https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nF_92fKa1mZnO-YO4kHnbOg0UeA8AZFGo
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Saafir - Boxcar Sessions 2xLP
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nF_92fKa1mZnO-YO4kHnbOg0UeA8AZFGo
Monday, November 18, 2024
Pinhead Gunpowder - Unt LP - Yellow w/ Red and Teal Splatter Vinyl (/1000)
1-2-3-4 Go! (2024)
I certainly wasn't expecting a new Pinhead Gunpowder album as 2024 started wrapping up, but here we are with Unt. Yes, Unt. I've read more than a few 'hot takes' on this album in the last few weeks since it has been released and there are definitely people with opinions. Shocking for the internet, but true. I do realize that by writing this I am adding to it, but I'm not sure my take is as hot as most others.
What it boils down to is that I like this record. It's fun to listen to and it has good songs on it, for the most part. Is every song on it a smash hit? No, but there's much more to like about this album than to dislike about it, I think. It starts off particularly strong with "Unt," "Difficult But Not Impossible" and "Scum of the Earth" being particularly strong. Maybe I don't like songs like "Oh My" or "Green" quite as much. And while I can understand the sentiment behind "Hola Canada," it's a pretty goofy song.
I lot of what I've seen is from people saying that this album isn't as punk or aggressive or angsty as their albums from 20-20 years ago. That's true. But I'm also not as punk or aggressive as I was 30 years ago either. It feels like a record aimed at someone a little older, like me. And for that reasons I can relate to it more as a new album that's being release now as opposed to something being released purely to try to drum up feelings of nostalgia. I have plenty of records from that era that make me feel nostalgic, I'm perfectly happy with a new record that's just fun to listen to with 2024 ears.
Pinhead Gunpowder - Unt:
https://pinheadgunpowder.bandcamp.com/album/unt
Friday, November 15, 2024
Sicko - You Can Feel The Love In This Room - Red Vinyl (/250) & Red w/ Black and White Splatter Vinyl (/250)
Top Drawer (2024, Reissue)
In the 90s, Sicko was part of my holy trinity of pop punk bands. The Mr. T Experience, Zoinks and Sicko were always the ones that I was constantly obsessing over. I spent so much time in a pre-Discogs world hunting down records by them. The fact that so many are now available with the simple click of a mouse is as exciting as it is unfair.
30 years after their first full length was released, Sicko is reissuing all of their albums on vinyl and CD. These boys have put out some really important records to me and over the next four Fridays (fingers crossed that I can stay on schedule) I'm going to be writing about each of them. Maybe not on Black Friday, but we'll see how that goes.
First up is the first Sicko full length. You Can Feel The Love In This Room was originally released in 1994 and I was completely unaware that it came out. My entry point to Sicko was their next album Laugh While You Can Monkey Boy, but we'll talk more about that next week. I had to backtrack and pick up You Can Feel The Love In This Room a year after the fact. I think for that reason I honestly never really bonded with it as strongly as the others, which always felt more 'current' to me. It's kind of absurd to say that about a record that came out 30 years ago vs. the next one that came out 29 years ago, but again, during the time it felt different to me than the other three.
That's certainly not to say I don't thoroughly enjoy this record and I've listed to it more times than I can count. Just not quite as many times as the others. It is jam packed full of hits and it's really hard to argue how great songs like "The Sprinkler" or "Wisdom Tooth Weekend" are. The times I've seen Sicko live, these songs sound just as great as the ones off of other albums that I have a bit more nostalgic feelings for.
Before I talk a little bit about this specific reissue, I do need to call out how absolutely, completely fucking insane it is that all four albums were rereleased AT THE SAME TIME. That is madness and while as a fan it's sure nice to get them all without having to wait, just thinking about the logistics of making that happen makes my head hurt.
You Can Feel The Love In This Room was remastered for this rerelease and you can tell the difference. I played the first few songs off of my original LP that came out on eMpTy before putting this new version on and it's a big improvement. First off, everything is a little bit louder and a little bit fuller sounding, but where this reissue really shines for me is how much better the vocals sound. They're a little more forward and it sounds great.
There are also two bonus tracks on here, "Pain in the Ass" from their first demo and "Kathy's Dance" from the Count Me Out 7". Where are the other songs from those releases? Who knows. Maybe we're going to get a fancy pants reissue of A Brief History... one day. Rather than have both songs at the end, "Pain In The Ass" is at the end of side A of the record, which is a little jarring as I'm not used to that song being their when I've listened to the record for the past 29 years.
