Category Archives: Review

Metal, Music, Music Video, New Release, Punk, Review, Rock

Album Review: Every Time I Die – Ex Lives

17 March, 2012 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Buffalo, NY’s punk / metalheads, Every Time I Die (ETID), recently dropped an all new release titled Ex Lives on Epitaph Records. Produced by Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age), the album shot up the Billboard charts very quickly and landed in the top 20s. That right there has go to tell you something.

This marks the sixth full-length release for the five piece band in their 14 year career. That’s not to say that the last 14 years have been easy for ETID as their line up has been a revolving door with members coming and going. Even with the challenges of keeping the band intact, ETID managed to continue on and after hearing Ex Lives, I have to say I am glad they did. I will point out I am not the biggest ETID fan. I know what they are capable of and appreciate all that they do in the music world. In other words, I am one of those people who love “We’rewolf”.

The album starts off beyond insane with “Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space” (nice title by the way). “I want to be dead with my friends” repeats at the beginning of this fast, brutal song that pretty much got me all sorts of excited to hear the rest of the album. Keith Buckley and crew sound amazing on this track.

“I Suck (Blood)” was just a thrashed mess of screaming and guitar playing guaranteed to keep you angry. “Partying Is Such Sweet Sorrow” had a Southern rock vibe throughout but kept things moving for the best. Kind of reminded me of when Pantera jumped off their path on some of their songs back in the day.

I will say that “Revival Mode” caught my attention as it took a complete total different route and was more or less a 90s grunge rock song at times, but I liked it for what it was worth. (Seriously, did anyone else hear some Layne Stanley in there?)

“Drag King” made me wonder how Buckley still has vocal chords with all that screaming, but he was able to add some melodic singing throughout the track. The fast-paced “Touch Yourself” followed and all I could think of was a sea of kids going ballistic at a live ETID show. Ending things was “Indian Giver”, a darker track that praised the loss of a good person.

I’ve seen reviews of this album already and some people think some of the sound sound recycled from New Junk Aesthetic. I can’t say I am hearing the same things from their previous releases, but the style remains, and that is what makes a band what they are. If you are into insane screaming and metal formed around some very intense lyrics, you should check out Ex Lives.

ETID will be on the Van’s Warped Tour this summer. I have seen them in the past life and will tell you, they are not a show to be missed.

Track List:
Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space
Holy Book of Dilemma
A Wild, Shameless Plain
Typical Miracle
I Suck (Blood)
Partying Is Such Sweet Sorrow
The Low Road Has No Exits
Revival Mode
Drag King
Touch Yourself
Indian Giver

Cleveland, Country, Good Reads, Live Shows, Music, Review, Rock

Concert Review: Elliott Brood / The Pack AD / Leah Lou & The 2 Left Shoes – Beachland Tavern – Cleveland, OH – 03/09/2012

15 March, 2012 Brian Mc Leave a comment

I completely forgot that Toronto’s Elliott Brood was coming to town last week and if it wasn’t for a a good friend of mine, I would have surely missed out on an awesome show. Luckily for me, my pal Kyle was quick to remind me last Friday, hours before the show, that Elliott Brood was playing the Beachland Tavern. (Thanks Kyle, you are always looking out for me…)

It was a last minute decision to hit up the show, and I can not tell how how glad that I was able to. The Ontario country / rock act was just about to finish up a stretch of their tour last week in support of their new release Days Into Years, and made sure that Cleveland was one of their destinations. Touring with their pals The Pack AD, the band turned what could have been a boring Friday evening into something much more entertaining.

Locals Leah Lou & The 2 Left Shoes opened the night with their cute yet harsh indie pop sounds. At times, I thought that Ms. Leah Lou was going to smash her acoustic guitar into the ground as it would not tune right for her causing the duo to skip over more than one song from their set. Instead, she hid away her frustrations and used the free time to get to know the crowd as well as introduce her family to them. When she was able to play some of her songs, the crowd was just eating it up. I did notice while Leah Lou played her set that Casey Laforet from Elliott Brood was checking her out and was loving what he heard. How couldn’t he though? I love this local act. Lea Lou reminds me of Regina Spektor mixed with Joanna Newsome, but far sassier. If you have not seen this local act live yet, you really should.

