Tag Archives: Punk

Album Review: Masked Intruder – M.I.

Masked Intruder - M.I.Pop punk’s hooligan heroes, Masked Intruder, are back on the prowl with their all new sophomore release M.I.  The ski-masked foursome clearly have no problem dodging the law while stealing hearts and throwing together one of the catchiest releases you will probably hear all year.

Having  kept their identities safe so far, probably due to the band threatening anyone with blunt force to those who may know who all is actually under those masks, Masked Intruder remain an enigma of sorts in the punk rock world playing some of the greatest stalker-love jams ever recorded.  Think Ramones and Chixdiggit!, but with plenty of obsession and missing valuables.

The album started out with a revamped recording of “I Fought The Law”, a track that originally appeared on Masked Intruder’s 2011 demo.  This version clearly trumped the original and sounds even catchier than the demo version.

“The Most Beautiful Girl” is flawless when talking about a pop punk love song.  In less than 2 minutes, the band manages to pack together harmonies within sing-alongable lyrics (is that even a word?) all while swooning someone special.

“Saturday Night Alone” pretty much sums up some of my weekend nights  sans spending it in the slammer like these masked heartthrobs do.  Hard-driven guitar playing (that easily could have been stolen from label mates Teenage Bottlerocket) played throughout making for a fun track.  I loved when the band just stopped playing and just sang and crooned for just a couple of seconds only to start jamming out again.

I loved the track “When I Get Out”, especially on how the band sang about what they were going to do when they were released from the slammer.  From getting revenge to slamming ice cream and pizza, it is clear that Masked Intruder had a lot of time to plan out their freedom while locked away and incorporate it all into a fun song.

I really was hoping the band would go all a cappella again on this release, and they did in “Almost Like We’re Already In Love”.  It’s like a barbershop quartet song, but different.  I’m sure if the band sang this song to me in person, I would be batting my lashes and blowing kisses their way.

“Hey Girl”, was a quick, catchy jam aimed at breaking the ice with the ladies.  “Don’t Run Away” followed perhaps on purpose to assure all the beautiful ladies by singing “don’t run away, I think this is it.”

“Say that I’m a freak, a geek, a weirdo” started off “Wierdo”, a track that may have been written by actual events that happened in my life.  Seriously, I think these guys plagiarized my lady luck in my early 20s and threw it into a song.  What the hell guys?

Another great track was “I Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye To You Tonight”.  It was a pop punk love track that may or may not require a restraining order.

Ending the album was “Locked Up And Lonely”, a song that did not really sound like the others as it was a little slow starting at the beginning, but only for a moment.  I could not but help think 90s punk rock on this song.  On another note, can someone please tell me why I thought of Charles Manson in this song (in a comical way of course).   Seriously, as this song played, I thought of an emo’d out Manson sitting in a cell looking out his cell window and writing about how lonely he is.

After listening to this album at least 37 times in a row, it is safe to say that Masked Intruder has once again dropped a solid release.  I was so addicted to their debut release so much that I failed to review it, but this time I decided I had to at least say a couple nice things about their latest effort.

M.I. has the potential to make Masked Intruder appear on many Most Wanted lists.   With their quest to avoid Miranda Rights as well as continue to hide their identity, this band has surpassed the gimmick stage and is going toward full-blown rockstar.

So who are Masked Intruder?  Who cares.  Just keep them away from my record collection and wallet.  Beyond that, I hope they keep doing their thing.  Those guys rule hard.

Masked Intruder is seemingly always on tour.  Personally, I think it is because they are running away from the law.  Regardless, they are playing Cleveland on June 20th at Now That’s Class.

Check It Out: Panucci’s Pizza

Don't Tip the Delivery Boy by Panucci's PizzaPunk rock and pizza?

Awesome.

Downingtown / West Chester, Pennsylvanians Panucci’s Pizza are an emo-ish punk rock duo with a heavy appreciation for pizza and straight up ridiculous song titles.

Not only were the track names entertaining, the music itself was pretty bad ass to listen to.  I liked the mix of acoustic demos and just full blown chaotic jams.  I did not know what to expect with each track and by the end I just wanted some more.  Funny, that is exactly how I feel about pizza sometimes…

Panucci’s Pizza re-released their 2013 full length Don’t Tip the Delivery Boy on CD via Songs from the Road Records. You can order the pizza-decorated CD here.  Scroll down a bit to check it out via Bandcamp.

I can not help but be reminded of my homies Cherry Cola Champions and Two Hand Fools a lot though this release.  It’s definitely worth checking out.

Track Listing:

1. Holy Diver Pt. 2
2. Ladies, Welcome to my Swaggrokrag
3. You know when the Trojans got that horse and they were all “Yeah this is totally a gift” Thats how sure I am
4. Pokemon Cards and an Empty Bottle of Grape Juice
5. The World’s greatest Bowler is the World’s worst anything else
6. Nicholas Cajun (Stole the Declaration of Pizzapendence!)
7. Wait, you know who Frankie Muniz is right?
8. I still haven’t seen “Almost Famous”
9. My Imaginary Friend is STILL addicted to Pornography

7″ Review: Old Man Markley – Stupid Today

Old Man Markley - Stupid TodayI am sure I am not the first to say how much I enjoy it when Old Man Markley (OMM) decides to cover a song.

There’s just something so great about OMM throwing down their own bluegrass/punk rock style into a song.

Case in point, the OMM is dropping a 7″ next week called Stupid Today and the B side is a cover of NOFX’s “Reeko”, a track on the infamous Punk In Drublic.  Can I tell y’all how awesome this cover is?

It’s awesome folks.

I especially appreciated the cover that was hidden inside the cover with a quick spoken word-type  rendition of “Perfect Government”.  That is correct, I said a cover within a cover.   OMM is clearly a bigger fan of NOFX than you think.

The title track on side A, “Stupid Today”, revolves all around the ups and downs of being in love.  It’s a punk rock ho down with plenty of opportunity to swing your partner or knock them down.  I loved the harmonies throughout as much as the quick-plucking of the banjo and fiddle playing.  It’s safe to say this song just adds further proof why they are so damn amazing.

Head on over to the Fat Wreck site and pre-order yourself a copy of Stupid Today.

Old Man Markley

Me First And The Gimme Gimmes Announce New Album

Perhaps the greatest punk rock cover band of them all, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes have announced an all new gender-bending release Are We Not Men? We Are Diva!  to be dropped on May 13, 2014 on good ol’ Fat Wreck Chords.

Me First And The Gimme Gimmes - Are We Not Men? We Are Diva!

After taking stabs at country, R&B, and even Japanese pop, the band continues to surprise their billions of diehard fans with unique covers of songs that everyone has probably heard in a sappy-ass love story or in an elevator.

I laughed when I saw this last night because I was not expecting them to go this route with their punk-infused covers (plus I appreciated the Devo reference).  I just hope one day they take a stab at 90s hip-hop.  Hearing Spike sing Tupac might be the coolest idea ever.

Track Listing:
1. I Will Survive
2. Straight Up
3. Believe
4. Beautiful
5. My Heart Will Go On
6. I Will Always Love You
7. Top of the World
8. Speechless
9. Karma Chameleon
10. Crazy for You
11. On the Radio
12. The Way We Were

Pre-Orders for the new album should be up soon on the Fat Wreck Chords website!