2009 was the year of the Bouncing Souls. They took the entire year to celebrate their anniversary as a punk rock band for 20 years by playing tons of live shows and also releasing a song a month available for download on their record label Chunksaah Records.
On January 12th all of those songs will be released on an album titled Ghosts On The Boardwalk for all the fans that never were able to download the tracks or pick up the limited edition 7″ vinyl records that the band pressed quarterly through the year featuring the songs.
I have heard most of the songs already and without going into detail yet I can tell you that they are all amazing. The band may have two decades behind them now as a band but they have not slowed down one bit. The tracks on this CD contain catchy anthem tracks that all Bouncing Souls fans can sing along to proudly and loudly.
My friends and I were just talking about the first time we saw the Bounding Souls play in Cleveland. The foursome played a bill with NOFX and Hi-Standard at the Agora to rowdy crowd. I believe the year was 1996 and even if the show is still fresh in my memory that was 14 years ago. Ever since then I became a huge Souls fan and not one of their releases disappointed me. I am thrilled these guys are still doing what they do. It makes an aging punk rocker like myself appreciate them even more.
Recently the band played a Daytrotter session (that I was unaware of) and the songs they played are available for free download. I love the version of Anchors Away” they bust out. Good stuff. Click HERE to check out their session on Daytrotter.
Here are a couple tracks that will be appearing on Ghosts On The Boardwalk. Support this amazing band and buy their CD when it comes out!
It’s been three years in the making but The Disco Biscuits are finally ready to release an all new album entitled Planet Anthem. The electro-jam band seem to have changed up their sound since I last heard them and I must say I am curious to hear this release.
So far the only two songs I have heard are the recently released heavy electronic “On Time” and the rockier “You And I”. Both songs are far from the jam band tunes I am used to but I enjoyed them both and can not wait to hear Planet Anthem.
I have always liked the Disco Biscuits ever since my pal Gary introduced them to me. I think I was more partial to the electronic sounds over the jam but still I liked them enough to grab all of their CDs and even see them three times, twice at the Odeon (RIP) in Cleveland. They are a band that caters to many music loving groups and their live shows are something that needs to be seen.
Check out the video below as well as the link I included for a taste of the new tracks I just mentioned. I really think that this time around the band is going to be getting even more recognition than they have already received in their almost 15 year career as a band.
The following is from a press release I received:
Planet Anthem is the product of three fruitful years of labor, during which the Disco Biscuits absorbed everything from hip hop to pop to indie rock into their sound. The band collaborated for the first time with multiple producers, songwriters, and outside musicians, including Don Cheegro and Dirty Harry (Ludacris, Chris Brown, Beanie Sigel). While the album still bears the signature Bisco sound, it also broadens the group’s palette and contains a mountain of meaty hooks.
Now that I learned they are mixing hip hip and indie rock I am pretty certain that their new release is going to be causing some ruckus.
It’s the day after Thanksgiving and I am still full from an amazing array of good eats and excited. Of course we all know that today is supposed to be the busiest shopping day of the year and there is not one part of me that wishes to engage in that stupid retail disaster. I have no interest in waking up early and saving $20 on a junk TV or getting DVDs for $2. I don’t wish to wait outside in the cold for the chance at getting a deal. I’ll just surf the internet for my shopping needs when the Jesus Day comes a little close.
Black Friday can kiss my ass.
So if I am so bitter at this tragedy of a day what am I so excited about you ask? That’s easy, Blakroc‘s debut self-titled album was released today. What? You have no idea what I am talking about? Well of course I am going to explain a little more about this album that I have been anticipating for quite some time.
Blakroc is a project featuring Akron, Ohio’s blues/rock heroes The Black Keys plus hip-hop artists including Ludacris, Mos Def, the late-great Ol’ Dirty Bastard and other well known artists. The combination of the music of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney’s provided beats layered with the rap lyrics is just unbelievable. To add to the exhilaration, The Black Key’s frontman Auerbach provides some of his own signing on a couple of tracks making for a truly matchless sound.
So how exactly did The Black Keys get mixed up with hip hop? Well apparently Damon Dash, co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records is a huge fan of the Keys and wanted to do something involving the duo and Jim Jones. During that initial session Mos Def interrupted and wound up recording as well and Blakroc was formulated (Black Keys + Roc-A-Fella = Blakroc). In eleven days there were eleven tracks recorded thus creating an album that could be compared to a Gorillaz-like jam sans the electronics and cartoon fantasyland idea.
