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A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z | Issue 9 reviews

A-SET - Songs From the Red Room (Tree Records)
I am not sophisticated enough to understand what A-Set are trying to do here, but it’s unimpressive. And boring. Go back to the Red Room, take some drugs and stop cranking out this lo-fi shit – that’s good, musically, but devoid of any heart or feeling. These guys need to learn to learn how to rock. I get a very “we’re going out of our way to be lo-fi and weird and post-rock because that’s what the kids are eating up these days” vibe from A-Set; I’d compare ’em somewhat to Turing Machine or Joan of Arc, there’s really not much substance, not much to say, but hey, everyone wants attention, right? If A-Set wants mine, they’ll have to do something a little more Real. Damn I’m harsh. If I were an indie snob, I might have been able to stomach this.
- Brendan

AFI – The Art Of Drowning (Nitro)
I hate to say it, but for some reason this album reminds me of Bon Jovi and I just can’t shake it. Maybe it’s the singer, maybe it’s the vocal harmonies, maybe I’m just the damaged product of a late ’80s childhood. I don’t know a ton about AFI but I do know that, if you can remember jumping up and down and playing air guitar to a copy of “Slippery When Wet,” you’ll probably dig this new AFI record. Melodic and passionate, but never wussy and always hard to the East Bay core. And, as far as I know, no feathered hair or New Jersey acid washed jeans.
-Wade

APOCALYPSE HOBOKEN - Microstars (Kung-Fu)
This album is pretty funky in the sense that it’s totally random. Borders on stupid at times, but never quite descends that far. I really don’t want to get into specifics, but I think you (YOU!) should buy this album.
- John

THE ARRIVALS – Goodbye New World (Thick Records)
For some reason this record will always remind of the way I fucked up the only relationship I’ve ever really been in. The record “arrived” in the mail the same day as an envelope containing a picture – taken of me in the woods a few years back – from my old girlfriend. Just a picture, no explanation of why she sent it, nothing else. I put the album on and looked at my picture. The song “Elise” put me in a really down frame of mind: “Elise, lonely is my heart/ love will come today/ love will slip away/ I could have said I’m sorry/ but what would be the point? Love will slip away…” I couldn’t stop listening to “Elise” for two straight days. The song would just keep coming back to me as I worked, driving a giant truck around San Diego county. It was that catchy. The rest of the album is very honest, power punk. I think these guys are outta Chicago, so it makes sense. They’ve got a very lively, Dillenger Four kind of a feel to them; they’re great. But damn them for reminding me of the past…all good music should do such things…
-Brendan

AT THE DRIVE-IN - Relationship of Command (Grand Royal)
At The Drive-In keeps getting better and better with every release I hear from them. If you don’t know At The Drive-In, this album is a good an intro as any. Singing, screaming, loud guitars, quiet guitars, random noise, and none of it in any way you’ve ever heard rock ‘n roll put together before. This may well be the best thing to happen to rock since Fugazi. If you already know and love them, I guarantee you will be singing and/or screaming along with this album within a few days of purchase. The new album is maybe a little more straight-out rock than their last two releases (also highly recommended, by the way), but it’s still pure ATDI. Only real difference is that someone in the band bought a chorus petal, so at times it sounds like The MC5 cross-bred with The Police. But what’s wrong with that? Buy this, copy it for all your friends, then please take over a radio station by force and make them play this.
-Wade

THE ATARIS - Blue Skies (Kung-Fu)
This album is much better than their first album, mainly in the sense that their lyrics aren’t so insanely stupid this time. Not that this will invoke Faulkner, but we take our improvements where we can find them. Overall, another fun, pop-punky album from the Ataris, which is about all anyone could ask for.
- John

BAD RELIGION – New America (Atlantic)
Thank the lord these punk trailblazers didn’t hang it up after their last record, the appropriately-named “No Substance.” For the benefit of punk fans everywhere, they came back with a vengeance. Any true fan of punk who can look past the major label, the radio play and the asinine tourmates (Blink 182) will not be disappointed with this album. The songs are catchy as ever, but laced with social critique that is vintage Bad Religion. You may have heard the title track already, but if you haven’t, it’s reason enough to get this album.
-Ron

BEEFCAKE - Rejected (Fearless)
As you might guess from the name, Beefcake are practitioners of “funny punk” as opposed to “serious punk” or “activist punk.” Back cover: fat guy with tattoos and glasses in red plaid shorts - FUNNY SHIT! These guys are really just another band that aspires to be Guttermouth and doesn’t quite pull it off. Not horrible, but not one I’d really spend money on either.
-John

BIGWIG - Stay Asleep (Kung-Fu)
I guess the most fitting thing I can say about Bigwig is that they are truly a Kung-Fu band. Very pop-punky, catchy, nothing that makes much of an impression. But even though punk is really beginning to bore me, I can still go for that sound every once in a while. And the faux-Motorhead cover scores points as well. So if you like the Kung-Fu sound, than you’d probably like this one.
- John

