July 2004 CD reviews (listed alphabetically)

A COMMON GROUND
WAITING FOR A CHANGE TO COME
TRIPLE THREAT RECORDS
A Common Ground certainly are on common ground, because they sound like every other pop-punk band to make a record in the last 12 years. And I imagine we'll still be waiting for a change to come, because this certainly isn't a change from anything else I've heard in the last 12 years. (I'm so full of puns. I'm a triple threat! Anyway, back to business.) This band is a yawn. They have energy, but their songs are redundant and dull. They're just following a dried-up pop-punk songwriting formula, at best. A Common Ground is from Germany.
-chad

A PERFECT MURDER
UNBROKEN
VICTORY RECORDS
The fact that "A Perfect Murder is not here to reinvent the wheel" is made painfully obvious on their Victory debut. They do not succeed in proving that "good metal core is alive and well," eitherunless they do so by using their album to prove what not to do. A Perfect Murder has succeeded in making a perfectly bland album. The simple lyrics, the clichÈd song titles, the pedestrian vocals, and trite breakdowns don't exalt their genre but show all that is boring about metalcore.
-Erika Owens

A18
DEAR FURIOUS
VICTORY
If I have to compare one more band to Hatebreed, I'm gonna puke up my power bars and steroids. But here's A18, and it's hard not to think of Jasta and the crew. Never mind, this has a rawer, more punked-out feel, anyway. And Paul Miner ain't no nu-metal producer (thank the fuck). Miner gives these hardcore, SoCal scene vets (members have played in Insted, Outspoken, and Strife) the kind of no-frills production job that works best with this positive yet agro-sounding hardcore. It's all by the numbers and done to death...but, hey, give me the pitbull scream and gang vocals and I'm rarely disappointed...until track 4 or 5 hits, then I'm usually bored. Gotta love the vocal lead-in to "Stab You through the Everything", though. "I FUCKING HATE YOOOOOOOUUUU!!!!!" Nice, guys. www.victoryrecords.com
-Jason Schreurs

ALKALINE TRIO/ONE MAN ARMY
BYO SPLIT SERIES/VOLUME V
BYO
BYO Records have catalogued yet another one of their split series, this time teaming Alkaline Trio with One Man Army. Neither band outdoes the other, but they both produce high-quality tunes that fans of either band will want to get their hands on. Reuniting with producer Matt Allison, Alkaline Trio have created six devilishly dark tracks that will win lost fans back after last year's somewhat disappointing GOOD MOURNING. One Man Army fires up the second half of the split with six upbeat songs that pay homage to the classic punk rock sound. Singer Jack Dalyrymple's unique vocal sound shines brilliantly throughout the tracks. This release should not be ignored. Another successful split for BYO.
-Brent Sheen

AGE OF JETS
GO GO GADGET POP
DAMAGED GOODS
Back when I was about 15, when I was first getting into punk rock, I bought my very first 7" from Damaged Goods, so it's good to see them still on the ball and releasing good DIY records when so many others seem to be dying like flies (see Rugger Bugger). This is breezy indie-pop from Leeds that kind of sounds like Blur or Stony Sleep collaborating with some strange intergalactic electro superstar, such is the amount of bleepy electro glitches and sparkly Atom and His Package-style keyboard effects illuminating each tune. It's an utterly compelling listen the album bursting with all manner of lo-fi electronic gadgetry. In a thousand years time, when robots rule the Earth, they will ALL be dancing to Age of Jets. www.ageofjets.co.uk / www.damagedgoods.co.uk
AMAZING LARRY
BEAT THE CLOCK
NORTH COUNTY PRESS
Wow, I guess the music scene in Durango, CO, is very isolated, as it seems that lame, badly-recorded pop-punk bands are still in fashion. There's definitely nothing amazing about Amazing Larry, nor is their album worth a listen. The recording is horrible, the lyrics are lame (ex.: "I want to walk around, I want to walk around town, I want to go out at night"), and the music leaves something left to be desired. If you read this review and you're from Durango, may the music gods have mercy on your souls.
-ADF

AMBER PACIFIC
FADING DAYS
HOPELESS RECORDS
Take one part emo, add one part pop-punk, and you got yourself one hell of a concoction, simply titled Amber Pacific. In a field overgrown with verminous bands that sound like they came from the same mother, Hopeless Records have found efflorescence in Amber Pacific. The boys in Amber Pacific have not invented perpetual motion here, but they've released an EP so infectious that you will want to check yourself into the nearest psych ward, because the tunes won't leave your head. At only 19, singer Matt Young holds nothing back at the helm, relentlessly belting out lyrics of love and loss. "Good times last forever / I'll keep my heart with yours" is a taste of what's cooking on FADING DAYS. Heavy guitars combined with bass-driven melodies back Matt Young's heartfelt lyrics, creating a delicious palate for the ears. Fans of the ever-popular emo and pop-punk sound should not let this band pass them by, but with tunes this infectious, it is only a matter of time before you hear the unstoppable machine known as Amber Pacific.
-Brent Sheen

ANGELSTORM
RISE FROM THE ASH
SET-FIRE RECORDS
I was greatly surprised to learn after looking at this CD cover that this band is Christian. The lyrics are sickeningly positive and filled with lines such as "There'll be no more drive-by shootings" or "White puffy clouds fill the sky"; yet the music is traditional heavy metal. If you enjoy Christian metal, you will be jumping for joy with this one.
-Ringo

ARTIMUS PYLE
FUCKED FROM BIRTH
PRANK
Remember when hardcore bands actually had something to say and said it with rage, frustration, and maybe even a bit of hope? Artimus Pyle don't have many contemporaries these days, what with all of the hairspray being pumped into the ozonebut that makes them all the more vital. Only bands like From Ashes Rise, Tragedy, and Corrupted still raise a stink like these San Fran maniacs. It's grindy, manic hardcore with massive breakdowns and a chunkier sound that you'd expect from this kind of crustier hardcore. The lyrics attack the Bush era with much fervor, making FUCKED FROM BIRTH a loud, angry, flaming winner! www.prankrecords.com
-Jason Schreurs

BLUEPRINT CAR CRASH
RHETORIC OF A MARIONETTE
THE MILITIA GROUP RECORDS
Punk + metal + emo = many of the bands that labels are releasing these days. When it became hip to melt genres of underground music together, many bands jumped on the train. Blueprint Car Crash is not the first band to do this, nor will it be the last. The group sounds like some of its contemporaries in Christiansen and Anatomy of a Ghost. There is nothing either groundbreaking nor truly captivating in this record, just another lackluster album of progressive melodic metal. The band is very talented at mixing the aforementioned styles, but it seems to do so at the cost of listener accessible songs. The songs seem to simply go on and onkind of boring, if you ask me.
-ADF

BOULEVARD
SIGNAL
SELF-RELEASED
Boulevard is a new-wave, post-modern pop group via The Beatles to Bowie to Roxy Music to Cheap Trick to the Finn brothers' Split Enz and so on. The voice of Boulevard Benji Barton is Zanderliscous. Some of the top-shelf moments are disc opener "Boundless" (which features some keyboard work from 1982 by Emily Beard), "Octane Lovers" (which features a chorus melody that will haunt you for days), and disc closer "The Shroud" is an FM hit for the young lovers. SIGNAL is a six-song demo for sale. The group wears the style of past greats in a shameless way that seems to be on one hand tribute and on the other clever and just damn good. SIGNAL is authentic. Haling from Athens, GA, Boulevard is a band ready to be invited into the big leagues. SIGNAL is a good rock album.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

BREAKING BENJAMIN
WE ARE NOT ALONE
HOLLYWOOD RECORDS
Sharing the stage with bands like Godsmack, Three Doors Down and Fuel, don't expect Breaking Benjamin to be breaking new ground. WE ARE NOT ALONE is an OK record, however, in that it mines away at modern riff-rock. Tracks like "So Cold" and "Follow" are pretty damn catchy with their electric guitar machismo, and tracks like "Forget It" are a bit more tender. Smashing Pumpkins luminary Billy Corgan had a hand in the songwriting. Nevertheless, WE ARE NOT ALONE is...what it is.
-Darren Ratner

BREEZY PORTICOS
KEEP IT CRISP
BEST FRIENDS RECORDS
With melodies structured by the monotone and nearly emotionless Andy Falconetti (whom often reminds of Gordon Gano), this Denver trio produces some eccentrically tight patchwork pop. Their guitars softly grind, spotlighting solos like a dozen springs lazily uncoiling. Intellectual with ease, the lyrics show few hints at laboring over such smart-assed cynicism and wistful disconnection. Breezy Porticos arouse feelings of flying too close to the ground behind their gracefully flawed pop familiarity.
-Rob Macy

CARRIER
S/T
HIDEAWAY
From the forested mountains of Colorado comes Carrier, a new band formed from some other band's ex-members who have an approachable and extremely likeable sound. Take the '90s out of Dinosaur Jr., add more guitar to The Flaming Lips, combine the two, and you're pretty close to Carrier. They still manage to come off unique, however, with a sound all their own, mixing clean and crunchy guitar sounds with catchy melodies and pretty male vocals that often resemble a straighter Perry Farrell. Best when listened to sitting on a windowsill with a glass of wine on a rainy Saturday overlooking a bustling city street. I would honestly rate this as one of the best CDs I've heard this year. It doesnt come out until August 3, 2004, but you can hear the album and watch home videos at www.carriercarrier.com
-Small

CASPER AND THE COOKIES!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME RECORDS
Coming out of Athens, Casper and the Cookies present a brilliant pop collection. They manage to incorporate elements from '60s surf, '70s power pop, and '80s new wave to create a sound that changes with each track. About half the album would probably be enjoyed by anyone into the Athens indie scene, but the other half is specifically for the nice-guy, dorky types who are really glad indie pop got so popular. If you're looking for sentiment, look elsewhere, but if you seek la la happy kiddy pop, this is right up your alley. In summary, this album can be filed with Of Montreal, Elf Power, and The Beach Boys.
-Small

CONCUBINE FORMING
THE GUILT WILL KILL
BIG NECK RECORDS
The band's name is rivaled in atrociousness only by its music. Industrial music should be left to Germans and Al Jourgenson; and the unbridled angst thing lost most of its credibility after IN UTERO. But hey, this negative feedback shouldn't come as a complete surprise, as any band with a producer named Jerry Reatard (actual spelling in the liner notes, honest!) and a Playskool Weebles drum machine probably didn't have too high hopes to begin with.
-Casey Clague

COREY HEASLIP
WIRING OURSELVES UP
COMSCO RECORDS
Corey Heaslip seems to write from an autobiographical perch at all times. Aiming towards his bitterness on doomed relationships with doomed women and eagerness towards using nice days and breaking personal monotony, he takes on pop topics in compelling ways. But his compelling words stretch too far at times to work. Often he is focusing more on telling the story and being true to his prose than creating the necessary melodies to make the songs flow easily. His quivering voice rarely displays a different chord structure, instead building the soundscape differently to break the monotony, covering fuzz drones to James Taylor-aping quiet bits.
-Rob Macy

COUNTRY CLUB AND THE PORN HORNS
THE STATIONWAGON REVOLUTION
SELF-RELEASED
Although the band's intentions can be misleading, the name is apparently not a phallic reference: a porn horn seems to be a method of playing brass instruments in a sexy manner. CCPH succeed in doing so on "Travel", the sixth track on the disc, while the rest of the songs are an eclectic blend of surf, ska, punk, jazz, and rock. Whilst the band attempts to woo the masses with their tunes, they are secretly planning a military siege with a station wagon as their Trojan horse. Good thinking on their part, as no one will ever see it comingÖexcept that they sort of advertised their plan in the record's title. That probably wasn't a good move.
-Casey Clague

