Music Reviews of Punk, Indie Rock, Emo, Ska
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Punk, Indie Rock, Emo, Ska
George Korein — Too Many Days Buy it at Amazon
George Korein got props from Jesse Krakow (Time of Orchids, Pak, Dynamite Club, etc) and Colin Marston (Infidel?/Castro!, Behold... the Arctopus, Dysrhythmia) and that’s good enough for me. Korein’s music is panic-inducing, melodramatic, art-noise that instills the notion that noise can be harnessed for good or evil. I’m still not sure which side Korein is on but my money is that he’s a chaotic neutral half-elf with a damn good THAC0. Normally a bassist by trade, George forges music from a variety of sounds though you might be hard pressed to identify them. I’m 99% sure that your father fucked your mother in the anus while listening to at least one of these songs. Lube up and get your funky groove on.
- J-Sin
Bayside — The Walking Wounded Buy it at Amazon
Indie rock plus pop-punk that tries to be a bit more playful than in the past, Bayside’s “The Walking Wounded” delivers on all the promise and hype that surrounded the anticipation of this follow-up to “Sirens and Condolences”. A careful merger of intelligent indie rock harmonies with friendly pop-punk choruses make Bayside five steps from their brethren in the genre. Manic guitar anthems dominate this stirring album filled with angsty saber rattling and emotional soul searching. This band still has a lot left over in the basket so the hype surrounding the next album will be even more overpowering.
- J-Sin
Witch's Hat — Mastery of the Steel Buy it at Amazon
“Mastery of the Steel” is payback to the rock gods who gave us Andrew WK and Tenacious D. While it certainly isn’t all that serious, how could songs about a medieval hero trying to save a virgin princess or vampires being hunted by angry mobs be serious? Dance-punk interludes with goof-ball pop hooks and whimsical lyrics. It’s definitely a good amount of fun but probably not something you’ll always jam to.
- J-Sin
This Is Me Smiling — This Is Me Smiling Buy it at Amazon
Sean O’Keefe (Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights) produced This Is Me Smiling’s debut record—well until they ran out of their own money (they were self-financed) and recorded the rest of it in a local high school gym. Hard work pays off though as the group toured alongside Motion City Soundtrack, The Hush Sound, and All American Rejects. Piano-pop with pop-punk and indie pop jams isn’t something you often find in the punk universe but This Is Me Smiling does it and does it well.
- J-Sin
Limbeck — Limbeck Buy it at Amazon
Limbeck opens their new self-titled record with a charming pop hit that easily could have been penned by Brian Wilson. Jaunting down the streets with clanging percussion and plenty of vocal harmonies, Limbeck is a new kind of pop band; fusing indie pop with Americana, punk, a bit of country, and a whole lot of rock ‘n’ roll, Limbeck is super-charged and ready to hit you with their sugary melodies. This is a very mature sounding album for such a young group of musicians.
- J-Sin
Louis — Freak Show Revenge Buy it at Amazon
Sinewy melodies stretch their legs out throughout this budding little indie pop sensation. “Freak Show Revenge” is confident apartment rock with no sense of attitude or egomania. Instead it just floats from note to note, sincere lyric to cynical, and from tongue to cheek. If you’re an Elliott Smith, then this is your bag.
- J-Sin
Ground Unicorn Horn — Ground Unicorn Horn 7" [CD Single] Buy it at Amazon
Boasting members from heralded rockers like The Locust, Some Girls, and The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, Ground Unicorn Horn should take off like hotcakes right? Well they damn well better. Their brand of fused punk and math-metal is completely exhilarating. While this release is unfortunately too short—only two songs totally four minutes—it shows what kind of mania is in store for us in the future.
- J-Sin
The Chinese Stars — Listen to Your Left Brain Buy it at Amazon
Providence, Rhode Island might be an unlikely place to find art punk but Arab On Radar called it home. Former members of that group formed the Chinese Stars and welcomed V. Von Ricci from electro dance group Mahi Mahi to round out the team. Their sound is energetic dance-punk with art noise laid neatly next to it. Easily accessible choruses match the diversity that is expressed throughout the magnetic rhythms.
- J-Sin
Of God and Science — Of God and Science Buy it at Amazon
Created essentially a decade ago, Of God and Science is an experiment in sonic abrasion with an emphasis on melody. The stirring renditions laid within this self-titled LP showcase the group from New Mexico’s notion that two opposing forces can actually join hand-in-hand and be as one, much like their moniker might suggest. Their sound is somewhere near old Radiohead and more spacious Bright Eyes tunes. But more importantly, it’s a sound you’ll want to hear.
- J-Sin
Malassis — Birds Like Bricks Buy it at Amazon
I know Malassis (Itai Asseo) as the frontman of Emok, a fusion of Middle Eastern, punk, and metal. Malassis continues with the Middle Eastern influences but focuses more on the indie rock ones on his “Birds Like Bricks” debut. Recorded in his Brooklyn apartment, the album surprisingly has a lot of depth and as always a ton of his heart poured into each tune. This is pretty special.
- J-Sin
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