Tag Archives: New Release

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

Album Review: Grey Area / The Reveling / The Copyrights / Luther – 4-Way Split

Leave a comment

Leave it to Black Numbers to gather up some kick-ass pop-punk/post-hardcore bands and drop a sweet split release on vinyl and CD.  At 8 tracks long, the 4-way split features a pair of tracks from Grey Area, The Copyrights, The Reveling, and Luther.   The result is a great listen by a group of bands that have been having no difficulty getting noticed lately.

The release was dropped earlier this year, but I kind of fell of the face of Earth, so my apologies in advance.   Shall we continue?

NYC’s the Grey Area started off the split  with “Lucky”, a pepped up punk rock track that easily reached back to the 90s punk rock scene.  This song was amazing and perfect for opening up the album.  Following was “Bad Anything”, a track that reminded me of Dag Nasty in a good good way.  Having not been too well versed with this band prior to listening, I know what I am going to be doing once I finish this review up.

Brooklyn’s The Reveling was another band I have not gotten into just yet, but of course after hearing their tracks on this release, I intend to change that.  “Trust Me” sounded of The Menzingers at times but not in a bad way at all.  The song was a little too quick for me and seemed to just drop, but all was well once “Its Time To Ride” kicked in.  I must say, I was impressed with what I heard and can’t wait to hear more.

Do I really need to say anything about The Copyrights?  Most of you probably know what they are all about already, but still, this is a review so I will at least tell you all that they are from Illinois and they rule. “The New Frontier” was easily the hardest sounding track in the split.  Never ceasing to amaze me, they dropped “Straight To The Office” from 90s punkers Scared Of Chaka.  The cover was great in my opinion and I hope more kids will check out Scared Of Chaka after hearing the cover.

Philly’s Luther put out one of my favorite EPs last year, so I may sound a little biased here, but their offerings on this split were killer.  “Sixty-One” was likable the moment the signing kicked in.  Seriously, this track was fun from start to finish and just more proof how talented this band is.  “The Door Is A Penthouse” impressed me as well.  I told you I probably was going to sound biased, didn’t I?

This split is a great dose of 4 hard-working bands that I feel one day will be all over the music scene.  Thanks to Black Numbers for putting together such an excellent 4-way split.  Having played the split over and over since I got it, it’s easy for me to think that fans of punk rock of all types will dig this regardless if they know any of the bands on the cover or not.

The split is available on CD, LP, and digital download.  What the hell are you waiting for?  Go grab you one!   Rumor has it you actually appear to be cooler once you have a copy in your hand.  Just saying…

Music, Music News, Music Video, New Release, Punk

Yellow Dogs & Joyce Manor

Leave a comment

I admit, I have not been too good to this site.  You see, school is wrapping up for the semester so that means tons of writing, reading, writing and studying.  It sucks.

I thought I would take a moment out of my busy day and talk about two bands that I have been getting into a lot lately.

First up is The Yellow Dogs.

This Brookyn-based-originally-from-Iran punk act surprised me the other day when I listened to them.  They are more of an up-beat dance-y punk rock act and carry no gimmick at all.  This is no rap-punk or whatever the hell these kids are making these days, this is a nod to 70s/80s punk acts that, dare I say, has some major musical Clash-like qualities (even some Joy Division as well).  The band will be dropping a new EP titled Upper Class Complexity on May 10th.

There there is this little band called Joyce Manor. Holy shit this band rules.  Some of you may know this already…

Their new album Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired dropped the other day on Asian Man Records.  This sophomore release is about the best 13 minutes I have heard this year. The songs may be short, but are poignant, consistent, and beg to be listened to over and over. I can not tell you how excited I am about this release. Why the hell did I wait until the 2nd half of this post to tell you???

Do yourself a favor and pick it up if you like the punk rock.  I highly doubt you will be disappointed.  Sometimes a little bit of something does in fact go a long way.

Check out “Violent Inside” off of their new release and then go and buy it.

If you fancy yourself a fan of Tim & Eric, you should check out this track by track post David Liebe Hart did of Joyce Manor’s Of All Things I WIll Soon Grow Tired.  It’s kind of hilarious even though I do not get Tim & Eric at all.  Maybe I need to do drugs or something.  Still, check it out.  Well worth the read.

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

Album Review: The Jealous Sound – A Gentle Reminder

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.

Acoustic, Music, New Release, Pop, Punk, Review, Rock, Vinyl

7″ Vinyl Review: Roll The Tanks – Goodnight Jimmy Lee

Leave a comment

If it looks like cake and smells like cake, it must be cake right?  Not in this case.  This cake-looking and smelling thing I speak of is the birthday cake scratch n’ sniff 7″  titled Goodnight Jimmy Lee by LA rock act Roll The Tanks.  The two song 7″ was released on Sabot Productions in early October.

