From Raleigh, North Carolina – Double Negative thrash like fuck, recalling vintage COC with the economic punch of DRI and raging abandon of early Massappeal… no shit – this album is essential!
Punk Pickers will note that drumming for DN is underground illustrator, and veteran stickman, Brian Walsby – he’s the guy that drew the 7SECONDS “Walk Together, Rock Together” record sleeve, and used to beat the skins in Mystic band Scared Straight back in the early Eighties.
Pete Craven
NOFX have ‘gotten worse’ just like Apple can’t do phones, and Afghan poppy farmers have really slacked off with their opium production.
Recorded at Slim’s in San Francisco on the 3rd night of a three day bender, the intention might have been to get all fucked up and sloppy, but in the hands of Fat Mike and his chums the results are typically a lotta fun.
Part Punk, Part Slapstick… yeah, definitely worse… really terrible, just buy it to find out bad they’ve gotten…
Pete Craven
Names are all important in hip hop, that’s a given. Sticking “Lil” or “Young” in front of your name just doesn’t cut the mustard around these parts so 99% of the rap scene are eliminated from the Buzz Chart consideration. I wanna hear some cats that throw down ridiculously groggy minimal beats AND have the balls to back it up with confidence on the mic which is why I’m bringing The Cool Kids to the Crossfire charts.
With a name like that, they have to step it up otherwise they’ll look about as stupid as I did in Moose’s tight jeans at the last Crossfire Boat Party. Thankfully the duo step it up like they’re wearing size 100 kicks, throwing in the booming lyrical prowess over the aforementioned grog.
Their EP, Totally Flossed Out, is banger after lack-of-melody banger and they really know how to rock a track to fuck. So whilst I could have chosen any track from it, the track you can hear if you click the link above is 88 which features electro popping in the background of the chorus and some crunching guitars inbetween.
The kids are fucking cool.
Abjekt
First, a history lesson. Back in the eighties Crass were the most important punk band in the UK. From the last dying heartbeat of the seventies to the doom and despair of 1984 they created an utterly uncompromising underground punk movement that grew in it’s thousands across the world, spawning a whole DIY underground punk culture that still exists to this very day.
Although their refusal to flirt with the mainstream music industry has led to them being almost completely written out of the history books despite how huge they were at the time, their influence is still felt to this day. Jeffrey Lewis is one such influence. Jeffrey, already an infamous New York anti-folk hero, had his mind blown by Crass at a young age and has now delivered the ultimate tribute, an entire album of Crass songs.
But this isn’t your usual lame tribute album; because of the harsh, screaming nature of the original recordings, Jeffrey’s softer approach has brought new melody and meaning to these classic protest punk songs and the lyrics, so important to Crass, now have new relevance and meaning and are twice as powerful. And best of all, 12 Crass Songs allows the message of Crass to live on for a whole new audience. Can we have another 12 please Jeffrey?
James Sherry
What is always important when listening to good hip hop? Elementary my dear Watson, it’s the drums. If your drums don’t pop, the song might as well stop. If your beats don’t bang, you lose your hunger pang. And if that percussion ain’t fly, then why do you try? So the first thing you get to notice about Ohmega Watts’ music is that his drums are ALWAYS on point, with absolutely no exception.
His previous album The Find was a great example of this with chilled out tracks galore and it was always going to be hard to follow such a good record. However, with Watts Happening, the producerslashrapper has made an even better record, utilising his vast repertoire of sounds and skills to bring a near perfect album to your ears.
The track you can hear is Roc The Bells featuring his crew Lightheaded [Othello and Braille] and shows that he can mix it up with some bangers amongst his chilled out vibes. With a catchy hook, some fierce rapping and those oh so important drums, Ohmega is proving himself to be one of the best producers around.
“We got that good hip hop you like, that good hip hop make you feel alright” the song tells you and you know what? It’s spot on.
Abjekt
Media is everywhere. Unavoidable. You could be merrily walking along the street, innocently thinking you are totally independent and in control of your own life when BAM, you’ve tripped over an advert in the shape of an uneven paving slab, and then proceed to fall hard on the swollen elbow of promotion. While your mind subconsciously tries to make sense of that awful metaphor, let me tell you a story. I was recently given the challenge to avoid all forms of media and advertising.
