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BOB BURNS AND
THE BREAKUPS
BOB BURNS AND THE BREAKUPS - "Hydrostatic Heart" 7" EP Honestly, the first I've heard from these kids who play the basement rock over Wisconsin way. Trickdick and the usual WI suspects have said good things, and they even got a good review out of Old Man Soriano, so my expectations were set on stun. The title tune sounds like Kill-A-Watts but without the girl vox. "Losing My Head" is the most interesting, with its well-built Reds-like chorus. "Acid Reflex" is similar to the the off-beat jerky stuff the Catholic Boys were doing at the end of their run. Sounds fun enough, I'd go see them play in any basement or living room, probably even on a weeknight. The record, well, I wouldn't stay up past bedtime to listen to it. Scum stats: 500 on clear vinyl, great looking Platic Idol packaging as usual. (Rich Kroneiss) Now Wave BOB BURNS AND THE BREAKUPS - "Hydrostatic Heart" 7" EP Blasting like an H-bomb out of the bottomless pit of awesomeness that is the Wisconsin punk rock n' roll scene, Bob Burns and the Breakups let loose one of THE essential singles of 2006. Both stylistically and qualitatively, this EP brings to mind the glory days of Rip Off Records. With so many bands in this genre now flirting with powerpop or noise elements, you don't hear nearly as much straight-ahead rippin' garage-punk as you used to. But when you do hear it, it's great to come across a band that totally gets it right. Bob Burns and the Breakups kick out fast and furious lo-fi trash that's catchy as hell but not at all poppy (if that makes sense). The hard part for me is deciding which cut is the "hit." "Hydrostatic Heart" blazes at warp speed, buoyed by an aggressive, wildman vocal and scorching guitar leads. "Losing My Head" is a little less rock n' roll, more blow-the-roof-off punk. And boy, does it ever smoke! Both numbers deliver that just-right blend of adolescent ferocity and unabashed catchiness. Either song could have been the A-side! "Acid Reflex" rages in a not-altogether-different vein. But, to quote Professor Trickknee, it's "more fucked up rhythmically." Like their fellow Wisconsinites the Catholic Boys, Bob Burns and the Breakups demonstrate an ability to rock your balls off without necessarily conforming to widely accepted formulas for punk rock. Wisconsin, a magical land where beer joints, porn shops, and quality punk bands abound, has produced its fair share of Now Wave favorites. Bob Burns and the Breakups could be next. And with the group's CD now on its way to my mailbox, I'll find out soon enough if these boys are for real! (Josh Rutledge) Killed By Death Records BOB BURNS AND THE BREAKUPS -
"Hydrostatic
Heart" 7" EP
Second band out that sent us a super duper punk rock record. "Hydrostatic Heart" is as catchy as it gets, combining a blistering beat with an infectious melody and great vocals. Brilliant! "Losing My Head" is right behind and "Acid Reflex" tops it off with with a jerky beat, which makes this record stand out from many bands around. Sure one of my current favourites along with Germany's Dean Dirg. BACK TO TOP THE MANIKINS Now Wave
THE MANIKINS - "Spend The Night Alone" 7" EP This label just keeps pumping out the hits. And while I don't mean to diminish Plastic Idol in any way, I've seen a lot more consistency with small (and even the bigger) punk labels recently. The punk blow-up of the '90s is now officially 10 years behind us (breakthroughs like Smash and Out Come The Wolves are now 11 years old – yikes!), and for a long stretch every punk band on the planet was being put to tape, even if it sounded like yaks shitting in a tunnel full of bees. Nowadays though, bands like the Manikins have room to breathe. Those jagged guitars sound fresh again, and the hooks are baited with '70s roots-punk without seeming stale. "Spend The Night Alone" rips through the A-side like any good single should: a thumping garage rock backbeat and verses that rip like a '63-era Beatles on double time. As good as that nugget is, "Still Afraid Of Girls" might be even better. This time the guitars bring in a little rebellious twang, the drums gallop along, and there’s a solo that's reminiscent of a rudimentary Reverend Horton Heat or even something (gasp) non-punk like Friends of Dean Martinez. The song itself is a perplexing tune, as the lyrics are standard shy-guy fare, but the singer has a bitter and biting tone that seeps with confidence. "Take 5" is just icing. After these solid gold tracks, it's just there to remind you to flip the slab and start all over again. (Mark Hughson) Go Metric #21 THE MANIKINS - "Spend The Night Alone" 7" EP Usually it only takes a spin or two to figure out if you like a single. They are like candy. It's not like you have to swish a Clark Bar around your palette for five minutes to reach a verdict. Cheap and easy to consume (or dispose of, if it is not to your liking), that's the point. Why, then, are the Manikins giving me such a hard time? I know I like them, that much was easy, but I can't figure out why. It's like there's some new variation on caramel or nougat that is throwing my taste buds for a loop. On the one hand, they profess to be "Still Afraid of Girls," which is totally at odds with the hip swaggering confidence exuded by the music. Adding to the conundrum is "Spend The Night Alone," in which our hero very politely asks the lady in his life to stop calling him because they've "hurt each other enough already." He's willfully staying at home and he's exercising precaution. What the hell is that all about? There's no room for precaution in rock 'n' roll. Or so I thought before hearing the Manikins. And I didn't even get to "Take 5," the best song on the EP. I'm just going to enjoy that one. (Mike Faloon) Razorcake THE MANIKINS - "Spend The Night Alone" 7" EP Like fellow Swedes Randy, these guys have the Back to the Future capability to seamlessly shuttle through the roots of rock 'n' roll but never forget that it's 2006. Take the "full dressed on stage, but mentally fucking your girlfriend" capability of Chuck Berry, the "how dare you steal something from the U.S.A. and turbocharge it, you tricky bastard"-ness of Japan's Firestarter, and the "They're probably nominated for a Swedish Grammy" sound, and it's difficult for me not to like. It's like being playfully slapped by someone who just poured you a glass of champagne right after telling you a joke: bubbling, broken glass, chipped tooth fun. Limited to 500, white vinyl. (Todd Taylor) Now Wave THE MANIKINS - "Spend The Night Alone" 7" EP Talk about a hit single! The Manikins' "Spend the Night Alone" is in serious running for song-of-the-year honors (even though it actually came out last year). It completely blows away anything I'd heard previously from this Swedish foursome. Not that they were bad before, but now they've taken a massive leap forward from the "junior Teengenerate" mold. "Spend the Night Alone" is an upbeat, supercatchy powerpop number that ought to thrill fans of the latest Kidnappers album. It's got great melodic guitar leads, a simple sing-along chorus, and a driving energy that's impossible to resist. It's like the Devil Dogs had sex with the Paul Collins Beat and made a baby. The B-side's not bad either. "Still Afraid of Girls," both in title and sound, reminds me of early Joe Jackson. It's very catchy. If there had been a song on Look Sharp with a twangy, countrified twist, it would have sounded like this. "Take 5" is straight-up wannabe Hives punk - not nearly as good as the real thing, but still pretty decent and likely to get you dancing. Ordinarily, I'd hear a
record like this and urge you all to buy it immediately. But as
is often the case with Plastic Idol releases, this single sold out long
before I got around to reviewing it! What does that tell
you? Yeah, it tells you that I'm slow. But it also tells
you that Plastic Idol is doing well with its releases, and that
absolutely delights me. It's no secret that I consider Plastic
Idol to be one of the best labels out there right now. Mario's
tastes are remarkably in tune with the "Now Wave sound." There
just aren't that many labels these days that specialize in "classic"
punk rock, so I'm overjoyed by the success of the ones that do.
