WRUV Reviews

A refreshing indie experimental noise album. Characterized as “skilled musicians who excel at building intricate compositions that come over as loose and casual” by Pitchfork Media, this album holds true. Full of rhythmic buildups, lingering textures, and a fair amount of feedback, the instrumentals are abstract yet pleasing enough to the ears for repeated listening. Ethereal vocals guide the tracks and bring the structure necessary. Atmosphere: grungy drawnout calming ambiguity, yeah!

Sounds like: a fragmented Sonic Youth

Play: All tracks, 1, 4, 5, 6,

FCC Clean

Headstunts is the anagram entitled 4^th album by New Zealand garage rockers The Datsuns (think Tom Marvolo Riddle aka Lord Voldemort). Energy ridden, muffled punkpop is what comes to mind. Guitar laden, distortion friendly, upbeat music with cheeky britpunk unisex vocals. A few tracks stray from the album’s norm including a psychedelic and/or rockabilly feel. Overall lyrical style: sing a verse and then shout the title of the song as the hook, you know the type. A tad memorable with a pinch of forgettable.

Sounds like: The Von Bondies, a more distorted Hives, less melodic Strokes, eh

Play: 1, 2,3, 6, 8, *12

FCC Clean

Hammers Of Misfortune- “The Bastard”
re-released August 3, 2010 on Metal Blade Records

Metal Blade has re-released all four albums from Hammers Of Misfortune. This is their debut album, originally released in 2001. Their music is described as progressive metal with elements of doom metal and NWOBHYM. In terms of lyrical structure, think of this album as a play in three acts with three central characters (The Bastard/Sapling, The King and The Chaos Dragon). In fact, as you’re listening along, read the lyrics. Their overall sound is reminiscent of bands such as Baroness, Mastodon and Pelican. “When The Dragon Is Summoned” starts off Act I with a slow, doomy feeling before picking up in a thrashy manner, maintaining an even pace. Each song builds up and if you’re curious, each song is essentially part of the dialogue between each character, with a strong focus on the conflict between The King and The Bastard/Sapling. Each song escalates in pacing up until midway through the first act,”You Should Have Slain Me”. The dialogue between father and the (bastard) son comes to a close with a sound that’s sad and epic, signifying the end to a tenuous relationship. “An Oath Sworn In Hell” starts off Act II as one of the strongest tracks overall, with an ominous sound that complements the beginning of the end of the conflict between The King and The Bastard/Sapling. The conflict comes to a bloody end on “Tyrant Dies”, with the son emerging as the victor. “The Prophesy Has Two Meanings” starts off Act III with a slightly more upbeat feel to it. The music feels formulaic at times but still manages to stick to the theme. “For The Ax” marks the battle between The King and The Chaos Dragon, in which the latter is slain, leading into the “Troll’s March”. “Sacrifice/The End” marks the end of this this album. In my opinion, this is quite an interesting album with a concept that defies convention (at least in my world).  It’s epic and certainly progressive. This album was just the first of several releases, each with their own concept. Fans of progressive metal, NWOBYHM and doom will certainly enjoy this album.

FCC: Clean
Try: 1, 6, 8, 12,14

01. The Dragon Is Summoned
02. The Bastard Son
03. On The Wings Of Vengeance
04. Hunting Tyrant
05. You Should Have Slain Me
06. An Oath Sworn In Hell
07. The Blood Ax Speaks
08. Tyrant Dies
09. The Witch’s Dance
10. The Prophecy Has Two Meanings
11. The New King’s Lament
12. For The Ax
13. Troll’s March
14. Sacrifice/The End

4/5

5th studio from the Afro Roots star who’s music radiates good vibes like the sun over Jamaica or a summer day in Ghana, his hometown. This disc packs soulful reggae with hints of world influences, not only from Ghana, but from traveling and/or touring in Israel, Finland, Jamaica, & more.

With melodic acoustic-driven tracks like “Jerusalem”(8), “Take it Slow”(11), and the stand out “Walls Tumbling Down”(4), his lyrics of social & global consciousness are evident but remain vague enough so as not to alienate any listeners. Track 8 also has world influences (obv.) along with afro-beat(ish) “Master Plan”(5) and “African Reggae Fever”(2) which could be herd while your plane flies over the jungle towards Ghana perhaps. Also slow rocking reggae cuts like “Head Up High”(10), head nodding “Freefall”(7), & solid sounds of “Extraordinary Women”(3) make this release well rounded with something for everyone (even whistling on “Walk the Talk”(9) if you fancy). Overall this flows nicely from start to finish with the track selection perfected & reggae-soul goodness delivered.   FCC clean

reggae sounds: 1,*3,*4,7        world/international > reggae: 2,*5,8

* Buy Hymns for the Rebel Soul and a % of the proceeds goes to Africa Live!, “a non-profit organization founded by Dawuni, whose mission is to preserve, restore, & reinvigorate the Ghanaian live music scene.”

