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Record Reviews1 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 | 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| < Prev Section | Next Section >  RSS Feed
ANTIDOTE:
Thou Shalt Not Kill: CD EP
A reissue of a great 45 from this long-gone ‘80s band, who cranked out some choice New York hardcore back when that term didn’t mean lame tough-guy thug metal. The songs, eight in all, are short, fast and to the point, naturally, and there ain’t a bad one in the bunch. Buy it now and be the envy of your punker pals or buy the latest New Found Glory disc instead and look like a clueless poseur fop later.
–Jimmy Alvarado (Hellbent)
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ANTIDOTE:
No Communication: CD
Another solid release from these guys, with potent hooks, gallop beats, and lyrics, while not cribbed from an MDC record, are topical enough to sound like they’re aware there are some serious things afoot to think about. It’s especially nice that they decided to sing a bunch of the tunes in Dutch.
–Jimmy Alvarado (Rodent Popsicle)
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ANTIDOTE:
No Communication: CD
Now I’m not sure that if it’s just because I saw that it was on Rodent Popsicle, or it was the cover art of punk choking out a business type and injecting him with a big ol’ syringe, but I was expecting this to be a lot more, uh “crusty” than it is. In reality, Antidote is straight-up hardcore punk rock with a cool melodic streak going though it. Not melodic like “woah-eh-oh” and all that. Melodic in that he’s not screaming unintelligibly over tuneless screech. This is really good stuff. Part way though, I finally placed what it reminded me of: early Funeral Oration. Oddly, I hadn’t noticed that Antidote was also from Holland at that point. Must be something in the water over there.
–Ty Stranglehold (Rodent Popsicle)
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ANTIDOTE:
Thou Shalt Not Kill: 7"
Antidote were one of the bands in the first wave of NYHC, along with the likes of Reagan Youth, the Bad Brains, and the False Prophets. Their importance in the “history” of the scene is that they were more in line with bands like Agnostic Front or Warzone, but released this record a couple of years before any those bands got their footing, so they can be pointed to as the “originators” of that NYHC style. The production is above par for the era, and there are some genuinely exciting moments like the killer breakdown on “Foreign Job-Lot.” Bridge 9 has done some great reissues in the past (Project X, The Trouble, Agnostic Front), and them releasing this makes sense to me. I think it’s a good thing for them to do because they reach a lot of kids who wouldn’t otherwise check out or have access to older hardcore. That being said, I think the record is great as a time piece; but I know for a fact that my hardcore archival nerd-dom affects my opinion on this more than just a little, and the passive listener should stick to the aforementioned bands.
–Ian Wise (Bridge 9)
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ANTIDOTUM:
Jedna Plaga Ludzka Plaga: CD
Rock solid Polish punk/hardcore with female vocals. Songs are tight, anthemic, and catchy without sounding too formulaic, preachy, or professional. Good stuff.
–Jimmy Alvarado (nnnw.pl)
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ANTIGAMA:
Discomfort: CD
I asked the Missus to hit play on the CD player and initially thought the noise I heard was a garbage truck emptying the dumpster behind our apartment—lots of rumbling, some sort of industrial motor screeching and chugging. But it was Thursday, and our trash gets picked up on Tuesday. The noise I heard was actually the grinding, metallic sounds of Antigama. This stuff is brutal: gruff, guttural, distorted vocals that sound as if the singer’s vocal chords have been shredded with a weed whacker; mind-boggling time changes, starts and stops; frenzied drumming; violent, punishing riffage. Antigama go straight for your insides and rattle your core, sure to shake loose the shit from even the most constipated bowels. I can almost get into it when they find a groove, like on “Bloodmaker” and “Who Is My Enemy,” but the rest of it is completely lost on me. Great if you’re into this kinda thing.
