For those of you who can stomach my blog I am sure you might know I like the punk rock. I like to think of myself as an aging punk rocker who has a love for many other genres of music outside the punk rock.
I listen to mostly punk rock. In fact I actually have a beat up iPod that I only store punk rock music on it, and Wu Tang/ODB…
Where am I going with this?
Well I have two dogs and they are about as punk as I am…well maybe not. Regardless I found this fun site called Punk Rock Dogg that is for punk rockers like me who want punk stuff for their dogs.
They sell a lot of fun stuff on the site including matching shirts, sweet dog tags, and even collars. I have not gone as far as buying accessories yet but I did want to share with you all what I did buy…
Are you done laughing yet? Well besides the dog on the package looking like my Boston Terrier the cookies actually appeal to me not because they are “Punk Rock”, although that is awesome, but because they are made from 100% natural human food grade ingredients. Knowing that it is not some chemical treat loaded with preservatives and by-products is a good thing. I am sure my dogs could care less what they eat but the point is, I do.
At $6.00 a bag the price is a few bucks higher than Rachel Ray‘s Bacon Dog Biscotti or your standard Milk Bones but to me it is worth a shot seeing how they do mean a lot to me.
Californian punkers Strung Out have recently released a b-side and rarities CD full of material that spans their 18-year career as a hardworking, independent punk rock band. The CD, titled Prototypes and Painkillers, is full of songs that are unreleased, not found on studio albums, or were previously out of print, making for a nice find for any Strung Out fan. This is actually the band’s second compilation; the first was titled The Skinny Years… Before We Got Fat.
Released by Fat Wreck Chords, the new CD, according to drummer Jordan Burns, is “for the fans.” The cardboard foldout includes short descriptions of each song, and the band shares when they recorded each song and what album, if any, it was left off of. The band also mentions that “over the last 18 years or so” they “recorded over 120 songs, many of which never saw a proper release.” I guess it is safe to say this is now the proper release that these amazing songs belong on; now true fans of Strung Out need not search endlessly on the internet for these gems.
The songs are in no chronological order. “Don’t Look Back” starts off the CD. The song was a limited edition 2001 recording that was included in the first 10,000 copies of An American Paradox, the band’s fourth release. The song is sick, in a good way, with trademark Strung Out technical guitar work.
The original recording of “Novacain” sounds to me better than the version found on the Fat Wreck Chords comp Live Fat, Die Young. Catchy as hell, it is a good track many fans may not have heard before. The song was actually supposed to be on the band’s 2000 EP The Element of Sonic Defiance but was instead contributed to Fat Wreck Chords, as they had asked for an exclusive track for their compilation.
The cover of the Descendants’ “I’m Not A Loser” is a great rendition. I had had no doubts that Strung Out could not hammer this classic punk song out. Previously only available on iTunes, “Novella” was a track that I feel should not have been left off the band’s recent release Blackhawks Over Los Angeles. The song is a little heavier and a whole lot catchier than some other tracks on the CD. The band mentions in the notes that it was a tough call keeping the track off the CD.
“This is definitely the most popular song we’ve never had on an album” they say in the notes for “Lost Motel.” The studio version may never had made it onto An American Paradox but it was released on the members only Fat Club 7”. Having only the live version on the Live In a Dive CD, I can see why so many fans request it at the band’s shows. Without a doubt this track is one of my favorites on the entire CD.
Speaking of favorites, the cover of “Bark At The Moon”, an Ozzy Osbourne classic, blew me away. Strung Out adds their own style and nails the song that appeared on the Punk Goes Metal compilation. I always tell people how I have heard a lot of bad covers, but this in no way will ever fall into that category. If there is one track on this CD you need to listen to first, here it is.
You can tell how long ago “Sinner Or Coward” was recorded from the moment you start listening to it. A bit of trivia about this song is that Rob Ramos played all the original instruments, including drums. Jim Cherry, one-time bassist for Strung Out, also contributed a guitar solo.
Another track that was recorded for a Fat Wreck Chords compilation, “Your Worst Mistake,” appeared on Uncontrollable Fatulance. Full of great guitar licks and solos, this is a killer track, with Jason Cruz singing his heart out. The bonus track “More Than Words,” originally on Blackhawks Over Los Angeles, sounds a lot more punk-poppy than the other tracks. It caught my ear in a good way and has endless singalong possibilities.