BRAID – Movie Music Vols. 1 and 2 (Polyvinyl)
In a genre where the average lifespan of a band is a couple of years at best, Urbana, Illinois’ Braid lasted six before calling it quits. It’s sad, really, because they were on the verge of indie greatness. Although members parted ways more than a year ago (some are back together in Hey Mercedes), they’ve released a very moving two-CD collection of out-of-print singles, compilation tracks and covers. Braid’s sound falls somewhere between the abrasiveness of punk coupled with the heartfelt insistency of Midwestern “emo”. And what’s more, the quartet manages to pull off the intensity of their live show on CD, where many other indie/hardcore acts fail. With song titles like “I’m Glowing and You’re The Reason” and “To Kiss A Trumpet Player” it’s pretty evident that the four 20-something guys comprising Braid have always been on the charm offensive. In “Forever Got Shorter” singer/guitarist Bob Nanna croons, “Let’s go undercover like young lovers should/ ’cause I can kiss you better than this letter could…” Other than the covers, which include two Smiths songs, every song on Movie Music tends to be semi-autobiographical with themes of lost love and innocence, and missed opportunities – the usual blather. Quite personal, yes, but not as sappy as the exceedingly praised Promise Ring or Get Up Kids, two bands (who I like!) they’ve been compared to. With Movie Music we get to see Braid’s progression, from their early awkward hardcore moments to the abstruse, melodically dissonant songs of their last full-length “Frame and Canvas.” It’s a very honest look at a very honest band. In fact, even the mistakes sound good. With its punchy time changes, memorable melodies, and lyrics so embarrassingly personal, the band just oozes boyish charm. But Braid was smart enough to realize you can’t be a boy forever. Movie Music is a great going away present.
- Brendan

CLOSE CALL - Too Close (Espo)
Hey, remember the ‘80s and the early ‘90s? Remember when everyone you knew had a Judge sticker on one corner of their car’s back bumper, and a Youth Of Today sticker on the other side - just before they put that Earth Crisis sticker in the middle? Bingo: Close Call. I’m kind of happy that the old pre-slowcore sound is making a comeback. I wouldn’t call Close Call the most original contribution to the revival, but they beat seeing eight horrible Integrity clones at the local hardcore matinee.
-Wade

TOM DAILY – Happily Deceiving Culture (Thick Records)
This is some good Chicago indie-pop stuff. I don’t really know how to describe it. It’s the guitarist from the Smoking Popes dabbling around with instruments and an eight-track. It’s got a very stripped down, lo-fi kind of sound, but there are also some weird electronics thrown in. The lyrics are intelligent. I liked the song “I Have A Vampire” very much. And in the first song: “She’s the kind of girl who waits until her birthday’s through to tell you she is leaving you.” Hey, I know that girl. I’d like to see Tom live.
- Brendan

THE DANDY WARHOLS - Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia (Capitol)
Oscar Wilde said it best: “The first duty in life is to assume a pose. What the second is, no one has yet discovered.” Portland’s Dandy Warhols exemplify the self-absorbed artistes with stars in their eyes - replete with big egos and perverse lifestyles. But with their third full-length you can hear a smattering of substance behind the style. The Dandys look and act like rock stars, which they did before becoming popular, and now the music has caught up with the posturing.
A decidedly Brit/fuzz pop style of music is used to tell all thirteen of the tales on this release, which when threaded together read like a satire of hipster, slacker “coolness”. Take “Bohemian Like You,” which functions almost as a self-parody of all the lighthearted attacks on the Dandys indie cred. How can you not at least laugh WITH a band that so eloquently pokes fun at itself?
This girl - and three guys - may be assuming a pose, but with enough fantasy projection and reverie, they’ve daydreamed their way to - or maybe even over - the top. The Dandys sound isn’t quite as twee as Belle & Sebastian, nor as common as britpop like Pulp but the pose has become real enough for the band - and its fans. And that, ladies and gentlemen, translates over to an honest auditory portrayal of American urban avant-garde.
- Brendan

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE - We have the facts and we’re voting yes (Barsuk)
So you’ve been looking for something poppy, maybe with an Elliot Smith sensibility but not quite so folksy. Well, call me up and I’ll bring over the newest Death Cab For Cutie. The band name might sound like the newest in rust belt spazz-core, but the album is fantastic - great for intimate conversations with a close friend, a bottle of wine, and a slight buzz. If no friend is available, it’s just as good for sitting around and feeling lonely. Just leave the wine alone or you’ll wind up passed out on the bathroom floor with a hangover and a Deftones album in the CD player. The Deftones are just fine but drinking alone is bad, take my word for it. So like I said, always drink with a buddy and check out Death Cab.
- Wade

DROWNINGMAN - How They Light Cigarettes In Prison (Revelation)
And you thought Vermont was just full of granolas and Phish-heads... Drowningman is a step removed from anything in hardcore that I recognize. Just check out the title of this EP. The lyrics are definitely different... weird psychological imagery, paranoid stuff about criminals, knife-fights and shivs... In a different era Drowningman could be one of the most interesting metal outfits on the market. Maybe I just don’t listen to enough stuff like Neurosis or Bloodlet or those other crazy kids. If you’re into insane new school metal-hardcore or spazz-core stuff like Frodus or really old Piebald (like the first EP, before they got all sensitive) you might want to check this band out. It’s fresh to my ears, at least.
-Wade

DYNAMITE BOY - Finders Keepers (Fearless)
This band is sort of an Ataris rip-off, but that wouldn’t be nice to say. Instead I’ll say “they play a pleasant melange of pop-punk hilarity”. Pleasant, though like I wrote for the split, nothing mind-blowing.
- John

88 FINGERS LOUIE/KID DYNAMITE split (Sub City)
A split I enjoyed, since 88 Fingers Louie is a favorite. The Kid Dynamite tracks are adequate, though nothing mind-blowing.
- John

ELLIOT - If They Do (Initial)
The 7" is two new tracks and the CD-EP is the new 7", the “In Passing” 7" and two extra tracks. Elliot is one of the most amazing, passionate bands out there, so if you’re into amazing passionate music you should check out Elliot. The two new tracks are sure to please, the two tracks from “In Passing” have always been among Elliot’s best, the intrumental is pretty cool and the acoustic version of “Halfway Pretty” is definitely a worthwhile spin, very different from their usual stuff. Give it a try.
-Wade

