Hollow Mountain - Maiden 7"

Tall Pat (2014)

Sure, I do buy a lot of records.  And yes, I have an awful lot of them floating around, but even I don't think I have so many that it makes sense losing one of them.  That's what happened to this Hollow Mountain 7".  I picked it up in Chicago when I was went out there to see Drive Like Jehu.  Somehow, I brought it home and misplaced it.  I just stumbled across it again and realized that not only had I not written about it on this website, I somehow managed to never even listen to it.  Rest assured, I'm making up for lost time.

Hollow Mountain is another fine example of The Tall Pat Sound.  This is a band that understands the value of a sharp, biting guitar tone and that tone is used masterfully over the course of this 7".  The band just can't help but sounding like they mean business.  Their sound is tough, but tempered by the subtle catchiness and the disarming vocals of Esther Kim.  Something of a contrast for sure, but it really sets Hollow Mountain apart from the rest of the rabble.

Tall Pat is at the center of some pretty great things happening in Chicago.  Hollow Mountain is no exception.  Sure, I was a bit late to the party with this one, but it's never a bad time to catch up on some quality rock and roll.

Hollow Mountain - Maiden 7":

https://tallpatrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hollow-mountain-7

Yawners - So Long 7" - Splatter Vinyl

Punk Fox (2016)

Up today is another 7" sent to me to be reviewed by Punk Fox records.  This time they've tapped the city of Salamanca and released three songs by Yawners.  As long time readers of this website know, Punk Fox has not been a label that I have enjoyed consistently, however they have a winner on their hands this time with Yawners.

Female fronted, high energy pop songs are what you're going to find on this 7".  This is a band that picks out their three chords, lets the drummer loose and cranks out catchy songs with nice loud, crunchy guitars.  They remind me a bit of Baby Shakes, but with less harmonies and a meaner sounding guitar tone.

Although Yawners are not reinventing the wheel, these are three pretty fun songs.  Worth checking out if you wish Cub used a bit more distortion on their songs.

Yawners - So Long 7" (This is actually a stream to a full album of theirs, but the first three songs are the three songs on this 7"):

https://yawners.bandcamp.com/album/dizzy

Doctor Bison - Dewhursts: The Musical / Bring It On 2xLP - Gray / Yellow Vinyl

Boss Tuneage (2015, Reissue)

Along with The Jones record that I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, this Doctor Bison album is the one that I was most excited to finally be able to purchase on vinyl.  Kudos to the kind folks at Boss Tuneage for giving me something so wonderful to spend my money on.

Dewhursts: The Music came out when I was in college.  Specifically it was out right when I was the music director of my school's radio station.  No one sent a copy of this in to us, this was a record I liked so much that I brought a in a copy for the station myself.  Let me tell you how many completely different kinds of DJs coalesced around this record.   Everyone loved it.  In particular, the banjo fueled, ever so slightly country tinged "Fractured Jaw" was probably played every few hours for a while there.  

The way that the incomparable Dickie Hammond poured his energy into these songs, mixing his dynamic punk rock assault into a band that leaned towards a much more to soulful side of things is something to behold.  I was hooked after the first time I ever heard "Delusion of Grace."  Please, take that Pepsi challenge.  If you like the records I typically review here, I think there's a good chance you'll be a fan as well.

As a bonus, the 2nd LP contains the Bring It On EP that the band had released many years later along with some extra unreleased songs.  I'll admit that I never had the Bring It On EP for whatever reason.  Honestly, it came out and I didn't find out about it for a couple of years after.  Then it just sort of slipped off my radar for whatever reason.  Rest assured, these are also phenomenal songs.  Maybe they're not quite at the level of perfection that Dewhursts reaches, but keep in mind that I have an extra 17 years or so of listening to those Dewhursts songs.  So it's tough to compare them fairly.

Regardless, this is an amazing reissue, one that I'm just thrilled to be able to add to the collection.  And one more CD I could theoretically move into storage.  If I was theoretically moving any CDs into storage.  Which I'm not.  I probably should though, I'm running out of room.

Doctor Bison - "Delusion of Grace":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTBe8GqJa4U

Doctor Bison - "Fractured Jaw":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR8ecAG6JYs

Chestnut Road - LPII - Orange Vinyl (/428)

PopKid / Brassneck / Snuffy Smiles (2016)

So, you can probably file this one under conflict of interest or paid advertisement.  The fact that I do a record label with my buddy Alan hasn't really bled into my dumb little website here too often, primarily because it's been twelve years since we've put out a new record.  That drought has finally come to an end as PopKid is one of the lucky labels that gets to release the newest album from Chestnut Road.

If you're a long time reader, there's a better than average chance you probably know Chestnut Road already.  I've reviewed every one of their records here.  I'm not reviewing their new LP because PopKid is releasing it, PopKid is releasing their new LP because I love to review their records.  Without question, Chestnut Road is one of my favorite current bands.  You can find example after example of me gushing over how great they are.  Their latest full length is no exception.

Chestnut Road's LPII embraces the past work of the band while continuing to develop their songwriting skills.  In many ways it reminds me of the growth that Broccoli showed on their 2nd album, Home.  Each track on LPII packs a huge blast of the catchiness and intensity that I love of Chestnut Road, but there are moments where the sounds expand and the band really puts it all out there.  From the full throttle, hook filled "Handshake" to the dynamic guitar work of "Bittersweet" to the blistering chorus shouting "die alone!" on "Lost In The Snow," this is Chestnut Road really standing up and proclaiming themselves as being every bit as good as their influences.

Leatherface, Broccoli, Hooton 3 Car, Jawbreaker, Dillinger Four, Hot Water Music and the list goes on and on of bands that have been playing raspy vocaled, intricate punk rock that is catchy and intense all at the same time.  You can add Chestnut Road to this list.  They've earned it.  I would be writing this exact same review regardless of who put out this record.  It's simply amazing and the fact that PopKid is able to be a part of it is wonderful and humbling.  The fact that we're able to co-release with Brassneck Records and Snuffy Smiles also blows my mind as I have infinite amounts of respect for both labels.  I hope everyone else out there loves it as much as I do.

You can pick up the record a few ways.

In North America, you can buy the full length vinyl LP from PopKid records at:
http://popkidrecords.bigcartel.com/product/chestnut-road-lpii-orange-vinyl

If you're not into records and just want MP3s, the PopKid Bandcamp page can assist:
https://popkid.bandcamp.com/album/chestnut-road-lp-ii

If you are in Europe, Brassneck Records will be your destination.
Lastly, if you are in Japan, you can grab a copy from Snuffy Smiles.

Chestnut Road - LPII:
https://popkid.bandcamp.com/album/chestnut-road-lp-ii

Cancers - Missed 7" - White Vinyl

Debt Offensive (2015)

Every so often I come across a record that I'm kind of at a loss for words over.  Cancers may fit the bill as one of these records.  I'll do my best to describe it, but I feel that any words I put to page here are not going to truly encapsulate what Cancers is doing on this record.

