PunkRockReview.org- Band Review: January 2008 Archives

Teenage Bottlerocket - "Warning Device"

Teenage Bottlerocket - "Warning Device" (Review Written by Hall Penn)

A long time ago (and by that I mean a few years ago) my brother in law told me about this band in Laramie, Wyoming that he thought I might like. I'd never heard of them and thought their name was interesting enough to warrant a listen. Since that day I've loved Teenage Bottlerocket's music. When I got Another Way, I played it over and over and over. It had these super stripped down, but still rocking songs. Then Total came out and with it brought Kody from the Lillingtons to the mix. It didn't leave my cd player for months. Just recently Teenage Bottlerocket put out their third full length record, Warning Device, and with it, they've topped their other albums. Now, I don't mean to say that I don't love every song off of Another Way or Total, but this new album is just done so damn well that I have to say it's their best effort yet.

"Bottlerocket" starts the album off with a loud, fast, simple in-your-face 51 seconds of awesome, and I'm not sure if it's intentional, but it could definitely be a one song description of their live shows; light the fuse and watch the bottle rocket go.

This album is about as strong an album as could be made. I had trouble deciding which songs stood out from the rest because there really aren't any disappointing songs. It's one whole, solid piece of work. There are so many standout songs.

"Pacemaker" is possibly my favorite on the album. It's a little break from the normal Teenage Bottlerocket song. It's a little easy going at first and you really notice the bass line and how it bounces it's way around behind the vocals. Then the guitars really kick in and it slaps you in the face. Instead of just being another song about another ex girlfriend, but it's a fucking great song about an ex girlfriend, and I have to say I think the lyrics are really really well written.

Another standout is "Social Life" with Kody singing. Another great song, and with references to First Blood part 2, it's got a nice side of humor as well. On My Own and In the Nuthouse are also great songs. Really though, it's tough to just pick a few and say they're better than the rest because this whole album is so solid. And speaking of solid, Red Scare made another song available for digital download only: I Know You Know. It's from the same recording session as Warning Device, and I think it really speaks to the quality of the album that a song as good as I Know You Know gets left off.

Go buy this album. You're going to love it. And if you don't, then fuck, what are you doing reading this review?

www.teenagebottlerocket.com

www.myspace.com/teenagebottlerocket

To read more from Hall Penn check out his personal blog

http://www.hallpenn.com/afewthings

Choo Choo

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:55 AM | Permalink

Superbuick - "Self Titled"

Superbuick - "Self Titled" - These cuts aren't bad, but they're much more glam rock/metal influenced than I was anticipating. Each song is fast, melodic and gallops along like a horse in hell. What's wrong with that right? Well, really for me it's the singer’s voice. Personally there is too much metal influence for me to get fully into it. They play their instruments very well, the singer has a good voice for what he's doing, but not something I can wrap my arms around and embrace. There is definitely a core fan base with a liking of the metalish vocals that will embrace Superbuick more than I can. So, personally I'm not a fan of their sound, but also can't say that there is anything bad about them. This is one of those bands that you will either really enjoy or just not get into them; either way there is no way to say they are a bad band.

www.myspace.com/superbuickkills

www.superbuick.com

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:51 AM | Permalink

The PushRods- "Demo"

The PushRods- "Demo" - The self proclaimed, "Kings of Porno Punk" are a high energy porn lyric based punk band. The vocals have a large similarity to Jello Biafra and they have a musical sound similar to the infamous Dwarves. With golden one liner lyrics like; "Blow it in her head, she's already dead", "Who needs one girl, I need two. Missionary sex is boring with you", “I like the girls in the vinyl skirts, they say spank me and make it hurt", or “XXX-mas sucks for me, I never get what I want - Sex on Christmas eve" This demo is one of cult status, either you'll love them or you'll hate them. I can only imagine what a live show from The Pushrods is like. My guess is that they are ones of legend and stories that will be told for years to come.

www.myspace.com/pushrodsrock

www.mohawkradio.com/pushrods

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:49 AM | Permalink

Mental Pain - "Straight From Nowhere"

Mental Pain - "Straight From Nowhere" - It took me a second to recognize this sound. After my mind was able to retrace its roots I realized that this CD is actually real NYHC. It's been a while since I've hear such high powered, heart pounding hardcore. "Straight From Nowhere is riffy and tight with just a little bit of thrash thrown in for maximum energy. Only a few songs on this CD really grabbed me (FOR ANOTHER Fix, City In Shambles, Together We Stand"), but all in all it's a very good record. If you are/were ever a fan of Agnostic Front, Side by Side, Judge or any of the other great New York hardcore bands you will definitely enjoy Mental Pain. Be warned, if you haven't listened to NYHC in awhile; make sure to get your doctors medical clearance before unleashing Mental Pain on your weak heart.