This is the best that this record has ever sounded and even though I already had the original LP and CD, of course I needed to have both versions of the new vinyl. Here they are, in all of their glory. I may be in the minority (as I do understand that the splatter is probably more impressive looking), but I think the solid color is the winner here, it just looks the business to me.
Sicko - You Can Feel The Love In This Room:
https://sicko.bandcamp.com/music (I have been assured that the remastered versions are coming to Bandcamp imminently)
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Souls Of Mischief – 93 'Til Infinity (The Remixes) 2xLP
Monday, November 11, 2024
Lync / Pedro The Lion - Split 7" - Blue Vinyl (/300)
Suicide Squeeze (2024)
This is an odd little release. It's a split 7" with Lync and Pedro The Lion on each side playing the Lync song "b." This version is on blue vinyl and was limited to 300 copies. There's also a purple vinyl version, but I haven't seen that for sale online anywhere, though admittedly, I haven't really looked all that hard as I'm not sure I need another copy of this. Though the Lync collector in my head often disagrees.
The original Lync version of this is from 1994's These Are Not Fall Colors album. It's probably my favorite by Lync, which is saying something considering how much I love pretty much all of their songs. It's the one that grabbed me by the ears in 1994 and never let go, fully establishing that Lync wasn't 'a band with those guys on the Beck album.' Which was, of course, how I stumbled across them in '94. I can't ever say enough good things about this song, this album and this band. Sam Jayne forever.
On the flip is a newly recorded version of this song by Pedro The Lion. I've never really been a fan, their records have always been a little too slow and sleepy for me. Their take on "b" doesn't really do anything to change my opinion. It's a solo acoustic take that is so slow and has such low, deep vocals that I thought I was playing it on the wrong speed. To call it a melancholy take would be doing a disservice to melancholy things as it's just borderline depressing. If this means that more folks get to hear the Lync version of the song, then this 7" is a worthwhile endeavor. But for me, I don't really need a slower, sadder version of one of the great indie rock songs of all time.
Lync / Pedro The Lion - Split 7":
https://lync1994.bandcamp.com/album/b-2
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Master Ace – Take A Look Around 4xLP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvULvhZ5CXk&ab_
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
EPMD - Business Never Personal 2xLP
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lFTq20kYiq_JyLVJrG8qsHl5gV5HEN6Iw
Friday, October 4, 2024
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes – ¡Blow It…At Madison's Quinceañera! LP - Gold in Purple LP
Fat Wreck Chords (2024)
I have never owned a Me First and the Gimme Gimmes record before this one. They have always just been one of those bands that existed, doing their cover band thing and frankly, by about 1998 or so, I was pretty content with the number of punked up cover songs out in the world. I really didn't need a whole band that played nothing but them.
What changed my mind? Well, it was the fact the the Swami himself, John Reis, joined the band for touring over the last couple of years. He's manning the guitar on this album which was recorded live at an actual quinceañera. While this record is never going to be a gateway drug to launch me into the band's entire catalog, it's a fun enough listen and it being a live album helps quite a bit - despite me not being a fan of live albums in general.
There are songs like "Love Will Keep Us Together" and "Dancing Queen," which are the sort of things I expect when I imagine what the Gimme Gimmes would be playing. But an unexpected highlight are the five songs sung in Spanish. Some have horns (with Jason (JC2000) Crane on trumpet) and a more dynamic approach to the songs. I dig those, they're genuinely fine. As a frontman, Spike has a really good, self deprecating/self aggrandizing schtick that makes for some fun banter.
Swami on guitar is fun. I'm not used to hearing him in the Fat Wreck style, but he pulls it off effortlessly and you can hear his influence on the guitar sound in places. But this band isn't really a showcase for John. It's a showcase for Spike, a showcase for a band having fun and hopefully a showcase for Madison having a great quinceañera.
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes – ¡Blow It…At Madison's Quinceañera! :
https://gimmegimmes.bandcamp.com/album/blow-it-at-madisons-quincea-era
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Nice & Smooth - Nice & Smooth 2xLP - Green & Yellow Split Vinyl
Priority Records (2017, Reissue)
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nBpWc5eL9OffVT9zwE9olWLCADOld0S7I
Friday, September 27, 2024
Autobahns - First LP
Feral Kid / Legless / Phantom / Magüt (2024)
I have a little pile of records people sent to me to review that's building up, so I'm trying to get through some of those. Autobahns are from Germany and four labels went in on putting out this album. Other than that I don't really know anything else about them other than the music that is on this LP. I'm not sure I have that much to say about it.
