – Rugged Man? You mean, THAT Rugged Man? Yeah it’s him. He’s just as grimy as he was in the early 90’s, and maybe a little more bitter after what the industry has done to him. The record is great, a few songs are recycled from other stuff, but that doesn’t bother me. Check him out soon the new mixtape “Whatever Happened to MC’s That Could Rhyme”.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
For the mentally challenged:
Band Name "Album Title" [Format, Record Label] - The Review.
!!! "Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard" [LP, Touch and Go] - You know, I had this record on the wrong speed for like days before I realized what was wrong. It's weird, because now I have it on 45 rpm, and it STILL sounds kinda weird. Eh. This is dancey, not-so-punk, punk. Everyone is making such a big deal about these dudes.
Alkaline Trio "Halloween, Live at the Metro" [DVD, kung-fu] - Alright! This is what live DVD's should be like - awesome sound, awesome visual, and maybe a couple extra features thrown in to make everyone happy. This video was from Halloween two years ago, live at the Metro in Chicago. I actually was debating on going to the show at the time, but 15 hours of driving in the snow didn't seem like fun. Anyway, I usually don't like to see Alk3 live for a few reasons: 1) three-pieces just never sound the same live as they do on record, 2) they usually get WAY too drunk to play, and 3) too many "kids" at the shows. For this video though, the Trio was fucking incredible. Decked out in "dead priest" costumes and rocking out underneath a gigantic lit-up upside down cross, they rocked through a ton of great songs. I may have picked the set list a little differently myself, but you can't win em all. So yeah, I bought this DVD for like $10, and it's so worth it. Get it and make me happy, ok?
Alkaline Trio "Good Mourning" [CD, Vagrant] - I don't even own this cd, my brother does. I've heard the whole album a couple times and I don't particularly like it. The lyrics about booze and girls are gone (replaced with ones about death and well... dying), and Dan sings way too much on it (or so it seems. I never really liked his voice that much). I totally thought this album would kick ass (mostly due to the amazing solo effort by Matt Skiba), but it doesn't. Oh well, next!
Andrew W.K. "I Get Wet" [CD, Island] - Holy crap AWK is a psycho. This cd makes me so wanna go nuts.
Black Dice / Erase Errata "Split" [7", Troubleman Ultd.] – I’m not even sure what you’d classify this as, but all I know is it sounds sorta like Wolf Eyes, but then again, I wouldn’t even know what the hell to classify them as either. Imagine being trapped in a boiler room or something, and all the weird sounds you’d hear – that’s kinda what this record is like.
Blood Brothers - "Ambulance vs. Ambulance" [7", Second Nature] - I'm not sure how much I like this record, but then again, I haven't really heard that much of the Blood Brothers. Anyway, this is that spazzy-indie-noise stuff that's been making a huge scene lately. Think Refused, Locust, all that other stuff. I'm sure I could do without this.
Blood Brothers "Burn Piano Island, Burn" [LP, Second Nature] - This band has been seeing a lot of press this year, making it onto almost everyone's (including mine) Top Records of 2003 list. I gotta admit, I wasn't too impressed by the 7"? that I heard before this (kinda like a Drive Like Jehu rip-off), but after letting them grow on me, I am now totally into this record. It's got attitude, brash guitars, and intense screaming. I now understand what made everyone go nuts about these dudes.
Books Lie “I Felt Like Such a Loser” [7”, Level Plane] – Anyone that uses the word “emotive” to describe their band should feel like a fucking loser.
Braid - "Movie Music, vol. 1" [CD, polyvinyl] - I've had this album for like 4 or so years, and I never listened to it till a month or so ago. It was given to me by this girl I knew in college, and she was real emo so I figured it would suck. Though it's not the best record I've heard, it certainly doesn't suck. The album flows real nicely, and when the record ends, you don't even realize that you're at the beginning again. Musically, Braid does some interesting stuff; a lot of shifty rhythms, some stop/start stuff, and (at times) screamy vocals. In fact, after a thorough listening, I can now hear this band's influence in a ton of bands that are currently around now.
Braid "Please Drive Faster" [7", Polyvinyl] - I don't know what's worse: me just finding out about this band, or the fact that some second-rate "screamo" band from Philly completely ripped off their sound?