–Josh Benke (SelfMadeGod)
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ANTIJUSTICE / CHINESE TELEPHONES:
Split: 7”
Antijustice: intellectually, they seem very concerned with the color wheel, with song titles “My Color, Your Color’s,” and “He Is a Rainbow,” and many lyrical mentions to grey. Odd. Musically, these Osaka dudes could have easily emerged from late ‘90s Midwestern America pop punk scene. (Perhaps there’s a subway. It seems the Japanese always have a leg up on those technologies.) And with any Japanese punk band I’ve ever heard, they play better than Americans and we’d feel shame for that if we didn’t have beer and hot dogs to rub into our wounds. Oh, and the beginning sounds a bit like the Avengers. Chinese Telephones: Going out are the simple, traceable hooks of their previous incarnation, Hot Carl. Coming in are sophisticated songs—no, not douchebag “I mess up my hair just right so it looks like I don’t care” sophistication—but that hard-to-pinpoint, I’m-looking-inside and trying to write pop songs that bite and snarl and shout for me. And it’s paying off. The less memorable moments and leaning against obvious influences of earlier outings are being shed and discarded like too-small sweaters. What’s evolving is a band that’s beginning to realize their potential of putting pop and punk together in a way that shows their hearts without it being a cheap iron-on that’ll fade in time, while never forgetting that people like to shake their asses.
–Todd Taylor (Snuffy Smiles)
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ANTILECTUAL:
Future History: CDEP-R
Antilectual is a melodic, political punk from the Netherlands with high production values… and a string section and piano from time to time. It kind of reminds me of a less heavy Propagandhi mixed with Dave Matthews or something like that. I like what they’re singing about, but I’m not enjoying the music.
–Ty Stranglehold (Antilectual, info@antilectual.com, antilectual.com)
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ANTILLECTUAL:
Start from Scratch!:: CD
Mediocre, overproduced punk rock with a very ‘90s vibe. Some of the tracks go sort of emo in a Promise Ring way and the faster songs sound like Pennywise outtakes. Not the worst thing I ever heard, but nothing I would recommend. –Jake Shut
–Jake Shut (Shield,shieldrecordings.com)
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ANTILLES / STAPH:
Split: 7"
Two bands share this piece of white vinyl. Both bands sound a lot like early ‘90s Ebullition and Gravity Records make up the bulk of their record collection. I have always found this style dull on record but, occasionally, good live. Fans of the style will like both of these bands just fine.
–Mike Frame (Inkblot, sam@inkblotrecords.net)
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ANTIQUE CURTAINS:
Dressed in Vertigo: CD
Another band that ain’t afraid to think outside the box. These guys marry Wire-like art punk, vocals that alternate between channeling psychosis and recalling David Thomas at his most falsetto, skronk, and punk to surfy guitar to come up with a consistently interesting listen. While one wishes the person who produced the proceeding was a wee bit more conscious of the dynamics in the band’s tunes—sad to say, but sometimes oodles of reverb is too much of a good thing—the songs manage to be singular enough to stand on their own.
–Jimmy Alvarado (www.myspace.com/okstarsrecords)
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ANTISCHISM:
Self-titled: CD
This is a compilation of lots of Antischism seven-inches, split LPs, demos, and outtakes. I had never listened to Antischism before, and I really liked this CD! But, since I don’t usually listen to music that sounds like this, I could not come up with the necessary comparisons to obscure bands and cereals! So, what do I do when I get a political crusty punk CD for review? Why, call noted crust punk expert, HJ Marcus, of course! So, here’s what my friend HJ says: “Antischism rule! That song 'Greedy Bastards,' is that on there? That song is seriously one of the best songs ever! Hey, if you don’t want that CD, could you give it to me?”
–Maddy (Prank)
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ANTISEEN:
Hell: CD
Okay, great band. Mediocre CD littered with bad ideas. All cover songs here. Cover songs aren’t necessarily a bad thing but you have to be careful what you cover. For instance, if you are a redneck rock’n’roll band, a Curtis Mayfield cover might not sound too good… and it doesn’t. Neither does a Bob Dylan cover or a Sun Ra cover. There are many bad ideas here but there are some good ones, too. A Hank Williams Sr. cover is a good idea if you are that kinda band. So is a Roy Orbison cover. Now, if you are standing next to the CD controller where you have easy access to the skip button, then it doesn’t sound too bad at all. So, bottom line is, if you are a diehard AntiSeen fan, pick this up. Otherwise, find any one of their other albums.
