WRUV Reviews

The Adicts- Life Goes On
released July 13, 2010 on People Like You Records

Here’s something you don’t see everyday: A new release from a classic punk group. Other than D.O.A, there haven’t been many releases from older bands this year. If you’re familiar with the British punk rock explosion of the late 70s, you may have heard of this band. Regardless, they have added some keyboards, synths and even violin to their sound and the band still consists of Kide Dee, Monkey, Pete Dee and Mel Ellis along with Scruff and Dan. “Spank Me Hard” has that classic Brit street-punk feel to it and certainly conveys that the The Adicts haven’t really changed their sound much. One thing to note is that most lyrics are usually catchy, although they do seem to fall short in some places. As for the tracks I’d recommend?  “Freaky Deaky Boys & Girls” (very new-wave sound with cool lyrics), “Over There”, “Gangster” (feels somewhat out of place but it is certainly a chance for them to experiment with their sound and create something very listenable in the process) and “Mr.Hard” (lyrics inspired by “A Clockwork Orange” and the sound is experimental in nature…slow and slightly eccentric). I like what I’m hearing and I should correct myself and mention that The Adicts were actually at the tail-end of the British punk explosion and beginning of the post-punk/new-wave movement of the time. Overall, certainly an album to check out and let’s just say that if you like bands like The Ramones, Sham 69 and even New Model Army, you will enjoy this album.

FCC: 6,8,13
Try: 1,3,5, *7*, *12*

Mad Sin- Burn And Rise
released May 11, 2010 on People Like You Records

This is the 9th release from German psychobilly legends, Mad Sin. The first track is an instrumental that leads into “Last Gang Standing”. Fast-paced, tuneful psychobilly with a strong similarity to Tiger Army and the Nekromantix in style. Darker in nature though. Highlighted tracks include “Cursed” (fast, demented and yet, oddly similar to Sublime?),  ”Geisterfahrer” and “Fur Immer” (both sung in their native German with the former being fast paced and the latter slowed down with a hint of blues), “Wreckhouse Stomp” (imagine Fishbone playing psychobilly and you’d get this), “Nine Lives” (psychobilly with a strong country/folk influence), “Shitlist Bop” (sounds like they’re channeling the Stray Cats) and “The March Of The Deviants” (seems to incorporate a bit of ska to produce an altogether different sound). In conclusion, a very fun album to listen to and in addition to the release by The Other, it’s nice to see that the Germans are keeping psychobilly/horror punk alive and well. Check this out!

FCC: 3,7,9,10,14,15,16,17
Try: 2,4,*5*, *11*

Good Riddance- Capricorn One: Singles and Rarities
released July 6, 2010 on Fat Wreck Chords

This CD is a compilation of singles and rarities from Good Riddance. Formed in Santa Cruz, CA in 1986, they released their first album in 1990 on Little Deputy Records before being discovered by Fat Mike of NOFX. Often described as straight-edge, political melodic hardcore but they don’t hit you over the head with their sXe views like other bands. Highlights of this compilation include “Stand”, “Class War 2000″ (inspired by a TSOL song of the same name and musically similar), “Off The Wagon” (well-crafted melodies mated to strong drums), “Tragic Kingdom” (riff-heavy and anti-Disney..I like), “Little Man”, “Great Experiment” (kind of a cross between punk and grunge) and “Not So Bad”. Most of their songs were inspired by the style of RKL and other older hardcore punk bands. They’re certainly one of the better bands in the Fat Wreck lineup and this compilation is something to check out if you’re a fan of the Fat Wreck family of bands.