And on top of that, Plastic Idol's thing is 7" vinyl - my favorite
format by far. I'm still working on my review of the Heartattacks
7" - and that's sold out too! Enthusiastic raves from idiots like
me aren't even needed - music this good sells itself! THE MANIKINS - "Spend The Night Alone" 7" EP One track from their Lie Cheat and Steal LP on P. Trash, and two unreleased tracks- here's to striking gold once again. I'm completely stuck on "Still Afraid of Girls"; I love everything about that song. It's a bittersweet, catchy power pop song with an irresistible chorus. This record has the capability of being one of my favorites of the year. Pressed on simple, but effective white wax with a crème-colored label, this is one you shouldn't pass on. (Klinger) P.S. We Hate You THE MANIKINS - "Spend The Night Alone" 7" EP Three tunes of energy packed Swedish pop and roll. These guys sound a lot like The Hives at times, but also drift into more of a '50s feel a la bands such as the Devil Dogs and the Leg Hounds. Side A is a cut from their "Lie, Cheat and Steal" LP on P. Trash Records while the B side carries two brand new songs. I get the impression that this band has every intention of following in The Hives' footsteps, but can you really blame them? This bad boy comes on 500 copies of white vinyl with a cream colored label. (Bob Burns) Sleazegrinder THE MANIKINS - "Spend The Night Alone" 7" EP A confession: I totally dig Swedish bands. They must put something in the food over there, because Sweden breeds great bands like standing water breeds West Nile disease. I haven't heard a Swedish band that I haven't liked, and I was pleased to discover that The Manikins prove a delightful non-exception to the rule. Like The Hives without the spats and ties, The Manikins work the garage rock/pop/punk groove to perfection. "Spend the Night Alone" goes down as smooth as Haagen Daz vanilla ice cream (incidentally the exact shade of the vinyl), "Still Afraid of Girls" calls upon the spirit of California in the '60s with its twanging surf guitars, and "Take 5" is so insistently catchy that I haven't been able to get the guitar riff out of my head. It's been in there for days, knocking around like a kid in his first mosh pit. This record gets my highest rating: G for great. (Holly) Dusted THE MANIKINS - "Spend The Night Alone" 7" EP Kind of surprising that these Swedish guys, really laying it on thick in burgers-n-shakes garage pop, could have cracked off three albums and a dozen singles appearances in the last five years, but stranger things have happened. They remind me of Gaunt circa Kryptonite more than the suggested Hives or Devil Dogs comparisons. Title track comes off of their P.Trash album Lie, Cheat and Steal, and the B-sides (which are both better) are exclusive to this single. 500 copies, white vinyl, sold out. (Doug Mosurak, from "Still Single" Vol. 2, No. 2) BACK TO TOP Now
Wave
ANGRY ANGLESTHE HEARTATTACKS - "Your Lies" 7" EP Here the (Swedish) Heartattacks sound very reminiscent of early Registrators or the first Kidnappers album. You know what I mean. Really melodic trashy punk played fast as hell. Fun, furious stuff that storms out of the gates and never lets up. Not quite on a par with Teengenerate/Registrators standards of greatness, but good shit nonetheless. Kind of like how Pabst Blue Ribbon isn't quite Beck's, but I'm still damn happy to drink it. "Your Lies" is the hit: real catchy, with a bass line that'll have you shakin' your ass like crazy if you're young and enthusiastic. On the flip, you've got a similarly rippin' original plus a not-awful cover of The Features' "Floozie of the Neighborhood." Like everything else Plastic Idol Records has put out this year, "Your Lies" rates as one of the very best punk singles of 2006. Could Plastic Idol be Record Label of the Year? Quite possibly! (Josh Rutledge) Now Wave THE HEARTATTACKS - "Your Lies" 7" EP Finally I got this 7"... and it fuckin' rocks! The real reason is that the recording now sounds fuckin' awesome and you can really hear how they sound. This 7" just kills all their previous stuff. Here they sound like the Registrators singles stuff or the more trashy Kidnappers stuff from their first album. So you know...if you are bored by this type of stuff because you have heard a million bands before and you are really old, forget this, you have heard stuff like this lots of times. But since I'm young and at this time I think I will never be bored by this type of stuff, I love this 7". It just makes me crazy and makes me feel better. This is the type of 7" I would like to do someday with my band... two good songs and a good cover, all trashy, fast, and simple to enjoy from the first time you hear it. Now it is time for an album!!! Alien Snatch, Dirtnap, or any other label like that should try something. (Raul Reaction) Go Metric #21 THE HEARTATTACKS - "Your Lies" 7" EP Billed as the Swedish Teengenerate, the Heartattacks are fast and raw, but they lack that glint in their eye, that hint that they might be nuts and shatter a lamp or two in the process. (Mike Faloon) Out of Order blog THE HEARTATTACKS - "Your Lies" 7" EP When Mario told me he was releasing this record, I wasn't that familiar with the Heartattacks. Between that announcement, and the release of this record, I acquired their Here Comes… LP on P. Trash and their Radio Radio EP. Where had I been? This translucent yellow vinyl holds three great tracks, including an awesome cover of the Features' "Floozie of the Neighborhood." My favorite track is "Wait Around," but all are great. Plus, the guy who recorded this 7-inch goes by "Junk E. Male." How can you not love that? (Klinger) Dusted THE HEARTATTACKS - "Your Lies" 7" EP They're sold as Sweden's answer to Japanese garage punk, a la Teengenerate or the Registrators, and that judgment fits – speed up a post-Loney Flamin' Groovies record and you got the template. Nothing wrong with that, though, as these are fun, furiously paced, and catchy lo-fi crunchers which will appeal to a lot of folks. They give us two very decent originals and a cover of the Features' KBD classic "Floozie of the Neighborhood" which is as good, if not better, than most of what turned up on P.Trash's Killed by Trash comp. 500 copies, gold vinyl, and sold out on the label's end. Happy hunting. (Doug Mosurak, from "Still Single" Vol. 2, No. 2) Terminal Boredom THE HEARTATTACKS - "Your Lies" 7" EP I maintain that the TEENGENERATE comparisons that follow the Heartattacks wherever they go (yes, I'm guilty as charged) are present only in Tomo's bass playing, which actually does bear a striking resemblance to Sammy's. Beyond that, they lack the intangibles that made Fink and Co. gods. Now that we've established that the Heartattacks are mere mortals, we can conclude that their knack for writing passable speedy punk places them squarely in the late-era Rip Off camp rather than the early or middle periods. Translation: far from foundation-shaking, but solid for a listen or two. As is customary with Plastic Idol, 500 pressed on clear gold vinyl and with a ¾ sleeve. (Mitch Cardwell) BACK TO TOP Now
Wave
ANGRY ANGLES - "Apparent-Transparent" 7" EP God damn it! I knew I shouldn't have played this record! What was I thinking? I should have been smart and just left it in the box with the rest of my yet-to-be-played promo. Or I could have used it as a dinner plate or thrown it at the head of the guy at the fish market who asks me if I like Fallout Boy every time he sees me in my Clash shirt. But no, I just had to pull that bad boy out and give it a spin. Shit. An Angry Angles record is like a Furby -- once you start playing with it, you won't be able to stop it from taking over your life. Now that I have one Angry Angles 7", I gotta have 'em ALL! I will have no rest until I've tracked down all the other singles, as well as bootleg rough mixes of the forthcoming LP and an autographed copy of the Angry Angles sticker book. I could go broke! A man's gotta buy beer, you know! This guy in Denmark wants to trade me a copy of the Totally Shattered Euro tour 7" in exchange for my left big toe, and I'm seriously considering his offer. This is truly some of the best art-punk I've ever heard. Yeah, it's arty, but not in a pretentious or "indie" sort of way. And it's got HOOKS! Mood and futuristic tone are exquisitely nailed, but it's superb songwriting that's front and center here. The Angry Angles are Jay "Reatard" Lindsey and Alix Brown (The Lids), doing up punk/wave in the Urinals, Wire, Tubeway Army mold. Jay's prolific musical output has been well-documented -- Lost Sounds, Reatards, a raved-about new solo album. And several in-the-know zine writers are already buzzing about his Donnie Osmond tribute band Soldier of Love, his hair metal trio Mustache Ride, his rap project J-Unit, and the score he contributed to the pornographic film Lactating Latinas 12. This guy is flat-out unstoppable! "Apparent-Transparent" is absolutely, positively one of the top songs of the year. To me this one sounds like a co-ed Devo, or early B-52s if they'd gone completely insane. Jerky, immensely catchy punk with ultra-peppy vocals and just the right mix of animate synth and driving guitars. Love it! "You Fell In" is jangly pop with a creepy feel, kind of like a monster movie theme song played by a '60s psych-pop band, that takes a surprising and satisfying turn as it boils into a powerful conclusion. "The 15th" is a Wire cover, not remarkably different from the original, but beautiful nonetheless. This one suggests what Interpol might sound like if they had a great female singer. Oh yeah, this record's out of print! Sorry. The first pressing of 600 copies sold out in two days! Another 600 flew out the door in short order. I can just picture all the teeming masses descending upon Plastic Idol headquarters, banging on the door demanding Angry Angles records, poor Mario having to beat them off with a stick. But despair not, my dear children. Hope is on the way! There's a full-length coming on In the Red, and surely the singles collection will arrive by 2012!