Get downloading because the new issue of Puzzle video magazine is out. In the Fall 06 issue watch the likes of Phillip Schuster, Simon Pedersen, Michael Mackrodt, Severin Von Ow, Italy Slam Trick, the Globe Global Assault, and much much more.
Click here for the mag.
A young artist by the name of Michael Levitt has produced four action figure dolls of famous skate artists Mark Gonzales, Neckface, Shepard Fairey, Bigfoot and Barry McGee (Twist).
The dolls are for sale and look pretty rad, so got grab a couple.
Source: www.skatedaily.net
Nottingham’s SOS, Non-Stop Skateshop, is popping bottles and smooching under the mistle toe for their Christ mas carnage party on 7th December downstairs at the Stealth club.
Festivities start at 9pm till father Christmas climbs down the chimney.
The Enjoy Death logo t-shirt from Death Skateboards has been one of the most successful in UK skateboarding since it was sent to skate shops a few years ago. Since then, the company has built an international roster to attach to it’s current swine-filled UK Team that takes pride on it’s simple but effective branding.
But now, this popular t-shirt logo has grown in size, to be honest i have always worn one and hoped it would grow in the wash but thankfully Zorlac and his Australian design team have unleashed the full version which will be one of the most saught after t-shirts in the UK alongside the wings of the Unabomber this xmas.
You can’t review t-shirts but you can explain how good it feels to rock something that makes you feel proud and this is it. Pick it up in skater owned shops for Xmas or die.
Chuck Bangers
28.11.06
“Tuukka was a unanimous choice to join Kingpin. His work for Finnish magazine Numero made all the others look foolish by comparison, and his still life photography is still displayed in posh locations across Scandinavia. We have other photographers who may be better at snatched moments or suggested intimacies, but none who are as rounded in their ability as Deeli. When it comes to skateboarding photography, he is the finished article. He never misses. He never misses“.– Niall Neeson – Kingpin Mag Editor
Full name?
My name is Tuukka Kaila, but most people call me Deeli. I never quite know how to introduce myself.
How long have you been a photographer?
I started taking photos when I was about ten, when my dad let me use his OM-1. I started studying photography in 95. But if you mean when did photography become a profession that pays my rent, I guess sometime at the end of the 90’s.
How did you get into skate photography?
By accident, really. As a skater, photos of skating were always around me, but I really got more serious about photography through studying printmaking and then switching onto photos. At the time, I didn’t really think much of skate photography; I was convinced that skate photos didn’t have any artistic merit, they all looked the same and they had no meaning beyond looking nice. I hated the fisheye, I hated harsh lighting, I thought the grainy contrasty BW was a thing of the past that had been done to death by photo journalists and various snappers from the 50’s on and had nothing more to give to me.
My formal education, very much in the conceptualist, postmodernist vein, told me that what mattered was the meaning, not the aesthetic. You know, pictures of bits of text or some house where someone or other did great things some time, perhaps a series of buckets used to transport the blood of these or those victims, hundreds of them, all shot in the exact same way – that sort of thing. Skate photos, to me, were all about the aesthetic, no meaning behind the surface.
Then in 98 a friend of mine approached me with the idea of starting a skate magazine he wanted to call Numero and asked me to be part of it. In the beginning, the understanding was that I wouldn’t really be shooting skating, but basically that’s what photographers working in skate mags do, so in a couple of years I was pretty deep into skate photography. I realized it was actually far from easy, and looking at skate photos closer, I started having doubts about my doubts regarding the artistic side of it. I had to admit that there are the innovators and visionaries on this field just like on any other field. There has been a first skate photo ever taken with a fisheye, for example. It’s the vast number of imitators and followers and the skate media’s need for vast quantities of photos that might sometimes blur these facts a bit, but the few guys showing the way remain geniuses.
As my friend drifted away from skate photography, I got sucked in deeper and deeper, spending all the money I made from arts grants and commissions on my gear that was only meant to improve my skate photography. I’m yet to kick the habit, but at least these days the money I put into the gear comes from skate photography.
Why did this image you have submitted inspire you so much to take up photography? What effect did it have on you?
What inspired me to take up photography more than anything else, were my friends around me with cameras and their photos of each other. Later on, I got really into the theory side of photography, which I could happily spend a life time studying and trying to understand. The fact that the moment depicted in a photograph is gone and will never return is one of the single most powerful aspects of the medium. There’s no undo, there’s no second chance, that was it.
The photo above is taken by Annelies Strba, a Swiss photographer, and the people shown in it are from her immediate family. I think her work has had a huge effect on what I like in photos and how I look at photography as a whole. I saw an exhibition of her work in the Photographers Gallery in the late 90’s sometime – it was a three slide projector – installation set to a distant beating of drums on the background. She’s got a book out with these photos, but it’s long sold out. When you google her name, you get images from this other, newer book that she’s done, which is something completely different.
So in a way, the time that I sat there and saw these photos is gone just like the moments in the photos. Apart from a couple of images I cut out of the brochure and made into C-tape covers, I have nothing but my memory to refer to as far as these photos. This keeps reminding me of the relationship that photographs bear to reality. What’s gone is gone and it won’t come back. Photos, like memories, are representations of the lived moments, seen through our personal filters and interpreted to suit our personal needs. No amount of photographs will give me a chance to relive those moment.
Yet here I am, desperately recording slices of time in order to somehow preserve them. And you know what I’ve realized? There are a few moments in my life where I’ve wished I could take a photo to remember them but for one reason or another haven’t. These are the moments I remember best and miss the most.
What were the best and worst bits of advice anyone gave you in regards to photography?
Somehow the idea that we’d change all the paintings ever done depicting Jesus to a single photograph of him illustrates the power of the medium. And at the same time the responsibility of the photographer. I try to keep that in mind. As for the worst advice, I can’t remember getting any.
Have you ever felt bad about taking a photo? If so, which one?
I don’t really take photos I’d feel bad about taking. Photography can be very exploitative, but I hardly ever like a photo that doesn’t seem to have mutual respect between the photographer and the subject.
Tell us about your favourite skate shot that you have selected.
What obviously makes this photo what it is, is Harri Puupponen’s crazy position. Apart from that, I like the simplicity of it. There aren’t really any distractions that jump at me from the frame, I’m free to concentrate on the skater.
We shot it in 2003, he hadn’t been out street skating for a while and had no idea what he wanted to skate. Another friend, Kemppu, who was the art director of Numero magazine at the time, said he had a spot in mind that Harri might like.
When we got there, he knew instantly he could do something great with it, just as much as I knew I could make it look like something I’d really enjoy as a photo. We shot it for his interview in Kingpin at a time, when I didn’t work for them full time yet. They made it a cover instead and I bought another flash with the cash.
What’s the relationship like between a photographer and filmer?
Depends on the people involved, but in general I get along with filmers really well. Hopefully filmers feel the same way about me. Most filmers tend to give me the space I need and I do my best to return the favour. There’s always more than one angle.
What main advice would you give to upcoming skate photographers?
It’s not about your photo, it’s not about you, it’s about the skater and it’s about the skating. In the end, we need the skaters a whole lot more than they need us.
Are there ways of getting better/free equipment as you continue to grow or do you have to fund everything yourself?
If there is a way, I’ve missed it completely.
Please tell us about the non skate shot you have submitted and the story behind it.
