reviews
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Here is where I put reviews of anything and everything punk that anyone wants me to review, or anything that I want to review. I rate CDs by how much I would pay for them. Keep in mind that I'm a cheap ass, and this is just MY opinion. The ratings are Retail (I would pay retail prices for this CD), Mail Order (I would pay mail order prices. Catching on?), Used, Bootleg, and Don't Bother (please clown a CD with this rating when you see it). |
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Guttermouth, Gorgeous (Nitro Records) Guttermouth has been busy lately. It seems like Musical Monkey just came out, and Live From the Pharmacy is about six months old, yet out comes a new full length. Guttermouth seems to be fairly popular with skaters, snowboarders, and other marginal punks, so you've heard of them. But if you've never actully heard Guttermouth, they sound a little on the melodic side of hardcore. Gorgeous actully is a little harder than usual, and it sounds a lot like AFI. Guttermouth is not for the easily offended. Actully if you have any opinions at all, Guttermouth will probably offend you. Lets see, in Gorgeous they make fun of Christians, America, Jewlrey, punks, and other miscelaneous groups. If you can actully make it through the CD, you'll proably find Guttermouth hilarious. I didn't really like Musical Monkey, but I like the harder sound on Gorgeous, so if you're going to buy a Guttermouth CD, get this one. (retail)
Short Music for Short People (Fat Wreck Chords) Short Music for Short People is 101 punk (and a few ska) bands playing 30 second or less songs. I didn't have too high hopes for this CD. I thought it would be hardcore bands playing songs so fast you couldn't understand them, much less hear the chords. Well Short Music for Short People has it share of those, but most of the songs sound like the bands regular songs except shorter. Actully because of the time limitations, there's a lot of band's joke songs on it. So who's on it? Just about every band that have ever released a nationally distributed record. Most of the bands are related to the California punk scene, but there's bands from all over the world. Defunct bands like The Descendents, The Damned, D.I., Gwar, The Misfits, Black Flag (with Henry Rollins), and The Circle Jerks are even on it. There's so many songs on here, my Cd player considers the last three songs track 99. A must have for any fan of gimmick albums. (Retail)
Frenzal Rhomb, A Man's Not a Camel (Fat Wreck Chords) If you've never heard of Frenzal Rhomb, it's probably because they're from Austrlia or you're stupid. The first I heard them was on Life in the Fat Lane a month ago. I don't know if they have any other records (I assume they do), but this is their first on Fat and the first I've heard, so they have clean slate. Frenzal Rhomb play an extremely catchy pop punk that borders on Rockabilly sometimes. I can't really compare them to any other bands, but they're really cool. Maybe a cross between Snuff, Madness, with a little Reverend Horton Heat. They're good, so buy them. (Retail)
Good Riddance, Operation Phoenix (Fat Wreck Chords) These North California punks have been playing since 1986, and have just about perfected their sound. I saw Good Riddance a few years ago, but I'd never heard any of their records until now. Good Riddance plays a political melodic hardcore that actully sounds a lot like AFI. One gets a sense of their political views with the picture on the back of the CD and the songs like Heresy, Hypocracy, and Revenge, Indoctrination, Shit-talking Capitalists, and Yesterday Died-Tommorow Won't Be Born. All in all 17 songs of good clean fun. (Mail Order)
AFI, Black Sails in the Sunset (Nitro Records) It seems like I just reviewed AFI's last CD just a bit ago, but I guess they released it in 1997. I've liked AFI since I saw them at the best show I've ever been to back in 1995. Shortly after that they released Answer That And Stay Fashionable, which is still one of my favorite CD's. AFI plays what they call "East Bay Hardcore," which I would describe as a cross between Sick of it All and old Rancid: hardcore music, but they actully sing. AFI's last few records have been a little more hardcore than I care for, and they've picked up a goth look somewhere along the way. This is a good CD, it just takes some getting used to. They're still one of the best live bands around though. (Mail Order)
The Ataris, Blue Skies, Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits (Kung Fu Records) In case you haven't read my review for Look Foreward to Failure (below), The Ataris are one of my favorite bands. Actully I couldn't wait to get this in the mail and bought it myself. The Ataris play pretty straight foreward pop-punk, but they just do it better than 99% of the bands doing it. Blue Skies sounds more mature than Anywhere But Here, with definite emo influences, complex harmonies, heartfelt lyrics (10/14ths of the songs are about girls), and even occasional acoustic guitars
Life in the Fat Lane--Fat Music Vol. IV (Fat Wreck Chords) As the hyphen suggests, this is the fourth installment in Fat's budget compilation CDs. The suggested retail price on this is $3.98. Of course with the low price you have to sacrifice unreleased songs. Most of the songs on this CD are on previous Fat releases. But you know what? It doesn't matter, because this CD is really cool. All of your Fat Wreck Chords favorites (NOFX, Snuff, Strung Out,The Mad Caddies, Lagwagon, Tilt, etc.) playing their best stuff. For the price, this is one damn good CD. Also a good way to check out new bands. Retail (come on, it's only 4 bucks.)