FACE TO FACE - Ignorance Is Bliss (Lady Luck)
At first, I was shocked when I heard this album, since it is basically an emo album. Face to Face is a superb band, but this is just not them! However, I didn’t just throw it away after first listen. After hearing it a few more times, I really cannot criticize it since it is a very good record. There’s even a little more of an edge than I had previously discerned. I would definitely spend money on this album, but it is definitely my least favorite FTF album.
- John

FACE TO FACE – Reactionary (Lady Luck Records/Beyond Music)
An aptly-named disc, F2F quickly released “Reactionary” after fans railed against last year’s “Ignorance is Bliss.” Also, the band posted 15 tracks on the Web and let their fans pick the songs they liked best for the album. What resulted was a return to F2F’s old punk style, the way they played in the eight years before the emo experiment of “Ignorance.” A wise decision. Songs like “Out of Focus” move along at a hard but palatable pace, and carry an inspiring message of self-assurance.
-Ron

FALLING SICKNESS/DYSENTERY split (Sub City)
Good music, but the attitude was painful to listen to. Relax, guys, you’re just punk rockers. If you want to change the world, get off your lazy, guitar-hacking asses and do something besides singing. Plus, their “charitable organization” is an indirect funnel to the terrorist Zapatistas of Mexico’s Chiapas province. I’m not a fan.
- John

THE FAREWELL BEND - In Passing (Slowdime)
Boys Life was the best band ever, with the possible exceptions of The Beatles, Jawbreaker and Fugazi. I say this with conviction. Which of course means that they broke up years ago. Lucky for us, their singer, Brandon Butler, has moved to DC and started The Farewell Bend. The Farewell Bend is really nothing like Boys Life was—they’re a lot brighter, more pop-oriented, and they’ve only got one guitar. But in their own right (as all bands should be taken) they are a solid guitar indie-pop combo. “In Passing” is a good solid album, so if you’re in a poppy mood you might want to give it a spin, despite the fact that The Farewell Bend has also now broken up. (Fuckin’ hell!) And you should definitely purchase everything Boys Life ever recorded, or you are a poor sucker.
-Wade

FIFTEEN – Lucky (Sub City)
Okay, I’ve seen lots of crust punks with Fifteen patches, but this album is my first experience with said band. And it was an okay experience. The singer sometimes reminds me of Jello (initial reaction), and the band is damn political. The album is even a tribute to Judi Bari, an activist whose car was bombed while she campaigned to save old growth forests in Northern California in 1990. I don’t normally like music as politically overt as this stuff is, but Fifteen seem to strike a very complementary relationship between the political and the personal. Good, catchy, punk stuff. I like it but would much prefer the goofy sense of humor of Propagahndi (R.I.P.) my favorite unequivocally political punk band.
- Brendan

GAMEFACE/ERRORTYPE:11 - What’s Up, Bro? (Revelation)
This is the absolute poppiest stuff I’ve ever heard from Gameface, and if you know their old stuff you know that’s pretty damn poppy. I think they’ve finally crossed the line from a poppy punk band to a pure pop band. Well, it still kicks the shit out of Britney Spears at any rate. The Errortype:11 songs on this split are highly recommended, they’re another band that just keeps getting better and better. I think the phone call from the drunk that takes up around ten minutes of this album was probably a lot funnier to the people involved. But that’s why they put the “skip” button on CD players. Check this out.
-Wade

GARRISON - A Mile In Cold Water (Revelation)
I’ve been going through fits trying to give this album a fair review. The problem with putting out a punk zine is you wind up writing so many quick, thoughtless music reviews that when you get a good album that doesn’t immediately amaze you, or that you can’t immediately pigeonhole, it’s tough to write a decent review of it. At first I was ready to throw this new album by Garrison on the “trade for better CDs at Mystery Train” pile, but after a few listens it slowly crept into my head. Garrison is somewhere between a band like Drive Like Jehu and a band like Mineral. Except there’s no big mathematical off-time breaks, no melts-in-your-ears fancy guitar interplay, not much screaming and no whining. Basically, it’s a solid, catchy rock album that doesn’t rely on power chords and rock clichés. Ain’t nothing wrong with that, I guess.
-Wade

THE GET UP KIDS – Something to Write Home About (Vagrant/Heroes and Villains)
To quote a friend: “What are those two faggy robots doing on the cover?” Hey, those robots are cute. So’s the album. The Get Up Kids have gotten huge. I liked the raw insistence of the first album better than the polishedness of this one, but I’ve got to admit, it sounds good. And the lyrics, while still quite sappy, have gotten better here. Make no mistake about it, these songs will get under your skin. Don’t answer the door when the majors come calling, you silly emo kids.
- Brendan

THE GET UP KIDS/THE ANNIVERSARY split 7" (Heroes & Villains/Vagrant)
A 10-inch EP, a new full-length, and a 7-inch, all within about four months? When is enough Get Up Kids enough? The Get Up Kids side of this split is pretty tasty, similar to the style of the new Get Up Kids album. The Anniversary side of this record is also pretty similar to the style of the new Get Up Kids album. There’s maybe a little more emphasis on the keyboard parts, and I think there’s a girl in the band who sings... Then again, I think I only got one chance to spin this before I left school for break. What the heck did you expect from a xeroxed punk zine, responsible journalism??!?!
-Wade

THE GOOD LIFE - Novena On A Nocturn (Better Looking Records)
Oh... my... sweet... goodness. OK, all you weepy-eyed emo kids out there in NIMBY-land, when October 31st rolls around, spend an afternoon and hunt down this album by The Good Life. As if Cursive isn’t amazing enough, Tim Kasher of Cursive decided to record a solo album, and somehow he managed to create an absolute masterpiece. This is not your standard guitars that jingle-jangle-jingle emo album. This is not your typical as-many-pretentions-as-possible indie rock solo project opus. This is... well, it’s absolutely remarkable. Tasteful drum loops, weepy piano and guitar melodies, and a singer who bleeds emotion through the speakers like nothing you’ve heard since Mineral broke up. This is the absolute perfect album to listen to when some boy or girl has been dragging your heart down the gravel road of your life and you need a good sulk. If you think Radiohead are pretty good, you will think The Good Life is brilliant. I guarantee it.
-Wade

