Category: Reviews

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J Dilla

J Dilla
‘Trucks’ / ‘Anthem’
Pay Jay

anthem_jdillaJ Dilla may have left us in 2006 but his legacy rolls forward through his music daily. A new b-side track titled ‘Trucks’ was released today made between late 2001 and early 2002 in Detroit. It’s a 2-track demo mix of the classic ‘Cars’ track by Gary Numan released originally back in 1979 featuring an alternate version of Dilla’s vocals and a third verse not found on Dilla’s final sessions for this song.

Both tracks are out on a new 12″release ahead of the long-awaited missing album ‘The Diary’ that is said to be dropping sometime in 2013.

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Alkaline Trio

ALKALINE TRIO
‘My Shame Is True’
(Epitaph)

When you consider that the four Ds (drugs, drinking, depression and death) have been Alkaline Trio’s lyrical stock-in-trade for most of their seventeen (!) year existence, it’s amazing that ‘My Shame Is True’ (their ninth album) sees the Chicago crew sounding so vital.

The opening ‘She Lied To The FBI’ and ‘The Temptation Of St. Anthony’ belt along with the kind of hooks and addictive choruses that bands half the Trio’s age would kill for, replete with Matt Skiba’s black-humoured story telling. So far, business as usual – and business is good. ‘I, Pessimist’, featuring guest vocals from Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath, is one of the best things the Trio have ever done, and should sound amazing live.

However, the songs that really colour ‘My Shame Is True’ are those of lost love and regret. Hardly fresh ground for this most endearingly maudlin of bands, but the likes of ‘Kiss You To Death’ and epic closer ‘Until Death Do Us Part’ could teach your average screamo band a thing or two about dealing with heartbreak.

“I hear the telephone works both ways/Think you can make a little effort someday?” croons co-vocalist/bassist Dan Andriano on the piano-laden ‘Only Love’. He sounds troubled, but hopefully he’ll find comfort in knowing that, with songs as good as these, we’ll be listening whenever Alkaline Trio call.

Alex Gosman

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Death Grips vs Firestarter

deathgrips_prodigy_firestarter_crossfire

Here’s a remix or mash up that we never thought we would ever hear. Death Grips have taken the Prodigy’s ‘Firestarter’ to the cleaners and came back with a dirty take on Liam Howlett’s legendary work. Some will like, others will choke on it. You decide.

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Parquet Courts

Parquet Courts
‘Light Up Gold’
(Dull Tools)

The words Parquet Courts may not mean much to most just yet, but punk and indie listeners on both sides of the Atlantic are going to get a fine taste of pure American post-teen rock rowdiness coming their way soon.

This New York four piece throw out pumped-up attitude with the passion and devotion for great, original rock music before coating it with the texture and flavour of a steak done rare. The band previously released a 4-track EP which was exclusively available on cassette and have followed that with a stunning fifteen track LP titled ‘Light Up Gold’ that pays homage to the likes of the 80’s US post punk scene and has the drive of the very best indie out there.

Vocalist Andrew Savage leads the pack with gritty, iconic vocals on opener ‘Master of My Craft’. His lazy style emanates the East Coast’s post-punk scene beautifully and he also delivers some pretty tasty lyrics too.

Parquet Court’s personality shines with every snare that drummer Max Savage makes. Don’t assume the brothers are doing all the hard work though, the marvelous rhythm, lively guitar and driving bass fuse together to move with soul in ‘Tears O Plenty’. What really works on this full length though are the jagged chords that are filtered with a vintage fashion in ‘Borrowed Time’, ‘Yr No Stoner’ and the absolutely must have: ‘Stoned And Starving’. This record has a wide variety of tunes that include the moody ‘N Dakota’ and gratifying melodies in tracks such as ‘Disney P.T’ plus title track ‘Light Up Gold’.

This album is one of the most exciting finds of the year so far. Look out for them this week as they cruise through London to play three debut shows. If their live sets are as spiky as on tape, then you will be in for a treat.

Jenny Chu

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UK Subs

UK SUBS
XXIV
Captain Oi!

Brothers and Sisters, the time to decide whether you dig the UK Subs is I believe long passed. You will definitely know by now if you do.

Inching ever closer to a fully continuous A to Z of album titles, “XXIV” is their 24th long player, and although that does include a few live releases, a majority are studio recordings, dating all the way back to ‘79’s “Another Kind of Blues”. That’s a pretty phenomenal legacy, and in Charlie Harper they are fronted by one of Punks endearing legends, a guy who has resolutely kept this band going for over 30 years.