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Awesome lo-fi girl band from San Francisco that is the surf static, punky awesomeness you’d expect from that coast these days. Post-punk riffs, tuff drums & bass behind ethereal lady harmonies. Kickass but not pretentious or annoying. Not the Vivian Girls, either. Music sounds like Mika Miko, vox sound like Brilliant Colors. It’s like the chicks who smoke in the bathroom (playing instrumentals) asked the prom queen & her friends to sing vocals.

PLAY: 1 (sweeeet song getting a lot of buzz on blogs!), 2, 9

I cannot hide that this is one of my favorite bands…Screaming Females are so punk rock! They are so on edge and precise and screechy and eerily calm and make you want to barrel roll down a hill in fast forward. Marissa Paternoster is infectious and omnipresent with her Janis Joplin meets Alison Mosshart belt-it-out power vocals (you should watch this chick shred on the geetar!) that even though there is only one female in the Screaming Females, the plural is totally necessary. There are some slower tracks, some moderately paced, and of course, the quintessential yelping tracks ripe for the picking. These three scream, bellow, hollar, caterwaul, bawl and exude the definition of rock and roll. (see Merriam Webster).

fcc: clean

riyd: ShellShag, The Kills, Ty Segall

PLAY!!!!! 2, 6, 7, 1, 4, 5, 9

Yes! Wolf Parade is back! The band that proves you can be nervy and unnerving at the same time. For myself, their previous release, At Mount Zoomer was a severe let down, it was not the Wolf Parade I held so dear, the frazzled vocals, erratic noises and quick hooks gave way to something more ominous, something of a concept album without a concept. BUT NOW! But now this parade is back on the boulevard with a vengence. And if any of you are as confused about the breakdown of this band as I was, you may be asking, what? isn’t this just the same as Frog Eyes? As Sunset Rubdown? Not a chance! Let me interpret… So, Wolf Parade is Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug (mainly) and Boeckner and his wifey are Handsome Furs. Krug is in Sunset Rubdown and Frog Eyes (part time). Carey Mercer is also in Frog Eyes. and Swan Lake with Krug and Dan Bejar who is Destroyer and in The New Pornographers. Pheeewf, GOT IT? What was my point? They are all slightly different and ranging on the wonderlove bar and if you like any of these guys, for me, Wolf Parade is at the peak of this mountain!

fcc: clean

play:2, 1, 4, 6, 11, 5

The Black Pacific- “The Black Pacific”
released September 14, 2010 on SideOneDummy

This is a solo album from Jim Lindberg, former vocalist of Pennywise. Described as an experimental type of album, it features Lindberg on vocals, Alan Vega on drums and Shaun Lopez (Deftones) on guitar. “The System” starts off with a sound that evokes Pennywise but in more of a darker vein and also takes on a hint of Bad Religion as well.  ”When It’s Over” combines fast drums with a bit of droning guitar and it feels almost as if Lindberg wants to channel the Dead Kennedys. It’s certainly stripped down enough to suggest such a thing. Some of the best tracks in my opinion include “Living With Ghosts” (reminiscent of s), “Time Is Not The Reason” (similar in structure to the previous track), “Kill Your Idols”, “Defamer”, “Ruinator” (certainly different from Lindberg’s previous work and has a nice, grungy feel) and “Put Down Your Weapons”. Overall, it’s different from Lindberg’s work in Pennywise but it does not stray too far. I believe that this move was overdue for Lindberg and where he could not grow with Pennywise, he will be able to grow with The Black Pacific. Certainly one of the better punk albums of the year.

FCC: 1, 5
Try: *2*,3,4,6,7,*8*, *9*

Street Dogs- “Street Dogs”
released August 31st, 2010 on Hellcat Records

This is the newest album from the Street Dogs, fronted by former Dropkick Murphys vocalist, Mike McColgan. One way to describe their music is that it’s simply Boston-style street punk.  ”Rattle And Roll” get things off to a raucous start with fast, melodic punk rock that is similar to McColgan’s former band, as well as bands like Rancid, U.S Bombs and even the long-defunct Plan A Project. As noted, it has that distinct Boston flair to it. Some of my favorite picks include “Up The Union”, “Punk Rock And Roll”, “Yesterday” and “In Stereo”. Honestly, I would play the whole album, though there are some tracks with profanities. It’s short, sweet and definitely the type of punk rock that I want to see more of. Check out this album if you’re a fan of the Dropkick Murphys and any other band with a similar political and musical leaning.

FCC: 5,7,12,18
Try: All but especially, 2,3,4,9

Electronic dream-pop trio is back with their second album.  More refined—if less experimental—than Alpinsims, the sound is softer and has rounder edges.
RIYL: Secret Machines.  FCC Clean