I took this on a lazy afternoon sometime in 99, I think. It’s from Tallinn, Estonia. The leg on the left belongs to my future wife at the time, the smoker is her flat mate back then. Apart from having that really personal nostalgic aspect to it, I think it kind of captures that feeling of when you’re not in a hurry anywhere, there’s nothing in particular you need or even want to do.
It might have meaning just for me cause I was there and it’s my life, but I’d like to think that it serves a purpose as depicting a more general experience of a time in your life, when responsibilities haven’t caught up, when you have all the time in the world and there’s nothing to make you feel guilty about sitting on a couch drinking coffee all day and watching life go by.
Is the work of a skate photographer well paid? Do you get by in life with this income alone?
I consider myself extremely lucky to have the job I have. There aren’t many full time jobs around for skate photographers, and usually there’s a great photographer sitting on every seat available already. The life a freelance skate photographer is a constant struggle in most cases. To be able to live off this alone is amazing. Putting in the hours skate photographers do, many of us could be paid a lot more in other fields of photography. So I’d like to think that whoever remains in the game, is in it for other reasons.
Does music ever inspire your photography? What music artists can you not leave for a tour without?
I love music, but it has little to do with my photography. I hardly ever take any music on trips, I guess because I never invested in an mp3 player. There’s always someone with speakers though, so it’s a nice opportunity to hear something new.
If you were to buy a pocket snapper for capturing skating on a budget to get going, which camera would you suggest?
Point and shoots are great for a lot of things, but I wouldn’t recommend them for skate photography. Get a cheap second hand SLR instead.
Would you recommend digital or film?
Both have their strong points.
What are the benefits of using film or digital?
Generally, film has the potential of being used at whatever size you want, whereas the final size of a digital photo is determined by the initial file size. You can’t stick a memory card in an enlarger. You might not care at the time, but when you get asked to do an exhibition one day and your best photos are stamp size jpegs you’re fucked.
Film, at the moment still, has better colour and tonal range and it can cope better with detail in both the bright and dark ends of the spectrum. I’ve also learned to love the film grain I used to hate. Digital is quick and convenient, not to mention being virtually free after the initial investment, and you know instantly whether you got the photo or not. It’s also very environment friendly compared to all the nasty chemicals and toxic metals that are involved in using film.
What kit do you use?
Medium format with film and the occasional toy camera for skate stills, digi for skate sequences, then 5×4 film and a point and shoot 35mm film for lots of other things. There’s a stupid amount of flashes and batteries involved with the skate stills.
Do you have a website for your photography?
A freelance photographer without a website is basically an unemployed photographer. As I’m securely employed at the moment, though, I still haven’t got my act together on the website department.
You can find Deeli’s photography skills monthly at the wonderful Kingpin Magazine
Hello everyone,
Hope the dark nights aren’t getting everyone down. I’ve heard there is a lot of S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder) about recently. Well, it’s a good way to get out of going to work for a bit anyway. Even though, on the other hand it gives chance for you feisty youths to get some Graff on the walls of some nice, white, glistening houses in your area – And while you’re at it, you could have some of these top tunes on your mp3 or aac players to get your juices flowing and put a sparkle into your creativity.
Record Of The Month
VARIOUS ARTISTS – iYa Basta!
(Enough is Enough)
www.hijackthemedia.com
The Ya Basta Mixtape is a calling/soundtrack to the swelling globalization resistance movement, compiled without permission by Hijackthemedia.com. The term ‘Ya Basta’ comes from the Zapatista movement and is representative to the EZLN (Mexican army of national liberation).
This is a quality little snake in the grass that crept up on me whilst taking a leisurely stroll through the wilderness of Nottingham city and took a huge bite. Each track throughout the cd relates to political issues from all over the world. With snippets from George Galloway, Taskforce, Lost Project, Scorzayzee and Tony Blair, this collection of refreshing tunes and candid attitudes will allow you to take a run through the Gaza strip or the poppy fields of Afghanistan in your own living room.
For those of you that are lucky enough to have heard the Lost Projects album “Next Level Concepts“, there are some familiar bits and pieces of news and well known speeches that have been cut and sliced together to form an amusing and stimulating view of the world. Make sure you pay special attention to track 3! It really can make you realize that despite all of the political jargon, well fitted suits, propa English and ghost written speeches…..these people really are c*nts!
If you want to know more about this cd, or any other for that matter, make sure you get in touch with me here there’s plenty to go around if you can’t get where you want to be at the above sites. If you want a little sneak preview of one of the tracks take a look at my myspace page here!
There are lots of links for further reading into globalization and the ploys of the neo con power hungry terrorists.
www.zapatistas.org / www.dissent.org.uk / www.indymedia.org / www.newint.org / www.mexicauprising.net
KYZA – The Experience
(Pepa records)
www.kyzaexperience.com
I’ve been buying this guy’s singles on 12″ for some time now and was wondering when the full shabang was going to fall on the mat next to my front door. Ok so it came out in October but I had already sent through Octobers Mix by the time it arrived. So don’t start emailing me abuse saying that you could have been told before and already had an earful of this red hot album. Shit! Kyza has some pretty chilled beats with some lightning quick flows, and if I’m honest, that’s not always my favourite kind of tune. However, Kyza rips it up that impressively that I definitely can’t grumble.
One of my particular favourite tracks is track 3 “Real” and as a special treat there is part two of “Real” later on in the album. A nice fat bass line, head noddin’ beat and an insistent tone to Kyza’s lyrics create a vivid picture of the streets of London.
If you like your Terra Firma, Klashnekoff and Skribblah then this is unquestionably a cd for you! Check it out! You can hear bit and bobs of these tracks on the suspect packages website.
DJ YODA – Wheels
(Antidote records)
www.djyoda.co.uk
I saw DJ Yoda at Sonar 2005 in Barcelona and he did a quality set involving cutting and scratching videos, displayed on huge screens. Anyone that has been to Sonar night knows how big those rooms really are. Ever since then (and quite a bit before) I have been well into this stuff. “Wheels” is taken from the album “Amazing Adventures of DJ Yoda” and is an extremely funky track, quite up beat and good for playing out on a Saturday night. Believe me it has been tried and tested. There’s some funky little scratches to get you smokers off your seats and onto the dance floor. This track also mixes really well into any up beat tunes you DJ’s may have in your bag of tricks for the evening. Go on try it.
I particularly like the B side to this 12″ “Tip Toe“. Another great up beat track to play out. This tune does give room for a little bit of scratching yourself and allows you to show off your own skills and acts as a great accompaniment. It might even disguise those missed clicks!! Sneaky I know. The strange thing about this 12” is that I bought it in a famous music shop named by three letters, first one being H. I rarely find anything good in there but this fun and terribly well designed cover just jumped out at me while I was hunting for Christmas presents. That always seems to be the way it goes. Just buy presents for yourself, that way no-one can get it wrong.
DR OCTAGON – Trees
(Buttercuts)
www.buttercuts.co.uk
Just a quick look at this one because we have already had a good look at the album in August. Most of you that are interested in this will have heard this tune if you’ve heard any. Yes, this is a very serious track although it is approach in a very lighthearted way. You can see the video that has already broken through to MTV play lists here!. This is the second single to be released from “The Return of Doctor Octagon“. The single features remixes from The Quemists, bringing in the touch of drum ‘n’ bass to the renowned vocals of Kool Keith, and the illustrious Spankrock who somehow manage to enhance the tune with a perverse electronic blend.
