[ad]
Bankrupt have released a lyric video for their new song Party Capital. The song (which shows influences like Teenage Bottlerocket and NOFX) is about their hometown, Budapest, a popular destination for (bachelor/ette) party tourists.
Tag: Punk CD Reviews
Bankshot EP
[ad]
© 2015 Bankshot
[rating:8/10]
At this very moment, I’m listening to a new EP from a band called Bankshot. They are a ska punk band outta Davenport, IA. The five tracks on the self-titled release bring me back to the sweet 3rd wave days when all of my favorite bands came out of the Midwest and college towns, and sometimes from Midwest college towns. As I listen I’m reminded of old Mustard Plug, Los Rudiments, new acts like I Voted for Kodos, and the combined roots of multiple generations of punk and ska.
The music on the whole is energetic and upbeat the way in the way that you’d assume if you knew anything about skapunk. In keeping with the nature of the genre, track length is short (generally) and the songs are rather rapid paced. The tracks can, at times, seem a bit busy and perhaps careening towards falling apart. That’s not a bad thing per se, as within those same attributes, there’s the raw urgency of youth. a quality which rarely transcends later years. The production is sparse and suited to the material. There’s a very garage rock / old school sound to the recording. I think it provides a sense of how the band might sound live.
With only five tracks, it is a brief introduction into what has the potential to be a very promising band if they can keep on refining and defining their sound.
You can listen to the Bankshot EP here.
Cheers!
Jerry Actually
Leftover Crack – Constructs of the State
© 2015 Fat Wreck Chords
[ad]
[rating:8.5/10]
There’s a warm feeling that overcomes some people when certain sounds, something familiar and inviting plays. I’m getting those kind of feelings now as I listen to the new Leftover Crack album, Constructs of the State. It’s been the better part of a decade since the controversial and exceptional Fuck World Trade was released. Just in time for the holiday season, for your gatherings with kith and kin are the crack rocksteady sounds both old and new to warm your cold dead hearts.
The new release stays true to form with 13 scathing salvos against a broken system, what’s new is more sonic diversity. Track five, Slave to the Throne is a brutally metallic track with speed metal thrash riffs more akin to Slayer or Obituary than more common ska-punk outfits. There’s also a wider range of instrumentation in play with folkish sounds of banjo and possibly a washboard on track six, Bedbugs and Beyond.
Many of the tracks feature film or tv soundtrack backdrops to frame the context of the lyrics. “Of course I’m dangerous, I’m police. I can do terrible things to people..with impunity.” from True Detective sets the tone of the track Corrupt Vision. In addition to the tonal variety of the individual tracks, there’s plenty of guest vocals including track four, System Fucked featuring Jesse Michaels of Op Ivy.
The album continues in a consistent manner, lashing out at broken systems of finance, patriarchy, healthcare and prison systems. The sounds of the songs may change from track to track but the tone is the same. There’s something very broken. I don’t know if an album can provide solutions to the complex problems that we face as a society, but if it can make people think it’s a start.
The album does get to a point where I believe that it’s almost too overproduced. It’s a fine example of production, but the it serves to burnish the raw edge that I’m missing. Between that and what I think is an imbalance of more ska heavy content I’ve had to knock the score down a bit. All aside it’s a fantastic album, fit for a time when things are in constant threat of being ripped apart at the seams.
Final note: I’ve been going over this release for about a week now. Initially I didn’t feel quite so strongly about it as I’ve become over successive listens. The more times I hear it, the more the music sinks in and the impact of the band’s rage takes hold. We’re living during some incredible times, but we’re also living through some incredibly fucked up times. If you ask me, it’s times like these that music is the best weapon against a war to which we’ve all been blindly conscripted.
–Jerry Actually
Hollowpoints – Rocket to Rainier
© 2015 Sailor’s Grave Records
[ad]
[rating:9/10]
It’s been a statistically significant amount of time since I’ve heard anything from the Seattle, WA punk rock getup The Hollowpoints. It’s been over five years since I reviewed “Old Haunts”, and well, that’s just been too damn long. Hell, it’s damn near a third of the time that I’ve been reviewing music. I’d just about given up. Thankfully now I can continue trucking on.