HAYWOOD – Men Called Him Mister (The Self-Starter Foundation)
Hmm. This kind of reminded me of Archers of Loaf and Geoff Farina a little bit. I’m not going to pretend I know anything about this guy. Geez, what can I say here? It actually reminds me a little more of Tom Daily, now that I think about it (see Daily review). Decent record, nothing really stuck with me though. Coulda been the mood I was in. Give it a chance, it’s all lo-fi and shit like Daily’s record. It’s like a city boy taking on a country town...
- Brendan

HEPCAT — Push ’N Shove (Hellcat/Epitaph)
Ever wonder what roots ska, bebop, rocksteady and calypso sounds like? An original sound that’s pure fun, the type of music Hepcat produces. Somehow, this band combines more styles and influences than can fit here, and up to nine members to create a great record. There’s the macho “Comin’ On Strong,” the grating “Prison of Love,” the bouncy instrumental “The Ronnie,” and a great cover “Gimme Little Sign” (“Just Gimme Some Kinda Sign Girl” by Brenton Wood). If you’re sick of third-wave party ska, and want to hear something close to where it all began, but only better, buy this record.
-Ron

HIMSA - Ground Breaking Ceremony (Revelation)
So... when did all these American hardcore bands start taking all these weird, non-English names? Himsa is sometimes fast, sometimes slow, but always loud and discordant and always hard. Y’know, like Cave-In, sort of... Wait, what do I know about hardcore? My taste in hardcore is more selective than a toddler’s taste in green vegetables. If you ever see me really sing the praises of a hardcore band in the pages of this zine, they must be pretty damn good, so take note. I didn’t hate it, I didn’t even really dislike much of it, so that probably means something good. Not as good as the Hal Al Shedad but better than Shai Hulud. Fallafel, anyone? Konishiwa!
-Wade

HOT WATER MUSIC - No Division (Some)
Hot Water Music is the kind of band you probably either love, or you continuously wonder how they got so big. HWM’s patented brand of intense emotion-drenched hardcore is slightly mellower on this release than their older releases, so if you’re new to the band, this album may have you joining the head-scratchers. Current fans are encouraged to pick this up and hurt yourselves trying to sing along with these proud Gainesvillers raspy vocals at maximum volume. Plus, HWM still has a totally awesome bass player. Rock on.
-Wade

IN MY EYES - Nothing To Hide (Revelation)
Remember that thing I said in the Himsa review, about if I really like a hardcore album, you should probably sit up and take notice? Well, I really, really like this In My Eyes disc. It’s fast. It’s furious. It’s smart and it’s honest. It’s even straightedge, for the love of God. Remember straightedge, you rotten drunk-ass hipster monkey pissant? And it’s from Boston. It’s pretty “old school,” as the kids are prone to say these days... reminds me of good late ‘80s NYHC stuff (a big surprise there, coming from Revelation and all), and I might even be willing to compare it the the oft-imitated but as of yet unmatched Minor Threat (also a big surprise, considering the band’s name... SMELL THE IRONY!). But it’s not just another cheap ripoff; it’s original and modern enough that it won’t have you yelling, “Give up, 1989 was 11 years ago!!!” Good sXe hardcore never dies. If you like hardcore and you have money to spend, by all means buy this immediately.
-Wade

IRON MAIDEN - Ed Hunter (Columbia)
RECORD OF THE YEAR! This album made me regret giving up on metal. This is not a new release by Maiden, but rather it is compilation of their twenty best songs as voted on by fans on their website. It is all to promote a tour by the newly reunited band with Bruce Dickinson at the helm. First, the choice of songs is almost perfect (no “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is my only major issue) with a good mix of old, new, live, and studio. My only complaints are that it was a bit pricey and comes with the Ed Hunter video game, which is crap. But if you love metal, buy this.
- John

JAWBREAKER – Live 4/30/96 (Blackball Records)
Have you ever put the song “Jinx Removing” on a mix tape for a girl before you really got to know her? Dumbass. If you said yes, then don’t expect that she’ll ever really talk to you again. I’ve done that. Woops. “You have to learn, to learn from your mistakes...” Anyway, its’ about time that they released this live recording of one of Jawbreaker’s last few shows. Blake talking to the crowd makes this record. Plus there are four songs that I never heard, except on MP3: Gemini, Parabola, For Esme and Shirt. Good shit. Oh, and “Ashtray Monument” is about your parents, in case you didn’t know. There will never be another Jawbreaker.
- Brendan

THE JAZZ JUNE - Breakdance Suburbia (Initial)
Not to be confused with the 7-inch of the same name, this is a full-length CD of tracks from comps and EPs by the illustrious and melodious Jazz June. All together, the tracks assembled here aren’t too shabby. Since I don’t really know the band that well, I can’t compare it to any of their other stuff, but I guess now that’s your problem. If you enjoy a certain popular three-letter subset of independent rock music (and I don’t mean ska, rap, or pop... think REAL hard) you might like to give this a listen.
-Wade

THE JEALOUS SOUND (self-titled) (Better Looking)
This is the first EP from Blair Sheehan of Knapsack’s new band, and, not suprisingly, it sounds a hell of a lot like Knapsack. But why not, considering Blair was the last original member in Knapsack before the broke up, and since Knapsack was such a great band?The only real differences I can hear are that Blair has backed off on the high notes he trieds to reach, and some keyboards and drum loops have been tossed in for little to no reason. I blame popular producer Mark Trombino, even though he only mixed this EP. (I can do that because I’m a music writer.) Enjoy this album, I did.
-Wade