DARK TRANQUILITY
EXPOSURES IN RETROSPECT
CENTURY MEDIA
Dark Tranquility has done something quite unique with this release. One CD is the all the songs from the LIVE DAMAGE DVD. The other CD has a lot of unreleased songs that never made it to the full-length LPs, and the remaining five are new songs that are just fantastic. Every Dark Tranquility or Gothenburg metal fan should pick this up immediately. Dark Tranquility will be around for a long time, and their songs will only get better. "Cornered" sounds hardly like any of DT's other work, but it's still quite amazing and original. With a great price, too, don't miss out on this one!
-Ringo

DIMLAIA
DIMLAIA
LIFE IS ABUSE
It turns out that people do more than listen to country music and eat at Cracker Barrel up in Nashville. The folks in Dimlaia, for instance, just released this cloudy prog-metal record and had it mixed by Dave Ed of one of the genre's most renowned masters, Neurosis. Here, sweeping arpeggios lurk in the key of Tool and cleanse away the traces of screamo that float to the surface from time to time before becoming enveloped in ever-waxing currents of murky and mathy technical instrumentalism. The music isn't half bad, and I'd probably even listen to DIMLAIA again if it weren't for the other side of the coin, which concerns context more than content. The album's recording is less than amazing, and these potentially mountain-moving songs could have been brought across much more powerfully with a better, more layered recording job. Dimlaia would have done well here to cough up a credit card or five and allow their thunderous sounds to take on a more commanding form.
-Dave Kargol

DOG FACED GODS
STONED COUNCIL
VOODOO NATION RECORDS
This album intrigued me. It was a sort of blend of garage rock and heavy alternative, with an interesting touch. Apparently, big things are happening for this band, with Ozzfest, the Warped Tour, and the Cypress Hill Smoke Out tour. Good for them, as they deserve it for their hard work. Pick up this album if you're into alternative rock. It may be just what you're looking for.
-Ringo

DOWN TO EARTH APPROACH
ANOTHER INVENTION
VAGRANT
Unlike so many acts of their ilk, the typical layered, crunchy guitars hang from some of descent hooks and spotlight harmonies that actually flow. Down to Earth Approach has a much better grasp on the punk songwriting structure than most, but it still needs to pop. However, when a band from Batavia, NY, adopts the punk sound of glorious SoCal and not gutter NYC, you have to question what originality is behind the influence.
-Rob Macy

DYNAMITE BOY
SELF-TITLED
FEARLESS RECORDS
Whenever I'm ready to verbally bash pop-punk for all its cliches and constant repetition, there comes a band like Dynamite Boy. Like a lot of records of the same genre, this self-titled record has nothing on it that wouldn't make you think of Warped Tour times. Bright and shiny chords are where they should be, anthem antics pervail and the lyrics are of that teenage, early twentysomething honesty. But hell, I listened to Dynamite Boy, and for a while, couldn't stop listening. The addictive reality check of "Man of the Year" has me by the ears. Help!!
-Darren Ratner

FANG
LIVE CHEAP CD
MALT SODA RECORDS
Here comes a punk band from Northern California that started in the 1980s and never let it go. Fang has been playing the same style of old-school, straight-ahead punk for 20 years and has finally released its own version of a greatest hit(s) record. Nothing new here, just simple balls-out thrash punk. Lines such as "We'll fuck you mom / We'd fuck your sister, too, but we're too old" are really damn funny. I can't stand to listen to this record too many times, but Fang definitely sounds like a group I want to see live.
-ADF

FEAR AND TREMBLING
WOODCUT RECORDS
An EP that manages to drag three songs out for 23 minutes does not appear particularly inviting at first, but Fear and Trembling are able to use the lengthy songs to create a unified effort. The songs are heavily reliant on a simple instrumental style, which ebbs and flows throughout the record, with vocals used sparingly. Deep, hollow singing fleshes out the quiet strumming that dominates the album. "A scream without a sound" is cried during the final song, which exemplifies the approach of Fear and Trembling. Their music shouts without even raising its voice. This approach is also analogous to the silhouettes in the album artwork. As the light shines away and leaves a shadow, the stripped-down sound of Fear and Trembling leaves a simple, intriguing outline.
-Erika Owens

FEAR MY THOUGHTS
THE GREAT COLLAPSE
LIFEFORCE RECORDS
Okay, Lifeforce, European, and metalcoreyou know what you're getting into here. And Fear My Thoughts certainly do not disappoint; but they don't challenge or engage new listeners, either. Their quick, heavy, thick sound has clearly been crafted from years of experience and creates a crisp, complete sound. Cavernous vocals are paired with higher-pitched yelling, which offers a welcome variance to the metallic scaling monotony. On "Mission Immortality", a more upbeat, punk-edged sound is presented, and the album closes out with a diverse sound, including piano on "Reign". Fear My Thoughts clearly have the metalcore thing down, and should stick with it. The infusion of other sounds doesn't add much, but their metal expertise and passion are sure to captivate current fans.
-Erika Owens

FOREVER IS FORGOTTEN
DYING BEAUTIFUL
THORP RECORDS
Their band name screams out "GENERIC HARDCORE!" While the hardcore part is true, they are in no way mediocre. The uniqueness of "Dying Beautiful" features eerie chords backed by a distinct bass. They get all the melodic crap out of the way in the first track, "Fallen for". Everything after that of this six-track release is an assault of beautiful pain to the eardrums. The ferocity of their lead singer is undeniable. On their last (live) track, one guy can even be heard yelling out, "Why are you so mad?"
-Mabel Lam

4FT FINGERS
A CAUSE FOR CONCERN
GOLF
Having already proved themselves as one of the most hardest-working bands in the U.K. punk scene, 4ft Fingers are pulling no punches with their latest effort, presenting 12 tracks of unpolished and pretty uninspiring melodic punk. Although it is refreshingly a million miles away from the overly-plagiarised SoCal style that every kid with a guitar seems to be emulating at the moment, there are some pretty weak melodies here, and the fact that they're captured through less-than-average production makes A CAUSE FOR CONCERN an ironic title for a band who should take things back to the drawing board. www.plastichead.com

FRANKENIXON
AMORPHOUS
BI-FI RECORDS
It's easy for Norah Jones to be happy, what with all the records and Grammys and lips around with world bearing her name. So crown Evelyn Finch the Norah Jones of nihilists, if you want. Hyperbole aside, she seems to be the antithesis of Jones's sunny disposition. Swirling piano notes and tight and tasteful rhythm work highlight Finch's reserved croon, until it turns to acid behind exploding reinforcements from behind. Frankenixon can be at once soft and crisp and caustic and brutal, all while maintaining poise and Finch's charmed pitch.
-Rob Macy

FREE MORAL AGENTS
EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE WEAPON
GOLD STANDARD LABORATORIES
Isaiah "Ikey" Owens is a keyboard player deluxe. He always has the killer tone. He has played in or with The Mars Volta, De Facto, Sublime, and Long Beach Dub Allstars. Now "Ikey" has gone solo, and outside of rapper J and vocalist Mendee Ichikawa Free Moral Agents, it's all "Ikey". EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE WEAPON is poetic and psychedelic and pensive and flows like a cell-based dream with non-stop ideas. The title track sounds like Stevie Wonder playing Air. There are several Air moments that swirl softly in a kind of tranced-out soul music. "Talk Show Host" is a playful funky song where upon J raps it super cool with lots of warmth and excellent rhymes. EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE WEAPON is a perfect record that covers a wide variety of music with artistic ease. "Ikey" is choosing not to play it safe, and as a result, EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE WEAPON is a masterwork.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

FROM FIRST TO LAST
DEAR DIARY, MY TEEN ANGST HAS A BODYCOUNT
EPITAPH RECORDS
Referencing teen angst in an album title isn't exactly a call for respect, but that honesty carries the entire album. Smart, sarcastic, and genuine lyrics make DEAR DIARY endearing beyond all the musical mania. From First to Last can't seem to decide what strain of punk rock they'd like to play. They run the gamut and include everything from pop-punk to hardcore, hand claps to rapping, but it is the absolute sincerity and enthusiasm that keeps their effort from being a confounding mess. In spite of those odd missteps and painfully inane lyrics ("Your words are deadly weapons killing me"), I was a fan by the end. How can you not love an album with a track titled "I Liked You Better Before You Were Naked on the Internet"?
-Erika Owens

FUCK
THOSE ARE NOT MY BONGOS'
FUTURE FARMER
It's hard not to appreciate the four gutsy gentleman that make up Oakland's Fuck. Even more shocking than their name however might be the fact that their wistful, lo-fi aesthetic is so easy on the ears. While one could only wonder where they'd be if they could actually advertise for themselves (I weep for their doomed publicist), their woeful ditties would fit nicely in-between anyone's Pavement or Sufjan Stevens records. Recommended.
-Matt Siblo

GEORGE JOSEPH
TIME IS RIGHT
SELF-RELEASED
This six-song EP from George Joseph is a bluesy, guitar-oriented slice of rock and roll. With no label, no Website, and no info on the artist available, this review (as most probably should) is focused on the music only. The CD consists of five original tunes and one cover, all dominated by soft vocals interspersed with some fairly talented and traditional guitar riffs. Josephif indeed he is the guitarist pictured on the cover of this CDlayers multiple vocal tracks of humming, whistling, and soft chorus behind his quiet vocals. This is the type of CD that was probably done solo in a home studio but sounds good enough to have been done professionally. The manic version of The Doors' "Love Her Madly" which closes the disc is a fairly inspired version, with yelps, howls, and bongos backing some very fast-paced guitar. This is a pretty good disc. Perhaps next time we'll find out who George Joseph really is.
-DUG

GONE WITHOUT TRACE
GONE WITHOUT TRACE
THORP RECORDS
Well, it's heavy, angry, and sounds better loud. This album reminds me of what would happen if Propain, Fear Factory, and Biohazard listened to a lot of screaming hardcore before establishing their sounds. This band is vicious and intense, but they can easily be confused with many bands already out there. That being said, the bands that they would be confused with have unloaded many records and sold out many a sweaty venue. People wear their T-shirts and will remember them when they die. Gone Without Trace is better than just another spawn of an established scene, but there isn't anything here we haven't heard before. They even have a war theme intro to the album.
-Thomas Murray

GORGE TRIO
OPEN MOUTH, O WIST
SKIN GRAFT RECORDS
At their best, Gorge Trio upholds the same sort of avant-brilliance that follows in the tradition of other like-minded bands such as Hella and Don Caballero. At their worst however, OPEN MOUTH, O WIST is a 22 song crap shoot that serves up more than its fair share of misdirected noodeling and experimental excesses. While the trio are certainly not the worst of their breed, they'll never be confused for the most memorable either.
-Matt Siblo

GUN CRAZY
DROPPING LIKE FLIES
MORTVILLE RECORDS
Jimmy Sanchez leads Gun Crazy in a rocking piece of garage excellence. Raw and tough guitar tones and driving rhythms are the basic blueprint for DROPPING LIKE FLIES, Gun Crazy's debut disc, a great example of how it's done with balls. The prize in the rock candy is the voice and attitude of Jimmy Sanchez. He is a little Iggy, a little Cheetah Chrome. Lead guitarist Clint Shay is doing Johnny Thunders' job, playing it cool with more aggression than Johnny. For my money, track 3, "Talk to Jane", is the hit single. DROPPING LIKE FLIES is an excellent, fun rock disc. Gun Crazy could be the next band in line behind Jet for newest garage sensation. That's cool with me.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