Breather Resist "The Second Half"? [7", Initial] - I love the color of this record, it's like emerald green see-through. It's also "limited" and hand numbered (out of 1000), but none of that stuff matters to me, because I really don't like this band.
Carrie Nations / This Bike is a Pipe Bomb "Split" [7", plan-it-x] – To tell you the truth, I haven’t listened to Carrie Nations’ side because TBIAPB is so fucking good. Kinda jangly rock with vocals that sound a little too high pitched, but after a while you get used to them. I think they’re from Florida too, which is weird because nothing good ever comes out of that state.
Converge - "The Long Road Home" [DVD, deathwish] - I was totally expecting the most bad-ass dvd ever, but honestly, this is a waste of money. When the video opens up, it says something like, "all of this footage is uncut, blah blah blah, DIY, punk rock, blah blah blah". What they REALLY should have said was, "listen, the pictures on this dvd are ok, but the sound is fucking horrible!" Seriously, with a band like Converge (who's insane sound is pretty much noise anyway), you cannot afford to have a poor-quality recording. It just doesn't work. Sick pacakging though.
Cutmaster C "60 Minute Shootout" [CD, n/a] - It used to be that if you didn't live in NYC, getting mixtapes was pretty much out of the question. Now, with the aid of sites like allmixtapes.com, you can rock what's hot weeks (sometimes months) before it hits the radio or stores. Also, I usually wouldn't review a mixtape, but I made an exception for this one, because the Nas song "Star Wars" is too hot not to. Up until I heard this song, I thought Nas was slipping as an emcee, becoming weak and diluted. With this one song, all faith I had in him was renewed. I don't know if it's the beat (which, by the way, was produced by Large Professor), or Nas' skills on a mic, but this fucking shit is HOT. HOT.
Damone - "From the Attic" [CD, RCA] - I'm not too sure how this band got signed to a major label so fucking quickly, but I'm sure it had to do with the most insane guitar solo (that sounds like it's done by a keyboard, but it's not because I saw him do it live) on the song "Up to You." Other than that; chick singer, poppy music, lyrics about carwashes, eh...
D-Generation "No Lunch" [2x10", Sony] - A long ass time ago, I was in the video for the song "She Stands There". It aired once on MTV (on 120 Minutes, no less), and was never to be seen again. Jesse Malin is doing some stupid folky-artsy-shit music now (as well as running the scenester hangout/watering hole, Niagara), but this record is kinda glam-punk and I fucking like it.
Dillinger Escape Plan "Live Infinity" [7", Relapse] - This is a bizarre record. It's the kind that has double-grooves on one side and plays all weird, and if you have a shitty record player, you won't even be able to listen to this. I think the record actually may be kind of like a metaphor for the band. Weird and complicated, and if you don't have the right kind of ears, you totally won't like this. Fortunately, I do. It's a noisy, math-induced record that's also heavy as fuck. I love it.
The Faint "Mote/Dust" [LP, GSL] - The Faint are slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite bands. They rock in a Flock of Seagulls type of way (and I mean that in the best sense possible), and their music makes for such good remixes. Anyway, "Mote" is a Sonic Youth cover, and on "Dust", Conor Oberst plays some stuff.
Foo Fighters "One by One" [2x10", RCA] - I heard a few songs from this on the radio, decided they were good, downloaded them, decided they were awesome, bought the records, decided it was fucking great.
Gogogo Airheart "s/t" [LP, GSL] - Seriously, this band is good and all, but do yourself a favor and listen to it on 45 rpm. It's a whole different record. On 33 it's not bad either, but man, do I love it faster. Oh, this band features members of The Locust. Just like every other band on this planet.
Hallraker "She" [7", Phyte] – One of my favorite bands ever. The Simpson’s song is pure genius, and actually, up until very recently, I never put 2 and 2 together with the title of the song (that is that MVH stands for Milhouse Van Houten, and that the entire song is Milhouse quotes). Jim Belisle is in the Pop Narcotic now.
