2 Bucks Short "Positionary Mission" The Agitators "Meeting the Lads" Al Foul & The Shakes - S/T Allegiance "Whose Border, Whose Fight" Baby Strange "Make-out Sessions" Bassholes "Out In The Treetops" Baseball Furies "Greater Than Ever" Berlin Project "Things We Say" Black Print "Movement" The Blast Offs "Crash & Burn" EP Bloodshot Bill & the Hubcaps "Sex, Blood and R'n'R" The Blowtops "Black Static" The Blue J's "Red Light Girl" Bob Hocko & the Swamp Rats "Disco Still Sucks" Branko - 4 song 7" Broken Heros / Weekend Warriors - split CD Buck Jones & His Rhythm Riders - S/T The Business "Hardcore Holligan" Chargers Street Gang "Through the Windsheild" Chrome Daddies "Whose Your Daddies?" Coffinberry - 3 song 7" Condemned 84 "No Way In" 7" Cosmonauti "Bikini Angel" The Dames "Sin and Tonic" Dangerville "Necessary Evil" The Delmonas "Do the Uncle Willy Disturbance "Malice in Slumberland" Drugstore Cowboys "Crash and Burn" Duane Peters/The Revolvers split CD Electric Eye "Electric Wisdom" Emschercurve 77/ Hudson Falcons - split CD Estrogenocide "I Like to Cuddle" Evil Devil "Breakfast at the Psychohouse" The Fitts - 4 song 7" Frantic Flattops "Hi Fi Honey Revisited" The GC5 "Kisses from Hanoi & Handgrenades" Get Set Go "So You Ruined Your Life" GG Allin & AntiSeen Gold Blade "Strictly Hardcore" Grafton "Blind Horse Campaign" The Helldivers "Down to Nickels and Dimes" Hellvis "Rock'n'Roll Motherfuckers" Hollywood Superstars "Let it Shine" Huelyn Duvall "Ramblin and Boppin" Jakehead - S/T The Jime "Still Rock'n'Roll to Me" Karloff "Monster's Ruin" EP Junkrod - demo Klingonz "Up Uranus" Knockout Pills - S/T Knucklehead "Voice Among Us" Lonesome Kings “Shotgun Full Of Blues”

Lucky Strikes S/T EP The Maggots "Do the Maggot!" The Methadones "Career Objective" Marvel "Herione Tracks" 7" Mexican Blackbirds "Just to Spite You" The Mutants "Voodoo Blues" Preacher's Kids "Wild Emotions" The Procedure "Rise of New Reason" The Ponys - 2 song 7" Protagonists "Hope and Rage" The Revillos "Jungle of Eyes" Rip Carson "Box Set: Singles Collection" Rivertown Ramblers "Sun Sessions" Roddy Radiation "Skabilly Rebel" Rollovers "Holiday Center" Rockin' Paradox "Sin Now, Pray Later" Round Up Boys "Blast Off!" Rubber Gun "Grease Up" Salt City Bandits - demo Satan's Teardrops "Set 'Em Up..." The Seizures "Break Loose" Silo The Huskie "Sons of Columbus" Spanish Barrow'in Guitar The Staggers "One Heartbeat Away from Hell" Straight 8's "Rock-A-Billy" EP The Streppers "Hedonist Hellcats" Wailin' Elroys - S/T EP The Silence "Audio Alchemy" Slick Shoes "Far From Nowhere" Smut Peddlers "Ten Inch" Sweet J.A.P. "Virgin Vibe" Taxi "Like a Dog" Thee Oh No's - demo This Moment in Black History "Cleveland Finger" Those Unknown - S/T Tom Walbank "Jaguar Blues" Tommy Gutless - demo Tommy Nolen "My Kind of Music" Torg "Hot Yogurt Enema" Trailer Bride "Hope is a Thing With Feathers" Trip Daddys "Doublewide" Uppercut "Four Walls" The VaGiants "Short and Hard" Various Artists "This is Rockabilly Clash" Various Artists "Strength Thru Oi!" Various Artists "Midwest Rules" Various Artists "Modern Surf Band Spotlight" Various Artists "Cock-N-Roll" Vortis "God won't Bless America" The Vivisectors - 27 song promo Wayne Hancock "Swing Time"

Lonesome Kings “Shotgun Full Of Blues” Emerald City Sounds Damn, that’s one hard energetic voice. Is this Sab Grey of Iron Cross doing psycho? No, this is the new and improved Greg Lonesome, aka King Sleaze. This, the 2nd full-length album, is a big step in the right direction. “Shotgun Full of Blues” shows a band with a new lineup and a lot of maturing. Their first album, “Sunday Morning Hymns,” seemed to me like a psycho imaged band that was picked up quick for a record, but had a lot of learning to do. This seems to happen quite frequently in this variety-starved scene. “Shotgun Full of Blues” sounds like a whole different band. I hear new psycho sounds with pure talent generating out of Rev Repulsive’s guitar. It’s rockabilly and blues powered by hardcore rock and roll. You won’t hear a Nick-13 wanna-be or a Sparky imitator in Greg’s voice. Greg presents a voice as individual as the bands music is to the scene. My favorite tracks are “Nothin’ for me” and “Fake Suicidal Dreams” is the only song I found with a decent base track. Like many psychobilly fans I need to hear my