There we have it. This single is to be released on the 27th November and after that date I would really like to hear what you people out there have to say about this tune. I have mixed emotions about this one. You know where to get at me.
KINDER ATOM – Soft Hand Feel
(Nice and Smooth)
www.nicesmooth.com
Ok, this one is a bit different to what I would normally take a look at but hey, if we all listened to the same music everyday we would turn into one sort of music listening type people thingyamajigs. Plus, you get a DVD with this one. Yep, the extras got me this time.
I like this CD. This is one for all of you out there that like to sit and chill to the likes of Future Sound of London, Boozoo Bajou, Gotan Project or dZihan & Kamien. Shit! Maybe I should start writing reviews for that kind of music. Anyone wants to send me some chilled stuff for review, go ahead. Anyway, some strange eerie sounds coming out of the speakers allow me to write my reviews accurately tonight and will more than likely help send me off to bed. Just check out the videos at the link written above and you will see what I mean. Track 4 “Bubble” has been my favourite up to now, so check that one first to see if you’re up for it.
The DVD in this pack features 7 different music videos by various Toronto film directors. These visual interpretations of Kinder Atom’s music welcome you into a world of nature and spectacular imagery. There is a very old copy of FSOL’s “Lifeforms” video going on ebay at the minute. This gives you a whiff of how these movies have progressed over time. These videos are particularly good.
Previously sharing labels with Kraftwerk, System 7 and FSOL, this release will mark the first sincerely independent album from these veteran players in the electronic music scene on their own Nice And Smooth label.
I like it. I think you will too!
That’s enough from me for now. I’m going to hand it over to the new boys before Abjekt takes it on! But I’m just going to leave you on this note. Easy!
L. MAN – Impatiently Waiting
(Self-Released)
www.ldotman.com
The Grime game is a hectic one where everyone rates their 16 Bars as being the shit, but to quote many an MC; most of it’s a “Hype ting!” You see, to stand out from the crowd you’ve got to be smart, agile with the flow and ready to mock yourself in front of the crowd if necessary. L. Man has all of these qualities, and they are put to use on his latest mixtape Impatiently Waiting free for download once you sign on at www.ldotman.com
L. Man’s lyrics go deeper than your average fake gun talk because he throws elements of day to day life realities in his lyrics: ex-girlfriends, fast food, TK Maxx, life on the dole, losing a friend (Gavin) etc… But don’t get the wrong idea! This white boy from South London can come with some harsh, dark lines just as quick as he can serenade the pants off a young lady. Impatiently Waiting is loaded with multi-facets that blend live freestyle’s from some of the biggest Hip-Hop DJ shows ( Westwood and Semtex), and heavy hits that are getting heavy rotation on road (Spun A Web remix feat Big Narstie, Shystie, Solo and Demon and Fly with me remix Wifey Riddim). Add to that the perturbed mind state that lends itself to dark broodings and comedy alike (Lyrical Ejaculation and Driving In My Mum’s Car). This mix of emotions and experience, imagination and pain, is what makes L. Man’s new mixtape smack so hard.
LLOYD BANKS – Rotten Apple
(Interscope Records)
www.lloydbanks.com
W-w-w-weet unit! Oatibix is the new hobnob alternative to everyone’s favourite morning feast, Weetabix. It’s basically exactly the fucking same as Weetabix but, wait for it, made with oats! Tastes like SHITE.
You may wonder why I’m throwing ludicrous information about wholegrain breakfast cereals in your grills. Unfortunately it’s a lot more interesting than what can be said about bad muhfucka, Lloyd Banks latest release, Rotten Apple. As the title suggests, the album is like a mighty fine idea, but gone a bit stale. That’s commercial gangsta rap for y’all I’m afraid to say. There’s no full blown flaws with this album I must point out, but it’s all be done, had the sloppy seconds and even the mutilated thirds, and is so tiresome I struggle to admire the genuine flow and style that Banks possesses. Which is a shame. He does manage to shed some good light on the album though in tracks like “The Cake” and “Hands Up”, both featuring equally bad muhfucka, 50 Cent. Both of which offer that club friendly commercial rap groove that you can’t help but dig, even if you wouldn’t wish to admit it.
I don’t particularly enjoy giving highly negative reviews, but with stinkers like this and Oatibix (which I was actually quite saddened by to tell you the truth), I didn’t have much of a choice, unless Lloyd was to introduce my skull to his smiling Cheshire gat. Though I did read an article on good ol’ Crossfire recently about Lloyd’s run in with the pigs. He managed to promote his album even then, which is damn good work in my books.
THE PACK – Vans
(Up All Nite Records)
www.thepackonline.com
Following in the footsteps of Pharrel and more recently Lupe Fiasco, The Pack are a sly underground hip-hop crew that incorporate their passion for rollin’ on planks into their music. Recent single and surprise mainstream banger, ‘Vans’, see the Californian dudes in the hood spitting the praise of those, ever popular, waffle-soled shoes. Represent homeboy.
No tomfoolery here, the beat hits you straight up like a double shot of absinthe after brunch. A smooth, pulsing baseline that infiltrates those little muscles in the back of your neck, and like gentle peer pressure, makes it nod back and forth whether you like it or not. Lay that alongside solid rhymes with subtle, unique flow and you’ve got yourself a winner. It’s nice to see influence grabbed from the Beastie Boys present too, with what sounds like Stephen Hawking giving his best chipmunk impression in between each lyricist’s verse. Which, seriously, is catchier than a baseball glove. These dreds know what they’re doing. And they do it hotter than the weather in CA. Big heads up in Vans must be super stoked on advertisement like this, I may even go buy a fresh pair of old schools myself. ‘Vans’ is featured on The Pack’s upcoming EP “Skateboards 2 Scrapers“, which should be ready wrapped for crimbo time. Add it to your list kids!
I’m not gonna beat around the bush this month – I’ve had some of the best albums all year in this month and you’re in for a treat if you check out what I’ve got for you below. I’m a lucky little hip hopper as I’m jetting back to Minneapolis to check out the Doomtree Blowout on December 2nd, so keep your eyes peeled for a review of that going up next month, and make sure you pimp all the other reviews up on the site. Also, be sure to check out an upcoming DVD review, which’ll be on the site soon, looking at the Minneapolis hip hop scene.
Right, on with the show, first up:
Record Of The Month
C-MON & KYPSKI – Where The Wild Things Are
(Penoze)
www.c-monandkypski.nl
Let me start off by saying this – This album is my record of the year. From start to finish it’s an exceptional piece of work, shooting all over the place to bring in so many different influences and musical explorations and yet comes out the other side as the most together album I’ve heard in the whole of 2006. C-Mon and Kypski, from Utrecht in Holland, had already won me over with their Vinyl Voodoo and Static Traveler albums, but this is just another leap up from their already high standards.
The opening track features the great Sadat X who brings his individuality over their bass-heavy, horn led beat before flowing into the pop-tastic Bumpy Road which will have you singing along with the “bah be-bah baaah baaah baaaah” immediately over what could easily be a fuzzy Queens Of The Stone Age guitar riff. Sliding into the next track, Circus C-Mon & Kypski, is the sort of music Gogol Bordello would make if they were into hip hop and you could easily imagine cossack dancers flicking their feet out all round you.