Ink & Dagger "Drive This Seven-Inch Stake…" [7", Initial] – In case you didn’t know, these are those “vampire” dudes that allegedly got arrested once for trying to break into the blood bank in Philly. That is so something a vampire would do…
Jay-Z "The Black Album" [CD, Roc-A-Fella] - So this is allegedly Hov's last album. I'm not sure if he's trying to pull a Seinfeld and leave on a high note, but it might work. The Black Album is definately not Jay's finest work, but it's a hell of a lot better than his last album(s), The Blueprint 2. It's got some really awesome tracks, mostly due to the really awesome producers he enlisted to hook up the beats, but honestly, I really don't feel this album like I did with Vol. 3: Life and Times... Sure, The Black Album really doesn't have any bad songs (or any of those horrendus "filler" songs that usually find their way to the last few tracks of his albums), but with the exception of maybe three tracks, it doesn't have any really GREAT songs either. I'm gonna give this album a little bit more time to soak in, and then we'll see how it fares.
Jenny Piccolo / SU19B "split" [7", Deep Six] JP are kinda nuts. Maniacal, rather. Very typical stuff from San Diego. You can bunch them in with all those other noise bands.
Le Shok - "We Are Electrocution" [LP, GSL] - Now this is awesome. I hear the Germs a lot in this, but much more lo-fi. Dancy, art-punk stuff that I normally hate, but for some reason really like now. The LP I got is on pink vinyl, and the cover art alone is worth the $8 or so.
Lifetime "The Boy's No Good" [7", Jade Tree] - These guys are one of my favorite bands ever. For sure. To get a good lesson on how hardcore should be done, you should probably listen to this.
The Locust "Plague Soundscapes" [CD, Anti-] - I definately think this is one of the best records of 2003. It's innovative, crushing, and tight as hell. You can hear a lot more "music" on this record too (mostly due to someone turning up the Moog). I had (and still kind of do) this theory about The Locust - mostly that everyone who listens to them, doesn't really like them, but this record shut me up for a while. Fuck, this is good.
Man Without Plan "Technicality EP" [mp3, manwithoutplan.com] - The new, three song, self-released, website-only EP from Man Without Plan. Barclay plays all the instruments on every song, but I didn't know that till he told me. The ep on a whole, is pretty good I love the ascending vocal parts on "Action or Death". Other than that, I kind of wish this was released as a 7" or something, making it a little more tangible. Either way though, I don't think Man Without Plan (in the singular or plural sense) has ever put out anything bad, so this is fine with me. To hear it, go to www.manwithoutplan.com and download that shit.
The Mars Volta "De-loused in the Comatorium" [CD, GSL] - This gets my second vote for best album of 2003. Like, I wanna tell you all the things about this record that make it so frickin good, but you really will never know until you listen to it. I read a review for this record on some other site a while ago (and have mentioned it here [the review, not the site]), and it basically said that listening to the Mars Volta record was like swimming in a lake at night - scary, sexy, and spiritual all at the same time.
The Muffs "I'm a Dick" [7", SFTRI] - I love The Muffs. Kim Shattuck is probably the coolest girl (woman?) in punk rock. That said, this record is pretty standard stuff from them, and I really like it. The B-side song is pretty good too.
Necro "Brutality, Part 1" [CD, psycho+logical] - Necro is fucking sick. He is seriously demented. Listening to this album is like watching that movie, I Spit on Your Grave. It's full of gory imagery (rape, murder, sex, etc.), and may cause nightmares. Whatever. Necro is fucking bomb. As a lyricist, he's top-notch (his lisp just makes him even more unique), his beats are amazing, and as a white rapper, he gets my respect. Highlight tracks: I'm Your Idol; White Slavery; Our Life; Talking Shit.
Necro and Ill Bill "Street Villains, Vol. 1" [CD, psycho+logical] - This came out a little bit before "Brutality...", and is basically just a mixtape that highlights the freestyle abilities of Necro, Ill Bill, Q-Unique, and Sabac. They take a lot of classic beats and just spit venom all over them. Some tracks are just remixes (like Dead Body Disposal), and some tracks can be construed as "jokes" (like Dreams of Fucking a Porno Flick Bitch), but really other than that, this mixtape is fucking awesome. One thing I can say about Necro is that he knows how to start and end an album - beat choices, track placement, I mean, this guy has everything on lock. Adding some humor to the album are hosts Uncle Howie and Kid Joe.
