(c) 1999 Burning Heart Records
Rating: 
I get so innundated with punk rock music that sounds exactly like punk rock music sounds. It becomes very difficult to descern one band fron the next. They have to have something that stands out from the crowd, or they have to be really rockin’ when I’m drunk. Sweden’s Bombshell rocks are a slightly better than average punk band. don’t get me wrong I’m not being harsh. I like the CD. I’d play it for my friends in casual settings, and I’d bring it along on road trips if I had the room, butt… Heres how it is though, it’s like bottled water. There are umpteen bazillion brands of bottled water and each and everyone is wet and watery and just about the same. So anyway if you like punk rock in the style of mid career Rancid, Swinging Utters, Humpers etc… Get this CD. If that aint your bag, keep away.
–Jerry Actually
[ad]
Oh my God, these Swiss cats fucking rock. Punkabilly with a slight two-tone twist. This disc is not to be missed. If you don’t like it then you’re a DICK!. This CD is the second release from Switzerlands Rockabilly combo “Peacocks” In Without knocking left me wanting more and more and in bad need for a U.S. West Coast Tour. From the gritty Rockabilly of “You’re Not Better” to the silly acoustic of “Fleamarket” Peacock’s are a blast buy this album play it for your friends, play it for your mom. I’m taking these guy to the top of the stairs so get out of the way
I’ve got to admit, I’ve been planning to crucify the next review to come my way. After all, a critics job is to criticize, right? So along comes this CD from the Cadillac Tramps. “Cadillac Tramps Live”, no less! I’m thinking, “A live album is the kiss of death for any no-name band frum Kaliforney”, it’s on now! We’ll start with the album art… OK, so it’s got a pretty cool painting on the cover. Sort of a Grateful Dead thing going on here. Kudos to the hippy artist. You know what I really hate? It’s a band that needs to prop up it’s lack of talent with flashy cover art! (Quick peek at the back…) “Song titles, hmm…” Here, i always look for the “recurrent theme” syndrome (Sadly, these guys can’t seem to focus on anything). Open the case and your eyes are immediately assaulted by a collection of bad tattoo cliche’s. Cheeky! I wouldn’t put any of these on my dog. Oh, sure. I’d tattoo a couple of them on my cat. But that would mostly be an excuse to shave him. I like to actually read the credits, particuliarly the people who get the back pats. The CT’s lose points with me here. They thank “Shannon”, the name of this bitch who dumped me (“Shannon, you harpy from hell, can’t you just let me get on with my life?!). Alright, enough already. Let’s just throw in this CD and get it all over with. Ah, ha! These guys are so obviously fibbing about this being a live album: It’s way too tight to be recorded outside of a studio! And that singer! He’s very reminescent of Jello Biafra. Too bad for you, my friend. Those are awfully big shoes to be sounding like. The first few songs were pretty good, but then the rest of the album just sort of continues on like that. As much as I regret, I wouldn’t exactly describe the lyrics as overly insipid and, if you listen, you can actually understand most of what’s being sung (What is up with that?!). Overall, I’d say that this CD was tight, well-written, and an impressive display of the Cadillac Tramps talents, if you like that sort of thing. Maybe with practice, these guys will get their act together, I don’t know. My advice would be for them to get out of town more. Regular and frequent touring up and down the west coast (Portland and Seattle, in particuliarly) would be a good start on their road to recovery. 
The first impression that I got from this CD was the same as the final impression that it left me with–mediocre. Though this CD was recorded 8 and 7 years earlier than released, it is very possible that they have improved dramatically in their respective projects if at all. There is no place in the insert where you can find out just who is playing what and when (quite possibly for a reason.) This is a combination of two previously released discs, Rabbit Wreaking Havoc (1991) and Another Day (1993.) Thumper just may be Steve Vai does Ska. Definitely a metal overtone to a majority of these songs. The vocalist seems to be struggling a good amount of the time, and the guitars seem to me to be very, very metal (Call me crazy but I like ugly distortion or straight clean guitars.) Their horn section sounds like it just may have been recruited from the local high school’s second chair (although there are a few good arrangements.) As an added bonus, some drunk guy managed to stumble on this CD and scratched the hell out of it making it impossible to review songs 11 through 18. Thanks, but I think I’ll pass on this one. 
