Last year indie rockers Superchunk thrilled their fans by releasing an all new album. After nine-years, the band dropped Majesty Shredding on Merge Records.
The band just released a very amusing video for the song “Crossed Wires”. It is worth checking out…trust me.
A few years back I was handed a CD by this band called Ninja Gun. All I could think in my head was what in the hell is a Ninja Gun and why is there a peach on the front cover?
Prior to listening to that album, I assumed that they were going to be just another screaming, loud and young act that I would care less about and almost passed it up. I am glad my curiosity got the best of me though as I was sorely shocked once I heard what Ninja Gun was all about.
They were more of a melodic folk/rock/country driven act that impressed me well past my expectations. To this day their debut release, Restless Rubes, is spun in my household regularly.
On April 12th Ninja Gun will release a four-song EP entitled Roman Nose on Sabot Productions. This is the band’s follow up teaser to that 2008 debut Restless Rubes that I almost passed over.
Led by Jonathan Coody, the band has toured with many a punk act in their time thanks to being less than an hour away from Gainsville, the punk rock capital of Florida. Regardless of their sound, they have always had no problem keeping the punk fans entertained.
Starting off the EP was “That’s Not What I Heard”, a poppy yet chilled-out track that carried layered acoustic guitars setting a certain mood for a good ol’ porch hangout with friends. As relaxed as it sounded though, the lyrics were pungent and well-written.
The track “Hot Rain” tells the story of the demise in farming in the band’s hometown. Just listening to this track I can hear improvement in the band’s sound. It just sounded so well put together.
“Lepers In Love”, a tune about a seemingly unjust relationship, was a killer track. The song carries a certain slow-waltzing feeling at the beginning but rocks out shortly after.
The mellow “Roman Nose” on the other-hand, told the tale of a good man selling an “old thing” an ultimate token of love for his special someone. Musically it was such a sorrow-sounding song, but became beautiful once the lyrics dissolved in my mind.
All I could think while listening to this EP is how funny it is that Ninja Gun is known to tour with punk bands yet I know they would have no problem playing along side Lucero or opening up for Wilco or even The Avett Brothers.
I find it humorous that there are a peaches incorporated on the EP’s artwork now knowing that their hometown of Valdosta, GA is surrounded by peach farms. The first time I saw the cover art for Restless Rubes and the lone peach sitting there, I could not gather why there was a peach on it. Come on folks, I am from Ohio…
Valdolsta can be a little busy downtown, but the surrounding areas are quiet towns with not a lot to do. Trust me, I’ve been there. It looks like the type of city many folk dream of escaping from and moving on to bigger and better things, but they don’t – not because they are prisoners of the city, but because it’s a really chill and relaxing place to live.
Ninja Gun was once a hidden jem but I am thinking that is all going to be changing very soon. Roman Nose is just a taste of what this small-town band has in store for their next full release and I could not be happier for them.
Want to hear “That’s Not What I Heard”? Head over to Magnet Magazine and check it out for yourself!
Fueled with a new found (and very welcomed) sex appeal while looking ever so refreshed, Those Darlins are back with their all new sophomore album entitled Screws Get Loose. Nikki, Jesse, Kelley, and Linwood continue their quest to have constant fun, drink the stiff drinks, and tour the country all while leaving a lasting impression on all who join in their nightly rock n roll shambles.
Even amidst non-stop touring, minus a brief timeout due to pair of broken bones in Nikki Darlin’s forearm after she lost a battle with Ohio terrane, the band was quick to record a follow up to their 2009 debut.
Screws Get Loose, in reference to the screws used to hold Nikki’s bones in place last summer, was released once again on Oh Wow Dang Records.
Known for being a more of a country / punk / garage rock sounding act, the foursome have switched things up a tad and added a nice indie rock style to their sound in their mix. One of the coolest aspects of this change is hearing Linwood, the band’s lone male drummer, lend his pipes on the album as well as help write some of the tracks. The girls still trade off with vocals throughout the album keeping it catchy and all so fun.
The title track “Screws Get Loose” open up things with a song carrying a couple of references to why screws were needed in the first place. The new sound coming from the quartet was good and quite the shock to hear. It was almost as if Those Darlins left their country sounds on the porch in Murfreesboro and headed off to the big city for a entirely new prospect.
“Be Your Bro” hands down is my favorite track on the album. Having heard it months earlier at a live show of theirs last Fall, I fell in love with the Darlins a little harder because of this track. Singing of how the girls just “wanna run and play in the dirt” while said guys “just wanna stick it in” just proved how real the girls are and how not afraid they are to tell it how it is. Singing “I may have girly parts but I have a boy’s heart” hopefully will throw a hint at any Darlin chasing fellow, or will it?
“Let U Down” premiered Linwood’s vocals, an improvement in the direction of the band if you ask me. Not that there was anything wrong with the girls taking vocal duties throughout the songs, but Linwood has himself a very fitting voice that goes perfectly with the music that they all create. This is a track that needed to be heard.
“Mystic Mind” was a trippy track that didn’t necessarily fit the rest of the album but was hard not to listen to. “$” was a step back for a moment into what I previously was used to coming from the Darlins and their group vocals.
“Starving for something and it ain’t your touch” start off the hilarious “Fatty Needs A Fix”. The track easily is a continuation to “The Whole Damn Thing” off their debut album, as a drunken end to a night out required some immediate stomach pampering and nothing more than that.
“Waste Away” put a halt to the party with a direct message to a certain someone to knock off the hardcore partying. This track reached back to material from their previous album. “BUMD” closed the album with what sounded like to me something pulled from the 60’s. The song differed from the others with more proof of how much talent these four musicians possess.
It was almost a shock to hardly hear any country driven tracks on this album, but it’s just proof that Those Darlins are maturing into an even more of an amazing act. Shorter than I would have liked, Screws Get Loose is a great album from start to finish with plenty of tracks to help you shake your baby-maker throughout thanks to all of the members coming together and doing what they like to do best. If you were not a fan of their first release, you might just want to pop this one in and see if it catches your fancy.
Once upon a time there was a melodic punk/indie/rock band called Explosivo!.
Hailing from the quiet town of Long Island, N.Y., the band featured a group of guys who you can now find in acts like Iron Chic, Wax Phantom and Small Arms Dealer. They were good, they were damn good.
Dead Broke Rekerds described them as a mix of “Piebald & Pantera hanging out at Guns ‘N Wankers house.” Sadly they broke up in 2001 so finding anything by them has been quite the challenge.
Lucky for us Dead Broke Rekerds & Limited Pressing were nice enough to re-release a hidden gem of a DIY album. Released digitally on BandCamp (see below) as well as vinyl, it is almost like Explosivo! has been given a second chance to be heard by anyone who might have missed them long ago.
If you are a vinyl fanatic like I am hurry up and grab onebefore they sellout. Act even faster and you might score yourself a glow-in-the-dark version that is limited to 50. At $10 you can bet your grits I already grabbed one! Plus the rest of the Dead Broke Rekerds store is full of awesome swag and shipping is only $4!
Want to hear some Explosivo! now? Enjoy:
All I can say is “Holy Eff’n Hot”. I love me some Darlins…
I can not express the excitement I have for their new release. I am sure many of you are tired of hearing about it from me…tough.
I spoke to Oh Wow Dang’s JT the other day and he told me that Those Darlins were playing Thursday night at SXSW. I was bummed to hear that as I will not be arriving to Austin until Friday. I know that their set will be one of those sets people talk about all weekend. The hard-working foursome deserves it.