I can't say I've ever listened to this band before, so when the label's website describes this as a departure from the band's earlier work, I can't really chime in with anything.  What the band is doing is recording everything on this 7" with the sort of production that makes it sound like it's being broadcast live from an underwater cave.  There's mountains of static and fuzz on everything. Vocals, guitars, drum machine loops; they're all buried in a distortion avalanche.

With a few notable exceptions, that sort of production isn't really my thing.  While I do tend to favor bands with a grittier recorded sound, there comes a point where there's so much ambient crust I think the songs start to get lost a bit.  For me, that's what's going on here.  There's a couple of pretty decent indie pop songs hidden in here somewhere.  I'm just having a hard time digging them out.

Cancers - Missed 7":

https://debtoffensiverecords.bandcamp.com/album/missed-b-w-helpless

The Brother Kite - Model Rocket

Clairecords / Light Fighter (2013)

Back during that hectic year of 2006, my buddy Jason in Baltimore had hipped me to an album called Waiting For The Time To Be Right by The Brother Kite.  It was a very enjoyable record, but for one reason or another, I never really kept up with the band.  2006 was a low point for me musically.  The toll of a lengthy stay in the music industry was starting to affect me.  I didn't really want to go to shows anymore and frankly I was getting burned out on music in general.

After I left "the biz" I was able to enjoy music as a hobby again and as you can see from the results of this website, my love for buying records has never been stronger.  Somewhere along the way, The Brother Kite continued to release records that I wasn't aware of.  When I was picking up the Unlikely Friends CD, I noticed this album hanging around in the label's distro.  What do you know, The Brother Kite was still around.  Sure,Model Rocket came out a few years ago at this point, but it's brand new and wonderful to me.

I will go so far to say that it is even better than Waiting For The Time To Be Right.  The band's light and upbeat vocal melodies soar over a bed of crunchy guitars and big, big hooks.  Maybe a sunnier Superdrag? Perhaps a punkier Fountains Of Wayne? A faster Pernice Brothers? Regardless of how you want to compare them, this is a great guitar pop record and frankly, I'm almost a little bummed that it took me this long to realize it was out.  I assure you, this one will be making up for lost time on my turntable.

The Brother Kite - Model Rocket:

https://thebrotherkite.bandcamp.com/album/model-rocket

Sebadoh - Bakesale LP

Sub Pop (2011, Reissue)

This is an attempt of going back to the 90's to give another chance to a record I didn't really pay attention to at the time.  I'm not really sure why I never listened to Bakesale when it was out.  Bakesale was the current Sebadoh record available when my friend Joe and I stumbled across them in high school.  For some reason I was first drawn to their wackier, lo fi releases.  I had the Freed Weed CD and several Sentridoh albums as well (I was also going through a tape label phase at this time).

By the time I was in collage and '96 rolled around, I picked up their record of that year Harmacy.  Bakesale was a record I skipped and I have no real valid reason aside from possibly lack of funds.  But that's not really a great excuse as I sure managed to buy a lot of other records during that timeframe.  Back to the task at hand, Bakesale is pretty damn great.  This is a revelation that is probably not much of a surprise to a lot of folks, but it's likely the Sebadoh record I like best now.  That is extremely noteworthy as it is a rarity for my favorite record by a band to not be the one that I heard first.  To go back 20 years later and have this replace The Feed Weed as my favorite is definitely an anomaly.

I think it has a lot to do with how well this album is constructed and how strong the pop hooks are.  Sure, they're not really blatant, in your face singalongs or anything, but this record has a real knack for drawing me in with its droopy catchiness.  It's a reminder that there's still a lot of music out there to check out.  Even a record as obvious as Bakesale eluded me for a while.  Who knows what else is out there waiting to blow my mind?

The reissue LP comes with a download code that has a bunch of extra stuff.  Some interesting, some not so much.  The CD reissue is the one that got the real deluxe treatment, so that might be worth grabbing for some.  For me, I'm just happy to own the regular album on vinyl.

Sebadoh - "License To Confuse":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-XUiIKm2yw

Sebadoh - "Not A Friend::

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJNYkQMgLJY

Why+The+Wires - Flame Failures LP - Clear Vinyl

One Percent Press / Jetsam-Flotsam (2015)

There's a few things about this album that I really like.  I'll always be partial to gruff vocals like this.  They have a sort of lived in quality that reminds me a bit of Eric Bachmann from Archers of Loaf.  Those gruff vocals are really the only similarity to Archers on this record.  I also really enjoy the saxophone.  It's used very much in a Circa: Now sort of foghorn blast.  But again, for me, the Rocket From The Crypt comparisons end there.

More than anything, this reminds me of the sort of somber, midwest rock that was prevalent the late 90's and early 2000's.  I immediately start thinking of bands like Sweep The Leg Johnny or Karate or Dianogah.  Basically, I could really see this as the sort of thing Southern records would have put out.  It's a mixed bag for me because although I never had anything against those bands and thought they were all fine, I never bought any of their records.

There's just a bass fueled darkness that surrounds records like this.  While I can appreciate the craft and respect the musicianship, it's never been the sort of thing I wanted to spend much time listening to.  So, if that's the sort of thing you can get behind, absolutely give Why+The-Wires a chance.  But if you're looking for something upbeat and hooky, this probably isn't going to scratch that itch.

Why+The+Wires - Flame Failures:

https://onepercentpress.bandcamp.com/album/flame-failures

The Fur Coats - Short-Brain 7" - Green Vinyl (/300)

Drunken Sailor / Rad Girlfriend (2015)

Drunken Sailor threw in this Fur Coats 7" with the most recent order I had placed with them.  I encourage more labels to do this.  If you don't send me records to review because I already buy a lot from your label, cool.  I'm happy to give my money to support your stuff.  But if you wanted to toss in things that I'm not already buying, even cooler.  I'll certainly get around to reviewing it at some point.

Anyway, from what I've read The Fur Coats are fronted by one of the dudes that runs Johann's Face records. Marc Ruvolo.  It is also said that this fellow is a big fan of bands like Naked Raygun and The Smoking Popes.  I can definitely see that.  There's a simplistic charm to these three chord (at times only two chord) poppy punk songs.  The guitar has that unmistakeable 1990's Chicago buzzsaw sound and the hooks are built up pretty nicely.

Vocally, things sound a little odd to me at times. Ruvolo sounds like a cross between the singers from Fear Of Lipstick, Toys That Kill and the guy who sung that old novelty song "Dead Puppies Aren't Much Fun."  While I wouldn't say the vocals are bad or even detract from the songs, they'll definitely be an acquired taste for some as it took me a few listens before I everything clicked for me.  All in all it's a solid little 7".