(Josh Rutledge) Go Metric #21 ANGRY ANGLES - "Apparent-Transparent" 7" EP Here we have a collaboration between Jay (Reatards, Lost Sounds) and Alix (Lids), a guy and gal who are also romantically linked. Kind of like a pre-Fleetwood Mac Buckingham and Nicks. (Come to think of it, whoever's left in Fleetwood Mac should hire Jay and Alix. Then Stevie Nicks would make a play for Jay and John McVie would go after Alix. Then they would unleash a punk rock Rumors.) In the meantime, the a-side is a split decision. The title track is a new wave gem, driven by keyboards early on but yielding to guitars. The second cut, "You Fell In," sets a mood but doesn't do much with it. That leaves the b-side, a cover of Wire's "The 15th," to tip the balance. It's haunting and just short of creepy, yet I still sing along, which vaults Apparent-Transparent into the "keep it for mix tapes" pile. (Mike Faloon) Razorcake #34 ANGRY ANGLES - "Apparent-Transparent" 7" EP Oh man this band keeps delivering. Jay Reatard and Alix from The Lids, if you haven’t heard. Redefining new wave in good form: sometimes moody, sometimes fast sounds without pretentious goth or keyboards. They are all business without an inch of waste, from the poppy title track to the haunting "You Fell In" and a killer cover of "The 15th" by Wire. All of their singles come highly recommended. (Speedway Randy) Dusted ANGRY ANGLES - "Apparent-Transparent" 7" EP Third single from this hot commodity (first pressing of this one sold out in 2 days, according to the label) featuring Jay Reatard (Reatards, Lost Sounds, and now solo). Recorded as a duo with his girlfriend Alix, the single kicks off with the higher-energy blast of the title track, and some slow-burn minimalist ideal ideas with the second A-side, "You Fell In." A similar tack goes sour on the flip, a cover of Wire's "The 15th," that really shouldn't be here. Didn't anyone learn from Fischerspooner's folly? Anyone who covers Wire, especially something off the first three records, is more or less forced to reinvent the song entirely, and there's too much perceived similarity with the original here – which of course is (or "was") not there. As with Digital Leather, there's a disconnect between what these bands like and take influence by, and where their strengths lie. Fortunately, for Angry Angles the path is a bit more distinct – tighten up, cast off the call-and-response shouting, and work towards compacting their sound into something more reductive, rocking be damned, but no less intense. More angles, please. Second pressing of 600 on yellow vinyl, now apparently out of print as well. (Doug Mosurak, from "Still Single" Vol 2., No. 2) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #278 ANGRY ANGLES - "Apparent-Transparent" 7" EP ***FIVE TOP TEN LISTS*** Listening to this record is like finding a $20 dollar bill tucked away in the drawer or something. Every one of this band's singles has been perfection in my book, like a secret society of raucous youth writing tracts and wrecking rooms. Jay REATARD and Alix of the LIDS play all instruments and tend to release only super-limited edition singles, which you must seek out because they all have the required surly yet frantic qualities necessary of a good 7". Both ANGRY ANGLES originals on this disc are incredible; "Apparent-Transparent" sounds like something that Hyped to Death would unearth on a Messthetics comp, maybe--bored vocals, killer hooks. But then they, uh, take it to the next level so to speak with "You Fell In"--it's like a Ray Harryhausen/'60s B-Movie monster of a song, totally creepy and heroic. My only complaint would be that the WIRE cover on the B-side is kind of unnecessary; they do "The 15th" and remove from it the desolate melancholic quality to make it straight up new wave hitz style. But send off for this already so people have something to dance to/freak out over at the next meeting of your secret society. (Layla Gibbon) This is Rock 'n' Roll ANGRY ANGLES - "Apparent-Transparent" 7" EP 3er 7" de los Angry Angles y otra vez la hostia, "Apparent Transparent" es una canción así art-punk modernilla en plan Lost Sounds pero sin sintetizadores y tal, es una chulada, mi favorita del 7". Luego esta "You Fell In" que es exactamente lo que pasaría si a los Urinals les hubiese dado por el post-punk. Al principio parece un poco caca pero engancha que no veas, y para acabar una versión de "the 15th" de los Wire, la versión está bien pero no es para tirar cohetes. El detallazo está en el final, de verdad...ES TREMENDO, a mí me gusta mucho en la versión de los Wire pero aquí la batería en el final es una flipada que te cagas, de verdad...sinceramente no se explicarlo...pero suena bastísima de que parece que va a reventar todo pero muy simple y cuando ya se está yendo el sonido te quedas cagandote-en-to-dios porque quieres seguir escuchándolo. Muy bueno. Terminal Boredom ANGRY ANGLES - "Apparent-Transparent" 7" EP Since this is the third release from the band to be reviewed by Terminal Boredom in the last few months I don't feel an obligation to describe the sound; most people reading this probably know exactly what Angry Angles sound like at this point. "You Fell In" is my favorite of the three songs here, an original with an understated, URINALS-esque sound. The band continues in the tradition set on their previous releases with an inspired cover song, this time of "The 15th" by Wire. While none of the songs on here stand out as much as "Crowds" or "Things Are Moving" from previous releases, the overall quality is top notch, and the Angry Angles prove beyond any doubt that they're one of the best groups around. (David Hyde) Jay Hinman's Agony Shorthand blog (4/17/06) ANGRY ANGLES - "Apparent-Transparent" 7" EP Perhaps the best 45 of 2005 that we didn't write anything about was the ANGRY ANGLES' "Things are Moving" EP--particularly the title track. This Tennessee boy/girl twosome and their pals are roughly approximate to a punked-up, spazzed-out SCREAMERS, MISSION OF BURMA, or URINALS, even taking the Urinals' hollow, blank-eye guitar sound to new vistas. This brand new single is their best to date. "Apparent-Transparent" is a frantic art punker with dueling male/female vocals, much like that NERVOUS PATTERNS 45 we loved so much a year ago, and who not coincidentally share a bedrock member with the Angry Angles. "You Fell In" is a subdued version of the same, and their cover of the "The 15th" from WIRE's "154" is a beautiful thing to behold, immediately going on my "best covers" list and certainly the best Wire cover since the TYRADES nailed "Former Airline." With this sort of progress from release to release I can imagine any forthcoming LP is going to be among the hottest release this year. So when's it going to be, gang?? (Jay Hinman) Now Wave ANGRY ANGLES - "Apparent-Transparent" 7" EP I don't know why I'm that stupid waitin' for another Reatards release when Jay and Alix are puttin' out at this time some of my fave songs of theirs ever. This strange punk band (art-punk?) has again done a fuckin' incredible 7". "Apparent-Transparent" is the hit of the month in my house. It is what I was waitin' for from them, a song with Alix singin'. I don't know well how to explain the way of the song, I just can say that in my ears it sounds like fast post-punk soundin' modern (and not retro) with very good singin' (I like her voice a lot). Then comes "You Fell In," a song I've been hearing for a few months on their MySpace page. I really like it too, very Urinals (remember, they covered "Black Hole" on their first 7", so it isn't strange that they are now doin' a Urinals type of song). At first, I thought that it was bad, but no, it's really good too, and fits very well after the fast "Apparent-Transparent." To finish, there's a Wire cover from their third LP. I wish they had done a song from the first or second album; that to me would be more of the Angry Angles type of sound. But it's a good cover, so I really don't care. (Raul Reaction) BACK TO TOP THE ANXIETIES Go
Metric #21
THE ANXIETIES - "The De-Evolution Will Be Televised" 7" EP The Anxieties, on their record sleeve, have opted for the classic "band caught standing around" photo. And in said photo it appears that the group is comprised of four different personalities, a la the Beatles or Monkees. Going from left to right, we have the New Wave Dude (decked out in sunglasses, striped shirt, and jacket), the Working Class Dude (clad in jeans, moustache, and a button up shirt with a stitched name tag), the Ramones Dude (Road to Ruin t-shirt and a couple of visible tattoos), and the Private School Rebel Dude (cigarette dangling from his lip, wearing a t-shirt that says "Pretoria Boys High"). So which of these guys is most like the Anxieties sound? I'm going to opt for Working Class Dude. The Anxieties are loud and fast and, as their name implies, fidgety, the kind of unsettled sound that comes from working all day at a job you hate and thinking about your band. I like it, I do, especially the a-side. Comes with a Motorhead cover too ("Going to Brazil"). (Mike Faloon) Loud Fast Rules THE ANXIETIES - "The De-Evolution Will Be Televised" 7" EP Pogo-punk spazz rock at its best, these dudes aren't getting their just due. They should be putting out full-length records on some big label like BYO or something instead of a 7". I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of the 7" too - but I want more than three songs! '77 style pogo-punk rock, remeniscent of THE BOYS - or, in todays scene definitely not too dissimilar from THE BRIEFS. THE BRIEFS rule and they're on BYO - so c'mon, let's get our shit straight and get these dudes a full-length! They deserve it, and I want more than three songs! (Matt