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JAED- CATHERINE/GUTTER GIRL [Instant Karma]
I
must admit, when I saw the band name, the song titles and a press sheet banging on about personal struggles, I immediately
assumed this would be a biiiiiig pile of wank. Don't get me wrong I like to hear about personal struggles, but I think they
should sell records through the music, not the marketing department. I was so wrong about them though. This is as infectious
as a chicken in Turkey (that's right- I went there). Awesome riot grrrl rock
with a dark underbelly and a bubblegum shell that's brings rise to a nagging sensation, kinda like having an
addiction to Panda Pops, except less likely to require an intestine transplant. The moral of the story? Never judge a book
by its cover or a band by its name. (31/01/06)
JAED- DIRTY DAYS [Instant Karma]
Having been continually teased by the advance singles it's good to finally have my grubby mitts
on the finished article. If you like your grunge punky and your punk grungey Jaed could well be the band for you. The opening
four songs of Dirty Days could form a flawless E.P. The first three of these were released on the various singles and are all
pop punk classics in miniature with a lovely layer of slime on top. However, it's the following track 'Scream' which
is where you really get hooked as cheesy angst ballad is warped into drugged out haze via one of the most violent and sleazy
riffs ever to see the light of day, or should that be night. After this point though the album seems to take a turn for
the worse and begins to err slightly too close to the rather bland Foo Fighters side of rock. There's occasional promise still
dotted around, in particular the Cranberries style 'Waiting', but it's just not enough to complete what could be a great album.
(07/03/06)
JAED-
MY WAY/ CUPID [Instant Karma]
Yay! Another refreshing blast of
Aussie riot-grrrl rock comes flying at my head like a foot in a mosh-pit, this time as new single ‘My Way’. Sinister
song content is once again thinly veiled by pop melodies and delivered by a woman that sounds like a female Tom Delonge with
real motivation. It’s the little flourishes that make this though; the bass line on ‘Cupid’, the rhythm
changes and the old school Blink-style charm throughout are just a few examples. This, and previous single ‘Catherine/Gutter
Girl’, are making an album from Jaed look like an increasingly promising prospect. It’s not going to change the
world but it does make it more bearable. (13/02/06)
JESUS AND THE GOSPELFUCKERS/AGENT ORANGE- COULDN'T CARE LESS CD [Kangaroo Records]
First things first, I really could've done with a track list for this as its really hard trying to match lyrics to songs.
And not all the lyrics are supplied. And the vocals are kinda buried in the mix a bit. Once more this fits comfortably in
with the rest of the Kangaroo roster: 80s Discharge style hardcore...probably because the band formed and played in the 80s.So
from what I can gather Jesus and The Gf formed in early 80s in Holland and eventually gained such a violent following that
they could no longer get gigs. Then a couple of years later some of the guys met up and formed Agent Orange (I think). I have
a couple of problems with these guys though, as a band they were stupidly violent. They say the hated punk going political,
yet they wanted "to give shit to a society they hated". Musically its difficult to distinguish between tracks, I find I don't
enjoy enjoy listening to this much as it all just melds into one. Matt
JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS- STREETCORE CD [Hellcat Records] And here it is finally. One
of the punk heroes that never lost his dignity as a real musician release his posthumous work with The Mescaleros. "Streetcore"
is, once again, about life, about music roots, about reggae and about rock. A perfect mix that Strummer developed during his
whole life devoted to music. From "Coma Girl" to the bold "All in a Day" - recorded with the "electronic" Danny Saber-
or "Long Shadow", written for Johnny Cash, originally, all of the tracks are honest, with musicians doing what they really
want to do. Easy listening if we compare this album with the rest of The Mescaleros records but a great one anyway. Two covers
included: Bob Marley's "Redeption Song"- producing by Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Slayer, RHCP) - and "Silver & Gold"- from
the American hit-maker Bobby Charles.
Laura Sánchez.
KING BISCUIT TIME- C I AM 15 [No Style]
Well
I wasn’t expecting this! Ex-Beta Band front-man Steve Mason has been busy since his old band split last year. The Beta
Band were known for their strange ability to make dancey, swaying and often experimental indie rock. It’s clear from
this release that the split has not put Mason off experimentation.
