PunkRockReview.org- Band Review

The Carry-ons – “Is anyone listening?” – All that needs to be heard is the first song on “Is anyone listening?” and that pretty much generalizes the entire album. It’s just straightforward mid-tempo, melodic punk-n-roll with multi-layer vocals. The Carry-ons build “Is anyone listening?” on the foundation of melodies fueled with stop-start rhymes that rumbles across the grooves, comes to an abrupt stop, then hammers off again in hyper-drive. While the music is fast and furious, it drips with irresistible harmonies and melodies that even the most hardcore at heart can’t resist. These guys keep the sound pumping and the music kicking, with the strings simply creating melancholy and a bittersweet atmosphere for the band to punch its way out of. It’s encouraging to see a band take chances with a broad style that doesn’t fit the typical “punk” trend. Don’t get me wrong, this CD is not a  Simon & Garfunkel classic, there are plenty of punchy tracks to keep the punk rock constituency happy, with driving songs such as “Common Cents“, “Say The Word“ & “Recovery”, the powerhouse rhythm section leads on while underneath the singer keeps on truckin’ thru with boiling emotion and charismatic vocals. I highly recommend checking out The Carry-ons if you’re interested in solid melodic punk-n-roll bands that aren’t rehashed rock bands.

www.myspace.com/thecarryons

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:44 AM | Permalink

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Harbour 81 – “Live Your Dreams” – This CD sticks the needle in the same vein as some of the classic angry punk rock that has been exhibited by bands like Sick of It All, Project X, & Reagan Youth. There’s traditionalist NYHC here, from the shout-a-long vocals to the pure grit and growl swirled amongst speed metal licks and thunderous percussion. Harbour 81, twists the 21^st century punk resurgence back to the roots of hardcore to achieve what was once a menacing scene for music. Tracks such as “Breakdown the walls”, “Feel The Hurt”, & “So Much I can take” illustrate the band’s overall aggression towards the mainstream and social norms, since playing music that they love and touring the world is Living their dream. The lyrical cynicisms are dead on and though there are touches of humor mixed in, Harbour 81 keeps it hardcore all the way. “Live your Dreams” is a continuous strike to the head, a sucker punch to the nuts and as the listener is hunched over trying to catch a mouthful of air, Harbour 81 blazes on, uncompromisingly doling out their empowering and often revolutionary message in just under 24 scorching minutes. Just like hardcore bands of the late 80’s, Harbour 81 pushes the limits of hardcore with as much verve and enthusiasm bled into every surging chorus, thick riff, and relentlessly heavy rhythm. I would recommend this CD to fans of Sick of It All, Agnostic Front, or Gorilla Biscuits.

http://www.myspace.com/harbour81

http://www.harbour81.com/

http://www.myspace.com/warbirdentertainment

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:43 AM | Permalink

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Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:42 AM | Permalink

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Fortiez – “Easily Done” – The newest release from the Fortiez has less of a ska/punk sound and is a lot more of a fundamental punk sound with the influence of Ska found in the upstrokes of the guitar play. Unlike many bands Fortiez seem to get faster with each release “Easily Done” is an explosion of energy and fury from the 1^st second you turn it on until the final second of this 11 track, 29.12 speed ball. Vocally the singer has a unique voice that has a frantic ska/punk approach that compliments the higher-pitched upstroke of the guitar. The bass is powerful and bouncy and compliments the bombastic style of their incredible drummer. You can feel the full emotion and energy that is exerted on every track and leaves you gasping for air and mentally drained after listening to “Easily Done”. The songs that really stand out as exceptional  to me are; “Shopping Trip” (Mind numbingly fast, but mentally comprehensible at the same time) &  “20+” (Combines an intense combination of higher pitched lead vocals with complimentary low toned back vocals and a stop and go style of  rhyme that gets your blood pumping  double time). Other notable 5 star songs are; “Not here to get bored” & “Holyland”, but instead of going over how great each song is individually, buy this great high powered CD and find out for yourself how lively and intense Fortiez – “Easily Done” is.