Emcee Pete Philly makes a welcome appearance on Make My Day, the album’s clear summer joint, with its bouncy bassline and exquisitely catchy guitar melody and they even cater for more guitar fans with Eyes On The Road [featuring Voicst]. On both these songs, you can see that not only are this duo brilliant producers, but also great song writers, who would be at home anywhere musical, not just behind some decks.
But for those who want some straight up hip hop, you must check out Chemical Mixture, my personal favourite track on the album. I’ll be brutally crass here – this song is a fucking banger. From the turntable work to the snap of the drums with the “I’m dangerous, like a chemical mixture, if you mix me up wrong homeboy I’m gonna getcha getcha” sample riding over it all, this is one track will be reloading time after time. More turntablism can be found amongst the fuzz and deep rooted dance flavour of Wildfire whilst Spirits High and In And Out Of Days will capture the imagination of the jazzy, laid back fans.
There’s not one track on this album that doesn’t make me feel something, and that’s a rarity these days. But C-Mon & Kypski have managed it, even when they bring in vocalists, something they haven’t done a great deal of on previous albums, and that’s a testament to their experimentation, talent and control of their art. Absolutely 100% brilliant. Buy it now before I send the boys round.
PIGEON JOHN – …And The Summertime Pool Party
(Quannum)
www.pigeonjohn.com
Pigeon John is the most fun rapper on earth, it’s basically as simple as that. The rapper, who has put out songs about having an identity crisis and a goat named Sam is back with his new album, his first for the Quannum label, which is home to Lyrics Born, Lifesavas and more.
Pigeon John has always had feel-good beats behind his raps and this new album steps it up a level, with the likes of DJ Rhettmatic, Dnae, Chris James and RJD2 stepping up to the board with their own styles that John flows over with his inimitable happy-go-lucky steezo. With subject matter on this album ranging from losing his job [I Lost My Job Again] to thinking back to the early days of hip hop [Growin’ Old], John always manages to put a smile on the listeners face.
The standout track on the album is The Last Sunshine, which features the production of RJD2 and the guest vocals of J-Live and provides a chorus which ends with “A cold old man that was once a child/ I just wanna tell you I miss you”. Even with tracks like these, Pigeon John is able to use his delivery to give you that feeling that maybe things will be alright in the end.
And with this album being one of the best hip hop records of the year, I think we all know that it will be alright – so long as we do the pigeon dance!
ABZORBR – Capable Of Teetering
(Self Released)
www.abzorbr.com
Capable Of Teetering is an album soaked in poetry-led music, a record that you have to repeat over and over again just to pick out that extra note, that last drum hit and to experience totally every word that vocalist Kristoff Krane delivers.
The opening track, Sleepy Dreamer, lays the foundations, with its busy combination of laptop sounds and live instrumentation as Krane rapping as if he simply HAS to get every last word out before slipping into singing that makes the words sound as if they are melted together. This happens again in Private Permission when Krane begins with an intro that conjures images of a man cowering in the corner of a room, trying to rid himself of demons, with a deep bass line swimming under ever-changing backgrounds as Krane then goes back to his singing.
Another standout track on the record is Thorn Picks Rose, with an almost-carnival like beat as the song sways along building into a cacophony of sound, the harsh drums bringing the noise to a brilliant point before the track grinds to a halt and falls into the She interlude.
Abzorbr can do twilight-lit slow tracks, they can do fast action packed tracks [proved brilliantly by Childish Perfection] and they can even fall into fuzz-induced seizures as they do in the uncontrollably compelling 1st Song AbzorbrEver Recorded To Save Your Life. All in all, this is an album which showcases amazing talent, with all 3 members doing their utmost to make each track as rounded but still as raw-sounding as they can. Awesome.
KILL THE VULTURES – The Careless Flame
(Jib Door)
www.killthevultures.com
Kill The Vultures’ previous album was a journey through darkly lit alleys, winding around pounding percussions and captivating lyrical prowess. And this new album isn’t just a continuation of this, but a step forward, pressing through more musical landscapes.
Moonshine, the opening track, incorporates deep drums with an industrious bass line as the vocals tag teams with gritty saxophone samples. The next track, Dirty Hands, jumps straight into fast paced percussion as the energetic rapping pushes on through the ever-penetrating music.
But it is tracks like Days Turn Into Nights which give this album such an edge. The Spanish guitar twangs around the narrative, almost daring you to expect a beat to join the fray, but the beat never does, and that gives the lyrics a more powerful stance as it is the delivery of them which gives the track its beat.
Vermillion is another stand out track, with the busy off-kilter drums and cymbals threatening to topple the sweetly-strung melody. The use of the upright bass in many of these songs also provides that extra lilting twist to the music and combining all these elements, from leftfield hip hop to avant garde influences, makes The Careless Flame a bold album. Not for the faint hearted but one that will burn deep once you give it the chance.
DJ JAZZY JEFF – Hip Hop Forever III
(Rapster Records/BBE)
www.rapsterrecords.com
Now this is a story all about how, my life got flipped, turned upsid… Oopsy, got carried away there for a second. Everyone knows DJ Jazzy Jeff, even if they’ve not seen the great man on the decks – Fresh Prince or not, the man is a big talent. And so who better than him to step up for the latest edition of the Hip Hop Forever mixes?
A mix CD’s success is based on the both the tracks used and the way they’re moulded together. The first part of this was an easy tick in the box, as, looking down the tracklist, I spied Biz Markie, The Pharcyde, Big L’s Ebonics, J-Live, Royce Da 5’9″‘s Boom and of course Jay Dee. So slipping the CD on, it was then a case of seeing if the man behind the boards could make them all mesh together well, and, in short, he can.
From the moment you hear Biz’s “Don’t go to Getty, go to Exxon” played out and bring reloaded over and over, it’s obvious that you’re gonna be partying down to this mix, especially when it seamlessly slides in Passin’ Me By. The same applies all the way through, like when Gangstarr’s Full Clip states “Big L rest in peace” and soon after knocks out that club banger Boom. If you listen to this and don’t bounce, you have no mojo sucker.
SLEEPY BROWN – Mr Brown
(Virgin)
www.sleepybrown.com
I’m trying hard to find something good about this record but its pretty painful sitting here listening to it. Sleepy Brown is the guy with the huge shades that sings the RnB stuff on the odd Outkast record, so I put this in hoping for at least the innovative mish-mash of styles you get with Outkast, but no. I’m sitting here listening to bland tune after bland tune and I just can’t pick out anything positive about it.
Even when Outkast do make an appearance, on the final track of the album – I Can’t Wait – it’s the same dirge being served up. The title at least is correct, I can’t wait for it to finish so I can stick something else on.
SPANK ROCK – Bump (Single)
(Big Dada)
www.bigdada.com
Spank Rock are nerds that rap about dirty stuff. If that’s not a reason to love it, then just listening to the music sure is. Let’s pick out a line at random to prove how cool they actually are:
“Honey, honey, see me, behind my Gameboy, I got game girl, it comes easy”
The single, taken from their awesome album YoYoYoYoYo, is a booty-shaking cracker of a disco fuelled hip hop song, with some cowbell thrown in on the beat for good measure. But let me be perfectly honest here, as much as I like this song, is the appearance of Amanda Blank on guest vocals that tips it over the edge. In one of the remixes (the Switch Remix), which features the uncensored vocals, she says:
“Thighs squeezing, pussy teasing… I like my ass sassy, I keep my man happy coz I ride like Kelly Bundy, I keep that shit nasty.”