JETS TO BRAZIL - Four Cornered Night (Jade Tree)
With this, their second album, JTB continues their proud tradition of disappointing Jawbreaker and Texas Is The Reason fans. The addition of ex-Van Pelt guitarist Brian Maryansky not only increases the band’s status as emo all-stars, but also frees up our pal Blake to play around with more keyboard parts and guitar harmonies. The organ and piano riffs, combined with the jangly guitars on this album, remind me more of David Bowie or Bob Dylan than Gary Numan. Blake’s lyrics are as good as ever, though. His melancholy hasn’t waned too much from the Jawbreaker days, but every song on this album lets some small ray of sunshine pierce the gloom. Angsty punkers may find themselves playing with the skip button on their CD players, looking for the rockin’ numbers, but fans of good pop will discover one of the few rock albums of the last ten years that defies genre and nostalgia and dares to be original.
-Wade

THE JUDAS FACTOR - Kiss Suicide (Revelation)
OK, so you got your evil metal riffs, you got your jangly parts for the sensitive kids, you got your screaming, your singing, and your spoken word bits, you got lots of negative lyrical imagery, and a smattering of politics thrown in for good measure. All in all, it’s not much more interesting than the typical mid-bill band at any local hardcore show. I guess that’s not all bad...
-Wade

KID DYNAMITE – Shorter, Faster, Louder (Jade Tree)
Somehow, I managed to miss out on Lifetime when they were around. Criminal, I know. Well, I didn’t miss out on Kid Dynamite even though I never saw ’em live. Their second album is just as awesome as the first and so goddamn sing-songy in that ’80s hardcore way (love the Bad Brains picture tribute on the CD). Aaarrhhggh, where the shit have all the bands like KD gone? I love Gate 68: mix tapes do indeed sound best when you’re alone. “If you’re no angel, then where’d you get those wings?” Dammit, come back Kid Dynamite. R.I.P.
- Brendan

KING FOR A DAY - Before I Go (Initial)
Although still down with the music, I am now officially sick of the word “emo”. Yeah, I suppose this would qualify as another “emo” album. It’s on a hardcore label, and the singer’s actually singin’ so I guess it can’t be hardcore, now can it? King For A Day is somewhere in between the jangly indie-pop and the screamy discordant hardcore that seems to be dominating the “emo” thing lately. Think Sense Field or Texas Is The Reason or Shift. Yup. Good band, not like any other two bands I can think of. Neat vocal harmonies and some good heavy riffage too, no whimps allowed. I like.
-Wade

THE LAPSE - Heaven Ain’t Happenin’ (Southern Records)
This is easily one of my favorite records of the past year. Chirs Leo and Toko Yasuda should just get together and admit they’re a modern-day post-avante-experimental John and Yoko. Leo’s lyrics are philosophical and discussing things primitive and filled with endlessly witty puns and like nothing I’ve ever read. And Toko’s voice is so very sweet and sexy on the few songs she sings. If you liked the spoken/shouted wordiness of Van Pelt or enjoy the weirdness of Blonde Redhead, you must check out The Lapse’s sophomore effort. Buy this record so Toko doesn’t get deported... I don’t think she did yet, did she?
- Brendan

LIFTER PULLER – Fiestas and Fiascoes (Frenchkiss Records)
Rumor has it these guys broke up. Which is a damn shame in all of its post-punk connotations. (Actually, I don’t know what that means, it’s just a shame they broke up.) This is one of the most original albums I’ve heard in the past year. Lifter Puller has “college radio” written all over them. If it’s not evident, I’ve never listened to this band before, so it’s kinda hard for me to do them justice. I really love the lyrics. “Space Humping $19.99” is a favorite. The singer reminds me of the singer of Jawbox. Shit, I’m stumped. But that’s no reason you shouldn’t take have a fiesta and turn it into a fiasco. Enjoy.
- Brendan

LONELY KINGS – What If? (Fearless)
Everything that I like about punk music is encompassed by this band. The rawness, the emotion, the wacky sense of humour, the endless mistaking, the feeling old when you’re actually young, etc. This is a great record. There’s something really honest about this band and besides they’re “tight”. Oh mon dieu! Check it out.
- Brendan

THE NERVE AGENTS - Days Of The White Owl (Revelation)
MISFITS. Need I say more? Do you like the Misfits, especially their “Earth A.D.” speed-metal stuff? Meet the Nerve Agents. Now that I’ve got that out of the way, “Days Of The White Owl” isn’t too bad an album. Besides the whole Misfits thing, there’s also a very catchy hardcore—late ‘80s NYHC style—influence. I guess I wouldn’t mind seeing another group of guys in black eye makeup thrash out some evil melodies while the Misfits are out of town. It’s better than another fucking Ramones knock-off, at any rate.
-Wade

PEDRO THE LION – Winners Never Quit (Jade Tree)
David Bazan is a genius. The characters he creates in song are compelling in their wickedness while trying to be “good.” The guy may have Christianity, but he’s also (probably) got a massive self-esteem problem, which is part of the reason the music here is so fucking endearing. Bazan makes some very astute observations in his lyrics, which in my opinion all come back to wrestling with morality. Take for instance “Simple Economics”: “Power can be such a tease/ you’re always wanting more/ it’s good to know that just like sex it can be paid for.” Brilliant. I fucking hate power. These songs are so sad, but in a strange way, they are also inspiring. If you lower your expectations and plan for the worst, life begins to seem not half bad. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad way to live or think about things, but that’s what Pedro The Lion does for me.
- Brendan