HEARTLESS BASTARDS
HEARTLESS BASTARDS
SELF-RELEASED
Heartless Bastards came together based on the strength of this five-song demo. This demo was written by Erika Wennerstrom, formerly of the band Shesus. She also played the majority of the instruments on the demo. Heartless Bastards have a heavy, muddled guitar sound, and Erika's voice sounds very similar to Joan Jett, which is pretty cool. Since this is only a five-song demo, I'm sort of left wanting more. Hopefully they have a full-length album coming out soon. Heartless Bastards are from Dayton, Ohio. Check them out if you get a chance.
-chad

HELLBILLYS
BLOOD TRILOGY VOL. II
SPLIT 7 RECORDS
Hellbillys are supposedly considered America's first and best psychobilly act. They've been playing in the San Francisco Bay area since 1989. Their lyrics are like cartoonish grim reaper and death references and stuff. I just find it kind of boring. I'm not the biggest fan of psychobilly, but death metal and psychobilly fans should appreciate this album. Plus, I'm assuming it's part II of their trilogy, so if you want to get the whole trilogy, then you'll need this album, I think. Otherwise, you'll know the beginning and you'll know how it ends, but you won't know what happens in between without this!
-chad

HOWARDS ALIAS
THE ANSWER IS NEVER
HOUSEHOLD NAME
Quite how you can name Norah Jones, Tool, and Weezer as being influential on your band when high-energy ska-punk is your thing is somewhat confusing, but what Howards Alias do they do well, even managing to incorporate strings on a couple of the tracksso maybe I am being a little harsh there. There are moments when the band strays from the usual ska-punk path, such as in the dynamically emotive "Underground" and "40 Winks"; and lyrically they cover topics such as non-violence and anti-elitism within the scene, proving that it's not all fun and games in the world of brass-fuelled punk. Although the vocals are a little disappointing, this is still a rich and varied melodic punk album for those who like their ska with a much darker edge. www.householdnamerecords.co.uk / www.howardsalias.co.uk

INTERFERENCE
EVERYONE'S RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING
EYEBALL RECORDS
This is a great fucking record. Here you have a band that possesses all the qualities I've been looking for in a great rock artist: A) don't take themselves too seriously, B) don't feel like the band must portray a dark or gothic image to be "hardcore," C) every other song isn't about some type of abuse- and/or drug-related death. The record is progressive melodic metal in the vein of what is popular right now, with some melodic punk thrown in. This is a feel-good record that will have you humming along in no time. Think of Interference as a more radio-friendly version of Poison the Well, but still cooler than Finch. Look out for this band in the future! www.interferencerock.com
-ADF

JEFF GEOFFRAY
FIRST BARBEQUE
OYSTER KISS MUSIC
To be perfectly honest, this album isn't bad at all, it's just so over-produced. It's like a cross between Dave Matthews Band and Peter Gabriel and kind of reminds me of something a dad would listen to. The songwriting effort is there, but I'm afraid the end result is just a little bit weak. I'm not sure that many of the people who read this magazine would be turned on by this album, but for those young Magellans out there, give it a whirl and see what comes up.
-Ringo

JOSIAH
VERONA
INDIE VISION MUSIC
Christian hardcore bands have always presented, for me anyway, an inherent contradiction. If you're supposedly praising the Lord, should you be doing it in a voice that so closely resembles one of a demons? Regardless, VERONA's Christian undertones are just about the only attribute worth mentioning as this sort of Shai Hulud / Most Precious Blood territory has become well covered musical ground. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the spirituality shown here but there's something about moshing for Jesus that just doesn't seem to fit. I somehow always got the impression that J.C. would be more of a passive, welcoming onlooker as opposed to an antagonistic tough guy with plugs in his ears, sporting a Hatebreed sweatshirt.
-Matt Siblo

JUDE THE OBSCURE
THE COLDEST WINTER
ONE DAY SAVIOR RECORDS
Although the album has key undertones that make the group sound very much like Poison the Well, Converge, and Hopesfall all rolled into one, these crazy metalhead Canucks have written a very dynamic album. Although Jude the Obscure ventures into already-charted territory, the group does so flawlessly through its dynamic style of melting together melody and raw, pounding metal. This is an album I can listen to over and over in my car right before I go murder my neighbors and their cat.
-ADF

KAPLAN
HORS DE COMBAT
REDDER RECORDS
Four Hundred Years-style post-hardcore with sparse, barely intelligible vocals similar to those of Mogwai. Add a pinch of Codeseven's The Rescue and you've got a pretty fair summation of HORS DE COMBAT. The music never sounds copycatted, though, and is in many parts an interesting and refreshing blend of the aforementioned groups. There are too many cathartic moments to count, all placed seamlessly among some of the most powerful and intense music availableall of which is accomplished without being unnecessarily heavy. The album's fifth track, "Save Me, You Can't Save Me", features a multi-layered synth interlude so beautiful that there should be an emotion named after it. With the ability to create something of that nature coupled with their inevitable growth as a band (and perhaps the benefit of a better recording), Kaplan could very well become the kind of mass-admired, stalwart group used as the basis of such "band + band = band" reviews.
-Casey Clague

KING RADIO
ARE YOU THE SICK PASSENGER?
SPIRITHOUSE RECORDS
Former Scud Mountain Boy Frank Padellaro has turned up as the brains behind King Radio and their delicately orchestrated pop shimmer. His barely-sung manner floats over chiming guitar flourishes, flickering bass lines, and chanting vocal undercurrents. Making the sandbox-crazy, childlike pop of Brian Wilson seems to suit the assumedly well-balanced Padellaro, especially when he adds his own oddball arrangements and horns plucked from Bacharach's orchestra pit. Brilliant pop that only occasionally comes off as the soundtrack to a merry-go-round in hell.
-Rob Macy

KISS OR KILL
PRESENTS LOS ANGELES CLASSICS/COMPILATION VOL. 1
WAR ROOM RECORDS
Forget Sum 41, Simple Plan, and any other of these bubblegum poseur punks. If you want to know what punk rock is, head down to the Red Room at Zen Sushi on Tuesday nights. Here you will find the up-and-rising Kiss or Kill scene. For a measly two-buck cover, you can join the weekly event where the beer flows like wine. Each week showcases five pop-punk/rock bands. Kiss or Kill has compiled 11 of their up-and-comers for this project. None of the acts on this disc sound alike or sound like any of the so-called punk rock plaguing the airwaves today. This compilation is not only a great treasure for the Kiss or Kill fans but will also get this scene heard farther than L.A.'s city limits.
-Brent Sheen

L.A. TOOL AND DIE
FASHION FOR THE EVILDOER
AAJ RECORD
Attention pretentious hacks: all of the classical training in the world won't save you from an abysmal lack of inspiration and vision. Too bad your bassoon instructor didn't have a thesaurus lying around at your overpriced lessons. At least then you might have a shot at a better vocabulary than a fourth-grader with a learning disability. Hacks.
-Casey Clague

LENNON
CAREER SUICIDE
JOHN GALT ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Lennon is a 20-year-old female singer who tours with rock groups like Alice Cooper, Heart, and The Cult. Lennon is a rock singer, but on this album she has lost the rock for the acoustic sound. The album consists of heartfelt songs that display her voice and versatility. All the songs on the album are comprised of Lennon's voice accompanied by the piano, which she has mastered, having played since the age of four. She plays some new and old songs and displays a different version and style to her songs.
-Jennifer Moncayo

LETTEROPENERS
GET UP THERE AND DO YOUR OOH'S
SELF-RELEASED
This demo by L.A. quartet Letter Openers is rock 'n' roll at its most typical. GET UP AND DO YOUR OOH'S lies in the exact median point between boring and compelling, between plain and memorable, and inspires no comment, negative or otherwise.
-Casey Clague

LITTLE WINGS
MAGIC WAND
SECRETLY CANADIAN
The sixth release from San Francisco artist Kyle Fields is another milestone in his long history of eclectic poetry, soft guitar, and unexpected musical endeavors. His last release, LIGHT GREEN LEAVES, was a three -part tour de force that included a CD, a cassette, and a vinyl record, all with slightly different takes on (mostly) the same songs. Though his current release is nowhere near as ambitious as the last, his signature Nick Drake-type vocals and quirky lyrical cadences are all here to be experienced in intimate detail. Numerous artists contribute bits and pieces on the different songs, but the overall effect is of a deeply committed artist opening his heart and bleeding across the tracks. This is definitely not rock 'n' roll for a new millennium, but rather a warning cry and a glimpse of a different path that Fields has chosen to traverse.
-DUG

LKN
IN THE LEAP YEAR
GREY DAY PRODUCTIONS
LKN is Lauren K. Newman (Stellamarie). Lauren is the mistress of noisy indie rock on this collection of songs. The tracks here, ranging from indie rock ("Will Meets Strength on Courage") to noise experiments ("Varientnoiz") are culled from two years of recording. Multi-instrumentalist Lauren plays drums, guitar, keys, bass, percussion, and more on the four-track creations. Not much of a singer (rather like a young girl trying to imitate classic Chrissie Hynde), LKN rocks out on these hard-hitting songs, and that is all that matters. www.greydayproductions.com
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

LOGH
THE CONTRACTOR AND THE ASSASSIN
BAD TASTE RECORDS
The newest release from dark and introspective Swedish rockers Logh is a five-song EP that combines two brilliant tracks from recent albums and three recent, unreleased filler tunes that probably should have stayed in the studio. The EP opens with the excellent "The Contractor and the Assassin" from the band's recent CD, THE RAGING SUN. The second track is the bit more obscure yet still superb "The Bones of Generations", which was taken from the 7" vinyl release of the same name. The remaining three songs on the EP are moody instrumentals that would benefit with some of Logh's biting vocal melodies. Bad Taste Records is a great label with some incredible (and mostly European) bands. The label should be more careful what it releases from some of its best talentsuch as Logh. www.badtasterecords.se
-DUG

MARY TYLER WHORES
DEMO
Mary Tyler Whores are a side project of Joey Image of The Misfits. Their songs range from the street-punk style of A Global Threat (due to their backup vocals and fast-paced beats, such as in "Mary Tyler Whores") to fast-paced rock with Cypress Hill-sounding, quick rapping vocals (such as in "Machine Gun Hooker"). All of their songs are very fast-paced, loud, dark, and intense with anger. They also cover a Misfits song, "Horror Business", which fits their intense and fast style. From the sound of their songs, Mary Tyler Whores are angry guys.
-Jennifer Moncayo

MIDLAKE
BAMNAN AND SILVERCORK
BELLA UNION
BAMNAN AND SILVERCORK by Midlake is an emo record that relies on its kooky electro sounds to give it a sureal feel. It works for the most part. Songs like "Kingfish Pies" and "Balloon Maker" are all about flutes, chimes and fluffy percussion. Then "I Guess I'll Take Care" moves along like 1980s electronic pong, with random bleeps and blops that even harken back to Kraftwerk. Good for those trippy times, I suppose.
-Darren Ratner