The Fur Coats - Short Brain 7"

https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/short-brain-ep-7

Marvelous Mark - Crushin' LP - Yellow Vinyl (/100)

Drunken Sailor (2016)

We're pretty deep into February at this point and you may have noticed that there has been a severe lack of new releases featured on this website.  I'm not sure if the year is off to a slow start in general, or if I'm just being extra picky this year.  It's probably a combination of the two, but I can say without hesitation that this Marvelous Mark record is the first really great album that I've heard this year.

Marvelous Mark used to play in one of my favorite bands, Marvelous Darlings.  Though they are sadly missed I can take solace in the fact that Mark has churned out a pretty great little record on his own.  While Marvelous Mark is missing some of the balls to the wall energy and the swagger of Marvelous Darlings, he appears to have won custody of all of the hooks.  

Each song on this record is a perfect little guitar pop masterpiece.  Though everything is pretty mid tempo, the album has a perfect lazy Sunday afternoon vibe to them.  If I had a porch and a lawn chair, all I would need is a glass of lemonade and this record and you could color me a happy dude.

This record reminds me a bit of some of that 90's major label rock that I like so much; the slower moments of Fig Dish or maybe even Pluto with a fuzzier sound and a smaller recording budget.  No matter the reference you want to throw at Crushin', it can simply be said that this is a very good record and one that I've been listening to pretty nonstop since I picked it up.

Marvelous Mark - Crushin' LP:

https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/crushin-lp

A House Safe For Tigers - S/T LP

Headless Actor (2015)

I am really leery of bands that are described as, or describe themselves as chamber pop.  The first time I heard that phrase used was to describe the band Matt Pond PA.  And let me tell you, I really hate Matt Pond PA.  Talk about a band with nothing to say.  Anyway, the point is that whenever I see that to describe a band, I just automatically assume I won't like it.  After getting this record in the mail to review, I trotted over to the A House For Tigers Bandcamp page and looked at the tags, sure enough: fucking chamber pop.

I guess chamber pop is an accurate description.  This isn't the most exciting band in the world.  The songs are slow, somewhat boring and have a lot of whimsical instrumentation in the background.  You know, things like keyboards, xylophones and all the rest of the sort of atmospheric nonsense bands use when they're trying to add depth to songs that are lacking it.

This isn't awful.  In no way does it create the sort of rage I feel towards Matt Pond PA.  That being said, this just isn't the sort of thing I would listen to.  It's just too sleepy and lacking oomph for me.  The thing I want out of bands more than anything else is that I want to feel their passion and their enthusiasm coming from their songs.  When I listen to this record, I just feel tired.

A House Safe For Tigers - S/T LP:

https://ahousesafefortigers.bandcamp.com/album/a-house-safe-for-tigers

Empty Heads - Deceiver 7"

Debt Offensive (2015)

Debt Offensive sent me a few records to review along with a note that said "Not sure any/all will be up your alley."  I can definitely appreciate that my taste in music can be a little weird.  I'll like some bands that folks would automatically think I'd hate, but then I won't like others that seem like they should be my cup of tea.  I can absolutely understand why this note was included with the first of the records I'm listening to, this Empty Heads 7".

This is a loud, somewhat abrasive band.  The vocals are buried under a mountain of fuzz and the guitars are muddy and thick.  These are descriptors I would typically use as I would launch into an unfavorable review, but for whatever reason I really dig this 7".  I think it all comes down to the fact that even though the band is loud, even though they are real distortion mongers, even though I really can't understand a word they are singing about, they never abandon the hook of the song.

Each of the 7"s four songs are deceptively catchy.  The band isn't just making noise for the sake of it.  Hidden in each mess of a track is a wonderful little pop song just begging to rip out from the chaos.  It's a surprisingly fun listen and I'm not positive I would have really given these guys a chance had the record not been sent to me.  This is worth checking out, as long as you can handle a little noisy insanity.

Empty Heads - Deceiver 7":

https://debtoffensiverecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t

Boat - Setting The Paces LP - Orange Vinyl

Magic Marker (2009)

Since discovering Boat through their tremendous album Dress Like Your Idols, I've been gradually working my way through their back catalog.  This was gradual on purpose.  There have been times where I was so enamored by a band that I went out and bought a bunch of their earlier records all at once.  The result tended to be that I would end up so overwhelmed by sheer amount of music, nothing would really stick.  Don't believe me? Come over and I'll show you the seven Screamfeeder CDs that I haven't listed to since 1998.

Setting The Paces is the third Boat album that was released and it is now the fourth one of theirs that I've checked out.  It's kind of a cop out to say this, but really, if you've heard and enjoyed any of their prior records, it's a pretty safe bet you'll dig this one as well.  Most Boat songs just reek of 1990's indie rock in the absolute best possible way.  There's copious amounts of high pitched guitar interplay and shifting rhythms. The vocals have a Doug Martchs meets Stephen Malkmus vibe and the lyrics are quirky, but still manage to suck you into the story.

It looks like there's only one more Boat record that I don't have and that is 2007's Let's Drag Our Feet.  Seems to be CD only at the moment, but I'm hopeful someone will kick up a vinyl reissue.  Otherwise, I'm going to give Setting The Paces some more time to sink in and then I'll spring for that CD.  Of course the best case scenario is a new batch of Boat songs.  The band has been quiet for a bit.  Hopefully they'll start making some noise again real soon.

Boat "Lately":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTWaQRzPLSI

Unlikely Friends - Solid Gold Cowboys CD

Jigsaw (2015)

While I don't have nearly the ill will towards CDs that I have towards cassettes, I still don't really like buying them anymore.  It just doesn't really feel like I own the record the way I do when I pick up something on vinyl.  That being said I have so many CDs, many of which never came out on vinyl, so it's not like Unlikely Friends are going to be lonely on the shelf they end up on.

This is the only record that ended up on my Absolute Best Records Of 2016 list that I hadn't reviewed prior to sharing the list.  They reason?  Because it only came out on CD.  I kept putting off buying the record in the hopes that eventually someone would press it on vinyl.  It was available as MP3s.  Then as a cassette.  Then as a CD.  I figured that vinyl should surely be just around the corner, but it never happened.  Maybe it will someday.  If it does, I will buy immediately because I love the record.

Featuring members of another favorite band of mine, Boat, Unlikely Friends are plugging away with a similar stain of catchy and quirky indie rock.  Kind of like Pavement, Archers of Loaf and Built To Spill all mixed up into an upbeat guitar pop.  The lyrics are somewhat irreverent, the vocal melodies soar and musically the band branches out and takes chances, but they never sacrifice the hook while trying to do something weird.

Essentially this is just one of the best indie rock records of the 1990s that came out in 2015 by mistake.  I hope this doesn't signal the end of Boat, because I would hate to see those guys stop putting out records, but I'm happy to get some more Unlikely Friends records as well.  Though they really should do vinyl next time.

