Rocking the new EP “Attention Economy” from Boston’s Duck & Cover.
Two things: 1. It’s rock. 2. It rocks!
If you’ve read some of my past reviews you may know that I rather liked The Acro-brats, by extension I also like Duck & Cover. This new EP is no exception.
It’s short and sweet with three tracks. Two mid tempo originals and a Tom Petty cover that really answers the question, “What if Tom Petty was sorta punk?” Seriously the only thing this is missing is more tracks. But, well, these are difficult times and I’ll take what I can get.
At any rate, go check this out. You have nothing to lose, and nothing to gain but a good time.
I would like to start this off by saying that I am not qualified to properly review this album. I would rate my knowledge of punk rock as strong to very strong, depending on the time period and geographical location. With the exception of late 80s/early 90s hip-hop, I am remarkably ignorant of any other type of music. This release is about as punk rock as Phantom of the Opera, so I will be winging it, or “bullshitting”.
Ilium are a heavy metal band. Now, as many of you know, there are essentially two types of metal. There’s the kind where you can read the font, and the kind where you can’t. Well, you can read Ilium’s. It’s written plain as day on a flying dagger with a gargoyle perched atop the handle. These guys go beyond just having a decipherable font though.
This is a special subgenre of metal for dudes who shop at that weird store at the mall where you can buy a sword. Their Bandcamp page describes them as “symphonic metal”, which sounds appropriate as it has all the drama and flamboyance of a highly choreographed Broadway production. To be clear, I’m not bagging on them. These guys are masters (or wizards) of their craft. I’m sure this isn’t what they (or any other metal band ever) were going for, but this EP is fun. It’s a lot more fun than the kind of metal with cookie monster vocals where you don’t even know what the band is called because their name is just a bunch of menacing scribbles.
One of their previous releases is called “Enviro Metal”, and appears to be comprised of songs about caring for planet Earth. The cover art depicts a peaceful intergalactic Serengeti plain. I think the genre could use more of that. You never see heavy metal artwork where the landscape is properly cared for. It’s always like, this used to be a city, but now it’s been destroyed and this corpse in the foreground is laughing at me.
I’m only guessing here, but my assumption is that this type of metal is not fashionable, and that Ilium are complete dorks. Great! They’re a lot cooler than some Burzum worshiping wannabe viking motherfucker with sketchy politics. This EP is ridiculous and crazy, and I love it.
The term ilium comes from the final segment of the small intestine, which is appropriate because these guys are really working on some new shit. Give it a listen, regardless of what you’re into. It’s fun, the way metal should be.
New York City, NY — February 3, 2022 —New York City reggae legends THE SLACKERS are debuting the song and video for “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” on Brooklyn Vegan which is also the title track from their brand new upcoming album. This record, their first in 7 years and 15th full-length in their career, is now available on Pirates Press Records’ webstore.
Frontman Vic Ruggiero describes the writing process and meaning behind the song: “Yeah, it’s the springtime…it looks really nice thru the window. The sun feels good… You go outside and all of a sudden you realize it’s winter still… It’s like you thought you put sugar in your coffee, but it was salt.”
(Clip from the video for “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya”)
Rolling Stone recently hailed The Slackers as “THE legendary New York City ska band” and this is by no means hyperbole. Having formed in 1991, The Slackers released their debut album in 1996, Better Late Than Never, and then signing with Epitaph Records and releasing their breakthrough full-length, Redlight, in 1997. From there, the band traveled the world and began to develop a prolific audience through their fun and energetic shows.
14 full-lengths later, countless EPs, singles, and touring all around the world playing to thousands and thousands of fans from Tokyo, Japan to their hometown of New York City, The Slackers return with Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya. Marc Wasserman, author of “Skaboom! An American Ska & Reggae Oral History,” says The Slackers’ “…songs are about real darkness, depression, anger, sadness and loneliness, and some of the political songs as well are pretty vibrant.”
“In the middle of 2020, every time we started doing a livestream, we would stay after and start recording new music. By the middle of 2021, we had an album recorded. A lot of these tunes like “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” were written right after we had just gotten out of lockdown,” says saxophonist Dave Hillyard.
The New York Times dubbed the Slackers part of ‘the sound of New York,’ and The Slackers just keep at it, only improving with age and experience – writing better and better songs, and continuing to build and strengthen that global Slackers family. Washington Post has described the impact The Slackers have left on the ska scene: “The Slackers have become the elder statesmen in American ska music, setting the stage for a new generation of musicians and a thriving scene….they remain at the top of their game.”
After releasing several singles with Pirates Press Records (“Windowland/I Almost Lost You,” “Nobody’s Listening/Sleep Outside,” and “Love I Bring), The Slackers are once again hitting the road all year long to support a new set of tunes and once again have fans around the world put on their dancing shoes for another evening with these renowned musicians. This album is a testament to the age and experience this band has accrued over their 30+ year career. These special tunes will undoubtedly travel far and wide, just like the band will, performing these songs in a club near you!
(The cover art for Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya)
Catch The Slackers on tour: 03/30/2022 – Harrisburg, PA – Stage On Herr 4/07/2022 – Rehoboth Beach, DE – Arenas 4/08/2022 – Virginia Beach, VA – Bunker Brewpub 4/10/2022 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade 5/7/2022 – Jersey City, NJ – White Eagle Hall 5/12/2022 Ottawa, ON – Brass Monkey 5/13/2022 Montreal, QC – Cafe Campus 5/14/2022 Quebec City, QC – L’Antibar 5/17/2022 Salt Lake City, UT – Commonwealth Room 5/18/2022 Denver, Co – Oriental Theater 5/20/2022 – Dallas, TX – Three Links 5/21/2022 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar 5/22/2022 – San Antonio, TX – Rockbox 5/24/2022 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad 5/27/2022 – Flagstaff, Az – Yucca Room 5/28/2022 – Phoenix, Az – Crescent Ballroom 9/26/2022 – Birmingham, UK – Hare and Hounds 9/27/2022 – Manchester, UK – Retro 9/28/2022 – Huddersfield, UK – Parish 9/30/2022 – London, UK – Underworld 10/1/2022 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club 10/2/2022 – Newcastle, UK – Think Tank 10/3/2022 – Bristol, UK – Exchange 10/4/2022 – Antwerp, Belgium – Kavka 10/6/2022 – Haarlem, Netherlands – Patroonaat 10/7/2022 – Den Haag, Netherlands – Paard 10/8/2022 – Sittard, Netherlands – Ernestos 10/11/2022 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex 10/12/2022 – Munich, Germany – Feierwerk 10/13/2022 – Vienna, Austria – Arena 10/15/2022 – Sluderno, Italy – Loki 10/16/2022 – Nuremberg, Germany – Desi 10/17/2022 – Hannover, Germany – Lux 10/18/2022 – Berlin, Germany – S036 10/19/2022 – Hamburg, Germany – Molotov 10/21/2022 – Koln, Germany – Gebaude 9 10/22/2022 – Arlon, Belgium – L’entrepot
The Slackers are: Vic Ruggiero – vocals, organ Agent Jay – guitar Dave Hillyard – saxophone Glen Pine – trombone, vocals Marcus Geard – bass Ara Babajian – drums