FCC: 7,13,14,17,21
Try: 1,2, *4*, *5*, *18*

The Other- New Blood
release date: August 31, 2010 on Steamhammer/SPV

This is the fourth release from what is described as Europe’s most famous horror-punk band. They have toured with the likes of The Misfits, Balzac, Bela B. (Die Ärzte) and The Cult among others. I can’t say that I’ve heard of them until now but I enjoy horror punk as a genre. “New Blood” opens up this album with a haunting melody that sets things up for “Back To The Cemetary”. The latter has a strong gothic feel that unfolds into blazing fast punk reminiscent of The Misfits. Other tracks that stand out include “Transylvania” (has a hint of Motorhead in it), “The Burial”, “The Lovesick Mind” (a departure from other tracks, slow and sinister as singer attempts to channel Glenn Danzig),  “Blood Runs Cold” and “Demons Walk The Earth” (obviously inspired by The Misfits due to pacing and musical style). In conclusion, it’s not a stretch to say that The Other has taken obvious influence from some of the bands mentioned in here and they’ve created something that’s fun to listen to and would probably fool fans of the Misfits and other bands within their genre. A solid album that’s sure to please fans of horror punk.

FCC: Check
Try: 2, 3, 6, 8, 12

Against Me!- White Crosses
released June 4, 2010 on Sire Records

This is the newest release from Gainesville, FL punks, Against Me! “White Crosses” starts out this album with a decent pop-punk vibe to it. “I Was A Teenage Anarchist” sounds more like a cross between emo and pop-punk with catchy lyrics. It was also released on an EP. Most of the album has a similar sound and feels like they’ve lightened up as opposed to past albums. “High Pressure Low” is decent and evokes Social Distortion in the melodies. “Rapid Decompression” sounds much like older Against Me! and it’s short, catchy and kind of what I was hoping for. “Bob Dylan Dream” is kind of folksy in nature and much slower than usual. In all, it’s a decent album and despite that, it just doesn’t live up to what I was expecting. There aren’t enough punk releases this year but you should still check this out.

FCC: 11
Try: 2,6,9

Real McKenzies- Shine Not Burn
released June 22, 2010 on Fat Wreck Chords

Latest release from Celtic punks from Vancouver B.C. All songs are acoustic. Their music is pretty much similar to bands like the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly with the exception that it comes from the Scottish end of the Celtic spectrum. “10,000 Shots” has a mish-mash of instruments and a very relaxed feel to it. Something you could dance around with. “Chips” has a stronger punk influence within it but it doesn’t lose the overall folksy feel. “Whisky Scotch Whisky” is a fun track that seems to show the true spirit of this group. Lighthearted and full of infectious melodies with a good dose of bagpipes and drums. If bands like the ones mentioned above along with Gogol Bordello are your forte, then you will enjoy this album.

FCC:
Try: 3, 8, 17

Gogol Bordello- Trans-Continental Hustle
released April 27, 2010 on American Recordings

The long-awaited 5th album from this group of gypsy punks with a smorgasboard of musical influences. To categorize them as one genre would go against the very nature of what they stand for. Eugene Hutz is at it once again with his frantic energy and weathered voice contributing well to the rhythms. Pala Tute starts off this album and it sounds like a cross between ska and country/folk mainly due to the structure of the rhythms and I believe, the presence of horns. Very avant-garde and a good way to open the album. Sun Is On My Side is slowed down and nearly low-key. It breaks from the pacing of other songs to show a somber side of the band. Immigraniada (We Comin’ Rougher) is fast, frantic and is reminiscent of Bad Religion and punk in general. It should be noted that the lyrics are almost always politically aware and passionate. Take for example, Break The Spell, which talks about persecution of the Roma (gypsies) and has a similar blueprint to other songs.  When Universes Collide is also slowed down and gives Hutz a chance to expand his vocal range a bit. Overall, if you like Gogol Bordello, this album will probably satisfy your hunger. Personally, I think Gogol Bordello should be filed under “Frantic” as it explains their pacing and how they can get you moving around. Check it out.