A bit over five years ago, the previous Hollowpoints release was the darling of the day. I pegged it as a must have album and my favorite thus far in 2010. (It actually landed at the #5 spot for my Top 10 or 2010) Now I’ve got my hot little hands on Rocket to Rainier. The new album drops on October 2, 2015 (Did you totally just read me saying “The new album DROPS?” Yeah, I’m pretty insidery and shit, but enough about me. Here’s some important things that you might want to know about the new record: It contains 13 songs. They are all rad. The material is face paced and melodic but with the rough edges left intact.
The band has stayed consistent to my perception of them from time past. The songs are sonically rich with excellent arrangement. However, I don’t want to mislead you. The songs are not technically complex or all bizarre wanking fusion or some such thing. They are orchestrated well, musically and sonically, for fast-paced punk rock tunes. The tracks still resonate with my lyrically as well; poignant, anthemic, without attempting to become (too) epic. Combined, it’s the kind of music that captures the existential angst of a begrudgingly depressing life in America. It’s the kind of tunes that I’d imagine that Springsteen or Petty would make if they would have been born decades after their respective births. (except with vocals that sound eerily reminiscent of Roger from Less Than Jake on occasion)
As I dig my heels into this record, it is in turn latching its hooks into my brain. I have a feeling that this is going to get a bit of heavy rotation though this month. As far as influences go, at least ones that I’m perceiving, the reminders of the Clash and Cheap Trick are still there. I can’t help thinking of American Steele too. In fact, everything I loved about the last album is here, only perhaps more so. Once again I am inclined to highly recommend Hollowpoints. Support your local punk rock band kids. Go to the shows. Buy some records and t-shirts!
–Jerry Actually
The Caustics – The Beat Up
[ad]
Here’s a brand new video from Montreal Quebec punk/rock band The Caustics. Edgy and raw with vocals that sound oddly like Axl Rose at times. Give a whirl!
For more info, check them out here:
Bandcamp:
Facebook:
[youtube c-LkOoi34JI]
AAK Featuring Joey Image & Dave Scott
© 2015
[ad]
[rating:9/10]
Life had really been kicking me in the balls. My car had been in the shop for almost three weeks. The misses had started a new job and immediately injured her Achilles tendon. Eight hours in the ER on a holiday weekend, my first long weekend in some time, with nothing but bills to show for it. I spent the remainder of the weekend and the next week playing choreboy for my lady. The shit just kept on coming.
Finally a month and $2k later I had my car back. Wife was off the crutches and heading back to work. Things were looking up and there was a break in the clouds. … Life had other plans. “Go fuck yourself”, it said. Power steering pump number three blows a seal. No car again, and oh, that house you’re in escrow on, the seller won’t make repairs and your loan can’t go through. Well damn! I am tired of this scrotum football routine.
Today though I’m not kicking kicked in the nuts. I’m getting my musical ass kicked with an new release by perennial favorites Awesome and the Ass-kickers. AAK is back with a collection of hard-hitting (like a luchador) tracks. The new album is titled, AAK Featuring Joey Image & Dave Scott. It is exactly what it is.
If you’re not familiar with AAK, first, shame on you. Second, correct yourself. The band brings about a return to a simpler, fun-loving, hijinks filled era of punk rock. The sound is garage as fuck and all kinds of fun.
The new album continues in the vein of what I’ve come to expect from AAK. Odes to tits, STDs, and Fantasy Island hosts. Throw in a dash of classic punk covers and dose of guest musician street cred and you’ve got yourself one classic rock and roll album my friends.
