Mike's Review
Dave's Review
CD Review for 88 Fingers Louie/Kid Dynamite Split
I got this CD because at the time it was 88 Fingers Louie�s newest (and unfortunately their last) material, but aside from the amazing 88FL songs, Kid Dynamite really grew on me. This is probably the only way it was possible for me to get into them because I heard they were hardcore-which I didn�t like. Since then I give all hardcore a chance because I hope to hell it might sound like Kid Dynamite. Heart A Tact is an amazing song with a sub-par intro. I didn�t like the yelling, but the last half is probably their best song, melodic palm mute with catchy, meaningful lyrics. Rise Above is not really that great because it is a Black Flag cover, and I don�t like Black Flag-it is also too heavy. Breakin�s A Memory is a really good song all the way through so I�ll post that. Take a listen because it is cool. Now, I�ll talk about 88 Fingers Louie. THE BEST SHIT THEY HAVE EVER DONE!!! Out There is only okay because they made it hardcore. Slow Chorus Overlap is a great all around 88FL song because it incorporates most stuff they have done. Reparation is my favorite song that they have ever done. I�ll post this because it is just so�damn kickass good!!! I can�t really explain but I�ll try � slow melodic emotionally stinging guitars with hovering high singing. That probably didn�t make sense, so just listen to the MP3.
This has gotta be the best split I have, so I think 90/100 is fair
Best Songs(Slow Chorus Overlap, Reparation [both 88FL] Heart A Tact, Breakin�s A Memory [both Kid Dynamite])
Review by Dave Norman
CD Review for 88 Fingers Louie- Back On The Streets
The truth is, when I first got this CD I didn�t like it too much. I thought the singer�s voice was too raspy and hardcore. After a couple of listens though, my view totally changed. Still, about one year later, I think this is the bands best and most diverse CD. Although they broke up and I will not get a chance to see them live, I will continue to listen to this CD until I can�t take it anymore. This album is the first after their year or so break up which occurred in 1995 and they got back together in 1997 to record this�then they broke up again. The record is awesome from start to end: it begins with 2 really amazing melodic new school songs with Tomorrow Starts Today and then Selfish Means; it then moves into a hardcore song which I really dig; then it plays a soft, almost emo-ish song, then it plays an aggressive fast paced new school punk song; then shifts into 2 slow melodic songs�etc. This CD keeps you guessing all the way through, and never lets you down. I play bass in my band, and I personally like this bassist the best out of all the bands I listen to. Joe is freakin amazing at bass and the band distributes it well with the single guitar to give the music a very garage type sound. The vocals are loud on some songs and soft on others, which intensifies the album and shows Dennis� vocal talents. It is such a damn pity these guys broke up, because if the new stuff they would have put out would be as good as this�oh man!!!
Back On The Streets receives 92/100 and is a must for any punk fan!
Best Songs ( Tomorrow Starts Today, Summer Photos, Punk Rock Rulebook)
Review by Dave Norman
CD Review for 88 Fingers Louie/Kid Dynamite Split(coming soon)
CD Review for 88 Fingers Louie- Back On The Streets
I'm going to try to keep this review short and sweet so people will actually be willing to read it and so I can try to do more reviews. This band is very different than most bands with their sound; the only way I can describe the sound is dense and dirty. Dirty is not necessarily a bad thing though. Throughout the CD the bass is prominent and the lead vocals are coarse but still very solid. I like this CD because it is very strong from beginning to end, but also changes and they try different stuff. They didn't just write one good song and then another ten that sound the same. They even throw in a couple samples to set up their aggressive songs. I like the lyrics too; they really get driven into your head and are very powerful. Probably the thing that makes them really different from other bands is that they have little solos and setups with a strong bass line that makes it much more effective. This bands also mixed the CD really well because the guitars and bass don't overpower the vocals, which sometimes is the biggest problem with young and inexperienced bands. Now the only problem I had with the CD was that the vocals were pretty much the same throughout the CD. Don't get me wrong they were good but they could have done a bit better. This is a very well done CD and definitely deserves to be in your CD rack, so go out and buy it!
I am going to give this CD an 88 out of 100. It was very solid but didn't have you out of your chair and needed a little something more in order to get a 90.
Dave and Mike's choice from Split CD:
Reparation
Dave's choice from Back On The Streets:
Tomorrow Starts Today
Mike's choice from Back On The Streets:
Summer Photos