I was a bit disappointed by the last album “Work in Progress” but approached “XXIV” with fresh ears, and guess what – it’s mostly a real ripper, chock full of some of the best Subs material since the two mid-Nineties albums “Quintessentials” and “Riot” that saw the classic Harper/Garret/Gibbs line-up regrouped to great effect. Opener “Implosion 77” launches “XXIV” in blistering fashion, Charlie hollering megaphone style to a thumping beat and striking power chords. I was surprised they threw in the harp driven “Coalition Blues” so early on, but it does in fact work, and nails some bang-on topical lyrics about the public school government, and all those “ministers who can’t administer”. From here on in it’s a steady mix of fast thrashers and mid-paced hoary punk rockers, and good old Charlie sounding in fine fettle.

The ‘expanded’ version of this album is boosted by an acoustic collection of songs, so kick back as Charlie and Alvin Gibbs split vocal duties, and these seasoned old rockers show a they can be sensitive boys when they want to. I’ve played these acoustic tracks a number of times, and there are some real nice tunes. “Thunders in The Wind” has Alvin pondering on the opiate felled Johnny Thunders, and warning of too much junkie business, whilst “Stormy Day” is a snappy shanty those of us down on the coast will very much understand.

A solid album from the UK Subs, and for longtime fans a definite cause for celebration.

Pete Craven

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Such Gold

Such Gold
‘MISADVENTURES’
Razor & Tie Records
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Such GoldAmerican pop-punk is kicking off in the UK – is it just because they’re American? Hell no. It’s because pop-punk is awesome.

After having a few setbacks in 2012 Such Gold have retained their strength and are back with their debut studio album, Misadventures that oozes impeccable pop-punk. If you have been with Such Gold from the start and you have enjoyed their previous EP’s, you’re truly in for a treat.

The album kicks off with the aggressive, yet upbeat ‘Two Year Plan’, which is pretty much the album condensed into two minutes and eighteen seconds of pure pop-punk brilliance. To be honest, most the songs merge into each other. They’re not particularly bad, just generic pop-punk tunes. However, there are a couple of songs which are more distinctive than the others. ‘Storyteller’ is a lot heavier than the rest and offers a chance for the listener to really appreciate the devotion that these guys have put in.

The lyrics portray a veil of youthful emotion. When vocalist Ben Kotin sings …and I wish that I could say the days alleviate / this artificial pain I never thought that I’d be feeling at this age”, his words strike a familiar chord; this is music you would listen to while trashing your ex’s house.

Kotin’s vocals blend perfectly with the pounding drums and contagious guitars to create a relentless wave of emotional angst and passion throughout. Everything that comes out of his mouth just seems like he is in a hurry to tell you, and that you must know whatever he is saying instantly.

Misadventures has everything that you would expect from a pop-punk record: catchy riffs, great beats and a singer screaming into your ear drums. Oh, and what is a pop-punk song without the whole band shouting in the background? Although most of the songs just get a nod of approval, there are some goldmines – pun not intended. It’s a good album, not spectacular, but worthy of your time none the less.

Words: Emily Gunn

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Deathfix

Deathfix (S/T)
Dischord Records
Deathfix.com

If there’s one thing that will instantly grab our attention when hearing about a new band it’s the words ‘featuring ex-Fugazi member…’ Such was the incredible influence and power of their music, ideas and attitude that anything the members of Fugazi have created since their hiatus is always met with excitement and interest.

Deathfix feature Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty who, as part of Fugazi created some of the greatest, body-jarring rhythms ever produced out of pots, pans and drums. Deathfix formed after Brendan met producer Rich Morel when they were touring as part of Bob Mould’s backing band. After the live work was done, the pair started to work in Canty’s home studio, fleshing out basic song ideas and instrumentals before enlisting bassist Mark Cisneros and drummer Devin Ocanpo to fully form the songs and take them to the stage.

The end result is one of the best new album’s to come out of the once vital Washington D.C. music scene. Wonderfully melodic and beautifully produced, songs like ‘Low Dying Dreams’ and ‘Mind Control’ ebb and flow with pure pop melody but there’s a swaggering cool to the band’s sound that recalls fellow DC post-punks Girls Against Boys. Midway through the album, ‘Dali’s House’ is another real stand-out, featuring a repetitive guitar-lick that burrows its way under your skin and refuses to budge.

Deathfix have succeeded in crafting an album of songs the are tuneful without being clichéd, backed up by a challenging array of rhythms, moods and motions. Superb.

James Sherry

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Pissed Jeans

‘Honeys’
Sub Pop
ALBUM OF THE MONTH

pissedjeans_honeysalbumThere’s a reason why Black Flag are so heralded and respected so long after they existed by younger generations. It’s not just the fact that they had a cool logo, it was also their inspiring drive and energy that, against all odds, saw them power their utterly uncompromising and original noise at a time when long hair, tattoos and punk rock was not a career option. They sounded the way they did because that’s how they felt and how they wanted to express their feelings. Pissed Jeans are no Black Flag tribute band, but there’s something about their ridiculously heavy punk rock noise and venomous approach that makes you feel if Black Flag had existed in this frustrating, jittering modern world, this is what they’d sound like.

