D.I. On the Western Front(c) 2007 Suburban Noize RecordsWelcome back to the realm of the realm of the slightly more living. D.I. (yes, the legendary OC punk band) is back with a new release. “On The Western Front” builds on their solid foundation of fundamental SoCal suburban punk angst.12 tracks of slamming skate punk will have you bouncing off the walls while you attempt to tear them down. Contextually, “On The Western Front” runs dark. Casey Royer (D.I.’s front man and only perpetual member) will let you know what a cess pit that OC has become (or perhaps was destined to be). This is what happens when surburban dreams turn into a constant waking nightmare: bitterness, animosity, punk rock, skating. Then again, this is punk rock in its element straight from the “gutters of paradise”. But down to brass tacks, if you like your punk to come from the pioneers, go and grab a copy, rock out. If not, go and buy two. You know these guys are going to need to pad their retirement fund.–Jerry Actually
Author: Jerry Actually
HorrorPops [Kiss Kiss Kill Kill]
HorrorPops – Kiss Kiss Kill Kill (c) 2008 HellCat RecordsHere we are in the still wee months of ’08 and here at !upstarter, we already have amassed a collection of great releases for the new year. Among them is the soon to be released, (Feb. 5th) HorrPops record “Kiss Kiss Kill Kill”. What started as a bit of an experimental side project for Kim Nekroman and wife Patricia Day has turned into an alt-psycho-surf-punk-pop-wave juggernaut. “Kiss Kiss…” follows somewhat behind the heels of 2005’s “Bring it On” and returns to the three-piece roots of the bands debut “Hell Yeah!”. The new disc features 12 tracks of goodies including: Track 2 “Missfit” an snotty attribution against the “right side of the tracks” society. Track 4 “Disco” an affront on current day 80’s disco whores and Track 11 “My Picture” a pining tale of breakups and cheaters. Despite being a slower release than I was hoping for, HorrorPops have taken a step back closer to home. I think the trio formula works for them, in so far as they can worry more about the music than an unecessarily extravagant production. That being said “Kiss Kiss Kill Kill” is a solid release. If you dig New Wave with Rockabilly underpinnings and vocals much akin to Siouxsie Sioux, pick this up when you can get your hot little hands on it. –Jerry Actually
Arson Anthem
Arson Anthem – S/T (c) 2007 Housecore RecordsFrom the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina arises the legacy of hardcore brutality. Mike Williams lost a lot, including his home, in the post Katrina riots. Phil Anselmo just happened to have a spare apartment. The two sat around spending hours listening to Phil’s early hardcore music collection. Throw Hank III and Collin Yeo into the equation and you’ve got Arson Anthem. The self-titled debut has eight track of old school, raw as all get out, hardcore reminiscent of bands like Negative Approach and early Agnostic Front. On top of the brutality, you can still hear the southern roots. It makes for an interesting sound, like the Allman Brothers in an alternate universe or something. My personal imaginings aside, you too can find something old in something new when you rock the paint off the sonofabitchin’ walls with Arson Anthem.–Jerry Actually
NOFX [They’ve Actually Gotten Worse Live]
NOFX – They've Actually Gotten Worse Live! (c) 2007 Fat Wreck Chords In a bit of a hometown homage, venerable punksters NOFX play and record over several drunken nights (for some) at Slims in San Francisco. The culmination of these efforts (or lack of) hath wrought, "They've Actually Gotten Worse Live!" What you get is 24 tracks of live NOFX filled with half-assed comedy and, ironic titling aside, full-assed punk rock music. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll appreciate that none of the songs on this live CD are on the prior live CD. Many even have altered arrangements. Though I've never been gungho for the "live CD", this one hits pretty high on my charts. Seeing as I'm in the states and NOFX is busy conquering most of Europe, this disc is about as close as I'm getting to a live NOFX show anytime soon. So, if like me, you're itchin' to see NOFX again, heed their own advice and while listening to the CD "cram 600 of your best pals into a small room, drink 8 beers and turn the heat up to 95" You'll never know that you weren't there.–Jerry Actually
American Steel [Destroy Their Future]
American Steel – Destroy Their Future (c) 2007 Fat Wreck Chords American Steel are back with a new record, their first for Fat, and I say it is a good one. These veterans of the East Bay punk scene return with 12 tracks of gritty and sonically dark rock and roll. Stand out tracks include the snarkily spiteful "Mean Steak" and the rockin' yet sad "Old Croy Road". I may be off the mark here, but I hear a very wide range of influences, including: Leather Face, The Clash, The Lawrence Arms and Dropkick Murphys just to name a few. I'll admit that I hadn't heard of American Steel before this disc, but I'm totally on the look out for their back catalog. Speaking of The Lawrence Arms, American Steel are currently out on tour with their label mates, so if they happen to wander to your town, go see 'em and tell 'em I sent ya.–Jerry Actually
N.S.O.A. – For the Forgotten
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(c) 2007 NSOA
New Society of Anarchists are back with another edition in their continuing saga of gut-wrenching and brutal musical onslaught. “For the Forgotten” explodes with 20 tracks of some of the most true to form hardcore in the game. The songs are fast, pissed and in your face. For fans of NSOA, all the familiar sounds are there: crunching guitars, machine gun drums, reinforcing backup vocals. However, In comparison to recent past releases the sound on the new disc is noticeably more raw. I suspect that this is due in part to the absence of former? bass player Jason Z. Bass and vox are now being handled simultaneously by Zakk Z. The music is certainly intact, but you can hear where things have been re-arranged to accommodate the current line up. Above all the hardcore rings true: The outrage at social injustice, The strong sense of unity, The feeling that you just got your head smacked by a Mac truck with a combat boot for a hood ornament.