Cote) Razorcake #34 THE ANXIETIES - "The De-Evolution Will Be Televised" 7" EP Again, I can't state enough how firmly I back anything on Plastic Idol. Buy it all! Buy it all now! Here we've got three tracks from a band that I've never heard of, yet it's exactly what I want. If Smogtown sounded slightly more at home in a living room dance party than at the beach, you'd be pretty close to what's here. Great stuff. (Megan Pants) Now Wave THE ANXIETIES - "The De-Evolution Will Be Televised" 7" EP With the possible exception of the Gary Glitter side project Oldman and the Pedophiles, I can't think of any band in history as fittingly-named as The Anxieties. The group's instant anthem "The De-Evolution Will Be Televised" is a frenzied, racing number that both critiques and reflects the anxiety-ridden times in which we live. There's a voice in my head that screams in despair over the 21st Century lifestyle and all it entails: our mass dependence on anti-depressants, our gross over-reliance on technology, the ever-increasing shallowness and stupidity of popular culture, and the public's vast apathy regarding all of the above. If that voice in my head could sing, he'd sound just like Anxieties howler Scott Von Rocket, who radiates the spastic panic of a man just dying to crawl out of his own skin. For the first time, really, he's got himself a band that perfectly fits his frantic vocal style (think David Byrne in "Psycho Killer" or Richard Hell in "Blank Generation", subjected to non-stop reality TV viewing via The Ludovico Method). And Plastic Idol Records now brings us the band's latest release. "The De-Evolution Will Be Televised" rushes along like a racecar on the speedway, promptly slamming into a wall before you think it should really be over. But it's great fun while it lasts - with its barnburner guitar riff, rapid-fire drumming, and vitriolic lyrics skewering a vapid, regressing culture. The chorus is delivered with such delirious, unrestrained force that it almost seems tuneless - yet it's one of the catchiest refrains I've heard all year! Clearly reminiscent of old L.A. punk yet also highly distinctive in its own right, this song is a refreshing change from the cookie-cutter drivel one usually hears from bands trying too hard to emulate the classic Cali sound. B-side opener "Nowhere Zone" is bouncy, rockin', and catchy as hell. If they had fantasy punk rock leagues the way they have fantasy baseball leagues, and you had members of The Dickies and X circa 1980 in your dream band, perhaps you'd end up with a song like this. I've been whistling its melody for days, and with every repeated spin, I must resist the temptation to pogo in my bedroom. Closing cut "Going To Brazil" is, of course, a Motorhead cover. Here The Anxieties let loose and rip into funtime rock n' roll mode, and they do so convincingly. Irresistible are the smokin', Billy Zoom esque guitar licks, which dominate the song with their energy and catchiness. And the band's overall treatment of the material is absolutely inspired - the singing and playing are top-notch and delivered with all kinds of gusto. You can tell that they love to play this one, and I can't help imagining the way people must go nuts when they bust it out live. You really have to like a band with the range to attempt blistering social commentary and hellraiser rock n' roll within the space of one single - and succeed completely at both. Bring on the LP! THE ANXIETIES - "The De-Evolution Will Be Televised" 7" EP Eugene, OR garage rockin' punk, mad scientist-core for the paranoid and suspicious. "The De-Evolution Will Be Televised" isn't quite the Weirdos send up the label might have you think, but it's definitely serviceable, manic late '70s style punk rock, fists in pockets and ready to blow. As I listen to the B-side, my TV is on and Jennifer Rubin is getting stung to death by bees in "The Crush" and it's a perfect visual, maybe adding more to the shouty, verbose punk-pop ricochet than there is, but I like it all the same. They finish up with a cover of Motorhead's "Going to Brazil," not really doing the original justice, but instead sapping its strength for the band's own sinister purpose. Above average, and looking to improve with future releases. Too much singin'. Edition of 500 on green vinyl. (Doug Mosurak, from "Still Single" Vol. 2, No. 2) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #278 THE ANXIETIES - "The De-Evolution Will Be Televised" 7" EP ***THREE TOP TEN LISTS*** Taking in the 'ol school sounds of LA/Orange County whilst still holding onto that distinctive Oregon sound. A nice mix of WEIRDOS and the BRIEFS with a fine cover of MOTORHEAD's "Going to Brazil" just to throw us off track. A nice little introduction and hopefully just a taster for more to come. (Sean Dougan) Terminal Boredom THE ANXIETIES "The De-Evolution Will Be Televised" 7" EP Perhaps their Oregon roots are pointing me in this direction, but the Anxieties immediately bring to mind the most recent work of Joel Jett. Take the FLIP-TOPS' every-man brand of punk coupled with the MINDS' lyrical leanings and presto...you have this here 7" EP. The title track and (to a lesser extent) "Nowhere Zone" suffer from the mysterious wave clichés that engulf more than their fair share of bands from the Pacific Northwest, a phenomenon that I can't explain for the life of me. The closing cover of MOTORHEAD's "Going To Brazil" was certainly an odd choice and re-working, but they manage to make it fit along side the originals. I can only assume that its inclusion in their set is a necessity to avoid getting on the bad side of Eugene's punx and metalheads. People from the fucking East Bay used to commute to Eugene just to drink under its much-famed overpasses. While I wouldn't call this a total stinker, it's still a rare miss for Plastic Idol. (Mitch Cardwell) BACK TO TOP ANTEENAGERS MC Punk
Planet #74
DIGITAL
LEATHERANTEENAGERS MC - "Let's Not Have a Party" 7" EP This record's not bad...not bad at all. I don't know too much about Plastic Idol, but I think it's one of the guys from the Black Dahlias' record label. It's really putting out some good stuff--almost giving Dirtnap, and the seemingly untouchable In The Red Records, a run for their money. So back to the 7". "Let's Not Have a Party" is 1978-style post-punk done fairly well and in a straightforward way. It's not blowing me away like Greg Cartwright, but it doesn't make me incensed with boredom like most of the stuff out there. "Let's Not Have a Party" is worth about two bucks, or the price of a soda and a candy bar. (Ryan Leach) Lowcut #33 ANTEENAGERS MC - "Let's Not Have a Party" 7" EP This Paris all-star combo put the NOT in your happy meal and while you spazz out on the floor, they pull off the kind of song that make you buy all those stupid 7" records in the first place. "Let's Not Have a Party" is beat, vocals, hook, and fiddling around the 15th fret plus some two-note bass riff. Not the most complicated piece of music ever written but catchy as hell, without being cute or particularly melodic. Part Fall, part Wire, and part hairy French mofos with a knack for the une, deux, drois going back to the No-Talents and Steve and The Jerks. (Morten) Razorcake #31 ANTEENAGERS MC - "Let's Not Have a Party" 7" EP Here are the things that automatically come to mind with the Anteenagers MC: stilettos, pins and needles, walk-in freezers, and piano wire beginning to press on my throat while good music is being played. They're a French four-some from the musical incest pool of the No-Talents and Operation S who've picked up the best and most anxious bits of art punk. When I say, "Comparable to Entertainment!-era Gang of Four," it means they're both danceable (and not disco, like later Gang of Four), and angular (like a mannequin body in fancy clothes thrown out of a fourth story window. It's pretty, but it gets plenty fucked up on the landing, with appendages jutting out like broken tent poles.) It's hard for art to rock and for rock to be arty, but the Anteenagers MC pretty much nail it. Strong, strong stuff. (Todd Taylor) Now Wave ANTEENAGERS MC - "Let's Not Have a Party" 7" EP In my old age, I've become a man of old-fashioned values. I will accept no James Bond besides Roger Moore or Sean Connery. I refuse to stop calling flight attendants "stewardesses." I don't relate to today's kids and their "hooking up" ways (in my day, a boy and a girl who just met 15 minutes earlier didn't make out all night – they did the honorable thing and fucked). And I really don't care much for so-called "post-punk" music...but I love old-fashioned art-punk! Okay, I know what you're thinking. What the hell is the difference between post-punk and art-punk? Is there a difference at all? Well, I sure think so. Post-punk is high-brow, pompously discordant, frequently pretentious, often unlistenable, and inextricably linked with indie rock/hipster culture. In short, it's just not a whole lot of fun to listen to. Art-punk, on the other hand, is more visceral. It's got balls and guts and a genuine punk rock edge. It's weird and quirky and definitely off-kilter - but it's got the driving energy and fuck-off attitude of punk. Most importantly, it actually rocks. I'm talking the first Wire and Gang of Four albums. I'm talking early Devo. I rarely hear bands like that these days. Instead I hear lots of post-punk type bands: very derivative of all the right bands but lacking balls, melody, or any real feeling. So I always jump for joy when I hear a new band do the art-punk thing right. Picture me jumping at this very moment...I've got the new Anteenagers MC single spinning, and it's hot. Yeah! Hailing from punk's most happening hotbed, the nation of France, Anteenagers MC feature members of the No-Talents, Operation S, Steve and the Jerks, and Frustration. Like all great art-punk bands do, they combine strange, noisy tendencies with the pummeling rush of good old garage/punk music. Let's Not Have a Party is their second single, and it's their first new release since 2003. The brilliant title track meshes ominous, clanging guitars, shouted vocals a la The Fall/Gang of Four, and catchy bass lines into one stunning blast of foreboding punk. On Side B, the tuneful, high-energy "Les Conformistes" is less art and more rock, but not in a conventional way. And "Cars," to me, is the definitive art-punk song: kinda bizarre-sounding, but still frantic and fun. Overall, this 7-inch