It’s a great track. And it has nothing to do with me fancying Blank. Honest.
JOE DRISCOLL – Origin Myths
(Buttercuts)
www.joedriscoll.net
Joe Driscoll brings together the worlds of folk and hip hop together with a fusion of music that gets that foot tapping as he beatboxes and raps his way through this 8 track record.
The beats are done with a backdrop of instruments layered over his beatboxing and this album is made better as a result, as it gives it that extra dimension as Driscoll winds his way around his own rhythms. Vision Strong, for example, seems to have 3 or 4 layers of beatboxing behind his singing style raps and his deep throaty bass in the title track certainly proves he isn’t a run-of-the-mill performer.
With a DVD coming with the CD, which includes an introduction to Driscoll and a live performance, you get a better idea of what makes him tick and how makes his original music. Well worth checking out.
So that’s your lot for music reviews, and now onto the art. I’m going back to someone I’ve already featured on here previously – my mate Gav. Gav, from Jam Factory, is without doubt one of the most inspirational and yet fun artists I have come across and this month I was able to see him do his thing at the 20×2 show.
20×2 gives people from all points of the spectrum – web design, comedians, journalists etc – the chance to get up and answer a question in 2 minutes. For the show’s London debut, the question was “Where Am I?” and Gav’s original and perfectly executed answer can be seen by clicking right here. He is so much Abjekt Approved that he’s going to be doing some art for my new flat, can’t say any better than that!
Also a big shout out to Kevin Newsum for bringing 20×2 over and making it such an enjoyable experience. You can check the site out at www.20×2.org.
That’s it for now, make sure you rap up warm [see what I did there?] and get on those emails to slag me off or tell me what an awesome judge of music I am. Until next time sweetiepies, adios.
Christmas is coming and the geese are getting fat. They’re not the only ones – we’re going to get you so full of great tunes that you’re gonna be stuck listening to them well after the chocolate has gone from your advent calendar. Screw you Santa, Crossfire’s the place to go for all the best presents. On with the recommendations!
Record Of The Month
THE ALTERKICKS – On A Holiday (single)
(B Unique)
www.alterkicks.com
Alterkicks have turned the concept of a holiday upside down in their zesty debut single. Far from sun and fun, the song is a dark satire and better for it. Expectations of bubblegum music (as might be suggested by the title) are instantly dispelled when Martin Stiwell’s voice creeps in slow and enticing, drawing in the listener and pleasantly surprising him. The lyrics are wonderfully bizarre and catching.
Yet only Martin with his flexible vocal chords could carry them so well and blend them effortlessly into the fantastic instrumental behind the song. It is not all Martin’s work though. The all round talent of the band is clear by the energetic beats of the drums and the strums revealed through the odd solo here and there. So much momentum is gathered throughout that there is no way that On A Holiday could just simply wind down. So it dramatically closes with its hit line “Oh mother, look what’s become of us”, and don’t you ever forget it.
RICHARD SWIFT – The Beautiful Heart
(Secretly Canadian)
www.richardswift.com
This is a solid piece of music far away from the steely road of indy-punk which is unfortunately popular with too many bands these days. Listening to songs like the Beautiful Heart is a revelation that there is more to music than opulent drum and bass. Yes okay, the lyrics are a bit soppy and the rhythm is unchanging but at least it’s steady.
This is not supposed to be a dynamic masterpiece but a gentle tune that’s easy to listen to. It has a lot of creativity behind it but why over-analyse a nice piece of music? The important thing is I am happy to listen to it, and I would like to hear more of Richard Swift’s stuff.
THE MACCABEES – First Love (single)
(Fiction)
www.themaccabees.co.uk
You will fall in love with “First Love” by the Macabees. It won’t be your only love when they bring out more music, but you will always remember this track as your first Maccabean love. “First Love” is an upbeat little tune with a lot of bounce to it. I could imagine happily dancing to it in a club or bar, and giving a squeal of delight every time the DJ picked it out. It’s clear the band enjoyed playing it and so the listener enjoys hearing it. The hit line “First love, only love” may not be the most original to grace the music scene this year, but the Maccabees are not about poetry. Instead they are one of the funkier indie bands to emerge from the mists of talent.
BAT FOR LASHES – Trophy (single)
(The Echo Label)
www.batforlashes.co.uk
Tragic. Not the music, well not entirely. The song is a tragedy about a woman who has lost her trophy, the meaning of which is entirely subjective as most lyrics are. It is dramatically relayed in this song, and though the lyrics may not have exactly appealed to me I can not fault Natasha Kahn’s voice, the vocalist whose performance of the desperate lady was so poignant. Her strong voice brewed in Caveman like supportive vocals, simple percussion and dour strumming was a spell for mystique. Though it does not satisfy my taste in music it maybe a godsend for those who like a little romantic theatre in their lives.
Record Of The Month
THE MAGIC NUMBERS – Those The Brokes
(Heavenly)
www.themagicnumbers.net
The West London foursome are back with a multi facetted album – which at first appears to be the musical equivalent of comfort food – heart warming and embracing – but on closer inspection shows an intriguing darker edge. Recorded mainly at Allaire Studios, high in the hills of upstate NY, the brother/sister quartet holed themselves up for months with producer Richard Wilkinson, and the end result was clearly worth their dedication. Opener ‘This is a Song’ has a captivating introduction, which leads into a flurry of upbeat pop, first single ‘Take a Chance’ stands out, the charming ‘Undecided’, slides us into the slower, most pensive atmospheric area of the album, Romeo Stodart’s lyrics of lost love carried on from their debut. Angela’s vocals are stronger than the previous album; she seems to have grown in confidence.
‘Carl’s Song’ and ‘Let Somebody In’ are simply beautiful, the 60’s vibe and feel good factor belying the heartbreak in the lyrics, whilst ‘Runnin’ Out’ picks up the tempo. ‘Goodnight’ is the perfect mellow closing for the album. The album is one amazing journey, from the mesmerizing introduction up to the heartening first few tracks, until the emotive lyrics reveal the almost mournful tones of the latter stages of the album. It takes the listener on a real journey, a exploration for the emotions, and makes you realize how important the order of tracks actually is when an album’s played as a whole. ‘Those The Brokes’ is a simply beautiful offering, which exceeds expectation. The Magic Numbers play from the heart and it shows in this multi-dimensional album – and whilst little can dent their reputation at a great summer festival band, it’s intriguing to see they’re not just a one trick pony.
THE ZUTONS – It’s The Little Things We Do (Single)
(Deltasonic)
www.thezutons.com
Liverpool’s finest are back with the third single from their top ten album ‘Tired of Hanging Around’, firing on all cylinders with an infectious hook laden track relaying the price of partying hard the night before. “I had women, wine, party time and everything that mattered .And when I woke up today you know my brain was all in tatters”. Remorseful lyrics are echoed in guilt laden almost mournful guitars, Dave McManus’s voice is gritty – not unlike someone’s who’s been on a bender the night before!
Whilst it’s as upbeat and catchy as previous offerings from this album ‘Valerie’ and the upbeat ‘Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love?’, ‘ It’s the Little Things We Do’ shows a different side to The Zutons, a mature and almost haunting edge to their character. This single combines the best of The Zutons, the infectious pop swirls working stunningly with Dave’s voice, and lyrically this piece is short and very sweet indeed.
