PunkRockReview.org- Band Review

Non Radio Friendly - "Bury This Broken Heart"    When I first got this CD I really thought it was going to be a Ramones-core pop punk band. What I got instead is one of the most original sounding CD's I've heard in at least 10 years, if not more. Non Radio Friendly shows influences from every sub-genre of punk and mixes them all very well to make one hell of a musical cocktail! Each song sounds a little different from the last and the closest comparison I can think of are a mix of J-church, Jawbreaker & The Descendents. The comparison is solely to give you an idea of their sound, but also doesn't give Non Radio Friendly enough credit for making their own unique sound.  There is ton's of passion and energy put into each song with lyrics deep enough that you have to listen a few times before you can fully appreciate them. Needless to say I really enjoy this CD and believe that any fan of punk regardless of the sub-genre label you're into will really like Non Radio Friendly. 

Posted by Jonny Taint at 08:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Rutherfords 4 song demo boasts catchy hooks and punchy melodies that together make for a considerably strong pop-punk release. The record places an extra emphasis on harmony with just enough angst & attitude to keep purest of pop-punk snobs happy. Each of the songs utilizes the gang vocals perfectly to really energize the song levels above the average Ramones-core bands. The tunes are all very catchy and if you’re not careful you'll catch yourself singing along with the songs before you know the words. My favorite song of the group was Rocket Ship, but really each one is extremely catchy.

Posted by Jonny Taint at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Cyclones - "We're livin' like weasels" I have no trouble at all saying that anyone who likes melodic punk rock will like this album. It is definitely a refreshing album that breaks out of the mainstream punk agenda and focuses on the basic old school style of grassroots punk rock. The melodies are catchy and upbeat yet what drives this album and makes it so passionate are the lyrics. The Cyclones are a Punk-n-Roll band molded from the Old School style of punk like The Stooges. They are all about the sex, drugs & rock-n-roll of punk rock and really show it in the passion that is put into this album. Really the melodies have almost a glam-rock touch mixed in with punk attitude & Lyrics. There are a bunch of great songs on this 8 song release, but my favorite of the bunch would have to be, "Waste Of Society".

Posted by Jonny Taint at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The Priceduifkes -"Punkrock Afterparty" - At first listen; this album was decent, with only a few tracks that really stood out, (the main one being "I wanna be retarded.") And so initially, I was just kinda like "eh" about it. That was until a few days later, when some random chorus of one of the songs was stuck in my head when I was driving ("My Balls Itch"). Later that day, I listened to the album with a different attitude going into it. It's a good thing I did, because this one grew on me pretty quickly. That being said the album is good, but is raw and at times a little generic. With this form of pop-punk I would have liked to hear more ohhhs & ahhhs to make it a little catchier, but overall these guys are going in the right direction. The songs are well written and played, but are just missing a little something to make "Punkrock Afterparty" one of those must have CD's.

Posted by Jonny Taint at 08:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Have you been looking for a band with a combination of The Ramones mixed with Guttermouth sound? If so you need to look no further, Rich White Males is that band.

   So we received this 7" from Cabana 1 as a throw in to an order and I was all set to review it. So I could listen during my long drives to work I downloaded their myspace songs, thinking that they are the same songs. Well as we all know I am a D.U.M.B.A.S.S. The songs on Myspace are completely different from the 7” songs. So this review is on the 4 demo songs downloaded from Myspace and the next issue will have the review of the record.

