ABATERIA – “Presenta Su Somido Indestructible” CD
This was one of those surprises that came our way during the
(seemingly) long cold winter of 2007 – Abateria coming out of retirement for a brief gig and to resale their new CD. This disc finds the seasoned band laying down a collection of Latin dance songs rooted
in a Cuban son vibe as well as various world and Latin music influences. These
Spanish language songs are full of tight percussion grooves, melodic nylon sting guitar work and a vibe and energy that would
have you convinced they were from Latin America or a Spanish speaking part of the Caribbean rather than the middle of Missouri. Unfortunately, this disc may also be their swan song given their previous retirement
and the long distances between band members. Still, those people with an interest
in Latin dance music will find Abateria enjoyable. (BOONE)
(www.abateria.com)
BAD LIEUTENANTS – “Every Time I Come Around” CD
This disc was in the backlog pile for a little while so when
I got to it again the cover had me both curious and a little wary. Musically
this band revels in straight ahead raw punk flavored hard rock from two different band incarnations (the latter songs feature
a second guitarist) full of snide sarcastic lyrics regarding women, dealing with people, religion, recovery, and even Christmas
to name a few things. While some of their material appears lyrically to be more
for shock’s sake the hooks are enough to make up for it on many songs. Though
a couple tracks seem to be filler on first listen, this album will have its fans overall.
(BOONE)
(www.teenageheart.com)
JELLO BIAFRA – “In The
Grip Of Official Treason” triple CD
I’ve really wanted
to finally have the time to review this for a while now. The latest spoken word
document from Jello finds him continuing the examination of the world around us, focusing mainly on the Bush administration’s
foreign policy. Beginning with his Rock Against Bush appearance from 2004 (pre
election), the album continues to look at foreign policy, the war in Iraq, the mainstream Democrats, increasing surveillance,
the Bush administration, Hurricane, Katrina, communication and more. It can seem
to be an overwhelming listen to some, but there’s enough here to inspire, provoke thought, anger, shock, and surprise
people. Due to the gap between recording and release there are a couple of things
that changed since this came out (remember many of things on here are still going on in one way or another), but overall this
is the education that most people should get (and unfortunately rarely do). This
is a must have for anyone interested in social commentary and is angry enough to want to change it. (BOONE)
(Alternative Tentacles Records. P.O. Box 419092.
San Francisco, CA 94141-9092.
www.alternativetentacles.com)
DREW DANBURRY – “Live From Detroit 2006” CDEP
I picked
this up when I saw Danburry in concert a while back but couldn’t get around to fully checking it out until now. This disc documents Danburry’s show at Baltimore’s
Charm City Art space last year. Here, in stripped down fashion, the songs highlight
a mix of introspection and humor with just an acoustic (an acoustic-electric actually) guitar backing him up (though one song
has an audience singalong). Whether singing a personal song or commenting on
early gangsta rap such as Dr. Dre and NWA (metaphor – you be the judge), the lack of pretense makes for an interesting
listen. It’s a nice lo-fi document on Danburry’s live show. This is definitely worth checking out. (BOONE)
(www.drewdanburry.com)
DUFUS – “The Last Classed Blast” CD
I’ve been meaning to get to this for a while but this
got misplaced so I didn’t get to it until I was rummaging through some pile of CDs and came across it. The latest from Dufus carries on their trajectory of eclectic art/folk rock with enough twists and turns
to surprise you. These acoustic guitar based songs are personal examination that
factor in a variety of life experiences and take us along on the ride. However, this is far from typical singer-songwriter
fare incorporating elements of art rock, soul, blues and a punk attitude at moments.
This album won’t be everyone’s cup of sake, but Dufus’ sound and vibe has a sense of the unexpected
that’s refreshing in this day and age. If you’re interested in checking
out something different, get this disc. (BOONE)
(Iron Man Records. P.O. Box 9121. Birmingham,
B13 8AU. UK.
www.ironmanrecords.co.uk)
FINAL CONFLICT – “No Peace On Earth No Rest In Hell” CD
I was definitely surprised when I found out Final Conflict
was back and this came our way. The latest from this band’s current incarnation
blasts out sonic burst of metal tinged hardcore punk full of simmering, almost explosive medium to fast tempos and ferocious
power chords. Lyrically the band tackles topics such as war, societal repression,
religion, comparing Iraq to Vietnam,
addicition, and the like dished out full of anger and rage. While there has been
a lot of changes over the band’s history, their sound carries on where it left off.