Unlikely Friends - Solid Gold Cowboys:

https://jigsawrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pzl072-unlikely-friends-solid-gold-cowboys

Nervous Twitch - I'm Sorry That I Made You Cry 7" - Tri Color Vinyl

Punk Fox (2016)

Punk Fox graces the pages of this website once again with the second Nervous Twitch 7" they've released.  You may or may not remember that the first Nervous Twitch 7" was the one that finally broke the streak of me not really liking any of the records Punk Fox had sent me.  For the most part, this new 7" keeps that on track.

The obvious highlight of the record is lead track, "I'm Sorry That I Made You Cry."  It's got an upbeat tempo and those jangly guitars that I love so much.  Very reminiscent of Baby Shakes to my ears; it's just a fun slab of rock and roll.  On the B-side is the mid tempo, surfy instrumental "East Coast Rumble."  As far as surfy instrumentals go, it's no better or worse than any other I've ever heard.  If nothing else, it sort of acts as a palate cleanser between the other two songs.

Unfortunately, the 7" kind of ends on a downer as "A Little Self Discipline" is the least enjoyable of the three songs and of anything I've heard by Nervous Twitch.  It's intentionally slow and deliberate, but I just get the feeling that I'm being scolded while listening to this.  The vocals are very direct and not particularly melodic.  Honestly, it kind of sounds like a different band than the one on the prior two songs.  I like the band of those first two songs much better.  Still, "I'm Sorry That I Made You Cry" is a strong enough song that this is still a 7" worth looking into.

Nervous Twitch - "I'm Sorry That I Made You Cry":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePGAd1r6uig

Mr. Lif - I Phantom LP - Clear w/ Splatter Vinyl

Mello Music (2015, Reissue)

If I hadn't seen a picture of this reissue on Instagram (courtesy of @4maldehyde, thanks!), I would have had no idea that it was out.  It would have been a real bummer to miss out on this record because in addition to looking pretty snazzy, it's one of my favorite hip hop records.

I Phantom was originally released in 2002.  During that time I was going through a phase not too dissimilar from what I am going through right now.  I had essentially given up on hip hop.  Let's preface this by saying in the 80's & 90's I listened to a LOT of hip hop.  It started with folks like Boogie Down Productions & Public Enemy and it peaked when Del The Funky Homosapien, Tribe Called Quest, Souls of Mischief and groups like that were pumping out records.  Then all of a sudden, hip hop got pretty shitty very quick.  

In 2002 I was paying almost zero attention to that world, but by chance I heard Mr. Lif and was blown away by this record.  The beats are intense and full, with interesting choices and the kind of creativity that I hadn't heard in ages.  Mr. Lif has a gravely voice that is especially suited to the sort of heady, newscaster/storyteller vibe he takes throughout the album.  I Phantom has a vague concept album feel to it in that each song flows into the next and each story presented is somewhat influenced by what preceded it.  

It's a high water mark for hip hop albums and it eternally bums me out that since 2002 Mr. Lif has only release one additional proper album.  Right now, in 2016, I've again all but given up on hip hop.  Aside from the years where Del releases something new, I don't really pay attention at all.  I'm sure there's something worthwhile out there, but until someone like Mr. Lif puts out an album as drop dead fantastic as I Phantom, I probably just won't notice.

Mr. Lif - "A Glimpse At The Struggle":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlWvzMYXbag

Mr. Lif - "Live From The Plantation":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSpIkZvA8iA

Mr. Life - "Earthcrucher":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0h83hbqkZg

Defect Defect - My Life Is Like Death 7"

Snuffy Smiles / Dirt Cult (2015)

From reading the little description for this 7" on the Dirt Cult Bandcamp page, it looks like these songs were the result of one last recording session before Defect Defect called it a day.  The reason?  Seems that the band was asked by Snuffy Smiles to tour Japan.  I can absolutely see how that will make you delay your break-up for a bit.  I would do the same.  Heck, I'd join Defect Defect for a chance like that.

Snuffy Smiles is a co-conspirator on this 7" along with Dirt Cult.  I can't say that I love this 7".  It's alright for a band that leans towards the hardcore punk rock spectrum of things; they don't scream nearly as much as a lot of bands do.  There's some gruff, angry sounding vocals, but it never breaks down into unintelligible yelling.  So that's a plus from my point of few.

The other side to the coin is like a lot of hardcore leaning bands they seem a bit trapped in a box.  The guitars are playing their chords, the drumming is intense and powerful and the bass is thumping along, but it never really feels inspired and the songs are all a little predictable.  More than anything it just sounds kind of old to me.  I realize that probably sounds like some major league bullshit coming from the guy so obviously obsessive of the rock and roll sounds of the 90's.  Defect Defect seems to be throwing back to a time earlier than those golden years.  I guess that's a time and a sound I'm just not as enthralled with.

Defect Defect - My Life Is Like Death 7":

https://dirtcultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/my-life-is-like-death

Custody - Stitches Are All I Have 7" - Red Vinyl (/73)

Brassneck (2015)

Custody hails from Finland and I feel that is worth mentioning as it's been a while since I featured a band from this part of Europe.  In the 90's and early 2000's, there were a slew of bands from the Sweden, Norway and Finland region that were in constant rotation.  Starmarket, Chester Copperpot, Manifesto Jukebox, Him Kerosene, Beezwax, the list goes on and on.  Then something happened.  I'm not sure if the music scene changed over there or if I gradually fell out of touch as I got old.  If anyone out there knows of great bands from this area that I have been overlooking, please get in touch and let me know.

Anyway, back to Custody.  These guys are playing a really great version of melodic punk rock.  So much of this kind of music can be traced through influences that will eventually lead you back to Jawbreaker or Leatherface.  As a super generic comparison, I'd say Jawbreaker is a more appropriate starting point, but to me Custody really falls into the branch of punk rock that bands like Iron Chic and to some extent RVIVR are existing in.  The vocals are impassioned and somewhat gruff.  There's a heart-on-your-sleeve vibe here that never falls into schmaltzy emo trappings, but makes the songs more engaging and feel more honest.

Musically, there's guitar octaves in all of the right places, some stutter stops in the breaks and most important to me, giant catchy choruses.  It's a great introduction to Custody and I'm very eager to hear some more out of these guys.

Custody - Stitches Are All I Have 7":

https://brassneckrecords.bandcamp.com/album/custody-s-t-7

Malos Modales - Cronicas Terrestres 7"

Drunken Sailor (2015)

I find Drunken Sailor to be a very trustworthy label.  I tend to pick up most everything they release (though they do a lot of split releases, so often I grab those from the American label to save on postage).  When they give their stamp of approval on a band, the odds of me enjoying that band are pretty high.  When they announced this Malos Modales 7" and gave a brief description, I knew pretty much immediately it was a record that I would be picking up.

These guys certainly didn't let me down.  Malos Modales sounds like something of a combination of Fix My Brain era Marked Men crossed with There Are No Answers era Something Fierce.  They've got a ferocity in their guitar riffs and a mastery of catchy hooks that so few bands can combine.   The vocals are all in Spanish, so I only have a small understanding of what they lyrics are about, but let's be honest; I'm not much of a lyrics guy and don't really have any idea what the Marked Men are singing about either.  I'd be surprised if that would really affect your enjoyment of these songs, it certainly doesn't make me love these songs any less.