Ahoy Ahoy!, These guys are great! they make me happy when ever I listen. “Overboard” the newest offering by Chicago’s Deal’s Gone Bad is an exceptional piece of work. It’s got everything I require in a heavy personal rotation 3rd wave Ska CD. There’s bouncing beats, pumping keys, tasteful vocals and great horns and a touch ‘o comedy ala track 10 “Shiver Me Timber” With a reverence to the past and multi-pint toast to the future Deal’s gone bad puts forth a fresh offering into a recently sagging Ska scene. (notice the journalist like cheesy quotable quip…) never the less, I like this CD a lot and the more I listen to it the more I like it. Remember to go to your local shows too, If you don’t support the shit that you like it will go away.
Swingin’ Utters is a damn good band. Youth Brigade is still a damn good band. Both of them together on one CD?? Stop, you say. It can’t be so. Ah, but it is true. This spit series CD is a fucking cool idea. This is the first time that I, personally, have run across one of these (that’s not saying a whole hell of a lot.) Anyway, for those of you who have never heard of these bands, Go BUY IT NOW!!! This is not necessarily 100% hardcore, but a little Oi, a little traditional, a little hard-core, and a little (oh shit!) pop. Could you really ask for more? Guaranteed you will find at least 4 songs that you will play again. My personal favorites, not that you give a stinky hippie, are Haven’t Seen Yourself In Years (Swinging Utters) and Let them Know (Youth Brigade.)
Well, I can’t honestly say that I’m giving this CD a fair and honest review, but I’ll do my best. I actually only got to listen to the thing one time through before I had to go out of town, while which Mrs. Upstarter promptly removed the CD from the changer and as of now it is MIA. What I did gather from the listen that I got is that “Dirty Sanchez” is a bit better than the previously released “Kicked In The Teeth” Zeke has lost a little bit of that Kiss feel (not all of it, just some) and overall the songs rock pretty well. The mystery/bonus track is pretty damn funny for those of us that are old enough to remember. anyway I gave this disc a three out of a possible five on the !upstarter “UP” rating scale perhaps fair, perhaps not. At any rate not bad for a bunch of Seattle post grunge boys.
Fucking Brutal! Body Bag is one of the freshest bands I’ve heard in a while. Hailing from Geneva Switzerland, this energy bomb of Hardcore and Ska throw down 6 great tunes on the “Skadillac” EP. A friend of mine said that on a scale of 1 to 10 he’d give a 666, I’d have to concur. Hurry up and buy this disk and impress all of your friends, be the first one on your block. If you can’t find this CD in your area you can order it from the label at www.hannibals.com Listen to Body Bag before the Skadillac rolls over your skull!
A long time ago in a galaxy on the east coast of the US in a city called New York, came the Bastard Child of Punk Rock. Hardcore Punk! Music from the streets with an attitude for change and a strong sense of unity. At the forefront of this movement was a band call Agnostic Front. It’s 1999 now almost two decades from their humble beginnings and Agnostic Front is back with a brand new offering. “Riot Riot Upstart” is their second offering on Epitaph, the follow up to ’97s “Something’s Gotta Give”. Sporting the original “Victim in Pain” Line up Featuring: Roger Miret – Vocals, Vinnie Stigma – Guitar, Rob Kabula – Bass, and Jimmy Collette – Drums. “Riot Riot Upstart” is some kick ass Hardcore! I must admit that I found this album deceptive. I was expecting a fully brutal blast of noise and anger like I got on the new S.O.D. record. Instead I found something a little more tame on the surface but seething with anger and injustice charged lyrics and familiar yet fresh grinding fast beats. As I expected there are a few guest appearances from the likes of Manager Billy Milano, Toby and Rusty from H2O, and Kerry Martinez from US Bombs. This Disc give up 17 tracks of quality hardcore from the masters. The only thing I regret to say about it is the “Lars Freidrickson Sound” Sure it was produced by Lars (you can’t help but notice if you even turn the CD over slightly) but come on leave the Rancid tricks at home this is Agnostic Front show a little respect. Bottom Line – These guys invented Hardcore. Get this CD. Piss of your parents!!