It's fast punky rock with something of a Marked Men style guitar attack, if the Marked Men only recorded their albums in the sea and didn't have interesting chord progressions. The guitar tone on this record is pretty silly and I can only describe it by saying that it wounds like a cartoon version of what a guitar being played underwater would sound like.
The vocals are ultra distorted to the point of being incomprehensible and they're pretty much screamed on top of being fuzzed out. Is this better than your run of the mill hardcore band? Yes, absolutely. But it's not really good either.
Autobahns - First LP:
https://feral-kid-records.bandcamp.com/album/first-lp
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
MF911 - Idol, The Bloodsport LP
Next Plateau (1993)
https://mf911.bandcamp.com/album/idol-the-bloodsport
Friday, September 20, 2024
Teen Cobra - Buzzkill LP - Yellow Vinyl
Big Neck (2024)
There's lo fi and then there's no fi. Teen Cobra fall in the latter category and that just makes this album even more fun. Buzzkill is an LP full of loud, fuzzy garage stompers. As far as production goes, the album is certainly rough and ready. The vocals are fuzzed out and constantly in the red, the guitar is also ultra-distorted, but still manages to maintain an element of jangle to it and those components are fueled by a primitive, primal drum beat. It's a lot of noise out of two people.
I think the thing that I like the most about this album is how it feels like a sister record to something that Doo Rag or The Black-Eyed Snakes would have released decades ago. A lot of that is the percussion and the way the deceptively simple sounding drums add an energy and propulsion to every song.
It also helps that the vocals aren’t the standard garage snarl posturing. I mean, there's a little of that, but you've never heard an album trying to cram in so many vocal harmonies while keeping the vocals so intentionally blown out. It's really unique and makes Teen Cobra stand out from the pack. I dig this.
Teen Cobra - Buzzkill:
https://bigneckrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/buzzkill
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Brokin English Klik – Brokin English Klik LP
https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCEd3MBPzpj3e7DXr04ocErg
Friday, September 13, 2024
Reduced - Reduced 7" - Yellow Vinyl (/265)
Brassneck (2024)
I've written more than a few old man screeds on this site over the years. The older I get, the less in vogue the sort of things I like to listen to tend to be. I'd like to think it's less me being a cranky old guy that is falling out of touch and more about how bands just flat out sound different these days. They have different touchstones and inspirations than I do. I don't begrudge any of them, it just feels like I'm not the target for what they are doing, and that's fine.
Luckily my desire for music is satiated by reissues, lost recordings, new discoveries of old bands I missed the first time around and old folks that are still making music. Much more rare is a new band that I'm not familiar with coming out of nowhere and hitting that sweet spot of upbeat and energetic punk with hooks and vocals that don't sound like a band started by a former Decepticon. Enter Reduced.
This is a UK punk band that is probably a little more aggressive than the Choppers, Broccolis and Hooton 3 Cars of the world, but I still hear a kinship to that scene which is something I don't get to hear anywhere near as often as I'd like. The music drives forward, but is still catchy. But it's not as straightforward as you might think as I find the chord progressions veer off into unexpected places not unlike something you'd expect from Red Dons or maybe the first Estranged album.
And unlike so many No Idea/Hot Water Music growly vocal folks that seem to inhabit the bands that I would probably listen to if not for the vocals, the singer from Reduced sounds like someone singing. There's a slight raspiness to his voice that I'm pointing out as a compliment because if it was too slick, I wouldn't like that either. It threads the needle perfectly, meshing with the rest of the band and carrying the hooks. This is a band that is playing loud, fast music that is catchy, has hooks and generally is the sort of music I want to listen to. I hope they're working on a full length.
Reduced - Reduced 7":
https://brassneckrecords.bandcamp.com/album/reduced
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Mad Flava - From the Ground Unda 2xLP
Monday, September 9, 2024
Trenchkoat - Apocalypse Hits LP
Big Neck / No Front Teeth (2024)
If we're going to venture into judging a book by its cover land, I had an inkling while looking at this album by Tenchkoat that it might not be up my alley. But with the minimalist design and the straight lines, I figured, who knows - maybe there's a chance it's gloomy but not super evil. I was wrong, Apocalypse Hits is, in fact, super evil.
I feel bad when I write about records like this, because I'm never quite sure what to say about a band that sits so far outside of the scope of what I tend to listen to. I can say that from a music standpoint, the band is certainly tight, it's not a sloppy hardcore crew. The guitar work has some interesting riff and lead work and the drummer is absolutely pounding the hell out of the kit. If you are looking for aggressive, dark music, this could be for you.