Neil Perry "s/t" [7", Witching Hour] - This is another one of those bands that is making indie kids shit their pants these days. I guess this features members of the now defunct band, You and I, but that really doesn't do anything for me. Musically, this is heavy and screamy, two things I like. Yeah, I guess I like this.
Obie Trice - "Cheers" [CD, Shady/Aftermath/Interscope] - Seriously, this is such a fucking good rap album, but not because of Obie. Sadly, it's Eminem and friends that make this record what it is. Em's lyrics are the most intelligent, vivid, and though-out I've heard in a long time. Don't believe me? Listen to the last track, "Outro", or that other track (number 10, I believe) with 50 Cent.
Old Dirty Bastard "The Dirty Story, Best of…" [LP, ??] – ODB, Big Baby Jesus, Osirus, Dirt the Flirt, Joe Bananas, Dirt McGirt – whatever the fuck you want to call him, he rules. This LP has a ton of hits, but I wish they put that song he was in with Mya (you know, the one from Bullworth), because that song was bomb.
Piebald "The Rock Revolution Will not be Televised" [10", Big Wheel] - This was going to be one of those times where I say "If you don't have this album, then you shouldn't listen to music," but I think I'll save it for something else.
Plow United "Sadi" [7", Cooldige] - Plow's first 7" (I think), named after their beloved van. God I love Plow. If you haven't ever heard this band, and like stuff like Jawbreaker, Alk3, Fugazi, etc, then you're really missing out. RIP Plow United.
Pretty Girls Make Graves - "The New Romance" [LP, Matador] - Eh. I'm kind of on the fence about this one. I loved their Lookout! release so much, and was hoping that this would just top that, but really it doesn't. It's an ok listen, but it lacks that "umph" that they used to have. Really MCDish.
Rilo Kiley "The Execution of all Things" [LP, Saddle Creek] - Talk about weird; 50% of this band is comprised of former child actors. Jenny was in a bunch of movies (including such hits as Troop Beverly Hills, and The Wizard), and Blake was on the TV shows Salute Your Shorts and Boy Meets World. That said, Rilo Kiley is fucking awesome. Jenny's voice has got these ethereal, haunting (yet completely innocent) qualities about it that I love, and the fact that she likes to say "fuck" a lot doesn't hurt either.
Small Brown Bike "Nail Yourself to the Ground" [LP, No Idea] - Someone once told me this band sounded a lot like Jawbreaker. In a Bill Lumburgh voice: yeah, that's really not true at all.
Some Girls - "The Rains/The Blues" [7", deathwish] - These two 7"s are comprised of members of American Nightmare (oh, excuse me, Give Up the Ghost) and The Locust (and maybe some others too), and that's exactly what they sound like. GOTG meets The Locust. Awesome.
Souljah Stories "Demo" [CD, ??] - I bought this off some random dude who was standing outside of FatBeats in NYC for like $3. It's real DIY and and kinda looks like shit (it took me a few days to listen to it based on that fact), but damn is this good. Real flowy hip hop with intelligent lyrics.
The Strokes "Room On Fire" [CD, Who Cares] - Ok, I think I addressed The Strokes in a post somewhere else on/in this blog, so I'll keep this short - I don't like The Strokes. Unfortunately though, their album is infectiously catchy, and if I don't think about who it is I'm listening to, I actually really like this album. Only real fault is that every song sounds exactly the same. More or less.
Sunny Day Real Estate "The Rising Tide" [LP, Time Bomb] – It’s a shame how little exposure SDRE got (well, considering what the COULD have gotten), because they were one of those bands that should have been Nirvana. Anyway, I heard that during the last few tours, they refused to play "seven" live, and became real asses. They all moved onto some other crappier bands, but I don’t care about them, and neither should you.
Swing Kids "s/t" [7", 31g] - I gotta stop reviewing bands that have (or have had) members of The Locust in them. It's getting kind of annoying.
V/A "A Tribute to Black Flag" [LP, Initial] – Lots of metal bands butchering Black Flag songs.