MORRISSEY
YOU ARE THE QUARRY
ATTACK/SANCTUARY
Yes, it's Morrissey. Yes, the man has been an iconic figure in rock for over 20 years. Yes, the Moz lays claim to one of the most distinct, emotive, theatrical voices, but this album isÖall right. Morrissey's signature wit, honesty, and melancholy abound, and there's some astute socio-political commentary featured (e.g., the light opener "America Is Not the World", "Irish Blood, English Heart"); but considering fans have waited seven years for another album from the poet, there isn't much that's changed, nor much that willin my mindstand the test of time. The album's absolute raison d'Ítre is the incredible, goosebump-inducing "How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?", a more upbeat, dark, and angst-ridden song. Why are all of Morrissey's finest compositions (including ones with The Smiths) those having questions as titles? Anyway, some other highlights are "I Like You" and the bittersweet "The World Is Full of Crashing Bores". However, other than these rare delights, not much going on.
-Janelle Jones

MY COUSIN KATE
SQUARE ONE EP
FOUR MILLIONTH KANGAROO
It's no surprise that My Cousin Kate are starting to generate a buzz in the U.K. underground, winning METAL HAMMER MAGAZINE's 2003 unsigned band competition and providing music for an advert for surf company Saltrock, as by the sounds of their latest EP they are without doubt heads and shoulders above 99% of the melodic rock wannabes currently on the club circuit. It's an infectious sound, mixing in strangely off-tune guitars in "Cold Light of Day" with Olly's highly distinguished vocal meandering, such melodies gliding with a consummate ease over their melodic rock base. Although they bear a remarkable resemblance to CLUMSY-era Our Lady Peace, they also demonstrate the kind of potential that should hopefully take them to the next level. www.mycousinkate.com

MY REVENGE
LESS PLOT MORE BLOOD
THORP RECORDS
Proudly hailing from the land of teddy bears, maple syrup, and, um, Phishi.e., Burlington, VTMy Revenge have set themselves on a crusade to restore hardcore to its coveted spot as the most reviled form of music on the planet. Loud, angry, rude, filthy, fucked, and crude, when singer Spencer Crispe sings "Listen up / You fucking listen to me" in "Stand for Something", you can tell he's singing as much to today's brand of arty hardcore bands (City of Caterpillar) as to his own skater peers. My Revenge has something to say about almost everything, from child abuse to racism to the purity of skate culture, and they say it all to a soundtrack worthy of the best Cro-Mags albums. Fans of Suicidal Tendencies will love them, as well.
-jck.

NEUROSIS
THE EYE OF EVERY STORM
NEUROT
Neurosis is a band that plays traditional thrash metal. This CD follows in the exact style of screaming that Neurosis traditionally plays, and fans of the band will be happy (as usual) with the results. I'd say the opening track is my favorite, because it really kicks the CD off and gets things going. Fans of Yattering and Dark Funeral should enjoy this one.
-Ringo

NEW BLIND NATIONALS
BURY THE PATTERN
SPARKLER RECORDS
The guys of NEW BLIND NATIONALS sound like a brash bunch, toting that line of rusty-nail punk edge and modern-day retro style. But it's as if it was decided a tune like "Tuned for No Wave" should stay within the cool paramters of today, with hard rhythms and screams, and not overdo it. That's the way most of BURY THE PATTERN runs. Alt-rock riffs abound and the group never takes the music for granted, as if every hard rocker was going to take it as it comes. There's a balance here that's pleasing to the eardrums.
-Darren Ratner

NICKI JAYNE
OF PIGEONS AND OTHER CURIOSITIES
SHAMAN RECORDS
The debut full-length from Philadelphia goth chanteuse Nicki Jayne is a stark, edgy work that teeters on the brink of madness and threatens to pull the listener into Jayne's dark, Marlene Dietrich fantasy. Though a full band is incorporated for many of the tracks, the arrangements are focused on either a solo guitar or piano, the instruments Jayne plays in her live shows. There is a certain beautiful danger to her throaty, cabaret voice that would have played well in post-WWII Berlin. Songs such as "Pigeon Named Crow", "Octopi", and "Disaster, You're Beautiful" are just far enough over the top to put her in a class by herself. Philadelphia's dark denizens have adopted Jayne into their scene as an opening act exclusively for goth bands. Jayne claims her twisted outlook can be traced back to a traumatic childhood trick-or-treating episode at Bruce Springsteen's house. Now, that's inspiration. www.nickijayne.com
-DUG

NONCENTS
SELF TITLED
NJB RECORDS
The four-song EP from this Glendale, AZ, quartet is a refreshing slice of pop-punk served up with sing-along choruses and catchy guitar riffs. While the band maintains a nice combination of Blink 182 and Green Day with its sound, the band has the distinction of possessing one of the most irritating Websites on Earth. Luckily, nobody in the band is old enough to drink. Maybe maturity and a better computer skills will come with the ability to kill brain cells legally. In the meantime, the band should work hard on a real demo or full-length CD so that they have something to sell on their Website other than T-shirts. www.noncentsrock.com
-DUG

NORTH SIDE KINGS
ORGANIZING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
THORP RECORDS
Memo to North Side Kings: swearing is not a necessity when producing hardcore. Wait, are they even hardcore? because they seem to be more in-your-face, against-the-whole-world-and-your-mom punk rock. During their first song, "In This Corner", there was youth-crew chanting of their name. Not exactly too deep or meaningful. The music itself is a little more than mediocre at times, when the drumming breaks out of its overly consistent beat. It seemed as if everything was tough, except for the musicand that's what really counts the most.
-Mabel Lam

NOT LONG AFTER
TOMORROW COME SAVE US
NEW SCHOOL RECORDS
What do we have here? Some pop-punk that doesn't sound redone, regurgitated, refurbished, and retarded? These guys have a clever sound that reaches back to 1980s synthesizers and slick 1950s crooners sipping strait booze on the rocks, calling women "dames," and wearing tuxedos. The lyrics are intriguing at times. They even stray away from the standard themes of today that include "I miss my ex," "I need another," and "Why won't that girl talk to me?" TOMORROW COME SAVE US is only five songs from Not Long After, but I was left with the distinct impression that I would hear about these guys again...whether I liked it or not.
-Thomas Murray

OLD GHOST
LIGHT RETURNS
MORPHIUS RECORDS
This full-length release from the Seattle-based quartet Old Ghost is a brilliant piece of alt-country in the vein of Cracker and The Jayhawks. With deliberate pacing and exceptional skill, the band brings in a bevy of guest musicians on violins, trombones, and banjos. The 10 tracks on this album are mostly slow, introspective tunes that plumb the heart and soul of the American experience. How refreshing it feels to find a band that makes every song a window to an alternative universe. These are the type of tunes that echo through your subconscious, connecting on a level that most bands never even approach. Think of Jackson Browne at his best (FOR EVERYMAN, LATE FOR THE SKY), and you'll have a pretty good idea of how poignant this album sounds. www.oldghostmusic.com
-DUG

OTEP
HOUSE OF SECRETS
CAPITOL
Otep is a heavy metal band that has been around a while and certainly held their own in the metal scene. Their latest effort, however, is 12 tracks of pure slop. The songs seem to melt together like ice cream on a hot day, and the result is a warm soup that no one wants to eat. Otep seem to have forgotten that they need to create new songs that don't sound exactly like everything they've done to keep their fans entertained. Alas, there's not much else to say about this collection of boring material.
-Ringo

OVAL-TEEN
YORKVILLE, IL
BI-FI
Gawd damn, this sucks! A double-CD of basement records from indie popsters Oval-Teen. As if one 26-song disc of mopey, boring indie rock recorded on a four-track wasn't enough, we get a second, 28-song disc with even more of the sameearly cassette releases, demos, unreleased songs. But any way you slice it, it still smells like the moldy piece of pie that's been hiding in the back of the fridge since last summer. This is just really dull music without any redeeming qualities. Hey, it would make a great torture device for metalcore kids. Prop their ears open with toothpicks and pump this hippy dippy shit in through strapped-on headphones. AAAAAAHHHHHH!!! www.bifirecords.com
-Jason Schreurs

OUTLIE
COMPANIONS TO DEVILS AND SAINTS
PORTERHOUSE RECORDS
After some time adrift, Luke Pabich and Sean Sellers of Good Riddance fame are reunited in this delectable new project. Although Outlie does not have the same lightning-fast tempo as early Good Riddance, the raw power and emotion that made us love GR is here in all it's glory! The only quarrel I have with this disc is that Outlie has gone to producer Ryan Greene for the mixing of this project. Now, some may say Greene has the Midas touch, turning everything he gets his hands on into gold, but the only thing Greene accomplishes is making everything he touches sound the same. More specifically, the guitars on this album sound like any other recording Greene has mixed (see Lagwagon, Pulley, etc.). Do notI repeat: do notlet this stop you from listening to this album. Outlie has dished up a heavy dose of metal-infused punk rock, delivering consistent cathartic laced tunes that will propel this band to a household name.
-Brent Sheen

PATTERN IS MOVEMENT
THE (IM)POSSIBILITY OF LONGING
PATTERN IS MOVEMENT
Intricate but not inaccessible rhythms underlie the complex indie pop of Philadelphia's Pattern Is Movement. In the crowded stadium arena of sweet-sounding indie pop bands, this is the seat with a view to a more intriguing game of sophisticated songwriting. It is not all that post-modern, either, as parts of "Gunsmith" could be from the equally forward-looking band The Fall. It is just that Pattern Is Movement tries harder. www.PatternIsMovement.com
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

PEACHFUZZ
ABOUT A BIRD
DIONYSUS RECORDS
On this, their third album, Peachfuzz have stuck with their guns and released another power-pop gem. The sounds produced on this disc would not be out of place in the late '60s or '70s. Hell, even the CD's cover looks like an old LP from years past. Andrew Chojnacki leads the trio through 11 tracks of power-pop glory. The recording on this album is top-notch, with the classic guitar, bass, drum combo. However, the added psychedelic effects add a pleasant twist to the mix. This disc is meant for driving top-down along sunny beaches. Peachfuzz have produced a great-sounding disc with ABOUT A BIRD, but be forewarned: if you don't dig the power-pop sound that flooded American airwaves in the '60s and '70s, this is not the disc for you.
-Brent Sheen

PETER SEARCY
COUCH SONGS
INITIAL
The multi-talented, versatile Peter Searcy returns after three years with another solo album, COUCH SONGS. A light, placid feel pervades the 11-song release, as the singer/songwriter's acoustic compositions are, quite simply, beautiful and affecting, making this the perfect album for anyone with a penchant for soft and moving music or for those who merely want to have an album they can throw on when that unexpected feeling of melancholy strikes. The songs are well-crafted, drenched in introspective lyrics enveloped in tender melodies. The understated "Gravity" is the standout trackat least for this reviewer. Though light and tranquil, there's an underlying darkness in there, and it concludes in a most intricate and compelling manner with three different vocal lines intertwined. Some songs (like "Invent") feature strings and piano (all played by Searcy, of course) along with the omnipresent acoustic guitar. Overall, a very pleasing record.
-Janelle Jones

PHOSPHORESCENT
THE WEIGHT OF FLIGHT
WARM RECORDS
Phosphorescent lead singer Matthew Houck can't help but sound like the Counting Crow's Adam Duritz on THE WEIGHT OF LIGHT. He's drainy and projects his voice like has the flu. But if you listen to the hypnotically moany "Toes out to Sea" or "All of it, All", it all comes across as alluring. This surprisingly good six-track record does more than that. Horns, clapping, organs and other random noises grace each track and give THE WEIGHT OF LIGHT its own charm. The standout track is "When We Fall", with enough entertaining piano, horns and overall bounce to make it feel like a late-night saloon. Sweet.
-Darren Ratner

