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Showing posts from February, 2009

Review: Bob Marley and the Wailers - "Exodus" [Definitive Remasters Collection]

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Wailers still be there The Jam, The Damned, The Clash Wailers still be there Dr. Feelgood too, ooh No boring all farts will be there Yeah, it's the punky reggae party" - Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Punky Reggae Party” It’s really a shame that reggae has been so easily co-opted by modern-day hippies since the decline of the third wave. Virtually gone are the days of “Take Warning,” “Racist World” and “The Guns of Brixton.” The current popular conception of reggae seems to compel a foundation of cliché and caricaturistic themes of peace, love, and a fundamental obsession with marijuana. Acts like Wookiefoot, Jah Roots and John Butler Trio have hijacked the upstroke and watered down the message of rebellion and upheaval the genre’s originators so actively promoted. But it hasn’t always been hemp and dreadlocks at the root of the attraction. Black Culture, White Youth: The Reggae Tradition from JA to the UK by Middlesex University professor Dr. Simon Jones chronicles the link a

Review: Various Artists - "Show 'Em Whatcha Got California!"

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California has always had quite a bit to offer for punk rock. If it wasn’t the Germs and Black Flag starting fights down in L.A., it was Crimpshrine, Green Day and Isocracy filling up an all-ages Gilman, or Lagwagon and Mad Caddies reppin’ the Santa Barbara ‘burbs. But just in case there was any doubt, Durty Mick Records’ Show ‘Em Whatcha Got California! is out to prove its worth once again. The 24 selections found on this independent compilation range from fairly obscure Golden State punk acts to those that are seemingly exclusively obscure. About the biggest names -- and that term is stretched to its max here -- are groups like long-running Venice thrash attack Beowulf, whose contribution “Drink, Fight, Fuck” rings of Suicidal Tendencies allure, and the Sore Thumbs, whose anthemic, Bay Area working-class punk has leveled alliances with the Swingin’ Utters and all their ten-thousand side projects. The rest of the collection is a customary spattering of good, bad and downright dreadfu

Review: Foreign Legion - "Death Valley"

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It’s generally been my policy as a reviewer to try and undermine old guard punk rock as little as possible in spite of such flaws as lower energy, half-baked ideas and unmatured approach (it is punk rock, after all) that would throw a more pedantic reviewer into fits of complaint. But sometimes even taking into account a certain “veteran punk rock handicap,” the good just doesn’t outweigh the bad. Foreign Legion’s menacingly titled Death Valley kicks off with one of the least sinister songs imaginable, the obnoxiously repetitive and fittingly titled “Lots of Fun”: “ Lots of fun for everyone / Lots of fun for everyone / Lots of fun for everyone / So let’s go / Go to the theatre / All the stars and stripes / No matter where you go / You’re in for a good night / Lots of fun for everyone / Lots of fun for everyone / Lots of fun for everyone / So let’s go .” The following track, “Alright” is just as hilariously affable and equally awkwardly written: “ All together at a gig / Having a wonde

Review: The Honorary Title - "Scream & Light Up the Sky"

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Fact: “This City’s Summer” by the Honorary Title was the best song of 2007, and one of the most nostalgia-instigating melodies…ever. Bold? Yes. But there’s something about it that wreaks havoc on the brain’s neuronal synapses, triggering memories anywhere from growing up in your parent’s house, basking outside in sunny summer days all the way through exploring your college dormitory for the very first time. While the melody carries the weight, the subtle lyrics flash haphazardly like a spotlight on the storyboard’s images: “ When swimming in serotonin / Even the city's summer smells like perfume / So rub your wrists together, take a swig / And you'll feel better once you close your eyes / Pretend to sleep for hours and hours. ” Oddly enough, after writing the above paragraph and deciding to investigate the song a bit more, it appears that my reaction was strikingly similar to its author’s (albeit that mine was far less emo), as explained by frontman Jarrod Gorbel: “ The lyrics

