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Record Reviews
- May, 2000 Arthur Kay & The Originals "Back Street Warrior" 7" Hey
Boot Boys! Get your groove on with some traditional ska. These cats have
a very surreal sound that’s good for chillin’ out after a hard
day’s work. There’re three songs kiiid. (JD) Black Cat Music "One Foot in the Grave" 7" Wow,
Lookout really goes all out for their bands, a two song 7". BCM are
a blend of melodic pop and rock 'n' roll. They are loud and at least act
punk. Nevertheless, their music is lifeless and volatile. Many parts of
their songs are so ungodly garrulous I had to turn off the record player.
(JD) Cruel & Unusual "S/T" CD Cruel
& Unusual are a fast paced punk rock band. I'll admit that their music
does strike me as anything spectacular, however if you're into hard-edged
punk with a devilish demeanor, they right be up your dark, deranged alley.
There're 12 tracks including, "Smell", "F**kin' in the
Street", and "Fast as You". Mortville has done better.
(JD) Dillinger Four/Pinhead Gunpowder 7" I'm
totally into D4. They actually have the talent to script catchy, effervescent
punk rock. The guitars are fuzzed out and the vocals are buried in absolute
sonic fervor. Yeah, they're good. Pinhead Gunpowder are, err, Green Day.
I don't like Green Day. There are five songs in all buckaroo! (JD) Dropkick Murphys/The Business CD Fuck,
these guys can play some kick-ass punk rock! Here are two great bands
mingling their creative talent to assemble one fantastic record. Taken
from the studio recordings of the Mob Mentality 7", this full-length
record has a couple extra originals and a couple extra covers including,
Sham 69, the Who, and the Outlets. There’re 12 tracks on this fab
CD such as, "Boys on the Dock", Hang Up Your Boots", and
more punk! (JD) Guitar Wolf/Shutdown 66 "OZ TOUR" 7"
Ignorance Park "Bad Luck...or the Plan?" CD Is
this the same Mortville Records who put out great records by the Valentine
Killers and Teen Cool? Ignorance Park are again, not bad, but not fantastic
either. They have a clean sound mixed in with ominous 80's Circle Jerks'esque
three chord songs. I bet they're good live, but their in Texas and I'm
in New York, oh well. There're 10 tracks including, "Back of You
Mind", "FBI In My Toilet", and "Buzz Off". (JD) Lazy Cowgirls "Somewhere Down the Line" CD These
chaps (OK, it's just Pat Todd now) were, at one time, the best band on
Earth, This was over a decade ago, and they've since relinquished the
teeth-clenching ass-shake evident on classics like "Tapping the Source,"
but I still dig 'em. I just saw them a month or so ago, and that probably
colored my affection for this disc -- it's more Stonesy than anything,
and I'm not sure how I woulda' reacted otherwise. Fans still need to pick
this up -- the songs are good, and Pat remains a moving vocalist. (TK) Les Sexareenos "Live! In The Bed" CD Yeah
honey! This CD has got to be the most fun I’ve had listening to records
all month! If you can picture The Sonics and The Spaceshits in a jamboree
you’ll have Les Sexareenos. The organs, guitars, drums, saxophones,
all come together in a beautiful rock ‘n’ roll chef d'oeuvre.
If you like the rock and or roll you’ll be purchasing this CD today.
(JD) Misfires "Dead End Expressway" CD A
rather bland pop punk band. The vocals don’t have any balls. Their
music is kinda catchy, but too mid tempo and choppy for me. There’re
10 songs I don’t feel like naming and you probably don’t feel
like reading. (JD) Mistreaters "S/T" EP 7" Probably
the closest yer gonna' get right now to the Gories/Oblivians/Beguiled
Crypt-period. Milwaukee lo-fi blues deconstruction with balls. "Stranded"
is a monster and the other three (also on their great demo) slide along
a two/three chord groove and suddenly explode into screaming and chaos,
catchy too. Much recommended. (TK) Moral Crux "The Side Effects of Thinking" CD Moral
Crux are like the Ramones, they'll always be around. These tunes were
recorded between '88 and '89. The politics are a wee bit old, but the
meaning still remains. With songs like "Fight Back" and "Revolutionize"
you might be persuaded to watch the news. If you're into 80's HXC punk
with a trace of pop, Moral Crux are right for you. (JD) Nobodys/Beautys CD/10" I
haven’t been interested in the Nobodys since their amazing debut
CD on Hopeless Records. Their brand of hard-edged pop punk has run its
course for me. However, if you’re the one who is hooked on brain-dead,
fuck off punk rock check out their earlier records. Now the Beautys are
an engaging pop punk band people should watch out for. The Beautys crank
out catchy, melodic pop with adoring female vocals reminiscent of early
Just Add Water 7"ers. If you’re a PC fuck you can still buy
this record cause it is a partial benefit for the Diana Price Fisher Foundation.