www.myspace.com/mentalpain

www.mentalpainpunx.tk

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:48 AM | Permalink

Odd Zero - "Self Titled"

Odd Zero - "Self Titled" - It never fails to amaze me that labels will still sign and release albums by bands which are about as interesting as watching sand melt, witness Odd Zero. Naturally, I wanted to give this album a fair shot, but after about two songs my quest for fairness was all over. This CD is spooging with boring, rehashed alt-rock melodies and chords. Given their sound, I kept expecting them to bust into a cheesy, Maroon 5 cover song. To say that this album sucks would be a compliment to this album and a put down to all bad music everywhere.

www.myspace.com/oddzerony

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:46 AM | Permalink

Revenge Club - "Your Underground"

Revenge Club - "Your Underground" - I’m not sure why I was surprised with being disappointed by "Your Underground". It seems natural that through the power of logic and reasoning, at least half, if not all of a strong majority, of everything in a specific group or genre would come through as what would be known as “generic.” To put it simply, the only question raised after this analysis is: Why was I surprised Revenge Club was upsettingly typical? Revenge Club is a female fronted punk by numbers Cali-core punk band. The singer’s voice sounds like 75% of every other female fronted Cali-core punk band out there. Musically the band isn't too bad, but also nothing to write home about either. There is nothing about Revenge Club that makes them stand out or memorable. It might help if the treble in the singer’s voice didn't make all the lyrics unlistenable.

www.myspace.com/revengeclub

www.revengeclub.net

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:45 AM | Permalink

The Sprained Ankles - "You Love The Sprained Ankles"

The Sprained Ankles - "You Love The Sprained Ankles" - If you're a fan of a pleasant mix of Rockabilly, 50's Do Wop and melodic street punk, then you're a fan of The Sprained Ankles. Yeah, other bands have taken you down this trail of crumbs before, but only to leave you with an empty feeling. Yes, the songs are goofy and some of the lyrics are juvenile, but that's precisely what makes this enjoyable. This is punk for the people who enjoy fun music and it's just the way it should be - melodic, catchy & down right enjoyable. My favorite song on this 6 song EP is "Death from Above", but a close second would have to be "The Grandma Song" (written by the Guitarists Grandmother, Gloria Mudge)

www.myspace.com/sprainedankles

www.myspace.com/teenageheartrecords

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:44 AM | Permalink

Zero Motivation - "DEMO"

Zero Motivation - "DEMO" - Raw, stripped down, sandpaper vocals, with hypnotizing lead riffs and hooks. There is an obvious influence of Rancid, Lars Frederickson & Agent Orange with the energy and raw power that Zero Motivation blasts in your face with wreckless abandonment. Okay, so it's pissed off, speedy, revved-up punk with the bit of blue collar unity thrown in. The thing I liked most about these guys was that they sent me an email asking for my opinion of their music, but specifically wanted me to know they weren't looking for a review, just an opinion to provide them non bias feedback if they're going in the right direction. I figured with an approach like that if I liked them I would publish the review, but if I disliked them I would just write "Zero Motivation" back with my true feelings. So not only is their music going in the right direction and bound to start a few bar room rumbles, but their whole approach is going in the right direction to be an impactful band.

www.myspace.com/zeromotivation

www.mohawkradio.com/zeromotivation

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:42 AM | Permalink

Dead Beat Heros - "Broken & Beaten"

Dead Beat Heros - "Broken & Beaten" - This CD is like a brutal car accident, scratched, distorted, and shattered. The vocals are littered across each song like broken glass. They're shattered, scattered and tossed in every direction with no pattern. The lead guitar is a distorted frame of punk rock with little holding it together. There are small scratches of bass, but you have to squint and struggle to find it. Just like a brutal accident I slowed down to see if there was anything/anyone I recognized. Upon lack of recognition of anything of interest I sped away and didn't look back. To sum it up, Dead Beat Hero's have a great name, but lack any form of chemistry. They have no timing and strongly need to invest in practice before they can be a band to taken seriously. "Broken & Beaten" sounds like a poorly recorded basement band at best and that compliment is even a stretch. If this is the sound of punk to come, then we’re all fucked.

www.myspace.com/deadbeatheros

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:41 AM | Permalink

Nikita Kruschev and The Commies "Live @ Everstock"