PET SHOP BOYS – Nightlife (Sire)
Fuck you, I love the Pet Shop Boys because my life is nothing at all like their songs. Sometimes I have this dream where I’m a club kid in London in the ’80s (a far fucking cry from my life) and I think that’s where my love of this band comes from. Honestly, I can’t for the life of me remember how I got into this. This album is just too good to ruin with words. Radiophonic, ummmm.....just splendiferous. I’m sooo glad these guys made a “comeback.” No one else can write songs like the two of ’em. Listen: “Is he better than me? Was it your place or his? Who was there? Did you think it was wrong? Do you find that it’s worse than it was? Has it gone on too long? Do you mind that it hurts me? Because you’re breaking my heart.”
- Brendan

PINBACK - s/t (Ace Fu Records)
I haven’t listened to this album enough to explain just what it is I love about it, but let me tell you, I love it. It is very much pop, but in a way that will make very little sense to anyone, it reminds me of Modest Mouse! This music is so different, it doesn’t sound man-made, but indeed it is (Rob Crow of Heavy Vegetable and “Zach” of 3 Mile Pilot are the gentlemen of Pinback). (Sorry, it’s probably the programmed drums that makes it sound less the “human”.) Though I can’t remember specific songs, I find myself humming melodies that I know are distinctly Pinback every once in a while. I wish I’d listened to this album more to give you a better description, but check it for yourself, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
- Brendan

THE PROMISE RING – Electric Pink (Jade Tree)
What can you say? *Pop* is pop. Make Me A Mixtape. Something old. Something new. Something I said or that we did that reminds me of you. Make me a mixtape that makes me yours. Don’t leave out Husker Du. Put something on that the Cars did in 1982….Make me a mixtape that brings me closer to you. Put on Duran, Duran, Duran, Duran...too. Seriously. Make me a tape. Now.
- Brendan

SCOTT RITCHER - s/t (I Can’t Believe It’s A Record Company)
Are you into Elliot Smith, Ben Lee, Jen Wood, or Onelinedrawing? Then you are a huge wuss-bucket stinky folk hippie! Ha ha! Just kidding. I suppose you could call Scott Ritcher “indie-folk,” maybe even “emo-folk,” god forbid (and please don’t make that into yet another sub-genre of this ludicrously obscure music scene), or maybe you could call him an honest, emotional songwriter with and acoustic guitar and no backup band. If Josh from Shift went solo acoustic and sang down an octave, this is what it might sound like. Is that a good description? Whatever. I already insulted most of the people who would really dig this in the first two sentences. I’m a dork! I have a zine!
-Wade

RIVER CITY REBELS – Racism, Religion, War (Victory Records)
While listening to this album, I did 250 crunches. It was that good. Shit, these kids are Damn good! Think The Dropkick Murphys meets the Ramones with early Bosstones’ stylings. My god, their average age is eighteen and they sound like seasoned scenesters. The lyrics here are pretty basic but that doesn’t matter, these guys are the real thing, their hearts are in it. It’s good to see Victory branching out signing these guys, too. I love the fact that there are still bands like this in the year 2000. No, I really do. Fourteen great, fast, furious, snotty punkrock songs. My only complaint is that it went so fast. Time to hit repeat and do some more crunches.
- Brendan

SAMIAM – Astray (Hopeless)
Samiam just proved that a band can stay together for more than 10 years, get dropped by a major label and still put out a great record. “Astray,” the Berkley band’s sixth LP, is vintage Samiam: staccato guitars that suddenly burst, emotional lyrics and a tight indie-punk sound. By landing on Hopeless Records, the band could finally just focus on making great music. That’s unlike its previous release, “you are freaking me out,” which went nowhere for years after Atlantic dropped the group and held out for a label to come along and pay dearly for the record it produced. This album sounds like what the Goo Goo Dolls might sound like by now if they hadn’t ditched their old punk sound. Highlights include “Super Brava,” “Calloused” and “Dull,” a flowing song long enough to have actual movements. A telling line: “I’ve had a lot of time to think, and I’m so tired of thinking/ I know why he put that bullet in his skull/ because life can be so dull.” While the band’s name is borrowed from Dr. Seuss, the music is more sophisticated than children’s books, as well as most punk rock. Thank you, thank you, Samiam.
- Ron

SCARED OF CHAKA - Tired of You (Sub City)
Whoa. These guys are a departure in that they are truly “serious” and “activist” punk. Sub City is a subsidiary of Hopeless Records that is aimed at promoting social awareness and raise money for non-profit organizations. I can’t really argue with that, though I’m only going to buy a record for the music. Oh yeah, it’s pretty damn good. Not too brooding, pretty aggressive - I got a very Bad Brains vibe from these guys. Worth a little dough.
- John

764-HERO - Weekends of Sound (Up Records)
Picture this: You’ve gone through depression. You’re on Prozac and no longer mope. But sometimes you crave the emotions you had before the drugs did their thing. You miss being sad! Well, experts now call this longing uplift anxiety. If 764-HERO’s sound were a medical condition, it would be uplift anxiety.
“Weekends of Sound” is the third full-length from these Seattle natives, taking their name from the city’s carpool violations hotline . Most of the album’s nine songs drip of heartache and yet they don’t leave the listener terribly depressed. Shorter numbers punctuate “Weekends…”, showing the band has improved instrumentally.
The song “Terrified of Flight” mixes a dark bass riff with guitar that can only be described as cautionary. However, John Atkins’ voice is upbeat, unlike the words with imagery of a bird – or maybe a relationship – that never got off the ground. Listen: “Night keeps going, we keep standing still/ Everything was right/ Fixed on something way beyond your eyes/ Wasn’t broken, didn’t even try.” Another track, “Left Hanging” combines far-off, distorted (sometimes screamed) vocals with a very catchy drum and bass rhythm and fuzzy, punk guitar riffs. About halfway through the song, things get melodic with a stripped down guitar solo and a swirly Built To Spill flavor.
As is often the case with downhearted “post-flannel” bands, as they get better – and older – lost is the beautiful, sloppy sense of frantic desperation that comes with just starting out. But “Weekends of Sound” shows that progression can be uplifting.
- Brendan