Up next was Vancouver’s The Pack AD and I will admit, I did not know what to expect from this female duo at all. The young looking lead signer had a punk rock look to her while the drummer appeared to have been well versed in the days of rock n roll. I was expecting more of a Runaways / Joan Jett sound but was blown away by what I heard. Their sound was more or less the White Stripes mixed up with some Black Keys with a span of singing stiles that sometimes reminded me of Justin Hawkins (not the high pitched crap) making for some great tunes. Guitar, drums, and singing was all these ladies delivered and it was awesome. I loved “Haunt You” as well as when Becky Black just tore up her guitar during “Lights” and also during “Deer” (at least that is what I think the song title was). A couple gents from Fort Worth, Indiana, actually traveled 3 hours to see these ladies rock out. At first I questioned why they would do such a thing, but by the set’s end, I fully understood. I’m shocked that The Pack AD has not already grabbed some major attention already. I will be checking these girls out more in the near future.

I’ve missed Elliot Brood in the past when they played Cleveland, so I made sure I found a close standing spot to watch the band. I actually wound up leaning against the small wall by the stage. As the band played, I could not help but stare at Laforet’s feet as he played what looked like a drum machine hooked up to some organ pedals while playing guitar. It was a very makeshift instrument, but it was perfect. He barely even glanced at his feet while playing songs. It was kind of impressive.

Throughout their set, Marc Sasso joked with the crowd. At one time he even paid tribute to the SS&W Boardwalk Bar just down on Waterloo and mentioned how he liked to grab drinks there before shows in the past. He then went on to inform everyone that is where his parents met and eventually conceived him. Laforet added that he was conceived on the pool table in the corner pocket. All jokes aside, the band did let the crowd know that they appreciated everyone for coming out.

The band played a lot of tracks off their recent release Days Into Years including “Lindsey” and “If I Get Old”, but was also quick to jam out to some older tunes like “Oh, Alberta” and my favorite,”Write It All Down For You” (can I tell you all how much better that song sounds when they play it to you in a tavern?). It was the highlight of my evening. I would have liked to have seen Stephen Pitkin beat on a suitcase over a drum set like I heard he used to years ago, but I guess you can’t have everything. Speaking of percussion, Pitkin actually passed out pie tins and wooden spoons towards the end of the set so that the crowd could help Elliott Brood play songs.

Elliot Brood finished up their set and exited the stage. They had more important things to do, like hang out with the crowd. It was a great show to start off my weekend and I am sure that all who were there would agree on that.

90's, Music, New Release, Pop, Punk, Review, Rock

Album Review: Useless ID – Symptoms

27 February, 2012 Brian Mc 3 Comments

As many of you know, good, wholesome punk rock is not just an American thing. Middle Eastern punk rockers Useless ID can prove that and have been for almost 18 years. The foursome, who hail from Haifa, Israel, signed with Fat Wreck Chords last year and recently released Symptoms.

So what took Fat Wreck Chords so long for them to suck them in? Well, perhaps because the band never seems to sit still and is too busy playing shows all over the world and befriending anyone in their path. Regardless, Fat Wreck Chords has them now and I seriously doubt they will be letting go anytime soon.

Symptoms was recorded with the legendary Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore (Rise Against, NOFX) at The Blasting Room Studios once the band was able to come back to the states from their current hometown of Tel Aviv. The result of months of hard work is a pop punk gem that Fat Wreck Chords should be beyond proud of. (I’m talking “dad, I just won my first fistfight in grade school” proud.)

“Live or Die” started the 12-track album off full of pop punk goodness. I was set back at how great this song started off the album. The lyrics were catchy, the music was solid and I wanted more. Good thing I was only on the first track. Lucky for me “Before It Kills” followed with the same amount of substance I was already craving. Hell, the second track was better than the first.

“I’m just suffering with you” repeats throughout “Normal With You”, a very singable track. “Erratic” hints heavily towards something Lagwagon might have meant to do years ago. I loved the lyrics on this track a lot and found myself singing “Down over the low, there’s always something on my nerves that gets me so erratic” almost instantaneously. Add in a great breakdown halfway though, and you have yourself a must hear song on the album.

