"Holiday Music Is Best Left To Experts Like Mariah Carey and Robert Downey Jr."
I thought bands stopped using the word theory in their name. But, you know what? I like this band. The guitars are super late 90's emo and still super awesome! I also love a band with a lead singer that actually seems to feel the words he's singing. Jordan Griggs doesn't have the most amazing voice i've heard, but i believe him when he sings. Music like this puts a lump in my throat and hits me where it counts. I would much rather see this band be the current emo sensation for all the high school girls instead of stuff like NEW FOUND GLORY or BRAND NEW. This band has heart, which is exactly what made bands like THE GET UP KIDS and SAVES THE DAY so great. Get this if you're a high school girl or if you still believe in love. 
I don't know much about heavy metal music, but I will admit to liking some of what i've heard. I also don't know what kind of metal to classify this as...is it death metal or black metal or viking metal? Hell if I know! But it is kinda catchy for heavy metal. It's loud, has a driving beat, it's really pissed off...good, good and good! The lead singers name is Jenocide and i'm guessing it's a girl, but her voice reminds me of the singer of 400 BLOWS. She has the same kind of growl. I guess I can recommend this CD to people that like loud, pissed off, angry metal. But the rest of you can just go listen to that new Elliott Smith CD again. 
This CD is 11 tracks of pure Rock'N'Roll. The band definitely has a 70's glam feel and the guitars are super rockin'. Even the CD cover photo of the band and the disc itself, which happens to be pink, reminds me of the NEW YORK DOLLS (except these girls really are girls). There also seems to be a bit of a RAMONES influence and that never hurts. The only thing lacking a bit is the vocals. The backup vocals are a tad lifeless and unfortunately it doesn't mix well with the guitars and lead vocals to me. The lead singer has a great voice for the most part, but she gets better when she gets louder. The best tracks are "Real Thing" "Snake Eyes" and "Ain't So Cool" (which is a Jeff Dahl cover). That one made me smile. So, put on your leather jackets, scarves and high heels, girls AND boys, and get this CD now.
This band is dance-y and thier lyrics are ridiculous. It seems like they want to be part of the whole electroclash movement, and maybe they succeed. I don't know. They have some OMD style beats ans synthesizers and some more G rated style GRAVY TRAIN!!!! lyrics. This band did send me a press kit with a band photo, but I just don't think they can be taken seriously. If that's what they're going for then grreeeaaaaatt! But I tend to believe I just don't get them. Oh well. My dog liked it when I put on the CD really loud though. 
This band brings back a sound that I have loved since I was a little kid. Growing up by the beach and hearing things like THE VENTURES and DICK DALE AND HIS DEL TONES, surf guitar rock is something I hold very close to my heart. This band's latest CD is somewhere right between MAN OR ASTROMAN? and SONIC YOUTH. Amazing guitar instrumentals that bring back that classic sound, but they also propell the sound into the future. My favorite songs on here are "reptile Boots" which is closer to a MAN OR ASTROMAN? sound, and "Asteroid" which is more experimental and strange. Also, strangely enough the second half of the album moves more into an experimental direction with the sounds while still maintaining the surf sound. Get this one for the next time you cruise down by the beach. Don't go in though and don't cruise by too much or the cops'll get ya.
My three favorite voices of all time are Carl Wilson, Elliott Smith and Sam Beam from IRON AND WINE. He has this smooth, sweet, bordering between husky and breathy croon that makes the hair on my neck stand up. Every single song on this album, his second one, is perfection in every way. And if you loved "The Creek Drank the Cradle" you are sure to love this as well. The songs on here are easily interchangeable with the previous CD and they are all just as sad, romantic, beautiful, hopeful and amazing. The song that really does it for me on here and I'd say it's this album's "Lion's Mane"...is "Love and Some Verses". Could be that I heard It exactly the right time, when I really needed to hear a song like this, but even if I didn't...it's still perfect. Four big bright shining stars for this perfect record. It always makes me nervous to write a review for a friend's band. And I really had no reason to be nervous while reviewing this...it's really really good. If it wasn't I'd just be honest, but this is exactly the kind of music I am into and It's exactly what I want to hear. The song writing and musicianship in this band is really good, but the thing that oddly enough sets them apart from the rest is that their sound is very 1993 or 94. I listen to this and I can hear a super strong SEBADOH influence as well as NIRVANA and SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE There is also an unmistakable early punk rock music influence. They even have a really loud and fast song on here called 'Rites of Spring'. The last thing I'll say about this is that it is great to listen to in the car. I love to drive to fast music. If music is good in the car, then it is damned near perfect for me. 
Let me start by talking about the cover art for this CD, because it definitely sets the mood. It's 60's style artwork with the silhouette of a woman holding a gun. It immediately puts James Bond films and images from "In Like Flynt" or even the old TV show I Spy in my head. The music follows the same format, and it's done really well. The best way i can describe it is to have you imagine that CIBBO MATTO did the music for an old Pam Grier film. There's lots of organ and horns and other weird instruments thrown into the mix to create some amazing and super catchy instrumentals. I don't listen to alot of music like this, but this definitely has me tapping my fingers along witht he beat. I would use this music to play in the background while i'm talking on my radio show. I think it would create a good, fun vibe and set a nice beat. Get this one for your next dance party.