Review: Project X - "Straight Edge Revenge" [reissue]

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Instant classics are few and far between in the world of hardcore. There’s so much standardized material being pumped out daily, it takes more than just some fast power chords and angsty shouts to rise above the heap. For side projects, such well-received releases are even less frequent, as they’re usually overlooked in favor of the big-name titles of their collective effort. But for every rule, there is an exception. And the aptly named Project X is that exception. Formed out of the sheer necessity of releasing music to accompany their zine, Schism , John Porcelly (Youth of Today, Judge) and Alex Brown (Side by Side, Gorilla Biscuits) assembled fellow bandmates Walter Schreifels and Sammy Siegler to record the seven-inch and ended up playing some shows in the late `80s. Side one belongs to “Straight Edge Revenge,” quite possibly the most celebrated straight-edge anthem this side of anything by Minor Threat. With its over-the-top militant lyrics and brooding chromatic bassline, the unc

Review: Smartbomb - "Diamond Heist"

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If Smartbomb’s nine-song, 12-minute debut Chaos and Lawlessness was the band’s newborn infant (kicking, screaming and refusing to calm down), their full-length followup Diamond Heist is its toddler older brother. Though not too far separated, the older brother is more constructive, slightly more disciplined and knows a few more tricks. He is, however, still prone to bouts of unrestrained aggression and fits of youthful energy. Made up of two-fourths No Trigger and one-fourth Shock Nagasaki -- two Northeast acts that would seem to come from very different sides of the punk spectrum -- Smartbomb convenes in Worcester, MA with a sound that doesn’t exactly blend the melodic hardcore / skatepunk of the former with the throwback pogo street punk of the latter. However, to peg Smartbomb with a sound would be erroneous in itself, as their style has shifted slightly (but noticeably to the astute listener) from one release to the next. While their debut was more or less an anarchic frenzy of

Interview with Greg Attonito of the Bouncing Souls

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As I’m sure you’ve noticed, it’s like 15 below outside. What brings you to Minnesota in the middle of January? Greg: Yeah, usually it’s our policy not to tour in the wintertime, but we’re not touring, we’re here to make a video. And our friend Justin Staggs from Minneapolis here is doing the video with us, and it’s not your normal video, it’s actually gonna be an extended video, like a long-play video, I don’t know what you call it—but we’re doing like a mock-Bouncing Souls 20-year TV anniversary special-like 70s-style TV special that’s really funny and there’s a whole lotta stuff that’s going on with it. And in that there’s two videos, like standard music videos. One for “Gasoline” and one for a song called “Airport Security,” which is coming out in March. I had a chance to catch you in NYC for CMJ 2007 with Lifetime, Modern Life is War, and the Low Budgets, and it was really great to see the Bouncing Souls in more of a hometown setting. On the other hand, it seems like you guys have

Classics of Love (Operation Ivy, Common Rider) hitting the road

Jesse Michaels (of Operation Ivy and Common Rider ) and his new band Classics of Love will be trekking across the United States and UK this Spring. Asian Man Records is also reporting that they will be releasing the band's debut EP sometime in the near future. Here are the dates and supporting acts. February 5, 2009 Isla Vista, California Biko Garage Mike Park, Kevin Seconds February 6, 2009 Hollywood, California the Knitting Factory Andrew Jackson Jihad, Mike Park, Kevin Seconds February 7, 2009 Riverside, California Back to the Grind Andrew Jackson Jihad, Kevin Seconds, Dan Padilla and Vena February 8, 2009 San Diego, California Radio Room Andrew Jackson Jihad, Kevin Seconds March 13, 2009 Portland, Oregon Ranch House Mike Park, Anchor Down, Drnken Boat March 14, 2009 Seattle, Washington Grn Strp House TBA March 28, 2009 Santa Rosa, California the Last Record Store TBA April 24, 2009 Minneapolis, Minnesota Triple Rock Mike Park April 25, 2009 Chicago, Illinois