–Toby Tober (Steel Cage)
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ANTISEEN:
Thee from Parts Unknown: 7”
It’s heavy and simple. Gruff and mean. In other words, it’s a damn Antiseen record. Four blasts of rock’n’roll evilness here. No new ground covered, but that would just be silly anyway. What you see is what you get. Four scary dudes playing four scary tunes. I really liked the female vocal breakdown in the title track. This is the soundtrack to your next backyard wrestling extravaganza!
–Ty Stranglehold (Scarey)
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ANTISEEN:
Badwill Ambassadors: CD
Things are a bit slower and more on the "rock" side of the fence than I remember previous efforts being, but they still do the southern scumrock thing quite well. Considering these guys have been around long enough to have played marbles with Moses, it's no surprise their chops are finely honed, and they manage to make something that could easily fall into "pathetic and sad" territory worth a listen.
–Jimmy Alvarado (TKO)
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ANTISEEN:
One Live Sonofabitch and a Hell of a Lot More: 2CD + DVD
Ugh. Now I realize why I never really got into these guys—a double CD of live tunes and outtakes from the early- to mid- ‘90s, and mindless thuggery galore. Don’t get me wrong—there are some interesting bits on the CDs, but thirty-two tracks is simply too much to take; I like my thuggery as much as anyone else, but it gets old pretty quick. And the production isn’t that great, so I kept switching over to Julie Andrews songs to balance out the bad karma just created. Regarding the DVD, the live stuff is more of the same, but now you’ve gotta look at them. HOWEVER, the Destructo Video included herein was actually fairly interesting and entertaining; if you’re a fan, I suppose that in itself will be worth the price.
–The Lord Kveldulfr (Steel Cage)
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ANTISEEN:
Dear Abby: 7"
When I pulled this out of the envelope, I groaned. Ugh. Antiseen. Rebel flags and songs about guns and possums and redneck stuff. Yuck. Fortunately, I'm really stoked about this. It's a really cool concept record; four songs about four of the badassest wrestlers ever (Abdullah the Butcher, Sabu, Terry Funk and Cactus Jack) and the clincher, the thing that made me jump up and down with excitement, was the ad for Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs and Chinese Food. It's real. It's a real restaurant; Abdullah the Butcher really owns it. That officially makes it one of the coolest theme records ever. Good job, Antiseen!
–ben (TKO)
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ANTiSEEN:
The Best of ANTiSEEN: 2 x CD
The year 2008 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of ANTiSEEN, the band that remains one of the most misunderstood in the history of punk. Formed in Charlotte, NC during the peak of the early ’80s scene, ANTiSEEN went from being known as one of a handful of hardcore bands with an African-American member to being questioned by knee-jerk PC police for their camp usage of Confederate iconography. Many punk bands from that era reunited over the years, but ANTiSEEN is one of a few groups that continuously toured and recorded over that time span. This forty-song collection is a must for fans and a perfect introduction to ANTiSEEN for the uninitiated, showcasing their one-of-a-kind mix of comedic lyrics, Ramones adulation, heavy distortion, hardcore, and a pinch of country. Find a junior high school student in the family and give them this sucker as a gift. I fully expect to still be seeing ANTiSEEN playing shows in another twenty-five years: canes, walkers, and all.
–Art Ettinger (TKO)
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ANTISEEN:
Screamin’ Bloody Live: video-enhanced CD
What we have here is the latest sonic assault of roarin’, rootin’-tootin’ Antiseen fury! It’s loud, live, violent, and brutal; fuelled by a barrel full of Jack Daniels and a washtub brimming with homemade meth. This is the auditory equivalent of a monster truck rally, Armageddon, and a pro-wrestling tag-team match between Godzilla, Gigantor, King Kong, and Satan himself! Antiseen pack an explodin’ cannon ball’s wrath of frenetic unrelenting aggression into this performance, and it sounds uncannily like a ragtag troop of Confederate forces shelling the fuck outta a garrison of blue-bellied Yankee sons-of-bitches. Indeed, if this crazed quartet of rough’n’rowdy good ol’ boys had been fighting alongside their Johnny Reb brethren during the Civil War, we’d all be full-fledged card-carryin’ members of the Confederacy of Scum right about now. Yeeeeehaw, motherfuckers, Antiseen are the undisputed ragin’ aural warriors of the New South! Kiddies, beware: this dastardly lil’ disc is definitely not for lily-livered politically correct pussies. If you unfortunately fall into that category, go play some of your cuddly-sweet emo music and drown your putrid lil’ miseries in a big ol’ glass of latte. Amen and a-burrrrrppp… –Roger Moser, Jr
–Guest Contributor (TKO)
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ANTISEEN:
Drastic/E.P. Royalty: CD
This is a reissue of two old EPs of theirs. Both EPs, each over fifteen years old, contain some of the better songs I've heard from them. Actually, this is the best stuff I've heard from Antiseen. It's got a raw rough sound to it. It can't compliment their brand of music any better. Badass southern style rock'n'roll with a low-fi sound that really brings out the punk in them.
