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CANADIAN RIFLE - I'm Just Like You EP
Sometimes it takes some time off and a holiday even for one to come across some music. It was near the end of the year
when I came across this EP from Canadian Rifle. Their latest single is high octane tuneful yet hard edged poppy punk fueled
on distorted guitar and hooks that come off like a punch in the face. On these three songs they tear through tales of dealing
with relationships, sticky situations, and the like with a straight ahead feel and an edge that cuts sharper than some kitchen
cutlery. This band takes what could've been run of the mill pop punk and lands the sound firmly on the punk side of the subgenre
without sacrificing the need for hooks or melodies. I'd never heard of Canadian Rifle before checking out this EP and find
myself fairly surprised by what I hear in the midst of their crunch and energy. Surprised I hadn't heard of them sooner.
Those who like the thin line between punk and pop and seeing where a band lands should give this a listen. (BOONE)
(Rad Girlfriend Records)
FORD'S FUZZ INFERNO - Fuzz The World EP
A lot of releases fly under the radar here only to be discovered by accident while searching for something else - this
is a case in point. Ford's Fuzz Inferno blasts out some raw and crude garage leaning rock. These hook fueled songs have heavy
fuzzy and reverbed to the gills guitar pushing things over a simple rhythm section along for the ride. These four songs (including
two not available elsewhere at the time of release) are moody, have a slight tinge of antisocial attitude, and comes out of
left field to them. Short, fast and direct Ford's Fuzz Inferno have a crude vibe to them that seems to be missing from a
lot of punk and garage rock these days and that's what endearing this to me. Readers used to a more modern production to
punk et al may be put off a bit by this but if you're open to this give it a spin and find out for yourselves. Whoa! (BOONE)
(Available from: shinybeast.nl)
REDD KROSS - Neurotica reissue deluxe double LP
As you may have guessed this is exactly what you think - a deluxe expanded version to celebrate the 25th anniversary of
Redd Kross' infamous and polarizing second full-length album. This is the album that showed one of the early LA punk bands
(and arguably the youngest of the bunch) traveling to a universe powered by tripped out psychedelic garage rock laced by fuzzed
out guitar lines, gooey hooks that border on bubblegum pop and the like both on the originals and the couple covers included
here. Remastered on this version to mark the occasion, there are touches and details that weren't always audible on the original
1987 version. The second album are demo versions of many of the songs from the record showing the songs in embryonic forms
that are rawer sonically but show many of the signs of what they were about to unleash (as well as some differences for the
demo and the album version at times). Redd Kross have long been one of the underground’s more iconoclastic bands,
following their own vision even when doing so would cost them. This album proves itself to be more than worth it. (BOONE)
(Merge Records)
THE SWEATERS - Not Again download album
This came out during the summer and I was hoping to track down a CD version but I couldn't find one so it ended up under
the radar until now. On their latest Columbia's own The Sweaters lay down a simmering hot plate of moody indie rock where
a languid feel glides while an often overdriven guitar palette lies underneath the surface. The songs are personal with a
leaning on relationships, loss, and other aspects along the way. Listening to this on a cold almost winter drive across town
found the music almost fitting the scene outside. These guys have been one of the region's more interesting bands and this
album finds them building on their aural identity and taking it to new areas. Wish I could've gotten to this a few months
back but better late than never. (BOONE)
(thesweaterscomo.bandcamp.com)
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