Punk CD Reviews – Page 7

Swingin’ Utters – Fistful of Hollow

[rating:8/10]

It’s been a long time since I could drag my ass in front of a computer and be bothered to write anything at all. I’d like to blame it on a lot of things, but in truth, it’s my own fault. Thankfully there is a new album from $wingin’ Utter$ to kick me in the pants. Officially released today, the new album has been streamable through several outlets for a couple weeks now. If you haven’t already heard it, get on this!

15 tracks of both class sounding Utters and a new eclectic sound that brings new dimension to the bands punk rock pedigree. The tracks are arranged in a tilt-a-whirl of back and forth styles. From the angular opener, Alice and into the the title track, Fistfull of Hollow sees the band back to form and then bolting off of standard form into Tell Them Told You So. The album progresses in this manner throughout.

I can understand if it might be a bit off putting at first. There’s a lot of experimenting with styles that might leave some questioning the direction of the band. It’s my opinion that as a band matures, they’re going to either give over to experimentation or grow stale. To that end, it makes me think of how things changed on Let’s Go Bowling’s Stay Tuned release, or later era Clash. Yeah, maybe it wasn’t you thought it was supposed to be, but it was damn good.

Overall it’s a rewarding listen for old and new fans alike. At the end of the day, there’s nothing so far out of form that the familiar tracks won’t drag you back in to give the next tune a try.

–Jerry Actually

Awesome and The Asskickers

[rating:9/10]

aak_crops All hope was lost. Children and goats cried out in the dark of night. Productivity was high, yet morale was low. Suddenly things were different. Somehow all hope was not lost. A new album appeared and it was Awesome … … … … … and the Asskickers!

Following up on their bold and dashing EP from 2008 comes a new full length release from Orlando’s most rocking luchadores, AAK, heretofore known as Awesome and the Asskickers.

Quit Fucking With Our Crops brings 11 songs, many of which are new, seemingly better, renditions of “classic” AAK tunes. Naturally when your band is this powerful, you don’t just live on the legacy of your past material, even if you easily could. New sweet track faves include: “Tombstone”, an homage to delicious frozen bake-in-your-own-oven pizzas, (One wonders if the AAK crew ever got to enjoy sweet sweet Tombstone Pizza before their terrible corporate takeover in the 80s?) “I like Making Friends”, a wonderful song of friendship and nachos, and Still Alive, a bit more, how shall I say, musically mature, instrumental.

But enough about that. Now it’s time for this. If you are unaware of the sound that AAK’s putting down, it’s a wacky blend of Ramonesesque punk riffs, a dab of surf guitar, the Grease soundtrack, Meatmen style gruffness, a Broadway musical, and the Latino flair of Manic Hispanic. So dig on that if you can.

At any rate, there’s a new AAK release. It is your new immediate favorite. If you need to contact the band to play your sister’s quinceanera or something, you can google ‘em up on the interwebs at www.awesomeandtheasskickers.com

If that all ain’t enough to get your guts in a bunch, I got two more questions to ask you. Are you ready? Are you ready for meatball spaghetti?

–Jerry Actually

Bum City Saints – Ride The Storm

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Arriving more or less hot off the heels of their prior full-length, Spirit of the City, San Francisco’s own hard as fuck punk rockers, Bum City Saints are back with a new EP. (See, I told you new stuff was on the way, didn’t I?)

The “Ride The Storm” EP batters its way through five original tracks and one glorious cover. The songs are almost entirely done at a breakneck pace and clocking in at, for the most part, well under the two minute mark. If the track times alone are an indication, let me reinforce that by saying this EP rocks it out hard core from start to finish.

If you’re not all that familiar with the band, they’ve been rocking the Bay area since around 2007. Their music is a tight blend of punk and hardcore. The band, at least by sound, wears the street punk mantle with the Oi style sing-along whoa whoa whoas and the blue collar ethos. I’ve also noticed a progression towards some trash-esque melody in their later releases.

With multiple releases this year, the band is continuing strong. Three cheers for Bum City Saints! If you’d like to find out more about the band or check out their summer tour dates, hit up their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BumCitySaints

–Jerry Actually

Tracks:
1. Crush All
2. Bury Me
3. Into The Fire
4. From Ashes Rise
5. Calling Us Away
6. Eye Of The Tiger

Backyard Superheroes

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I wonder if Mustard Plug ever thought in a million years that they would be “influential”? Well, I guess if you have a long enough career and enough exposure, you’re bound to influence somebody, right? Well, welcome to that somebody They go by the name Backyard Superheroes.

To be fair, there’s a number of influences that can be heard on the new self-titled album from Brunswick, NJ ska band, Backyard Superheroes. On casual listening there’s elements of Less Than Jake, Streetlight Manifesto, a reminiscence to an old Oregon band, The Varicoasters (who probably didn’t influence this band at all, so it’s some other common influence), and of course a heavy dose of Mustard Plug.

Don’t let me mislead you though. The band isn’t a clone. They are a current interpretation and perhaps amalgam of 3rd wave ska punk. I for one applaud it. I loved this music in my youth. I love it today.

The album of concern here, Backyard Superheroes, the first full length (second album) by the band of the same name, drops 14 tracks of fun loving 90s throwback ska punk. The songs are all quick paced, quirky and largely delivered with a tongue-in-cheek speak/sing-a-long style. The horn section meshes nicely with the distorted guitar and walking bass lines, just like it is supposed to. Beyond that, I’d suggest that this is a solid fun release. I would seriously confuse this with 90s era Ska if I didn’t know better.

Aside being from Jersey, I don’t know a whole lot about the band specifics. However, based on their bio that they are professed to be loud, and, well, that’s good enough for me. You can catch a sampling of their sounds here: http://www.reverbnation.com/backyardsuperheroes I suggest that you do.

–Jerry Actually

Senior Discount – This Is Not The End

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[rating: 8/10]

1,000 years ago today I reviewed a CD by a band out of Providence Rhode Island. You might remember that band. I think they were called Senior Discount? Well, a similarly long time ago, I received a package in the mail. Lo and behold, a new release from the said same band. Also they totally bribed me with a sweet band t-shirt. (I’ve totally already been crazy hammered whilst wearing said t-shirt) Swag aside I present to you “This Is Not The End” a brand new (in relative terms) release from Senior Discount

The new disc spins up 10 regularly scheduled tracks and 2 bonus acoustic versions. The material is as solid this time around as it ever was. Over the years the band has developed an obvious maturity, in a similar fashion to the transition from 7 Seconds to Kevin Seconds solo material. It’s been a lot of years since I last heard this band, so I don’t have full recollection of the prior material, but I recall it being serious and sincere as well as being damn good punk (with some nice ska influence). This Is Not The End doesn’t break from that impression. If anything, things are more serious and sincere.

As I’ve said I don’t have much recollection of the material from my last review, but I get the haunting impression that some of the new tracks are actually new versions of old songs. Maybe the bands is just consistent. Oh, and speaking of Kevin Seconds, my favorite tracks on the disc are 5. Your Broken Stereo and 6. Cindy. Give them a listen and tell me what they remind you of. I think my only point of contention with the disc is the band’s cover of Three Little Birds. It’s not a bad cover mind you, there’s just something in this rendition that feels off. I don’t know maybe it’ll grow on me.

At the end of the day, I’m happy that Senior Discount are still putting out tunes. They’re a great band and you owe yourself to track them down and listen to them. To that end the internet is a major help. Here’s their Facebook page: facebook.com/SeniorDiscount and their website seniordiscountmusic.com

I should add that this release also came with a bonus DVD copy of the Chuck and Brad podcast which I have yet to listen too. I should probably do that.

–Jerry Actually

Bum City Saints – Spirit of the City

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[rating:8.5/10]

Spirit of the City is fast becoming one of my favorite releases. The disc came out in 2013. I’m just getting around to reviewing. My laziness often betrays me. As a saving grace, I had this CD in my car for a couple weeks and kept listening to it on my daily commute. The more I listen, the more hooked I become.

For those that don’t know about this band, (including myself) They hail from the bay area and have been rocking the fuck out since around 2007. Like many other badass rock and rollers, they’re a trio. And, as if you didn’t already know it, the triangle is the strongest geometric shape found in nature. Don’t believe me? Look it up.

At any rate, Spirit of the City is an intense blast of punk rock channeling the energy of both West Coast punk and East Coast hardcore. The sound, while distinct is reminiscient of Rancid, Jughead’s Revenge and Agnostic Front (albeit with more whoa whoa whoas)

The release kicks out 13 tracks. You can check out their Reverb Nation (http://www.reverbnation.com/bumcitysaints) page for a sample.

Support local punk rock, kids! Go find some of this and go see them live if you can. And stay tuned, ‘cause I hear there’s some new music from Bum City Saints coming out in the next few months.

–Jerry Actually

Looters – s/t 45

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I’ve got my hot little hands on some new vinyl; the self-titled 45 from Brooklyn New York’s Looters. The band is a four piece consisting of Eliot Pride on guitar/vocals, Shane E. Kerton on drums/backing vocals, Gerard Smith on bass/backing vocals, and Dante Tuxedo on guitar. As mentioned, the band is outta Brooklyn NYC. The 45 showcases two tracks of Looters chops, with Fall Alone on the A-side and Looters on the flip.

The cuts on the record are very heavy rock influenced as much by punk as by 60s garage and 70s heavy metal. The 70s can be distinctly heard in both the bass lines and the guitar solos. Perhaps oddly, the vocals, at least in the way words are drawn out and certain line breaks, I find reminiscent of Danzig. Not the style/tone mind you, just a certain approach. Combined, it adds up to a pretty decent sound. It’s fresh and new. Not in a new car smell sort of way, but in a full on restoration way. New paint on old parts if you will.

If you’re interested, you can listed to seven full tracks on their Bandcamp site.

Cheers,

Jerry Actually

Trash Monsters – There’s a Rat in the Tunnel of Love

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[rating: 8/10]

I’ve been wanting to write up a review of this release for the past couple of weeks and just haven’t found the words. I still haven’t found them, but I figured that you probably shouldn’t miss out on a gem of a release just because I’ve got writer’s block. (or a severe mental deficiency) Never the less, I’m listening to “There’s a Rat in the Tunnel of Love” the sophomore release from OC’s Trash Monsters and it’s good.

As I mentioned, the band hails from Orange County and offers a blend of punk, rock and a slight hint of pop. The influences are almost too far ranging to pick up on. I hear hints of Swingin’ Utters, Rancid, Cheap Trick, and The Cure. There’s plenty more where that came from, all washed down with a health dose of swagger. (I don’t quite know what an unhealthy dose would be. Maybe cutting tracks with the Old Spice guy would be too much.)

The 15 tracks on the release tend to run a bit long for my short attention span, but they are catchy, diverse, and well constructed to the point that boredom doesn’t set in. The pace varies a bit throughout, from mid-tempo slow on track 6, “This City” to the more breakneck pace of track 8, “I Hate Everything”. Overall the effect works.

Bottom line is that this band rocks it! Check them out or forever go ignorant at your peril. http://trashmonsters.net

–Jerry Actually

Tony Sly Tribute Album Details

One year ago today, on July 31, 2012, we lost a true original, Tony Sly. While we continue to mourn Tony our friend, we also celebrate Tony the artist through his songs. On October 29th, we will officially release The Songs of Tony Sly: A Tribute. we can’t express how much it means to us and Tony’s family that each of the artists and bands on this album took the time and effort to contribute such meaningful and interesting interpretations of Tony’s songs. All proceeds from this compilation will go to the Tony Sly Memorial Fund.

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The Welch Boys – Bring Back The Fight

[rating:9/10]

The Welch Boys are indeed bringing back the fight. Hand’s down my favorite release so far this year brings back these Boston stalwarts. I haven’t taken much time to write as of late, but I felt I owed it to you to tell you about this. If you haven’t caught on by now, I’m talking about “Bring Back The Fight”, the brand new album from The Welch Boys. Grit, vitriol, and punk rock are all well intact in the new one. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

This time around, the tunes bring a whole new level of polish. Not that things were shabby before, but time, and time well spent, bring about the next level of songcraft. It’s fucking here. It’s fucking now. It lets you realize that hardcore punk rock and roll is still alive!

Slight aside, but I’m a little bit concerned that The Welch Boys are so poorly represented here on the left coast, and hopefully my little bit of lip service will help to remedy that. Maybe it’s California where the sun never sets and it never gets cold where folks just don’t appreciate anthems of angst, hardship, and hope? I don’t know. Maybe I have an east coast soul that draws me to the aforementioned. No matter what it is, this is the real deal.

I’ll quit boring you with my gushing. At the end of the of a hard working day, what more do you need than a fist full of beers and a new album to ease you back into the world of the living?

–Jerry Actually

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