That said, I absolutely cannot understand the appeal of vocals like this. They are so shredding, and cartoonishly dark. It sounds like an orc from Lord of the Rings in the midst of some sort of incantation. Lots of yelling, lots of reverb. It just sounds kind of insane to my ears, but I'll say again - I am definitely not the target demographic for this sort of thing.
I dig a lot of what Big Neck sends my way. Even the stuff that's not always in my wheelhouse is usually interesting or at least a top notch example of the band's given genre. This is one of those rare bands that just completely puzzles me. I'm sure it makes sense to someone, but it's not for me.
Trenchkoat - Apocalypse Hits:
https://bigneckrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/apocalypse-hits
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Digital Underground - The "Body-Hat" Syndrome LP - 2 Versions
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Rough House Survivers - Straight from the Soul LP
Relativity (1992)
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nu-P0iHFdiBhPRqlciuz6O-Gvz2vb0QXo
Monday, August 19, 2024
Sprocket Wheel - Stand By Me 7"
Brassneck (2023)
When I first discovered Snuffy Smile records in Japan it felt like the marquee bands were Lovemen, Blew, Navel and Sprocket Wheel. At least, that's how I saw things. I started off buying split 7"s they had with other bands that I liked such as Hooton 3 Car, Chopper, Goober Patrol, Travis Cut and Less Than Jake. Blew and Lovemen also both had full albums on Snuffy Smile (Navel;s would follow a couple of years later). Sprocket Wheel didn't have that Snuffy Smile full length, and after a while they sort of faded out of my view since I wasn't seeing anything new from them.
At the time, I didn't know they had released a full length and an EP on their own. It wasn't until many years later that I got a hold of those songs. So while I was not as familiar with their discography for as long as some of those other Snuffy bands, I caught up eventually.
And that's why I was pleased as punch to see that Sprocket Wheel had started playing some shows in Japan over the last couple of years. Though I was pretty shocked to find out that they were putting out a new 7". I mean, you can't even get The Urchin to put out more songs, but now we have new stuff from Sprocket Wheel? Crazy.
And I'm pleased as punch to report that the songs on this 7" are absolutely fantastic. Aside from the recording quality being improved a little bit, the three new original songs sound like they could have been plucked from the band in 1995 at the height of there powers. There's also a fourth cover song on the 7" of the Christmas so.g Feliz Navidad which is fun, but can't hold a candle to the originals.
Those originals are exactly the sort of melodic punk rock that I live for and that I rarely hear any more. It hits that sweet spot that I'm always looking to hit ever since finding this music back in the 90s. I cannot possibly say enough good things about these songs and I hope against hope that it's just the first in many new recordings that the band puts out.
Sprocket Wheel - Stand By Me:
https://brassneckrecords.bandcamp.com/album/stand-by-me
Friday, August 9, 2024
Swami & The Bed of Nails - All Of This Awaits You... LP
Swami (2024)
Swami & The Bed Of Nails is the latest incarnation of John Reis' "solo" endeavor. "Solo" is in quotes because this isn't a solo, singer-songwriter exercise. It's a full band experience, but there's something of a rotating cast of characters helping out release to release, song to song. The last time he put out a record like this it was released under the name Swami John Reis. No matter what this band or any other band of his is called, I've been one of the world's biggest John Reis fans ever since first hearing Rocket From The Crypt in the 90s. For me the Bed Of Nails is just another great band to add to his catalog.
The thing that strikes me most about All Of This Awaits You.. is that it's fun and joyful. The songs are upbeat and catchy. Even the songs that have negative lyrics (like hating a hardware store) are done with an exuberance that still makes it feel like a positive song. I'm not going to pretend to be smart enough to dig down for deep meanings in most songs. It's possible there's something about the lyrics of these songs that I'm missing belying a motive I can't see. But for me, I'm typically happy enjoying things at the surface level most times and boy do I enjoy this record.
The LP is a very economical nine songs long, with three of the songs having appeared on 7"s leading up to the full length. I think it raises the bar higher than the previous Swami John Reis album, Ride The Wild Night, though there are similarities to that record on here. There are also times I hear echoes of the Night Marchers and Rocket. Ultimately, it's a tight, fun record that whizzes by pretty quick, but also never fails to engage me.
I really dig the aforementioned hardware store song "Harbor Freight." "Ketchup, Mustard and Relish" is an unexpected entry into the "_______, _______ & _______" song title pantheon that the Swami has been contributing to over the years. "Lost In Bermondsey" hits even harder than the version played on cardboard instruments that's been floating around on YouTube for a bit. All in all, I just really like listening to this record. It puts me in a good mood and if I have anything resembling a complaint it's just that I want more and wish it was longer.
