Category: Punk

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 (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 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 (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 

Autonomadic – The Missionary (c) 2007 Bleeding Ear Music "The Missionary" is a dirty little EP from Seattle punk rock trio Autonomadic.  Don't let the cover fool ya though.  The disc isn't much at all about a rather phallic missile or the missionary position.  The Missionary contains seven track of socially aware old school punk rock swager.  They rage against complacency, corporations, institutions and assholes all to a four four beat.  I was vaguely familiar with Autonomadic from the Punks and Pints comp.  I'm glad to hear some additional material.  Pretty decent stuff over all, but I would like to see it take it up a notch.  The amount of outrage in the lyrics could be better paired with a bit more musical frenzy.–Jerry Actually 

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 

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 

The Unseen – Internal Salvation (c) 2007 Hellcat Records The Unseen's latest, Internal Salvation, is the groups second release on Hellcat Records and the follow up to 2005's State of Discontent and just one of some 15 odd releases over as many years.  Practice perseverance and dedication have proven yet again that punk is only as dead as the people that give up on it.  Internal Salvation presents 13 new tracks replete with angsty wailings of personal tragedy and societal woes.  Short and sweet like punk rock ought to be, clocking in right about 30 minutes.  Despite all the talk bandied about that The Unseen has sold out, I say, "Bite Me! Let's see you been in a punk band for almost 15 years and still sound that real."  –Jerry Actually 

Gallows – Orchestra of Wolves (c) 2007 Epitaph Records Ok, guess who kicks ass?  Give up? Gallows, that's who!.  I'm in agreeance with anyone and everyone that says Gallows is the best new punk band to come outta England for a damn long time.  Orchestra of Wolves, the band's Epitaph debut contains 14 blistering scathing rants of social commentary and urban survival as well as an homage to Black Flag with a cover of Nervous Breakdown added as a bonus.  While I'm not going to comment on each and every track, I will say that Gallows packs a lot of them same energy and vitriolic sonic swirl as the Nerve Agents.  Orchestra of Wolves is frenetic and fierce.  The songs lash out at you in a disjointed swagger that at every turn threatens to explode.  The oddest parts is that while every track is perched on the brink of its own destruction, the same discord keeps everything firmly glued in place.  This disc is due out on July 10th. Do yourself and everyone you know a big favor and listen to this as soon as possible.–Jerry Actually