It’s
a song built up from many subtle layers, there’s about 5 different percussive sounds making one cohesive rhythm, mellow
soothing vocals, electronic loops and acoustic guitars. The real surprise comes though when the dancehall rap kicks in (courtesy
of Top Cat) and swings off into an anti-Bush/Blair rant. The effect of this all is a song that comes off like the Gorillaz
gone ragga. It works surprisingly well and feels surprisingly right. (07/09/05)
KING BISCUIT TIME- KWANGCHOW [No Style]
With a new single and only a slightly more normal title than its predecessor
'C I AM 15', Steve Mason has taken things back down the Beta Band route. 'Kwangchow' is all hypnotic rhythms, blissed out
choruses and soothing vocals and whilst not as immediately rewarding as KBT's previous effort it does not lack its own mellow
charm. B-side 'Tears Dry' is a bit freakier with more of the quirks that I liked about the first single, but still stays within
the chill-out-dance-gone-indie patchwork. There also two remixes on the CD version meaning you get almost nineteen minutes
of Biscuit Time for your money- bargain. (15/04/06)
KING FURNACE- S/T EP [Akuaba]
No, I hadn't heard of them either... They're from Oxford, they sound
like XTC meets blues rock and they make meet me dance all funny-like. How can that possibly be bad!? 'Crash' is the first
of the three tracks here and the most XTC in terms of sound and if it wasn't for the lack of the Swindon accent and the The
Futureheads-style 'doo doo' harmonies, it could happily sit in alongside anything on 'Drums and Wires'. The other
tracks again like to experiment, 'Furnace' sounding like 'Misirlou' covered by the Von Bondies and 'Making
of Me' pulling in metal influences left right and centre. Despite the diverse reach of King Furnace's sound
these tracks have a tightness that shows you these guys know how to play together. Unfortunately, there are
still some hints of what I like to call 'local band syndrome' here and there, but by the sounds of this and
their obvious joy in 'fucking with the tunes man', I think there's plenty of opportunity for the band to come
into their own yet. (15/04/06)
KINGSKIN- MY GIRL DEMO/CD
EP [www.kingskin.com]
No, before you ask, it's not 'My Girl' of Madness fame.
Rather 'My Girl' of Kingskin "winner of Kerrang unsigned band of the year award" fame. Well done guys, but the less said about
that the better. Kingskin are a funk-punk outfit, but one closer to The Red Hot Chilli Peppers than Adequate 7, however I'm
pretty sure you would enjoy this if you're a fan of either of those bands. They are lacking both the political lyrics and
production of Adequate 7 (but I hear production on their new album is dump). However, they are not Adequate 7 (who are
my only real reference point here) and this is a demo so I'll go easy. They are a capable band none-the-less, breaking between
funk riffs to distortion and back into smooth funk grooves with fluency and ease- a difficult thing to do. This is a good
demo/EP but one which has room for improvement. On the other hand (cue banners and music) in these times of hardship and strife,
when innocent people die everyday for profit and where exploitation runs rife, we need a band like this- you know for chilling
out. Matt
KISMET HC- OUR MESSAGE IS OF ANGER...OUR VOICES ARE OF PAIN CD [Fuck Copyright Records]
This is angry and fast i.e. hardcore. The lyrics tackle many issues such as; animal testing, war, protesting, stupid
rockstar attitudes and a consumer driven society. The leaf includes lyrics and explanations etc. They are very good at
gettig their point across and there ownb personal feelings into your head. for instance, the track "Suffer In Silence" makes
me feel sick every time I listen to it. Its about child abuse and I guess it has the effect the band desired. Lyrical duties
are shared between two singers: a girl and a boy and are of the shouty school of thought. Musically they remind me of bands
like Minor Threat, Conflict etc. Apologies as my knowledge of this genre is limited and I can't think of a really close comparison.