Everything, from television to internet, iPods to billboards. To put a long story short, this is just impossible. Try it. Even if you manage to avoid all of those outlets, you cannot escape what people tell you. Word of mouth. The semantics of which are merely a repetition of what was already firmly placed in their brains by the unstoppable juggernaught of the media. The only way of avoiding it, is too literally live in a cave.
If you haven’t heard anything about Radiohead‘s much anticipated release, In Rainbows, then congratulations. I don’t know how you did it. This praise being redundant of course, because you’re probably living in a fucking cave. For those of you reading this, what do I need to tell you about this album that hasn’t already been said?
It’s a perfect exhibition of the work of who I can safely claim to be some of the finest musicians to ever grace this planet. In Rainbows is a tour de force of aural pleasure. Melodic, atmospheric, clever, and almost charming. It’s got Radiohead written all over it. A band who offer grace in a media driven world, saturated with pulp. A beacon of hope, or proof that the media does have its moments of sunshine. In the player is House Of Cards. Listen to it, and embrace every second.
Joe Moynihan
Everyone makes mistakes in life but rarely people sing about them. Let me introduce you to Blood Red Shoes, a local Brighton based duo combining the talents of Steven Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter.
Despite trying to be in a band with more people, these 2 decided that enough was enough and that the 2 of them were more than capable of doing it alone. The result is a spiky delivery of fiery indie rock that will have the dancefloor rocking.With an album being prepared for 2008, it will be interesting to see how far this sound will travel as this single ‘I Wish I Was Someone Better’ could be the start of something very special indeed.
Watch their video here.
Zac
Straight out of Canada, The Weakerthans return with their tasty new slice of indie-rock and plaid shirts. Having already had amazing success with previous albums, Reunion Tour misleading name sounds like they had disappeared and are making a last ditch comeback.
Not true, as their latest album is absolutely amazing and proves they are still writing catchy melodic rock that’ll have you singing along without you realising. With obvious connections to other American alt-rockers, fans of bands like Granddaddy will love this record, as opening song ‘Civil Twilight’ sets the tone for happy-go-lucky tunes throughout.
Standout track, and song that makes it feel like your on a warm summer roadtrip ‘Sun In an Empty Room’ will have you wearing out your rewind button just to hear it that one last time, again. A solid record all round, The Weakerthans have yet again pointed the finger at lazy bands. Maybe they should change their name to You Are Weakerthan Us.
When I first heard Band Of Horses’ debut album Everything All The Time I was literally blown away by Ben Bridwell’s vocals and the shear volume of beautiful noise coming from this band, telling everyone I could how incredibly perfect this album was.
So my expectations for Cease To Begin where very high indeed when it dropped through my door. Opening with frenetic track ‘Is There A Ghost’ was a very good start and I got all excited again, my love for this band reinforced by further tracks ‘Ode To LRC’, a driving guitar chug regaling tales of lost dogs. Band Of Horses have taken a much more country-alt feel with Cease To Begin, evident from tracks ‘Detlef Schrempf’ and ‘Lamb of the Lam (In The City)’ which make you feel like your sidling through a dusty plain on the back of a horse with your fellow cowboys.
The breathtaking sunset to this record is provided by ‘Cigarettes, Wedding Bands’, an aggressive minor-chord sad story of marriage and lies, with the darkness depicted on the album cover coming from slide-tinged ‘Window Blues’ that shows Band Of Horses are still one of the most talented group of musicians and songwriters to grace my ears for a long time. Finding a comfortable spot in their southern states country style leanings, Cease To Begin is another one for the ‘get it or miss out’ list.
Moose
It’s been a long time coming, but Arizona’s finest have finally rewarded our patience and hit the ground running with new album ‘Chase This Light‘. Recorded and produced over 3 long years, the band finally gave us a taster of what they had in store for us in the fine form of forthcoming single Big Casino.
From the offset the wailing guitars and pounding bass line erupt into the kind of track that instantly lodges itself into the darkest recesses of your brain. They’ve recaptured the edginess of Bleed American and Clarity, whilst Jim Adkins’s song writing – so beautifully showcased in Futures, has even sharper facets and heartfelt levels. Sublime harmonies, intelligent lyrics encased in addictive riffs have produced a powerful and passionate single from the godfathers of emo rock.
Big Casino whets your appetite for the main course of ‘Chase This Light‘ – ‘I’m a New Jersey success story’ will be winding through your head all day – enjoy!
Dee Massey