Label: SideOneDummy Records Released: October 9, 2007 With the popularity of the whole folk-punk thing, whether it draws on American folk music like Defiance, Ohio or European folk like Gogol Bordello, it isn’t surprising to see another band throw their hats into the ring, but it does beg the question, “What does this new band bring?” Dusty Rhodes and the… Read more »
Label: 316 Productions Released: 2007 At their best, Seizure Crypt is a rehash of 80s New York hardcore, wavering between its earlier thin punk and later more metallic veins. Those high points are energetic, aggressive songs with the typical trappings of the genre: unbridled speed alternating with slow churning grooves, metallic riffs, growls, infectious anger. Both “The Deadend” and “Thankless”… Read more »
Label: Frog Stand Records Released: September 4, 2007 Clare and the Reasons find their inspiration somewhere between the old pop standards of the 40s and 50s and a vaudeville show, but their music is only partially a revival because they bring their modern selves into the mix. It’s clearly intended to have a retro feel, yet all the years of… Read more »
Label: Steamhammer Released: November 6, 2007 At its very best, this DVD hints at Spinal Tap’s “Stonehenge.” Of course, that’s the last thing Blackmore and company were going for, because they actually take this stuff seriously. Sure, he could get away with this kind of fantasy crap when Ronnie James Dio sang with him, but Candice Night is no Dio… Read more »
Label: Nice and Friendly Records Released: October 16, 2007 Those with a superficial appreciation of Chuck Dukowski’s old (and considerably more famous) band, Black Flag, will be rather shocked to hear his new material. However, anyone with a deeper understanding of Black Flag will see CD6 as a logical progression. Black Flag was, after all, essentially a psychedelic band. Not… Read more »
Label: VH1 Classic Records Released: December 18, 2007 Frankly, I expected the third volume of the Kissology to be the least essential. While the Revenge tour material was likely to be decent and the Unplugged reunion with Ace and Peter shouldn’t be missed, the rest followed them through their years of touring with the make-up back on and the stage… Read more »
Label: VH1 Classic Records Released: August 14, 2007 I’d be surprised if anyone expected the Kissology installments to get better as they progressed just because the band clearly peaked during the period covered by Vol 1. I didn’t find it odd that Vol 2 didn’t have the thrill of the first one, but I was surprised at what a step… Read more »
Label: PRC Released: August 14, 2007 The Wildbirds draw on a variety of late 60s and early 70s influences on Golden Daze. At times they turn it into their own sound, but at other times, they filter it through more recent regurgitations, most prominently the Strokes. The first few tracks on Golden Daze get old quickly. The driving rhythms of… Read more »
Label: Cheapshock Records Released: November 5, 2007 Here’s a short list of some of the bands I can hear in Love and a .45’s music: Bad Religion, Rancid, Hole, Avail, Face to Face, a bit of the Replacements, even. The thing they all have in common is that they’re American. What’s odd is that Love and a .45 isn’t. They’re… Read more »
Label: Vagrant Records Released: October 16, 2007 Some bands seem to have potential, but early on, it’s unclear whether they’ll fulfill that. When I first heard Thrice open for Hot Water Music at the 9:30 Club back in 2002, that’s exactly the way I felt about them. The live show was dynamic and energetic, but the two studio albums were… Read more »