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May 24, 2007

The Wednesday Night Hero's - Guilty Pleasures

There's an often used phrase which has become a cliché  due to its presence in dozens of reviews, articles and the like; to wit, "PUNK AS FUCK". However, in the case of The Wednesday Night Hero's, not only does this phrase apply, it is virtually the only way to accurately (or even adequately) describe the fury, power and full-on raging hardcore contained on this slab o' aluminum. If you're a fan of hardcore, there is no doubt in my mind that you need this cd.


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May 21, 2007

Suzuki Smith - "Amber Alert"

Suzuki Smith - " Amber Alert "  Simply Put - Simple garage rock/punk. Sounds like a cross between garage rock and mid 80's garage punk .Some of the songs are rock sounding and others have crunchy feedback ridden guitar riffs with rock drum beats. The vocals are really the part I don't like too much. They just seem to be very similar sounding regardless of the lyrics. A few of the songs are OK, but for the most part the vocals are a little to redundant for me. Probably more of bar band sound then a punk sound.
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The New Threat - “Our Time vs. The New Threat” & “Yet to Be Titled, summer release”

The New Threat - “Our Time vs. The New Threat” & “Yet to Be Titled, summer release”

Oh my fucking god, this is a REAL punk band. I received two of their releases, their split with Our Time, called "Our Time vs. The New Threat" and their newest CD that is untitled at this point, but will be released this summer by Jailhouse Records.

 

This Orlando, FL  based punk band has all of the essential core elements of a cross between crusty street punk, fish-n-chips British Oi, and ass kicking 80's NY Hardcore. They're fast, crude, and just fucking amazing.

 The New Threat holds that rare perfect blend of each instrument and powerful vocals. The energy that they play radiates through the speakers, grabs you by the fuckin' shirt and punches you in the face with pure punk rock.

 

When this records comes out you need to add this to your collection

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Our Time “Our Time vs. The New Threat”

Our Time “Our Time vs. The New Threat”

This female fronted band, from Philadelphia, PA  just doesn't do it for me. The singer's voice sounds a little like Gwen Steffani and that's not a pleasant sound to my ears. It's almost like they can't figure out if they want to be a punk band or a hard pop band? The Singer, Lee just tries to "sing" too much. That being said I think that they all have a lot of talent (vocals & instruments); however they just don't give me the warm fuzzy feeling.

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Skylab Hoax – "Downtown Is Dying"

Skylab Hoax – “Downtown Is Dying”

Skylab Hoax has a lot of potential, but aren't there yet. On this album they seem to hold back and not put all they have into it. The songs start out good and then fizzle just when you’re getting into it. They're like a prudy musical tease. They build you up so that you think there is going to be a powerful climax and then leave you at full salute wanting more. Everything’s there for Skylab to push you over the edge to ecstasy, but they need to let go and just let the music lead them. Really, it’s just that the hooks aren't catchy, their passion doesn’t show through the music and songs lack personality. This ugly duckling needs to just let go of their fears before they become the beautiful swan they have the potential to be.

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May 16, 2007

The Barbecuties - "Promnight Heart Break"

Barbacuties - "Prom night Heart Break" - True, catchy, boppy-poppy, bubblegum punk right out of the 3 chord, Queers, Apers & Parasites mold. The Barbacuties come from Germany and like some of the other European pop punk bands; they have a Beach Boys mixed with The Ramones feel to create a fun addictive sound.  This album is the best release from a great catalogue of music from the Barbacuties thus far.  If you like a boppy light hearted bubblegum punk sound, you will love this release.

 

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Angleworm - ......ruin your $cene.

Angleworm ….ruin your $cene - Simply put, this album puts the "P" in Punk Rock. The lyrics are written with blood, sweat & attitude. The political street punk style lyrics are mixed with extremely talented musicians & well produced into a true masterpiece. The base lines are incredibly clear and powerful. The drums are crisp and precise. The guitar riffs are infectious. This album has the' 89 / '90 Berkley, CA flop house punk sound, adding amazing production & quality. This album is the first release from a brand spanking new record company Triumph of Life Records. The quality of this record in every capacity is that of a 10 year veteran label. This album is one of the top three releases I have heard this year and I've heard a lot of good releases this year.
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May 06, 2007

A Beat Of Our Own -"Issue Two" (fanzine)

A Beat of Our Own -"Issue Two" (fanzine) - Yup I'm reviewing a fanzine. The folks over at A Beat of Our Own have worked their asses off and asked me to take a peek. In the age of computers and short attention spans, this black & white newspaper style magazine is a BREATH OF FRESH AIR. I love to have a magazine to read and not have to go to a website to read articles. This is a 40 page interview driven newsprint punk rock fanzine. 

 

These folks pack in so much stuff you'll be reading it for hours. Actually there is so much stuff, there is almost too much. I was a little overwhelmed by the lengths of the articles and my eye wandered because of the amount of words per page. That being said the material in the Zine is fantastic. Some of the highlights are

 

Interview with Penelope Houston of The Avengers

 

Philippines Scene Report

 

Interview with Colin of The Hated

 

 It's definitely worth checking out for $2 (shipping included) for all the great articles.

