(c)2008 Suburban Noize Records
[rating:1.75/5]
Sometimes you watch an action movie and you leave the theater feeling like a badass, humming the Mission Impossible theme, hoping your car’s transformed into a James-Bond-mobile. You know that feeling… I just had a Fast & Furious movie marathon, so it left me in one of those post-car-chase-movie moods. Had I been looking for a soundtrack to keep that “I’m a misunderstood rebel car guy from SoCal” feeling alive, I’d throw in the Kottonmouth Kings new disc, “The Green Album”.
I’m not a gangsta. I’m not from SoCal. I’ve never listened to the Kottonmouth Kings before, so I can’t judge this album, their 10th full-length, in comparison to any previous works. That said, “The Green Album” is a decent assortment of 20 tracks that start off like a road race street party but winds down to a backyard love fest.
Ok, Here’s the brand new release from the Colorado trio know as Pinhead Circus. I like these guys, but not always on the first listen. This disc took till the fourth run through before I finally started really grooving along. I’m not in any way implying that the suck and they’ll grow on you. I just didn’t immediately fall into place with their groove. None the less you get 11 tracks of melodic Pop Punk and if that’s what yer into than by all means go get it. On a side note what is it with bands recently putting fewer and fewer tracks on their cd’s? “It’s quality not quantity”, You say. “Bullshit”, I say you pay the same omount for the disc wether or not there is 8 tracks or 28 tracks. I say, “The More the merrier” Sure it’s nice to see new material out but I like a lot of new material. Anyhow go get this CD. and Play track 9 for your older siblings (provided that your older siblings are about 25-30) they’ll get a kick out of it. 
I love listening to comps. I hate reviewing comps. There are just too many aspects going on at once. Do I pass judgement on the music as a whole or the individual artists or the generation as a whole? It’s hard to say. This comp Brought to you by BYO and Artcor Fanzine is “Greetings From The Welfare State” and no their not talking about Arkansas. This is the Best of British Punk going on now. Sure they may have a tiny little island, but they get the evil dreary weather that fuels their angst and misery. I should know I’m in Portland, OR (misery central) Whatever, If you’re looking to cross some international waters to pick up on some stuff the kids down the street arn’t into yet, go grab this comp and find some culture in the punks from the UK. Highlights for me include Goober Patrol, Newton Grunts and Four Letter Word. Later I’m Out… 
Add two parts Go-Go’s one part teen angst, smack ’em together and label ’em Made In Japan and you’ve got the power girl punk from Japan’s latest export Softball. I don’t want to come across as sexist, but I generally don’t listen to a lot of “girl” music. But damnit I like Softball. They have spunk and energy and punky Clash like sensibility. throughout the entire CD I’m kept marvelously entertained. the tunes are very heavily accented so that I can’t make out a majority of the lyrics, yet I find myself wanting to sing along even if only phonetically. If you like your punk a little on the poppy side and you’ve ever found yourself singing along to the Go-Go’s, add a little international flavor to your life and listen to softball. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
An album 13 long fuckin’ years in the making has finally arrived, and it is, as the title claims, Bigger Than The Devil. S.O.D. is back for their first studio album in 13 years and with the full original line up to boot. I went and got this disk the day it came out, sorry it’s taken so long for the review, but the damn thing was on loan to all my friends. I popped this CD into the player as soon as I got home and it started flying out of my speakers in a full frontal assault. This my friends is what aggro hardcore is all about. I’m not going to waste my time blathering on about the might of S.O.D. or the way Billy Milano stopped a show about ten years ago so I could find my glasses in the pit. All I’m gonna say is that this album kicks your ass, go get the fucking thing or I’m sure that Sgt.. D will hunt you down and kill your lame ass!
Put on your boots and show us your favorite new tattoos boys and girls, this live plus one CD kicks serious ass. The more I listen to it, the more I want to listen to it. These are good old-fashioned punk rock anthems as they were meant to be. I’ve never seen them live, but I’m pretty sure that I would leave with at least one major injury. Every song made me want to drink beer and shout along with the rest of the crowd. Tracks 1, 2, 6, and 7 are now permanently in my head for the duration of time. Fast and furious boot stompin’ pleasure for the whole family (or at least a good portion of it.) This CD would be a worthy addition to anyone’s CD collection. The only thing that could make this CD better is if it was personally delivered to your door with a twelve-pack of cheap beer…..oh yeah, and more guitar solos (ummm…..sure.) 
Set aside special time each day during which you devote your time to this precious record. The Pietasters are back again with their new studio release “Awesome Mix Tape #6” (out August 3rd on hellcat) What is it about The Pietasters that just grabs my soul and whips it around and won’t let go? I’ll be damned if I can pinpoint it, but something about this seven piece Ska band from DC just makes me feel allright. Ever since I saw them the first time, opening for the Bosstones, I was hooked. They had an intense quality and a drinking Irish East Coast Swagger. None of this is lost on the new release. I have heard a lot of negativity from people after Willis came out, bitching that it wasn’t as good as ooolooloo. Damn them I say, The Pietasters are a brilliant band with amazing musicianship that comes across even better live. On the new release they weave a exciting blend of traditional ska, dub, reggae and soul with the occasional punkesque guitar, combined with clever even if somewhat chauvanistic lyrics. the effect as a whole creates an album not only worthy of the 4 “ups” I gave it, but an album that gets better every time you play it (if your not convinced, refer to the first sentence.) 
I don’t know what to say except that perhaps the title of this new NOFX release is far to aptly correct. “The Decline” leaves me a little underwhelmed and a little disappointed. The comedic yet poignant NOFX that I once knew is gone for the moment. I’m not going to give up on them (’cause I didn’t like “Heavy Petting Zoo” either) but here’s the deal a little less art boys and a lot more rock. the CD starts out well enough for the first couple (or what I assume to be) tracks and then it drops right out. I know there are some die hard NOFX fans out there that are gonna be pissed reading this, but then again they’re probably 15. Another thing is that this CD is very politically charged, not this this bothers me, but again it is a departure from what I’ve grown to enjoy from NOFX. I guess it’s good to vent, but get on with it and get back to the good times I have grown to love/loathe.
Hats off to the new release from Midwest boys done good MU330. I’ve been a fan of these guys since I first saw them in ’93. They’ve gone through quite a few line up changes since the get go, but they keep it up strong. The new release is a crispy ska punk blend with all the dueling trombones you could ever want. Even though Jason (Nelson) isn’t there any more guitarist/vocalist Dan Pothast does an equally good if not better job of putting together and pulling off clever tunes. Visit them on the web at www.mu330.com It’s a damn good cd. Go get it. Out now on Asian Man Records.