THE SHYNESS CLINIC - Sea of Redlights (Espo)
I meant to review this album last issue, but I accidentally labeled the review as a review of a Shyness Clinic 7". That review didn’t really do this album justice anyway. This album makes up for every Sunny Day Promise To Brazil cheap copycat band you may have heard, seen, or accidentally purchased a recording by recently. No joke. Yes, it’s THAT good. Two guys singing, jangly guitars, not too distant a cousin of, say, Piebald or Jejune—but totally fresh and unique. The lyrics are pretty interesting, too, not the same old “my girlfriend left me and I got sloshed” or “I strung some cool phrases together into a catchy vocal riff” sorta thing. Even the most jaded of scenesters has to take notice of this band.
-Wade

SICK OF IT ALL - Call To Arms (Fat Wreck Chords)
Yeah, Sick Of It All is really on Fat now. Avail, too. That’s so fucking weird. This newest SOIA album isn’t too far-flung from their old stuff—maybe a little more straight-up and rough-edged than their last two efforts. To be honest, not too many of the songs made me really jump up and notice (except maybe one), but none of them really sucked either (except maybe one). It still kicks the shit out of 90% of all bad local high-school aged hardcore bands, at any rate. Sick Of It All hasn’t gone emo, they haven’t gone pop-punk, and (thank Christ!) they haven’t gone rap-core or ska, so how disappointed could you possibly be?
-Wade

SILENT MAJORITY - You Would Love To Know (Initial)
At first I thought Silent Majority sounded like a slightly more aggressive version of Jawbreaker, but on a second listen, they actually sound more like all those other bands that sound like Jawbreaker mixed with all those bands that sound like the Gorrilla Biscuits, Hum, or Quicksand. If you like those bands, or you like bands that sound like a mish-mash of everything else you listen to, you may very well like Silent Majority. Me, I’d save my money for the real thing.
-Wade

SLOW FORE - Oil (Espo)
Ahh, so nice to hear a new band that doesn’t sound like a bunch of high schoolers apeing their favorite trendy punk/hardcore heroes. Slow Fore is kind of like a much darker Sunny Day Real Estate or a chilled out Fugazi or a way mellowed Quicksand. Cold but refreshing, like a crisp glass of tap water after a long run. If you’re sick of everything you’ve bought or heard lately, trade in some CDs and check out this band.
-Wade

SNAPCASE VS. BOY SETS FIRE split (Equal Vision)
I’m from Buffalo, so I’ve run out of purple prose to praise the punk rock powerhouse that is Snapcase. Yup, they still got it. You knew that. If you know about Boy Sets Fire, you also probably already have some sort of opinion, either positive or negative. The first tune on the Boy Sets Fire half of this effort (“Unspoken Request”) is probably the most laid-back thing I think I’ve heard them do, musically at least. I really can’t take many songs about rape performed by men seriously, though. (Except for “Desperate Fool” by Sick Of It All.) The flipside (“Channel”), on the other hand, is so fucking heavy it may cause injury. I recommend it highly for blowing shit up, like stereo systems, small animals, or annoying smaller siblings. Altogether a pretty good split.
-Wade

STARING BACK - The Mean Streets Of Goleta (Lobster)
Very short songs that didn’t do much for me.
- John

SUNDAY’S BEST - Poised To Break (Polyvinyl)
“Poised To Break” is an enjoyable album for fans of indie rock and emo alike and I would expound on its values as an album but I’m completely out of space for reviews for this issue so thanks for all the free CDs, Dave.
-Wade

SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE - The Rising Tide (Time Bomb)
“The Ebbing Tide” might be a better name for this album. In the ears and hearts of fans, this album will probably join the growing “Not As Good As ‘Diary’” pile. “The Rising Tide” starts with promise, kicking off with the blistering rocker “Killed By An Angel,” but it only keeps up the pace for so long before it starts sliding into soulless New Age-y Yanni-ish territory. Still, tracks like “One” will not make you regret that the band reformed. Skip track 3 and shuffle through some of the last tracks and you’ve got a halfway decent album.
-Wade

THE TOSSERS – Long Dim Road (Thick Records)
Eh... Celtic punkrock? It’s been done before, but The Tossers do it better. It’s Irish, it’s political and it’s worldly. These guys have talent. This is a great album from a seven-piece from Chicago’s mean streets. I was thinking of giving this CD to my mom ‘cause she’s very into the “Celtic” sound. Kick up your feet and dance!
- Brendan

TREMBLING BLUE STARS – Broken By Whispers (Sub Pop)
Want to have a good cry? TBS is good foreground music. It’s sad indiepop with nice lil’ electronic bits thrown in (see: The Field Mice). This guy, it seems, will NEVER get over the girl he sings about in just about every song here. “I No Longer Know Anything” and “Sometimes I Still Feel The Bruise” remind one of those nights you lie awake crying because you know that he/she is out there somewhere. With someone else. And you are not a priority. (Were you ever a priority?) And he/she is having fun with someone else, and it is not you; you, my friend, are worthless. Or at least that’s how you feel. Don’t take it so bad. “Sometimes I Still Feel The Bruise” makes me cry every time I hear it. I just lose control, not even over anyone in particular.
- Brendan