Swami & The Bed of Nails - All Of This Awaits You...:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kMQmWp8SuqpiOBLIwY5LzpG0c-STNyR3M
And yes, I got the bundle with the T shirt...
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
WC and the Maad Circle - Ain't a Damn Thing Changed LP
Priority (1991)
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k5QYp2eKxOlkQQGSH7uUscLReKma4KsKw
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Masters Of Ceremony – Dynamite LP
Traffic (2005, Reissue)
Every Wednesday, in honor of Ed Lover Dance Day from Yo! MTV Raps, I take a break from rock and roll to write a little bit about hip hop. In the late 80s and early 90s hip hop ruled my musical life. During this often called 'Golden Era' I discovered so much incredible music. As I am slowly replacing the CDs I've had for thirty plus years with vinyl copies, I'm going to talk about some albums that had a really important impact on me during some very formative years.
The first and only Masters of Ceremony album, Dynamite, came out in 1988. Slightly before I started digging into the world of hip hop and a year that was so full of absolute classics that some of the other albums released that year faded into obscurity. I never heard of Masters of Ceremony back in the 90s, but had I know that they were the first group that Grand Puba was in before Brand Nubian, I'm sure I would have went out of my way to track down a copy.
And that's exactly why I tracked down a copy many, many years later. I've always been a big fan of prime era Grand Puba. His work on the Brand Nubian debut, his first solo record and the myriad of guest appearances he made in the early 90s was a hell of a run. It's interesting to go back a few years before that to see how he came up.
In no way is Dynamite anywhere near as good as any of Puba's early 90s work. It's from 1988, so it has an older school feel, especially production-wise. Most of the beats are OK though. While the production certainly sounds dated compared to other golden era releases, even those that came out in 1988, Masters are definitely taking advantage of some of the new tricks and techniques that were starting up. Yes, a lot of it sounds a little hokey, but the bulk of it just sounds like good, early hip hop. Aside from the song "Redder Posse." That song is just straight nonsense. The group comes off like a bunch of sappy R&B clowns with horrible synth and the worst crooning in the hooks. Luckily, this song is an anomaly.
Lyrically Puba shares his time with another MC called Dr. Who. They do a lot of the Run DMC style of passing the mic back and forth, even mid sentence. Puba isn't rapping at the level he'd hit in a few years, but he is quite a bit better than Dr. Who. Again, none of this is bad, it's just a little simplistic compared to where hip hop and Grand Puba would end up in just a couple of years. This probably isn't the sort of record I would listen to as part of my regular rotation, but it's a decent enough change of pace when I'm looking to indulge in some of hip hop's earlier times.
Masters Of Ceremony – Dynamite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3DTua2OfNY&ab_
Monday, July 22, 2024
The Stools - Live At Outer Limits 12-28-19 LP - White Vinyl
Big Neck (2024)
I'm never going to be a big fan of live albums. Even the live albums that I like aren't records that I play very frequently. For me, it's always just been one of those things where the experience of being at the show will always dwarf anything that gets recorded. Despite not being at this Stools show, or being super familiar with them in general, I have to think the folks who were at that show had a significantly different experience than the one that I have listening to the record.
Starting off with the positives, I really like the music and in particular the guitar playing that The Stools are bringing to the table (yes, that's sort of a joke about stools and tables, all apologies). There's a lot of blues riffs played at warp speed that makes me thing of that first Black-Eyed Snakes album, but with less of a Doo Rag feeling. The pounding rhythm section just further highlights this riff-a-polooza and I imagine watching it live was pretty incredible.
Where this album dips down for me a bit is the vocals. They're a little screamier than I usually like, but I think the main issue is this is where the fidelity of the live recording breaks down. It's all very muffled, particularly compared to the instruments and more than anything, it makes me feel like this is the recording of someone with a tape player in their pocket. I imagine that's not the case, but for me it's tough to get into the record when the vocals are so muted.
The Stools - Live At Outer Limits 12-28-19:
https://bigneckrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-outer-limits
Friday, July 19, 2024
Unwound – A Single History 1991-2001 2xLP - Black w/ Splatter Vinyl
Numero (2024, Reissue)
I wrote a lot about Unwound on this website many years ago as I picked up the various Numero box sets that came out. I love those records and they are the epitome of completeness and a well done retrospective. That said, there are so many great Unwound songs that are sprinkled throughout those boxes, which makes listening a little scattershot when you're looking at non-album tracks. Numero makes it easy for dummies like me and have put out a reworked version of the A Single History compilation.