PIDGEON
FROM THE GUTTER WITH LOVE
ABSOLUTELY KOSHER RECORDS
The childlike chirp Val Iwamasa layered sloppily over the unbalanced noise pop of her backing mates creates a charming effect. Co-guitarist/singer Micah Foley chimes in on odd notes and slower paces, furthering the effect until the songs climax in a violent rush of urgent racket. Iwamasa's hypnotic voice cuts the mood of the first half like razor blades. Often those songs fail to stand alone from one another, becoming predictably progressive until the final burst and silence. However, the second half reads a little less like cut-and-paste symphonies, focusing on brutal pop with unhinged metallic traces.
-Rob Macy

PINCHE HUEROS
DEMO
SELF-RELEASED
This two-song demo from rocking surf-ska quartet Pinche Hueros is a spicy introduction to a band that brings the party back to rock 'n' roll. With a blistering lead guitar and a logo of a voluptuous redhead (naked save for some thigh-high black stockings), this band is all about loose West Coast fun. Currently the band is working on its debut full-length release, which should be ready for summer of 2004. Hopefully, the entire album is as upbeat and entertaining as the two rollicking songs on this EP. The band does have a Website dominated by a large color photo of a beautiful topless girl that contains some free music downloads. At this point, the band has more merchandise, shirts, thongs, etc., than music. It's time to hit the studio, boys. www.pinchehueros.com
-DUG

RILO KILEY
MORE ADVENTUROUS
SADDLE CREEK
California's favorite deserters have returned with a glistening new LP, and regardless of how you decide to interpret it, one fact is clear: MORE ADVENTUROUS is no THE EXECUTION OF ALL THINGS. Here, this L.A.-by-way-of-Omaha indie-pop quintet (the band now considers Mike Mogis of engineering and Bright Eyes notoriety its fifth member) moves in a direction decidedly different from their prior masterwork, offering a collection that veers clear of lap steel guitar and slicks the studio polish on thick. Jenny Lewis's endearing vocals sound better here than ever, and the presence of leading-man Blake Sennettwho has been keeping busy as of late with The Electedis felt much more briefly. The cohesiveness of THE EXECUTION OF ALL THINGS is scrapped, for the most part, allowing individual songs to exist free of strings. But all of these tracks ("I Never" and "Portions For Foxes" in particular) are prime candidates to argue that albums with unwavering harmonic themes may be more overrated than we'd like to believe.
-Dave Kargol

RHYTHM OF BLACK LINES
HUMAN HAND, ANIMAL BAND
GOLD STANDARD LABORATORIES
This Austin band employed composer/arranger Peter Stopchinski and string players Sarah Nelson and Leigh Mahoney (Tosca String Quartet, David Byrne), but it all seems too much. Rather than hip orch pop or sophisticated and arty music, the result is a heavy-handed imitation of The Smiths. The lyrics are just as impenetrable, and in putting so much into the message and its vehicle, Rhythm of Black Lines too often looses the melody and the magic of good indie pop.
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS
S/T EP
SPOOK CITY RECORDS
The Blues Brothers were more influential than most people give them credit for. Their legendary "mission from God" quip was a golden marketing tool, and nowadays every band with a mic stand claims to be on some sort of "mission" to bring something to the world. Along with several other mildly interesting bands, New Jersey's SSOA carries the burden of bringing old-school hardcore back to the forefront of modern rock. As a result, the obviously talented musicians who make up SSOA limit themselves to mimicking Minor Threat, but their Slint influence isn't hard to detect. They're hardcore in spirit and post-rock in thoughtalthough there's enough denial of the latter to fill a new Richard Gere movie. Admit it, boys: a band that sings lyrics like "Hold my hand through this mess" is not old-school hardcore.
-jck.

SAFETY IN NUMBERS
IN THE KEY OF D
TRIPLE CROWN RECORDS
With Hot Rod Circuit's Andy Jackson fronting and Get-Up Kid Ryan Pope on drums and Chris Flannery on guitar, there is little doubt that S.I.N.'s second effort would be a focused one. While the cast does rotate for live events, Jackson and his Social D affinity do not (maybe that's the "D" in question). They learn towards Ness's punk tradition. However, the added elements of post-hardcore guitar and melodic rhythm work propel the songs in a more modern indie approach.
-Rob Macy

SCARLET FEVER
DEAD MAN'S DOLLRELEASED
To quote the quite personalized, handwritten "press release" that accompanied this six-song debut EP from the motley four-piece Scarlet Fever: "[We're] pissed off no one likes us so you probably won't either." Well, guys, I gotta tell ya, I'm digging this lo-fi punk noise with shouted, somewhat high-pitched, slightly off-key vocals ‡ la The Peechees (especially on the rock 'n' roll-drenched opener "Watch You Bleed". Check out those whiney "ows!" Excellent!). This is fun stuff, kind of like a more amateurish Criminals. "Pirate", a sardonic look at the life of rock stars, is the real highlight here. A welcome dark, mid-tempo composition (akin to D.I.'s eerier pieces like "Venus De Milo" or "Richard Hung Himself"), it takes on a quicker pace during the chorus, happily reverting to its ghoulish previous pace thereafter. One qualm, though: at under nine minutes, this disc goes by WAY too fast. I wish this were a full-length.
-Janelle Jones

SILENT FRONT
DELETE EP
GENIN
At last! FINALLY, a release proper from these spiky post-hardcore brats. These Kingston boys have been familiar faces on the South East underground circuit over the past year, and this EP only clarifies their reputation as one of the scene's finest new bands. And make no mistake: this is explosive stuff. It's as if main songwriter Phil has planted a bomb in the centre of the DC post-hardcore mould and, with his huge infectious laugh, set it alight, revelling in the chaos as they ricochet off twisted shards of Faraquet and red-hot Bluetip shrapnel. What's created is a tempestuous, heart-achingly passionate sound that is very much their own and absolutely rocks in the live environment. Go seek. www.silentfront.co.uk

SIX7
SIX7
INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED
Sometimes I wonder why people such as SIX7's Pat FitzGerald (that's actually how the dude spells his name) even bother sending promo albums to magazines for review. This, in the case of SIX7 (whose logo cleverly incorporates the number seven into the "X" in "six"), is not unlike smearing obscenities on a resume in shit and sending it in to your desired workplace. It makes me wonder: has this guy actually HEARD his music? This record kicks things off by pissing into your ear via "Me", an ultra-cheesy acoustic Caucasian-rap jam (wow, five adjectives) that is more embarrassing to listen to than those videos of your drunken birdcage humping sessions are to watch. "Hey Baby", through some unfathomably potent miracle, manages to sound like a significantly more retarded rendition of Crash Test Dummies. This record is funny in that Gallagher sort of wayi.e., about as funny as a Tec-9 in your bloody eyeball.
-Dave Kargol

63 CRAYONS
GOOD PEOPLE
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME RECORDS
Balancing themselves on the already blurry line between Kindercore and Elephant 6, 63 Crayons bring their Undertones flavored pop to the public with their first full-length release GOOD PEOPLE. With their Farfisa organs, Theremins, and “Bop Bop Ba’s” their arsenal is fully equipped and ready to compete with the best of today’s next generation psychedelic bands. The album is split into two phases (for what reason I was not able to determine) of about a half dozon 2 minute pop songs each. At first the bouncy pop of “Song for My Sister” and “Mrs. Brewster” and the hokey, folky pop of “Go Now April” made Phase 1 my favorite but over time I began to warm up to the whole album. In Phase 2 the Stereolab charm of “Mice and Feathers” and the psychedelic schizophrenia of “It’s About Time” begin to round a well balanced album.
-Wally Peters Jr.

SLOW JETS
REMAIN IN ETHER
MORPHIUS RECORDS
After listening to all 38 minutes, I could only describe such a bland, dragging experience to such other pleasurable activities as waiting in a long line or an operator putting you on hold for an hour. REMAIN IN ETHER could aptly be described as jangly indie rock that reminiscent to The Walkmen on welfare, or perhaps even Franz Ferdinand without a pulse.
-Matt Siblo

SLUMLORDS
S/T
PERFECT VICTIM RECORDS
The interesting fact about Slumlords is not that listening to their S/T debut immediately takes you back to the late 80’s NYHC scene ala Sick of It All but that singer Jeff Perlin actually spent time in that era fronting Breakdown, one of the slightly reclusive yet popular bands from that time. Musically Slumlords stay true to their roots by continuing to bash out aggressive hardcore in the same tradition as the 80’s hardcore scene that fostered them. However, lyrically the band sings about the everyday stuff that these blue collar 30 something’s deal with on a regular basis. Drinking, walking the dog, and complaining about trust fund kids. While this is a far cry from the political agendas of the hardcore scenes of past, in the same way these guys stay true to their hardcore heritage they continue to sing about what’s important to them. That’s respectable.
-Wally Peters Jr.

SOUTH BAY BESSIE
IT'S ABOUT TIME
ACUTEST RECORDS
South Bay Bessie (who pick their mail up in Flint, MI) is living and breathing the teenage life. The four of them look young. Are you young? If you hate the girlfriend you love and you hate math class, get signed up to hear the pain of heartbreak. The song titles are clever, and I applaud their use of parentheses on such song titles as "(I Never Really Liked) Purple Anyway", "I Made a Mistake (Please Stop Calling Me)", and "(Your) Kids (Are Gonna) Love It!". For the most part, IT'S ABOUT TIME is juvenile and immature in an honest way. South Bay Bessie made me remember how much I hated aspects of high school. The drama and the seniority, sweaty and stomping around wanting her to behave. She never does. This doesn't suck...if you're into it.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

SPECULUM
SIX-SONG DEMO
SELF-RELEASED
Six songs in three minutes and 34 seconds. Yes, this is grindor "goregrind with a twist," as they deem their hellish (in a good way) noise on their Website. Tortured screaming; ferocious, break-neck drumming; no bass; shoddy production. When the guitars aren't fuzzy, buzzing, or scratchy, they're inaudible. I'm particularly fond of the devilish vocals on "hateful and homicidal". It's insane. All this is fine. My only grievance is with the lyrics, the horrid, horrid lyrics. I'm sorry, but to have any credibility, you need the music AND lyrics. There's no intelligence behind them, no substance. How long does it take to write lyrics for a song like the 31-second "your lame" (I won't even get into the grammar end of it), a composition consisting of merely "your lame and I don't fucking like you / yeah, I can't fucking stand you." Guys, guys, guys, some thought in the lyrics, please. www.angelfire.com/alt/speculum
-Janelle Jones

STEADY UPS
SOUL OF THE CITY
JUMP UP RECORDS
This sextet, which shares members with Pressure Point and Dynamos, is nominally a ska band. However, the group delivers original music in a rock-steady and early reggae, Jamaican ska way. This roots ska band thus has more in common with Desmond Dekker & the Aces, Israelites, and Skatalites than contemporary groups like Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Rancid, or Operation Ivy. They also set themselves apart by featuring male vocalist Ken Beasley on some tracks and Shannan Robertson on others. This adds variety and texture to the album. www.JumpUpRecords.com
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