–Toby Tober (TKO)
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ANTISEEN:
Honour Among Thieves: CD
This is a reissue of an album so badass that originally it couldn’t be contained by just one label. Co-released by Bonafide and Chopper in ’88, it was recorded between ’84 and ’86. This reissue has three bonus tracks that are right on par with the rest of the album. You get what you will with any Confederacy of Scum band: it’s dirty, it’s raw, and there’s nothing pretty about it. No apologies and none needed.
–Megan Pants (TKO)
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ANTISEEN:
Hell: CD
Okay, great band. Mediocre CD littered with bad ideas. All
cover songs here. Cover songs aren’t necessarily a bad thing but you have to be
careful what you cover. For instance, if you are a redneck rock’n’roll band, a
Curtis Mayfield cover might not sound too good… and it doesn’t. Neither does a
Bob Dylan cover or a Sun Ra cover. There are many bad ideas here but there are
some good ones, too. A Hank Williams Sr. cover is a good idea if you are that
kinda band. So is a Roy Orbison cover. Now, if you are standing next to the CD
controller where you have easy access to the skip button, then it doesn’t sound
too bad at all. So, bottom line is, if you are a diehard AntiSeen fan, pick
this up. Otherwise, find any one of their other albums.
–Toby Tober (Steel Cage)
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ANTISEEN:
Sabu: 7"
Side one is one of them southern-tinged hardcore songs that you all know and love. This one’s about what I’m assuming is a wrestler and not that wimpy looking guy that used to be in all them 1940s “Jungle Book” movies. Side two is a dirgy little ditty recorded live at the legendary Outhouse in Kansas.
–Jimmy Alvarado (Steel Cage)
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ANTISEEN:
The Boys from Brutalsville: CD
This is a thundering cannonball's roar of redneck punkrock ferocity that caused me to frightfully shiver, nervously chew my fingernails, and then profusely poop my pants... yep, it's that damn intimidating... rude, rowdy, crude, and trashy as fuck! Envision, if you will, a scumrock Motorhead as a lawless bunch of wild-eyed whiskey-guzzlin' Southern good ol' boys on a sonically murderous shotgun-blastin' rampage... yeeeee-motherfuckin'-haw, that's the musically criminal miscreance of Antiseen! Son of a bitch, these hellraisin' white-trash hedonists sound as if they piss napalm and shit chunky shards of fiery smokin' shrapnel on a daily basis! Absolutely terrorizing, but in the best way imaginable!
–Guest Contributor (TKO)
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ANTISEEN:
Sweet Blood Call: 7”
After the piles and piles of 7”s ANTiSEEN released over the years, do you really need one more in your collection? Yes, you do. Revitalized by a new bass player and drummer, Charlotte mainstays ANTiSEEN are better than ever with this new record. Yet another accomplishment in their unique repertoire. This fancily packaged 7” comes with a download card for the digital geek in the house and boasts two tracks, “Sweet Blood Call” and ANTiSEEN’s version of the classic “Black Eyed Susie.” The latter of the two tracks features Joe Buck, who adds to the stellar mix of ANTiSEEN’s rendition of the familiar old time song. Already a staple in their live sets, the recorded version of “Black Eyed Susie” does not disappoint. No one’s getting a black eye after gifting this record.
–Art Ettinger (Rusty Knuckles, rustyknucklesmusic.com)
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