Finally after hearing about this project for months it the hit shelves today (CD & LP) and I could not resist but grabbing a copy for myself. After all I am a huge fan of The Black Keys and everything they do as well as have a high appreciation for hip hop so it’s easy to say I was excited. Once I put that album on though I was in my own little glory just like the first time I heart the Judgment Nightsoundtrack. It was something new and something unmarked in it’s own kind. Blues/rock and rap? Nice.
The first track “Coochie” floored me not just because it sounded so great but because my number one favorite rap artist Ol’ Dirty Bastard was rapping in his glory (still can’t believe it’s been five years since his passing). Thanks to ODB being affiliated with Roc-A-Fella Records prior to his death there was some of his work readily available for Damon Dash and he put it to good use. Featuring the ever easy to listen to Ludacris and ODB slinging out rhymes about one of their loves in life, this song set the bar high for my expectations for the rest of the album.
“On The Vista” followed with the same knockout as the first track thanks to the smooth flow of Mos Def and Auerbach’s amazing guitar playing. NOE dominated on “Hard Times” with some nice R&B like back-up singing as well as the Keys doing their thing. “Why Can’t I Forget” was a nice somber R&B turn featuring Nicole Wray.
As soon as Mos Def and Auerbach shared the mic on “Ain’t Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)” I was just astounded. It was my favorite track on the album thanks to the high appeal of hearing Auerbach’s distinguished singing followed by sick flows from Mos Def as well as a few lines by Jim Jones.
“Hope Your Happy” was another highlight on the album to me with Nicole Wray providing more soul signing beside the infamous Q-Tip and Billy Danze. Nicole Wray returns once again with NOE, almost sounding like Jay-Z, on the final track titled “Done Did It”. I am really glad the album included her as she made some of the songs that much better to listen to.
My only complaint with this album was the lack of Mr. Roc-A-Fella himself – Jay-Z. It’s not like he’s never done something like this before (anyone remember Linkin Park/Jay-Z). Based upon what I heard on this album though I would not be shocked in the least bit if another album was already in the works.
You will like this album if you like things done different from the norm but with substance. It’s a fresh new sound that was brought together with near perfection. If you are a fan of hip-hop you will dig this album as well, but I can honestly say if you are only about the music The Black Keys push out on average this may not be your cup of tea. It’s a blues rock experimental album in a sense but more so a hip-hop heavy project that completely did wonders to my ears.
I am really excited to hear new material by these punk favs of mine…
Thanks to the fine folk at Epitaph Records for this:
Alkaline Trio has announced the birth of Heart & Skull, the band’s own label formed in partnership with Epitaph Records. The band will release its seventh album through Epitaph/Heart & Skull in early 2010.
Commenting on the formation of the new imprint, named for the band’s longstanding logo, Alkaline Trio singer/guitarist Matt Skiba said:
“We made the decision to form Heart & Skull to put out our own records after having been through every kind of label deal in the industry, big indies, small indies, majors. We knew it was time to adapt to the shifting tides of the music industry and we could not be more thrilled about doing that in conjunction with the team at Epitaph. Taking control of our own label situation was something we always wanted to do but never thought was possible, but now thanks to Brett Gurewitz and the fine folks at Epitaph, it is. All three of us in Alkaline Trio have always had the utmost respect for the music and the work ethic of the Epitaph, Anti- and Hellcat family and now we’re honored to be working together under one big happy roof. Heart & Skull/Epitaph is truly a dream come true for us.”
Alkaline Trio bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano added:
“For our band at this time it really makes sense to release our own records, but we wanted to make sure we could partner up with good people who we would want to share in something very special to us. When Brett called and said he wanted to be involved, that was it. Epitaph is a label I’ve admired and supported for more than half of my life! I couldn’t be more excited for how this is turning out!”
Alkaline Trio first emerged from Chicago in 1996 and has since released the full length studio albums Goddamnit, Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, From Here To Infirmary, Good Mourning, Crimson and last year’s Agony & Irony, which was the highest charting record of the band’s career to date. The band is comprised of Skiba, Andriano and drummer Derek Grant, all of whom are partners in Heart & Skull.
Here are some videos for your punk rock entertainment consideration…
2009 was the year of the Bouncing Souls. They took the entire year to celebrate their anniversary as a punk rock band for 20 years by playing tons of live shows and also releasing a song a month available for download on their record label Chunksaah Records.
