WRUV Reviews

The Austerity Program- Backsliders & Apostates Will Burn
released May 4, 2010 on Hydra Head Records

This is a 4 song EP from the band The Austerity Program, which is actual a duo from NYC named Justin Foley (vocals, guitar) and Thad Calabrese (bass). They also use a drum machine as well. I was unable to find any more information on musical genre but on first listen, I could pick out vibe similar to that of Harvey Milk. “Song 25″ starts off this EP in a slow, droning manner with mechanical drumbeats. It takes a while but about half-way in, the song picks up some beats before returning to the droning manner of the start. “Song 26″ has more variation with a stronger emphasis on the drum part and it’s a bit sludgy as well. About three minutes and twenty five seconds in, the vocals kick in and thus it continues on. I like the feel of “Song 27″ more and once again, it has a focus on drums and drones on as well. After listening to those three tracks, “Song 29″ wraps up this EP with just about more of the same. It’s really not easy to describe such tracks but one should be apt enough to lean towards “noise rock”, which is certainly not a new term. It’s hard to discount such creativity exercised by both members of this project because a drum machine by itself cannot possibly replace human hands. But, when combined with competent bass and guitars, it becomes an unique form of art. I have seen two-man bands before but not within this style. Check out this EP.

FCC: Check
Try: 1,3,4

01. Song 25
02. Song 26
03. Song 27
04. Song 29

3/5

Glyder – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Release Date: 2010Jun29 (US)
Label: Steamhammer
Rating: 4/5

It seems, in our day and age, anybody can twist songs together into some worshipful retro band. Some groups merely move through the motions, but every now and again, one gets it. Glyder proves that Ireland has even more to offer 21st-century hard rock audiences besides The Answer. I keep hearing that band’s name mentioned in the same breath as Led Zeppelin and I don’t quite feel the resemblance; however, Glyder‘s continuous comparisons to Thin Lizzy are altogether apt (not to mention the Philomena Lynott endorsement). (more…)

This rock EP, which varies from tunes with nearly a country vibe to tunes with a psych vibe, shows that this band is still experimenting with its sound. I’m really digging the edginess/uniqueness of the last track– “Don’t Let it Die”– it kind of reminds me of some of Gossip’s older material (although I could just be thinking that because it’s the next band that comes alphabetically on my iTunes!).

FCC Clean!

Try: 5,4,3

RIYL My Morning Jacket, Blitzen Trapper

Here’s some cheery, jangly summertime pop. It might take a few listens for the stop-and-go melodies and highly affected vocals to grow on you (as in I really didn’t get the hype about this band during my first listen), but this is pretty decent stuff. Tracks like “Nova Leigh” recall the pure exhilaration of Vampire Weekend’s tracks, while others (like “At Home Now”) show a serious Strokes influence. My personal faves are the aforementioned “Nova Leigh” (8) and “The Ballad of Moose Bruce” (has kind of a manic-folksy vibe) (5) but suggested tracks are all pretty good.

FCC Clean!

RIYL Vampire Weekend, The Strokes

Try 2,3,5,6,7,8,9

Harvey Milk- A Small Turn Of Human Kindness
released May 18, 2010 on Hydra Head Records

When I last visited Harvey Milk via the re-release of their self-titled album back in February, I was not sure to expect. It would be an understatement to say that it introduced me to a whole new world of music that I had previously been unaware of. To start things off, “*” is slow and haunting with an orchestral feel to it and a time-signature that moves along at a snail’s pace. It’s certainly reminiscent of what I heard on the re-release of their self-titled album. “I Just Want To Go Home” continues the same pace. By reading the press description, you will see that each song is meant to flow into the other. “I Am Sick Of All This Too” is shorter in length but once again, compliments the first two tracks. “I Know This Is No Place For You” attempts to modify the pace just slightly. “I Alone Got Up And Left” seems primitive in nature, starting off with drum beats that are spaced apart before breaking back into the pacing. The first minute and a half of “I Know This Is All My Fault” is nothing but silence before it breaks into more slow and prodding sludge with pauses and another break into silence at three minutes, thirty seconds in. At five minutes and thirty seconds in, a slow, haunting voice breaks out, followed by very low-key noise. “I Did Not Call Out” is the final track and it aims to tie up this album in an epic manner. It’s no secret that I’m having trouble describing most tracks but in order to truly appreciate this album, you must listen to it from start to finish. It’s always good when an album challenges a listener by merely throwing out musical roadblocks that impede the ability to categorize and name-drop. This is a beautiful album that follows in classic Harvey Milk tradition. In fact, the final track is reminiscent of “F.S.TP” from their self-titled album. Their sound has matured and so have they. Check out this album and before you play the first track, let go of any expectations that you have and just fall into the moment.