STRUCTION
S/T
NOREASTER FAILED INDUSTRIES
It takes chutzpah to make a record this frenetic and brash. Unfortunately for Struction, a sense of nerve isn't the sole basis on which a quality album is built. Meira Sonin's too-close-to-nu-metal-for-comfort vocals rarely stray from the melody of the guitarwhich at best takes prevalence from the vocals, and at worst shows an utter lack of creativity and musical awareness. Although the rhythms are propulsive and the vocals are at least loud (if not altogether horrific), the sudden onset of migraine is a clear indication that something is lacking. Struction isn't suffering from lack of heart or gritit's craftsmanship that's missing. With an absence of dynamic in these songs, the music is bludgeoning, leaving the listener feeling he has been aurally beaten. One can only hope that this abrasive record will leave some kind of callous over the ear, increasing immunity to bad music in the future.
-Casey Clague

STU WALKER
STU WALKER
ODD HALO RECORDINGS
This self-titled disc is a wild ride. Primarily anchored with old jazz samples and then layered with electronic frequencies, beeps, harsh keyboards, guitars, and chicks singing like the Lemon Sisters. There is occasional rapping. Mostly, you can't think, because Stu Walker has produced a modern masterpiece. The madness and the inventiveness and the ideas...I was floored. The lyrical content is disturbingly obsessed with crime, mainly murder. But the words from syllable to syllable are so well written. "Theft Arsen Vice Murder and Death" begins: "Love Dust and tumbleweed friends / Cranium plateaus of born against / Religious Right and I'm always wrong / Drink your wine and remember this song." If you have the slightest interest in avant garde or experimental music, STU WALKER is a must get.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

SUMMER AT SHATTER CREEK
SINK OR SWIM
REDDER RECORDS
The third release from pianist Craig Gurwich is a solitary excursion into ethereal vocals and spacey mood pieces. The five songs on this EP sound as if they were recorded at a Gregorian monastery devoted to Elton John. Gurwich's lone piano leads a tortured path through these slow tunes, as an otherworldly back-up chorus moans and groans as a foundation for his high-pitched lead vocals. His mother did do an incredible needlepoint cover for the album, a veritable folk-art masterpiece in and of itself. Though Gurwich is a talented songwriter and performer, this type of musical introspection leads to commercial suicide. On the other hand, some musicians write music for themselves and tell the world to go hang. Sometimes commercial suicide can be beautiful. www.redderrecords.com
-DUG

SUNDAY MORNING EINSTEINS
KANGNAVE
PRANK
From the Swedish psychos who brought you Wolf Brigade and Svart Sno comes Sunday Morning Einsteins. KANGNAVE is a fantastic thrill-ride of 1000-mph, raw hardcore. With little to no breathing room amongst these 14 maniacal songs, it's hard to get a breath in edgewise. Enjoy the ride, though, 'cause this band not only annihilate, they also put an ear-to-ear smile on every face within spitting distance with their caustic humor and what I can only guess are weird, beer-swilling Swedish in-jokes. Call it Entombed on hyper-drive, or just call it some really awesome hardcorebut don't call these guys late for the beer bong. www.prankrecords.com
-Jason Schreurs

SURAN SONG IN STAG
KITTY IGLOO & THE PLASTIC STEREO
CRUEL MUSIC RECORDS
It's something a little art rock and emo. It's something that reminds me of Sleater-Kinney or Sonic Youth. But unlike Sleater-Kinney or Sonic Youth, it's something I won't be listening to again. Suran Song in Stag has created a record, KITTY IGLOO & THE PLASTIC STEREO, that's not bad in its delivery and overall atmosphere. Tracks like "Do You Sing" and "T.V. Screams" are slightly pushy and keep reminding me of the whole riot grrl thing. I can't figure out what the songs are about, though, and maybe that's the idea. KITTY ultimately ends up as slightly tedious and induces a case of that restless leg syndrome. For this critic, that's a no go.
-Darren Ratner

TANGIERS
NEVER BRING YOU PLEASURE
SONIC UNYON
The Tangiers have got it. They get it. They understand as much about Pavement and Guided By Voices as they do about Talking Heads and Wire. They know that indie rock and new wave is something much more than a fashion or a blueprint you follow. Unlike all the watered down imitations churning out of NYC every minute, The Tangiers really are “It.” I don’t think there has been a post punk band this creative since the term “new wave” was relevant. From the angular and dub sounds of “Your Colour” to the destined-to-be college radio smash hit of “I Don’t Love You” this album rips.
-Wally Peters Jr.

TEN FOOT POLE
SUBLIMINABLE MESSAGES
GO-KART RECORDS
Orange County stalwarts Ten Foot Pole are back with their sixth full-length, their first on Go-Kart. With the addition of new members Mike Levy (bass) and Eric Cody (lead guitar), the band has infused the tried and true TFP sound with a new spark of energy. The guitars are thicker and the vocals raspierall thrown together in that breakneck pace that the punkers love so well. Their guitar-driven brand of new-school punk rock has varied only slightly over the yearsa lack of change that may have cost the band the attention of some listeners, but at least never disappointed their fans.
-Casey Clague

THE ALMIGHTY TRIGGER HAPPY
I HATE US EVEN MORE
BAD TASTE
Perhaps the "Almighty" preceding "Trigger Happy" is a bit much, but these revered Canadian veterans do kick out the proverbial jams on this re-release of their 1999 album (then titled I HATE US). After a brief "mental healing hiatus," the guys are back, seeking "revenge," and touring, ready to bring us more of their fiery brand of (mostly) speedy punk (‡ la Pennywise and NOFX (damn, Al Nolan's vocals are reminiscent of one Fat Mike!)). Some highlights include the powerful, simply awesome "Future Thanks", the mid-tempo, troubled-sounding "Burnt Coffee Blues", and the slower, groove-y "Plus or Minus 10%" (which is just a fine instrumental coupled with a long and winding rant from some guy who sounds like a drunken preacher). It does get irksome, however, as the diatribe persists (too) long after the wonderful music stops. And how about that rendition of "Gimme Some Action" by the almighty (yup!) FEAR?!
-Janelle Jones

THE AWKWARD ROMANCE
COVINGTON
DAY JOB RECORDS
The debut full-length release by this Covington, GA, quartet is a powerful, faith-affirming tribute to screamo garage bands everywhere. While the band prefers not to be labeled as emo, screamo, indie, or punk, inevitably the band's music falls into the burgeoning Christian screamo category. The band's heartfelt lyrics blare with tonsil-tearing intensity in off-key screams and raucous back-up choruses. With lyrics liberally sprinkled with references to Christ, God, and forgiveness and an invite to this year's Cornerstone Festival in Orlando, FL, this group has already firmly locked itself into a solid and energetic fan base. Creative songwriting and some hard, crunching guitars will take this young band a long way toward being signed by one of the major Christian labels.
-DUG

THE BLACK LIPS
WE DID NOT KNOW THAT THE FOREST SPIRIT MADE THE FLOWERS GROW
BOMP!
Atlanta's The Black Lips sound like '60's garage rock meets the avant garde of earliest Sonic Youth and The Flaming Lips. The Black Lips is chaos and not for the middle-grounders among us. WE DID NOT KNOW THAT THE FOREST SPIRIT MADE THE FLOWERS GROW (the title is a clue) is a weird disc that rocks balls and is creative and interesting and is one of the coolest albums I've heard in a long time. "M.I.A." is a fuzzed-out, freak-out rocker from a David Lynch-style go-go bar. "Dawn of the Age of Tomorrow" is a Captain Beefheart-like blues from the cosmos of bizarre. My favorite song is "Stranger", which is a simple mod song with balls. It reminds me of Brian Jones-era Stones dipped in 100-proof weird. This is The Black Lips' sophomore effort, and a damn good one.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

THE BLACKOUTS
LIVING IN BLUE
LUCID
Opening track "somethingÖi can't say" assaults the listener with pure fuzzed-out fury, and the entire album continues on this rough, rocked-out road into the depths of electric intensity! With the recent garage-rock "revolution", The Blackouts manage to stay creative with a sound that is harder to pin down. They are far from blatant rip-offs of past chemistry, and they never proclaim themselves to be the reincarnation of past rock gods. Strong bass lines, guitar work, extremely catchy vocals, and creative energy give The Blackouts their voice. 'Nuff said. For more info, visit www.blackoutstheband.com.
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

THE BRIEFS
SEX OBJECTS
BYO RECORDS
Once again The Briefs have put out a great record. Coming out of Seattle, The Briefs play a snotty, fun, energy-filled punk rock that infuses punk rock from the '70s, '80s, and '90s, all the way down to their dress. The band embodies everything that is right about punk rock, as they sing about politics and the U.S., their love affair with plastic "Sex Objects", and "Shoplifting at Macy's". Their music always contains a sense of humor, style, and individuality. This album is a little more toned-down, as the songs are more mellow and tranquil than their last album. However, the band still maintain the same consistency and edge that makes them so fun to listen to and watch.
-Jennifer Moncayo

THE DAMNWELLS
BASTARDS OF THE BEAT
EPIC
You know, I really think I should be a talent scout for a major record label, because every time I hear a band that makes my stomach turn and gives me a deep-rooted desire to stab a pencil into my eardrums, it turns out they're on a major label! So I think I can spot them. I have the gift. And that's the effect The Damnwells have on me. They're from Brooklyn. I don't really know how to describe how awful they sound, but here's an indication: they've been the opening act for Cheap Trick for the last two years. Not that I have anything against Cheap Trick (in their prime), but just imagine what kind of band would open for Cheap Trick now, and you get the idea.
-chad

THE ENVY CORPS
SOVIET REVOLUTION
BI-FI RECORDS
One of the most admirable accomplishments in all of music is when a band can make their debut album sound like they've been playing together for years. I would have never guessed that The Envy Corps was a brand new band that recently recorded their first disc. Their sound is of the indie-rock persuasion, with just a taste of Coldplay and Cinerama. The guitar tone is wonderfully clean, and the lyrics have a fantastically nostalgic feel. I'd say this band is well on their way to becoming a big part of the scene, as talent like this rarely goes unnoticed.
-Ringo

THE FRENETICS
GREY VEINS TO THE PARKING LOT
UNION 2112 RECORDS
On paper The Frenetics should be my new favorite band. They posses all the ingredients that make up a band that I usually flip over. Emotional and introspective lyrics, songs that range from punk to rock to folk, lots of loud and melodic guitars, it’s not emo, and they are Canadian. Sounding like Samiam, Jawbreaker, and their Canadian contemporaries the Weakerthans, this is The Frenetics second full-length record. GREY VEINS TO THE PARKING LOT is a solid record filled with catchy tunes that traverse many different landscapes and that never sound formulaic or uncomfortably familiar. I do feel like there is still one more corner that the band needs to turn before releasing that record that truly defines them and brings them to the forefront. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is but in the meantime GREY VEINS is a welcome addition into my personal rotation.
-Wally Peters Jr.