Some of the parts in the songs make think of old school metal- but don't panic its not overly elaborate. This obviously is
a good release for fans of the genre but I'm not as well educated in the college of hardcore as they deserve. Matt
KORN- TWISTED TRANSISTOR [Virgin]
The chorus sounds
like the Backstreet Boys. Run. Run away. (30/10/05)
KORN- COMING UNDONE [Virgin]
Considering the album this was taken from 'See You On The
Other Side' is meant to be an evolution of "heavy" it's ironic that Korn's latest single completely rips off Queens 'We Will
Rock You' drum beat-clap affair. It then proceeds to a bog-standard Korn riff with Marilyn Manson styled vocals
over the top. You should also know that it was written "with" The Matrix. It's not a revolution, it's a very boring song. (07/06/06)
LAST YEAR- PICTURES, LETTERS
AND MEMORIES CDEP [Good Life]
First of all I would like to point out
just how poor the packaging of this CD is. It's not because its a promo copy either. The front cover design is awful and the
printing of the inner page is really pixelated. The weird thing is the when you fold out the leaf, the printing inside is
very clear. I've noticed this with several Good Life releases (and Im probably shooting myself in the foot here) but the design
is generally piss poor. For instance, I was in All Ages Records the other day and they had two copies of Avenged Sevenfold's
'Waking the fallen' album. One was the American version and one the European Good life version and the U.S. one looked so
much better- even though they use the same artwork. Anyway, Last Year are a three piece melodic punk band, they sound similar
to bands like G.a.s. Drummers, Satanic Surfers and Dynamite Boy with perhaps a slightly poppier edge. This is a 5 track EP,
the songs seem to be based on experiences and feelings in their lives. The song writing on this is pretty good- as with the
above bands I like the way they fit the lyrics to the music and the way the songs are structured. There are some pretty cool
guitar parts etc, basically I would be happy to have written any of these, but I am a pretty shitty song writer. However,
as seems to be the case with quite a few bands around, this has all been done before and even the highlight of the EP (the
title track) isnt that great. Matt
LOGH- THE RAISING SUN CD [Bad Taste Records]
Depressing, soft pop from Bad Taste Records. These guys (in a very Deep Elm way)
have been around since 1995 and they went through a lot of stuff 'til they finally release this album a year and a half after
their last LP. Logh second album is a bunch of "so-called" emo-pop, for the rest of us- playing with sincerity, well-done,
bitter-
sweet and with a lot of possibilities to develop yet. Simple, pure and sometimes even a bit emo/hc. Don't even think
about playing this if you're considering suicide or whatever. Very good album though.
Laura Sánchez.
LOVE THAT KILLS- TO CRUEL NAILS SURRENDERED [In At The
Deep End]
Featuring ex-members of xCanaanx and Raiden there is little surprise
that Love That Kills are pretty hardcore, and I'm not talking the glo-sticks and E variety. The songs tend to contain word
combos such as 'the great depression', 'frozen tears', 'cold razorblade' and my personal favourite- 'Fuck tonight, I'll
be dead by dawn.' In fact, there's an overriding sense of despair throughout that really warms the cockles. The cockles
of hate and anger that is. The title track is by far the stand out number, changing up the pummelling with a little bit of
melody in the early stages of the song before galloping off into the pit of oblivion.
I'm no expert on the heaviest side of hardcore, but I've
heard enough of this stuff to appreciate the good shit when I hear it and Love That Kills definately fall into that category.
(05/04/06)
MAPLE/ZEIDUN- OCEANE SPLIT CD [B-Core Disc] Wow, this
was a nice surprise, 6 tracks each from two Spanish emo bands, at last a split CD of a decent length! Maple play up-lifting
emo-pop the singers voice is amazingly tuneful what with this being punk and all. It's also really good to find an emo band
that doesn't depress the hell out of me. I'll definitely be looking out for these guys in the future, especially considering
this is their debut. Zeidun, like Maple, sing in English and are also emo but with a much more punk/hardcore leaning and male
vocals. They're reminiscent of the Get Up Kids before the shitness set in. I'll be keeping an eye and an ear out for this
band too. A quality release from B-Core. Matt
MARTINI HENRY RIFLES, THE- 2 TRACK CDEP [Louder
and Schneller]
The first thing that struck me about this band was the track
titles- "And then we hit a truck" and "Run, Jimmy, run, run you fucker". How great are they? They should also give you a clue
to the chaotic brand of noise they produce. This music is the soundtrack to a parelletically drunken night around the dodgier
parts of London. Think along the lines of The Prodigy's "Smack my bitch up" video and you'll see what I mean. The only remote
comparison I can think of is bands like QGMR and Dialog Cet (see reviews) or perhaps a more chaotic and heavier Q and not
U. On their press sheet there is a quote from NME (bleurghhh) describing them as anti-pop and for once I'd say they're not
too far off the mark there. The pictures in the sleeve of them in their dirty Strokes style rock t-shirts would back this
up. However, I can't help thinking- is that real dirt? Matt
MCQUEEN- RUNNING OUT OF THINGS TO SAY [Fury Tongue]
Holy shit! ANOTHER good girl-band, that’s like two this lifetime! OK, I don’t mean to sound sexist- I am
well aware that it’s not an in-built ability that’s resulted in the biggest bands in the world (and even the supposedly
equal-op punk scene) being predominantly all-male. I just think my fragile mind has been perhaps permanently scarred by The
Donnas and (shudder) Tuuli…
McQueen, are different though. It’s like Brody Dalle of The Distillers fronting Alkaline Trio and covering late
80s/early 90s L.A.