 

Or

 

Wholesale

 

10 issues = $9

 

20 Issues = $18

 

Etc...

 

Ad Rates if you’re interested are,

 

2 1/2 x2 1/2 = $15

 

2 1/2 x 5 = $30

 

5 x 5 = $60

 

Full Page = $200

 

To order your own copy or ask about advertising in this publication go to,

 

www.myspace/abeatofourown

 

Or email Jared at - misenplace2@hotmail.com

 

 

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The Daisy Cutters - "Touching Cloth"

The Daisy Cutters - "Touching Cloth" - Fun & Angry English street punk! The lyrics are scratchy & vulgar, the rhythm to most songs is a little slower and poppy then what you would expect, but they sound like they're having a hell of a time playing. The best way for me to explain their style of music is like if Monty Python had been punks and wrote songs. After a while that poppy guitar & scratchy band gets a little annoying, but so does mine. The Daisy Cutters are not a band I could listen to all the time, but would love to check out live after a few pints.

 

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Snotty Fingers - "Tell Me More"

Snotty Fingers - "Tell Me More" - Great name, bad recording and worse timing then the period on your wedding night. It sounds like it was recorded from inside a pillow, very muffled. The singer seems to just mumble through the lyrics likes he's reading them and the back up vocals have about the same enthusiasm. Boring & mindless! It was a waste of time and effort to even turn the music on. I recommend you not waste any effort on this crap, not even Snotty Fingers did.
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The Apers - "Reanimate Your Heart"

The Apers - "Reanimate My Heart" - The Apers are the European version of The Queers and if you like The Queers you are bound to like The Apers.  "Reanimate My Heart" is a much more musically and lyrically mature CD then some of their past releases (Skies are turning Blue, The Buzz Electric, etc...) With “Reanimate My Heart”, The Apers are able to overcome sounding just like The Queers and establish their own identity with tight lyrics & edgy guitar play. It sounds like they really tried some new things with this CD in the studio. There sounds to be some synthesizer mixed in and the producer just let them go to town, but helped refine them alone the way. -Worth buying and checking them out when they roll into your town.

 – My favorite Song on the album – “It just don’t matter anymore”

 

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Ratos De Porao - "Homen Inimigo Do Homem"

Ratos De Porao - "Homen Inimigo Do Homem" - I hate death metal and that's what this is, no matter how they try to spin it. The Press release that came with this CD calls it "thrash metal with the most furious elements of punk from the last 30 years" & "a form of punk journalism". I call it death metal screamo headache making satan worshipper crap. Alright I don't know about the satan worshipper crap (it sounded good though), but it reminded me of some bands I have unfortunately had the displeasure of hearing, "DEATH", Napalm Death", "Skull Fuckers", "Satan's Beast", etc... If you've ever heard them you know what I mean or can at least figure it out. The Lyrics could be ground breaking, but I couldn't understand a word through the deep baritone moan I guess they call singing.

 

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The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "Live at Oslo Jazz Festival"

The (International) Noise Conspiracy - "Live at Oslo Jazz Festival" - Why oh, Why would someone send me this shit? Do the guys in Alternative Tentacles not know this is a "Punk" music review site? -  Wait I might have figured it out, this is a test from one and only Jello Biafra (owner of Alternative Tentacles). "Will Jonny Taint suck up and say this whining electro jazz is good or cutting edge?" Ha, Ha, Jello I passed the test! The (International) Noise Conspiracy is complete and utter horse cock! I would rather dip my dick in honey and fuck a fire ant hole then ever have this bullshit near my ears again.

 

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Subhumans (Canada) - "New Dark Age Parade"

Subhumans (Canada) - “New Dark Age Parade” - are a throw back to the 80's garage punk 'n' roll band. Don't confuse Subhumans (Canada) with the (UK) Subhumans, this one (Canadian version) is a lot more rock 'n' roll based then the Anarchy punk of the UK version. There is a hint of many influences, but the almost rockabilly guitar style is similar to Social Distortion of the late 80's. The Subhumans are definitely not trying to conform to the trends of sub-genre driven punk rock like many others. They have a solid punkabilly sound that is like no other. They sound a lot like a dirty smoky bar band and if you’re into Punkabilly driven punk you'll like them. I couldn't get into them all that much, but definitely see where someone into a slower form of music could.

 

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Alternative Tentacles Complilation - "Sonic Terror Surge 2007"

Alternative Tentacles Compilation - "Sonic Terror Surge 2007" - This record is the definition of compilation. There is a taste of just about every style I can think of, there is some great 80's angry political punk music, similar to old Circle Jerks (Knights of a New Crusade)(very good), 3 different political (liberal) excerpts of different speakers, a bad female fronted band (I object) that sounds like cats in heat (not so good), to a Doors wannabe band (16 Horsepower) with far less talent then the original. Overall the disc is a flop, but the highlights worth checking out are,

 

Knights Of A New Crusade - "Got some gospel for you"

 

Jello Biafra with The Melvins - "Lessons In What Not To Become"

 

Leftover Crack - "And out comes the N bomb"

 

I would recommend checking the bargain bin and pick it up for $1 just for those three songs. Otherwise it's not worth the gas money to the record store. 

 

 

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