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...
Subscribe to our mailing list
Current Top Ten Chart
Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
Converge - No Heroes
The Graduate - Anhedonia
Death By Stereo - Death Alive
Comeback Kid - Broadcasting
The Snake The Cross The Crown - Cotton Teeth
Dear and the Headlights - Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
The Geeks - Every Time We Fall
Limbeck - Limbeck
WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Punk, Indie Rock, Emo, Ska
Kris Racer — ...Has a Banner Year Buy it at Amazon
Transitioning from pop-punk frontman to weepy acoustic emo kid is definitely in vogue these days. Kris Racer, he formerly of Tagline, now makes his follow-up to his debut as an unplugged unit. Psych-pop noodles its way inside to this indie pop cleverly written composition. Tagged and dotted with songs about career life and ho-hum relationships, “...Has a Banner Year” is an ambitious self-look deep inside that is both inviting and encouraging. Also to note, he has toured with a Smother favorite Carol Bui and I betcha that was one helluva event night after night!
- J-Sin
Lifeguard Nights — After the Disasters Buy it at Amazon
Vincent Brue (South Jersey Seashore Lifeguard Convention Band) completes a trilogy with his latest “After the Disasters”. Beginning the album with a gospel, Brue prepares us for a wild eclectic ride through harmonies and avant-garde pop. “After the Disasters” follows a man through his travels in sobriety but the album never manages to preach or be somber for that matter. Instead it’s uplifting singer/songwriter tunes that reach back and grab infectious melodies to shove down our throats. And I swallowed big gulps at a time without even so much as a minor belch.
- J-Sin
ForeverInMotion — The Beautiful Unknown Buy it at Amazon
Foreverinmotion is part Statistics, part Bright Eyes, and part Dashboard Confessional. In other words, a little bit of awesome from a whole lot of different awesome sounds. But the group is only southern Vermont native Brendon Thomas. Hauntingly emotional vocals give a nod in the direction of the much ballyhooed ‘emo’ genre. Churning acoustic guitars and rich atmospheric backing instrumentation lend your ear one huge pop hook after another. “The Beautiful Unknown” is a perfect follow-up to this young artist’s self-produced debut. Disarming indie pop with emotional rock outer layers that will twinkle alongside the bigger stars of his shared genres.
- J-Sin
Green Lizard — Las Armas Del Silencio Buy it at Amazon
The Netherlands is where you go to escape the doldrums of reality—hash bars are common and legal, the Red Light District is inviting, and the club scene is off the hook. But who would have thought that Europe’s darker corner also boasts a rich punk scene? Green Lizard is one of those contributors to that scene and on their latest album they drug you with energetic pop-punk hooks, alternative rock chords, and majestic vocals all entangled in frenetic guitar assaults.
- J-Sin
Mancino — Manners Matter Buy it at Amazon
Well I had no idea that Zach Braff was in Mancino—he’s pictured in their included 8x10. Well no doubt Mr. Scrubs would love Mancino and their infectious pop sound. Their “Dear International” was quite dear to me as I still pull it out every now and again when I want to hear something outside of the normal curb of indie pop music. Once again on “Manners Matter” the group boogies to a different drummer, injecting elements of ‘60s vocal pop, psychedelic rock, pop-rock, and groovy funk all with the Ringmaster playing some circus organ in the background while the lion tamer cracks the whip. The trio is definitely a little odd but their quirkiness is honest and not contrived nonsense.
- J-Sin
Death Mask — Evil Doers Buy it at Amazon
This is my fucking jam. Lounge pop wrapped in dark and melancholy vibes with a female singer whose knowledge of the blues is uncanny. Produced by the band alongside producer Kenny Cummings (Midnight Oil, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello), “Evil Doers” is loaded with soaking bass that is deep and dank. The songs rifle through fun jams that are entertaining as much as thought-provoking—you gotta love the subtle surf rock guitars that are strung about the album like ocean waves crashing against the rocks in a hurricane.
- J-Sin
Lifeguard Nights — Doing Harm on Easy Street Buy it at Amazon
Following up on “So Low” is a sophomore release by the co-founder and leader of the South Jersey Seashore Lifeguard Convention Band and can be summed up in a handful of words: inventive apartment pop. The instrumentation much like on “So Low” is sparse but manages a dense outer layer that once peeled back reveals that Vincent Brue is a daring songwriter unafraid to shake his fists at conventions and perform the musical equivalent of traveling around the tip of South America instead of taking the easier path of the Panama Canal.
- J-Sin
Olympia — Emergencies Buy it at Amazon
Former Fairweather vocalist Jay Littleton helped set Olympia in motion by urging ex-Brand New Disaster singer Phil Williams to join with former Fairweather mates guitarist Peter Tsouras and drummer Shane Johnson along with bassist Nick Barkley. Olympia emerged as an insightful indie rock / post-emo punk band that was eager to record the next best rock album. “Emergencies” was the ultimate result after sessions with producer Matthew Ellard (Converge, Bear Vs. Shark, Fear Before the March of Flames) and the guitars rang true. Sincere modern rock flavored with emotional indie pop-rock urges and artistic songwriting design are but a few of the outlandish qualities that everyone will appreciate in this dynamic new group.
- J-Sin
Portugal the Man — It's Complicated Being a Wizard Buy it at Amazon
Alaska’s Portugal the Man is as exciting and brilliant as its vast frontiers are. Complex indie pop that is two steps from the Mars Volta and one step from Radiohead into an electronic bleep-y universe of art pop. Melodies are sweeping with harmonies ranging high into the stratosphere. John Baldwin Gourley is the leader of this pack and his deft crafting of “It’s Complicated Being a Wizard” showcases his innate musical genius. It might not be suitable for the masses in that it’s a twenty-three minute single pieced together by the next eight “Magic” tracks. A digital blur of ambience, noise, samples, and sonic manipulation strung together with beautiful vocals and inhuman creativity.
- J-Sin
The Tossers — Agony Buy it at Amazon
Just in time for St. Patty’s Day, “Agony” is the new album by the Celtic punk group The Tossers. These pub rockers have once again assembled a pint’s worth of stunning Irish folk rock in the vein of Shane McGowan and the Pogues. After listening to this engaging album, you might just be tempted to toss your bar stool through the nearest window and start getting rowdy and raunchy. Cheers!
- J-Sin
Read More Music Reviews