This was originally called A Single History 1994 - 1997, was a single LP and came out on Kill Rock Stars. Obviously it didn't contain the entirety of Unwound's singles, but gathered up most of the early 7" songs. Numero took that ball and ran with it farther than a very far thing. This version is called A Single History 1994 - 2001. It boasts 23 songs as compared to the original's 16 and is a double LP set.
They also fixed one of the things I find most annoying on singles comps. The Numero version has all of the songs in chronological order and keeps all of the songs that were on a single together in the track listing. It's always been a pet peeve of mine when tracks aren't in order on singles comps and to me, this is a much more satisfying listening experience.
There's a ton of great Unwound songs here like "Mkultra," "Corpse Pose" and "Negated." All hits. Plus it has my very favorite Unwound song of all time, "Broken E Strings" from the Jabberjaw compilation. While my friend from high school Pat was super instrumental in making me pay attention to Unwound even before that Jabberjaw comp came out, that song is the one that really grabbed me and made me a fan for life. This is a great compilation and despite owning these songs on those Unwound box sets, I'm excited to have the easy listening experience of a proper Unwound singles comp.
Unwound – A Single History 1991-2001:
https://unwound.bandcamp.com/album/a-single-history-1991-2001
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Tha Alkaholiks – Coast II Coast 2xLP - Blue Vinyl (/500)
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lTxSE3V0satyB2fWTe_9AZ3UoreZdJbbo
Friday, July 12, 2024
Ultimate Fakebook – This Will Be Laughing Week LP - Coke Bottle Green Vinyl (/250)
Rocket Heart (2024, Reissue)
In 1999 I was the music director of a college radio station in New Jersey. Every day we'd get packages in the mail of CDs that labels and promotions companies wanted us to play. It should come as no surprise that the vast, vast majority of these were completely terrible. Particularly when it came to bands you probably never heard of before.
Back in my music director days I had a very strict formula to try to get through all of the albums that were arriving every day. I had to make quick decisions about what should get played and what should go in the garbage. There just wasn't time to listen to every note of every CD. That amount of time was only given to ones that were definitely going into rotation - which were reviewed, scanned for curses and had recommended tracks picked.
How does an album end up in that pile? By passing a test that originated hanging out with my buddy Alan at the record store. You get the first 30-60 seconds of the first three songs. If you don't show something interesting in that time, you were in the garbage pile.
One day, in one of these constantly arriving packages, A CD from a band called Ultimate Fakebook appeared. It had a roughly drawn cartoon monkey on the cover and lots of weird high school yearbook style artwork. It seemed kind of charming, but I can't say I expected much of anything from the album. I pressed play on the Ultimate Fakebook CD. "She Don't Even Know My Name" came ripping through my speakers and knocked my socks off. Holy crap, I was not expecting a perfect guitar pop band.
Let's try the next song. "Tell Me What You Want (I'll Be Anything)" comes on and it's another absolute hit. Great chord progressions, killer drumming and the vocal melody is a total earworm. At this point I already know that this record is going into rotation, but I'll move on to track three just because that's what I always do. "Of Course We Will" isn't as immediate as the other two. It has a slower pace but hits in a similar way as something like "Say It Ain't So" does. Maybe not as angsty, but in the way that a slower song can fit into the context of an album and not drag things down, even ending up as a highlight.
After those first three minutes I was instantly an Ultimate Fakebook fan. I played the CD to everyone I possibly could, trying to get DJs and friends to hear a band that was very obviously flying way too far under the radar at this time. That record has been with me ever since, one of my favorites from that era and most likely the best new band I ever discovered during my time working as the music director of the radio station.
The band would go on and get picked up by Epic records, who would rerelease the album, but with different, slicker artwork. It's that artwork that adorns the cover of the first vinyl pressing of this wonderful album. And it's the only complaint about this release that I have. I just wish they used the original monkey art, because that was the art on the copy that I fell in love with 25 years ago. That's a minor complaint though, now that I finally, FINALLY have this record on vinyl. It was one of a handful of CD only releases I had that was still waiting for an LP. One down, a hundred or so more to go.
Ultimate Fakebook – This Will Be Laughing Week:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mhddJ5KECXwRAG3k0eEWstb0LEz9fcweY
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
King Tee – Tha Triflin' Album LP - Orange Vinyl
Taha / JTLM (2020, Reissue)
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lTC4PyWZep2TIS0TS7X1G6Uen5AiP9PeU
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Godfather Don - Hazardous 2xLP - Red Vinyl & Yellow Vinyl (/750)
Godfather Don - Hazardous:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k_B0nwoRM8Y2MH7yBy3wFx7r1qWftG99E
Friday, June 28, 2024
The Drolls / Gentlemen Rogues - Split 7" - White Vinyl (/100)
Snappy Little Numbers (2024)
What do you get when two of my favorite active bands and one of my favorite active record labels hatch a plot for world domination? In my opinion, you get possibly the best split 7" of the last five years. I have to go back to 2019's Chestnut Road/Navel split to find a release that has two bands I like this much on. Both bands are in top form as well. These aren't throwaway cuts or album rejects, these songs are all grade A rock.