The White Stripes - "The Hardest Button to Button" [7", XL] - I saw the video for this song on TV, and it was fucking awesome. Actually, I think every video the White Stripes have made has been awesome, but this one was REALLY awesome. Anyway, I haven't actually listened to the 7" yet, but I have heard the song (duh, I saw the video), and if the song is anywhere near as good as the video is, it's fucking bomb.
Band Name "Album Title" [Format, Record Label] - The Review.
!!! "Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard" [LP, Touch and Go] - You know, I had this record on the wrong speed for like days before I realized what was wrong. It's weird, because now I have it on 45 rpm, and it STILL sounds kinda weird. Eh. This is dancey, not-so-punk, punk. Everyone is making such a big deal about these dudes.
Alkaline Trio "Halloween, Live at the Metro" [DVD, kung-fu] - Alright! This is what live DVD's should be like - awesome sound, awesome visual, and maybe a couple extra features thrown in to make everyone happy. This video was from Halloween two years ago, live at the Metro in Chicago. I actually was debating on going to the show at the time, but 15 hours of driving in the snow didn't seem like fun. Anyway, I usually don't like to see Alk3 live for a few reasons: 1) three-pieces just never sound the same live as they do on record, 2) they usually get WAY too drunk to play, and 3) too many "kids" at the shows. For this video though, the Trio was fucking incredible. Decked out in "dead priest" costumes and rocking out underneath a gigantic lit-up upside down cross, they rocked through a ton of great songs. I may have picked the set list a little differently myself, but you can't win em all. So yeah, I bought this DVD for like $10, and it's so worth it. Get it and make me happy, ok?
Alkaline Trio "Good Mourning" [CD, Vagrant] - I don't even own this cd, my brother does. I've heard the whole album a couple times and I don't particularly like it. The lyrics about booze and girls are gone (replaced with ones about death and well... dying), and Dan sings way too much on it (or so it seems. I never really liked his voice that much). I totally thought this album would kick ass (mostly due to the amazing solo effort by Matt Skiba), but it doesn't. Oh well, next!
Andrew W.K. "I Get Wet" [CD, Island] - Holy crap AWK is a psycho. This cd makes me so wanna go nuts.
Black Dice / Erase Errata "Split" [7", Troubleman Ultd.] – I’m not even sure what you’d classify this as, but all I know is it sounds sorta like Wolf Eyes, but then again, I wouldn’t even know what the hell to classify them as either. Imagine being trapped in a boiler room or something, and all the weird sounds you’d hear – that’s kinda what this record is like.
Blood Brothers - "Ambulance vs. Ambulance" [7", Second Nature] - I'm not sure how much I like this record, but then again, I haven't really heard that much of the Blood Brothers. Anyway, this is that spazzy-indie-noise stuff that's been making a huge scene lately. Think Refused, Locust, all that other stuff. I'm sure I could do without this.
Blood Brothers "Burn Piano Island, Burn" [LP, Second Nature] - This band has been seeing a lot of press this year, making it onto almost everyone's (including mine) Top Records of 2003 list. I gotta admit, I wasn't too impressed by the 7"? that I heard before this (kinda like a Drive Like Jehu rip-off), but after letting them grow on me, I am now totally into this record. It's got attitude, brash guitars, and intense screaming. I now understand what made everyone go nuts about these dudes.
Books Lie “I Felt Like Such a Loser” [7”, Level Plane] – Anyone that uses the word “emotive” to describe their band should feel like a fucking loser.
Braid - "Movie Music, vol. 1" [CD, polyvinyl] - I've had this album for like 4 or so years, and I never listened to it till a month or so ago. It was given to me by this girl I knew in college, and she was real emo so I figured it would suck. Though it's not the best record I've heard, it certainly doesn't suck. The album flows real nicely, and when the record ends, you don't even realize that you're at the beginning again. Musically, Braid does some interesting stuff; a lot of shifty rhythms, some stop/start stuff, and (at times) screamy vocals. In fact, after a thorough listening, I can now hear this band's influence in a ton of bands that are currently around now.
Braid "Please Drive Faster" [7", Polyvinyl] - I don't know what's worse: me just finding out about this band, or the fact that some second-rate "screamo" band from Philly completely ripped off their sound?
Breather Resist "The Second Half"? [7", Initial] - I love the color of this record, it's like emerald green see-through. It's also "limited" and hand numbered (out of 1000), but none of that stuff matters to me, because I really don't like this band.