Goober Patrol, The Unbearable Lightness of Being Drunk (Fat Wreck Chords) Adding to Fat's already large collection of bands from other countries, is Goober Patrol. I believe that TULOBD is this Brit punk band's second release on Fat, but I'm not sure if they have any others out. Goober Patrol sounds a lot like the other British band on Fat, Snuff. With piercing guitars, rock-solid rhythm, and thickly accented vocals, Goober Patrol's music sticks in your head after you've finished listening it. I haven't heard their other CD, but my friend Chris informs me that this CD has more screaming than the first. Even so, this is a damn good album. I just wish I could understand it. (Retail)
Sick Of It All, Call To Arms (Fat Wreck Chords) If you've never heard of Sick of it All, you're just not down with the New York Hardcore scene. Actully I'm anything but down with the New York Hardcore scene, but I've heard of them. They're probably the biggest hardcore band in the US right now. If you read my reviews religiously, then you'll know that I don't like hardcore. Sick of it All is no exception. Actully I'd like to see them live, but unfortnately hardcore doesn't come across well recorded. You can get away with yelling live, but not in the studio. Actully this CD is growing on me, so maybe in a year or two I might like it. (Mail Order)
Pep Squad, Yreka Bakery (Tooth and Nail) Well Pep Squad isn't exactly punk, that's for sure, but they're sure not ska, so they fit into this catergory. I should change it to punk and other reviews. Pep Squad is gritty college alternative/post punk in the vein of Sonic Youth and Weezer. I don't really dig on this type of music, so I'm not too impressed by Pep Squad. BUT, even though I don't like this type of music, it doesn't mean that you have to, so if your tastes are a little more diverse than mine, I'm sure that you'll enjoy Pep Squad. (Used)
The Huntingtons, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Tooth and Nail) Staight out of Delaware, comes yet another Ramones rip off band called the Huntingtons. Although they are a Ramones rip off band, they don't play any of their songs (at least on this album) and they don't really sound like the Ramones. They sound more like the other Ramones rip off bands like the Riverdales and actully, Screeching Weasel. This CD is recorded live, but I don't know why they bothered, it sounds pretty good, and although they didn't cut between songs, there isn't any witty banter between the songs (they just say "take it mikee" and away they go). Even though it sounds like I'm down on this CD, I'm not really. It's damn good. I happen to like the Ramones and Screeching Weasel, so I enjoy this album. (Retail)
Moms Like Us Too, Volume One (BEC Recordings) MLUT is BEC's latest budget compilation (or at least I assume because it has songs that are already released in their catalog). It seems like BEC puts out a compilation every few weeks, well them or Tooth and Nail. MLUT has 22 tracks from 12 bands. Budget comps are usually a good bet because they're cheap and usually have the best songs from the bands, plus you might find some new bands that you like. All my favorites from BEC are on here: The Dingees, One Eighty, Value Pac, The Supertones, as well as the ones I can't stand: Joy Electric, Fold Zandura, Bon Voyage. So in all, about half of this CD is worth listening to, but then again it's cheap, so you decide. (Mail Order).