THE GOLDEN SOUNDS
WE ARE THE GOLDEN SOUNDS LP
INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED
Although this nine-song air-pop collection sparks off with the whining hum of a garage-sale keyboard (which sounds more like the result of someone's failure to pick up sufficient hours at KFC than a stab at retro-cool), it doesn't take a hell of a long time for things to start sounding significantly better. As more and more musical toys begin to jump into this mix and build delicate pop melodies with tender love, we begin to realize that the above mentioned Game Boy-inspired keys may appear here as a result of the band's desire to teach us a valuable lesson: everything deserves a fair chance. And I want The Golden Sounds to know that I, Dave Kargol, have taken their lesson to heart. So please don't be how I was, ready to drop to gavel before the 14-second mark. You're only robbing yourself, friend.
-Dave Kargol

THE GOSPEL IS A GRENADE
DETOX YOUR HEART IN CLOROX
SELF-RELEASED
One of my friends (who I will not name) would probably classify The Gospel as grind-noise-core-hard-Norwegian-Medieval-California-Surf-metal, and I would not take it too seriously. The Gospel is hard to peg, but I will just go with the feeling I get. The songs are short (barely a minute long), expressive, energetic balls of chaos that get achingly irritating, with their constant banshee yells. However, just as the chaos seems never-ending, BAM, suddenly there is a moment of clarity and form, which is sometimes accompanied by nice keyboard melodies. Then, just as fast, the chaos returns, the levee breaks once more. The demo begs the question of "being" and recognizing the "moment"and, as usual, those questions have the potential to annoy, anger, and leave many people behind....but The Gospel preach on. For more info, visit www.thegospel.tk.
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

THE HANGMEN
LOTERIA
ACETATE RECORDS
The Hangmen sound hung over in a good way. Bryan Small, the mouthpiece of The Hangmen, has a wisdom that seems to come from an excessive lifestyle. He has that great weathered quality of a Kris Kristofferson. You can hear that Small understands the debilitation that doing hard drugs has on the psyche when he sings "She's a Drug". The Hangmen are doing roots rock with a cool slump and a sneer. Some of the highlight tunes include the dragging tired "Sleeping on the Floor" (which finds Small discussing the road and the usual accommodations), "I Just Wanna Feel Good" (which begins with a guitar lick reminiscent of the main lick in The Beatles' "Because"), and a really cool version of The Rolling Stones' "Citadel". LOTERIA is a testimony to hard living and the reality of debauchery as a learning tool and a rock liberator. A great disc to get wasted with. See you at the bar.
-H. Barry Zimmerman

THE HORROR
FIRST BLOOD PARTS I AND II
COALITION/CHAINSAW SAFETY
Some ferocious, high-energy hardcore-thrash here courtesy of The Horror, who are without doubt the hottest hardcore supergroup in the North, with members of Voorhees and Imbalance in the ranks. With the CD version containing both the new 10" tracks and their debut on Chainsaw Safety, what results is nothing short of decimating as they rattle through 28 tracks in 25 minutes with as much energy, anger, and subtlety as a bulldozer demolition derby gate-crashing an annual village pro-hunting rally. Frontman Andy's vocals are thankfully a great improvement on his efforts in Imbalance, and his lyrics are no less venomous as he spits and froths his political polemics with a scathing satirical swipe. Awesome stuff.
www.chainsawsafetyrecords.com

THE LETTER OPENERS
SELF-TITLED
Kiss or Kill regulars The Letter Openers have brought forth a debut EP. Patrons of Zen Sushi on Tuesday nights will already have heard these boys and should definitely pick up this disc if they are fans of the band. For those who have not heard The Letter Openers (such as myself), I do not think that the songs on this EP truly represent the band. I am sure their live renditions of these tracks are much stronger. Five years ago this EP would have been an adequate debut release, but today's standards are so much higher. The recording on this record is fairly poor, as it sounds like it was recorded in a basement. This can give a certain appeal to a band, but like I said this just is not the sound this band is going for. In the meantime, check this EP out, and by all means get yourself over to Zen Sushi to hear these songs the way they were intended to be heard.
-Brent Sheen

THE LIL' HOSPITAL
I WANNA BE WELLFRIENDS
Indie, home-recorded pop. If you're not REALLY into indie pop, you might not like The Lil' Hospital; but if happy, indie-pop music is exactly what you're looking for, you'll appreciate every minute of I WANNA BE WELL. Inspired by Aisler's Set, Kevin Alvir sat down with a four-track, an electric guitar, and a cheap drum machine to fulfill his jolly pop ambitions. It's pop, and it's good (but it'd be 10 times better with real drums).
-Small

THE LURKING CORPSES
23 TALES OF TERROR
CREATURE FEATURE PRODUCTIONS
Boo! I scare you! Actually, this album isn't too frightening; it's more so a quasi-Misfits rip off but with an "edge." The vocals are very weak, and the songwriting is average, at best. I don't think fans of old-school punk would even enjoy these short anthems of gore and deceit, as they are poorly produced and boring. I would only recommend this album for extreme fans of horror and punk. www.thelurkingcorpses.net
-Ringo

THE MARLBORO CHORUS
ENTANGLED
FUTURE APPLETREE RECORDS
This is extra-good, giddy-up indie pop with a bright, infectious beat. The group fine tunes the mod dial with a nod to such Britpop as The Kinks in the way it delivers one of the standout tracks, "The Moondial". In an era when the indie in-thing is wringing out high-volume sonic assaults from an emotional angst, this is cheery and refreshing like that first spring day when it's better to be outside the house than in. www.futureappletree.com
-Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

THE NATIONAL ACROBAT
THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS
INITIAL RECORDS
If there's one thing that I hate, it's when labels re-release old records of bands that never really made it and then claim that they're very influential in today's music scene. This is an example of a band that, for one reason or another, broke up while the bands the group opened for became successes. Sorry to break it to the guys in The National Acrobat, but you had your chance, and you blew it. The oldest material on this recording dates back to 1999, and even for the time frame, the music does not come off as being very groundbreaking. The music is chaotic yet progressive metal in the vein of groups such as Botch, Focal Point, and Phaedo. You're better off saving your 10 bucks for a recording of something that really matters, not some label's way of trying to make a quick buck off a band not a lot of kids cared about back then.
-ADF

THE PAPER CHASE
GOD BLESS YOUR BLACK HEART
KILL ROCK STARS
" I want your head / I want your wicked parts / I want to wring out your evil thoughts / I want to eat out your bitter heart," said the spider to the fly, and that's exactly the vortex of desperation, anger, paranoia, obsession, depression, and deadly longing The Paper Chase suck you into when they GOD BLESS YOUR BLACK HEART. "Say pretty please cause God is listening / And we all fall in the big empty" of violent, abstract, insect-driven addiction, "And this sick song moves on if you're lucky lifelong you can sing a part / As it falls apart" in this Bright Eyes-quality recording. But this is a darker and far more musically adventurous madhouse. It is a vague, fluctuating concept album of existential proportions. It is true, desperate, earth-shattering, mind-numbing emotion that contains the truth, the heavyweight of confusion that Conor Oberst wishes he could convey in his narratives. With The Paper Chase, we are "Dying with Decent Music". Texans do everything bigger and better. For more info, visit www.thepaperchaseband.com.
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

THE PEACOCKS
IT'S TIME FOR THE PEACOCKS
ASIAN MAN RECORDS
The Peacocks are from Zurich, Switzerland. They play rockabilly music. I'm not the biggest fan of rockabilly, but I like The Peacocks, for the most part. They have the energy and attitude of early '80s English punk bands. They're lyrics are pretty good and kind of funny. They're a fun band, and they rock.
-chad

THE PRESS FIRE!
SELF-TITLED
INDEPENDENT RELEASE
It's been a while since I've received a demo from a band that has really impressed me. Only having been formed in 2003, this group has forged a great sound that reminds me of a direct crossbreed between Fugazi and Modest Mouse. The band has mastered a spastic yet melodic approach to garage rock that really entertains the listener. If you've ever been looking for a more garage-sounding Weezer, then you might want to check out The Press Fire!.
-ADF

THE SOVIETTES
LP II
ADELINE RECORDS
What do you do after a successful debut album followed by numerous U.S. tours? Well, you head straight back to the studio and record another solid album. This is precisely what The Soviettes have done with LP II, their follow up to 2003's surprise hit LP I. Billy Joe (of Green Day fame) has found a real gem with The Soviettes, adding the female-fronted punk rockers to his label Adeline Records. Not only are they a fresh face to the scene, but they also are unlike any of their predecessors. Sure, they bare that classic pop-punk sound, delivering simple four-chord progressions backed by simple drumming, but the vocal prowess of these babes surpasses any other girl-fronted punk band. You see, when the girls sing on this disc, they do not sound like cats trapped in tin cans. Everyone sings in The Soviettes, but the girls shine the brightest when it comes to laying out melodies from the pipes. The tunes on LP II are simplistic, but they are fun and easy on the ears. Give it a listen and in no time your head will be bobbing harder than Monica Lewinsky's.
-Brent Sheen

THE STAND-INS
CLEAN SLATE
MEDIUM BUILD
When I first threw CLEAN SLATE into my player, I could have sworn I was listening to some band on Sub-Pop records circa the 1990s. The Stand-Ins definitely pay homage to this era of rock. Even the disc's layout is reminiscent of these yesteryear albums. The songs on the disc steadily rock their way to the finish, but the bass-heavy recording left it hard to listen to in one sitting. The muddy guitars drown out singer Andy Pope. Nonetheless, the vocals are enjoyable when they do make themselves heard. There was not a song on CLEAN SLATE that really stood out above the rest. However, with guitars crunchier than a teenage boy's underwear, The Stand-Ins have created a disc that is great for road trips and parties.
-Brent Sheen

THE SUBCONS
TIME HAS COME
SELF-RELEASED
While The Subcons may never come close to The Shins-like status, there may be hope for them yet. This saccharine-sweet indie nonsense would be perfect for in-store music at Sanrio (you know, the company that makes the Hello Kitty pencil toppers and the notebooks with penguins and shit all over them?). The music calls to mindwhether intentionally or notthose pastel colors and loveable cartoon animals, the sort of whimsical images that should be confined to the bedroom walls of pre-schoolers and wannabe-hip pre-teen girls. It's unnervingly light-hearted and giddy, and it comes off a little creepy. If it were offset by a bit of Dr. Hook-style innuendo, it might not seem as much so. At least the perversity would be deliberate, not just a by-product of their sugar-coated pop insensibilities.
-Casey Clague

THE TALK
IT'S LIKE MAGIC IN REVERSE
MORISEN RECORDS
What irks me most about pop-punk is the lack of depth. The Talk, on the other hand, can pull off being lighthearted and upbeat without a hitch. Their duo of guitars creates a full and rich sound that is electrified by light, perky melodies. This fast-paced rock 'n' roll nearly brings me back to the better days of Green Day, who supposedly are making a comeback. But while you're waiting around for that to happen, go ahead and see what all the talk is about The Talk.
-Mabel Lam

THE VOIDS
KILL A GENERATION
DR. STRANGE
Immediately upon putting this disc in, it was clear this was some sick shit. Turns out that this little gem came out a year ago on another label. With the looming possibility it would end up going the way of the buffalo (I'm assuming this is the reason), the good people at Dr. Strange took it upon themselves to re-release KILL A GENERATION for those who missed out the first time around. Unsurprisingly, this outfit will be (and are) likened to bands such as Vice Squad, The Avengers, and The Expelled, as they all are female-fronted. But the fact that The Voids are led by a female vocalist should be a non-issue. Of course, as females in punk is still somewhat of an anomaly, that's how bands featuring the fairer sex are marketed. Anyway, this is just some straight-up, enjoyable, fast-paced, urgent-sounding, slightly-snotty, political punk from beginning to end. HIGHLY recommended.
-Janelle Jones

THISGIRL
UNO
DROWNED IN SOUND
Bouncing back with their sophomore album after far too much to-ing and fro-ing from major-label A&R departments, thisGIRL are poised to deliver on all the promise that's been bubbling since their 2001 debut with this fresh new release on the similarly fresh and ultra cool new label from leading music Website DrownedInSound.com. Only, it doesn't quite hit the mark. Sorry. With huge, expensive-sounding production and a more polished songwriting approach, songs evidently appear slick enough for radio yet seem to eschew certain intricacies that made their previous recordings so captivating. It's still an enjoyable record and proves that there are few U.K. rock acts even close to their level of songwriting. Just maybe they shouldn't try too hard to broaden their target audience. www.thisgirl.co.uk / www.drownedinsound.com/recordings