Carrie Nations / This Bike is a Pipe Bomb "Split" [7", plan-it-x] – To tell you the truth, I haven’t listened to Carrie Nations’ side because TBIAPB is so fucking good. Kinda jangly rock with vocals that sound a little too high pitched, but after a while you get used to them. I think they’re from Florida too, which is weird because nothing good ever comes out of that state.
Converge - "The Long Road Home" [DVD, deathwish] - I was totally expecting the most bad-ass dvd ever, but honestly, this is a waste of money. When the video opens up, it says something like, "all of this footage is uncut, blah blah blah, DIY, punk rock, blah blah blah". What they REALLY should have said was, "listen, the pictures on this dvd are ok, but the sound is fucking horrible!" Seriously, with a band like Converge (who's insane sound is pretty much noise anyway), you cannot afford to have a poor-quality recording. It just doesn't work. Sick pacakging though.
Cutmaster C "60 Minute Shootout" [CD, n/a] - It used to be that if you didn't live in NYC, getting mixtapes was pretty much out of the question. Now, with the aid of sites like allmixtapes.com, you can rock what's hot weeks (sometimes months) before it hits the radio or stores. Also, I usually wouldn't review a mixtape, but I made an exception for this one, because the Nas song "Star Wars" is too hot not to. Up until I heard this song, I thought Nas was slipping as an emcee, becoming weak and diluted. With this one song, all faith I had in him was renewed. I don't know if it's the beat (which, by the way, was produced by Large Professor), or Nas' skills on a mic, but this fucking shit is HOT. HOT.
Damone - "From the Attic" [CD, RCA] - I'm not too sure how this band got signed to a major label so fucking quickly, but I'm sure it had to do with the most insane guitar solo (that sounds like it's done by a keyboard, but it's not because I saw him do it live) on the song "Up to You." Other than that; chick singer, poppy music, lyrics about carwashes, eh...
D-Generation "No Lunch" [2x10", Sony] - A long ass time ago, I was in the video for the song "She Stands There". It aired once on MTV (on 120 Minutes, no less), and was never to be seen again. Jesse Malin is doing some stupid folky-artsy-shit music now (as well as running the scenester hangout/watering hole, Niagara), but this record is kinda glam-punk and I fucking like it.
Dillinger Escape Plan "Live Infinity" [7", Relapse] - This is a bizarre record. It's the kind that has double-grooves on one side and plays all weird, and if you have a shitty record player, you won't even be able to listen to this. I think the record actually may be kind of like a metaphor for the band. Weird and complicated, and if you don't have the right kind of ears, you totally won't like this. Fortunately, I do. It's a noisy, math-induced record that's also heavy as fuck. I love it.
The Faint "Mote/Dust" [LP, GSL] - The Faint are slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite bands. They rock in a Flock of Seagulls type of way (and I mean that in the best sense possible), and their music makes for such good remixes. Anyway, "Mote" is a Sonic Youth cover, and on "Dust", Conor Oberst plays some stuff.
Foo Fighters "One by One" [2x10", RCA] - I heard a few songs from this on the radio, decided they were good, downloaded them, decided they were awesome, bought the records, decided it was fucking great.
Gogogo Airheart "s/t" [LP, GSL] - Seriously, this band is good and all, but do yourself a favor and listen to it on 45 rpm. It's a whole different record. On 33 it's not bad either, but man, do I love it faster. Oh, this band features members of The Locust. Just like every other band on this planet.
Hallraker "She" [7", Phyte] – One of my favorite bands ever. The Simpson’s song is pure genius, and actually, up until very recently, I never put 2 and 2 together with the title of the song (that is that MVH stands for Milhouse Van Houten, and that the entire song is Milhouse quotes). Jim Belisle is in the Pop Narcotic now.
