Chris Murray Combo – Why So Rude

(c) 2008 Unstrictly Roots
[rating:5/5]

If you’ve been reading the reviews on !upstarter for any length of time, you would realize by now that I’m a big fan of Chris Murray. Ever since I saw him open for Skavoovie and the Epitones and Less Than Jake in Lawrence, KS ages ago (1996 maybe?), I’ve been hooked. Time has seen several new releases since the 4-Track Adventures of Venice Shoreline Chris, each of which has been rock solid in its own way. Why So Rude is no exception.

If anything Chris Murray, now as a three piece combo, is more solid than ever. The new release is a culmination of time spent playing as CMC over the last few years and newly recorded versions from the Chris Murray and King Apparatus back catalog. The band consists of Ben Farrar on percussion/backing vocals, Eddie “Chiquis” Lozoya on bass/backing vocals and Chris Murray on vocals/guitar. Frankly all three of these guys bust out the stops at their respective musical posts. The bass is smooth and rolling. The symbol hits are second to none, and the vocals compliment the songs like a glove to a hand. Though this is a slightly different lineup than when I last saw the CMC. Bass duties were once upon a time performed by Jeff Roffredo, but that was a few years back.

None the less Why So Rude lays down 13 tracks: some new, some old, all good. Personal Favorites include the opener: I need Water and the title track: Why So Rude. The cover of Maga Dog and the re-recording of Michael and Anne are top notch as well. If you like your Ska, Roots and Reggae full of genuine soul, compelling song writing, sincere vocals and subtle harmonies, do check out the Chris Murray Combo. You shan’t be disappointed.

–Jerry Actually

Zebrahead – Phoenix

Zebrahead – Phoenix (c) 2008 Icon MusicWow! someone forgot to take their ritalin. Orange County band Zebrahead brings your their fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and maybe eighth releases all on one disc. Ok ok maybe it is technically just their fourth release, but holy crap this disc is all over the place. Because of that I think that it suffers a severe identity crisis. Phoenix carries a sound that is nearly equal parts Rage Against the Machine, 311, Sugar Ray, P.O.D. and not so equal parts of bands so banal that I can’t remember them, only their typical nature. It leaves me to wonder who/what they are attempting to be. I’m not saying it is all bad, just not half good. The musicianship is top notch and the songs are performed admirably. They just don’t know what they want to accomplish sonically (or maybe I’m just not getting the point)… full of sound and fury signifying nothing perhaps. However, if you suffer from short attention span, then perhaps Zebrahead are just the ticket. Phoenix is so incongruous that you just might come away with a whole lot of new favorites.–Jerry Actually

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Have Another Ball (c) 2008 Fat Wreck ChordsDid you ever have to hate your friends or your friend’s sister because they had the K-Tel version of that sweet BTO song you totally loved? Do you remember wtf K-Tel was? Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a more modern punk rock incarnate of the very same ideals. They take all your favorite songs (originally by the original artist) and they make them better.This time (and the times before) around the joke’s on those K-Tel chumps. Me first and the Gimme Gimmes punk the heck outta those “original classics” For the folk that are familiar, Have Another Ball is the second installment of tracks off of the original recordings from a decade ago. So, if you are indeed familiar, odds are good that you’ve heard a lot of these tracks on other releases. Does it matter that they’ve made better versions of their own versions of other peoples songs? Probably not. Is it still all the same fun punked up karaoke that you were looking for? Most likely… I don’t know what you were looking for, but if it was a punk cover of “Mahogany” or “The Boxer” well then, godammit, this is it. I can’t say it is best of breed, but out of all the cd’s I’m playing right at the very moment, it takes a close second.–Jerry Actually

State of Grace – State of Grace

(c) 2008 Hellcat Records
[rating:3/5]

Three cheers for the Street Dogs my friends, back again with a brand new record. The disc will be out soon on none other than Hellcat Records. It all seems very full circle, what with Hellcat being the home of the Dropkick Murphy’s. (for those of you outside the know, Street Dogs’ Mike McColgan is the former frontman of those very same Dropkick Murphy’s) Since their forming in 2002, Murphy’s connection aside, Street Dogs have come into their own.

With the lineup currently cemented as Mike McColgan on Vox, John Rioux (of Bruisers fame) on Bass, Marcus Hollar and Tobe Bean III splitting guitar duties and Paul Rucker on drums the collective Street Dogs deliver to you a State of Grace. 11 punk rock songs with a distinctive Boston flair. The songs are about life. The lyrics have depth. It’s very existence offers promise. After the slew of post nu-metal mallrat pablum that has disgraced the the name of music lately, it is great to hear a disc that not only is true to form punk rock, but also has some meaning. It is very easy to discern when a band believes in what they do or if they are just going through the motions. Street Dogs’ State of Grace is very obviously the former. With a formidable foundation and diehard persistence State of Grace is the Street Dogs best effort to date.