In an age where punk and metal crossing wires has gained a lot wider acceptance in some circles, it kicks ass to see
the return of one of the subgenre’s initiators after a long absence. Get
this album. (BOONE)
(S.O.S. Records. P.O.
Box 3017. Corona, CA
92878. www.sosrecords.us)
THE GENTLEMAN CALLERS – “Don’t Say What It Is” CD
Doing a zine has its good points and its difficulties. Between doing it, your paying job, and the other things involved in everyday life
that need to be done it becomes part of the job to try and make sure things don’t fall through the crack. This somehow managed to do that when I came across it in one of my backlog piles and put it on. On this album The Gentleman Callers dish out a batch of energetic garage rock songs packed full of melodic
hooks and a snide attitude. Whether taking on full on raveups or more mid tempo
fare, the disc is full of tasty (often greasy) guitar parts and swaggering vocals. Admittedly
their influences are on their sleeves at times, but the band has enough verve and fire to compensate for any slight derivation
in their songcraft. The music of the Gentleman Callers is music you want to hear
when you need a jolt of energy. It’s been out for a while but I’m
kinda kicking myself for not getting to it sooner. (BOONE)
(Wee Rock Records.
P.O. Box 333. Springfield,
MO 65801. www.weerockrecords.com)
THE HI FREQUENCIES – “Money Isn’t Everything” CD
This came my way a while back but I was busy with other obligations
and wasn’t able to really check this out until now. The latest from The
Hi Frequencies is full of rock’n’roll songs with a distinctly early 60s flavor, combining instrumentals with vocal
songs all built on clean guitar and hooks that wouldn’t be out of place on an oldies station. The vibe of this band won’t be everybody’s 40 oz of malt liquor but the Hi Frequencies passion
for early rock n’ roll and their ability to create hooks with relative ease make them a breath of fresh sea air given
how homogenized a lot of music tends to be these days. If you’re into late
50s/early 60s rock songs and ever wondered if any bands sound like that now, check these guys out. (BOONE)
(Teen Regime Records. P.O. Box 100167. Pittsburgh, PA 15233.
www.teenregimerecords.com)
THE ITCH – “The Courage To Be Heard” CD
I know it sounds like
a cliché but I’d been going through my backlog pile of CDs lately and while straightening things up I found this CD. These guys seem to exist in the gray area blending raw greasy punk rock seasoned with
elements of garage, and surf instrumental music. The songs are delivered meat
and potatoes with a fair amount of sarcasm as they take on such topics as women, sex, the Internet, and jail along with a
few instrumentals. Simple and often in your face, The Itch’s music is not
reinventing the wheel obviously but their snide take on punk leaning rock will have some appeal to many readers. (BOONE)
(Wee Rock Records. P.O. Box 333. Springfield, MO 65801.
www.weerockrecords.com)
PARTYLINE – “Zombie Terrorist” CD
This disc I wanted to get to when it came out a few months
back, but the backlog made it impossible (though I reviewed it in the last issue of our comrade zine The Broadslide)
until I finally got it in here. Partyline’s full length debut finds them
picking up where they left off with their crude but fun style of punk rock channeled into sing along songs with a lot of hooks
and attitude while also filtering in elements of early new wave and even power pop.
Their songs this time tear into topics ranging from the firebombing of the abortion clinic Allison’s mom helped
to run, zero tolerance in schools, sexism, relationships, et al with a mix of anger, worry, and even some hope amidst the
sarcasm. It’s a far cry from the corporate created pop that’s marketed
as punk these days, and I get the feeling they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Get this album any way you legally can. (BOONE)
(Retard Disco Records. P.O. Box 461163. Los Angeles, CA 90046 www.retarddisco.com)
THE ROGUE NATIONS – “The American Ruins” EP
I was going through a bunch of seven inches I’d gotten
recently and came across this; meaning to check this out for a while I put it on. This
is melodic high-energy punk rock with rhythms that call vintage HC to mind and hooks out the ass. These songs are socially aware battle cries tackling Pat Robertson, suburban (and exurban) stagnation,
military recruiting and class war, punk legend Alice Bag and more with the right mix of adrenaline, power and intellect. Passionate and heartfelt, the Rogue Nations manage to sidestep some of a new band’s
pitfalls, avoiding the clichés that can hinder both pop-punk and hardcore bands. I
hadn’t been able to check this out for a while due to work and other obligations I had to deal with, now I’m kicking
myself for that. If you have a turntable to play vinyl on, get this. (BOONE)
(Suicide Watch Records. P.O. Box 9599.