NIKOLA SARCEVIC – Roll Roll And Flee
(Burning Heart)
www.myspace.com/nikolasarcevic
Millencolin’s front man shows his softer side with his second solo album ‘Roll Roll And Flee’ – which couldn’t be further from the Sarcevic we’re used to, thrashing it out as frontman of Sweden’s premier punk act. ‘Roll Roll And Flee’ was recorded at Svenska Grammofon Studio, where he chose to record live onto analogue tape rather than digitally, hence this album has a glorious free flowing, intelligent and spontaneous feel, the tracks roll into one another with the kind of relaxed cajoling vibe that embraces the listener.
Sarcevic is really coming into his own as a song writer, and tracks like ‘Soul For Sale’ and the stunning title track are a cut above. The horns in ‘Let Me In’ are a great moment, and despite the comparisons with Bob Dylan and other classical singer/songwriters, Sarcevic argues that actually “..a lot of these songs have the similar chord patterns as Bad Religion songs – a lot of minor chords.” Roll Roll and Flee shows reveals Sarcevic as a great musician, growing and changing with the times. This second solo outing is already a huge progression from his first release, and whilst it’s reassuring that he’s not turning his back on Millencolin, it’s a out and out pleasure to hear this side project.
THE HOLLOWAYS – So This Is Great Britain
(TVT Records)
www.the-holloways.com
If was just a matter of times before indie upstarts The Holloways were picked up by a good label, and with two singles under their belts, the Nambucca regulars are back with their debut album ‘So This is Great Britain‘.on TVT. It’s a somewhat bleak view of the state of the nation to be honest – winos, drunks, ASBOs, STDs and the like – but stand out tracks ‘ Generator’ and ‘Two Left Feet’ give the proceedings a lighter note. ‘Happiness And Penniless’ ponders whether it’s better to be skint and happy, or a slave to the grind, whilst ‘Re-Invent Myself’ takes a stab at the powers that be.
Reknowned for their electric live performances, this album doesn’t quite capture the thrill of those sets. Whilst NME and the scene kids will be creaming their panties over this – is misses that rawness and the sounds a bit too polished for it’s sleazy contents. The Holloways still blast most of their contemporaries out of the water with their sets, so whilst this album doesn’t quite do them justice, this’ll still have you dancing, and single is ‘Generator’ is undoubtedly one of the most upbeat tracks you’ll trip over this year.
+44 – Lycanthrope
(Interscope )
www.plusfourtyfour.co.uk
With Tom Delonge having enjoyed critical success with his post Blink offering ‘ Angels & Airwaves’, it’s now turn for the other two thirds of the arguably most successful pop punk band of our generation to step up to the plate. Frontman Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker have teamed up with Craig Fairbaugh (who already played with Barker in Transplants) and Shane Gallagher (The Nervous Return), and bought onboard bought Blink producer Jerry Finn as executive producer, to create an album that maintains the best elements of Blink, but is slashed through with a darker, most progressive electronic sound.
Debut single ‘ Lycanthope’ was debuted on Tony Hawks Project 8 Xbox game, and whilst there’s no escaping that Hoppus’s vocal will forever bring you back to Blink tracks about banging the neighbour and the girl at the rock show – this is like Blink all grown up. Hoppus remarks “We’re not divorcing ourselves from the past, but we are pushing beyond..” The sound is more mature, Jerry Finn’s concocted a masterpiece of a mix, with keyboards, electronic drums and a gently throbbing bassline caressing a catchy but not cheesy chorus. As Barker himself puts it “If Blink was the daytime, Plus 44 is the nighttime.”
This is in exciting debut from a band who are moving and growing, Hoppus and Barker have maintained the accessibility of Blink, but +44 is darker and edgier. If you thought you’d outgrown Blink shrug this on for size – after all, what’s not to love about a band named after the UK dialling code?
ENTER SHIKARI – Sorry You’re Not A Winner
(Ambush Reality)
www.entershikari.com
You’ve got to respect Enter Shikari – despite the bun fight of labels after them they’re sticking to their roots and releasing their debut single ‘ Sorry You’re Not A Winner’ on their own Ambush Reality label. Having had to recently upgrade their Mean Fiddler show to the Astoria, enjoyed a nomination at the Kerrang awards and killer shows at the Reading and Leeds festivals it’s not bad going for group of guys who were relatively unknown this time last year.
Having released their first offering ‘Mothership’ digitally, ‘Sorry You’re Not A Winner’ is being released on CD and limited edition colour 7″. It’s a heady mix of metalcore and trance like beats, lyrics screamed out so hard that the rising tension is palpable. The lyrics are too blurred to create images for the listener, so it’s down to the guitars and effects to draw up feelings and emotions – and that’s where Enter Shikari step into their own. The disco vibe layered over heavy riffs and biting guitars mesh with the wonderfully incoherent lyrics, barked out by frontman Rou. This is what The Automatic try to be – this raw, jagged offering is the real deal, fresh, vicious and very very exciting.
Enter Shikari are home-grown talent at it’s best. Progressive, innovative and something different from the endless indie bands that all merge into one another after a few drinks. Full of an acidic zest, ‘Sorry You’re Not A Winner’ is the real deal, it’ll grab you by the scruff of your neck and enthral you – turn up and the volume and enjoy, this is a sheer delight.
Record Of The Month
GETHIN PEARSON AND THE SCENERY – Hang On, Hang On
(TPF Records/Split Lip Recordings)
www.gethinpearsonandthescenery.com
The Welsh music scene is somewhat hit and miss these days. With almost every other little boyo recording something or other in their bedroom it’s harder and harder to find any genuine musical talent. That’s what makes Gethin Pearson and his crew of merry men and women all the more enjoyable. Representing the Zooport massive, Gethin shares his personal view on life with the help of a backing ‘scenery’ of musicians. A cocktail of folk and country riffs that really waken up the senses, more so than your herbal essences shampoo could ever dream of.
Despite unfortunately only being a 4 track EP, there is not one dodgy melody, and the variety is unfathomable. Opening track “Lost At Sea” captures the listener in a head tapping, finger clicking, folk trap, while the following “Shatterproof” offers a chorus worthy enough to be chanted at Wembley with lyrics as thought provoking as major metaphor heads, Thursday. Though, as said by the man himself, the words are about ‘nothing, something, no-one, someone, anything and everything all at the same time’. Which is a blessing in itself; creating songs that allow a listener to interpret the song however they wish only underlines the talent this little boyo has. Live, the band is stunning, each set resulting in their merch stall being surrounded before even Linford Christie has left the start line. Without a doubt, this is one of the best debut EPs I’ve heard in a bloody long time. Get in.
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Digital Penetration (Vol.1)
(Alt-Delete Records)
Musical bandwagons trundle through scenes on a regular basis these days. With the emo one finally veering out of sight, a funkier, yellow painted Volkswagen comes rolling around the corner, and it’s got a big fucking smile on it. New Rave has shat its internal goodness all over the UK indie scene recently, and by the sounds of it, the constipation only made it better. Digital Penetration is a wickedly cool compilation album from the guys at Alt-Delete that takes samples from the freshly spawned pioneers of the genre that’s currently getting a thorough brown nosing from the guys at NME. Each track is a glorious burst of fresh air. Delectable twangs from out of tune guitars, combined with Nintendo beats and vocalists that spit lyrics at you like they couldn’t give a toss. Fantastic.