The Ataris, Look Forward to Failure (Fat Wreck Chords) Ah yes indeed. The Ataris are one of my favorite bands. Look Forward to Failure is their EP follow up to Anywhere But Here on Kung Fu Records (highly recommended). The Ataris play an intense pop punk with a heavy dose of emo. As I said, these guys are excellent. Plus one of their girlfriends wrote me. I'm the coolest. My only complaint is it only has six songs, but not to worry; they have another CD coming out in the spring on Kung Fu. (Retail)
Lagwagon, Let's Talk About Feelings (Fat Wreck Chords) Boy it seems like Double Pladinum just came out, but I guess it's been a few years now. Lagwagon has a ton of records out now, I think like five or six. I didn't really care for Double Plaidinum, their last release; too hardcore and metalish for me, but Let's Talk About Feelings is a really good album. It's ten times more melodic, and actully getting into pop-punk territory. Actully It has Jawbreaker-style samples from movies and other things included, which surprised me. I didn't used to like Lagwagon, but now I do, this is a really good CD. (Retail)
MxPx, Let it Happen (Tooth and Nail Records) If you haven't heard of MxPx yet, I don't know what rock you've been hiding under. Well Christian Alternative Rock's poster boys are at it again with a massive compilation of stuff previously released, but not on their full length albums. Let It Happen is 32 tracks of songs off their 7"s, 10"s, B-sides, and alternate versions of their songs. In case you've never heard MxPx, they play high-energy pop punk in the veign of the Desendents, Bad Religion, and Blink 182. If you don't have these guys singles and EPs, or if you're a loser collector, this is a must have. (Retail)
Fluf, Road Rage (Honest Don's) I saw Fluf at the Warped Tour in 96, and they were alright. I can't remember much about them except that a big longhair in a fishing hat sang for them. Well I got their CD, and I'm not too impressed. They sound like a cross between the Mono Men, The Offspring, and Soundgarden. Their music is pretty good, thick guitars and catchy rhythms, but I'm sorry the guy cannot sing. He's off key the whole time. If you still listen to grunge, this is a good CD for you. (Used)
Honest Don's Greatest Shits (Honest Don's) Greatest Shits is Honest Don's latest CD sampler. It should be pretty cheap because it's a compilation of songs off all their releases. Cheap Sampler CDs are usually a good bet because they usually have the best songs off the CDs on them, but this also is kind of misleading about the rest of the CD's, but that's too bad for you. Yeah, so this is a good CD. It includes the whole Honest Don's line-up: Diesel Boy, Teen Idols, Mad Caddies, Chixdiggit, Hagfish, J Church, The Riverdales, and a few others. (Retail)
Longfellow, and so on... (Kung Fu Records) I don't know much about Longfellow, except this isn't their second release, and they're from Orange County. I'd never heard of them, but I was pleasantly surprised when I put this CD in my player. Longfellow plays heartfelt pop punk with tight harmonies. They sound similar to The Ataris, the Desendents, and occasionally Jawbreaker. This is a really good CD. (Retail)
Apocalypse Hoboken, House of the Rising Son of a Bitch (Kung Fu Records) These Chicago punks have been playing for the last eight years, and have already put out a few records (a few of which are on Hopeless Records I think). Apocalypse Hoboken have a unique sound that sounds like the Bad Brains, Black Flag, and the Sex Pistols. They're a little too far out there for me; too disconnected and unstructured, but I'm sure fans of real punk would love this CD. (Mail Order)
One Hit Wonder, Who the Hell Is...(Nitro Records) Well despite their name, this is One Hit Wonder's fourth album. Hailing from the same home as the Spruce Goose and The Queen Mary, Long Beach, One Hit Wonder plays a rough- around-the-edges-melodic punk. I like this one better than Outfall, their last release, it's a bit smoother and poppier. One Hit Wonder sounds like a cross between The Offspring and Strung Out. Who the Hell Is even contains a Beach Boys Cover! They tour constantly, with the likes of the Offspring, Unwritten Law, No Doubt, and in November, with Marky Ramone, so go see them in your town. (Mail Order)
Consumed, Breakfast at Pappa's (Fat Wreck Chords) Consumed is Fat's newest relatively unknown addition to their line up from England. Consumed hail from Nottinghamshire, England, home of Robin Hood. Like Robin Hood, these crusaders seek to spread the wealth of their talents to the poor folks of North America who might never had heard them (okay, bad analogy). Breakfast at Pappa's is a 6 song EP that won't disappoint even the most discriminating listener (or cheapest). Consumed play a powerful melodic punk reminicent of Strung Out and Snuff; kind of a cross between the two. I don't know if a full length is in the works for these guys any time soon, but this EP should be just about the right price to check out risk free. (retail)