You can download this album & their prior release for free at www.fortiez.com

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:40 AM | Permalink

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You, Me & Us – “Beer can Rebellion” – Overall, it's pretty quite simple. “Beer can Rebellion” is an impressive blend of all the elements You, Me, & Us have to offer, and they pull it off damn near flawlessly. From rowdy, chaotic punk anthems, to well thought out political lyrics, it's all in tact on this release. This album isn't for everyone, but if you're alright with an album filled with more politics than a days worth of CNN, I highly recommend you pop this one in your CD or Mp3 player ASAP.

Through and through, the Suburban Legends are doing what they love. If you aren't an upbeat political punk fan to begin with, it's unlikely this album will change your mind, but it's worth a shot. If upbeat political punk is your type of thing, then my god, is this album ever for you. It's poppy, it's humorous, it's energetic, and it's simple. You, Me & Us created a great record with top-notch DIY production, intelligent songs, and an unabashed political message. Full of gang vocals, simplistic and memorable choruses, “Beercan Rebellion” is an impressive debut album which will expose the band and their message to more people than ever before. This release definitely surprised me. I find it more accessible and cleaner-produced than many political street punk releases, and it’s lasted longer in my stereo than many other politically charged efforts have. Don’t pass this record off as another anarchy-punk CD with a fuck the government left-wing propaganda attitude. While that’s pretty much what this is, it stands out of the pack with more intelligence and musical talent than most.

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:39 AM | Permalink

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G.G Elvis & the T.C.P. Band “Back From The Dead” A Punk Elvis Tribute – When I first read about this I wasn’t sure what expect. Was it going to be an overdone flamboyant attempt of humor at The Kings expense or was it going to be a band seriously trying to make Elvis’s old classics punk rock?  The members of G.G. Elvis & the T.C.P Band are a combination of former members of; NOFX, Aggression, Ill Repute, Stalag 13 & Bad Samaritans, so (if done right) the talent is there to pull something like this off.

  Honestly after checking out the one sheet, I was worried that this was going to be a rough ride. The band looked to be one of those overly dramatic over-kill bands that can ruin even the best of ideas. Included with the one sheet was the music CD and the controversial; Never-Before-Seen DVD the limited premiere Scratch-n-Sniff edition pull-out booklet. The CD itself consists of 13 tracks totaling, 30minutes and 22 seconds of surly vocals mixed with a talented backdrop of musical accompaniment.

    The DVD that’s included with this CD is a brilliantly horrible improvisation of hi jinx and amateur porn level production all as it was intended. The DVD’s flamboyant theatrical acting is reminiscent of the old Powell Peralta – “Search for Animal Chin “video". The highlights for me is the inability to provide a musical soundtrack to the “music” videos because of copyright issues and how the band works around it by providing humorous scrolling monolog (on the bottom of the screen) that prompts the viewer to play certain tracks from the CD along with the video to make it a music video. Overall the entire project provides a hilariously fun tribute to Elvis done with absolutely no class or integrity, just like punk rock was meant to be done.

www.myspace.com/ggelvis

www.ggelvis.com

www.mentalrecords.net

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:38 AM | Permalink

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The Mothers Anger – “Sniper” – Someone please help me!!! This is so fucking awful; I’m awestruck by the awfulness that has infested my ears. Over the last couple of years, I’ve received some repulsive shit, but WOW this has got to make my top 10 worst albums I’ve had to torture myself with. If I didn’t know better, I would think that one of my friends is playing a cruel joke on me. However, there is too much put into this one sheet from Dropout Dream Productions to be a joke. I enjoy many forms of music, however there are two that I can’t stand; Country & Grunge rock. The Mother’s Anger has a straight from Seattle 1992 flannel shirt wearing, Soundgarden-ish, pot smoking sound. Honestly I wouldn’t even wish this bullshit of Grunge on anyone who isn’t on death row. www.mothersanger.com

