The Cast Outs – S/T EP (c) 2006Cleveland's Cast Outs come correct. Their self-titled EP is a 7 track, dark and gritty punk dirge. The Cast Outs bring elements of early crossover (for those of you out there that think that crossover refers to crap like NuMetal … you couldn't be more wrong) along with the unusual addition of dense heavy keyboards to the sound. The disc is raw, but it has grit and substance. What could easily have been just another garage band transcends to a new level with quality riffs and well layered arrangements. Their sound becomes even more intricate if you consider that they operate as a three piece. Though claiming influence from the likes of Napalm Death and NOFX, I think they may have forgotten to include TSOL and Econochrist in that list. The bottom line is raw punk that holds plenty of promise.–Jerry Actually
Category: Punk
Punk Reviews
Headed for the Smoke
Headed for the Smoke – Dance & Destroy (c) 2006 A.T.S. RecordsHello hard rockin' 70's. Welcome back. Where ya been? Well Jerry, we've been hangin' out with Headed for the Smoke and teaching them our guitar powered, arena drummin, thunder bass, Bon Scott vocal ways. I see. I see. Yes indeed, Dance & Destroy, the new EP from Headed for the Smoke contains some serious Rock & Roll. As with a lot of rock from both yesterday and today, Headed for the Smoke hails from Boston. It seems as though you can't shake a stick at Boston these days with out knocking the weed out of the hands of some Rock & Roll band. I'm not the biggest fan of rock out there by any stretch of the imagination, but these fellas seem pretty genuine and they got some catchy hooks. If you like the rock, you go buy this EP now and support a few workin' class rockers.–Jerry Actually
Blood Vessels
Blood Vessels – S/T (c) 2006 Teenage Heart Records They were just another band out of Boston. Livin' out of bars, sleepin' in their cars. They practiced every night in the street. Well ok, maybe they didn't go to MIT or have day jobs at Polaroid, but Blood Vessels is, in fact, outta Boston. Blood Vessel's self-titled release out now on Teenage Heart Records evoke a more rock version of some of Zeke's better material. Along with that rock however, you get some of the elements of rock that I could live with out: wankin solos, songs over a brazillian years long. I can get past the former if they are short, but having the epic four plus minute tracks make this disc seem a lot longer than its 35 minutes. All of this aside, this is good rock. It beats the shit out of The Strokes or The Hives or The Vines or any of the radio rock crap your likely to hear. Bottom line: punk flavored rock that sometimes rocks too hard. –Jerry Actually
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
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
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 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.