has accomplished what all singles should do: leave me wanting
more. This is not one of those cases where I just say, "Cool
record, I dig it" and then never think about it again for the rest of
my life. Rather this is one of those cases where I am genuinely
psyched about a band and immediately start awaiting their next
album. I'm not just impressed. I'm intrigued. I'm
excited! I've had a little taste and can't wait to hear what they
do next. There is another full-length in the works,
right? There better be! Dusted ANTEENAGERS MC - "Let's Not Have a Party" 7" EP Second single by these stiff French retro-punkers, featuring members of the No-Talents and Frustration. Uptight, catchy, purist-minded '77 punk rock style jams, reminiscent of the Fall, Warsaw, and Wire circa "Pink Flag," and also Gen X and the Adverts, with needling guitars, barked vocals (in French and English), and very fitting lo-fi production. Gets faster and more insistent as it goes on, which is a bonus. Four songs here, all of which are winners, esp. "Cars" and the title track. A very cool little record here. Fans of Le Shok should be suitably impressed, and should definitely put on some clothes that fit. In that tight t-shirt, you look like a busted condom. Edition of 500, red vinyl. (Doug Mosurak, from "Still Single" Vol. 10) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #274 (March 2006) ANTEENAGERS MC - "Let's Not Have a Party" 7" EP ***TEN TOP TEN LISTS*** This EP marks the return of France's ANTEENAGERS MC, which features members of some of that country's best bands--OPERATION S, STEVE & THE JERKS, and the NO-TALENTS. There are four great songs here with very different, though complimentary, styles. "Let's Not Have a Party" is almost an anthemic oi tune with a very strong bass line and screamed vocals. "Blue Steel" is an instrumental with a simplistic punk style. "Les Conformistes" sounds very French punque and is my personal favorite. "Cars" sounds the most modern in the new style new wave. This is a great record. (Carolyn Keddy) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #274 (March 2006) ANTEENAGERS MC - "Let's Not Have a Party" 7" EP ***TEN TOP TEN LISTS*** Plastic Idol Records keeps their string of fantastic 7" EPs going with the Let's Not Have a Party 7" EP, a new single from one of my favorite French bands, ANTEENAGERS MC. In one of my very first columns for MRR, I gushed and gushed over this band and I'm happy to report that I feel that same enthusiasm over this new single. As you may or my not know, ANTEENAGERS MC features members of STEVE AND THE JERKS, FRUSTRATION, and the NO-TALENTS, otherwise known as card-carrying members of France's "Happy Family" punks. What makes this band so great is that they are seemingly everything at once, with traces of '60s garage, straight punk, and post-punk weirdness blending together to make a sound that's as original and as exciting as anything you're likely to hear these days. This is truly one of the elite bands in the world right now and Let's Not Have a Party is all the proof you need. (From "Let's Get Hurt" by Mitch Cardwell) Terminal Boredom #11 ANTEENAGERS MC - "Let's Not Have a Party" 7" EP As deplorable as the French are, I can't help but get into a song sung in French. Especially when it's a punk song. What is it about that combination of loud guitars and wine accented nasal tones that gets to me? It's a shame that there's only one song on this French band's album that is sung in French. I guess every group of frogs can't write "Killer Man" over and over again, but it couldn't hurt to try. My previous experience with Anteenagers MC, their "(The) Future's (Coming Tomorrow)" 7", showed me that they really needed some space to stretch their legs, but once they had room, their songs would get fairly interesting. Putting four songs on a 45rpm 7", they keep the length down, but don't fail to remain catchy and listenable in that stomping, angular guitars way. The B side is the winner for me, with the French song, and "Cars" sounding like the good kind of modern rock an aged individual like myself can enjoy. (Jesse Conway) Terminal Boredom #11 ANTEENAGERS MC - "Let's Not Have a Party" 7" EP A fantastic record by a fantastic band, one that I think gets a little less love than some of their more serious French contemporaries, but is equally, if not more, deserving. For one, they have a great sense of humor. We are talking ex-Steve and The Jerks here, after all. And not schticky toilet humor either, but subtle smile inducing stuff. Secondly, this single has better songs than either of their previous records. "Let's Not Have Party" and the snippet "Blue Steel" that accompanies it on the A-Side bring to mind the ironic detachment and frantic yet minimalistic jangle of Wire and their after-punk brethren. The B-Side side is faster, punker, and plays a bit of the garage card, but all run through that cool French filter that makes it sound unique and intelligent. Is this post-modern garage? Their best vinyl foray to date. Great looking package again from Plastic Idol, with clear red vinyl and color coordinated sleeve. I really enjoy what this label is doing. Scum stats: 500, with 3/4 sleeve. (Rich Kroneiss) Terminal Boredom #11 ANTEENAGERS MC - "Let's Not Have a Party" 7" EP Once again, the French conquer the world. Here is yet another great contemporary Parisian rock and roll band with another great punk rock and roll record. Just like their first, the Anteenagers fuse the best things about post punk with the best things about garage punk. It sounds like they've been rubbing up against fellow Frenchies Blutt and then cheating on them with some Frustration stickpussy. All that spells G-R-E-A-T. And another thing, it seems like Plastic Idol is on a roll. That each record Mario puts out gets better might mean it is time to put PI on your "to buy" list. (Scott Soriano) BACK TO TOP Razorcake #32
DIGITAL LEATHER - "Simulator" 7" I'd like to think Tomata du Plenty and Gary Numan are nodding their heads "yes" and passing a flag down to Digital Leather. DL captures the '80s captivation of the synthesizer and punk ethics, cool electric sounds, and some rocking, although not as aggro as the Screamers or as hit and miss pop as Numan. Stuff like this was one of the few crossover items I would use in seventh grade to get Tiffany DuCray to think I was cool. She was so pretty and dressed nice in plaid. Her dad was the high school gym teacher and she always wanted to run way, but essentially being a rich girl kept her at home. I think she only dated jocks like Tad Dominick, and, although I got along with both of them, I could never really date a girl like that. But I would play this music loud around them and I swore they thought I was cool. Years later, she saw me with a cute girlfriend and literally said, "Wow, I always thought you were square." Now I'm an adult and over being liked. The music is still rad. (Speedway Randy) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #275 (April 2006) DIGITAL LEATHER - "Simulator" 7" A surprisingly fine take on an early TUBEWAY ARMY hard-edged synth-punk sound. I say surprising because DIGITAL LEATHER's debut 12" was pretty "eh," I thought, but the songwriting seems to have taken that next step. I was waiting for a reason to care about the upcoming LP on Shattered, thanks, this EP did the job. This manages to duck some of the potentially suffocatingly coy retro impules that sink a lot of this stuff for me. On "Dance 'til Dead" "they" even manage to evoke what NEW ORDER might have turned into if someone had peeled Ian Curtis off that ceiling. Please, no remix 12"s, pleeeeeease. (Ryan Wells) Dusted DIGITAL LEATHER - "Simulator" 7" Pulling out the big city card sucks when trying to weigh in on the merits and setbacks of cultural experience. But it's unavoidable here: I've heard so much lousy new wave throwback music in the past five years and seen enough dummies go ape over it that I can't bear any more. Not even as a joke, which Digital Leather might be. It's former or past members of the Reatards, Destruction Unit, the Wongs and Tokyo Electron – all garage punk headfucks in their own right – playing primitive, synthy, steady-beat goth/synth rock of nominal worth. The songs go nowhere other than maybe staring into a mirror and thinking about Bauhaus … only those guys were great songwriters, where these kids work repetitive, simple grooves into the ground quickly, then sit on them. It baffles me how so many bands miss the boat on crafting good music and just lean on the style and attitude, hoping that it'll all turn out OK. It won't. For people who don't bore easily; everybody else, go check out an A-Frames record. Edition of 500, clear vinyl, already sold out from the label's end. Some distros still have it around if you're curious. (Doug Mosurak, from "Still Single" Vol. 10) Terminal Boredom #11 DIGITAL LEATHER - "Simulator" 7" Over the past few years, Arizona's Digital Leather (essentially the brainchild of Shawn Foree) have released a half dozen or so records, most of them being self released CD-R's, of dark and brooding synth punk, which I quite enjoyed. On this, their first single, Plastic Idol Records commits to vinyl two of the best songs from the CD-R's, "Simulator" and "Dance 'Til Dead" (a re-recorded version), both of which bring to mind The Normal and early Human League. "Simulator" is the