Another album with interesting cover art that sets the mood for the album. This is music is really dark for the most part, with lots of minor keys. The organ on "Lied to Me" is really nice and wonderfully sad. Track nine on the CD, "Nothing" remind me of a super depressing BALLBOY song, if there were super depressing BALLBOY songs. But, not all of the songs on here are sad. There are two hidden tracks on the CD and the second one is pretty funny...I'm guessing it's called "How Did You Wind Up In Porn?" That song doesn't fit on here at all, and it's a strange way to end such a somber album, but it's still a good tune and this is still a good album. 
Yes, this is it. The greatest indie rock album ever made. And this time it's a two disc set. The first CD is a remastered version of the classic album released in 1994, as well as every B-side to every single off of the album. Among these is one of my very favorite PAVEMENT songs "Strings of Nashville" from the "Gold Soundz" single. Also included on disc one are 11 other B-sides. Disc 2 includes some songs recorded for the album that didn't make it with Gary Young on drums. And, as if that weren't enough, there's more tracks from a John Peel Session and a bunch of other amazing unreleased stuff that you haven't heard unless you have some PAVEMENTbootlegs. So, if you know what's good for you, you'll just go out and get this, even if you had it from before. It's just that much more worth having now, and it was already essential. 
This is one of a bunch of long delayed music reviews I need to get to. So let's get behind it. This is the newest six song e.p. from No-Fi favorite AMPS ON TEN and I have to say that while it's good, I'm just not in love with it like their previous two CDs. The CD opens well enough with "And Me And Me...", but doesn't seem to go anywhere. I'd almost like to say that that it is an extended intro to the rest of the album. The second track "The Hammer Of Your Truth" reveals what I think may be the flaw in the album. I think the vocal mix may be off. These guys can really sing, but the vocals seem a little off on most of the tracks here. Bringing in more electronic sounds is welcome, but again the mix seems a little off and I wish some of the electronics were a little more in the background (or even somewhat distorted...we are No-Fi after all) and the guitars more in the foreground. All in all I like AMPS ON TEN a LOT and I have a strong feeling that all of these songs sound better live than what I'm hearing here. If you haven't seen them live, you really should, but check out their previous CDs first before getting this one. I look forward to booking them at another show soon (yes, we're FINALLY going to be doing shows again), so that shows you how little this CD impacted my overall view of them. It's not bad... It's not not up to par with their other releases. 
CLINIC are back and they are most welcome, but I do wonder if they are still having the same fun they were when they started. Don't get me wrong, this IS a good album, but there is something...(and I don't know what)....missing in the picture. I think it is a little softer than their other releases and I always say when you're leaning a little too mellow, better start rocking out even harder. (How TENACIOUS D of me.) Maybe some of the songs are too similar to other songs they've done. That could be my main nit-pick about the album. It's like they took a bus on a short trip from their last album to this one with no drop offs or pick ups in between. If you have any of their past releases, then you know exactly what they sound like. Now there is a good thing about that. Now admit it...you would probably still love David Byrne and other great musicians if they didn't discover "World Music". He and others changed their sound entirely and while some would say they've grown, others would say they just suck now. CLINIC certainly do not suck and nor does this album, but it's hard to review it without repeating myself. So to sum them up, take early 60s girl groups, mix them up with RADIOHEAD and THE RAMONES, and then turn down the vocals so you can sort of hear them, but not understand them (and something tells me that if you heard them, you STILL wouldn't understand them) and you get CLINIC. No one ever old THE RAMONES to totally change their style. Well, somebody probably did and those people should be punched in the craw. CLINIC are still what I would call one of No-Fi "Radio"'s flagship bands. So get this album, put it in a CD carousel with their other albums and you won't even know the difference.
So I'm going through our boxes that we used while moving to the new place;...some filled with old stuff, some filled with stuff we threw in there while moving stuff in. And here I find this album which was sent to me for review and I didn't even know it! (This isn't the first case of this...every month I'm finding stuff from earlier in the year that was sent to us during our moving period.) So I was upset and happy at the same time. DEAD KENNEDYS is one of my favorite bands ever (introduced to my by a mix tape . While I'm not old enough to have been able to see them live while they were together, this could be the next best thing as the sound on this live album from 1979, recorded live at The Deaf Club in San Francisco sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday. This show was actually recorded for a compilation of bands playing live at The Deaf Club, but only a few songs were used on the comp. This was also the last show that band member "6025" played with the DEAD KENNEDYS and his part in the band was surely missed in later albums. So there are 14 songs in this live CD including some of my favorites like "Ill In The Head", "Police Truck" and strange early versions of "Kill The Poor" and "When You Get Drafted (listed here as "Back In Rohodesia". The highlight of the show/cd is the totally unreleased song that I've never heard even on bootlegs called "Gaslight" which would be a great song even if it were recorded and released today. Good album art (and booklet). They could have made this the cheapest way possible, but they actually did a good job on the packaging. This is a great live album and I'm suprised it took so long to be released. Jello Biafra is funny in between songs like when he makes fun of the people throwing up sieg heil signs to him. If only I could have been there to see it all live. Well, now I have a recording of the show and now if you excuse me, I'm going to listen to it again. Get this to use for a pretend DEAD KENNEDYS show starring all your action figures...then stomp all over them in the pit.