Ink & Dagger "Drive This Seven-Inch Stake…" [7", Initial] – In case you didn’t know, these are those “vampire” dudes that allegedly got arrested once for trying to break into the blood bank in Philly. That is so something a vampire would do…
Jay-Z "The Black Album" [CD, Roc-A-Fella] - So this is allegedly Hov's last album. I'm not sure if he's trying to pull a Seinfeld and leave on a high note, but it might work. The Black Album is definately not Jay's finest work, but it's a hell of a lot better than his last album(s), The Blueprint 2. It's got some really awesome tracks, mostly due to the really awesome producers he enlisted to hook up the beats, but honestly, I really don't feel this album like I did with Vol. 3: Life and Times... Sure, The Black Album really doesn't have any bad songs (or any of those horrendus "filler" songs that usually find their way to the last few tracks of his albums), but with the exception of maybe three tracks, it doesn't have any really GREAT songs either. I'm gonna give this album a little bit more time to soak in, and then we'll see how it fares.
Jenny Piccolo / SU19B "split" [7", Deep Six] JP are kinda nuts. Maniacal, rather. Very typical stuff from San Diego. You can bunch them in with all those other noise bands.
Le Shok - "We Are Electrocution" [LP, GSL] - Now this is awesome. I hear the Germs a lot in this, but much more lo-fi. Dancy, art-punk stuff that I normally hate, but for some reason really like now. The LP I got is on pink vinyl, and the cover art alone is worth the $8 or so.
Lifetime "The Boy's No Good" [7", Jade Tree] - These guys are one of my favorite bands ever. For sure. To get a good lesson on how hardcore should be done, you should probably listen to this.
The Locust "Plague Soundscapes" [CD, Anti-] - I definately think this is one of the best records of 2003. It's innovative, crushing, and tight as hell. You can hear a lot more "music" on this record too (mostly due to someone turning up the Moog). I had (and still kind of do) this theory about The Locust - mostly that everyone who listens to them, doesn't really like them, but this record shut me up for a while. Fuck, this is good.
Man Without Plan "Technicality EP" [mp3, manwithoutplan.com] - The new, three song, self-released, website-only EP from Man Without Plan. Barclay plays all the instruments on every song, but I didn't know that till he told me. The ep on a whole, is pretty good I love the ascending vocal parts on "Action or Death". Other than that, I kind of wish this was released as a 7" or something, making it a little more tangible. Either way though, I don't think Man Without Plan (in the singular or plural sense) has ever put out anything bad, so this is fine with me. To hear it, go to www.manwithoutplan.com and download that shit.
The Mars Volta "De-loused in the Comatorium" [CD, GSL] - This gets my second vote for best album of 2003. Like, I wanna tell you all the things about this record that make it so frickin good, but you really will never know until you listen to it. I read a review for this record on some other site a while ago (and have mentioned it here [the review, not the site]), and it basically said that listening to the Mars Volta record was like swimming in a lake at night - scary, sexy, and spiritual all at the same time.
The Muffs "I'm a Dick" [7", SFTRI] - I love The Muffs. Kim Shattuck is probably the coolest girl (woman?) in punk rock. That said, this record is pretty standard stuff from them, and I really like it. The B-side song is pretty good too.
Necro "Brutality, Part 1" [CD, psycho+logical] - Necro is fucking sick. He is seriously demented. Listening to this album is like watching that movie, I Spit on Your Grave. It's full of gory imagery (rape, murder, sex, etc.), and may cause nightmares. Whatever. Necro is fucking bomb. As a lyricist, he's top-notch (his lisp just makes him even more unique), his beats are amazing, and as a white rapper, he gets my respect. Highlight tracks: I'm Your Idol; White Slavery; Our Life; Talking Shit.
Necro and Ill Bill "Street Villains, Vol. 1" [CD, psycho+logical] - This came out a little bit before "Brutality...", and is basically just a mixtape that highlights the freestyle abilities of Necro, Ill Bill, Q-Unique, and Sabac. They take a lot of classic beats and just spit venom all over them. Some tracks are just remixes (like Dead Body Disposal), and some tracks can be construed as "jokes" (like Dreams of Fucking a Porno Flick Bitch), but really other than that, this mixtape is fucking awesome. One thing I can say about Necro is that he knows how to start and end an album - beat choices, track placement, I mean, this guy has everything on lock. Adding some humor to the album are hosts Uncle Howie and Kid Joe.
Neil Perry "s/t" [7", Witching Hour] - This is another one of those bands that is making indie kids shit their pants these days. I guess this features members of the now defunct band, You and I, but that really doesn't do anything for me. Musically, this is heavy and screamy, two things I like. Yeah, I guess I like this.