The Drunken Sailor description of this 7" mentions that it's the best EP they had heard in ages.  I'll alter that slightly and say that this is far and away the best debut 7" I have heard in a long, long time.  It's so instantly memorable and just so great.  I really hope that Malos Modales is working on some more records because rest assured, I will be buying those the very second they are available.

Malos Modales - Cronicas Terrestres 7":

https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cronicas-terrestres-ep

The Jones - Gravity Blues LP - Blue Splatter Vinyl

Boss Tuneage (2015, Reissue)

It took me a little while to realize that this album had actually been released on vinyl, but I couldn't begin to tell you how thrilled I was to discover that it was.  The Jones is arguably the most under appreciated band to feature Dickie Hammond.  I'm not sure if it just got lost in the shuffle and not enough people heard it, but whenever I read anything about the great albums that Dickie was a part of, I never heard this mentioned.

It's a bit of a shame as aside from Leatherface, The Jones could be my favorite thing that Dickie ever did.  Just give the opening track "Monotone" about forty-five seconds.  With its searing guitar riff in the verse, the slowed down, hook filled chorus and impassioned vocals from Golly (also from HDQ like Dickie), you'd be hard pressed to find a more impressive song in Dickie's arsenal.  But it's not the only one.  The album is nearly perfect in execution with song after song of incredibly dynamic guitar work.  It's kind of crazy to me that more people don't know and love this album.

For this vinyl reissue the fine folks at Boss Tuneage have also tacked on two 7"s that preceded the Jones full length.  The Stokoe 7" and Fatty Jones 7" both featured Dickie and Golly, but each had a different cast of characters supporting them on other instruments.  Fidelity wise, the three Stokoe songs stand out a bit from the rest, but as far as song quality goes, they are every bit as good.  

Again, I couldn't be more excited to finally have these songs on vinyl.  Maybe The Jones isn't quite as well known as Leatherface, HDQ or even Doctor Bison; but they should be.  Every song on here is incredible and this is absolutely a record you should go out of your way to pick up if you don't already own it.

The Jones - Gravity Blues:

https://bosstuneagerecords.bandcamp.com/album/gravity-blues

Gleam Garden / Chestnut Road - Split 7" - Green Vinyl (Japanese Cover)

 

Snuffy Smiles / Brassneck (2015)

This is the Japanese version of the Gleam Garden / Chestnut Road split 7".  The songs are the same as the UK version, so you can click on yesterday's review of this 7" for more details about the music.  In a nutshell, both bands are insanely good and you should buy this 7" immediately if not sooner.

Also, in case you missed it yesterday, PopKid will be joining these fine labels (Brassneck & Snuffy Smiles) and we are going to be putting out the new Chestnut Road full length album very soon.  We're just waiting on a few more things and then you'll be able to hear this great, great record.  In the mean time, we have one song from that album "Handshake," streaming over at the PopKid Bandcamp page.  Check it out and let me know what you think:

Chestnut Road - "Handshake":
https://popkid.bandcamp.com/album/lp-ii

Gleam Garden / Chestnut Road - Split 7" - Green Vinyl (UK Version)

 

Brassneck / Snuffy Smiles (2015)

Now we're really talking.  A split 7" by two bands that I already have a bunch of records by and two bands that I just love.  Plus, with the addition of Brassneck records as a label co-conspirator, we get a rare Snuffy Smiles 7" on green vinyl.  This 7" was made with two covers.  The one is pictured above is of the Brassneck version.  Snuffy Smiles has their own exclusive cover for this record, but I'll post that picture tomorrow.

We'll start up with Gleam Garden.  A wonderful Japanese band that have been cranking out tremendous records for the last few years.  They've managed to pull from the influences of older Japanese pop punk bands like Blew or Husking Bee, but still keep things interesting and fresh.  Both songs on this record are just picture perfect examples what Gleam Garden is capable of.  "Empty Night, Empty Cry" is an upbeat and ultra catchy rocker in the best possible way.  "Stop The World" slows things down just a bit but still maintains the energy that the band is known for.  The closing moments of the song, in particular, are just perfect.

The other band on this record are from France.  They are Chestnut Road and if you've been reading my website for any length of time you know how much I love this band.  Even though they are from a completely different country, they are carrying the torch of my favorite music scenes ever, the mid 90s melodic punk rock of the UK.  The most obvious comparison is to the band Broccoli, but you can certainly hear how the band has been influenced by other bands from that scene as well as some of the great Japanese bands of the 90s like Lovemen or Blew.  Their two songs on this split are just as good as anything the band has ever released.  I just adore this band and encourage you to buy anything of theirs you can get your hands on.

And now an unpaid message from PopKid Records:

Speaking of which, I like Chestnut Road so much, I'm going to help people get their hands on at least one of their records.  There's a little something up on the PopKid Records website as well, but I'm thrilled to announce that PopKid will be releasing the new Chestnut Road full length in a few weeks. It's the first new record we're putting out on PopKid in about ten years.  I couldn't be more excited and I can't wait to tell you more about it and start selling these records.  We're not going to do a preorder because we hate those. Once the records are in hand, they will be for sale.  You will be able to get this new record in the US from PopKid, in Europe from the wonderful Brassneck Records and In Japan from the legendary Snuffy Smiles.  We're streaming one song from the record on our Bandcamp page, so go check it out here: https://popkid.bandcamp.com/album/lp-ii

And publicly, please let me thank Scott from Brassneck, Yoichi from Snuffy Smiles and everyone in Chestnut Road for letting us be a part of this album.  We couldn't be more excited.

Gleam Garden / Chestnut Road - Split 7":
https://brassneckrecords.bandcamp.com/album/gleam-garden-chestnut-road-split-7

Your Pest Band / The Invisible Teardrops - Split 7"

Snuffy Smiles (2015)

This split is another in the never ending stream of Snuffy Smiles split 7"s that have been coming out of Japan for over 20 years.  These days, I think you can safely say that Your Pest Band are the standard bearers of Snuffy Smiles.  They are insanely prolific and have constantly been putting out new records, but their home base has always been Snuffy Smiles.

The two Your Pest Band songs continue their descent into a spaced out mix of traditional Japanese pop punk and a more melodic, garagey sound.  There's a little echo going on in the vocals and the guitar riffs will get stuck in your head for days.  No matter what Your Pest Band releases, it's always deeply rooted in a catchy, if not sometimes warped, pop hook.  Both songs on their side of the split are perfect additions to their rapidly expanding catalog.