The album deserves a good listen, or three. By avoiding the almighty Klaxons, who prove themselves once again to be the principal noise makers in New Rave, you stumble across the odd little gem, like the lesser known, but Klaxon recommended Crystal Castles. The variety within this little shiny disc is mind blowing. Tracks like “Are You The One” by Aussie shape throwers The Presets will no doubt be filling floors at the KOKO in Camden with colourful Topshoppers armed with glowsticks, while Cut Copy serve up a plate of droned out, boppy goodness that would make the likes of Beck drool.
The New Rave bandwagon has parallel parked itself firmly between the Indie and Dance rides, I’m hoping its paid for a long stay.
TO MY BOY – theGrid
(Abeano Records)
www.myspace.com/tomyboy
Being a record company conceived by one of the major indie clubs in the big smoke, we can only presume scousers To My Boy’s follow up single to schizophrenic toddler on a keyboard smash ‘I Am X-ray’ will be another XFM and MTV2 hitlist anthem. But why should that be a problem? It’s hard to fault the tripped out electro nerds on another floor filling, shape tweaking banger.
It looks like 2006 is the comeback of the robot! This is news coloured with 8 shades of ‘fuck yeah’ to us rigid honkies who have secretly been dying for a dance, now’s the chance ladies and gentlemen! TheGrid is an instantly appealing nouvel rave gem that places the band right up there with the Klaxon hegemony. The duo sound like an infant pounding away at his honky-tonk alongside his stuttering, well pronounced thespian of a father reciting the words to another sing-along chorus. Which, funnily enough, works like a wee leprechauns bag of charms. Whether you hear this track at the disco, or watching MTV2 on a comedown, get up, move your feet and bop around like you were a born again epileptic. Nostradamus predicted these to be the future of pop*, and since when was he wrong!
*True story.
Record Of The Month
P. PAUL FENECH – The F Word
(People Like You)
www.kingsofpsychobilly.com
That web address isn’t just an arrogant boast, y’know. As singer/guitarist and founder of the Meteors, P. Paul Fenech effectively invented psychobilly (the bastard son of punk and rockabilly), and this record – his sixth solo outing – is a typically high-quality affair. Whether turning his hand to the eerie atmospherics of ‘Scarecrow’ or unleashing squalling solos over the rollicking ‘3 Minutes To Dead Time’, every track is laden with the horror-movie aesthetic and gallows humour that has long been Fenech’s trademark. Oh, and if you’re still not impressed, check out the title track.
THE LOST PATROL BAND – Automatic
(Burning Heart)
www.myspace.com/lostpatrolband
Considering the hundreds of UK bands currently looking to the leading lights of 1970s punk for inspiration, it seems odd that it should take four Swedes to make a decent job of it. That said, when said Swedes include Dennis Lyxzen – of former Refused and The International Noise Conspiracy fame – you know you’re onto a good thing. ‘Automatic’ is joyful in its simplicity; a record bursting with punchy punk-pop tunes that owe plenty to the likes of the Buzzcocks, Undertones and The Jam. You’ll be singing along to the choruses of ‘I Don’t Understand’ and ’30 Something’ before you know it.
ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES – Love Their Country
(Fat Wreck Chords)
www.gimmegimmes.com
The history of punk rock cover versions may stretch back to the days of Sid Vicious massacring Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’, but successful punk cover bands are few and far between. Californian quintet Me First…, however, are an exception. Having previously reworked 70s, 60s, R&B and Broadway hits, they’re now focusing on Country & Western music; beefing up songs from the likes of Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton and the Dixie Chicks with the kind of melodic, turbo-charged guitar action that you’d expect from a band featuring members of NOFX and Lagwagon. Highly entertaining stuff.
WALLS OF JERICHO – With Devils Amongst Us All
(Trustkill/Roadrunner)
www.wallsofjericho.tv
It’s no surprise that Walls Of Jericho are a savage musical beast, given the mental and physical trauma that has dogged their career; but ‘With Devils Amongst Us All’ is still breathtaking in its sheer sonic brutality. Frontwoman Candace Kucsulain’s voice is as raw as sandblasted skin as she vents her fury over metallic hardcore gems like ‘Plastic’ and ‘And The Dead Walk Again”; songs that boast a more anthemic edge than previous efforts, but nevertheless hit home like a sledgehammer to the senses. It’s a shame that they felt the need to include the mediocre power ballad ‘No Saving Me‘; but otherwise, ‘With Devils…’ is metalcore at its most potent and punishing.
WESTBOUND TRAIN – Transitions
(Hellcat)
www.westboundsound.com
Boston septet Westbound Train deal in a soulful, rootsy ska/reggae hybrid, and in ‘Transitions” (the band’s third album) they’ve created a record with the perfect balance of variety and accessibility. Like their labelmates the Aggrolites and the Slackers, these guys don’t so much plagiarise as pay homage to ska’s rich history, infusing old sounds with a fresh shot of vitality and irresistible grooves. Check out the likes of ‘Good Enough’ and ‘The Runaround’, and be sure to have your dancing shoes at the ready.
Record Of The Month
VARIOUS ARTISTS – American Hardcore
(Rhino/Warner)
www.americanhardcoremovie.com
You’ve read the book, seen the film… now here’s the CD soundtrack to Steven Blush’s historic recollections of the early Eighties American Hardcore scene. I understand a range of porcelain figurines and souvenir plates are to follow. Any self respecting (elitist) follower of the genre will have most, if not all, of the material featured on this 26track CD, but as compilations go this is excellent and to have all these songs in a handy compact format sure makes for great listening.
This is evidenced by the opening salvo – Nervous Breakdown by Black Flag, Out of Vogue by Middle Class, Play to Cum by Bad Brains, Fucked Up Ronnie by DOA, Circle Jerk’s Red Tape, Minor Threat’s Filler and MDC’s I Remember – you can’t argue with that!!!
Elsewhere it’s a who’s-who of heady sounds from ground breaking times including The Freeze, Jerry’s Kids, SSD, Void, Scream, Negative Approach, AOF, 7Seconds, Big Boys, Really Red, Adolescents, DRI, closing with the classic Flipper twister “Ha Ha Ha”. Fantastic. And I picked this disc up (new) in Fopp for a fiver, who’s laughing now huh?!
UK SUBS – Original Punks Original Hits
(Demon)
www.uksubs.co.uk
If you’ve been living feral on a South Pacific island for the past 25+years, or some similar backwater fate, and the UK Subs have not registered on your radar, then this 46track double CD compilation is a cracking showcase and at a fiver a pop (thank you again Fopp) it’s an absolute bargain.
This collection hits you up with prize numbers from their debut 7inch “CID” and the subsequent releases on the Gems label, with virtually all the singles A and B-sides, plus a few choice cuts from the “Another Kind Of Blues” “Brand New Age” and “Diminished Responsibility” albums. The only obvious omission is the A-side of their final single on Gems “Keep on Running (’til You Burn)” although the B-side “Perfect Girl” is included. Without a doubt ‘Subs frontman Charlie Harper is Punk Rock Royalty, they guy has never stopped, never relented, never slowed down, and is gonna be hollering out his hoary anthems ’til he drops. Charlie, we salute you!