“Mani Depression” sounded to me like what would happen if the Descendants and Cobra Skulls would have joined forces. This was another killer track on the album and I think anyone who thinks that 90s punk rock is the best should take a listen to this track. I felt 18 all over again listening to it and favored this track over all of the others without a doubt. “Sleeping With Knives” was another track I just dug a whole lot. It was just one of those songs that once I listened to it for the first time, it felt like I had heard it a million times before.

If “Symptoms” was the post-breakup song, then “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder” without a doubt was the “I’m so over you” realization. “Your obsessive compulsive disorder creeps me out, I don’t want it” loops throughout the track that hints at anything more than to go away. “Somewhere”, on the other hand, ended the album with almost a feared reconciliation.

If i had to describe what Useless ID sounded like to someone, I would tell them to take the pop punk from the Ataris, vocals of Milo and mix them up with loads of Cali 90s punk rock riffs. Symptoms has been in the CD player of my car for weeks now. I have listened to it over and over form start to finish and each time it ends I just tell myself that I need another listen.

It’s early on in 2012 and Symptoms already has a place on my best of list. This was a shocker of a release for me. I have a split by them as well as The Lost Broken Bones, but there is just something about this album that has turned them from a punk band I like, to one I adore. This is about the time when I tell everyone that I will be digging into their catalog. That is a given. If you like 90s punk rock you need to check out Useless ID’s latest release.

Acoustic, Columbus, Folk, Good Times, Live Shows, Music, Punk, Review, Road Trip, Rock, The Awesome

Concert Review: Frank Turner – Outland On Liberty – Columbus, OH – 02/22/2012

25 February, 2012 Brian Mc 1 Comment

It’s a known fact: If you speed, you risk a good chance of getting caught. I can tell you this first hand seeing how I was speeding down I-71 Wednesday evening on my way to see Frank Turner in Columbus. I was just outside of the state capitol cruising at about 80 m.p.h. not paying attention at all when I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a state trooper shooting my car with his laser gun. We made eye contact immediately after, and I knew I was screwed.

In a flash, the trooper was tailing my car down I-71 and the moment I switched lanes thinking that maybe, just maybe he would pull the guy over in front of me, he switched lanes again and turned his lights on.

Crap.

I knew I was speeding and was at fault, so I pulled over and waited for the trooper to approach my car and tell me what I already knew. I tried to tell the state trooper that I was just cruising along and not paying attention to my speed because of how excited I was to be seeing Frank Turner at a venue in Columbus. The trooper looked at me and asked who Frank Turner was. I wanted to tell him all about one of my favorite musicians and persuade him to let me off the hook, but just told him that he was a punk rocker folk artist from England. The trooper smiled at me and told me that he would be back in a moment with my ticket.

Shit.

So, my trip to Columbus from Akron cost me an extra $130 and I have no one to blame but myself. Then again, if the trooper knew who Frank Turner was, maybe he would have shared his excitement with me and let me off. After bidding the trooper a farewell, I jumped back on to the highway and made it to the Outland on Liberty.

Having never been to this venue before, I was not sure what to expect at all. Hell, I had to ask a parking attendant where is was only to feel like a complete idiot when he pointed to the building directly across the street. To be fair, it was my first time to the brewery district.

Outside, the Outland did not really resemble a venue at all. Granted Turner’s tour bus was parked in front of it, I did not notice a sign for it nor did it look like your typical concert club. There was also a Eiffel Tower metal-looking structure in a patio area that towered over everyone that stood out. I was not sure what the significance was at all, perhaps a tribute. Walking inside though, I had a completely different impression of the concert venue. The place looked like what would happen if Austin Powers’ clubhouse turned into a goth club. Crosses adored the walls and there was a giant tiered stage full of lights. It was interesting and to be honest, I kind of dug it.

While asking myself if that stage was for real, I realized that there was in a completely different room that hosted the main stage. Once I made my way to the stage area, I felt a little better about seeing Turner and crew play a normal stage and not a plexi-glass tiered stage, although that might have been awesome.

