 |
|
|
|
|
| Can't find Razorcake at your favorite store? Lend us a hand and we'll send you a free issue. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | Razorcake will send you one free issue if you ask your librarian if they would carry Razorcake in their stacks. (This offer is good for both traditional libraries and independent libraries.) To get the free issue, you must send us the librarian's name and email and the library's postal address. We will then contact them directly and donate a subscription to them. U.S. libraries only, due to postage. | |
|
|
|
|
|
| | 
Record Reviews1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 | 0-9| A| B| C| D| E| F| G| H| I| J| K| L| M | | N| O| P| Q| R| S| T| U| V| W| X| Y| Z| Below are some recently posted reviews.  RSS Feed
WAR IS ON, THE:
Welcome to the Rust Belt: CD
This bad boy appeals to that pissed-off teen who still sulks around somewhere inside me and loves tuneage that further fuels whatever it was that got my undies in a bunch in the first place. They rarely ratchet things up past a gallop, but they have no shortage of antagonism infused into their sound. They aren’t looking to reinvent the mold, but like most truly good, tried and true hardcore bands, they’ve apparently sussed that one doesn’t need to rely on speed or metal influence to get things a-hoppin’.
–Jimmy Alvarado (myspace.com/thewarison)
| |
|
VARIOUS ARTISTS:
PML Zine Compilation: 7” EP
According to the front cover, this is the “foreign edition” of a compilation featuring Four Finnish bands, originally released in 2010 with issue four of PML zine. Lebakko drop another virulent bit of punk/hardcore, Escape To Death take a more traditional thrash route, No Heroes brings to mind the best of DS-13, and Anvils Drop are more on the pain/hardcore end of the spectrum. Excellent teaser of what’s going on in the Finnish underground—four rock solid tracks and zero bullshit.
–Jimmy Alvarado (PML, pikakelauksellamaailmanloppuun@gmail.com)
| |
|
WAGON BLASTERS:
Trail Songs of Love, Loss & Regret: 7”
This tractor punk outfit from Nebraska harvests the best qualities from country and punk and makes it their own. With crackling drums, strong guitar, buzzing harmonica, and electric bass fiddle, Blasters have created three tracks that can stand alone with quality production and sound throughout. On ruby red vinyl, this is solid punk’n’roll done right by some good ol’ boys. Davis, the vocalist and founder of this local record label, reminds me of Jeff Pezzati, with brawny, blow your house down kind of vocals. “Golden Lariat” and “Fortified” are my faves for their sheer boot stompin’ energy. Pass the whiskey! Recommended.
–Kristen K (Speed! Nebraska, speedneb@yahoo.com, speednebraska.com)
| |
|
VARIOUS ARTISTS:
8Up Records: CD-R
Once again, another shoddily thrown-together compilation from 8Up Records. Packaged in a photocopied paper sleeve—one that doesn’t bother to list the band’s song names—is a CD-R simply marked in Sharpie with an 8 and an arrow pointing up. Of course, this is probably free. Nonetheless, a little effort goes a long way. If you’ve written for Razorcake for any length of time, you’ve probably got a compilation from this label to review. You’re just as likely to have reviewed something by the ever-ubiquitous and prolific A Disco For Ferns, who always seem to sound completely different. The first CD-R demo I got from them was really shitty, growling grindcore or something of that sort. I also got a tape of joke punk songs from them that was equally as shitty in quality, but was, nonetheless, quite funny. This time, they play some weird stuff with a hugely distorted bass and a male/female vocal exchange. The bass was often so distorted it sounded like Suicide’s synths. I kind of liked it. Everything else on here is shitty punk rock.
–Craven (8Up)
| |
|
VACATION:
Self-titled: LP
Intriguing new release from this Ohio trio. Although I dug their Smiths cover that they did live when I saw them (and dedicated to Mikey Erg, no less), it is their original material that is drawing me into the hubbub. Some songs veer into lo-fi, but not so much as to be annoying. Great song titles like “Columbus Is Not a Hero,” and “Cop Knock,” for example. These guys toured with The Dopamines last time around. So if they didn’t bring it, they would have been sitting at home looking for spare change underneath their couch cushions. Not that they don’t do that on their off days, but you get my drift. Give this a spin. Something will tug at your eardrums in a pleasant fashion.