FCC: None
Try: *1*, 5, *6*, 8, 12

D.O.A- Let’s Wreck The Party
released March 30, 2010 on Sudden Death Records

This album is actually a re-release of D.O.A’s 1985 album “Let’s Wreck The Party” (of which WRUV has a LP copy hidden somewhere). This is classic D.O.A and if you’ve only heard their most recent stuff, you really haven’t heard their best work. This album has more of a hardcore pacing in most songs. As for tracks that I like?  Track 2 sounds similar in style to the Dead Kennedys, especially at the beginning of the song. Good structure overall. Track 5 is unique as it seems to take their sound where it’s never been and it actually has a pseudo-pop feel to it, sounding more like something that would get heavy play on MTV than D.O.A. I swear it even has a synthesizer (?) or something like that because of the heavy 80s feel.  Track 6 continues on a similar path and sounds similar to what AC/DC would have put out in that era because of the heavier feel. Track 7 is the title track and it too has a great sound to it. The structure of Track 9 ensures that it can kick you in the ass and re-arrange your head at the same time.  Overall, this is D.O.A in their prime when they were somewhat heavier as well. It’s a toss-up between their older output and their most recent albums but one thing that I think you’ll agree on is that they just get better as the years go by.

FCC:
Try: 1, *5*, *6*, 7

D.O.A- Talk-Action=0
released May 11, 2010 on Sudden Death Records

The latest and greatest from one of the greatest Canadian exports ever (even better than Molson XXX and the McKenzie Brothers) and D.O.A doesn’t fail to please. Usually, when a band nears or passes the ripe old age of 50, their music tends to slow down and drone on and on. That’s certainly not the case here. Track 1 starts off this album with short, fast bursts of punk fury and it has a good structure to it, evoking bands such as Bad Religion and Pennywise, mainly due to the political nature of the lyrics. Of course, D.O.A was doing this before said bands came along or became as big as they are. Most songs show that Joey “Shithead” Keithley hasn’t lost it in regards to vocal swagger. Track 4 offers a relatively bleak outlook from someone that lives in a car and at first, I thought it was a cover of the track by the U.K Subs, which it is not. Keithley seems to have hit upon a gold mine of subjects for lyrics with the current global recession and the bleakness of it all. Track 5 is a re-hash of a classic D.O.A tune and it focuses on the brutality of the R.C.M.P (you know, those dorks on horses). Track 8 is a cover of a Bob Dylan tune, which is not unusual as D.O.A has covered other, non-punk artists in the past (Creedence Clearwater for example) and Track 11 is another cover as well. It’s certainly something to check out and actually sounds pretty decent. Track 9 is a song about Star Trek and seems rather tuned down. I like Track 13 because it has that modern punk feel to it minus the emo, minus the crap and minus the pretentiousness. In conclusion, I love D.O.A and I honestly have to say that unlike a can of Molson XXX, D.O.A never gets stale to my ears. Check it out!

FCC: None
Try: 1, *4*, *5*, 8, 13

Young Livers- Of Misery And Toil
released April 6, 2010 on No Idea Records

The Young Livers are a band from Gainesville, FL and this is their second full-length on No Idea Records. The press release was all over the place in regards to influences but some bands mentioned were Drive Like Jehu, Big Business, Fugazi and Baroness. Interesting mix of influences. Track 1 starts this album off with a bang and to my ears, it sounds a lot like Bad Religion mated with an 80s metal band and this is the result. Fast and furious. Track 2 continues the same level of intensity, reminding me of a sped-up Ramones track. Track 4 has a sound reminiscent of Fugazi in some ways. Basically, it’s hard to describe this sound without name-dropping because it’s so fresh in many ways. They have a way with their instruments and evoking the best parts of the genres that they seem to cover (that “epic” feel associated with 80s metal and the speed/intensity of punk). Track 5 continues to showcase their musical competency, especially with the timing of the drums, which changes up at 1:34, causing my head to bob back and forth to each beat and the song ends with a flourish. Track 6 gets my approval for quite possibly the best track, taking the influences and styles mentioned in previous tracks and just turning that fucker up to 11. Their use of breaks and flourishes just gives each track that “epic” feel as described earlier. Track 9 is the best example of punk in their influences, sounding like they found a way to one-up Bad Religion with competent instrumentation. The press release also mentions Thin Lizzy and yes, there is some of that sound in this. Overall, quite possibly the most fun you’ll have all year. No Idea’s been cranking out some really good stuff as of late and like the album from No Friends, this is another epic release that you should get your grubby hands on. Equal parts metal, punk, hardcore and just plain fucking awesomness!

FCC: None
Try: ALL! But I really enjoyed *5*, *6*, *8* , *9*

5/5