punk… excuse me while I change my shorts. There’s woh-oh’s, gritty vocals, solos of the right length and
catchy choruses. Better than all that though is that McQueen put their own spin on the well-worn street-punk formula, giving
it a much needed brush off and a darker edge without losing any of the fist-in-the-air attitude we all secretly love it for.
So what have we learned? Shame on me basically- put these guys on a tour with Sahara Hotnights and we may have a very
sexy revolution on our hands. (15/08/05)
MILES APART, THE- BETWEEN YOU AND THE DRIVING RAIN CDEP [Green Records] For
anyone that doesnt know the excellent the Miles Apart (see where this ones going) they do that whole melodic, emotional punk
thing thats going round at the moment. But they do it so well kind of a Get Up Kids style and they seem to have a bigger sound
than youd expect from a three piece, so um buy it! Matt
MILES APART, THE- STORYBOARD
CD [Green]This
is how melodic punk should be played. I mean this just pisses over all those bands which lack the energy, originality and
the spark that this band has. I understand that they are well respected all over Europe and I can see why. They have an excellent
grasp of English, their lyrics are very poetic and the singers warbly voice really complements them and the music. Basically
everything about this band fits and they gel together so well to create their sound. I
can find something to like about every one of the 10 tracks on this album- with too many CDs I only find this with two or
three tracks. There really isnt that much left to say- a solid album worthy of a purchase. Matt
MILLENCOLIN- HOME FROM
HOME CD [Burning Heart]
First of all I'm well aware it makes all most jack-crap difference what I think of this album as to whether it does
well or not. Millencolin are one of those bands that have made it pretty big, mainly I would say (apart from being on a large
label with links to Epitaph) because Tony Hawk decided to put them on the soundtrack of his more popular than pop game. Thus
ensuring their albums are all bought by baggy-jeaned, hoody-wearing gnomes, about the size of table legs, accessorised with
their shiny skateboards...I was doing something...ummm...yeh, that was it- the review. Most people are familiar with Millencolin's
own particular brand of pop-punk i.e. quite smooth, very listenable and normally pretty fast. The songs on this vary from
meaningful: 'Afghan', 'Happiness for dogs' (about a depressed friend I think) to the stupid: 'Botanic Mistress'. I'd say it
was the dumber tracks that are the more instantly forgettable and I've always found their more heartfelt songs to be the ones
that stick with me and they are clearly the highlights of this album. This is a sound album, but for those who don't own any
of their albums I would recommend 'Pennybridge Pioneers'. Matt
MILLIONAIRE- I'M ON A HIGH [P.I.A.S.]
Another Millionaire single, another tantalising glimpse of the forthcoming album. Whilst it lacks the sleazy melodies
of former single 'We Don't Live There Anymore', their latest is not without a certain a charm of it's own- a grungy
electro charm. It maintains the eclectic sense, yet seems somehow more predictable. In fact, all four tracks on
this single seem a lot more awkward than their predecessor, as if they're soundtracking the mind of an axe-murderer.
The tortured sounding screams and plodding pace on B-side 'Messed Up & Beautiful' remind me very much of 'In
Utero' era Nirvana. As always with Millionaire (it would seem) this is worth a listen, but lacks the accessibility to
make me come back often. (20/08/05)
MILLIONAIRE- PARADISIAC [P.I.A.S.]
I’ve
been looking forward to this album ever since I received the first single from it, ‘We Don’t Live There Anymore’,
a brilliant slice of innovative and infectious stoner-rock. Whilst it doesn’t quite live up to the promise of that insane
song, it certainly comes close.
There’s
a strange quality to some of the tracks here and the whole album feels like an eleven song trip. There’s a lot of experimentation
in play, ‘For A Maid’ is like the sound-track to a freak show and ‘Streetlife Cherry’, a demented
circus parading through the centre of town. The best tracks here though, ‘Love Is A Sickness’ (imagine The Stooges
writing new songs in 2050) and ‘We Don’t Live There Anymore’ sound like they’re cramming a hundred
ideas into three minutes. It’s this approach that attracted me to the band in the first place.
