Plain White T's – Every Second Counts (c) 2006 Hollywood RecordsNot rotten. Not awesome. Somewhere in between. Plain White T's "Every Second Counts" is super mega pop, like a Sum41 or a Blink, or many of their labelmates. Normally I'd just write that off as totally crap, but I do afford myself some guilty pleasures. Despite the songs dripping with radio friendly ooze, some of them are pretty damn catchy. The best thing however, is that Plain White T's managed to get the shitty Aerosmith song that has been stuck in my head all morning to go away.
Author: Jerry Actually
Godhead
Godhead – The Shadow Line (c) 2006 Cement Shoes RecordsMusic today is becoming so bad that I expect the return of butt rock hair bands in droves any day. Godhead has much of the charm of an Alice in Chains or a Candlebox. The songs are mostly three and a half minute radio rock marvels. Apparently the band is looking to "get to that next level" whatever that is. If you ask me this is built to sell. Because of the excellent financial backing, however, Godhead's new CD The Shadow Line does include a bonus DVD. They also sent me a cool looking sticker and I must give them props for that. I do love the schwag!-Jerry Actually
Roger Miret & The Disasters
Roger Miret & The Disasters – My Riot (c) 2006 Sailor's Grave Records The saga of hardcore rock and roll continues with the new release by the venerable Roger Miret & The Disasters. My Riot catalogs more of the history and emotion of growing up in, and through the help of rock and roll, living through the NYHC scene. There is more of course, but that is the predominant overtone. The music is straight up rock and roll with the attitude that you've come to expect from the Disasters. Chunky guitars, minimalist riffs, subdued drums and bass. The intro track "Warning! Warning!" starts out strikingly Ramones-esque guitar riff. To that end Track 5 is entitled nothing less than "Ramones". The remainder of the tracks hold with a very early punk sound with a reasonable dose of Clash style reggae as well. If you've liked or thought you might like any of the previous Disaster's releases, MyRiot won't dissapoint you. Not so much new as a story continued. It suits me fine. After all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.-Jerry Actually
On The Last Day
On The Last Day – Meaning in the Static (c) 2006 Victory RecordsNot my cup of tea, yet again. On The Last Day is a screamo band from Seattle. Whomever is responsible for their one sheet is sadly mistaken when they refer to them as hardcore. They are about as hardcore as Tool. Every song sounds remarkably like the one preceeding it. Musically, On The Last Day, holds some promise. Their musicianship appears to be high quality, however, there is a serious lack in the creativity department. Beyond that I think perhaps if I hear one more band with the forced snarl/growling vocal sound (you know exactly what I'm talking about), I may have to lose my lunch.
Mute Math
Mute Math – S/T (c) 2006 Warner Bros.This new Sting album is ok I guess. Wait, I mean this new U2 album is well, U2. Wait, is this Oasis? I have no freakin idea where Mute Math is coming from, other than New Orleans. I feel bad for the city of New Orleans. I really do. Aside from all of the other current problems, it has apparently been taken over by musical looters too. The brand new self-titled CD from Mute Math offers 13 tracks and 1 intro of insipid blandia. Mute Math is so new rock radio (yet at the same time sublty adult contemporary) friendly it makes me want to pull the ears off my head and stomp on them. Eventually all of this will be new Muzak.-Jerry Actually
The Wobblies
The Wobblies – *Red*Dawn*Rising* (c) 2006 The WobbliesPortland's proto-socialist punk rockers The Wobblies (The nickname for the Industrial Workers of the World) bust out 11 tracks of socially aware, fast paced, short attention span friendly, sing-a-long punk. In short, The Wobblies kick ass. This is, in fact, the punk that I want to listen to? My only regret, where the hell were The Wobblies when I lived in Portland? I guess they were still down in Corvallis or something getting their minds polluted with the wicked liberal ideals of college. Tracks 2, "Proud Right Wing" and 3, "Bogata" are personal favorites. I do love a good sing-a-long chorus. Production is raw as are the riffs, but this is punk and it works for its fervor. So thankfully I don't have to rate it on the Malmsteen scale. Overall Grade: A–Jerry Actually
The Black Maria
The Black Maria – A Shared History of Tragedy (c) 2006 Victory RecordsThe Black Maria, slang for the police "paddywagon" of yore and the name of Thomas Edison's movie studio, offers up 11 tracks of alterna-emo-rock much in the same vein as other alterna-emo-rock. The musicianship is solid and the production is clean, but "A Shared History of Tragedy" sounds like a soundtrack to me. Be it movie or video game, this isn't something that I would listen to out of personal preference, but it has enough appeal that it could accentuate some tense scenes in a teen-angst drama or an open highway stretch in a race game. Overall grade: B- -Jerry Actually
The Bronx
The Bronx – The Bronx (II) (c)2006 Island Records / White Drugs Records I'll be damned. A major label band that ain't too bad. The Bronx, though not in fact from The Bronx, transmit a gritty and streetable urban appeal. The tracks for the most part are up tempo and clock in under 3 minutes with the exception of the rather haunting "Dirty Leaves" The Bronx appear to be part of the major resurgence of rock and roll in L.A. and in the country in general for that matter. With Zeppelin like vocal wailings and rocking out rhythms like a more articulate Mudhoney, they definitely have the rock thing going on. I'll be honest. It is the first thing in the morning and I've barely sucked down half my coffee, but the report thus far is that I like The Bronx. They have a sound that sounds like something that I remember that I like, but don't remember precisely what that is.
Drive By
Drive By – I Hate Every Day Without You Kid… (c)2006 Riot Squad RecordsHere is some more music on the Emo tip. Not quite as bad as the crap that I usually hate. Drive By has a bit of an Alkaline Trio feel albeit with less punk rock and more emo-pop driving it. I guess the drive by that they are taking about is the one where you drive by the flower shop and pick up some flowers for a funeral or something. Don't get me wrong though, I listened to the whole CD a couple times and not once did I run away screaming or try to stab myself in the ears with a pen. The debut CD from Drive By is definitely music for the depressed, the ones that are looking for catharsis.
City Sleeps
City Sleeps – Hotel (c)2006 Maverick RecordsCity Sleeps – Freaking Ugggh. I am sick to the flippin' gills of whiney 'cry me a river' rock. Remember back in the day when Maverick was courting bands like Rancid? Maybe things would have been different then. Instead Maverick is so blighted that they list the Austin Powers soundtrack as a band in their roster. Hotel is music made by whiners for people who like to whine about how whiney music rocks. Oh, and rip off Brain May just once and people will claim that you're like the next Queen.