The D.P.F.F. provides "social, cultural, and recreational services
to adult cancer patients." Badda Bing! (JD) Paris@2AM "It Wasn't an Accident..." CD Man
am I gonna' catch shit for this. OK, I hate emo as much as the next guy
does, more probably. But I've enjoyed this Wisconsin band for quite a
while -- this disc doesn't capture their (believe it) live fury, but I
guess it'd be impossible to program the fucker to kick and spit on you.
"Languid" dreamy jangle gives way to ballsy hardcore and atonal
jamming -- shit, if you have any inclinations towards this type 'o thing,
pick it up. (TK) Queers "Beyond The Valley…" CD/LP Yeah,
yeah, yeah the new Queers record is out. Big fucking deal! Listen up kids
cause I’m only gonna say this once, The Queers aren’t significant
anymore! They’ve only released three good albums, "Grow Up",
"Love Songs for the Retarded", and "Down Back Down".
How much rehashed Ramones chords can you take? Anyway, "Beyond The
Valley…" has 14 tracks including such listless songs as, "Stupid
Fucking Vegan", "Babyface (Boo-Hoo-Hoo)", and "My
Cunt’s a Cunt". The brats will shell out their allowances for
it, the rock ‘n’ rollers will give it the finger. (JD) Randumbs "Things Are Tough All Over" CD
Rats,
these aren’t the cool Retardos… These guys are from Scandinavia
and play hard rockin’ punk along the lines of the Backyard Babies
and Glucifer. I can't say they are as good as those other northern bands.
The vocals really need some work. Their songs don’t really grab me,
but maybe you’ll like them if you can’t get enough of those
Vikings from the East. There’re 10 tracks including, "Up Yours",
"Burn In The Fire", and "Been There-Done That". (JD) Rotters "Pull it and Yell" CD/LP
Screamin’ Furys "Comin’ Round" 7" The
Screamin’ Furys are like a cross between the Rip Offs and the Kinks!
Their guitars are really trashed out and yet they can generate catchy
bursts of rock ‘n’ roll. Dig it my brothers, these boys can
shake their moneymakers. There’re only two songs, but they’re
worth it. There’s plenty of howling and upheaval for all ya’ll!
(JD) Shot To The Curb "Make It Last" CDEP
Spaceshits "Radio Shits Rock N Roll" LP This
is odd. The Spaceshits are an awesome garage punk outfit outta Canada.
They fuse the fury of Teengenerate with the soul of the Devil Dogs. Why
release a live recording of them? The sound quality is all right for a
live radio recording, although I’d rather listen to their studio
records. This particular record has all the hits including, "Backseat
Boogie" and "More Abuse". If you don’t any of their
records fuckin’ get ‘em asshole! (JD) Statics "Vol. 1" LP The
Statics are a spectacular garage punk band. This here is a compilation
of all their best shit, plus a few unreleased goodies. If you haven’t
heard the Statics get ready for some wicked, fuzzed out nasty beats. This
is rock ‘n’ roll straight outta the garage and headin’
for damnation. (JD) Toxic Narcotic/The Unseen "Boston's Finest" 7" Toxic
Narcotic are a crusty HXC punk band with graveled vox and ultra speedy
tunes. It's pretty hard to screw up crust. I can get into the Unseen a
little more. They have a catchy sound fused with a pogo punk fire. "Stand
Up and Fight" is probably their best tune. (JD) Trust Fund Babies "S/T" LP I
have a bit more proclivity towards this LP than their last 7"er.