The Drolls check in with two songs. "Burned Out" is another top shelf song in their still burgeoning pantheon of great songs. It's a mid tempo song that certainly has some similarities with the sort of thing that Denny was cranking out in Sicko's later days, with its bouncy chorus and excellent guitar riffage. The second song, "Happy Hour," is a bit different, which it would be as it's a cover of a Housemartins song (which I am unfamiliar with). It has a quicker pace, lots of lyrics and really nice backing vocals in the chorus. I'm sure all three Drolls are probably tired of the constant Sicko references, but it's hard to ignore one of my all time favorite bands and the fact that two of that band's members are in The Drolls. But The Drolls are more than standing on their own, away from the shadow of Sicko. Two more hits that only make me want to hear more. Give me LP 2!
Gentlemen Rogues are following up their stellar Surface Noise full length from earlier in the year. I'm sure the Rogues are equally sick of me talking about the band Jill when I write about them, but it's impossible for me to hear Danny's voice without calling back to seeing Jill play in a garage in New Jersey in the 90s. Once again, we've got two stellar songs, an original "Young 'Til We Die" and a Rolling Stones cover, "Connection." While Danny's voice certainly makes my think of Jill, the music is definitely different. I think I've mentioned before, but this is the grown up version of pop punk, with more similarities to Superdrag than to Zoinks. Tons of vocal harmonies on songs that I just want to listen to over and over.
As has been my way for the last several years, I have been lamenting the lack of records coming out this year that are exciting to me. If I could have a few dozen more that are as good as this split, I wouldn't have to do so much complaining. This one everybody should go grab as quickly as their fingers and internet connection will allow.
The Drolls / Gentlemen Rogues - Split:
https://snappylittlenumbers.bandcamp.com/album/split-sln-250
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Live and Let Die 2xLP
Traffic (2012, Reissue)
Every Wednesday, in honor of Ed Lover Dance Day from Yo! MTV Raps, I take a break from rock and roll to write a little bit about hip hop. In the late 80s and early 90s hip hop ruled my musical life. During this often called 'Golden Era' I discovered so much incredible music. As I am slowly replacing the CDs I've had for thirty plus years with vinyl copies, I'm going to talk about some albums that had a really important impact on me during some very formative years.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rPTvGcdYjo&ab_channel=deal4real2000
Friday, June 14, 2024
Cloud Nothings – Final Summer - Blue Vinyl (/250)
Pure Noise (2024)
Would you believe that this is the seventh Cloud Nothings full length album I've written about for this website in the last ten years? That seems kind of crazy and it made me think about this band for a while before writing this. When I really put my mind to it and try to recall the prior six records, I can't. And I realize that while every single one of them is a good record, inevitably I listen to each record for a month or two when it first comes out and then it gets filed away on the shelf and not listened to again. The only one that I go back to repeatedly is Here and Nowhere Else. I love that record and still play it a few times a year guaranteed. The rest? I'm not sure I've listened to any of them other than the year I first got them.
And that sort of sums up my feelings about the new Cloud Nothings album Final Summer. It's a good record, with good songs - sure to please anyone that likes Cloud Nothings prior records. And I like it, genuinely. At the same time, it's kind of unremarkable. I wouldn't say it's boring, necessarily, but there isn't any song on here that makes me sit up, take notice and say "this is great." It's kind of the definition of a solid record. It does what it's supposed to, but nothing more. It fades into the background very easily and isn't the sort of thing that makes you want to keep going back to it.
The main reason I've listened to this album as many times as I have, is just so I could write about it. Without that to do, I don't know that I would have been motivated to spin it more than a time or two. Again, it's a good record. If you like the other Cloud Nothings albums, you'll like this one. But if you have other Cloud Nothings records, I'm not really sure you need this one. The others get the same job done and none of them can really hold up to Here and Nowhere Else for me.