Unfortunately,
on some tracks it sounds like they weren’t as inspired. ‘Alpha Male’, for instance, drags on as a very average
metal tune, the main riff of which is repeated over and over. These one or two tracks are still competent; they just pale
in comparison to the more exciting ones and take away slightly from the overall impact of the album. This definitely would
have benefited from being a few tracks shorter (I am aware I say this a lot, but it’s true), especially when you consider
how much is packed into the other songs.
Overall,
this is a remarkably fresh sounding record with some genuinely innovative song-writing and whilst I’d agree with the
idiot that reviewed this in Uncut on the excessively fuzzy production, there’s far more of merit here than the measly
two stars he gave it. (20/09/05)
MILLIONAIRE- WE DON'T LIVE THERE ANYMORE [P.I.A.S.]
Millionaire are a band that seem to exist on a fine line between reality
and a 21st century psychedellic trip. You'd be thinking Queens Of The Stone Age right? Well yeh actually, Josh Homme
has produced this single and their album, which explains the sickly sweet, darkly lit edge to all the songs. However, it's
Millionaire we have to thank for the songs. Imagine LCD Soundsystem raised on psych-rock as opposed to post-punkers The
Fall and you're nearly there. There's the drama and power of metal, the inventiveness of psych and the supreme danceability
of, well, dance. Whispers, groans, build ups, break downs, tempo changes and squealing solos- there's something here
for everyone and the two tracks on this single make me very excited about the forthcoming album. Tell all your friends. (27/06/05)
MOGWAI- FRIEND OF THE NIGHT [PIAS]
Mogwai
have always been one of those bands that one out of ten people find amazing whilst the other nine are left scratching their
heads and anything else that comes to hand. I'm not going to pretend I know what the fuss is all about, but what I do know
is that this is a lovely, mellow and hauntingly uplifting track. This is pretty much what I would imagine a carnival in a
dream to sound like... yeh, it's some trippy shit. Now when you consider that, unlike many of my reviews, I have written this
completely sober, it says something about this bands ability. It's also possibly the most appropriately named instrumental
track I think I've ever heard. Rock 'n' lull... I can't believe I used the word 'lovely' in a review. (31/01/06)
MOGWAI- MR BEAST [PIAS Recordings]
I never bothered listening to Mogwai
before this year, when to my surprise, I received first the new single and then the new album in the post. I’m not fussy
about what I review though. Me? I’m just mad for reviewing. I’ve always dismissed them out of hand as being boring,
further listening though, leads me to believe I may have been somewhat rash in that dismissal. Any long term readers may by
now have noticed the site expanding beyond punk somewhat, reflecting my changing tastes and the constant fluctuations of ‘new
music’. It’s fair to say that during this time I’ve slowly learnt to appreciate music more subtle than a
boot in the face and guitar crack on the head. Mogwai it turns out are capable of so much more than the fret-board fuck-wittery
I had them pegged for. ‘Mr Beast’ is a record that fluctuates in sound and style but rarely in quality and I’m
slowly finding out that this isn’t unusual for the band. ‘Travel Is Dangerous’ brings to mind groups like
the Jesus and Mary Chain but without the sickly sweet edge. ‘Glasgow Mega Snake’ is definitely the metal-monster
its title suggests, demonstrating Mogwai’s love of volume and the quiet-loud dynamic. Opener ‘Auto Rock’
seems to be designed as a pre-cursor to ‘Friend of the Night’ (the first single) and is another delightfully dreamy
nocturnal sound-scape that never quite reaches its crescendo. However, there’s relatively few moments where ‘Mr
Beast’ lives up to its name and grabs your attention. It won’t come and get you- you have to work to appreciate
it, but when you do it can be very rewarding. It’s an album that requires patience and possibly your choice of drugs
before it’s truly opened up. If you think you can handle that then I’ll begin work on the adoption papers.