Charlotte, NC 28299
www.suicidewatchrecords.com)
THE SUBHUMANS (cANADA)– “New
Dark Age Parade” LP
One of the surprises of the past year was hearing about a reunion
of this Vancouver, Canada
band. So when news of a new album came out way we were interested. The “comeback” album from The Subhumans (labeled here as Subhumans (Canada)
to avoid confusion with the UK band Subhumans)
bursts out the speakers with a collection of catchy but rough around the edges melodic punk.
A blend of overadrenalined power chords and midtempo hooks that won’t let go, this trio turns songs into battle
cries decrying the injustice of the current world taking on war, religion, foreign policy, corporate consolidation and more. The vintage vibes here are as memorable as the songs are angry with tons of crunchy
guitars (both electric and acoustic) and a delivery full of piss, vinegar and passion.
Great to see the Canadian band The Subhumans back after all these years. Get
this album. (BOONE)
(Alternative Tentacles Records. P.O. Box 419092.
San Francisco, CA 94141-9092.
www.alternativetentacles.com)
SYBIL VANE – cassette EP
Yes, you read that right – this is a cassette. I got this when I traded a zine with the band when they played the first show ever at No Coast. This band’s demo is a short collection of their piano driven post punk take on pop standards, opera,
polka and the like using only (electronic) piano and drums as a backdrop. While
this might sound like a yawner, Molly’s operatic vocals move the songs forward and give a different twist on these songs
from Cole Porter, Schubert, and Bikini Kill (yes, you read that right – they cover Bikini Kill on here, using an accordion). Those who might have some interest in opera or old chestnuts will appreciate these
songs (even the polka and the opera numbers). However, the recording quality
seems a little on the lo-fi side with some noticeable hiss if played at low volumes.
However, taking the tactics they do makes it come out of left field (hell, I saw them at an infoshop/performance space
– not some recital hall). I admit Sybil Vane won’t be everyone’s
thing, but they pull this off relatively well (though it would’ve been interesting to hear these arrangements a little
more fleshed out) and they deserve props for taking these songs out of music appreciation classes and recital halls. (BOONE)
(Growler Distro. P.O. Box
9056. Denver, CO 80209)
TOTAL CHAOS – “Freedom Kills’ CD
I’d been meaning to check this disc out for a while but
somehow managed to misplace it after I got organized shortly after getting it. I
was beyond happy when I came across this again while looking for something else. Total Chaos’ latest find them continuing
their sonic onslaught of HC punk with a metal flavor. Kicking things off with
an “emergency notice” (backed by an air raid sound), they move onto songs decrying the state of Amerikkka, the
Project for a New American Century (the neocon think tank that gave us the current fiasco in Iraq), school, systemic oppression
et al with blazing guitars and a feel that’s more stripped down than some of their earlier work. Add to this a booklet that combines lyrics to some of the songs with mini essays and artwork related to
some of the themes and topics the band covers and you have a killer hardcore album that stays faithful to the genre while
managing to avoid clichés. (BOONE)
(S.O.S. Records. P.O. Box 3017. Corona, CA 92878.
www.sosrecords.us)
T.S.R. (THE SOCIALLY RETARDED) – “As One Voice” CD
I had some free time on my hands recently and decided to put
on some music I had in the backlog pile, where I came across this. TSR
throw down mid tempo melodic punk with a modern feel that filters in elements of metal and HC in it. With a knack for a hook and a lot of energy, what emerges from this are songs commenting on the world around
them ranging from personal topics like friendship to topics like oppression and the war in Iraq for example. However, while the songwriting is good, the recording seems a little on the restrained side and not a rough
around the edges as it really should be (at least in my opinion). Despite this
TSR created a CD that fans of more recent punk will appreciate on some level. (BOONE)
(Mental
Records. 2640 E. Burnett Rd. Suite E-331. Medford, OR 97504
www.mentalrecords.net).