Obie Trice - "Cheers" [CD, Shady/Aftermath/Interscope] - Seriously, this is such a fucking good rap album, but not because of Obie. Sadly, it's Eminem and friends that make this record what it is. Em's lyrics are the most intelligent, vivid, and though-out I've heard in a long time. Don't believe me? Listen to the last track, "Outro", or that other track (number 10, I believe) with 50 Cent.
Old Dirty Bastard "The Dirty Story, Best of…" [LP, ??] – ODB, Big Baby Jesus, Osirus, Dirt the Flirt, Joe Bananas, Dirt McGirt – whatever the fuck you want to call him, he rules. This LP has a ton of hits, but I wish they put that song he was in with Mya (you know, the one from Bullworth), because that song was bomb.
Piebald "The Rock Revolution Will not be Televised" [10", Big Wheel] - This was going to be one of those times where I say "If you don't have this album, then you shouldn't listen to music," but I think I'll save it for something else.
Plow United "Sadi" [7", Cooldige] - Plow's first 7" (I think), named after their beloved van. God I love Plow. If you haven't ever heard this band, and like stuff like Jawbreaker, Alk3, Fugazi, etc, then you're really missing out. RIP Plow United.
Pretty Girls Make Graves - "The New Romance" [LP, Matador] - Eh. I'm kind of on the fence about this one. I loved their Lookout! release so much, and was hoping that this would just top that, but really it doesn't. It's an ok listen, but it lacks that "umph" that they used to have. Really MCDish.
Rilo Kiley "The Execution of all Things" [LP, Saddle Creek] - Talk about weird; 50% of this band is comprised of former child actors. Jenny was in a bunch of movies (including such hits as Troop Beverly Hills, and The Wizard), and Blake was on the TV shows Salute Your Shorts and Boy Meets World. That said, Rilo Kiley is fucking awesome. Jenny's voice has got these ethereal, haunting (yet completely innocent) qualities about it that I love, and the fact that she likes to say "fuck" a lot doesn't hurt either.
Small Brown Bike "Nail Yourself to the Ground" [LP, No Idea] - Someone once told me this band sounded a lot like Jawbreaker. In a Bill Lumburgh voice: yeah, that's really not true at all.
Some Girls - "The Rains/The Blues" [7", deathwish] - These two 7"s are comprised of members of American Nightmare (oh, excuse me, Give Up the Ghost) and The Locust (and maybe some others too), and that's exactly what they sound like. GOTG meets The Locust. Awesome.
Souljah Stories "Demo" [CD, ??] - I bought this off some random dude who was standing outside of FatBeats in NYC for like $3. It's real DIY and and kinda looks like shit (it took me a few days to listen to it based on that fact), but damn is this good. Real flowy hip hop with intelligent lyrics.
The Strokes "Room On Fire" [CD, Who Cares] - Ok, I think I addressed The Strokes in a post somewhere else on/in this blog, so I'll keep this short - I don't like The Strokes. Unfortunately though, their album is infectiously catchy, and if I don't think about who it is I'm listening to, I actually really like this album. Only real fault is that every song sounds exactly the same. More or less.
Sunny Day Real Estate "The Rising Tide" [LP, Time Bomb] – It’s a shame how little exposure SDRE got (well, considering what the COULD have gotten), because they were one of those bands that should have been Nirvana. Anyway, I heard that during the last few tours, they refused to play "seven" live, and became real asses. They all moved onto some other crappier bands, but I don’t care about them, and neither should you.
Swing Kids "s/t" [7", 31g] - I gotta stop reviewing bands that have (or have had) members of The Locust in them. It's getting kind of annoying.
V/A "A Tribute to Black Flag" [LP, Initial] – Lots of metal bands butchering Black Flag songs.
The White Stripes - "The Hardest Button to Button" [7", XL] - I saw the video for this song on TV, and it was fucking awesome. Actually, I think every video the White Stripes have made has been awesome, but this one was REALLY awesome. Anyway, I haven't actually listened to the 7" yet, but I have heard the song (duh, I saw the video), and if the song is anywhere near as good as the video is, it's fucking bomb.