–Jerry Actually

Millencolin [Machine 15]

Millencolin – Machine 15 (c) 2008 Epitaph RecordsI have to be perfectly honest. I’ve never really been a big Millencolin supporter. While I respect their ability to kick out the jams and their consistent performance over the years, something about the Swedish punk favs has always left me wishing it were a little more something … can I really define what it is that I am not finding? not quite. Now, however, I’m listening to Machine 15, and perhaps I have softened to Millencolin over time. Maybe I’ve lightened up my stance on pop oriented music. I find myself not walking away from this new release. For the fans Machine 15 brings you, oddly, 15 new tracks of what is very obviously well poslished Millencolin material and its growing on me like a slime mold. –Jerry Actually

No Use For A Name

No Use For A Name – The Feel Good Record Of The Year(c) 2008 Fat Wreck ChordsEvery generation needs a Night Ranger, a Journey, an REO Speedwagon. Some generations may even claim a need for a Loverboy. Good luck for you current generation, you’ve got No Use For A Name, the embodiment of all that was good about late 70’s – early 80’s rock n’ roll, but wait there’s more. You also get that same sweet rockin’ with the added bonus of a punk rock edge.San Jose, CA’s No Use For A Name of course are already legends in their own time. (any punk band that can claim two decades is by default legendary) However, unlike the effect that time has on some things, No Use For A Name haven’t gone softly into that good night. The Feel Good Record Of The Year, out this month on Fat offers 14 new tracks of highly polished luster. (thanks in part I suspect by being recorded at the Blasting Room with Bill Stevenson) The disc has range both musically and emotionally. However, it seems regardless of the tone or the tempo, each has its own smoldering intensity. Even better, like their forefathers of rock, the disc in entirety drips with anthemic goodness. In fact, it may not only be the feelgood record of the year. It may just be the soundtrack to your life.–Jerry Actually

SIX – Between the Warning and the War

SiX – Between the Warning and the War(c) 2008 1605 Records So I’ve been having an overall lack of creativity as it pertains to writing lately. This new record by SIX hasn’t helped. I’m torn. It has the goods; It is fierce and aggressive. The riffs rule. The vocals don’t suck razorblades. So then why am I uncertain about how much I do or don’t enjoy it? I don’t really know. I’m gonna go out on a limb before my coffee kicks in and say that I do in fact like the disc. After all it gets a ringing endorsement and even a guest spot from Mike Clark on track 4 “Forgiveness” and features Franki Doll on track 5 “Perfect Life”.I guess the trepidation comes in on more of a personal level. I just don’t get into the metal like I once did. But by way of an endorsement of my own, if anything were going to pull me back over to the metal side, it would be this. Between the Warning and the War nearly rekindles the spirit of old Prong for me except with a Left Coast feel. That is certainly something in the background that draws me to this disc. I guess all the vascillating aside, SIX busts with some dark aggressive music in a unique but decidedly metal vein. The more I listen to it, the more I warm to it. So this one is up in the air but I think it’ll land heads up.–Jerry Actually

The Gaslight Anthem

The Gaslight Anthem "Senor and the Queen" EP (c) 2008 Hey, Gaslight Anthem, New Jersey just called and they want Bruce Springsteen back. No, I am totally just kidding. Gaslight Anthem is a Rock and Roll band from straight outta New Brunswick, New Jersey, and here's the juice: Any band worth their cajones that comes from Jersey owes a bit of respect to The Boss.This EP is full of mad respect.  Senor and the Queen is a bit of a teaser EP after 2007's well hailed "Sink or Swim" and in anticipation of a new forthcoming full length.  However short though it may be, it is packed with guts and rock.  Reminiscient of Bruce, Ryan Adams and Nathan Asher, but with a bit more underlying punk snear.  No matter what, I look forward to the new full length.  In the mean time you can pick up your copy of Senor and the Queen when you catch The Gaslight Anthem on tour in a town near you.  What the hell, go to a town far away and see them and get a copy.–Jerry Actually

Handheld [S/T]

Handheld(c) 2008 Year of the Sun "Good morning Canada. How are you today?" "Oh just fine thanks. What can I do for you?" "Well, I'd like some new punk rock. What have you got?" "Well, we have this new self-title CD from some of our favorite sons, Handheld." "Hmmmm, Handheld you say. I've never heard of them. Are they any good?" "Are they any good? well of course they are. Maybe you should keep reading."   Hailing from (what I can only assume it the Canadian equivalent to the OC) Kitchener, Ontario, Handheld have been cranking out the punk rock in true DIY fashion, booking their own shows, self-financing their releases, paying for their own beer (yeah right). Seriously though, the DIY ethic and personal pride shine through in their music. Handheld's new self-titled release brings a melodic and emotional, yet quick paced punk melange somewhere in the vein of  Face to Face vs.  The Lawrence Arms.  15 regularly scheduled tracks and one bonus track special should help push the ratings up for new and old fans alike. Enjoy!–Jerry Actually

D.I. [On the Western Front]

D.I. On the Western Front(c) 2007 Suburban Noize RecordsWelcome back to the realm of the realm of the slightly more living. D.I. (yes, the legendary OC punk band) is back with a new release. “On The Western Front” builds on their solid foundation of fundamental SoCal suburban punk angst.12 tracks of slamming skate punk will have you bouncing off the walls while you attempt to tear them down. Contextually, “On The Western Front” runs dark. Casey Royer (D.I.’s front man and only perpetual member) will let you know what a cess pit that OC has become (or perhaps was destined to be). This is what happens when surburban dreams turn into a constant waking nightmare: bitterness, animosity, punk rock, skating. Then again, this is punk rock in its element straight from the “gutters of paradise”. But down to brass tacks, if you like your punk to come from the pioneers, go and grab a copy, rock out. If not, go and buy two. You know these guys are going to need to pad their retirement fund.–Jerry Actually