TRISTEZA - Dream Signals In Full Circles (Tiger Style)
Dim the lights before you drop the needle on this new release by Tristeza. Lie down on the bed and close your eyes. Soon you will drift off into an all-enveloping world of soft instrumental bliss. Sparkling clean guitars dart in and out between gaps in the steady drum and bass melody, while the airy keyboards slowly take you further from shore. Soak in the bathwater-warm melodies and forget all your troubles. Tristeza may seem like easy listening to those of you used to blistering power-violence, but this band is tight enough to avoid pointless jamming and never slip into new-age elevator music territory. This is definitely one trip worth taking on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and no drugs are necessary for this experience.
-Wade

THE VANDALS - Look What I Almost Stepped In (Nitro)
I think I speak for everyone when I say NIMBY loves the Vandals. Depending on who you ask, NIMBY is named after a Vandals song. However, NIMBY (or at least me) was not too happy with the last Vandals album (“Hitler Bad, Vandals Good”). It was slow, it was lame, it sucked. Luckily The Vandals have rediscovered their biting , vitriolic sense of humor for this album, if not the suicidal Brian-May-on-speed riffage of their classic early ‘90s albums. Like the bullfighter on the cover, The Vandals have discovered another steaming pile of bullshit to show off proudly to the world. “Sorry, Mom and Dad” may have some of you out there making guilty late-night long distance calls home, but the rest of this album should have you gleefully singing along and/or happily pissing your big baggy-ass pants laughing. Long Live The Vandals!
-Wade

V/A- Take Action (Sub City)
See the Scared of Chaka review for info about Sub City. This comp isn’t too bad, with tracks from Scared of Chaka, Funeral Oration, Kid Dynamite, and Against All Authority. Fifteen songs, most better than worse.
- John

V/A - Holiday Matinee CD Compilation Vol. 2
(Better Looking Records)
San Diego indie promoters Holiday Matinee are back with another comp showing off the best of what they do. Heavy hitters like No Knife, Cursive, Sunday’s Best, Bright Eyes and Tristeza probably produce the strongest tracks on the album, but watch out for songs like The Mercury Program’s jazzy contribution. This compilation is definitely a lot more varied than any cheap repetitive sampler you would pick up from some punk label. Songs vary from trip-hoppy to dream-poppy to eurotrash techno-y to indie-noisy to vaguely bossanova-ish. The mix of styles may throw you off a touch, but the best songs on this comp (did I mention the track from Cursive side project The Good Life?) should make this excursion worth the price of the gas.
-Wade

VERMONT/IDA split 7" (Long Quiet Highway)
Vermont features Davey from The Promise Ring on vocals and guitar, which is reason enough for many of you to check this out. (P-Ring drummer Dan is also on the record, but who cares about drummers?) The Vermont song on this record is kind of like a slow Promise Ring song with weird electronics, including odd robot-like backup vocals. Like if Joan of Arc fucked with a P-Ring song. (And no, that doesn’t mean it sounds like Cap’n Jazz.) Strange. Did they really have to call the band Vermont? What an awful name. (I was just joking about drummers... you rock, Dan Didier!) There’s also a Vermont full-length floating around out there, if you’re interested. Ida... Ida is cool. I like Ida. ‘Nuff said.
-Wade

VOODOO GLOW SKULLS – Symbolic (Epitaph)
As the Voodoo Glow Skulls proudly announce on the first track of their seventh album, “We’re back!” The Skulls, a heavy ska-core band, sing adios to the fluffy, party music of ska’s now dissipated “third wave.” Frank Casillas croons of the band’s separation from mainstream ska and, like most of the others on the album, the song is tinged with social criticism and irony. “We’ve talked the talk and walked the walk/ Set the pace for metalliska/ Mock us, mock us, if you can/ Because we don’t play like other bands.” That song may sound like more straight-up ska, but the rest of “Symbolic” is a true hybrid of styles, drawing heavily from metal, punk, hip-hop and Latino music. “The Drop In” has a funky bass line that Flea would enjoy, and tells the band’s story while busting into vintage metal. “The Devil Made Me Do It” is a hip-hop influenced tale of a young druggie blaming his evil ways on, hmmm, could it be … SATAN? Casillas, a father, sings of kids turning into monsters in “Say Goodnight,” a song inspired by the Columbine massacre. “Silencer” deals with a fatal police shooting of a black woman that led people to focus on her race instead of her death. While ska’s third wave may be dead, the Skulls will more than make up for the absence of puffery with catchy, edgy songs that actually mean something.
- Ron

THE WARREN COMMISSION - Rendezvous With You (Espo)
Totally sappy boy-girl emo from the wilds of Western Massachusetts. Even if you hate cutesy emo bands, you may like this EP. Plus, you gotta check out the packaging. The CD comes in a little spiral-bound scrapbook including, among other things, a transparency page where you can actually rip the heart out some boy’s chest! It’s so cute that it’s completely irresistable. The music matches the packaging perfectly... nursery rhyme riffs, lots of boy-girl harmonizing, and some fun electronics and piano bits. Well worth checking out.
-Wade

WHIPPERSNAPPER - The Long Walk (Lobster)
Not one song on this album made an impression on me. Sorry.
- John

THE WORLD IS MY FUSE - Good Intentions (Espo)
Here’s an interesting alphabetizing issue: since the name of the band is a quote from a Rites Of Spring song (mad props!), should this be listed under “The” or “World?” It’s like the problem I always have with A Minor Forest... But please don’t let this digression distract you from this great record. First, I’m just blown away by the production values. This album sounds really, really professional, not like it was recorded in someone’s garage. The music’s pretty damn solid, too. Heavy, emotion-drenched, but never whiney. This is probably one of the best new band I’ve heard in a while. It’s the kind of thing that keeps you alive and prevents you from giving up and trying to start the next Limp Bizkit. As God is my witness, you know that means the world could use a lot more bands like The World is My Fuse.
-Wade