FCC: Check
Try: 1, 3, *5*, *7*

01. *
02. I just Want To Go Home
03. I Am Sick Of All This Too
04. I Know This Is No Place For You
05. I Alone Got Up And Left
06. I Know This Is All My Fault
07. I Did Not Call Out

4/5

Riotgod-Riotgod
released August 17, 2010 on Metalville Records

It’s not often that an album like this falls into your hands. Riotgod is made up of Jim Baglino and Bob Pantella of Monster Magnet, Garrett Sweeny of Psycho Daisy and Mark Sunshine. Where to start? “Light Of The Sun” gets the joint..err..ball rolling with a tune that is very reminiscent of Black Sabbath, albeit slowed down even more, but no less epic. If there’s a better way to start off such an album, I’d like to know about it. “Crusader” pretty much follows the same vibe. “The Time Is Now” changes it up slightly but otherwise, I’m sure you can see a pattern forming, albeit an enjoyable pattern that is. Being that Monster Magnet itself started off with influences such as Hawkwind, it’s not a surprise to see that continuation with half of Monster Magnet present in Riotgod. “Pinata” is another great track that takes a heavy influence from Steppenwolf and modernizes it. The album seems to change up a bit with “Drone Station”, taking on more of a grungy/sludgy feel to it, but without discarding the overall feel. “Love It Or Leave It” takes on a sound that’s more reminiscent of Sonic Youth and the Smashing Pumpkins in nature, which is an interesting detour from the first half of this album. “Sweet Kaos” takes on an epic feel of sorts, echoing more of their influence from 60s and 70s rock with the riffs evoking equal parts Jimmy Page and Tony Iommi. The last half of this album returns to a slow, plodding pace with “Fangasm” being the strongest of the last four songs, smoothly tying together all of their influences into one neat package. In conclusion, I’m not sure how much more I could gush over this album. It’s rare that an album like this comes along and seemingly ties up the loose ends between certain rock genres. An absolute masterpiece and quite possibly the best album of 2010!

FCC: Check
Try: ALL but especially 1, *3*, *8*, 9, *10*, *12*, *15*

01. Light Of The Sun
02. Crusader
03. The Time Is Now
04. Horizon
05. 9th Life
06. Omega
07. Collapsing Stars
08. Pinata
09. Drone Station
10. Love It Or Leave It
11. Rift
12. Sweet Kaos
13. High Time
14. Grand Design
15. Fangasm
16. Minds Eye

5/5

The Coathangers Remixed takes two tracks from the frenetic Alt rockers and adds some electro madness to them.  Arthritis Sux(Judy Chicago Remix) is a fast paced Electro Rock/House mix that barely maintains it’s sanity.  143(Dan Deacon Remix) is a quirky, Electro Rock remix.  Both are superb and the remixes give the original tracks a fresh look and feel while maintaining their essence.

RIYD: Out Hud, Justin Martin

All Tracks Good (tracks found on WRUV RPM July Singles)

Tomboy is the latest single from Panda Bear.  The title track, Tomboy, is quintessential Panda Bear - Indie Rock with dreamy, floating lyrics and an electro ambient backdrop.  The second track, Slow Motion speaks for itself, a slow moving track with staccato beats and dreamy vocals.  An excellent representation of Panda Bear that should appeal to Rockers and RPM’s.

RIYD: Animal Collective, The Orb

All Tracks Good

Sweet little folk-rock tunes with various instruments (accordion, violin/viola, and then the more traditional guitars, etc) in the vein of the Decemberists. This is artsy music with a twinge of international flair (after all, the band’s name is Hey Marseilles). All tracks are pretty good. I personally really like the first and last tracks (1 and 13)– they’re really gorgeous instrumentals that would not be out of place on a movie soundtrack– but they might be a bit too sappy for some DJs.

FCC Clean

RIYL The Decemberists

Try tracks 2, 4, 11, 9, 6, all

No-nonsense rock ‘n roll for the Bruce Springsteen/Hold Steady crowd. This is a perfect, all-American album to play (loudly) while driving around on hot, midsummer evenings. Its gritty but polished and melodic anthems are one part post-punk for every three parts New Jersey Springsteen-esque rock. That said, the Gaslight Anthem’s got nothing on the Boss…but they’re capable of holding their own as an emerging artist. Check it out!

FCC Clean

Try tracks 8, 7, 1, 2, 9 all

RIYL: Bruce Springsteen (I’m guessing you already figured that out by now), Hold Steady, the Clash