Strung Out says in their notes on “Wrong Side Of The Tracks” that Josh Freese (The Vandals, NIN, A Perfect Circle) charged the band a 12-pack of beer to fill in for an injured Jordan Burns on drums. The song was recorded for a Fearless Records 7” and the band had no time to waste, hence they had asked Freese for help. The drumming on this track is a lot more technical throughout, and the notes mention that Freese was actually stumped while trying to learning the opening drum beat. Just by listening to it I can understand why.
The acoustic version of “Velvet Alley” that was re-recorded for Punk Goes Acoustic is another track I really got into. I have heard this version as well as the original found on An American Paradox, and while both versions are amazing, the acoustic take stands out more.
Closing the disc is a demo from 1992, a few of which are included. The first song entirely written by guitarist Jake Kiley, “Forever Is Today” is a track full of young punk rock ambition and sounds. This track was, according to the band, never re-recorded or released until now. As a Strung Out fan, I found it very satisfying to hear this track and see how far this band has come along.
The band, having wanted to create this rarities CD for quite some time, is actually in the process of recording its eighth studio album, following their 2007 release Blackhawks Over Los Angeles. Full of material I had forgotten about or simply not had the opportunity to hear until now, I have no complaints about this CD and think it is the perfect collection. Prototypes and Painkillers should tide over any fan, old or new, until the next studio album. It is filled with exceptional covers, alternative takes on prior hit tracks, and of course the material that never made it to a CD until now.
Looks like The Casualties are back. Granted they have pretty much been touring non-stop since 2006’s Under Attack, there has not been any new material recorded. The street punkers are stated to be in the studio this morning to push out a new release still to be named under SideOneDummy Records. The band has also announced a summer tour.
I have always liked these guys. They remind me of the harder punk rock of the eighties like The Exploited and The Subhumans as well as hardcore punkers Discharge. Having only seen them a couple of times live I have enjoyed their material since I first heard 2001’s Die Hards. From there I checked out their entire catalog and have been a fan since.
THE CASUALTIES ARE PLANNING A NEW RECORD FOR LATE SUMMER AND WILL HIT THE ROAD IN JUNE AND JULY
Los Angeles, April 8, 2009 – The Casualties are headed back to the Blasting Room in Fort Collins this month to record a new album with producer Bill Stevenson. The album is yet to be titled and will be the follow up to Under Attack (2006). The release date is tentatively set for August 4, 2009 on SideOneDummy. The band will also be doing a short run of shows in June and July. Here are the dates.
Thur. June 11 Baltimore, MD – The Ottobar
Fri. June 12 Richmond, VA – Canal Club
Sat. June 13 Norfolk, VA – The Norva
Sun June 14 Charlotte, NC – Tremont Music Hall
Tue. June 16 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Wed. June 17 Jacksonville, FL – Plush
Thur. June 18 Orlando, FL – The Backbooth
Fri. June 19 Orlando, FL – The Backbooth
Sat. June 20 Pensacola, FL – Sluggos
Sun. June 21 New Orleans, LA – Dragons Den
Tue. June 23 Houston, TX – Java Jazz
Wed. June 24 Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock
Thur. June 25 San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
Fri. June 26 Austin, TX – Red 7
Sat. June 27 Dallas, TX – The Door
Sun. June 28 Oklahoma City, OK – The Conservatory
Wed. July 1 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
Thu. July 2 Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre
I just downloaded “Last One To Die”, Rancid‘s latest release from their upcoming Let The Dominoes Fall. You should too:
Normally I would just include a link to download the MP3 but that has not been made available to me yet so just enter your email address and they will send you a link for a download of the song. That is all you have to do, I promise.
I am pretty sure you will dig the song as much as I have too if you are a Rancid fan. The song is catchy and maintains the Rancid standard, meaning it will not shock you and it keeps with the sound you expect to come from Tim Armstrong and crew.
It’s been over 5 years since Rancid pushed out an album. Good things come with time and I am honestly glad they were not putting together a mess of a release just so they could offer something for their fans. I have high expectations from this CD. I also have a feeling that this is NOT going to be their last effort. Some people are thinking it might be time for these punk rockers to hang up their guitars and take a seat but I really have the feeling that these guys are going to be cranking out material for years to come.