THIS ILLUSION
SELF TITLED
CASKET
A passable effort here from a U.K. quartet quite patently aiming straight for that fabled radio-friendly area of the heavy-rock spectrum. However, the only "illusion" this band are under appears to be the fact that this whole nu-rock "renaissance" is actually going to last until next year. "Eleven Thirty Nine", although brief, is the only track that really shows much light at the end of this turgid scrEMO tunnel, demonstrating an obvious desire to head down heavier pathways had they not been blinded by the gleaming belt buckles of Lostprophets. Despite Pitchshifter drummer Jason Bowld lending a hand (or should that be bum cheek) on the drumstool, much of this EP is nothing special at all, passing by with about as much groin-stirring excitement as watching pop troll Avril Lavigne learning to skate! www.thisillusion.com

TOMMY STINSON
VILLAGE GORILLA HEAD
SANCTUARY
Tommy Stinson (if you remember your punk rock history) was one of the founding members of The Replacements: he was the 13-year-old bass player! Now he's the bass player for Guns N' Roses. And since Guns N' Roses isn't doing too much at the moment, he had time to write and record this album. You can clearly hear his influences, from Paul Westerberg to Bob Dylan. But he really isn't a Paul Westerberg or a Bob Dylan. This is a decent, mopey rock album, but there are better ones out there by better songwriters. This album is average, at best...but I still enjoy it, for what it's worth.
-chad

TRAGEDY ANDY
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START OVER
POP SMEAR RECORDS
Motivated by mall crowds and high school, Tragedy Ann dig the same dirt that Green Day brought into your parents' living room but Blink 182 fertilized instead. Rotating chorus duties and guitar work suggest a deeper affinity for Sum 41, with guitar mimicry from the entire scope of bands that band mimicked. Despite the words being about different girls and phrased slightly differently, it is all the same under-inspired stuff on a dozen other records. The tragedy may be that not one note hints any originality anywhere.
-Rob Macy

TWO IF BY SEA
TRANSLATIONS
SPEEDBUMP
It is no surprise if right off the bat this reminds one of another band who plays fierce electronic, bass-blasting, dance-crazy guitar melodies with angst-driven punk-rock disregard. The comparisons with Saddle Creek's own The Faint cannot be denied. Yet, the '80s new-wave vocals/guitar work that echoes both The Cure and The Smiths (for example, "escalator" and "swords or pistols") gives Two If by Sea a bit of room, separating themselves from the pack of recent electro-clash bands. Unlike The Faint, though, and like many other bands of the same style, TIBS have a hard time keeping the entire album interesting and creative. However, the tight musicianship, well-constructed songs, and catchy hooks make TRANSLATIONS a very engaging album. For more info, visit www.twoifbysea.org.
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

VANDELAY INDUSTRIES
POSTCARDS FROM ALASKA
LADY OF THE NIGHT RECORDS
I presume Vandelay Industries got their name from a fictitious company created by one of the characters on the hit TV show SEINFELD, so one is forced to draw the comparison. This band is just an excuse to be part of a rock scene without actually having to put any effort into writing decent songs or being any good. They just sound like predictable indie rock, and they're not even as sad-sounding as other indie bands. It's just nonchalance and blah. This five-song EP is just boring. Vandelay Industries are from Las Vegas.
-chad

VARIOUS ARTISTS
BUY INDIE MUSIC COMPILATION VOL. 1
BLACK DOG PROMOTIONS/BUYINDIEMUSIC.COM
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I hate comps. So rarely are they worth the 15 cents of plastic that is used to make them. (Let alone the CO2 used in the process. –see www.futureforests.com) BUY INDIE MUSIC COMPILATION VOL. 1 has the distinct honor of not only being a useless waste of plastic but it is also the worst comp I’ve ever had the unfortunate displeasure of listening to not to mention reviewing. If they are really trying to encourage music buyers to support independent artists they are doing a disservice to the community by releasing this pile of crap. I was almost compelled to run down to the local mall record store and buy the new Yellowcard or New Found Glory record.
-Wally Peters Jr.

VARIOUS ARTISTS
HEARTS BLEED PASSION VOL. 1
INDIE VISION MUSIC
This is only Indie Vision Music's fourth release, but they've already compiled quite a diverse lineup. Indie rock, acoustic, pop-punk, and hardcore pepper the tracks, but most of them have a common thread: screaming. I don't know when screaming replaced strong songwriting, but the vast majority of these bands employ it as a means of catharsis whether it fits with the style or not. In spite of this distracting element, there are some worthwhile tracks, especially "Roosevelt" by Linus and "Not Waving but Drowning" from Pennylane. Both of those tracks are straightforward, energetic pop-punk, entertaining, honest, and scream-free. This comprehensive look into Indie Vision Music also includes numerous unreleased tracks and a low price tag that make this intro worth looking into.
-Erika Owens

VARIOUS ARTISTS
THE MICHIGAN INDEPENDENT DVD
ACUTEST RECORDS
In-depth look at the goings-on of a flourishing punk/hardcore scene in Michigan...though by the looks of it, this 50-minute DVD could represent (to quote Reagan Youth) "Anytown," U.S.A., as this stuff is evident all over. With live footage of bands like Small Brown Bike, Charlevoix, and Capture the Flag, we experience the musical aspect while gaining a feel for the community behind the scene's existence, thanks to commentary from everyone involved in all facets of the "collective" that is the punk/hardcore scene: the artists, record label owners, photographers, screen printers, etc. Like the singer of Ettison Clio says, it's "a big web" where everybody needs everyone else in order to survive and thrive. Filmmaker Michelle Lukezic does a fine job proving this idea, as well as how important the D.I.Y. ethic is. Anyone who's ever been involved in his/her own hometown scene will surely appreciate this candid documentary.
-Janelle Jones

VARIOUS ARTISTSFOR BEGINNERS
The best compilation I have ever heard, METAPHYSICS FOR BEGINNERS seamlessly combines indie folk, electronic instrumentals, and quality rock music from 18 bands I can honestly say I'd never heard. It's truly amazing how they manage to cover that range of music with so much original, impressive material. Here's the band list, so you can go out and buy all their CDs: Will and Robert Creeley, Detachment Kit, Kalpana Gloria Record, Snowglobe, Zykos, Sufjan Stevens, From Monument to Masses, Figurine, Saturday Looks Good to Me, The Ghost, Rockets and Bluelights (Close at Hand), Summer at Shatter Creek, Kind of Like Spitting, Make Believe, Satellite Grooves, Hockey Night, and Love of Everything. Seriously, anyone reading this magazine will love this album (unless you're into heavy metal).
-Small

VARIOUS ARTISTS
SECRET WEAPONS OF KUNG FU 2 (DVD)
KUNG FU RECORDS
Memo to managers at Kung Fu Records: next time, if you want your DVD reviewed positively, include the complete packaging, not just the fucking disc in a cheap jewel case. If you pull this cheapskate shit next time, I won't tell SKRATCH readers how great it is that SECRET WEAPONS presents live footage of The Adolescents, Reel Big Fish, and Goldfinger, how nice the Warped Tour '03 footage is (especially the Poison the Well song), and how aurally and visually pleasing bands like Tsunami Bomb, Audio Karate, and Ozma can be. Next time I'll trash it, regardless of how much I like it, I promise you.
-jck

VARIOUS ARTISTS
WARPED TOUR 2004
SIDE ONE DUMMY RECORDS
You don't have this yet? What's the matter with you? The Warped Tour is one of the most musically diverse and anticipated events of the summer, and you need to be ready before you go. This double-disc is your preview. By listening to this collection, you'll learn what bands you should avoid, as well as the ones you'll need you to trample your peers in order to see better. If you can't get to the show for some reason, this album makes somewhat of a substitutionkind of like how humping a hotel mattress is a substitute for a blindfolded, ecstasy-induced orgy with a foreign co-ed volleyball team.
-Thomas Murray

VIA AUDIO
EP
KILL.NORMAL. RECORDS
Six atmospheric, well-constructed pop ditties are presented in Via Audio's first EP. The wonderful minimalist guitar work has moments of pure David Gilmour-like genius. Creating powerful solos that seem effortless and sometimes heavenly, guitarist Tom Dies manages to stay grounded and returns to earth on every occasion (as in "mouth shut"). However, Via Audio is also no stranger to noisy, Sonic Youth chaos, such as the driving "if they find me", which ends in a haze of feedback fog and blip-blip-blips. Soon after that the pop beauty (in Postal Service/Stereolab fashion) of "our lies + your smile" showcases the angelic vocals of frontwoman Jessica Martins, only to be outdone immediately after on the moody, soulful, and lusciously rich "setup". The final haunting, depressing, electro track, "the perfect fix", is the perfect sad ending to this strong EP. For more info visit www.viaaudio.net.
-Norberto Gomez, Jr.

(WE ARE) VIPERS
DEMO
(We Are) Vipers formed in the winter of 2003 out of Orange County. They play a hard garage rock that is very catchy and fun. "Scandinavia or Bust" is quite the memorable song that you will be humming for hours because it is so good. The music is fresh, clean, and full of attitude and fun. This band claims to be the new resurgence of rock 'n' roll, and they claim they will die trying to save rock 'n' roll.
-Jennifer Moncayo

WAKING ASHLAND
I AM FOR YOU
In leaving this disc until the end of my reviews, I could hear my grade-three teacher's voice bellowing in my mind: "Never judge a book by its cover." At the bottom of my listening pile was this CD, a bare-bones press copy of I AM FOR YOU. My dimwittedness was in top form, as I thought a CD without a cover or liner notes could not be worth my time. In a matter of 30 seconds of listening, I was overthrown with surprise and was hooked on Waking Ashland's unprecedented sound. Waking Ashland cannot be simply thrown into any genre of music, but they have created goosebump-producing rock that will leave you breathless. A rich blend of guitars, bass, and drums are combined with the beauty of the piano to give Waking Ashland a sound unlike any band today. In the Captains chair of Waking Ashland is singer and piano player, Jonathan Jones. His crisp clean vocals, backed by the tinkling of ivory, fall nothing short of perfection. Waking Ashland can not be overlooked. Buy, burn, or steal I AM FOR YOU. I guarantee that the hair on the back of your neck will stand. I AM FOR YOU is easily the best record out so far this year.
-Brent Sheen

YETI
VOLUME OBLITERATION TRANSCENDENCE
LIFE IS ABUSE
Bleak and progressive sloth-metal recordssuch as this four-song LPtypically inspire dark weather analogies and generate gloomy buzz-terms within record reviews. And who the hell am I to throw a wrench into the system and not follow suit? Here, Yeti embarks into a dismal world of churning sounds and cold depths. Their approach to extreme art-metal is as eclectic as it is experimental, as patient and rumbling strings melt into glitching keys and occasional tortured howls. And when I say patient, I mean it: you'd be more likely to turn up a blast-beat or thrashing breakdown in a Nancy Sinatra record than here. Yeti's slow-building cacophony culminates far behind the blackened tree line, stalking you from all angles, yet never crashing down. Pick this one up in the minimalist post-jazz-metal section of your favorite record store.
-Dave Kargol

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