–Jerry Actually
TPOMC
The Pleasures Of Merely Circulating – S/T (c) 2007 Ettabelle Records Marfa, TX band The Pleasures of Merely Circulating are equal parts precocious and punk. Their self-titled debut CD hold 13 tracks of love, loss, pining and rollicking all tinged by their southern rock roots. The songs are peppy and short and chock full of energy and guts. The music rings out in that raw yet urgent way that only a finely tuned three-piece can muster. Fun new material from Texas. Go on, giver a whirl.–Jerry Actually
Streets Ahead [The Album]
Streets Ahead – The Album (c) 2007 Streets Ahead Like the pull of a mighty vortex, the whirlwind of America siphons away from the edges and drains somewhere towards the center. In this case we have three musicians from disparate corners of the nation. The three fell together in Cleveland, Ohio only to be melded together into the punk rock band, Streets Ahead. "The Album" is full of crunchy hooks and clever and unusual lyrical constructs. The music is punk, but not in the regurgatative ripoff sense. Streets Ahead hold some distinctive sounds, but not so far out that they will alienate potential fans. Think of something like Billy Corgan and TMBG colliding with Seven Seconds. They are not trying to reinvent the wheel, but they also aren't trying to be the wheel, dig? Either way, let me reiterate, Cleveland Rocks! and Streets Ahead keeps that rock (bad pun alert!) rolling.–Jerry Actually
Buck-O-Nine [Sustain]
Buck-O-Nine – Sustain (c) 2007 Asian Man Records I got the increasingly rare opportunity to attend a Buck-O-Nine CD release show last Saturday at their, and my newly re-adopted, hometown stomping grounds. The show was at The Casbah, a downtown San Diego ska friendly staple. It is a great little venue, perfect for intimate shows with your favorite bands and the 24oz. cans of PBR aren't stupid expensive. As a bonus for attending the show, every ticket holder received a copy of Sustain, their first new release in seven years. For fans of Buck-O-Nine, you wont be disappointed. As far as I'm concerned the disc is an instant ska classic. The songs are tight. The horns hit. They can hold muster to a couple adult beverages and remain dance-able. The shout along choruses are intact. If you are new to ska, (wow that cave must have been crazy dark and quiet all these years) dig into their back catalog. There is more good stuff to be had. What more can I say about the disc other than it is a great piece of work from one of my favorites and now on one of my favorite labels too. For those that didn't get to attend the show. Buck-O-Nine was opened by another local ska act, The Lifters. They too put on a great show. Check 'em out if you have a chance.–Jerry Actually
Heartbreak Club [Lamecore]
Heartbreak Club – Lamecore (c) 2007 Reign Records In spite of my traditionally better judgment, I went ahead and listened to a band with a CD entitled "Lamecore". Turns out it ain't so bad. Heartbreak Club wrenches up a five track EP of sugary heartache. The songs are emo alterna-pop punk with a sacharrin irony in the vein of Weezer Alkaline Trio or Lawrence Arms albeit with a bit more pop than the latter two references. If you like to rock out while you cry over spilled milk, maybe you should apply for membership in the Heartbreak Club.–Jerry Actually