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
Category: Reviews
All reviews
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
Siouxsie [Mantaray]
Siouxsie Sioux – Mantaray (c) 2007 Decca Records “Mantaray” is the first solo album from Siouxsie [No Banshees. No Creatures.] [Despite it being a solo release it still has everything] from the [familiar] tribal beats to the original sounds of Siouxsie and the Banshees. If you like the creatures and all of Siouxsie Sue, I guarantee you’ll like this cd. So go get it!–Super Leslie
The Wonder Years [Get Stoked On It!]
The Wonder Years – Get Stocked On It! (c) 2007 No Sleep Records Ok, I can't say that I'm totally "Stoked On It!". It isn't unpleasant, but it didn't really grab me and shake me by the neck either. I think maybe the middle of the road tempo kind of put me into a lull. Sure there are faster bits, and some hardcore backing vocals, but if you apply an average across the tracks it all kind of sets a course for rock. That being said, the song content is tongue in cheek and I do enjoy that. Bottom line, The Wonder Years aren't so bad, but I'd like to see them commit to one direction or the other a bit more.–Jerry Actually
The Briefs [The Greatest Story Ever Told]
The Briefs – The Greatest Story Ever Told (c) 2007 BYO RecordsBehold as the history of The Briefs unfolds before you very eyes. Formed in the wee young year of 2000 in a post grunge Seattle, The Briefs kick out ’77 style fun loving punk rock. If you’re into this sort thing, the DVD comes jam packed w/ over two hours of Briefs footage including live, practice and studio footage and of course, the complete history of The Briefs. Along w/ the video you also get a bonus eight track live CD. Incidentally, The Lawrence Arms may have already tried to tell you the greatest story ever, but did they give you a DVD to go with it? No! I didn’t think so! So kick back and watch and listen to the greatest story ever told.–Jerry Actually
The Hot Toddies [Smell the Mitten]
The Hot Toddies – Smell the Mitten (c) 2007 Asian Man Records Welcome to the sultry and saccharin sweet sounds of The Hot Toddies. Like a gang of prom queens that sipped a little too much of the spiked punch, these gals rock with a quirky seduction and loads of mischievous naughtiness. The vocal harmonies are drop dead gorgeous (especially if you miss the vocal sound of the Dance Hall Crashers) and the music kinda of an alterna-fifties indie pop. Smell the Mitten is a great full length debut from this band of Bay area beauties. They've got the chops and the hooks and the satiric wit that has me waiting for more. –Jerry Actually
The New Rivals
The New Rivals – S/T (c) 2007 SoBe Entertainment Do I have an immediate suspicion of a "punk rock" band on a beverage based label that gives top billing to label mate Brook Hogan? You bet your ass I do. The New Rivals have all the trappings of a band either sourced or designed to fit a market formula. The songs are just edgy enough, but not offensive. The tracks are almost all within the radio friendly three minute zone. The music is performed ably enough, but it seems like all of this ground has been well paved in the past. That being said, if you were to score this CD with a SoBe cap or something, that would be better than some beverage cap prizes. Incidentally, SoBe Entertainment claims to be an Indy Label: "SoBe Entertainment is an independent record label based in Miami Beach, FL." – this is right off their web site. They aren't making any claims to a connection with SoBe the beverage, but I'll draw my own I think. On top of that, this disc came to me from Universal … not exactly independent.–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
Andrew Jackson Jihad – People Who Can Eat People …
Andrew Jackson Jihad – People Who Can Eat People Are The Luckiest People In The World (c) 2007 Asian Man Records
I don’t quite know how to spell out how I feel about Andrew Jackson Jihad. I like them in a weird sort of way. Kinda in the same way that everyone has a really bizarre friend (unless you are the bizarre friend) and you like the friend, but sometimes you just aren’t sure why.
AJJ is a bit of an amalgamated Dead Milkmen Wally Pleasant and Old 97’s. The songs are certainly very eclectic with off the beaten path lyrics and an overall Bluegrass quality. I am compelled to recommend them highly, but I’m just not quite sure why.
–Jerry Actually
N.S.O.A. – For the Forgotten
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[rating:4.5/5]
(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