more driving of the two songs and is sure to creep you the fuck out with its eerie synth noises. "Dance 'Til Dead" is the ass shaking hit, and is even creepier than the a-side. Good stuff from an underrated band, with another LP on the way, soon to be released by Shattered. (Jeff Greenback) Lowcut #31 (February 2006) DIGITAL LEATHER - "Simulator" 7" Once a member of the Reatards, later front man of the Wongs, after that some Destruction Unit, then some Tokyo Electron, Cutters and Digital Leather... The chronology might be slightly wrong, but the namedropping is tight. Word! Digital Leather is the synth-punk/dance alter-ego of the man who broke his first strings next to Jay Reatard, Ryan "Elvis" Wong is the name and what the grooves of the B-side of this 7" can do for you is make you Dance 'til Death. A repetitious and evil tune of a DM rip off, with a hook so large… so large… Argh! Just dance! "Simulator" on the A-side is not bad either, but compared to the brilliant B-side, it's just a warm up. (Morten) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #271 (November 2005) DIGITAL LEATHER - "Simulator" 7" Plastic Idol Records has quickly developed into a label to look to when you're in need of a good single. Although the label has been dud-free thus far, I must say that the best of the lot is their latest 45 by Arizona's Digital Leather, "Simulator" b/w "Dance 'til Dead." Label honcho Mario Solis proclaims the two tunes to be of the UNITS and NORMAL school and who am I to disagree? Both tracks represent some of the best dark and driving synth punk around today. Although the members and co-conspirators of Digital Leather are some of today's most talented punkers, the band remains criminally underrated. I'm sure this fine single will change all that in no time. (From "Let's Get Hurt" by Mitch Cardwell) BACK TO TOP THE MINDS Punk Planet #73 (online review) THE MINDS - "We Got The Pop" 7" EP The title of this record and artwork (a drawing of a hand pouring soda on a brain) have pretty much done my job for me. That's the Minds' sound--piercing guitar and keyboards playing under snotty vocals in sugar-rush blasts. This recording is ultra lo-fi, giving the guitar an extra brittle quality. (Rex Reason) Pocketful of Change #3 THE MINDS - "We Got The Pop" 7" EP Mmmmm. Hot pink, lightly marbled vinyl that looks just like candy. Absolutely perfect for the Minds' latest slab of fun, organ-drenched punk rock. Three excellent songs that would appeal to fans of the Briefs. Etched in the wax on one side of the record is the simple statement, "I heart the Minds." Maybe I'm just susceptible to secret messages, but I definitely agree. (Caryn) Go Metric! #20 THE MINDS - "We Got The Pop" 7" EP My wife walked into the room as I was spinning "Don't Wanna Die in my Sleep Tonight" and said facetiously, "Oh, that's nice." She said the song was morbid and repetitive. She's nuts. This EP is full of positive declarations. "We Got The Pop" - we've got the sounds that are sure to please; "Brain That Wouldn't Die" - minds are resilient; "Don't Wanna Die in my Sleep Tonight" - we wish to go on living so that we may produce more pleasing pop songs in the future. This is a 3-for-3 gem of a record. (Mike Faloon) Henry Yu's What We Did Was Secret blog (November 2005) THE MINDS - "We Got The Pop" 7" EP My dad was kind enough to turn down the television volume and let me play the A-side of The Minds, "We Got The Pop." The lo-fi production values immediately hooked me, since pop-punk has gotten so overproduced, largely due to the major label bid. This garageyness is the way it should be, but it's been all too lacking lately. By the time it was over, my parents retreated to the kitchen to eat ice cream, usually the sign that the music is rippin' good, so I cranked it up (I have a soundproofed music room care of Charles Salter Associates, a preeminent acoustics firm here in the Bay Area). Yeah, the A-side is pretty good pop-punk, with the snotty vocals and buzzing keyboards adding an edge. The B-side sounded even better. "Brain That Wouldn't Die" skittled along the lines of The Dickies, with whom I'd been in worship mode lately. And finally, who can fault them for their choice of cover of the excellent Beantown band La Peste, whose "Don't Wanna Die In My Sleep Tonite" I hadn't heard since it had been reissued on CD a decade ago, they choose to close with. It's a much more raucous sped up version than the original, which naturally does it the right justice. Afterwards I ended up listening to the two versions of the song on the La Peste CD and theirs ranked up there with the live La Peste version. Perty good sheeyut. (Henry Yu) Razorcake #29 THE MINDS - "We Got The Pop" 7" EP ***TWO TOP FIVE LISTS*** The Minds are cracking and looting a huge safe that few have been able to get inside of. They're taking the danceability of non-ass, diamond-tipped new wave, coupling it to the raw snot of punk, and charging it all by the dynamite of pure pop. And they aren't just sucking off a one trick pony and spitting its efforts into your ears again and again. Synthesizers go from gentle touch to jackhammering. The guitars buzz, rake, then soothe back, and Mike Mind, who can shift from tasteful to manic between stick clicks, is a far cry from a mere drum machine. The three songs on this 7" prove that the Minds are beginning to cast their own long shadow beyond the formidable Epoxies. (Todd Taylor) Terminal Boredom #9.5 THE MINDS - "We Got The Pop" 7" EP It's a cold, hard fact that I'm not a big Minds fan. I just have a bad reaction to certain keyboard sounds, and the Minds happen to utilize one that makes me cringe. I hated the LP and accompanying single, and thought they were a bit schticky for even an imbecile-lover like myself. So maybe I'm not the dude to be reviewing this EP. But I'm gonna do it anyway. "We Got the Pop" is a real good tune. As good as bubblegum-wave can be, and good enough to keep the keyboard sound from making me want to heave my turntable out the window. I also want to go on record as saying Joel "The Thinker" Jett has some great microphone skills, and it was him and only him that made that Flip Tops LP listenable. He makes me want to tolerate The Minds. "The Brain that Wouldn't Die" is the next cut, and is where the keyboards starting giving me a rash. This one is not a good song. They close out with a cover of "Don't Wanna Die in My Sleep Tonight" from the La Peste LP. It's OK. I'd probably play the title track on my radio show if I still did one. The other two tunes aren't for me. But they might be for you, if you dig this kinda action. You big wimp. Scum stats: 500 pressed on bubblegum pink vinyl, all sold out! With matching pink 3/4 sleeve with artwork by Jonny Cat. Repress rumored to be coming soon. (Rich Kroneiss) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #270 (November 2005) THE MINDS - "We Got The Pop" 7" EP ***TEN TOP TEN LISTS*** What is up with Portland these days? Every time I turn around another solid release is coming out from that Northwestern town. What we have here is three quick ditties from the MINDS that continue with the new wave tinged punk that they perfected on their Plastic Girls LP. The great thing about this band is that they have a new wave influence but are still solidly four feet in the punk camp. Great live band too. Recommended. (Jonathan Floyd) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #270 (November 2005) THE MINDS - "We Got The Pop" 7" EP ***TEN TOP TEN LISTS*** Plastic Idol keeps the hits coming with two new slabs. The first is the long-rumored MINDS 7" EP, We Got The Pop! I think this single is much stronger and more solidly punk than their previous efforts, thanks in part to a great LA PESTE cover. (From "Let's Get Hurt" by Mitch Cardwell) Dusted THE MINDS - "We Got The Pop" 7" EP "We Got the Pop" is a catchy and eye-opening blast of snot straight from the garage. Crust-fi recording and chord organ temper barked vocals and tinny guitar/bass/drums interaction. It's fun, it's charming, and the Modern Lovers-isms present do a lot to separate them from the pack of similar garage denizens. La Peste cover on here fuckin' smokes, man. 500 copies pressed, opaque dark pink vinyl. (Doug Mosurak, from "Still Single" Vol. 5) Now Wave THE MINDS - "We Got The Pop" 7" EP "Portland punk sensations tear it up lo-fi" Whether or not it's a good thing that the latest Minds 7" was recorded on an 8-track seems to be a subject of some controversy. But as far as I'm concerned, We Got the Pop is the best-sounding Minds release to date. I like a harder, dirtier sound for these guys...it really accentuates the contrast between the searing power of the band's buzzsaw punk attack and the new wavey catchiness of Cera Bella Palsey's buoyant keyboards. To me, there's a big difference between good lo-fi and "shitty" sound quality, and this record falls in the former category. It's got a real "bite" to it. And the material is pretty damn formidable. "We Got the Pop" is a smokin' A-side number. It's a catchy, driving punk tune with an awesome sing-along chorus. I love the raw guitar sound, and Joel Jett's vocal delivery is as fierce and aggressive as ever. I'd definitely rank this as one of my favorite Minds songs. On the B-side, "Brain That Wouldn't Die" is a really solid track. And the closing cover of La Peste's classic "Don't Wanna Die In My Sleep Tonight" is certifiably killer. All in all, this is a
fucking great follow-up to the Plastic Girls LP. It has
been two years since we last heard from The Minds, and I have to say I
don't find We Got the Pop disappointing in the least. In
fact, I find myself pleasantly surprised. I think the band has
really stepped it up in the intensity and songwriting
departments. Two years ago, I probably wouldn't have considered
The Minds a top tier punk act. But now, I think they're right on
the cusp of elite status. Jett is one of the premier punk