–Sean Koepenick (Mandible)
| |
|
VACATION CLUB:
Self-titled: 7”
Full disclosure: I have become friendly with these guys over the past year and a half. My band has played shows with them and I try to see them whenever they play my town. Brandon and I play the same bass (Gibson Ripper… well, mine’s the Epiphone version, but close enough). I have to say Vacation Club is my favorite Indiana band these days (not to slight all my friends’ bands) but, goddamn, do they know how to make a show fun! Indiana is quite the hotbed of low-fi rock’n’roll these days: Vacation Club, Happy Thoughts, Perennials, Apache Dropout, Moscow Moscow Moscow, The Half Rats (well, I think they’re at least half an Indiana band). Vacation Club plays jangly, power pop-ish rock’n’roll with snotty vocals. My only complaint with this record is that the drums could be more present. Huh… thought I’d never say that! Vacation Club is best experienced live. I dare anyone not to dance!
–Sal Lucci (Glory Hole, gloryholerecords.com)
| |
|
UNITED SONS OF TOIL, THE:
When the Revolution Comes, Everything Will Be Beautiful: LP
Sometimes this sounds like a bad rip off of Fugazi; other times it kinda sounds like Tool. Is that a thing, sounding like Tool and Fugazi? I hope that it was just a mistake.
–Vincent Battilana (Phratry / sacredplague.com)
| |
|
UNION ELECTRIC:
“Tunnels” b/w “An Irish Orphan”: 7”
I’m pretty sure that I used to play hall shows here in Michigan with the accordion player’s old band. Weird... anyway: “Tunnels” is a pretty decent little country tune with some solid Emmylou Harris-like harmonies. “An Irish Orphan” is the same crappy b-side country bands have been writing for years. Seriously, every country band writes a stupid throwaway song like this. Cut it out!
–Todd Taylor (Rank Outsider, rankoutsiderrecords.com)
| |
|
UNCLE SKUNKLE:
Happily Ever After: 7”
In my eternal search for the stupidest band name ever, I believe I may have a contender. I mean, really guys? Uncle Skunkle? Yikes. At least you didn’t misspell uncle with a K. I believe I may have returned your 7” to Todd unlistened at that point. Fearing that maybe this was some incredibly cool reference that I in my ignorance was missing, I did what any red-blooded American male with an internet connection would: I Googled that shit. Uncle Skunkle is the name of a toy manufacturer. I dunno, man. Doesn’t seem like it’s a cool enough thing to name your band after. Honestly though, in this day and age, are there any good band names left? Perhaps we’ve slipped to the point where “Uncle Skunkle” is pretty acceptable. Hell, with a name like that, I expected to be pullin’ what little hair remains outta my scalp and screaming “Why God why??!!??” about three seconds into this platter. The music really ain’t too bad, with hints of surf, rockabilly, and other roots forms combining into one pretty tolerable stew. The ballad on the A side is pretty good and the surfier shit on the B side would make fun party music, for sure. They ain’t squarin’ the circle or anything over here, but they’re havin’ what sounds like a hell of a lot of fun and the tunes ain’t bad. But that name...
–Ryan Horky (Pug Face, pugfacerecords.com)
| |
|
THESE OATS:
Self-titled: 7”
From this trio out of Brooklyn comes hardcore with a splash of screamo. The female vocals are flat, dejected, and indecipherable, which I’m finding is a trend in New York punk bands. Unfortunately, the guitar melodies are equally uninterested and seem to just be accompanying her voice, as compared to Manual Zombie, also out of NYC, but who is able to engage the listener with original beats and melodies. The final song, “Stay,” is a trilingual disaster. This sounds like a non-Spanish speaker on Propofol reading Spanish. Regrettably, I’m going to have to suggest you skip this unless you like uninspired, pity party music.
–Kristen K (Self-released theseoatsbrooklyn@gmail.com)
| |
|
SYDNEY DUCKS:
Stray Dogs: 7”
Sydney Ducks exploded onto the Bay Area scene a couple of years ago with their simple, Templars-inspired, stripped-down oi sound. They released a four-track demo in 2009, but this two-song single is their first proper release. And it’s one hell of a debut record, with a calculated lo-fi sound to highlight the folksy simplicity. The 7” is pressed on red vinyl and there’s also a two dollar digital version available for those that prefer the cop out route. They’re reminiscent of a rougher version of Reducers SF. Musical moments like these serve as good reminder to get a fucking haircut! I’m on it.
–Art Ettinger (Sydney Town, sydneyducks.bandcamp.com)
| |
|
SQUALORA:
Hell Is Other People: LP
I can see why this band is big in Portland—they make the whole crusty, epic hardcore-apocalypse thing seem pretty effortless. Still, there’s something that just doesn’t quite take me all the way there. Maybe it’s the fact that eight songs on an LP means they’re pretty long ones. Or that the guitar lead often follows along with the lyrics, or that there’s just the one dude belting out the vocals, or that the LP’s momentum gets really thrown off by the way too long instrumental intro in “Of This Earth.” It’s good stuff, but not great. Still, I’d personally be hard pressed to come up with something one tenth as good, and it does contain the only song I have ever heard in my life about being eaten alive by dolphins.