Nikita Kruschev and The Commies "Live @ Everstock" - I can't believe that someone listened to this recording and thought "Holy Shit! This is one of hell of a recording. We need get this out to be reviewed, RIGHT NOW!!!" This live recording sounds like one of the band member’s girlfriends recorded this with their cell phone. You can hear a person close to the recorder cough, the girls next to the recorder yelling and somebody who didn't have keys for something. So they got all of that on the recording, but must have been in the back of the basement, because you can't make out much of any of the bands sound. The little I did make out was a cover of "Sonic Reducer", which was "eh", but with the recording as bad as it is/was I can't even say it was bad. All I can really tell you is that these guys must be on some real good shit if they think this is worth sending to be reviewed.

www.myspace.com/nikitakruschevandthecommies

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:40 AM | Permalink

V/A - Greeting From Los Angeles- Eight years of Acetate Records

V/A - Greeting From Los Angeles- Eight years of Acetate Records - Remember to always trust your gut it will seldom lead you in the wrong direction. I should have known I was in trouble when I loaded the CD in my computer and it shows the genre as "Rock". Sure there are tons of bands that get that genre tag on I-tunes or some shit, but I just had a bad feeling in my gut about this one. My gut was right and I almost lost everything it was holding. This whole 20 song compilation from ACETATE Records was an all day buffet of pork rinds, bar peanuts, cigarette butt, leather bar rock. I imagine all the members of the 14 band comp wearing tight jeans, biker boots & leather vests. If you've seen the show "Rock of Love" with Brett Michaels of the 80's hair band "Poison" fame that would sum up the look. The music itself is good I'm sure if you're into the biker rock-n-roll thing. I'm not, but they sound like they know how to play their instruments well and the singers seem to be singing the way they want. So if you're looking for punk rock don't get this, if your looking for a rockabilly, biker rock combination then this disc is for you.

www.myspace.com/acetaterecords

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:38 AM | Permalink

Gob Squad - "Watch The Cripple Dance"

Gob Squad - "Watch The Cripple Dance" - These motherfuckers tricked me and I am pissed as hell! Based upon the name I was expecting a much different sounding band. I was expecting a British gutter punk band. What I got instead was an Alternative Radio Rock band. God Damn it was I pissed! I was hoping for that anti-fascism, anarchy chanting, dirty god save the queen filth. If I wanted to hear this shit I would turn on the local Alternative Radio Station and hear 1 of the 132 other bands just like it. It just pisses me off that this crap of a band took a cool punk name and tainted it with their puke inducing waste of my time. Fuck this band with a dirty splintered plunger; I hate them & their pussy assed radio music.

www.myspace.com/gobsquad

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:36 AM | Permalink

The Splints – “Self Titled EP”

The Splints – “Self Titled EP” – When I first got this EP I was unaware there was a switch between a male and female vocalist, so I was a little confused and thought I had the mp3’s mixed up. Once I got that figured out I was still confused, at times some of the songs sounded like Grunge rock more than anything else. They seem to switch their genre sound up on almost every song, so it makes it hard to describe their sound, but the more and more I listen to them it sounds so much more like a mixture of rock, grunge, & rockabilly. The music is okay not bad but not good it's just there. All the members of the band seem to be pretty talented with their instruments & vocals, but not something I’m into They sound like ….well it’s hard to say. This EP is definitely something I won’t be listening to again, but I assume there is a core fanbase out there that will find this EP to be at the least intriguing, if not totally loving it. On this one I think they’re either a hit or miss kind of band, so I suggest you check them out for yourself.

www.myspace.com/thesplints
www.thesplints.net

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:33 AM | Permalink

The Nappies – “I Only Believe In Prometheus”

The Nappies – “I Only Believe In Prometheus” – The Nappies combine a duet style of male & female vocals in a way that makes you wish you could go back in time and stop yourself from committing 13 minutes & 35 Seconds of musical water boarding. They followed the usual punk by numbers template and then decide to ruin your day with terrible nasally vocals. If I was in charge of the CIA, I would consider using this CD as a severe form of torture rather than the candy ass stuff they’ve been using in comparison. To sum up The Nappies – “I Only Believe In Prometheus”, unless you’re into some fucked up sadomasochistic shit, stay far away from this CD.

www.myspace.com/thenappies

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:31 AM | Permalink

Idiot Box – “This Is Only A Test EP”