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:37 AM | Permalink

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The Queers – Live February 3, 2003, The Bowery Collection – If you’ve ever been to a Queers show, then you have a pretty good idea what to expect. The Queers are a staple in any pop punk fans music collection and this should be another installment of your collection. The recording is decent for a live CD and is obviously not over dubbed like many live CD’s. This CD starts out with the catchy Ramones classic (cover) Rockaway beach, in which Joe Queues Lurch to take it way, but oddly the cover has a picture of Matt Drastic on the drums. This CD is a collection of some of the Queers better live songs such as “I met her at the Rat”, The Screeching Weasel Cover “Murder at the Brady house”, “Yeah, Well, Whatever”,  “Fuck the world I’m hanging out with you”, but it all depends on what your personal favorites might be.. Alright, if you like to see The Queers live shows, then you should enjoy this CD and you’re bound to find a few of your favorite Queers songs. I’m not saying that the sound is perfect in anyway, but that’s one of the things I really enjoy about it. The small flaws from the show (slight timing differences, back vocals, and mis-queues), add the true personality of the band to this CD and the feeling of actually being there yourself. You can pretty much turn up your stereo, close your eyes and it will be a lot like the last time you saw them live.

www.mvdb2b.com

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:36 AM | Permalink

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Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:34 AM | Permalink

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Murder Media “You’re Welcome” – This album is chock full of brattish, sneering and energetic street punk tracks.  The general sense of this bash and crash release are the catchy voicings of incipient angst from 21^st century youth. Murder Media cuts are aggressive, pissed, tempering and politically charged with sneering vocals. There is an obvious & outward disapproval for being trapped in the cradle of the right-wing conservative south, Murder Media Slaps their feelings across your face from the first note. Songs like “DIY” may be more semi-typical government and scenester trashing than anything else, but the slow start of “Church of Law”, and then fast rip of “We are Plucked” snarl at disdainful peers, police attacks, wrecked households and more with fierceness. The musicians do an evenhanded job through out the album and keep it all chugging along at 132 MPH. Then of course there is the sharp, intelligent lyrical equating adolescence of punks that breaks out from the trap of Right Wing conservatism. “You’re Welcome” possesses all the raw elements that make for a perfect blueprint of a punk album; rage, anger, intensity & cynicism. This album shows Murder Media’s anger and uncomfortable-ness with the façade of the suburban dream. I would recommend this album to fans of; Crass, The Subhumans, &/or Discharge.

http://www.myspace.com/murderxmedia

Posted by Jonny Taint at 02:32 AM | Permalink

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Stay Sharp – “4 Song EP” - Overall, it's really pretty simple. Stay Sharp’s 4 song EP is an impressive blend of all the elements Stay Sharp has to offer, and they pull it off damn near flawlessly. From rowdy, chaotic punk anthems, to deep thought out lyrics, it's all intact on their newest release.

Through and through, these punk rock veterans are doing what they love and are doing it well. Stay Sharp created a great record with top-notch production, intelligent songs, and an unabashed political message. Full of gang vocals, simplistic and memorable choruses, 4 Song EP is an impressive debut which will expose Stay Sharp and their message to more than the average hardcore fan. Their style isn’t that of the usual east coast NYHC, but more of the Philadelphia Hardcore made popular by the incredible band Kid Dynamite. The band’s intention seems to be raising awareness about the political environment while calling out our nation’s wrong doings and ignorance. This release definitely surprised me, I’ve heard Stay Sharp prior to this release, but with 4 song EP they stepped up to the next level and really impressed me. Don’t pass this record off as another anarchy-punk CD with a “fuck ‘em all” attitude. While at a simplistic level that’s pretty much what this is, but with a touch of the Philly Hardcore charm this EP stands out from the pack. 4/5  http://www.myspace.com/staysharprules

Posted by Jonny Taint at 04:17 AM | Permalink

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Posted by Jonny Taint at 04:16 AM | Permalink