–Keith Rosson (Minor Bird)
| |
|
SPASTIC PANTHERS / TEENAGE RAMPAGE:
Split: 7” EP
Spastic Panthers: Hardcore with enough of a rock undercurrent to bring to mind that REO Speedealer or that Scandinavian gutter rock stuff that was all the rage around the turn of the millennium. Teenage Rage: Five tracks of tight, zippy, straightforward hardcore that would handily lay waste to yer average backyard punk gig.
–Jimmy Alvarado (Handsome Dan)
| |
|
SMART COPS:
Per Proteggere E Servire: LP
I (usually) have a spot-on memory and I knew that I already owned a 7” by this band but, for the life of me, I couldn’t remember what they sounded like. That’s not a good sign, for starters. So I dug it out and threw it on as a memory jolter and I quickly remembered why I didn’t pay these guys much mind. You see, Smart Cops has members of L’Amico Di Martucci, Ohuzaru, and La Piovra: all of whom I loved! Starting from L’ADM, all bands succeeded the prior in that exact order and while there wasn’t much progression in their styles, every band just seemed to get better and better. That first Smart Cops EP just sounds too similar to La Piovra and I couldn’t get into it. It’s too bad that this full length wasn’t my introduction to Smart Cops because I would instantly have been all over them. The speed dial has been turned down from full speed ahead to a steady/winning mid-pace. The guitar work is no longer just a buzzing of thrashing riffs: these are some catchy, crafty hooks that demand your full attention. The vocals are much more full of harmony and less raspy and yelled. Dare I say this is a more rockin’ version of L’ADM/La Piovra? In any case, these Italian stallions won me over big time with this record. Now if they could just ditch those cheesy matching costumes.
–Juan Espinosa (Sorry State, no address)
| |
|
SLUGGING PERCENTAGE:
Self-titled: Cassette
Second outing from the world’s only baseball-themed hardcore band (I said baseball, not sports, so don’t give me any of that “What about Slapshot?” shit.) Their first cassette was neat but left me just a bit short of fulfilled. Sort of like being at a tied game that ends with a bases loaded balk instead of that screaming line drive up the gap that you were hoping for. Or like when you realize you paid twelve dollars for a tall can. Luckily for me, though, I got what I asked for and that doesn’t happen often (see the Dodgers ending the season with a winning record but out of the playoffs.) A better way to describe S.P.’s progression from their first effort to this newest tape would be that of a pitcher’s shaky start quickly followed by a resurgence in both quality and power. The coach doesn’t have to make a trip to the mound to remind them to trust their stuff: they already do. In other words, much better songwriting, delivery, and presentation. Makes me all that more excited for next season, er, the next release.
–Juan Espinosa (Self-released, no contact info)
| |
|
SLIT PLASTERS, THE:
Get Plastered!: LP
I got a 45 by this band to review a while back, and while i instantly remembered their name, their font, and their art style, i found i couldn’t remember a freekin’ thing about their music. Even after playing the album, it ain’t really ringin’ any bells. It’s basically a buncha songs of varying degrees of rockness, blent with varying gobs of self-disdaining punkness, sung in grindy English or French or German or maybe Italian, about a half-step down where I keep expecting it, which makes me hard to deflect it all. If you told me the guy from Urge Overkill’s little brother was in this band, i’d totally believe you—moreso than if you told me that they hailed from Vatican City, which, as far as i can discern, is the ((cough)) gospel truth. Maybe that’s why this album can’t get my bra off. BEST SONG: I kind of like the auctioneer part towards the end of side two, actually. BEST SONG TITLE: I’m going to go with “2’50 of a Neanderthal Truth,” although I appreciate the thought that went into “Nix Nix Nix.” FANTASTIC AMAZING TRIVIA FACT: This album comes in pineapple Life Saver®/Subs 45 colored vinyl in a side-opening pocket sleeve, with no paper inner sleeve. I kinda like it.
–Rev. Norb (Label LN)
| |
|
RESTORATIONS:
Self-titled: LP
Since I love a good bio, I would like to take a moment to answer some of the claims made by the Restorations one sheet. I do not hear that this band has “achingly intense moments of restrain and a driving need to find a unique voice.” I don’t find that the rhythm section could “knock a hole in the side of a Sherman Tank.” The “warm, stirring melodies, enduring hooks and dense, dynamic song structures” failed to have an effect on me. Nor do I find that it “speaks so loudly to us ‘over the hill’ rockers.” If this band had truly “been around long enough to hear (what feels like) everything music has to offer,” then they would know that their band sounds a lot like what Revelation was putting out in the ‘90s. Basically, it did not get me “stoked on the scene again.” If you like Sensefield, you might be into this.
