Ben Davis & The Jetts – Charge It Up
Admittedly, this is the first “solo” offering I’ve heard from Ben Davis (formerly of bands like Milemarker and Sleepytime Trio) so I can’t really compare it to his other material but as a big fan of Milemarker, I at least have a frame of reference. Charge It Up (Davis’ third full length) is full of (Read more…)
Fest 9 Preview: Interview w/ Gatorface
For the first time ever, I’m gonna try to make my way down to Gainesville for the annual punk rock extravaganza known as The Fest in October. I really don’t know what to expect, so I asked a bunch of bands that are playing The Fest 9 some questions about it as well as some (Read more…)
Andrew W.K. – 55 Cadillac
Andrew W.K.’s 2001 album I Get Wet is a simple, primal, fun, and (quite simply) phenomenal album of overproduced chugging pop-metal party anthems. This album, 55 Cadillac, the new Andrew W.K. album isn’t exactly fun. It’s just kinda forgettable. Still, even though there are few albums less essential than this one, I’m glad Andrew W.K. (Read more…)
Esprit De Corps – Under Constant Influence EP
On their self-released EP, Under Constant Influence, from 2009 Denver, Colorado’s Esprit De Corps throttles through five songs of abrasive rock that sounds like a cross between The Bronx and fellow Denver natives Planes Mistaken For Stars and Only Thunder). The vocals are generally gruff and shouted but with a hint of melody, the rhythms (Read more…)
Sounds You Should Hear: Frogball
Who: Frogball Sounds: Pizza. Soda. World Peace. EP Where: Bellingham, Mass. How: Self-Released What: Truth be told, I thought this band had broken up, but I can’t really tell. They play/played raw basement punk that’s a little bit hardcore but also melodic and damn impossible to take seriously. The songs are short with ridiculous lyrics (Read more…)
Six of My Favorite Albums of 2010
These six albums have been written about (seemingly) by every music blogger and maybe their brothers and mothers and even their cousins. I’m not going to beat a dead horse by writing up full reviews of them, but (still) I think they are all worth a mention as they will all almost certainly appear on (Read more…)
Mixtapes – Maps
I’m not sure that I could be any more stoked about this about this album than I already am, but every time I listen I can’t help but smile a little wider than I did the time before. Checklist time. Female & male vocal harmonies? Acoustic guitars? Electric guitars? Fast pop punk leads? Charmingly cute (Read more…)
Frankel – Anonymity Is The New Fame
Note: This has been sitting in my draft posts folder since March so I figure I should post it now or forever hold my words, right? Frankel is pretty doggone good at what they do. The band’s classic melodies recall the pop of Simon & Garfunkel and the 1960’s filtered through something decidedly more modern. (Read more…)
Lucero / Ha Ha Tonka – Live 8/2/10 @ Otto’s
With the whirlwind that was the last two weeks, I wasn’t sure that I’d ever get this post up. Anyhow, the wife and I cruised through the country over to Otto’s in DeKalb, IL on a rainy Monday night to see Lucero, Ha Ha Tonka, and The Gunshy. It also happened to be Ben’s 36th (Read more…)