Four albums in, Pennsylvanian quartet Pissed Jeans have mellowed NONE. ‘Honeys’ is a raging barrage of noise that goes nose-to-nose with all of the essential BLACKS (Big/Sabbath/Flag) with a stomping Jesus Lizard strut and a boot boy Negative Approach stomp. This is nasty music with a production so viciously heavy It’ll bite your fucking nose off, send warm jets of piss running down your thighs and render pretty much all of what passes for punk rock these days obsolete.

So, for young and old gazing into the past with rose-tinted glasses wishing there was bands as intense and FOR REAL as Black Flag still playing, fuck the nostalgia, there is and they’re called Pissed Jeans. Now hear them roar.

Download the amazing riff heavy ‘Cathouse’ track for free here.

James Sherry

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Sabazius

Sabazius
‘The Descent of Man’
Earache Records

Earache Records have surpassed all previous attempts of longest doom records by unleashing the beast that is SABAZIUS. 11 solid hours of drone, feedback and noise that is called ‘The Descent of Man‘.

Now, most people will presume that this is a gimmick, but delve a little further into the world of drone and you will find that this is taken with as much seriousness as any other music genre out there. I used to have a flat mate that would have drone blasting through his NS10’s when I got home from work almost daily. The smell of weed and the whiff of booze obviously helped him on this noise-filled journey of feedback and bass hums, but essentially he would sit there for hours on end taking in aural hits of distortion and probably even wanked himself off in the process.

Who knows on the latter, thankfully I never found out, but this ‘ritual’ exists and SABAZIUS has just blown the doors off with 677 minutes of doom tinged tones. This beast, the longest song ever made, (surely?) was recorded live to desk in one continuous session at Foel Studios in Wales over the weekend of 24th and 25th November 2012. The track was produced by Chris Fielding who surely must have fallen asleep at the desk at least once. Try it, maybe it’s for you.

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Dropout Dan

Dropout Dan
‘FOREVER, INSTEAD’
Anchor Music
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Forever, InsteadOne man and his guitar can have a lot of effect lately. With new and upcoming acts who are constantly being compared to the likes of Frank Turner and Ed Sheeran, there are very few that can actually live up to some peoples expectations. Dropout-Dan, real name Daniel O’Dell, delivers a new sound that throws a soft, unique voice at you.

Claiming to be acoustic rock “with a twist” – his new E.P ‘Forever, Instead’ does not disappoint. It has a bit of a sappy sound to the lyrics as it’s an emotional story of Dan’s past. The fact that it is being released on Valentine’s Day is truly ironic.

Dan’s emotional vocals of aggression, regret and happiness are all timed perfectly, especially in ‘Puppy Fat’, where some true aggression comes out. The structure of Dan’s songs seem to be rather unpredictable, and aren’t like your usual verse, bridge, chorus. It is a breath of fresh air to hear an acoustic act that isn’t going to be constantly referred to Ben Howard or Frank Turner.

Some soothing piano work made its way in to ‘The Sound of Faking’, which is upbeat and simple but the lyrics completely contradict it as Dan tells a story of sorrow.

Real name Daniel O’Dell, he was raised in the outskirts of Cambridgeshire, saying he knew from an early age that music would “become one of the most important parts of his life.

Dan said, “I’ve tried to steer away from the songs and stereotypes that tend to please my friends, family and loved ones. I came into this process with an open mind and wanted to write songs from my heart and about my surroundings at the time. This EP is a collection of just that and I couldn’t be more proud of what it’s turned into.”

Dropout-Dan is an upcoming act and providing he keeps up the beautiful song writing, then no doubt you’ll see him about more in the future.

Dropout Dan’s new E.P ‘Forever, Instead’ will be released 14 February. You can pre-order it here. You can also download ‘Sentimental’ which is being offered as a free download here!

Upcoming tour dates:

Feb 16 – York – The Black Swan
Feb 17 – Nottingham – The Maze
Feb 18 – Peterborough – Key Theatre
Feb 19 – London – Brixton Windmill
Feb 22 – Birmingham – The Brighthouse
Feb 24 – Brighton – The White Rabbit
Feb 27 – Manchester – The Tiger Lounge
Feb 28 – Cardiff – Gwdihŵ Cafe Bar
Mar 1 – Bristol – Kingsdown Wine Vaults

Check out the first single off ‘Oh, Little Red’ below.