Idiot Box – “This Is Only A Test EP” - Idiot Box’s debut EP, “This Is Only A Test” proves to be one that won't suck and won't annoy the piss out of you. With that said, I felt that the songs are boring pop punk that has no real initial intent to them. They lag excitement and if they're trying to be emotional they lagged that too. It’s tough because I really wanted to like this EP. I thought maybe I was being harsh and listened to “This Is Only A Test” at least 25 times and I just couldn’t get into it. The songs aren’t bad, just there was nothing that caught my attention and drew me in. The song that I gravitated to the most of this EP was Cannibal, but even then it didn’t do much to stand out.

www.myspace.com/boredoftelevision

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:30 AM | Permalink

Buckeye - “We Travel To Travel”

Buckeye - “We Travel To Travel” - Buckeye takes a touch of Americana folk acoustic & combines it with an educated punk rock sound. The majority of tracks are the polar opposites of ballads and sound like what you might hope for in a traditional punk band. There’s plenty of punchy guitar backed by a solid rhythm section, and more importantly, the vocals have that hardly polished, ragged and throaty sounds in pretty much every song. Buckeye sounds like they have a heavy influence of Against Me! and combine electric & acoustic punk brilliance on this album similar to Against Me!. Acoustic music is something nearly all rock bands venture into at some point - acoustic guitars often are the building blocks of songs and as such some songs lend themselves better to an acoustic format. However, most bands limit themselves to one or two acoustic tracks being featured as “add-ons” or secret tracks on their albums, especially in punk rock music. Buckeye doesn’t seem to be afraid to admit they have acoustic punk songs and grab their American root influences by the shirt and muscle it up to the forefront of their sound.

www.myspace.com/buckeyerock

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:29 AM | Permalink

Who’s Up Next – “Your Face Is An EP!”

Who’s Up Next – “Your Face Is An EP!” – I have to admit I was told that this band was really bad, but I wanted to hear for myself. Actually, I was a little surprised; they weren’t a bad band at all. If you’re a punk fan, than you would probably not be too interested in “Who’s Up Next”, because there is nothing punk or even power pop here at all, but overall not a bad band. I could see my 9 year daughter liking them a lot. Seriously, they could be a good Disney Channel, “Hanna Montana” or “Zeoe101” band. Who’s Up Next is a gentle voiced female fronted radio pop band with a non descript musical accompaniment. If you’re in need of some good pre-teen pop songs for your little girl, I would recommend this EP; otherwise “Your Face Is An EP!” is probably not up your alley.

www.myspace.com/whosupnextaz

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:28 AM | Permalink

12 Cent – “For The Win”

12 Cent – “For The Win” I was excited to get this CD. I thought I had heard a few songs from 12 Cent in the past and liked what I heard. Either I was thinking of another band, there is another band with the same name or they have a new different sound on “For The Win”. This Cd is a Cali-core crusted mall punk smorgasbord of crap. I don’t know if they were trying for something different (which I can respect) by using a piano sound combined with over used distortion peddles on every song or what. It seems like they’re trying too hard & forcing everything and it just comes off as over the top annoying. To quote 12 Cent from their song “Motorcycles” – “Sometimes the stuff that makes us happy is the stuff we don’t get & Sometimes the stuff we get, we want to forget.” Well I got this CD and I want to forget it. To quote a much better band, The Riptides – “Mall Punks Fuck Off!”

www.myspace.com/12cent

www.12cent.com

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:26 AM | Permalink

The Please & Thank You’s – “Demo”

The Please & Thank You’s – “Demo” - I cannot begin to explain how horrible this whole “demo” really was. It was like a never-ending nightmare to my ears and a hammer banging my head over and over and over again. The Please & Thank You’s are one of those bands that will make you want to rip your hair out and shove it in your ears in order to block the horrid sound between the musicians and the lead singer.

www.myspace.com/tpaty

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:25 AM | Permalink

Rich White Males/The Cummies Split – “International Losers”

Rich White Males/The Cummies Split – “International Losers” - What can you say about The Rich White Males portion of this album, beyond the fact that it's brilliant? This three piece, straight outta motherfuckin' San Diego, CA is everything that the low-fi movement promised, but never delivered. The guitar work is powerful, the vocals can be stunning and the arrangements are tasty while managing to remain cutting. The Rich White Males just have a snotty punk sound that not many (if any) can compare too. Drinking, fighting, fucking, puking punk rock. Raw and nasty just like it was meant to be. Every time, I hear the Rich White Males I’m amazed how good they continue to get. This time around they really seem to have hit a homerun. There are two amazing songs, “Clean Up” & “Drop The Bomb” both of which are great punk anthems that stand out as instant hits.