   WOW!! There is this edgy angst driven vocals similar to Guttermouth mixed with the addictive beachy instrumental sound of The Ramones. I can't speak highly enough of how catchy these songs are. The songs are all extremely sarcastic and snotty filled with energetic attitude. Every aspect of this band is tight, but also has the imperfectness that gives punk that certain something that we all love.  There is no way if you like the above listed bands that you will not L.O.V.E. Rich White Males. - My favorite song on this record would have to be "Surfing on Heroin"

Posted by Jonny Taint at 08:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Drowning Fish – “Self Titled”

            After I heard the 1^st two songs on this album, I thought “Hey they have something here”. What I ended up having was an album with two good songs and bunch of shit biscuit emo style crybaby songs. The two good songs that I enjoyed were “Summer of ‘89” & “Prom Night”. They both have a slight touch of Jughead style catchy riffs and story telling melodic lyrics. Unfortunately not one of the other songs on this album could come close to being as catchy as either of these two songs. Whatever the formula was to create them, they need to stick with it or Drowning Fish will never swim again (you like that don’t ya).

Posted by Jonny Taint at 03:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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           The Hollywood Blondes steal the show on this four band split. Every time I hear them they get better & better. Each band on this release is a 3 chord band that brings a little of their own flair to this well know sub-genre.

            Johnie 3 is another one of those higher octane pop punk bands that has a lot of piss & vinegar in them. Each one of their songs is a bop around, fun & sarcastic song filled with attitude.

            The Peabody’s have two good songs ("Morning Sickness" is really good) on this album and throws in (what seems to be) two joke songs. One is a country western influenced tune (She Left My Heart in San Francisco) and the other one seems like an 80’s rock influenced tune (Don’t Blame Me). I don’t think I would have added them to a new labels split, but that’s me.

            The Hi-Life is a great band live, but this disc doesn’t seem to mesh well. I listened a few times before I could put my finger on it, but it did finally bubble to the top. The thing that I noticed was that kristian (the lead singer) and Angie’s (back-up vocals) just don’t mix well. The both have very good voices, but when combined (in my amateur opinion) their voices just don’t compliment each other. It almost sounds like they’re fighting for control of the vocals when they both sing and it just makes the sound awkward.

Posted by Jonny Taint at 03:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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           This compilation consists of 4 bands The (Sheckies, Kilowatts, Adorkables, and Bluffingtons) with 4 tracks each. The Sheckies really stand out as the “All-star” of this 4 band team. Each one of their tracks is right on point. The Sheckies are probably one of the most under-rated pop punk bands out there. They have the dorky lyrics and 3 chord songs, but Andy Socials voice is brilliantly unique.

            This 16 song album is an overall excellent release and some other highlight songs are; (The Bluffingtons – Ms. Pacman), (The Sheckies – Knucklehead), (The Sheckies – Retarded), (The Kilowatts – Goodbye forever), & (Adorkables – Carmelita) each band is pretty well established and obviously knows what it takes to make the lady’s scream (even if it is in fear)

 If you haven’t already, put down your dick, and order this shit!

Posted by Jonny Taint at 03:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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      I won’t be around the bush; I have always deeply admired Ben Weasels musical accomplishments. I think that Mr. Weasel is one the most influential people in modern day punk rock, unfortunately his newest release “These Ones Are Bitter”, really disappointed me. That’s right I said it and know expect the leather clad Punk Rock Police to beat down my door and take me away and torture me with Emo.

    I’m sorry, but I will not (unlike some other reviews), suck an artists dick because he is a punk rock legend.  This album sounds like a made for VH1, safe for radio, major label appeal to a different fan base mp3 release. I guess as he once passionately sung, “We become what we hate”.

    I have read that Ben Weasel had taken vocal lessons to get more range for his songs. Normally I guess that’s a good thing, but Ben had a great voice and actually diluted his sound by adding range. Usually I think that progression is a good thing, but in this case it ruined a good thing. Each song on this release is a mid tempo radio safe rock song. Most of the music sounds computer enhanced and has very little personality.

     Believe you me, I searched for something good to say, purely out of respect for his previous work, but not one of these songs did anything for me. There is nothing “punk” sounding about any of these songs except an occasional 1-2-3-4. Lyrically the songs are well written, not his best but still better than many. That being said, there are many great lyric writers with bad music and this album falls into that realm.

Posted by Jonny Taint at 03:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Petulant Child – “Cookie Jar”

Posted by Jonny Taint at 03:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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