Ill Nino The Under Cover Sessions (c) 2006 Cement Shoes RecordsPrior to the release of their next LP, Ill Nino (or their label) attempts to cash in with a brief 5 song e.p. It contains 2 original studio tracks that suck and 3 covers. The Peter Gabriel cover and the Nirvana cover are good everything else is pretty lame. They have a Sepulturaesque tribal drum thing going and that is cool. Here is the deal though, growling vocals suck a goat. Get over your self and learn to sing. It you can’t do that, at least learn to annunciate. Get it? Got it? Good! They sent me a sticker though and I appreciate that. Yet still Two thumbs up, 8 thumbs down.With all our love,Team !upstarter
Author: Jerry Actually
Dennis Bagwell [Paid in Full]
Dennis Bagwell – Paid in Full (c) 2006 Batteryface Records Dennis Bagwell, the modern day beat poet, brings back more angry diatribe. He lashes out at governments and stupid war. He's equally brutal to big religion. I could deal without the xenophobia though. His ability to use a poetic, spoken word format to share his opinions is phenomenal. Some of these tracks are downright, flippin awesome. Much love,Team !Upstarter.
Scars of Tomorrow [The Failure in Drowning]
Scars of Tomorrow – The Failure in Drowning (c) 2006 Victory RecordsScars of tomorrow makes me want to make scars of today in my fucking ears. Their weak attempt at metal and arena drums only helps to promote the scars in my ear drums. Say it don’t spray it jerks. You’re so black and evil and dark. I want to be your ear nose and throat guy and make a frickin’ mint. There is some decent riffs on occasion, but you go ahead and fuck it all up with the growling screams. Let me reiterate, Rah Rah Re Rah! 13 thumbs down. With loving respect,Team !upstarter
Skannibal Party 6
Skannibal Party 6 – V/A (c) 2006 Mad Butcher RecordsWorld wide Ska! Yeah baby, bring it! This edition of the Skannibal Party collection is definitely worth listening to all the way through. Despite any language barriers, good ska is good ska no matter how you sing it. Get this CD. Pop it in. Fun will be had by all. Sooner or later everyone will be skankin' around you living room or porch or dorm room or eurovan. As an added bonus it goes well with beer and BBQ. Seriously this comp is cool; it literally has ska from around the world. Get yours today.Love Team !upstarter
The Generators
The Generators – The Winter Of Discontent (c) 2006 Sailor's Grave RecordsSo I receive this CD with a band named the Generators and I think sweet that is a great name. I put the CD in and give it a listen. The first thing that comes to mind is that these guys sound familiar and I am right they do. They sound like everyone else that came before them and I understand that this is not their first CD but all this music doesn't sound very original. I am sure they are great at what they do but it is just not for me. If you like music that everyone else has done you should go out and buy it. Although if you like you music a little more original then look elsewhere.
No Respect
No Respect – Excuse My Smile (c) 2006 Mad Butcher RecordsWhat we have here is a gem of a re-release from the pioneering German Ska/Punk band No Respect. Originally released almost a decade ago and re-pressed earlier this year, Excuse My Smile offers you 14 tracks of wicked good anti-nazi anti-fascist Ska/Punk. This was pretty ground breaking stuff back in '97 and the message and the music have stood the test of time. Though sometimes the sentiment seems a little less popular and a little worse for wear, the world still needs music with a positive message and the ability to rock and the same time. Because of that need, No Respect is still going strong with new material and their own flavor of rock. Keep up the grand work fellas.
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade (c) 2006 Reprise RecordsWell, I guess I should be in fear for my life. I have a copy of "The Black Parade", the new release from My Chemical Romance, and well, I like it. Either I'm slippin' or someone actually let some good music out to the public. "The Black Parade" strives to the level of classic rock epics from Pink Floyd or Queen but with a crisp modern edge. As well MCR shows a musical maturity and a knack for showmanship. Beyond that they boldly stand out from their contemporaries, offering something well better than the heaps of mindless drivel that constantly assualt our senses. Rock on MCR I say. Rock on!–Jerry Actually
Arpioni [Malacabeza]
Arpioni – Malacabeza (c) 2006 Mad Butcher RecordsFor nearly a decade and a half, Arpioni has been rockin' the Italian ska scene. Malacabeza is their new release out now on Mad Butcher Records. Though mostly bordering between traditional and 3rd wave ska, the disc offers 16 tracks in a wide variety of musical styles. From the Northern Soul of the opening track Basta! right into a kind of swinging jazzy (a bit like Squirel Nut Zippers) number "Una Storia Disonesta". There is even a polka-esqe track. This is the first I've heard from Arpioni and I like what I hear. Good fun ska and soul from Bergamo Italy. Here's a link to their official site, check 'em out. Arpioni The site happens to be in Italian, but there is an English version for those of us what speaks that language. World ska for the masses … making this world a better place. –Jerry Actually
Sparta
Sparta – Threes (c) 2006 Hollywood RecordsHummm………..Sparta "Threes", I almost want to say they sound familiar or in some respect similar to music I like and listen to, from I guess you would say the 80’s. Then again I have to say they definitely have their own sound and that makes them catchy as does their subtle depressing edgy lyrics and sound. I like it! And recommend if you like letting your mind wonder, you give Sparta a chance.
Bad Lieutenants
Bad Lieutenants – Every Time I Come Around (c) 2006 Teenage Heat RecordsWOW – I've heard a lot of bad things. This is the worst crap that I've heard. I'm a bit beside myself. Try to find something worse, I dare you. Part Tesco, part Danzig, All crap. Completely derivative. I realy tried to give it a chance. I almost want to listen to main stream after this. I'm dissapointed. Did you read my other reviews before you sent this? I dare you to come to town. ok the gauntlet has been thrown down. Rock, I dare you!–Jerry Actually