The threesome, who have toured already with Against Me!, have have sparked the interest in many and not just because they recruited Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ Joe Sirois to play drums.  They have rubbed elbows with the right people and played their asses off making sure the world noticed them.  Their determination and hard work has paid off as the band will be dropping a full length debut titled Broke Til Midnight.

Title track “Goodnight Jimmy Lee” is a catchy-sounding yet brutally honest tribute written about the late Jimmie Lee a.k.a. Jay Reatard.   “Now he’s gone and I’m no Jimmy Lee” bounces over catchy guitar playing that screams 90s alternative rock.  As fun as the song is, the deeper meaning pays homage to an artist who left this world far too early in his career.  The b-side, “Pistolero”, is a cross between that twangy country rock all the kids seem to be getting into these days with indie rock of the 90s.  The acoustic-driven song almost carries a nice Fake Problems feel, but far more upbeat.

I am looking forward to hear what Roll The Tanks can dish out on their debut.  Until then I have the feeling I will be listening to these songs on a regular basis as well as scratching and sniffing the cover smelling the goodness that is birthday cake.  Did I mention that the cover smells like cake?  Yes, I may be a little excited about this.

Music, New Release, Punk, Review

Album Review: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Sing In Japanese

2 Comments

Leave it to punk-rock-superstar-cover-project-extraordinaires Me First and the Gimme Gimmes to make America look good.  Usually us U.S. folk will see Japanese bands covering American tunes, but when is the last time you saw someone from the states actually take the time to cover a Japanese pop song as well as turn it into a punk rock jam?

The Gimmes have been making covering songs cool since the 90s with help from Fat Wreck Chords.  Featuring members of NOFX, Swingin’ Utters and even Foo Fighters, the Gimmes are not your Friday night hole-in-the-wall cover band.  By taking tracks your parents and probably grandparents listened to before you were accidentally conceived, the Gimmes add a punk rock style and make the songs tolerable.  I remember the first time I heard the Gimmes cover  Elton John’s”Rocket Man”.  I found the track on a free comp CD I snagged at a Warped Tour in ’96 and I was hooked instantly.

On the bands newest EP Sing In Japanese, the Gimmes decided to cover a new territory of music and once again add their own punk rock flair while doing so.  Having covered many different genres of music in the past (including country, Broadway tunes and adult contemporary), it was no surprise the the boys in the Gimmes would eventually try something a tad more challenging.  The result is a catchy culture crossing take on songs more likely sung along to in the bars of Japan.

“Hero” started off the EP with the Gimmes covering a Kai Band song.  Lead vocalist Spike Slawson did not hesitate at all while singing this track in Japanese.  While listening I read the band’s bio for this release and learned that Spike actually learned Japanese phonetically thanks to a friend of Fat Mike.  I have to admit, I was impressed to learn that.

With a clever Social D “Story Of My Life” intro, the cover of the 70’s hit “Kekkon Shiyou Yo” (“Let’s Get Married”) by Takuro Yoshida was actually a lot of fun to listen to.

“C-C-C” mixed in Japanese and English lyrics into the song originally recorded by the early 70s Beatles-inspired band called The Tigers.  The track, although I could only understand 50% of it, it was my favorite track on the EP.

“Linda Linda” ended the six song EP with a more ska-punk feel.  With trumpets supplied by Brad Magers and Keith Douglas of Mariachi El Bronx, the song was indeed a genre bender of a track.

This is not the first time the Gimmies have played a songs in different language as previously heard in their only live album to date Ruin Jonny’s Bar Mitzvah. Ok, it was just “Hava Nagila”, and yes, they were at a Bar Mitzvah.  Still, NOFX has covered the classic French tune “Champs Elysées” before, and they nailed it.  The point I am trying to make is that the Gimmes are more talented than many may think.

So why did they do a Japanese EP full of songs you probably have never heard of in your life?  Simple…because they can.

The band will be touring Japan shortly and I am sure that had something to do with which culture they decided to cover.  Just like the band’s last EP Go Down Under (they toured Australia upon releasing the EP), the band threw together a bunch of songs together just in time to tour.  I really would like to think that this was a little more involved than a couple of jam sessions as Spike really does a hell of a job singing the lyrics of each track in Japanese.  Funny thing about this concept is that the band plans on releasing future EPs in Spanish, German, and even French.  Is it wrong of me to be excited about this world tour of covering?

I can not say I knew any of these songs by heart nor have I the slightest clue what they were about, but I enjoyed what I heard.  The Gimmies could play Jesus Christ Superstar in its entirety for all I care and I am sure I would say the same thing.  I love these guys.

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes “Hero” by Fat Wreck Chords