There were two opening acts and I will not lie, I did not watch either of the openers as I was too preoccupied with catching up with some of my friends, new and old, who also were attending the show. I will say though that I did hear one of the guys singing a song about Touchdown Jesus. That is pretty bad ass if you ask me, but chances are if you are not from Ohio, you have no idea what that heck I am talking about.

Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls (his full band) took the stage around 10 p.m. to the adoring crowd. Opening with “Eulogy” from the band’s latest release England Keep My Bones, Turner and crew put forth an amazing set. Playing songs, old and new, the crowd sung along at the top of their lungs with each song. It was not just a concert, it was a party, a gathering of friends all having a good time. Following was “Try This At Home” and I could not help but get lost in the song.

Turner and crew continued on playing tracks such as “I Am Disappeared” as well as his tribute to home “Wessex Song”. I liked how Turner told everyone that he could care less about songs about NYC and L.A. and wanted to pay tribute to where he grew up. When he asked the crowd if anyone had ever been to England, a few hands rose, and when he asked if anyone was from England, a girl screamed in excitement that she was. I am sure she appreciated that song more than anyone else that night.

Not just keeping to material the fans knew, Turner played a couple brand new including “Cowboy Chords” and “Four Simple Words”. The latter of the two was really fun to listen to. Before he sung it, Turner told the crowd that he hoped one day that the crowd would break into a choreographed dance when he played it. The crowd did their best to dance together, but it was no Broadway performance.

In between the new songs, Turner played “Dan’s Song” but let the crowd know that no one would be invited on stage to play the harmonica solo as he was afraid that there might be a few people who might get pissed that they were not chosen and punch him in the balls after the show. Instead, he invited the entire crown to play the “air harmonica”. Basically, everyone cupped their hands into an O shape and screamed whatever noise they wanted to in their hands. It was no harmonica solo, but it did the job.

Although one of his more popular songs, I was still psyched to hear the band break into “The Road” and later “I Still Believe”. I could not help but laugh though when they played “Glory Hallelujah”, knowing that it was Ash Wednesday.

To end the night, Turner set down his acoustic and took the mic belting out Queen’s “Somebody To Love” while the rest of the band rocked out. This cover was the perfect way to end the show.

It was kind of suiting that the set ended with a Queen song seeing how in the very first song played that night, Turner sang “not everyone can be Freddie Mercury”. Did anyone else catch that?

Throughout that impressive cover, everyone went insane and naturally wanted more, so it was no surprise to see Turner return to the stage moments after everyone exited.

To barter with the crowd, Turner promised two more songs during the encore and then added one more . Turner, sans the Sleeping Souls, played an awesome cover of Tom Petty’s “American Girl” and a lot of people could not help but sing along. Following was the always fun “Ballad Of Me And My Friends.”

During the last song of the night, “Photosynthesis”, the rest of the band joined Turner on stage and played along.

Frank piped up just before the last chorus of the song and let the crowd know how he felt about rock n roll and said, “I’m always disappointed when rock n roll turns out to be a bunch of fucking dickheads with a tour bus and a raised piece of flooring who show up and make noise with a bunch of fucking hits and just turn around and go home. And no one talks to anyone anymore and no one fucking interacts and it’s boring and pointless and not the kind of shit we are supposed to be doing with our time.”

He continued with, “rock and roll is and always is, and punk rock especially, was about a run for the people who are equals and who are friends, who don’t have a fucking barrier who are doing something together and something communal, something transcending, something necessary…”

Needless to say, the entire venue went ballistic. His words may very well single handedly changed they way people look at rock n roll in Columbus.

He was not joking about what he said either. Once the band finished up, they all hung out with the crowd that stuck around. Turner actually took time to talk to each and every fan that approached him, allowed photographs, and even signed records, fliers, and even a 20-year-old polo shirt (that was odd if you ask me, but who am I to judge?). I think the greatest thing though, was that Turner was sincere with each interaction and wholeheartedly smiled and his fans, shook their hands, and even gave out hugs.