(13/02/06)
MR SHIRAZ- I'M INVINCIBLE! I'M BUILT LIKE A SHERMAN TANK. SOMEBODY
TRY AND STOP ME [10 Past 10]
Call me a cynic, but I have a feeling I've heard all this before. Mr
Shiraz get serious props for the albums amazing title, but the songs are all fairly standard ska-punk of the kind you've
already heard. It ticks all the right boxes, lots of sing along moments, classic punk brass with occasional reggae/ska off-shoots,
chugging guitars, as well as some nice woh-ohs here and there, but they never really seem to become their own band. I do however,
appreciate tracks such as 'S.D.R.R.' and 'Truth Of Everything' for the innovative guitaring skills and cowbelling. 'Sleeping
With The Enemy' is a ska-punk power-house and the only track I'd heard previously. It's the 2003 recording
that is included here and that benefits from better production than the rest of the album, with the vocals not
so buried. I have a feeling that live, when they can convey a bit more of the oh-so bubbly attitude evidenced by their
artwork and press sheet, Mr Shiraz will make much more sense. It's just a shame that this album can't do it for
them. (27/11/05)
MULTI PURPOSE
CHEMICAL- CULT EP [Honey]
This would have
been right up my street in my 15 year old Soulfly fan stage, and to be honest, this EP has enough fresh ideas to still remain
fairly close to that street. MPC are a band that fill in the vast expanse of no-man’s land that lies somewhere between
Sick Of It All, Soulfly and System Of A Down. Not everyone’s thing then.
However, when
apocalyptic riffs seem to be let off with abandon alongside their political battle cries, it’s pretty hard not to feel
the neck muscles start to twinge and to stop your head from joining in. It’s good to see a band do all this with a positive
attitude as well, something I feel is sorely lacking in the metal scene. ‘Issues’ tackled include the war in Iraq
(‘Death For Sale’- something there should have been more of a backlash against within music) and religion (‘Cult’),
not exactly new subjects, but still relevant issues that seem fresh with MPC. All in all, the Cult EP shows real promise;
I just hope they stick to their roots as I can see this band’s sound being very attractive to the mainstream. (03/11/05)
NIM VIND- FASHION OF FEAR [Fiendforce]
Formerly the singer with Canadian band Mr Underhill, this is Nim Vind's first solo effort. Having never heard any Mr
Underhill I approached with an open mind and found twelve very accomplished slabs of finest horror-punk. However,
this is a label that doesn't really cover all the bases that this album does and there's a great variety of subjects
and styles employed in harmony with each other.
For instance, 'Astronomicon' sets out to be a darkly tinted surf track, extreme reverb included, but by the outro has
morphed into an 80s new-wave anthem. Album opener and title track 'Fashion of Fear' is more outright Misfits punk, but catchier
and more real sounding than anything those modern franchisees can write. 'Killer Creature Double Feature' has one of those
50's 'woh-oh' choruses that just doesn't quit and is like a gothic 'Happy Days' theme song. All of these great tracks are
bound together by the dark material that is Nim Vind's special fabric croon, somehow giving it a sense of coherency. However,
this is something that could have been built on had the track-listing had a bit more thought. For example, the afore-mentioned
'Astronomicon' is buried at track 11, between two slightly sub-par acoustic tracks.
No track on this album is without merit though and I have no qualms recommending this- particularly for fans of
Alkaline Trio, and anyone who wants to hear what a gothic version of The Travoltas would sound like. (22/08/05)
NO PICKY- VAMPIRA!! MALISMA Y SEDUCTORA CD
[Wild Punk]
When I first listened to this I was in a bad mood and
didn't enjoy it much. I thought the poppy Brudders inspired riffs were too simple and that as the lyrics are in Spanish there
wasn't much there for me either. On second and third listens the band's true charm becomes apparent. While I have to admit
that, although they probably shouldn't, it's the tracks in English that appeal to me most (despite the dodgy lyrics).