On the flip side is a band called The Invisible Teardrops.  Prior to getting this 7", I had never heard of them.  I find it fascinating that Yoichi from Snuffy Smiles always manages to get his hands on relatively unknown bands from America before the rest of the world catches on.  On "Shiver," The Invisible Teardrops ease through a nice mid tempo pop song with a tiny bit of twang, reverb tinged vocals and a little keyboard.  Definitely the highlight of their side of this record.  The second song "Shoaly" is a bit slower, but still pretty good.  You'll need to be patient though as there's a reasonably long intro/drum thing that seems like an odd way to start off a song to me.

Definitely better than yesterday's split, you really need this 7" for the Your Pest Band songs.  The Invisible Teardrops are just a nice bonus.  As usual, you can't really find anywhere to stream Snuffy Smiles releases, but this is worth going out of your way to pick up.

Holy Shit / Groaning Groove - Split 7"

Snuffy Smiles (2015)

It's always a wonderful time when I can take a few days and review a handful of 7"s from Snuffy Smiles, perhaps the greatest record label in the history of the earth.  I could certainly make an argument for it anyway.  That being said, with over a hundred and thirty 7"s in their catalog, they are not all going to be slam dunks for me.  This is one of those 7"s that doesn't quite hit that bar that Snuffy Smiles sets so high.

First up we have the band Holy Shit.  They've put out other records through Snuffy Smiles, so they are not a new addition to my collection.  Typically, I listen to their songs once as a courtesy (or to review) and then I never really go back again.  I picture that being the same for their side of this split.  Holy Shit is playing a super fast style of short hardcore songs.  They've crammed seven songs onto their side of the record that have insane drumming and way too much yelling for my taste.

On the other side is Groaning Grove.  While not playing the sort of hardcore that Holy Shit is going through, there is still quite a bit more shouting on their songs than I really want to listen to.  Musically, they lean more towards an abrasive and fast garage sound.  There are definitely some interesting riffs and a general enthusiasm that I can get behind, but when the singer starts up I immediately tune out.  I would buy this 7" no matter what in order to keep my Snuffy Smiles 7" collection complete, but I cannot recommend it if you want to pick it up and actually listen to it.  Unless you like yelling a lot more than I do.

Please Stand By

Will return with new reviews next week (2/01).  Sorry for the lack of updates this week.

By Default By Design - Rise 7" - Red Vinyl

3345 Music (2015)

Last year I was sent the first By Default By Design 7".  I didn't like it and gave it quite the shellacking (or schlonging if you prefer) here. I guess that didn't discourage the fellow behind the music to send me his next 7", Rise.  Amazingly, this might even be worse.

By Default By Design is still working with the worst sounding guitar tone known to man.  Not quite acoustic and not quite electric, but rather a combination that somehow highlights the worst elements of both.  On top of that, on this 7" he seems to have forgotten how to sing.  A-side "Rise" is delivered in the goddamn weirdest falsetto you've ever heard.  You would almost think it's a Ween joke song if not for the heavy handed, over sentimentality of the lyrics.  Then if you flip this to the B-side "Beautiful Boy" he's just whispering the entire song.

This is terrible.  I can appreciate that this guy is psyched about having a kid, but I don't need to be beaten over the head with that while listening to a 7".  I see from the By Default By Design Bandcamp page that this guy is working on a full length.  I've never said this before, but please don't send it to me.  You'll just waste a copy and money on postage.  I don't want to listen to a full album of stuff like this.  I appreciate you sending what you have, but I think at this point we should agree to disagree.

By Default By Design - Rise 7":

https://bydefaultbydesign.bandcamp.com/album/rise

Wavves x Cloud Nothings - S/T LP - Red Vinyl

Ghost Ramp (2016)

For starters, I ordered this months and months ago.  I'm the sort of person who does enough pre-orders that I understand the delays that can happen, but I ordered and paid for this record in June and didn't get it until about a week ago.  That's a little ridiculous and the label now has a monthly vinyl club subscription up for sale.  Don't be surprised that I don't have a ton of faith in that one...

So as far as I'm concerned, this record came out in 2016, not 2015.  When first reading about this collaboration between Wavves and Cloud Nothings, I was pretty intrigued.  I like Wavves and I really loved the last Cloud Nothings record, so this was sure to be good right?  Well, it is good, but that's all it is.  In pooling their talents, for some reason Wavves and Cloud Nothings sort of cancel each other out and this collaboration isn't nearly as good as either band on their own.

In general they mostly sound like lesser Cloud Nothings throwaways.  They don't have the oomph or the strong production that Cloud Nothings has and end up sounding a little murky. It's a short nine song record as is, plus two of the songs are just minute and a half instrumental noodling, so you really only get seven full songs.  This record isn't bad and a couple of the songs are actually pretty good, but it ended up being a bit of a let down compared to what I know both bands are capable of.

Wavves x Cloud Nothings - S/T:

https://wavvesxcloudnothings.bandcamp.com/album/wavves-x-cloud-nothings

The DTs - Dirty Jack 7" (/300)

Five-Five Hole (2015)

It's always interesting opening up a package of records that I didn't specifically order.  When someone sends something for me to review, I've been sent more misses than hits, but I'm still always hopeful that something new is going to pop in and blow my mind.  When you open the package and you see that the band in question is sporting ex-Mono Men, you tend to think there's a better than average chance that you've hit pay dirt this time.

This 7" is my first exposure to the DTs and if this 7" is any indication, this is a band I could get behind.  The A-side "Dirty Jack" is a slow building, guitar chugging beast of a song.  With the wailing vocals of Diana Young and the repetitious, but hard hitting guitar riff, it's a pretty good time.  In many ways it reminds me a lot of a tougher Boss Hogg.

On the B-side we have "Restless."  This is a cover of a song by the Cobras.  The Cobras only released one single on Stax back in the 60's, but you'd be hard pressed to find anything that Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn touched that wasn't pretty stellar.  The DTs version is a little meaner and a little louder, but every bit as fun and grooving.  

The DTs - Dirty Jack 7":

https://five-fiveholerecords.bandcamp.com/album/dirty-jack-7

Pavement - The Secret History, Volume 1 (1990 - 1992)

Matador (2015)

Even though I wanted this record from the moment it was announced, from the get go I've been trying to contain any disappointment concerning this release.  I knew from the second the track listing was revealed that this particular record would essentially just be the bonus tracks from the CD reissue of Slanted And Enchanted from 2002 on vinyl for the first time.  And that is what it is, no more no less.  Yet I'm still somehow a little let down.

I think the real tipping point for me was opening this guy up and seeing all the liner notes were still dated 2002.  They refer to Slanted and Enchanted as being ten years old.  I realize there probably aren't any new songs to add to this, but some new liner notes couldn't have been that hard, could it?  All of this only matters if you bought the deluxe CD reissue back when it came out.  If you didn't, why this record is essential my good friends.  Early Drag City 7" tracks, some compilation rarities, Peel sessions and a live performance pack this double LP.