The TFB’s have a garage/’77 feel to them that is connected to
the Stitches and the Infections. Their songs are catchy and tightly contrived.
I think the vocals could have been more amped up, but that’s just
me. There are some classic tunes on this slab ‘o plastic such as,
"Don’t Beat on Me" and "Took Yer Heart". (JD) Unborn-SF "Pearls for the Swines" Picture 7" Here’s
some speedy Finnish street punk. I can dig the drumbeat, but that’s
about it. The vocals are just too "PeeWee Herman on crack" for
me. They obviously have a Special Duties influence but the Unborn-SF’s
music is too sub-par for the average punk rocker. There’re 3 songs
here including, "Mad Cow Stomp". (JD) Under The Gun "One Nation…" CD Let’s
get this over with… Under The Gun are a melodic pop punk band with
lots of pop and little substance. At times you can hear a spurt of activity
in tracks like "Rejection" and "Welcome to my Hell",
but then they switch sides and pussy out. I don’t know, they’re
like Big Wig? Whatever. (JD) V/A "Never Mind The Sex Pistols Here’s The Tribute" CD
V/A "Radioslok" 7" It’s
like a European rock ‘n’ roll sampler! Alrighty, we start out
with the Out Four. They aren’t a bad garage punk band but their song
leaves me a little flat and empty. The Upstars are kinda cool. They have
organs and a 60’s backbeat, however there’s too little rock
action to keep my attention. The Satelliters fuckin’ rock! Buy every
one of their fuckin’ albums. I’m serious jerky! And last but
not least we have the Grabbies, a decent punk rock group who enjoy being
little clangorous shits. This isn’t the best compilation to depict
the fantastic European rock ‘n’ roll, but at least they’re
trying harder than those fucking American cocks are! (JD) |
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blankgeneration.com 2003 |
Guitar
Wolf, those Japanese monsters from the East are back with yet another
cool song "Refrigerator Zero". Guitar Wolf have crafted their
brand of bluesy garage into a exquisite ball of mud. Perhaps the coolest
thing about this 7", for me anyway, is Shutdown 66's song "Fink
Is King". It's a song about Fink of Teengenerate, quite gratifying
for any fan of those bad boys. This record might be a bit pricey with
all the posters and shit they pack in it, but for garage fans it's worth
it. (JD)
A
street punk band with a sense of humor, what a rarity. Alas, humor isn't
the only thing you need to be a kick-ass punk band. Their brand of punctual
punk rockin' mixed in with gruffy vox and a hefty amount of energy is
implicative to early Pink Linclons. If you dig bands like the Quincy Punks
or excessive amounts of alcohol, you'll flip for the Randumbs. There're
15 songs including, "Carny Hag", "Valley Of Sickness",
and "Cronies". (JD)
Yes,
another 1970’s punk reissue from Bacchus Archives. The Rotters where
out of CA in 1978. They sound like a rawer Raped, the UK punk band. Their
lyrics are totally insensate and the guitars sound like someone took a
chainsaw to ‘em. Yes this be punk rock, but it’s not a prerequisite.
If you’re the type that must have every Killed by Death record in
the world, you fucking nerd, you’ll want the Rotters. There is some
valuable information on the band in the insert and there're 12 tracks
including, "You’re a Nip" and "Disco Queen".
(JD)
Shot
to the Curb are street punk band outta TN. They have a sound resembling
that of a more melodic Workin’ Stiffs and Rancid. STTC’s music
has crunchy guitars and catchy punk rock for the kids. It says here that
this is a demo CD. Well, I think these boys should be shopping these little
ditties around because with songs like "The Time Is Now" and
"Carnage" these punk rockers are gonna hit it big. (JD)
Bahaa
hahahahahahahahahahahaaa! If only you could hear this piece of dogshit
of a record. Fuck me! Why do I subject myself to this assailment of perpetual
excrement? Oh yeah, to warn my fellow rock ‘n’ rollers not to
buy it! Yes ladies and gentlemen, we have sunk to the bottom of the barrel.
First it was the Ramones, let’s make the Sex Pistols the last tribute
record ever. I’m pleading you record labels, "STOP THE INSANITY!"
There’re 17 songs that will make you quit listen to punk and take
up swing dance. (JD)