–Billups Allen (Tiny Engines, tinyengines.net)
| |
|
RED PONY CLOCK:
Whatevz Forevzzz: LP
Lovely collection of songs with a nicely rounded sound including, but not limited to: vibraphone, oboe, flute, trumpet and accordion. Love the artwork portraying the band as Christ and disciples and angels. Fantastic cover of a hit ‘80s pop song that rhymes with “Bike a Sturgeon.” I love listening to this record on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Go see them live for a fun show and possibly a six-foot (delicious) burrito.
–Samantha Beerhouse (no label listed)
| |
|
REAL TALK:
Demo: Cassette
Born Against hardcore played Void sloppy with Crucifucks vocals and the occasional baroque metal lead. If that doesn’t mean anything to you, just imagine a guy with a bullhorn duct-taped to his face getting a violin-string catheter in a freight elevator. From Richmond, obviously.
–CT Terry (realgoddamntalk.bandcamp.com)
| |
|
RATTUS:
Invades the USA: 7”
I’m not the biggest fan of live recordings, but this is one of those exceptions. People not in the know, Rattus is one of Finland’s famous original punk bands. They formed in 1978 but became world renown during the international punk explosion of the early ‘80s. These songs were recorded live on a radio show on WFMU in New Jersey back in 2004. If I remember correctly, this tour was only routed through the East Coast. It’s five songs of classic Finnish punk rock that is very distinctive in sound. It’s a good starting point if you don’t want to pay collector prices on some of their original releases. It’s also a nice addition to the collector who has it all. Co-release with Psycho Wolf, Motorchest, and Cutthroat.
–Donofthedead (Death Exclamations, deathexclamations.com/records.html)
| |
|
RATIONAL ANIMALS:
Bock Rock Parade: LP
I wasn’t expecting much from a record with its band members standing in the snow with a goat in front of them but, goddamn, I’m impressed! Rational Animals sound like the chain-shackled, basement born and bred, bastard-in-love-child of The Process of Weeding Out-era Black Flag and Nirvana’s less commercially appealing songs off Incesticide. Fans of Slices and Middle America are in for a treat.
–Juan Espinosa (Katorga Works, no address)
| |
|
RAINBOW PERSON:
.Trade. Labour. Vocation: 7”
Describing this is really hard. Somehow it got me thinking of other bands I like which are hard to describe. As wild as it sounds, these three bands somehow point you in the right direction: Wire, City Of Caterpillar, and Christian Death. Yeah, I know, pretty cool, huh? Maybe even Fugazi. All their music is available for free download at RainbowPerson.wordpress.com, which I think is rad and a great opportunity for you to figure out if I have any idea what I’m talking about. I think it’s interesting how the A side starts out in a bit more straight-forward punk stance and gradually just oozes all over the place through the B side, leaving you slightly disoriented in just the right way.
–Rene Navarro (Sad Bastard Music / Margin Mouth / Television)
| |
|
ORANGE COAX:
Self-titled: 10”
I thought I had heard the punk spectrum, but, I’ll admit, band geek rejects playing jazz/trash/punk is a new one. It could be best described as psycho clown music or angry seal music; take your pick. It’s hard to escape from the sax as a honking horn metaphor. There’s no guitar, no piano, no rhythm section to speak of, just the haunting barks of a lone sax played over a manic drummer and a screeching vocalist. Honestly, one of the worst records I’ve ever heard. Whatever the fuck this record is trying to be is completely lost on me. All I can see is a horrible mess of noise and frustration with hints of true intent. If you want music that grabs your attention, you could maybe find some solace in this, but for my taste the gold isn’t worth the treasure hunt.
–Bryan Static (Self-released, no address)
| |
|
ONWARD PILGRIM:
Self-titled: CD
Conventional and non-threatening hard rock. I use the genre term very loosely in describing this to you, as I’ve concluded that the music on this disc is neither hard nor does it rock. Normally, this would be a prime candidate for something I’d take with me to sell at a used record store. But this time I think I’ll do the music world a favor and just chuck this coaster into the blue recycling bin.
–Juan Espinosa (Brotherhood Of The Snake, brotherhoodofthesnake.com)
| |
|
NO MORE SAINTS:
Consume: CD
Good socio-political hardcore with words you can understand. Always a plus. Sometimes the vocals seem a little slow for the music, but, overall, it’s a pretty solid disc.
–Ty Stranglehold (myspace.com/nomoresaints )
| |
|
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 | 0-9| A| B| C| D| E| F| G| H| I| J| K| L| M | | N| O| P| Q| R| S| T| U| V| W| X| Y| Z| | |
|
|
|
|
| If you live in the Los Angeles area and want to help us out, let us know. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Get monthly notifications of new arrivals and distro and special offers for being part of the Razorcake army. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