Record Of The Month
AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF THE DEAD – So Divided
(Interscope)
www.trailofdead.com
Has the whole world gone fucking deaf? First, last years utterly brilliant ‘World’s Apart’ album was almost universally ignored when it should have been heralded an instant classic and made compulsory listening for the whole damn world. Now the follow up comes out and what happens? The press don’t give a shit. Every review I’ve seen has been average beyond belief. People just don’t seem arsed by it. Maybe it’s me but I just don’t get why people don’t get the genius song-writing and epic sounds this band create on a whim. Fuck ’em all. This Trail Of Dead album is yet another classic from the depths of Texan depravity. Fuck the lot of you.
THE MELVINS – A Senile Animal
(Ipecac)
www.themelvins.net
How could the combination of Seattle grunge legends The Melvins and Hydra Head recording artists Big Business be anything less than absolutely fucking incredible? When word got out that The Melvins had teamed up with Big Business (who, in case you don’t know, delivered one of last years most powerful albums ‘Head For The Shallow’ and were equally jaw-dropping live) no one was quite sure how the end results would turn out. Chances are it was going to be a typically Melvins slab of impenetrable noise, but instead, the newly born Big-Business-Melvins have turned in the most commercial album of their long careers.
‘A Senile Animal’ is undoubtedly the band’s most straight-up rock album for years, but done, of course, in the trademark Melvins lurching doom-drenched noise. Rhythmically, it’s incredible – the combination of Dale Crover and Coady Willis on drums is utterly earth shattering. Combine that with a double lashing of fuzzed-out bass and this is the sound of planets exploding. Yet all the way throughout, the vocal and guitar hooks are utterly addictive and some of these songs wouldn’t sound out of place on a Soundgarden album.
Quite how, over twenty years into their careers, The Melvins have delivered what could be their best album so far beggars belief. But then again, this is The Melvins we’re talking about. Worship them!
CRASS – Stations Of The Crass
(Crass)
www.southern.com/southern/band/CRASS/
Yeah, it may be hard to believe that there was a time when punk was a genuine threat and not a fucking fashion parade but Crass at their peak were a real thorn in the side of the establishment. Welding sixties idealism with hard line anarchist politics, they created true independence in music, building a radical cottage industry of art, music and politics.
This month sees the release of two books that centre around the world of Crass. ‘The Story Of Crass’ by George Berger (Omnibus Press) tells the whole story in detail for the first time, whilst Ian Glasper’s brilliant ‘The Day The Country Died’ (Cherry Red Books) tells the story of Crass and the bands that followed in their wake, inspired by their ideas and sound. Subhumans, Rudimentary Peni, Conflict, Icons Of Filth, Omega Tribe and a host of others tell their stories but all refer back to Crass. And while much has been made of what Crass achieved politically (read all about it in the book!), to these ears at least, the music has stood the test of time. Always harsh and biting, viciously angry vocals mix with scratchy, abrasive guitar noise (pre-Steve Albini!) as military drums push the tempo to near breaking point.
‘Stations Of The Crass’, their second album, is a good starting point. But ‘Feeding Of The 5000′, ‘Christ – The Album’, ‘Penis Envy’ and ‘Best Before’ are equally deserving. It’s your choice. Like Crass said, here is no authority but yourself.
THE WHO – Endless Wire
(Polydor)
www.thewho.com
It’s been some twenty-one years since the last Who album. After Keith Moon spun his last drum roll and fell of the end of the kit into the stars, they recorded two dreadful albums – ‘It’s Hard’ and ‘Faces Dance’ with Small Faces drummer Kenny Jones, both of which are pretty much dreadful despite a couple of good songs. Both albums were victims of dated eighties production techniques, uninspired song-writing and the loss of the ‘Greatest Drummer In Rock, Ever’.
So what’s changed twenty-one years later? Well, despite the loss of both Moon and then bassist John Entwistle, The half-a-Who have still been cranking out impressive live shows. With such a wealth of classic material to draw from how could they not? With Ringer Starr’s son Zac on drums (who himself was taught by Moon as a young kid), The Who finally had a drummer that could do justice to Moon’s classic rhythms and once more, even as old men and half the band dead, they still rock live. Which is where the problem comes in with this new album.
Unfortunately, due to Zac being busy playing with Oasis, he only plays on one song on this album. Because of this ‘Endless Wire’ doesn’t rock as hard as it should. Many of the songs are morose and slow, leaving Roger Daltry’s voice, already irreparably damaged from years of shouting and screaming over the noise, sound like he’s got a Kermit The Frog in his throat. This really shouldn’t be called a Who album. It is, in essence, a Pete Townshend solo album with Roger singing in it. Half a Who is still better than no Who and an average Who album is still better than no Who album as there are some good moments here, but too much of ‘Endless Wire’ is bogged down in old man crooning and not enough rock action. Shame.
Bay 66 skatepark took a message from the guys at Gumball yesterday who mentioned that tmrw night (28th), Tony Hawk, Bam Margera and Mike Vallely may well be skating at the park during the usual Wednesday night sesh there which should perk up an already monstrous weekly session.
Hopefully Vallely will be arriving to sort out the local chavs!See you there.
Yeti have confirmed they’ll be playing a five date tour of the UK, following the success of their EP One Eye On The Banquet. Make sure you get along to one of the dates listed below.
Also, if you haven’t already done it, get over here and check the interview we just did with the band!
December:
4th – Manchester, Joshua Brooks
5th – Liverpool, Barfly
6th – Cardiff, Barfly
8th – Birmingham, Barfly
15th – Camden, Barfly.
2006 is pretty much done so we realised that we had to end it with the best show yet.
This hour-long session is brought to you by the rotten scumbags of Crossfire DJ’s Zac Slack and James Sherry who have just seen the American Hardcore Movie and felt inspired to share their inspiration with this dump of the best punk and hardcore they could find.
This show has a selection of new and old and should keep you busy for the next hour so click that flag to stream it or podcast here. Thanks for listening to our show this year, we will be back with a January session so if you have requests, messages or shout outs, leave them here for us.
December Playlist
1. SSS – Damaged Goods (Dead & Gone)
2. Tragedy – Rabid Panic (Tragedy)
3. Cancer Bats – Golden Tanks (Hassle)
4. Violent Arrest – War Of The Nerves (Deranged)
5. Beastie Boys – Brand New (Grand Royal)
6. District – 19th Soldier (People Like You)
7. Deathskulls – Who Fuckin’ Says? (Rejected)
8. Hardskin – We Are The Wankers (Rudeness)
9. The Briefs – Lint Fabrick (BYO)
10. The Fall Outs – Ambition (Super Electro)
11. Sailboats Are White – Hand It To The Devil (Poptones)
12. Articles Of Faith – Buried Alive (Alternative Tentacles)
13. Circles Jerks – Red Tape (Rhino)
14. SSD – Boiling Point (Rhino)
15. Bad Brains – Pay To Cum (Rhino)
16. DOA – Fucked Up Ronnie (Rhino)
17. The Freeze – Boston Not L.A. (Rhino)
18. Gallows – 6 Years (In At The Deep End)
19. The Clash – 1977 (Columbia)
20. Set Your Goals – Flight Of The Navigator (Eulogy)
21. The Mingers – Vermin (Go Down Fighting)
22. Fucked Up – Two Snakes (Jade Tree)