Tag Archives: Split

Music, New Release, Punk, Review, Vinyl

Album Review: Ramoms / Dad Brains – Merry XMas Spilt 7″

2 Comments

Tis the season to be burnt out by Christmas music on indefinite rotation, right?  I know we only have like 2 weeks left of this, but every year seemingly becomes more challenging for me to stomach.  Hang in there folks.

Now if you happen to have kids as I do, repeating Christmas music intensifies to levels that can bring someone to the edge of insanity.   Seriously, I am at wit’s end with some of the tunes my son demands be played over and over especially when covered by off-key kids who probably were never compensated for their efforts in singing about a certain bullied reindeer.

Luckily, there are plenty of punk bands out there keeping me sane with their renditions and original songs about the holiday season that help ease the pain.  I do my best to sneak them in to daily rotation so my kids can appreciate what their old man is into.  Current favorites by my kids include Bad Religion and MXPX and I am totally ok with that.

It really seems especially this year there were quite a few releases by punk bands with holiday themed tunes, but one particular release caught my attention in a good, good way and has turned into my current holiday favorite.

The release I speak of is actually a split by Ramoms and Dad Brains called Merry  Xmas.  Put out recently by Pirates Press Records, this split encompasses everything a punk parent could appreciate during a stressful time of the year from more than one level.  Satire and spirit for all to embellish is the best distraction.

Ramoms, as you guessed, are an all Mom punk Ramones cover band from the Philadelphia area.  These ladies may not have full band credentials (I was totally mistaken and apologize – see comment below!) and are incredibly passionate about punk rock and more so with their kiddos.

Dad Brains is an all Dad hardcore band from California.  Featuring former members of No Motiv, The Missing 23rd, Creep Division,  and The F-ing Wrath, it’s safe to say this side project is not a total joke.

Ramoms took the classic “Chinese Rock” by the beloved Heartbreakers and turned it into “Lego Blocks”.  As a parent, Lego blocks can entertain kids for hours as well as cause some serious damage to feet in the evening, so I really appreciated this song.

Keeping true to their passion and reasoning to form a band, Ramoms also provided a great cover of the classic “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)” by the Ramones.  Gritty and poppy, I am sure Joey would have approved.

“It’s Christmas Time” was a hilarious holiday spin-off of the classic Suicidal Tendencies track “Institutionalized” by Dad Brains.  You know you are in for something good when Cousin Eddie is quoted at the beginning of a track.  Substituting La Croix for Pepsi, it was spot on when it came to modern day holiday feelings and woes.  That last line though, “it doesn’t matter, I’ll probably go to Costco anyway” had me rolling.

“Grinch” was modernized by Dad Brains to have the hairy green Dr. Seuss character antagonizing at a local show.  I especially loved the nod to Ill Repute and Tony Cortez.

This EP seriously is great and had me chuckling a few times and easily could be the perfect gift for your punk parent of choice this holiday season.

Check out some of the tracks below and if you like what you hear, throw some cash their way and download it or better yet, head to Pirates Press Records and buy the wax before it sells out!

Emo, Indie, Music, Music News, New Release, Punk, Review, Rock

4-Way Split Review: Sundae Bloody Sundae

Leave a comment

Sundae Bloody Sundae4 bands, 4 songs, all emo.  That is what Sundae Bloody Sundae is all about.

The 4-Way Split was put out by Skeletal Lightning last November and easily has the ability to make you take a break from life and check your feelings.

Don’t worry, it’s ok to do that – we are human after all and this split is not all that sad.

Featuring new and unreleased music by four talented acts, Sundae Bloody Sundae is a great comp to be listening to if you are looking for a little variety by some bands you may have overlooked at one time or have not even heard of.

The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die‘s “Fat Heaven” will depress the shit out of you and make you hungry possibly for a donut.  Man, what a downer of track.  I seriously think listening to this with your head down, walking slowly in public and avoiding all eye contact is the only way to listen to this tune.  I loved it.  There is a reason so many people dig this band…

Rozwell Kid did an impressive cover of Spirit Night’s “The Weather”.   I can’t lie, I thought I liked the original more, but the more and more I listened to this track over and over,  Rozwell Kid’s own Weezer-esque twist on the original won me over.