The 60s surf charm of 'Doubleshot (of my baby's love)' is catchy as hell and is just good fun- full stop. The instrumental
'Dracula' with its organ infused melodies is also well worth a listen but ends too quickly I feel. However, I'm not so ignorant
that I don't appreciate the catchy vocal hooks on the tracks in Spanish. This is a good collection of songs, it's just, as
usual, the language barrier may be too much for some (spoilt?) English and American listeners. Matt
NOSTROMO- ECCELEX CD [Overcome
Records] OK, well the press sheet describes this as "surgical metallic grindcore for fans of Napalm Death", whatever it all
comes under punk/ hardcore eventually. I can see what they mean though as this band is precise to say the least; layering
riffs over complicated drum structures then changing tempo and doing it all over. I think you would find it difficult to get
bored of this as you never know which way it will turn. For example, the fourth track has this mellow intro where you keep
expecting the double pedal and bass to kick in but it just doesn't happen. This combined with the overall tightness of the
band means Nostromo's fifth release will kick your arse. It is rare to find band that can seem so spontaneous and yet stay
in control. Matt
PETE'S SAKE- IF THAT'S WHAT YOU REALLY WANT? CDEP [Probation]
"Loud proud punk rock that knows how to read a book without pictures". Funny as that quote is,
it's misleading... Firstly describing your band as "loud" is dumb- for obvious reasons, it's certainly not louder
than anything else I've played today. Secondly, calling yourselves "punk rock" when you play prissy-pink-tea-party-and-petticoats
pop punk is just lying. Thirdly and finally, knowing "how to read a book without pictures" would to me suggest they have
intelligent, perhaps even political lyrics. Not here they don't! You guys are pop-punk accept it. Thank fuck then that they
are actually good at what they do. The 3 tracks on this Ep/single/whatever are packed with infectious pop-punk goodness. The
vocals and music on the opening title track remind me a lot of (what I've heard of) Fenix Tx, hardly pushing the boat out
but it's good. Track 2 really reminds of a poppier Good Riddance (ala "Jeannie") and is a bit punkier. Closer "Crash and burn"
has slightly more unrefined ( but still good) vocals and reminds me of early Lightyear in their non-ska moments and has a
killer hook in the chorus. This Ep is good but the press sheet is full of bollocks, then again I spose that's my problem not
yours. Matt
PETE'S SAKE- REGROUP/ RE-BUILD CDEP [Self released - www.petes-sake.com] I first heard Pete's Sake when they sent me a copy of their second EP 'If That's What You Really Want', musically I
thought the band was above average, not dazzling but still worth checking out. So I was pleased when I heard they had recorded
a new one, I was even more pleased to find that they had left Probation Records, who seem to write press-releases using an
'insert band name here' guide. The first thing I noticed about this was that they've matured from a good quality pop-punk
band into an excellent melodic-hardcore band. Last time round I mentioned Good Riddance as a reference point and with their
new harder edge this is something they've really grown into. They also remind me very much of Twofold's sound around the time
of their split with the G.A.S. Drummers with a few more guitar layers added to the mix and the frequent tempo changes and
twists and turns across the four tracks here strengthen this comparison. There also seems to be a genuine honesty in the lyrics
which is a sure fire way into my good books. My only criticism is that occasionally the tracks seem to blur into each other,
but this is always rescued by a killer hook just around the corner. This is a self-released free EP available for download
from their site and it's really worth your time. I just want to see what they do next now. Kudos. Matt
PITCHSHIFTER- [P.S.I.ENTOLOGY] DVD [P.S.I. Records]
Party time! Blacklisted's first DVD review! OK, now we've celebrated (crazy
times) it's time to start that long, hard journey of enlightenment we call the review. So basically Pitchshifter,
for those who don't know, are one of those rock/beats band, who merge high tech samples and beats with heavy rock riffs. In
this sense their closest peer is probably The Prodidgy, who incidently the band share their guitarist with, but whereas The
Prodigy are more dance/beats based, Pitchshifter have always been a more riff based affair. I've been a fan of this band since
I got the excellent 'Deviant' a couple of years back, I still listen to it now and it still stands strong, perfectly
encapsulating that post-apocalyptic, futuristic dance-rock sound as seen in The Matrix- but good. And no, not
the hilarious tub-thumping cave man band.
The main feature here is the band' s 13 song set in their home town of Nottingham.
This effectively works as a greatest hits collection featuring tracks such as 'Hidden Agenda', 'Condescension', 'Genius' and
'W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G.' I have to admit, I first doubted claims of the 'riotous home crowd' but on viewing the crowd is into
it from the off, with crowd-surfing rampant from the first track and the band giving it all they've got. Obviously I don't
expect this to be completely transferred to the viewer but it does still make entertaining viewing. Another pleasant surprise
was how good the sound quality was, for such a production heavy band they reproduce it live incredibly well. A good example
of this (and for me the high-point of the set) is 'Hidden Agenda' when the drummer actually plays the psycho drum 'n' bass
section- something I'd always assumed was programmed- clearly, that guy's got skills!