Dig if you will these track names:
1. Ricardo Montalban 03:34
2. Horror Business 02:38
3. Douchie Man 02:47
4. Teenagers from Mars 02:37
5. Milky Tits 03:32
6. A Nice Song in the Key of D 01:20
7. Gonorrhea 03:18
8. White Hassle 01:29
The songs, as you can see, are short and sweet just the way I like ‘em. Punk rock doesn’t need to waste my time being all wanky and cerebrally challenging. Sometimes it’s nice to not need to find a deeper hidden meaning below the surface.
At any rate there’s a new album from AAK and you should seek it out immediately. In fact, go here and rent a copy of this biotch!
http://awesomeandtheasskickers.bandcamp.com/
Cheers!
Jerry Actually
Drunk Couples – Cruisin’
[ad]
[rating:9/10]
Do you remember the early nineties? Do you remember when glam died and rock and roll made its way back into our collective hearts? Drunk Couples does.
I say that and you’re like, “what?” I’m all, “Dude I used to own Bleach on color vinyl.” Then you go, “huh?” Ok fine. I remember when grunge stomped the guts out of the hair bands reign and some guts came back into rock and roll, and well that brings us to this EP.
Most of the time I’d look up a band, see where they’re from, get a vibe for what they’re about, ya know, kinda see what’s going on. This time I’m going to take a different approach. I’ve got the Cruisin’ EP cranked on my headphones right now. I don’t want to know where this band’s from. I don’t care if they’re on their 25th bass player because their 24th joined the Merchant Marines, I just want to rock the hell out.
If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you are perhaps aware that I’m generally not that impressed with “Rock and Roll.” I’m willing to make an exception for this release. The tracks are tight. The songs have passion while avoiding being saccharine or trite. It doesn’t go into slow jam or ballad mode. “Cruising'” is five tracks of pure win.
Bottom line: Fans on Motorhead, Misfits, Tad, and The Fluid are gonna love this. Fans of Mother Love Bone might. (Unless you really were into Andy Wood’s vocals, then maybe not) Either way these tracks are decent and you should find this band and give ’em a high five or whatever the cool kids do nowadays.
(Side note: I wrote this almost entirely on a cell phone. Take that keyboards! (except for that previous sentence and this one, which I totally used a keyboard for.))
-Jerry Actually
The Bricks – Here We Come
The Bricks – Here We Come
© 2015 Raven Faith Records
[ad]
[rating:5/10]
Sup y’all, here’s something for you to try on. Here We Come is the debut album from punk rock / street punk band, The Bricks. Coming at you straight out of Omaha, NE. The band hasn’t been around for more than half a year and they already have an album out. Freakin’ kudos to that. I know what a pain in the ass it can be to even get everyone to the studio.
Maybe you’re like me and you know about jack shit about the Omaha music scene other than 311 was from there, them and some sort of ironic emo hipster guy. Based on that The Bricks are a bit of fresh air to my perspective on the Omaha Sound. The album was described as punk, street punk, oi. I get that I suppose, but I think I’d probably just throw them under the good ol’ “Punk Rock” label. Probably more semantics than anything.
Here We Come has 10 tracks of gunka-gunka-gunka rock with surly vocals, a guitar hook here and there, and song titles such as Punk’s Not Dead, Yahweh, and Omaha Punks. As much as I like the idea of punk from Omaha, I’m having a hard time deciding if there is more potential here or more of a novelty that I’m momentarily amused by. I sense that it is likely the latter, but I’m willing to give this band the benefit of the doubt.
I think what might be the holdback for me is the intensity of delivery. Sadly this is a problem that I’ve identified often in faith-based music. It’s as though the bands are holding back. I’m not suggesting a band can’t celebrate their faith, but if that’s the case, use it as a stepping stone and not an anchor. That aside, I’d like to hear the band push the envelope away from the almost “slow chant” nature of the vocal lines on every song. There’s some bits early on that drift into Social Distortion territory. That maybe isn’t a bad area for this band to explore.
Bottom line is that while I’m not left speechless, I think this band has some potential with what their doing. Take this idea, fellas and run wild with it.