The Cummies portion of the album is a little different from the brilliance of The Rich White Males. I reviewed The Cummies not to long ago and couldn’t figure out why, but I just wasn’t feeling a movement in my pants when I listened. After listening to “International Losers” over and over it hit me. Musically I really dig them, but vocally they really need to grow on me. Musically they’re an upbeat, mid tempo pop punk band, but the vocals just don’t flow to me & lose my interest quickly.

www.myspace.com/therichwhitemales

www.myspace.com/thecummiessuck

www.the-cummies.com

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:24 AM | Permalink

Don’t Look In The Basement – “A Bizarre Occurrence In A Small Town Pub”

Don’t Look In The Basement – “A Bizarre Occurrence In A Small Town Pub” – Oh, sweet merciful fucking Christ on the cross with bleeding stigmata’s. These Headshots N' Hermitude, motherfuckers are one step removed from Guttermouth (that step would be the very slight crunchy modern edge) and I mean that in all of the good ways. If you think there are actually bad things that comparison could mean, you are likely reading the wrong e-zine and should renew your subscription to Spin or Rolling Stone forthwith. (Sorry – back to our review) Any listener of Guttermouth knows that they don’t take themselves or their music too seriously. That’s what punk rocks about right? That is exactly the mold of “Don’t Look In The Basement”. Each song is a little different and can go from some mix of 60’s garage horror surf riffs that bust into a full blown punk rock song like“A Bizarre Occurrence In A Small Town Pub” (Title song) to a straight forward ninja kick to the nuts song like “High Five To The Elitist Scenesters”.

I know I’m not the majority of this fucking scene, just some guy with a shitty fucking e-zine, but I’m just a Mr. Fucking know it all that tells people what to be listening to. So give me a high five for pointing out that “A Bizarre Occurrence In A Small Town Pub” is one of the best releases of 2007. Really this CD brings me back to the early 90’s when bands were concerned about having fun, making great music and not worried about how the punk rock handbook says they should sound or look. If you remember when punk was about music with substance and not who you gave a handjob to at the local rave then you need to go get this CD.

www.myspace.com/dlitb

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:23 AM | Permalink

The Annoyers – “Seek and Annoy”

The Annoyers – “Seek and Annoy” Throaty lead vocals with excellent back-up vocals with enough ooo’s and ahhhh’s to satisfy even the snobbiest of pop punksters out there. The lead singer’s voice at times gets lost in the lead guitar and cymbal crashes, but that’s nothing a little studio adjustments couldn’t fix. The song “Bar Fight” hits you with everything but the kitchen sink from the pop punk arsenal of ooo’s & Ahh’s, passionate lead vocals, harmonizing back vocals & fuck you attitude. I thoroughly enjoyed the energy and hooks of “New Tattoo”, “Barfight” & “Loss That Chick”, but did feel that a few of songs on this CD sounded like filler songs that didn’t produce enough hooks or energy to keep your attention. All in all “Seek and Annoy” is a good cd & a nice addition to any pop punkster’s catalog of music.

www.myspace.com/theannoyers

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:21 AM | Permalink

V/A – “Sludge” (Soggy Dream Music)

V/A – “Sludge” (Soggy Dream Music) – This eight song compilation from Soggy Dream Music is a frightening mix of scabby gutter punk Its dripping with sewage, filthy and covered with musical black and blues. It's like one of those monsters that emerge from the sewers after bathing in radioactive sludge and toxic waste for a few months. Then they eat Omaha or some other city, leaving a mucky trail of sizzling footsteps behind them. Absolutely wonderful for a fan of pissed off gutter punk.

www.myspace.com/soggydreammusic

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:19 AM | Permalink

Gruffy Dave – “The Dead Bunny EP”

Gruffy Dave – “The Dead Bunny EP” – The Gruffy Dave guys have the right idea, but their ideas don’t translate to the finished product very well. I can’t figure out if the recording is awful or they are just that bad. All I seem to hear in the recordings are cymbal crashes, an occasional base line and a monotone moan of “singing”. I think someone told them if you pick up some instruments, just flail away at them and just spurt out random things its good punk rock Overall, Gruffy Dave’s “The Dead Bunny EP” sounds like a stereotypical junior high garage band that recorded their practice with a fisher price tape recorder. Keep it moving people, there is nothing to see here.

www.myspace.com/gruffydave

Posted by Jonny Taint at 01:16 AM | Permalink

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January 28, 2008