Kittyhawk….oh Kittyhawk.  You make my heart bleed.  Listening to “Soft Serve” turned me into just a pile of mush.  The thing I loved the most about this track is the 90s feel I sensed throughout.  Dare I say, but the dual vocals remind me of The Cranberries a ton.

Two  Knights‘s “Benji’s Cool Times Summer Jamz” was a little technical, a little instrumental, and plenty interesting to listen to.  Starting off uppity, things soon slowed down with a self-reflection of sorts.

At a whopping $3 to download or $5 for a flexie, I think this would be well spent money to any music fan out there.  This will last a lot longer than a sundae, especially if you are me.

Tracklisting (Two-sided):
Side A:
The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – “Fat Heaven”
Rozwell Kid – “The Weather (Spirit Night)”

Side B:
Kittyhawk – “Soft Serve”
Two Knights – “Benji’s Cool Times Summer Jamz”

Pressing information
1,000 copies –
– /250 White Flexi w/ screenprinted hand-numbered covers (Available exclusively at FEST 13)
– /750 Clear Flexi w/ full color cover.

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

EP Review: Low Culture & Needles//Pins – Split EP

Leave a comment

Low Culture - Needles//Pins SplitPower-pop, garage-punk rockers Low Culture and Needle//Pins have both been on my radar for a while now.  When I heard that the two were putting together a split release, it just made complete sense.

Low Culture won me over hardcore when I was introduced to them while staying in Las Cruces.  Featuring members of Shang-A-Lang and Marked Men, the foursome blends in the perfect amounts of rock and punk making for tunes that can easy fuel a good time by all.

British Columbia’s Needles//Pins are more of a power pop garage act that I have recent been getting into thanks to their latest release Shamebirds.  This band is to me the saviors of old school punk pop.  You know, the good stuff that did not get suffocated by talentless acts with more t-shirts for sale in a Hot Topic than quality songs.

Low Culture hammered out with “Reservations”, a fun, infectious garage rock track with plenty of drumming and distorted guitar.  I loved the break downs at the end that eventually led the song into a climax of sorts only to drop more signing that sounded like a new song, but alas, it was still the same track.

“Don’t Tell Me” was equally as fun to listen to.  The guitar solos were quick at times but also memorable on this track about a solitary man.  This track was not nearly as scattered as the previous but just slayed in a good good way.

“Hateful” by Needles//Pins was gruff yet thoughtful to listen to in regards to a crashed relationship.  I felt like some of the lyrics were plucked out of my past thoughts in regards to crap relationships.   “And I hope you don’t think that I’m hateful, it don’t matter very much to me” were lyrics that stuck to me especially.

“Bored” followed and pretty much could either have continued talking about poor relationships or perhaps just being old in the scene.  The more I listened to it, the less I thought it was about an actual relationship with someone and more so with some other form of attraction.  Clearly I think weird.  Deal.

It is no surprise that the two acts decided to release a split together.  Both bands really compliment one another’s sound making for a great listen.  Currently available on iTunes and also on Spotify, the split was put out by the amazing Dirtnap Records and the 7″ should be available very soon for purchase on their site.

If you like classic bands like the Ramones, The Ruts, and The Weirdos, do yourself a favor and get into both of these bands now.  They are both too good to not know about.

Music, Music News, New Release, Punk, Rock, Vinyl

Remainders/Barons – Split 7″

Leave a comment

This may be the best cover art I’ve seen in a while…

REMAINDERS BARONS

I know Jason Lubrano (vocalist of Iron Chic) artwork when I see it.  Well done Sir.

So, how did this come about?

Well, two Pittsburgh punk acts, Remainders and BARONS, decided to join forces and drop a sweet punk rock split for what I would hope was for extra beer money.  The result is an infectious 4-track 7″ that really showcases the talent of each act.  At $5, you’d be a fool not to purchase it.

The good folk over at For The Love Of Punk are actually steaming this split today for your listening pleasure.  Check it out by clicking HERE.

You can also check it out below as it is streaming and available for purchase over at the BARONS BandCamp page.

With only a limited number of pressings, make sure you snag one today.

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…