Cloud Nothings – Final Summer
https://cloudnothings.bandcamp.com/track/final-summer
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Double XX Posse - Put Ya Boots On LP
Big Beat (1992)
Every Wednesday, in honor of Ed Lover Dance Day from Yo! MTV Raps, I take a break from rock and roll to write a little bit about hip hop. In the late 80s and early 90s hip hop ruled my musical life. During this often called 'Golden Era' I discovered so much incredible music. As I am slowly replacing the CDs I've had for thirty plus years with vinyl copies, I'm going to talk about some albums that had a really important impact on me during some very formative years.https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mBu9rv8VX0z4wwZXP8-iMVIGKMJ1XiQ5Q
Friday, June 7, 2024
Superchunk – Misfits & Mistakes 4xLP
Merge (2023)
I have been a Superchunk fan for a really long time. They played at one of the earliest shows I ever went to and have been a constant in my rock and roll life for 30 years. They've been remarkably consistent over that time. The records that I love, I really love. The records that I don't love are still pretty good all things considered. I wouldn't say there are any bad Superchunk records, just ones that I don't listen to as often as others.
Superchunk has had three previous singles comps. The single LP Tossing Seeds in 1992. The double LP Incidental Music in 1995. The triple LP Cup of Sand in 2003. And now, for their fourth singles comp, we have Misfits and Mistakes, clocking in at a staggering quadruple LP set. FOUR LPs worth of Superchunk B sides and oddities. I love me some Superchunk, but this is way, way, way too much.
Don't get me wrong, there are flat out great songs on this thing. "February Punk," "Blinders (Fast Version)" as well as singles versions of some of the best songs from their last few albums. The artwork and liner notes are also top tier. I love reading about individual songs and seeing the art of all of the singles I bought leading up to this. But there's so much here to get through. A billion covers. Fast songs. Slow songs. So many songs. As much as I love Superchunk, four LPs worth of songs, clocking in at two and a half hours of music is just too much.
Had they broken this up into two double LPs released a year or so apart, that would have been better. I'd probably be really psyched on that. But this much Superchunk, the vast majority of which is not the cream of their crop, is just overwhelming and kind of difficult to get motivated to listen to. It almost feels like a chore. Could I just listen to one of LPs at a time, sure. But there's something about that just seems weird. If it wasn't meant to be listened to together, why did they release it together? For whatever reason, this is too much and is destined to be one of those Superchunk records I don't play very often.
Superchunk – Misfits & Mistakes:
https://superchunk.bandcamp.com/album/misfits-mistakes-singles-b-sides-strays-2007-2023
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Wanted: Dead Or Alive 4xLP
Cold Chillin' / Traffic (2007, Reissue)
Every Wednesday, in honor of Ed Lover Dance Day from Yo! MTV Raps, I take a break from rock and roll to write a little bit about hip hop. In the late 80s and early 90s hip hop ruled my musical life. During this often called 'Golden Era' I discovered so much incredible music. As I am slowly replacing the CDs I've had for thirty plus years with vinyl copies, I'm going to talk about some albums that had a really important impact on me during some very formative years.
I said the same when I wrote about Road to the Riches a while back, but I didn't listen to Kool G Rap & DJ Polo when they were active back in the 90s. I just don't remember seeing them on Yo! MTV Raps, though I definitely knew the name from reading The Source. I think I mainly attribute it to the fact that this album, Wanted: Dead or Alive came out right as I was getting into hip hop, the same summer that Mama Said Knock You Out had come out and completely changed my musical worldview. I wasn't immediately digging into the more underground sounds or the albums that came out before that moment, so they slipped through the cracks. And I guess when their final record came out in 1992, it didn't make as big a splash in my world as others.
I eventually fell for Kool G Rap & DJ Polo when the Take It Personal Radio podcast did a show long feature on their music. I had always been aware of G Rap's reputation on the mic, but I really wasn't prepared for the ferocity that he attacked his lyrical delivery. Wanted: Dead or Alive is step up in that regard as compared to their debut. The lyrical content is also cranked up a notch as the mafiosa style that he's reknown for really came into focus on this album.
Production-wise, things are a little darker this time out. Gone out the bouncy pianos of "Road to the Riches," replaced by slinkier bass lines and pounding kick drums. While I do actually prefer the first album, you can't argue with a crew of producers that includes Biz Markie, Eric B, Marley Marl and Large Professor.
The version of this album that I ended up hunting down is the quadruple LP reissue that came out in 2007. In addition to the main album there's two extra LPs full of remixes. B sides and instrumentals. Is it essential material? Probably not for most people, but the B sides are great and some of the remixes shine just as strong as the originals. For me it was worth it.
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Wanted: Dead Or Alive:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nzT1Vv7Fcm0AYJPVCR8PwKb6ZlqcS-1EI