vocalists working today, and he's got one hell of a hot band blasting
behind him. If the group's next album is as good as this 7",
it'll totally blow away Plastic
Girls. THE DISSIMILARS High Hells Slut #9
THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP I didn't know this band when I ordered both of these 7"s, but since some reliable sources had recommended this shit I decided to give it a go and it turned out to be a good move. I guess we're dealing here with the debut releases of these San Diego, CA, residents and they earned themselves a nice spot on my turntable. "Jimmy's Room" has no less than six cool tracks of snotty, unadulterated punkrawk action that got probably recorded straight in the rehearsal room with the cheapest rented gear that was available in town and it only suits tracks like "Statue Man" or "Santee Duplex" damn well, bringing to mind the very first efforts of the Motards or the Persuaders going on the loose with the Disappointments. "Landmine" features another three songs that evoke the same drunk and addictive teenage kicks from my body. These tracks should be played on any current punk party you visit, otherwise, you’re hanging out at the wrong places! The Dissimilars forced their way into my record bins and they fit in really well! P.S. We Hate You
THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP Good recording (in a lo fi way), good songs, my only real gripe is the ridiculous accent the "singer" chooses to use. Still, pretty goddamn decent. Straight ahead, power chord ass kickers. Decent guitar work, nice and loud in the mix, not buried. Blue vinyl. Not much else I can say about this one. (Brad X) Punk Planet #73 (online review) THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP It doesn't get more lo-fi than this 7". Angry, high energy, angry, brutal, angry, and in your (angry) face are some terms used to describe this three-song gem. It sounds like it was recorded in a closet with a bunch of beer and pills. Thank goodness there's a lyric sheet. Overall, I give this a rating of "fuck yeah!" (Dana Morse) Thrasher THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP On the small records, you got to check out the Dissimilars' "Landmine" 7" on Plastic Idol Records. It's noisy and a little disjointed, enough to make your parents want to cover their ears but together enough to rock your neck off. (From "Notes from the Underground" by Wez Lundry) Pocketful of Change #3 THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP I'm so glad Plastic Idol included a lyric sheet with this release! Chainsaw guitars, a fuzzy recording, and snotty vocals that remind me of a bored new wave singer fronting a garage band pretty much ensure unintelligible lyrics for the most part, but the handy insert reveals such lyrical gems as "That's right, I'm a little caboose, bringing up the rear..." from "Turn Me Loose." Okay, so maybe you need to hear it in the context of the music, but it's brilliant. (Caryn) Screaming Bloody Mess THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP Three songs of furious Motards like garage rock that kick you so brutally that your tear ducts will clog up and you will develop this condition called epiphora where your eyes can't stop weeping and everybody will call you a pussy because they think you are crying when a Cat Power song comes on the radio. (Tim Scott) Go Metric! #20 THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP One of my favorite bits from the Dr. Demento radio show was/is "The Rock 'n' Roll Doctor," a mock call-in show where the good doctor would recommend a drug or combination of drugs to complement a particular concert experience. The Dissimilars, despite their name, take a comparable tact by dishing out lyrics that match various troubling situations with chemical remedies. Have lady problems ("Landmine")? Take wine, crack, or Jack Daniels. Need some time alone ("Turn Me Loose")? Try beer and/or grass. Boredom ("(Crushin' Up) Pills")? OxyContin, Xanas, somas, or quaaludes. As for sounds, the Dissimilars sound pretty similar to Dick Army but with more distorted vocals. (Mike Faloon) This is Rock 'n' Roll, December 2005 THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP Los Dissimilars son los nuevos Motards. Es así de simple, han cogido el hueco que dejaron los grupos estos de garage punk un poco más bestiajo de los 90s...son muy parecidos a ese tipo de grupos, la principal diferencia viene probablemente de mano de la forma de cantar, los coros de las canciones son BESTIALES, en "Landmine" simplemente se salen, me encanta esa canción, llevo todo el día escuchandola sin parar. Y bueno, las otras dos andan también anda-que-tal, sobre todo "(Crushing Up) Pills." Y se acabó, si te gustan los Motards, los Dirtys y sus primos y sus hermanos ya sabes. Landmine se sale. Batarang!, November-December 2005 THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP Talkin' about some pissed off two-chord punk! The Dissimilars appear to be a bunch of pillbopping boozehounds from San Diego who will chase away the few friends you still have, ruin your haircut, squeeze that frigid girlfriend of yours in the tits and ram a bottle of warm Jägermeister down your throat. They somehow also manage to produce some seriously raw and fucked up garagepunk mayhem like we've become used from bands like The Reatards/Motards/Persuaders. I think as a release "Jimmy's Room" stands out, but "Landmine" is the best song. If all this still makes sense to you, you should hunt down both these releases immediately. (*sAm*) Henry Yu's What We Did Was Secret blog (November 2005) THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP The Dissimilars 45 comes with a lyric sheet. I'm not a lyrics guy, but after half of the A-side "Landmine" played through, I found myself reaching for that sheet, 'cos I couldn't remotely understand anything the guy was singing. And then when I read the lyrics I couldn't figure out which words went with which lyrics. But did it matter? Hardly, 'cos count me gripped in the most visely way. Scorching vocals and phrasing that is used as a blunt instrument. This is one of my favorite 45's of the year. While "Landmine" nears upon iconic in its "Touch Me I'm Sick" reminiscent grunge stylings, I like the flip side even more - "Turn Me Loose" is set on repeat for the time being with its vocal madness, while "Pills" is just a fucking awesome punk song. Slightly non-organic-beyond-punkness vibe that makes this lovingly fucked beyond reproach. (Henry Yu) Razorcake #29 THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP If "recorded in a hallway" belies charm to you. If fidelity and "being able to play your instruments" begins and ends with Supercharger. If you shed a single tear lamenting the breakup of Scared of Chaka every time you spin their records, like that Indian in that commercial, amongst all that trash. If you ever wondered how Larry of Genetic Disorder zine played guitar. If you ever wondered how a singer would sound if you constantly ripped duct tape from his skin as he yelped into the microphone. If you've ever wondered one of these things, the Dissimilars are right up your alley, spare changing before their sets, antagonizing you when they're playing, and badgering you for beer when they're done. Fuck "pro dudes, pro attitudes." Dirt rock in shambles is where it's at. Excellent. (Todd Taylor) Beat the Indie Drum THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP After the home run that was the Minds 7", I'm sorry to hear this groundout from Plastic Idol. The Dissimilars offer us tin can-fi punk rock'n'roll that's loud, snotty, and almost indecipherable (though to their credit they did include a lyric sheet). What's really disappointing is the fact that there might actually be some decent tunes beneath the crust of snarling, bashing, messy, noise punk rock. "Turn Me Loose" even has a cool riff (though I think it was ripped from the FM Knives). Recommended for fans of the Germs and other punk bands I don't particularly care for. (Mark Hughson) Terminal Boredom #9.5 THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP On "Landmine" the Dissimilars remind me a lot of some my favorite juvie-delinquent garage acts from the glory days: the Fells, Drags, Motards, and Cryin' Out Louds all come to mind while spinning this EP. The title cut is a killer, "(Crushin' Up) Pills" is as good as it sounds, and "Turn Me Loose" has some great lyrics. A whole lot of fun, and shorter and better than their debut single from earlier in the year. If you need a fun record to spin at parties, this is definitely it. If you're looking for a record that is gonna blow your fucking jaded mind and take you on a trip somewhere far out in the reaches of the musical universe you've never visited before, well, go listen to fucking Mindflayer and insert the stick back in your ass. Jesus christ. Scum stats: 500 pressed, all on clear blue vinyl with matching 3/4-style sleeve, and two inserts, also on blue paper. The color scheme looks fantastic and is very well done. (Rich Kroneiss) Now Wave THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP San Diego's Dissimilars trawl the rougher, meaner side of the garage-punk tracks - that seamy territory once occupied by the legendary Motards and now inhabited by ornery trash-slingers like the Mexican Blackbirds. Landmine, the group's second EP, rips up a pugilistic racket of the highest caliber. Clearly this shit ain't for the faint of heart. No, no, no. This is barbaric, blood-and-guts, degenerate drunk n' roll that pounds away at your eardrums and kicks you hard in the 'nads. The material is nothing extraordinary, but it doesn't have to be. Propelled
by Jimmy the Worm's fiercely abrasive vocals, the Dissimilars' lo-fi
onslaught
is as raw & nasty as it gets. Lots of bands go for this sort of
beer-soaked, trashed-out primitive punk sound, but few get it right.
