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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Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
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The Geeks - Every Time We Fall
Limbeck - Limbeck
WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Punk, Indie Rock, Emo, Ska
Smartbomb — Chaos and Lawlessness Buy it at Amazon
Proto-punk and hardcore kids from Massachusetts, Smartbomb like to employ extremely fast tempos and pit-fillers. They succeed with that sort of youth crew sound that all the punk kids are craving these days. I just remember when all the kids were donning 7 Seconds gear and climbing the walls to the Descendents. The new generation still looks back but don’t know what the hell a 7-inch is. Regardless I’m glad that newer groups like this exist with intelligent messages and an urge to play as fast as good old school trash-y punk did.
- J-Sin
Junkboy — Three Buy it at Amazon
A duo comprised of brothers Rich and Mik Hanscomb, Junkboy enlists a cast of their friends on “Three”, an album named after the supposed magic number. Lush orchestrations greet the ears on a magic red carpet ride through nu-folk, chamber pop, lo-fi pop, and experimental rock. Groovy beats glisten while the whispers of Elliot Smith lyricism whips through the corridors of sparse instrumentation and eclectic folk-core (if you will kind sir). Soundscapes that are not just sound pores for the mere fact of existing. A nice and elegant listen.
- J-Sin
Every Avenue — Shh, Just Go With It Buy it at Amazon
Michigan’s pop-rock quintet Every Avenue is an instant nod to All-American Rejects, Mayday Parade, and the Audition. Produced and recorded by Zach Odom and Kenneth Mount (Cartel, Mayday Parade), it’s a summer pop-punk Warped Tour chorus-verse-chorus album if you’ve ever heard one. But so what, indeed like the title suggests, just go with it and have fun entertaining pop fodder that will have lyrics dripping from your mouth along with some sugar syrup-y harmonies. Boy does Fearless Records have this particular niche notched.
- J-Sin
The Phenomenauts — For All Mankind Buy it at Amazon
With their unique brand of New Wave and ‘70’s era punk rock, The Phenomenauts are a quirky group of dudes who answer a call to arms for defenders of science as the world’s bravest space band in the entire galaxy. You can hear definite nods to Devo and the Stray Cats and the ‘80’s in general with their hook-laden New Wave melodies and synth rock. They all dress up in the get-ups like true space heroes would reminding one of something that those wacky ska-punk kids Aquabats would do. Manly choruses and chest-beating rhythms make “For All Mankind” a fun listen that isn’t as much of a gimmick as you’d think.
- J-Sin
The Morning Light — The Sounds of Love Buy it at Amazon
Pittsburgh’s The Morning Light have been running full-speed for less than a year and don’t seem interested in taking a mere peep back over their shoulders. At a break-neck pace the group formed, starting playing shows and touring, and inked a record deal which sees this EP as a release in March of ’08. Wow. That is a story that legends are made of and after touring and playing some 150 shows in less than a year, that might just be what their status will be quickly turning into. Vocally it’s melodic and boasts often a dual assault while always being spot-on. Meanwhile their crunchy guitars are amped up on harmony and contagious riffing. For the folks who are looking for the next Warped Tour sensation, I bring you, The Morning Light.
- J-Sin
Miwa Gemini — This Is How I Found You Buy it at Amazon
New York City’s Miwa Gemini is part of that growing group of female artists who write jangly pop songs tuned to the key of Bjork and Jenny Lewis. Against an anti-folk backdrop, she paints a life of a troubadour and vagrant. “This Is How I Found You” weaves magical lyrics with hushed vocals and a sublime if flavored indie folk. It’s a pleasant listen that beckons you to the smoky dens that Gemini caresses throughout her epic opus.
- J-Sin
Lach — The Calm Before Buy it at Amazon
Considered one (if not the) founders of the Anti-Folk movement, Lach (who runs the seminal anti-folk venue of choice, the Sidewalk Café) has inspired various artists ranging from Beck to Regina Spector to the Moldy Peaches (recently noted for the ending triumphant song seen in the indie film fave “Juno”). “The Calm Before” is a collection of his latest post-punk stripped-down-raw-to-the-bone anti-folk genius. He’s catchy, funny, and doesn’t only appeal to a niche audience like so many of the followers of anti-folk seem to do.
- J-Sin
A Verse Unsung — Sleeping Tigers Buy it at Amazon
Minneapolis-based rock band A Verse Unsung is very difficult to pinpoint in the genre-ification game. Some songs have elements of post-hardcore, still others are pop-punk, while some sound like indie rock or ‘90’s alternative. But one thing that’s for sure is this extremely young band (the oldest member is 19), sounds like a very polished mature group. Certainly Grammy winning producer Steve Hodge only helped when he produced this debut record. Touring with the likes of Secret Lives of the Freemasons and Karate High School will only help this unique brand of heavy rock grow even more popular and revered.
- J-Sin
Algebra of Need — Self Improvement Buy it at Amazon
Philadelphia post-hardcore group Algebra of Need are spastic nerd rockers that sharpen their guitars with witty yet catchy metallic overdriven noise. Spastic drums flail about as the guitars are mixed densely with the groove of the bass. There are definitely some vibes of stoner metal here and are similar to a more modern Jesus Lizard. Fuzzy guitar heaven that dangles ‘90s DC-era post-rock, spazz rock, and topped off with a seminal glaze of math rock. This is the new sound.
- J-Sin
The Yum Yum Tree — Paint By Numbers Buy it at Amazon
Going on some seven years now, the Yum Yum Tree has been bringing a hard edged pop-rock sound to their fanbase in Atlanta on a virtual silver platter of catchiness. Already garnering praise among the well-informed Internet zines and even the mainstream with the likes of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution unleashing big kudos upon the band, the group is devilishly clever with heart-string-pulling rock ballads on “Paint By Numbers”. Michelle Friedman is a recent addition and her vocals, guitar work, and keyboards take the band to a new soaring height. I was doubtful that this band could supercede the seminal apex in their “The Tetherball” EP released two years ago, but boy was I wrong.
- J-Sin
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