I could take or leave the live show.  I've never been much of a live album or bootleg guy.  But everything else is either a great song or just something fascinating to listen to in order to see where the band was at during this time frame.  I'm admittedly much more eager to see what comes out in further volumes of this series.  The rumor has it that everyone is aware this first volume is mostly just to give a vinyl release to these songs, but going forward there are more unreleased gems to share.  We'll see how that goes, but at the end of the day this is Pavement.  It's unlikely that I won't buy everything that comes out no matter what it is.

Color T.V. - Demo 2015 Cassette

Self Released (2015)

I'll be honest, right about now I'm getting sick of reviewing tapes.  Even though the last few (including today's) are ones that I actually bought myself, give me a slab of wax or even a CD any day over these dumb little things. Despite my cassette fatigue, this demo tape from Color T.V. is enough to shake some of my blues away.

I hunted down these guys while trying to find out what happened to the band W.H Walker.  Those guys released a perfect LP and then just seemed to vanish.  My quest (eventually) led me to the Color T.V. Bandcamp page where you can listen to the three songs on this release and order a copy of the tape.  Never one to be satisfied with only having digital copies of songs, I of course plunked down for the cassette.

While Color T.V. doesn't quite have the same kind of free wheeling, house party stomp, good time vibe of W.H Walker, they have still managed to crank out three songs that I think are pretty incredible.  The infectious vibe of W.H. Walker still exists in these songs, but they are a little more straight forward.  You have a similar downstroke guitar action like The Marked Men or Chinese Telephones, but the hooks are filtered through a completely different lens.

I really, really dig this release and am hopeful to hear more from these guys as soon as possible.  Someone should jump on Color T.V. and get some vinyl out ASAP.

Color T.V. - Demo 2015:

https://colorteevee.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2015

Herzog / Chomp - Split Cassette

Exit Stencil (2015)

This split was another tape that was released as part of Cassette Store Day.  Luckily I didn't have to figure out what a cassette store was and go in search of it out in that cold, cruel world.  I was able to pick it up from the website directly.  I grabbed this and the Chomp cassette from yesterday within a day or two from each other.

Speaking of Chomp, I would discover when both tapes arrived the songs from Chomp on this split are both already on the Bruise Cruise cassette as well.  My opinion of these two songs hasn't changed since yesterday.  They're both pretty awful.  After posting my review of the Chomp cassette yesterday I went back and re-listened to their older full length to see if I was giving them a hard time without reason.  I can assure you I was not.  The Buddha Jabba Mumma album is still fantastic, no clue what happened to these guys in the mean time.

Luckily on the flip side is Herzog.  They have stayed true to the spirit of their last album and haven't disappointed me one bit.  Their nearly ten minute long opus "Slow Days / Arizona" is just a fantastic little slab of great song writing.  As the title suggests, it is essentially two different songs that are joined together by a little intermission meandering in the middle.  Both sections of the song are stuffed with catchy guitar riffs, soaring harmonies and all of the early-Weezer-filtered-through-a-garage-band goodness that I've come to love about this band.  I may be off Chomp at this point, but I am counting down the days until a new Herzog record.

Herzog / Chomp - Split Cassette:

https://herzog-cleveland.bandcamp.com/

Chomp - Bruise Control Cassette

Mirror Universe (2015)

While I was initially bummed that this new Chomp release was only coming out on cassette, I was really excited to hear some new tunes out of these guys.  Having been a huge fan of their 2012 Buddha Jabba Mumma I was eager to enjoy some fuzzy and catchy songs.

Somewhere between 2012 and the release of this new tape, there have been some big changes in Chomp.  The pop has vanished.  Where there was once hints of Superchunk and Wavves there is now a bunch of unnecessary yelling.  The guitar work is muscular and loud, but the hooks that this band used to cram into every song have also disappeared without a trace.  The biggest issue I have with this album is the total lack of singing.  Even on the songs where they are not screaming for the entirety, the vocals have this odd talk-sing thing going on.  Chomp has somehow gone from a band writing perfect pop songs to one that sounds like that crummy 'punk' band at high school shows that you tend to avoid.

Bruise Control is a huge disappointment for me.  It's hard to reconcile how this could even be the same band as the one that released Buddha Jabba Mumma.  Before listening to this album I figured my review would be full of pleas to put this out on vinyl, but having listened to it I don't think anyone should bother. 

Chomp - Bruise Control:

https://mirroruniversetapes.bandcamp.com/album/mu53-bruise-control

Beach Slang - Here, I Made This For You Cassette

Polyvinyl (2015)

I'm going to try to keep knocking out some of these cassettes I have lying around.  Throughout the pages of this website, you'll see me saying how much I don't like the modern day cassette revival over and over again.  I will say this about Here, I Made This For You: If there was ever an actual reason to make something a cassette only release, this is a pretty good one.  

Released on Cassette Store Day (That's seriously the best name they could come up with? What the hell is a cassette store?) This tape is made up of five songs from other bands that Beach Slang has decided to cover.  It's presented as an old school mix tape, something very near and dear to my heart.  The band selection that they've decided to cover is great.  They've tackled groups that are likely long forgotten by the vast majority of their fans like Best Kissers In The World, Ride, Dramarama, The Plimsoles and my personal favorite of the bunch Senseless Things.

The Beach Slang version of "Too Much Kissing" really is stellar.  It's even better than the Travis Cut version of the song, which is quite the compliment coming from me.  Beach Slang take it slow and steady and have made a really spot on version of the original.  You could argue that maybe they should have taken some chances with this song to distinguish it a bit more than the original, but for me it's really the vocals than shine through here as they have an earnestness and sincerity to them that really makes this song.

This tape is labeled as "Volume 1"so hopefully this is something Beach Slang will revisit again in the future.  If they're looking for songs, may I suggest some Mega City Four or Doughboys for volume 2?

Beach Slang - Here, I Made This For You:

https://beachslang.bandcamp.com/album/here-i-made-this-for-you-beach-slang-mixtape-vol-1

Space Wolves - V Cassette

 

More Power Tapes (2015)

This is the last of the More Power Tapes releases that were sent to me and I saved the best for last.  I've reviewed prior albums from Space Wolves on this website and if you've read those, you probably already know that I really dig these guys. Their fifth album V is no exception.

I really wish someone was putting these Space Wolves records out on vinyl.  I'd certainly buy a copy.  Heck, put them out on CD and I'd pick one up. Sadly all five Space Wolves records are confined to cassette tape hell, but that shouldn't dissuade you from giving these guys a shot.

Jangly, treble heavy guitar can be one of my favorite sounds in the world. It can be used in so many ways from the power pop of folks like Gentleman Jesse to the slower groove of a band like Silver Scooter.  Space Wolves actually sit very nicely in the middle of those two bands, calling on each side of the spectrum throughout this record. You've got some uptempo fast and catchy burners and then there are a fewer that slow things down and take a more melodic approach.  The band is equally successful at both.