The $wingin' Utter$, Five Lessons Learned (Fat Wreck Chords) Five Lessons Learned is the Utter's long awaited (at least by me) third full length. These San Fransisco punk veterans have been playing for nearly ten years, and I think they really have their shit together by now. The Swingin' Utters are truely one of my favorite bands. They play a 70's English style punk reminicent of The Sex Pistols, The Clash, and a little of the the state-side Social Distortion. Five Lessons Learned is a little more mature than their previous CD with the addition of instruments not familiar to them, like fiddles and keyboards. These additions give some of the songs (A Promice to Distinction for example) an Irish feel, kind of like the Pouges. I highly recommend the Swingin' Utters to anyone, and this CD is no exception. (Retail)
Snuff, Tweet Tweet My Lovely (Fat Wreck Chords) All I can say is that Fat has been puting out some good stuff recently. Snuff is another one of my favorite bands. These English punks have a unique sound complete with organ and trombone. These additions give Snuff a thicker, more complex sound than most punk bands, with a little ska here and there. Tweet Tweet My Lovely is full of original compositions, which is significant because their last CD (which I will not name to save space) was all covers. Snuff is truely a original band that deserves your support. (Retail)
The Vandals, Hitler Bad, Vandals Good (Nitro Records) I hate to sound like a broken record, but the Vandals are another one of my favorite bands, and Hitler Bad, Vandals Good is their latest CD. The Vandals aren't exactly pop punk, but they definetly sing and have harmonies. These Orange County veteran rockers (you may remember them from the movie Suburbia--the first one) are known for their less than serious songs. Hell, I'll just say it, these guys are funny as hell. As a matter of fact, I'd say this CD is a little less serious than usual (except of course their Christmas album). Well if you like your punk sarcastic, the Vandals are a sure bet. (Retail)
Chixdiggit!, Born on the First of July (Honest Don's Records) Chixdiggit! has been around for a while, but I'm sorry to say this is the first time I've heard these Canadian rockers. Chixdiggit! plays a powerful pop that isn't quite punk, but almost. Born on the First of July contains a good mix of fast and slow songs, with slightly more of the faster stuff. I like this CD, but I keep thinking that it sounds like parent and radio friendly teen pop. When they say Chixdiggit!, they ain't kidding! I could just see droves of teenage girls digging on this CD. The mix of serious, emotional songs, and light, fun songs is sure to make this CD a hit. (Mail order)
Hagfish (Honest Don's Records) Hailing from the Lonestar state (I think), Hagfish play melodic punk with the best of them. Maybe it's because the guys from The Descendents/All produced this CD, but Hagfish reminds me of them, with their tight harmonies, and slightly rough vocals. They're really poppy, and I could see Hagfish becoming a major name in punk very quickly. This is a good CD, and you should get it. (Mail Order)
Diesel Boy, Venus Envy (Honest Don's Records) Diesel Boy is another rising star of punk that I seem to be reviewing so often. As far as I know, Venus Envy is Diesel Boy's second full length release, but I haven't heard the first, so I don't know how this compares. Diesel Boy play a tight pop punk reminicent of Rancid and High Standard. Plus these guys mention Spokane, a definite way to get good reviews from me. Plus the secret song is titilatingly exciting. Diesel Boy has worked hard to put out a damn good album, and it deserves at least a listen. (Retail)
The Broadways, Broken Star (Asian Man Records) Hey what's up with the ex-members of Slapstick playing kinda melodic punk with a bunch of other dudes? These guys from Chicago sure know how to play the punk with a searing political agenda. The Broadways are similar to the likes of Fifteen; melodic punk with point. Just about every song has a politcal message. They play about capitalism, materialism, how screwed up the pledge of alligence is, police butality, and a other crazy stuff. These guys know what they're talking about and know their stuff about politics too, so buy them. (mail order)
Tuesday, Freewhelin' (Asian Man Records) Tuesday is Chicago's favorite three piece emo band. In case you're not familiar with emo core, it's short for emotional hardcore, and that pretty much describes Tuesday, heartfelt emotional songs set to a punk beat. Tuesday's songs are melodically complex and moderately paced. I like the tight vocal harmonies. Tuesday is one of Mike Park's favorites, so why shouldn't they be one of yours? Tuesday really has their shit together. (mail order)
The Alkaline Trio, For Your Lungs Only (Asian Man Records) The Alkaline Trio is the latest addition to the Asian Man family. They play a cross between pop punk and emo core. For Your Lungs Only (obviously a reference to smoking cigarettes and the James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only [crappy Roger Moore Movie]) is an EP that is either a 7" vinyl, or a CD EP. Either way, it's four bucks from Asian Man. If you either like emo-core, or pop punk, you would like the Alkaline Trio, besides it's only four bucks! (Retail) |
If you have anything that you would like to see reviewed on this site, send it to The Elephant, c/o Nathan Shafer NNC PO BOX 2359 Nampa ID, 83686. I will review anything (music, videos, zines, clothes, food, money, sex toys, etc) so don't hesitate to send stuff.