When I finally had a moment to chat with him, I thanked him for coming back to Ohio and could not help but tell him about my speeding ticket. He laughed and grabbed my record and signed it “Keep Speeding”. He also was quick to give me a hug after we finished talking and I accidentally head butted him. I was quick to apologize and he laughed and said “it’s ok, I feel as if we are now closer…”

Star struck? Not one bit. The guy is just like you and I. He is real and does not play out for the paycheck. He appreciates his fans as much as they appreciate him and that, to me, is beyond admirable.

Wednesday night was a good night in my book, well, not the speeding ticket part, but spending time with with some cool people and listening to one of my favorite acts out there definitely was.

Set List:
Eulogy
Try This At Home
If I Ever Stray
Prufrock
I Am Disappeared
Lore, Ire and Song
Wessex Boy
Fastest Way Back Home
Cowboy Chords
Dan’s Song
Four Simple Words
The Road
Peggy Sang The Blues
One Foot Before The Other
Glory Hallelujah
Long Live The Queen
I Still Believe
Somebody To Love (Queen Cover)

Encore:
American Girl (Tom Petty Cover)
Ballad Of Me And My Friends
Photosynthesis

00's, Cleveland, Emo, Indie, Music, Music Video, New Release, Punk, Review, Rock

Album Review: The Jealous Sound – A Gentle Reminder

5 February, 2012 Brian Mc Leave a comment

About three years ago, LA’s The Jealous Sound posted “there is hope for us….” on their MySpace page. It was a subtle hint to their fans that they would be still working as a band after constant rumors of the band breaking up and with no real material being released in years. Later that summer, The Jealous Sound kept their word to the fans and announced that the indie rock band would be touring with Sunny Day Real Estate on their reunion tour. A couple more years would pass before anyone heard if The Jealous Sound would be dropping new material and finally in October of 2011, the band announced an all new album would be dropping in 2012. A Gentle Reminder would be the bands first full length release in almost 9 years.

The album was well overdue, but is absolutely incredible to listen to and was made possible by the band being refueled after touring with Sunny Day Real Estate back in 2009. Once that tour wrapped up, The Jealous Sound kept putting ideas together that would mold into A Gentle Reminder. With the addition of a new bassist, the band still grasped onto their 90s post-rock sound influences that really helped define their sound.

What’s more impressive about this release is that it does not sound much askew from their 2003 release Kill Them With Kindness. The emo-y pop rock sounds that this band put out turned heads back then and easily will now.

“Beautiful Morning” opened the album off with no hints of a 9 year break between albums. Blair Shehan’s vocals are the same emo-y / indie sound I was expecting and it was more than welcome to my years. This was a strong opening track with choice vocals that almost seem as Shahen was hiding personal thoughts in them “We all get by when we have to. We all can change when it’s time to change and I think I know what they’re after” clearly was directed to the fans.

The following track, “Change You”, just continued to impress. This chill yet slightly haunting track sounded almost as if it were too good to be a Jealous Sound song, but then again the band did have a few years worth of time on their hands to write it. “Your Eyes Were Shining” easily was my favorite cut off the album with catchy guitar playing behind Shehan flowing smoothly.

“Here Comes The Ride” was a slow, emo-y track that seemed to put the breaks on things until “Equilibrium” rejuvenated things instantly. The energy in this track was worth the earlier lull. I love how the band just seems to completely let loose on this track. It was a fun surprise to listen to. “Perfect Timing” really needs some radio play. I have the feeling people will really get a kick out of that song. The title track “A Gentle Reminder” took a couple steps back for a moment but soon Shehan was quick to jump back towards the microphone and belt out some great singing.

I will admit, I thought that The Jealous Sound was done for years back and I was ok with it. I will say though that I am beyond stoked that they decided to give it a shot again as a band and dropped A Gentle Reminder. Not trying to compare them to a Neutral Milk Hotel thinking style, but I am kind of glad this band took its time releasing an album and more so am thrilled they recorded it because they wanted to and not because they had to. The hiatus may have not been what many fans were hoping for, but the return should be all that more rewarding for anyone who calls themselves a band and the payout, this album, was something far worth waiting for.

The Jealous Sound is currently touring in support of A Gentle Reminder and will be making a stop in Cleveland on February 17th. You would have to be a damned fool to miss out on this show. It is going to be that show that everyone talks about for the rest of this year.