First off....LOVE the cover. Pretty much anything that would have Kathleen Hanna's smiling face is a good design choice. The artwork inside the booklet is good too. Whoever Doug Cunningham is, he's welcome to draw for us anytime...mind you, most of the drawings I'd request would be of Kathleen Hanna; jumping, running, reading...thinking. Awwww. Well before I get lost in thought of hopeless visions of the very not-straight Kathleen Hanna, I gotta cop to the fact that I am pretty disappointed with this album. By far the most commercial work that Kathleen and the girls have done, its commercial pop sometimes outglosses even that of recent superstar divas whose names are rarely allowed in our, now, virtual pages. I loved their debut album and heard things I liked from their last album (which I don't have for some reason). I should have known there would be a problem when I started seeing bus stops and billboards adourned with the cover of this album around town. This album isn't bad...but it sure doesn't have any of the punk (or electro-punk) feel of their previous work in this and other bands they've been in. I guess any idea of punk is lost all together when you open the jewel case and see the "FBI Anti-Piracy Warning" in the middle of the CD that's actually more promenint than their own name and album title. This is a pop/dance album and I don't need to do anything more than direct you to their cover of THE POINTER SISTERS' "I'm So Excited" to prove it. There ARE a lot of great messages on this album, but if I had a little 12 year old sister, I'd probably end of giving this CD to her..."mysteriously" losing the pictures of Kathleen Hanna first (She's just soooo cute!). Plus while they are partying about recent huge steps in gay rights, they should have used this opportunity to tear several new ones in the administration that is trying their hardest to take it all away. If you've never heard LE TIGRE, I DIRECT you to buy their self titled debut album. Get this one for a dance party with your conservative friends...then laugh at them later for dancing to "their enemy".
It's so refreshing when we get new music from bands that so encompass the no-fi philosophy. This is the first full length CD by THE MONOLATORS (that I know of) and while I'm several months late in getting this review up, that doesn't mean I haven't been playing it a lot on No-Fi "Radio". The CD opens with a couple nice true garage rock tunes "Summertime In My Car" and "Radio's On". They set the tone for the rest of the album. The music reminds me of something in between the INSECT SURFERS (but with vocals) and BLACK 47. My favorites on this album are "Tiny Bicycles", "Office Drone", and "Prom Queen" (which will make you jump around the house singing along). A great debut CD, but I already want them to put out another. Well, maybe they'll put out some singles until then. Get this one for a late night or early morning drive along the beach. Hopefully those surfers'll get out of your way if they know whats good for them.
In almost every track on this too short CD, I find something that I like a lot. But just when I start getting into it, everything changes and all the sudden I'm listening to something else. And it is hard to figure out where songs are as some of the songs run together on the same track. It's like somebody broke the record and crazy-glued it all back together out of order. As long as it sounds good, I'm fine with that and while this album does test me, I still like it in general terms. Now if I only had the power to do my own remix album of this one. Best songs on this CD are "Autobahn", "Dance Party", and Spring Break". Get this one to play really loud on that boombox you have pointed at your neighbor's house. Hopefully I'll be hearing more from this band as I stand intrigued so far.
When I first put this in my car stereo on the drive to work, I took an audio double take. The lead singer's voice sounds sooo much like Jim McCray, former singer of SHLUMPF and GYMICRAE, it's frightening. In fact they are so almost exactly alike and the guitar progressions so similar, I had to look in the cd booklet to see if it was him. But no, this is somebody else entirely and I seriously doubt that this band has even heard of Jim McCray or any of his bands. Maybe part of it is nostalgia, but I really really like this CD. Any band that can write the lyric "I'm gay as a choirboy for you" (in the song "Nothing To You") is alright in my book. Lead singer Adam Stephens voice and guitar work is amazing and I don't care how silly that sounds. My favorite songs on this CD at the moment are "You Losin' Out", "Fail Hard To Regain" (which for some reason reminds me of a wilder POGUES...with better teeth), and "Nothing To You". It's a sound that I've been missing in my life and it is nice to hear it again. Luckily TWO GALLANTS are doing something different with it. Get this one to play in your car during a date. Just make sure you turn it up if things get to loud or sticky in the back seat.Send Tapes, CDs, or Demos to: For any other information, E-Mail Chris Beyond at the link below.
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