I only have two negatives on this album.  One isn't even really a negative as I think this tape is a little too short and I wish there was more to listen to.  So that's more me being selfish than the band doing anything wrong.  The other one is more of just a pet peeve of mine as there are quite a few songs that end with the song fading out.  I couldn't tell you why that bugs me, but it's just one of those things that I don't like.  Still, these criticisms are very minor and I really dig this as a whole.  Keep it up guys.

Space Wolves - V:
https://morepowertapes.bandcamp.com/album/space-wolves-v

3 Cassettes - Faculty Men, Blobs & Found Drowned

 

More Power Tapes (2015)

Here we go, three more Cassettes form More Power Tapes:

Faculty Men - S/T - This is another one where I was hopeful based on the artwork, but this time I didn't end up being as into it as I hoped.  Faculty Men is playing a dissonant sort of punk rock.  If I had to guess, I think they might be trying for an early Unwound sort of vibe.  They are using some of the thudding bass guitar, screeching guitars and odd transitions that remind my of Unwound, though vocally, the singer from Faculty Men isn't quite as dynamic.  There's a lot of shouting and that takes away from the interesting guitar work these guys have.

Faculty Men - S/T:

https://morepowertapes.bandcamp.com/album/facility-men

Blobs - Shame - Six more songs from Blobs, who you probably remember from me not liking their first cassette yesterday.  What I can say about Shame is that it's a bit better than their debut.  The vocals aren't quite as monotone as they were on their first tape, but they are still the worst thing about this band.  I think the music portion is kind of interesting. It's fast and dynamic; even catchy in some places, but I could never listen to this unless the singer changes something.

Blobs - Shame:
https://morepowertapes.bandcamp.com/album/shame


Found Drowned - Spooky Sounds - I was very please to find out that Found Drowned was another surf band.  As far as More Power Tapes goes, in general they do much better with their surf bands than with their punk bands.  At least as far as getting me to like the record goes.  Like the Hamiltones, Found Drowned has something of a movie monster vide to it, though it's not as pronounced as the Hamiltones.  You can tell these guys like their cult horror movies (the tape is called Spooky Sounds afterall), but they don't beat you over the head with it.  Of all the surfy tapes in this recent batch, Found Drowned is my favorite.

Found Drowned - Spooky Sounds:
https://morepowertapes.bandcamp.com/album/spooky-sounds

3 Cassettes - The Televisionaries, Blobs & Kharlos

 

More Power Tapes (2015)

I'm going to keep trying to get through this cassette backlog I've got brewing, so here's three more tape reviews:

The Televisionaries - Freezing To Death - Of all the cassettes sent to me by More Power Tapes, this was the one I was most hopeful about.  The band name and the art set it apart from everything else.  Happily, I can report that this is pretty good.  It's another instrumental surf band, though I would say much more straight ahead and less gimmicky than the Hamiltones tape More Power Tapes had sent also sent me.  The tones are full of reverb and The Televisionaries bring a lot of energy to their songs.  The recording could use a little help on the low end side of the sound spectrum, but this is fun stuff.

The Televisionaries - Freezing To Death:
https://morepowertapes.bandcamp.com/album/freezing-to-death

Blobs - S/T - I wasn't expecting much from this Blobs cassette, but it's actually much better than I would have thought.  I can't go so far as to call it good, because the vocals are awful and really kill this band dead.  The music itself isn't so bad as the band is playing fuzzy, fast paced chords with some interesting change ups and a ragged garagey feel.  I've never heard high pitched vocals like this that somehow still managed to sound monotone.  Kind of weird.

Blobs - S/T:
https://morepowertapes.bandcamp.com/album/blobs-demo


Kharlos - Don't Think About Dying At My Party - This one is kind of interesting.  It's one of the more full sounding recordings from this batch of tapes.  I might be wrong, but I would bet these guys like The Blind Shake.  They're not making the same sort of music really, but I get the sense that on some songs they are aiming for that kind of noisy, but still catchy chaos that Blind Shake does so well.  Then again, parts of this just sound like the singer is trying to be in Jane's Addiction or in a power pop band, so what do I know.  It's alright.

Kharlos - Don't Think About Dying At My Party:
https://morepowertapes.bandcamp.com/album/dont-think-about-dying-at-my-party

3 Cassettes - Dudes, Cruelster & The Hamiltones

More Power Tapes (2015)

I've said before that I don't get a lot of records sent to me to review. The vast majority of what I write are records I buy myself however I do get the occasional record sent to me and that's always fun.  Every vinyl record that anyone ever sends me will always get reviewed.  Always.  I'm less excited about tapes, but I tend to get more tapes sent to me than records for some reason.  It's probably due to the difference in cost in sending out a review copy, even though it's pretty much a lock that if you send me a tape I'll almost always write in the review that I really don't like cassettes (or tapes).

I've fallen a bit behind on these, mostly because the folks at the label More Power Tapes decided to send me this freaking gigantic pile of cassettes over the course of a few days several months ago.  It's been a daunting pile to look at, but I'm going to do my best to go through as many as I can.  I'll start with three for today.

Dudes - Ultra Vague - I decided to write these up in something of the order they appear on the label's Bandcamp page.  I can't say I was super looking forward to this based on the artwork.  It looks like the sort of crummy demo that a high school band would release.  Still, I was somewhat optimistic when the first guitar riff kicked in on "Dudes Just Wanna Have Some Fun."  That quickly faded when the vocals kicked in.  There's far to much yelling on this tape for my tastes.  To me, this is just kind of generic punk rock.

Dudes - Ultra Vague:
https://morepowertapes.bandcamp.com/album/ultra-vague


Cruelster - First Demo 2006 - Even though their tape is called First Demo 2006, there is a little note saying it was actually written and recorded in February of 2015.  That's not as good of a joke as Ween's 12 Golden Country Greats album only having ten songs on it.  This is a different strain of punk rock than Dudes.  There's yelling, but not as much of it.  The guitars are quieter and this is very much built on the rhythms of the bass guitar and some sort of end of song freak out.  Again, I wouldn't say this is particularly inspired and it's not really the sort of thing I'd listen to.

Cruelster - First Demo 2006:
https://morepowertapes.bandcamp.com/album/cruelster-first-demo-2006


The Hamiltones - S/T - Last up for today is The Hamiltones with their self titled cassette.  I'm not sure why, but I had higher hopes for this one than I did for the other two.  Some of it was the artwork being less silly looking and part of it was the fact that I kind of dig the name.  I try not to judge books and covers and all that, but sometimes I do end up being right.  Turns out that The Hamiltones are a pretty fun instrumental surf band.  They definitely have a Hex Dispenser-ish haunted house sort of vibe to them, but I can definitely get into a spooky sounding surf band. There's only six songs and two of them are under thirty seconds long, plus one of the remaining four is a cover of the Batman TV show theme.  I actually wouldn't have minded this being a little long.  Far and away the best of the three I've written about today.

The Hamiltones - S/T:
https://morepowertapes.bandcamp.com/album/the-hamiltones