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Psychobilly Bastards – “Demo” – The only thing I can come up with for these demo tracks is…..B.O.R.I.N.G. The singer has the typical raspy rocka/psycho-billy voice, musically they seem to all be on time, but there just isn’t any substance or catchiness to their sound and the singer as a front man does nothing to draw you in. There aren’t any mentionable hooks, but a few predictable solos and really there is no energy and nothing worth mentioning. To be nice I guess I would say their the typical “lifer” opening bar act in Any City, USA. 2/5  

Posted by Jonny Taint at 04:14 AM | Permalink

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Quan & The Chinese Takeouts – “Demo” - My expectations were admittedly low for the demo from Quan and The Chinese Takeouts solely based on their name alone, but when I pushed play boy was I surprised. A lame ass combination of Rolling Stones rock and overused keyboards, this demo drew all kinds of parallels to other terrible artists that I was force fed as a child. The effort is there, but the songwriting is just horrible. Not only is this a terrible 80’s rock synthesizer band, but the songs also tend to be too long as one song tends to run into the next. Everything about this demo really left a sour taste in my mouth, especially after knowing I had to waste my time writing a review about it. If you’re a fan of regurgitated cocaine era 80’s rock, then you’ll love Quan & The Chinese Takeouts, otherwise I’m sure you will feel as I did and take a handful of Advil with about 10 beers to get this shit out of your head. 1/5  http://www.myspace.com/thechinesetakeouts

Posted by Jonny Taint at 04:13 AM | Permalink

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Posted by Jonny Taint at 04:11 AM | Permalink

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The Kinkies – “TX Victims EP” - No one can accuse The Kinkies of lacking energy or catchy hooks as their debut EP “TV Victims” proves. Ok, their musical style isn’t the invention of the wheel or the first man on the moon, but it does deliver a tuneful rush of tasty bite sized burst of adrenaline laden cuts of pure pop punk goodness. All they do is write fast pop punk with catchy as hell melodies that are well-executed and enjoyable punk that should please the snobbiest of PPMB members. Passion slashes through every track of this debut EP. The fury of their message perfectly matches the intensity of their music. The Kinkies hawkishly attack all the issues that are on their mind and they pull no punches or play no favorites to get their point across, much like the pop punk bands of the early 90’s once did. The drums in the recording can sound a little canny at times, but overall this is a fantastic burst of speedy pop punk that pops with energy from beginning to end. My favorite song on this EP is “2 Persons 2 Chords”, but really there isn’t a bad song to speak of and I can’t wait to hear their full length. 4/5  http://www.myspace.com/kinkiesrock

Posted by Jonny Taint at 04:10 AM | Permalink

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Posted by Jonny Taint at 04:09 AM | Permalink

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The Creeps – “Lakeside Cabin” - With “Lakeside Cabin”, veteran Canadian horror pop punks The Creeps explode like a match on gasoline. Every member of The Creeps as they stand in time just smokes every ounce of this release. The recording quality is ghoulishly raw and strong and those qualities are what helps The Creeps stand out from the pack, especially Scotty Lobotomy's gift for creepy, strong and amazingly dark singing. Scotty uses his singing ability brilliantly on “Lakeside Cabin”, making the over-the-top serial killer lyrics all the more enjoyable. The lyrics tell a story so vividly that you would think the songs were written from the screenplay of a horror movie. As Mrs. Taint said to me; “The Creeps make being murdered sound so dreamy¨. There’s a fair amount of clangor and mess, to be sure, but it all sounds perfectly intentional, capturing a blend of poppy punk hooks, horror theatrics and deep dark murderous humor that is all their own. As far as The Creeps go, this is without a doubt their best work to date. They just continue to progress their horror-core lyrics to a pop punk backdrop like nobody’s business. With “Lakeside Cabin” there is a matured sound from all aspects of the band, but not in the old man slow down style, but rather a more coherent & connected flow to their sound and the whole finished project. This CD is easily a guaranteed top 10 albums for 2008. 5/5

Posted by Jonny Taint at 04:05 AM | Permalink

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