–Jerry Actually
The Krayons – Gaza
[ad]
Skapunk’s not dead! Hells Yeah!
The Krayons are a new fast, raw, energetic punk / ska band from Wakefield West Yorkshire. Their songs pick up on relevant world issues and politics in a high energy ball of sonic punk passion. “Ready, Steady, Nuke” is the debut album from the angry Yorkshire 3 piece and is available now via www.underdogzrecords.co.uk . Digital versions of the album are avlialbe via iTunes, Amazon, CD baby, Band Camp, Spotify and all leading online download services.
[youtube ESpkTEMAOJ4]
MUSINK 2015
[ad]
BLINK 182, RANCID, BAD RELIGION & YELAWOLF TO HEADLINE 8TH ANNUAL
MUSINK TATTOO & MUSIC FESTIVAL
MUSINK TATTOO & MUSIC FESTIVAL
MUSINK Returns To OC Fair & Event Center On March 20-22 with Performances From Blink 182 w/Matt Skiba, Bad Religion, Rancid, Yelawolf, Sick of it All, OFF!, Ignite and More!
January 26, 2015 – Los Angeles, CA – Southern California’s highly anticipated music and tattoo festival MUSINK will return to the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa, CA on March 20th-22nd with an impressive lineup of musical acts including Blink 182 w/Matt Skiba, Bad Religion, Rancid, Yelawolf, OFF!, SIck of It All, Ignite and more! Presented by Blink 182’s Travis Barker, MUSINK will also feature hundreds of world renowned tattoo artists including Robert Atkinson, Jojo Ackermann, Corey Miller, Eric Jones and BJ Betts among others. Tickets for MUSINK will go on sale at 10:00AM PT on Friday, January 30th at http://www.ticketfly.com/search/?q=musink.
Over the last seven years, MUSINK has become the pinnacle festival in Southern California and throughout the country for celebrating music and tattoo culture. Some of punk rock’s most influential bands have graced the stage like The Descendents, Pennywise, Tiger Army, Alkaline Trio, Against Me!, New Found Glory, Suicidal Tendencies, Thrice, The Used, The Cult, NOFX, Danzig, Gorilla Biscuits, H20, Transplants and Rev. Horton Heat, to name a few.
This year MUSINK ups the ante with three nights headlined by punk legends Blink 182 with Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio, Rancid and Bad Religion! In addition to the music, MUSINK will host hundreds of tattoo artists, local punk rock vendors and a bevy of food and drink.
Fans can also purchase special VIP tickets to the NEW Johnny’s Saloon & 2nd Floor VIP area in the Baja Bar & Grill. Tickets include in & out privileges, side stage viewing area, access to a very nice VIP area next to the band area with complimentary drinks (21+ only) and discounts on food by the 2nd floor. Single day general admission and VIP passes are available, as well as 3-Day general admission and VIP passes.
Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, January 30th at http://www.ticketfly.com/search/?q=musink.
Stay tuned to http://www.musink.org/ for additional news and updates.
MUSINK 2015 LINEUP:
March 20, 2015
Rancid
Sick of it All
The Interrupters
March 21, 2015
Bad Religion
OFF!
Ignite
March 22, 2015
Blink 182 w/Matt Skiba
Yelawolf
Prayers
Featured Tattoo Artists:
GTC’s Tattooland, Robert Atkinson, Jojo Ackermann, Corey Miller, Eric Jones, Spotlight Tattoo, BJ Betts, Nikko Hurtado, Small Paul, Juan Puente, Baba, True Tattoo, Yushi, Tom Moser, Carlos Torres, Bob Tyrrell, Franco Vescovi, Luke Wessman, Civ, Todd Noble, Tommy Montoya, Little Linda, London Reese, Alexis Vaatete, Kyle Crowell, Latisha Wood, Zero, Picasso, Shuryu, Gold Rush Tattoo, Jamie Schene, Carlos Rojas, Elm St. Tattoo, Chuey Quintanar, Big Sleeps and many more…
For More Information: