New, Good Music is one of my favorite things in the world. Over the last few months I have certainly been remiss in my reviewing duties, but that doesn't mean I have been remiss in my music listening duties. Doing these reviews really takes a lot of time for me because I like to do it right and analyze every track and really get to the meat of a record, rather than just doing the usual generic brief recap. Unfortunately, busy lives do not allow for endless amount of musical contemplation. So here is a "Catch up" of what I have been jammin to recently. Some new releases, some are a little older but all are really solid, and if you haven't heard them I insist that you do... (Don't be surprised if some of these reappear on our top 8 of '08)
Far From Finished - Living In The FalloutAmongst my friends, I was one of the only one to really enjoy their first record. I thought it was cool and a really solid effort. Then this record came out and all of the sudden Far From Finished is the band to listen to . From the title track, where the singer (whose name I can't freakin remember and I'm too lazy to dig up the liner notes) belts out that he is a "fuckin disaster" you kind of get the idea that these guys have gotten better...a lot better. The next few track continue to prove that point (especially #3 "Roses and Razorblades" - almost single-ready) The second half of the record starts off with a 'party' at the beginning of "Wanna Be A Catastrophe" and keeps on plowing through into a really solid record that absolutely deserves more attention than it receives. The final track, the title track, could go up against any Bouncing Souls, Street Dogs or pretty much anything. Great effort...can't wait to hear what they have in store for us. Stand Out Tracks: "Disaster", "The Impostor", "Watch Your Back", "Heroes and Ghosts", "Living In The Fallout"
Say Anything- In Defense of The GenreOK, I know what you are saying..."Pete - you reviewed this last year and gave it a mediocre review...what the heck?!!?"
Well, I'll have you know that I have re-listened several times and this is a really good record. The bad tracks are still pretty bad, but god dammit did this boy sing the shit out of these songs. After several revisits and re-reading the lyrics I think this is definitely a worth follow up to "...Is a Real Boy" not as good, but a little more mature and certainly ambitious. I think also worth mentioning is that this record is extremely interesting, you just never know what this crazy dude is going to do next. Stand out Tracks: "Surgically Removing The Tracking Device", "The Church Channel" ,"Shiksa", "Sorry Dudes, My Bad", "We Killed It", "Have At Thee", "Hangover Song", "I Used To Have a Heart", "Plea"
The Creepshow- Sell Your Soul
Heather just really got into this record. I had not listened to it in about a year, but it is really fun. Singer, Hellcat, sings the heck out of the songs. Really really cool psychobilly with songs ranging from Zombies to break ups...how could you miss?? Standout Tracks: "Creatures of the Night", "Sell Your Soul", "Candy Kiss", "The Garden, "Psycho Ball And Chain"
Big D and The Kids Table - Strictly Rude
Well, god damn. This is a killer ska album. Whats that? it came out in 2007??!!?? Well I never. With a non stop energy flowing through it, it appears that the boys have hit their mark. The opening chords kind of hints at whats to come...and then all of the sudden you hear the 'ka-chunka' guitar and you know you are in the right place. Awesome tracks come at rapid fire and suddenly the mood changes with "SnakeBite" Which is really good, and a bit more Jazzy than previous tracks...Next is the title track which could be confused for any reggae song from the '70's. And then all of the sudden its time to talk about politics on "Try out your Voice" They slide along until the bellowing chorus builds up into something really special. A few more danceable tracks groove on by and here comes "Raw Revolution" and "Relocate the Beat". Hell of a record, with some really awesome beats and a truly memorable vibe. Could have been released on Two-Tone. Not really a bad track on the whole thing.
Against Me! -Searching For A Former Clarity"We Charge into Danger, no guarantees of safe places" Hell of a way to start a record. I absolutely positively think that Against Me!'s newest record, "New Wave" is a masterpiece, but what about the one before that?? I'll tell you - it is freakin awesome. The band had not quite polished their sound, but Tom Gabel has begun mellowing out his vocals a bit and man oh man is this a good record. The first track he bellows complaints about "Fuckin Miami", the next track he complains that nothing excites him, then he talks about the war for a bit, then he talks about the music industry, then he sings a song about Condelezza Rice..getting my point? This guy is all over the fucking map, BUT, it sounds and feels really good. Excellent music and songwriting compliment the maturing vocals, so that the lyrics almost become like another instrument. The album also touches on dating, drug use, record contracts, important life decisions and terrible disease. But even in howling about every possible subject anyone could ever write a song about, the band seems like they are only observing and casually reporting-like if you saw them play in a shitty bar that they would hang out with you and tell you stories behind every single song. I don't quite know how to put it in words, but either I really get Against Me, or the band really gets me. Im leaning towards the former since I have never actually met the band. I will stop talking about this record now at the risk of "Coming off kind of contrived and pretentious" But - In Closing - this album kicks more ass than most bands can hope to play in front of, and thats saying something.
The Briggs- Come all You Madmen
I first heard The Briggs on their E.P. 'Leaving The Waves' and became an instant fan. Singer Joey Laroca's voice has a low grumble that brings to mind Roger Daltry of Quadrophenia era. On this new record the band executes the songs with determination and real heart. Starting off with a driving, footstamping, hand clapping, sing along intro. Everyone is singing along including Ken Casey(!). This opening track is a great tune... a bit of a departure as it barely has any guitar, but an awesome sea shanty of an song. Then the boys come rumbling in to tell you about their home town in "This is LA" Each track on the record holds its own, forming its own identity, which is a great thing for these guys to be doing. There is another kick ass guest vocals on "Charge Into The Sun" by his holiness Dickie Barret. This song in particular rocks pretty damn hard, and then you hear Mr. Barret and Mr. Laroca trying to out-grumble each other and you cant help but smile. The band has slid a few slower jams into the mix...the best of which is the unbelievable closing track, "Molly". Slow strumming and heartfelt vocals lead into a build up which only really includes a soft piano, low guitar and some drum rolls- but it sound huge. I never thought I would call a song by The Briggs beautiful...but this is a beautiful song and closes out a great record by a band that just keeps getting better. Standout Tracks: Mad Men, Charge into the Sun, Not Alone, Oblivion, Final Words, Molly.
Street Dogs - State of GraceMike McColgan and the boys have a message for you: Come get some. (I debated leaving the review as just that line... I think it sums things up fairly well.) All of their other records are awesome, and this one is almost as good...but a little different. The band takes a breather from screaming and yelling about politics for a few more tracks than normal to sing about themselves and their families. A very personal record with songs about grandmothers, fallen friends and relatives and a whole bunch of sing alongs. The difference in this record (aside from the subject matter) is that they slowed things down a little. (Remember: Slower doesn't automatically mean bad.) There are some really cool guitar lines and drum beats that they would not have been able to do with Savin Hill or Back to the World. But when they do play hard and fast, like on the opening track, it sounds as fresh as it did in 2003. Probably the best track is "San Patricios" you have to hear it to believe it. There is a god damn flamenco guitar in it! brilliant! The next two tracks close out the record very nicely. I think the Street Dogs are onto something with this record. I love the new direction...as legendary as their previous offerings are I think they did a hell of a job on this one and are going to make even more of an impact if they keep it up. Standout Tracks: Mean Fist, Into The Valley, Elizabeth, San Patricios, State of Grace and Free"
The Gaslight Anthem- Sink or Swim & The Senor and the Queen
I have this thing where I find a new record or band that I really really like and Ill listen to it non stop to the point where anyone driving with me or near me when Im listening to it is sick of it. This is one of those cases. These guys are awesome. I think the reason I became mildly obsessed with these records is because it was interesting. They are like a blues band with a hardcore guitar player and a punk rock Bruce Springsteen singing. These guys are playing the type of songs that hit me the hardest. Every song has an epic feel and the singer Brain Fallon has a way of just grabbing your attention (and your heartstrings) and dragging you into his sad but hopeful world. In 2007 they released "Sink or Swim" On this record He sings lines like "Well you never had a night on the town, like I could show you such a night on the town. And you aint never had a song you can sing, well its a deep dark night - I hear you Ive been there" on the amazing "We Came to Dance." He digs just as deep on the next track "1930" The music is like a freight train building tension until the last minute where everything drops out except a soft guitar where he almost whispers: "And If recall, the last thing you said to me. Before we broke up. Before he took you from me" the next line is delivered with the emotion of a Motown break up song- but it rocks significantly more as Mr. Fallon bellows: "and you said I love you more than the stars in the sky, but your name just escapes me tonight" What really grabs you about these guys is that they don't give a shit about any genres or labels. There are a few acoustic track on both records. Many many blues riffs throughout, and some finger tapping. You cant beat it. The EP Senor and the Queen is painfully short. I want it to last forever, but I'll have to wait another month or so for their new record to be released. Definitely my most anticipated record being released right now. Very excite.
The Loved Ones - Build and Burn
This band is ridiculous. They play every song with an unrivaled intensity, yet an extremely impressive control. Singer, Dave Hause, wails every line as if it is the only chance he has to do so. The opening line is "I've been working longer hours, watching money streaming in, Ive been trusting crooks and liars like I dont have any friends. Ive been finding myself praying when Im deepest into sin, Ive been reinventing happiness again". From "Pretty Good Year" that line alone makes it a 5 star record and the album isnt even 15 seconds old! The opening track goes onto detail how tough it is for the band to leave their regular jobs, homes, and friends and hit the road...but they realize they must. The entire feeling is summed up by the line "If I go will the house fall down? Will I burn it if I stay?" The majority of this album is about what to do with yourself. What do you do when you start approaching 30 and your rock and roll band hasn't taken off? I'll tell you what you do: you write a goddamn album like this. Track 3, the title track, echoes more of the same sentiments but with a really unique progression, and a pretty kick ass chorus...complete with gang "heys." "Brittle Heart" opens soft with a rapid fire opening vocal...sliding into Mr. Hause's wailing "whooooaaaa." The next track, "Selfish Masquerade" is a little tricky. Starts with a little piano riff and then explodes into what seems like an entire orchestra playing the opening bridge. But, true to form, the chorus pulls everything together and makes you want to pump your fist and sing along...especially when the breakdown comes around "cause this is my selfish masquerade, Ill tell you what you wanna hear, It comes easily to me" Perhaps the most compelling track is "Louisiana" which, if Im not mistaken is specifically designed to be sung around a campfire. A really great tune with the simplest of ideas taken to the extreme and it pays off big time with the power of the band and Dave's voice this is a rel standout track...especially when everything drops out and cue guitar and vocals "you can leave them there, you can walk away, you can point your guns, hope they'll stay. But they'll fold their hands and start to pray. A little faith can heal the heart thats been betrayed" They then repeat that line, but they turn the intensity up to 11.
There are two frustrating parts to this record. The first being that it is so short. I will begin a campaign to have their next record be a double album with 30 tracks.
The other is a not applicable to all, but I really identify with a lot of what they are singing about, and unfortunately his voice is so ridiculous that the only place I can comfortably sing along is in the car. But I still find myself walking around the grocery store trying to sing about "All the Years he's been struggling" A 5 star record.
There you have it. Hope you enjoy, and one day I'll actually write a full review again.
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