However '[P.S.I.entology]' also acts as a library and final
chapter of the bands prolific history with some enlightening and amusing interviews with band members including
'home footage and photos' of some of the bands highlights cut together with care and in their own, very distinctive, style. This
is a DVD clearly (and commendably) designed with the fan's in mind- an absolutely essential purchase for any fans of
the band and definately worth viewing by anyone with even a passing interest in Pitchshifter- even if it's just too watch
the bassist casually sipping a coffee and talking in his Nottingham accent before letting loose with his demon-spawn
vocals in the recording studio. Matt
P.P.M.- TRUTH MATTERS CD [Wild
Punk]
CRASH! Thats the sound of me falling off my chair after
being kicked in the face with P.P.M.'s boot of punk-rock! SLAP! Thats the sound of you hitting yourself as I fall prey to
using dodgy cliches for my intros. On with it then. Imagine NRA marrying the Ramones, then having an affair with Welt
who then gives birth to P.P.M. who grows up in Spain listening to a bit of everything. HA HA! Master revier at work! *Cough,
Cough*. I think this is a band that really sums up what a modern Ramones would sound like. They have those memorable
chorus lines of the Brudders poppier moments (ala 'Pet Semetary') whereas the verses are much more straight up punk and roll
at speed. There are many highlights on this album including 'Safety Belt', the poppy 'Make Me Fall Down' to the ballsy rock
of 'Raise Up!'. Its also worth checking out the Madness-'One Step Beyond'-like 'Un Paso Adelante', a cover of an older song
I'm guessing. I like it. Matt
P.P.M.- IT'S ALIVE [Wild Punk]
As if the blatent influence of The Ramones on P.P.M.'s
own tracks wasn't enough, they release this- a live recording of a 28 song long Ramones set list. Effectively a cover of the
whole 'It's Alive' album. First off- top marks for ambition and presistence. The band has learnt 28 songs, including favourite
covers of The Ramones' such as 'Surfin Bird' and 'Let's Dance'. That's impressive- most bands don't know 28 of their own songs
let alone anyone else's. Secondly, they manage to play them faster than The Ramones, 'Judy Is A Punk' comes in at 57
seconds. Then, they have the balls to release this- the punk rock equivalent of a Stars In Their Eyes album. So do they carry
it off?
Well, in places 'yes' and in others 'no'. I think the
thing I most like about this CD is the enthusiasm. In terms of song-writing you can't really touch The Ramones at what they
did, so instead P.P.M. bring their own brand of (slightly crazed) enthusiasm to the mix. As a loose rule of thumb,
bands having fun rock. They also don't make self conscious efforts to morph the songs in their own versions, by 'skaing it
up', for instance. It therefore avoids sounding too Me First and The Gimme Gimmes-like. I think the only real fault I can
find with this album (apart from the tendency for some songs to be rushed for the sake of it) is that P.P.M. are not
The Ramones. On the face of it this sounds stupid, but why would anyone choose to listen to this, a live version of their
songs by another band, over the amazing originals? And why, if you are after a live album, would you listen to this over the
original 'It's Alive'- thought to be the greatest live album ever? Basically, this is a release only for Ramones or P.P.M.
elitists. Actually, I think I just found the answers to the questions above, this isn't about sales, if
you love The Ramones that much- why not? Matt
P.P.M.- PUNK ROCK SUCKS CDEP [Wild
Punk]
Well it looks like this started as a 5 track EP but
morphed into something else, with the addition of a bonus track and then another 5 'extra bonus' tracks. So basically what
we here is a bits'n'pieces album- bonus! The EP itself absolutely rocks, the
opening track 'Ex-friend' is superb despite the cliche title, displaying the 60s hooks blended with punk attitude that P.P.M.
are so good at, this is also apparent on 'Crazy Tonight'. The straight-out hardcore of 'Get on top' splitting and
contrasting with the two perfectly. Having said that, my favourite track by far is the darker sounding 'Minor' (hence
the title I guess), the closest comparison I can come up with here is a slightly slower, 80's sounding Alkaline Trio. The
five 'extra bonus tracks' are all covers and these are a slightly hit and miss affair. Some of them are pretty good but most
are just speeded up versions of the originals. 'You really got me' is worth a listen, as is 'Race against time' (GBH),
but the highlight of these is 'Surfin' USA'- I'm a sucker for The Beach Boys. However you can't really complain about the
quality of bonus tracks- they're a bonus! The EP itself is by far some of the best stuff I have heard from the band.
Pick it up-ah. Matt
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