The
Dissimilars do. They kick it full-on, playing the hell out of every
song and
capturing the essence of every fucked-up,
blast-it-like-there's-no-tomorrow,
brilliantly debauched bar gig you've ever had the perverse pleasure of
witnessing. The title track works a nifty, stick-in-your head riff for
all it's
worth, but even better is "Turn Me Loose", a fire-hot barnburner that
will definitely earn a place on my "best punk songs of 2005" short
list. > (Josh Rutledge) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #270 (November 2005) THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP ***THREE TOP TEN LISTS*** These San Diegan freaks rock! They play a fast and furious garage punk. I like their debut 7" Jimmy's Room better, but it does have six songs compared to the three on this EP. Watch out for these fucks. I think they are a force to be reckoned with. (Hal McLean) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #270 (November 2005) THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP ***THREE TOP TEN LISTS*** Plastic Idol Records keeps the hits coming with two new slabs. [The Dissimilars'] new 7" EP, Landmine, picks up right where their Out of Order Records debut 7" EP, Jimmy's Room, left off: speedy lo-fi punk that brings to mind all those early-to-mid '90s drunken Texas bands that ended up drenching themselves and the crowd in beers at their shows. Something tells me they are no stranger to this tactic of crowd control. (From "Let's Get Hurt" by Mitch Cardwell) THE DISSIMILARS - "Landmine" 7" EP More out of control and fierce than the other releases sent out to me by Plastic Idol, this one is a fuckin' corker. "Landmine" is about the wicked woman; it's short, punishing, ugly gee-rage karate chop rock. The songs on the flip are even angrier, with "Turn Me Loose" on a weird syncopated start that will throw you for a loop, and "(Crushin' Up) Pills" dedicating itself to a life of abandon. Sometimes bands playing this sort of thing just need to take it a little bit further over the edge than they do. The Dissimilars know this, and that's why I'll put this record on again. Blue vinyl, 500 copies, will kick a hole in your front door. (Doug Mosurak, from "Still Single" Vol. 5) BACK TO TOP BLACK DAHLIAS
Lowcut #31
(February 2006)
BLACK DAHLIAS - "Wednesday Night" 7" EP Songs that begin with the actual refrain and repeat it all through the song have a tendency to stick in your head and "Wednesday Night" is one of those songs. Damn! This is one catchy motherfucker of a song. A power pop type feeling, but still rough and simple riffing, with the kind of drumming that makes trios come alive. Call the police! The two songs on the B-side have kind of a "(I'm) Stranded"-era Saints meet the Jolt punk-mod mood and that's another plus. (Morten) Go Metric! #20 BLACK DAHLIAS - "Wednesday Night" 7" EP The A-side has the hooks and the curiosity factor (no one writes songs about Wednesdays), but the hits are on the flipside. Both tunes are weirder and more distinctive. I like 'em. What? Can't a guy be concise for once? Get off my back. I'm going to spin the Black Dahlias again. (Mike Faloon) Razorcake #29 BLACK DAHLIAS - "Wednesday Night" 7" EP Close but not quite. I mean, really close. They're really close to power pop. They're really close to straight-ahead punk. But it's one of those deals that I, as a reviewer, fully agree that I'm not going to be much help. I don't think I'd ever put it on again by myself but I wouldn't complain if someone else put it on. There's something that just doesn't click for me, yet all the parts are sitting there like pieces to an un-put-together puzzle. Like the Black Dahlia herself, for some reason, these songs seem cut in two and bled, instead of them being bouncing, fleshy, and full of life--and I can't tell you why. It's recorded well. It sounds fine, but it just rolls on by without much of an impression. (Todd Taylor) Now Wave BLACK DAHLIAS - "Wednesday Night" 7" EP The Black Dahlias are a Sacramento trio led by Matt K. Shrugg, powerhouse drummer of Zodiac Killers/Losin' Streaks fame. Shrugg's on vocals and guitar in this band, joined by Adam Miller (ex-Mallrats) on bass and Jeff Melendez (ex-Milhouse SMF) on drums. These three boys can flat-out play. It's weird – a lot of the press on the Black Dahlias has them pegged as a power pop or poppy-punk type band, and I just don't hear that myself. That said, I like this record a lot. "Wednesday Night" sounds uncannily like Social Distortion to me (except better). It's a slightly countrified punk n' roll number with snarling vocals and a strong sing-along chorus. Very tuneful - and the guitar solo smokes! The production, courtesy of Chris Woodhouse (FM Knives, A-Frames, Coachwhips), is perfect for a punk record. The drums sound like they're gonna come crashing through my turntable speakers; the guitars are loud n' raw but don't overpower the vocals. The B-side tracks (especially "Easy Way Out") remind me a lot of The Saints - they're straight-ahead rippers in the rockin' '77 style. Neither cut is as catchy as "Wednesday Night", but there's something to be said for a band that knows how to put the pedal to the medal and flat-out tear it up. Seriously, these numbers sound like they could have been (I'm) Stranded outtakes, and I hope that's taken as a compliment. The Black Dahlias have some serious chops. All in all, a pretty
damn good record! BLACK DAHLIAS - "Wednesday Night" 7" EP Three guys, three chords. Remember the Riverdales? Older Lookout pop-punk bands with the attitude and the velocity and the ideas borrowed from the past? That's what's going on here. And it’s fine; energetic nuggets of melody, simple and beating the point to death, but here you go. More pop punk. If that is your bag, please dig in. Edition of 500 on clear vinyl. (Doug Mosurak, from "Still Single" Vol. 5) Punk Planet #68, July/August 2005 BLACK DAHLIAS - "Wednesday Night" 7" EP This three-song power-pop EP is a real fucking treat, kids. "Wednesday Night" is a gem in the vein of early-Mick Jones Clash (think "Gates of the West"). The B side lets up a little, but so do Little Eva's and The Count Five's. "Wednesday Night" is a strong effort and one of the few records I've reviewed that I'd be willing to spin for others. Another thing: vinyl. Kids, if you have the means, please release 7-inches. My copy of "Wednesday Night" is blemished by drool, which seeped out of my mouth upon initial viewing of its clear vinyl pressing. (Ryan Leach) Horizontal Action #15, Summer 2005 BLACK DAHLIAS - "Wednesday Night" 7" EP Not Blag Dahlia! So these pop-brained hotshots think they can make me wince? So they've got one of the ex-ZODIAC KILLERS on board and the FM KNIVES' Chris Woodhouse twiddled the knobs, but even with all that cock-teasing, I still haven't had enough to drink to make this single get a rise outta my pants. Decent fun but won't stop traffic. (Rich Drippings) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #266 (July 2005) BLACK DAHLIAS - "Wednesday Night" 7" EP Tuneful garagey punk from BLACK DAHLIAS on Mario's Plastic Idol Records, whose releases I always like 'cos he doesn't put out many and the ones he does are done up obviously quality all the way. Three blasts of the fun stuff worthy of spin. (From "What We Do Is Secret" by Henry Yu; also available online here) Maximum Rock 'n' Roll #264 (May 2005) BLACK DAHLIAS - "Wednesday Night" 7" EP |