slappin’ sound. My one complaint is that the bass is not louder and more present on the album. All in all I think this album is a great addition to my collection of psycho. I can’t wait to see how the band matures for the next album. I hope that Lonesome Kings, and other up and coming bands with such an individual sound, take the forefront of American psychobilly. Bands like the Lonesome Kings are needed to replace some of the more commercialized Back to Contents Bob Hocko and the Swamp Rats "Disco Still Sucks" Get Hip Records Starting with a cover of “Louie, Louie” that rivals the Sonics version, this band was 60’s garage rock from McKeesport, Pennsylvania. The sound is rough around the edges and really captures the energy of underground music from that time. While some tracks have that 60’s cheese sound like on “She’s Got Everything,” other cuts, like the mellow soul music on “I’m Going Home” are noteworthy. Their best songs for the most part seem to be covers of the Stones, Beatles, Kinks and others, making this band more of a footnote in rock’n’roll history, but not something crucial for your collection unless you are obsessed with that era. – BL Back to Contents The Blue J's "Red Light Girl" Raucous Records Here we have a real solid, decent traditional rockabilly group that hails from the U.K. The disc starts off with a cover of the Traveling Wilbury’s “Rattled” which immediately scores points with me and goes along with lots of originals. They throw in a couple of Rolling Stones tunes too. The band covers a range of emotion in their music like the heartfelt “This Girl Is Taking Bets” to the jovial “Hillbilly Fool”. It should be noted this album was recorded at Western Star Studios which is run by Alan Wilson of the Sharks, who incidentally plays guitar on some of the tracks. This is a great listen. –Lisa Back to Contents Chargers Street Gang "Through the Windsheild" Get Hip Records These Clevelanders do a seething garage punk that has its moments but just doesn’t do it for me for some reason. I think it is the vocals, not his voice exactly, but the way he sings kind of grates on me sometimes. They have all the ingredients I like: tons of energy, gunpowder riffs verging on chaos, and an overall novel approach to jangly garage punk. Still, somehow for the most part they just kind of rub me the wrong way. It just isn’t kicking the soccer ball into my love net. (Um, yeah, I know that sounded dumb.) I’ve tried to acquire the CSG aesthetic, I come so close, but I just can’t grasp it yet. Maybe a few more listens will do the trick. People are always telling me that they are great live. Maybe one day I’ll catch their show and a light bulb will come on in my refrigerator heart and I’ll embrace these miscreants as my brothers in rock. – BL Back to Contents Straight 8's Rock-A-Billy EP Band Site Wow, what a remarkable sample of a band that is sure to turn heads and bend ears in the music scene! There is a raw vibe in their traditional approach that doesn’t sound forced or faked like so many other bands. I am fully engaged by the vocals, lyrics and music...something that doesn’t happen too often. Oh, I guess I should tell you this is a rockabilly band with a touch of surf. I either lost the CD insert or it didn’t come with one, I don’t remember because I was drunk at Heavy Rebel when I got it. But I can tell you there is an instrumental, and a song about being a rockabilly zombie. I can’t wait for more, get a full length out guys! -Lisa Back to Contents Wailin' Elroys Self Titled EP bs-riddle@juno.com Yee-haw! Where has this gem of a hillbilly band been hiding? Apparently in my own backyard as these guys are from Athens, Ohio! This is a 5 track EP that gives you a taste to wet your whistle and leaves you wanting more of this raw, primitive rockabilly. This disc was recorded live on a two track reel to reel and that gives it a real authentic and endearing quality. The vocals are pure honky tonk and complemented perfectly by the accompanying guitars and upright. This is righteous! -Lisa Back to Contents Slick Shoes "Far From Nowhere" Side One Dummy All I could think of prior to putting this disk in was the little cutie pie Data from the “Goonies” whose invention of slick shoes saved the day when he employed them on the log bridge when the Fertelli’s were chasing them, remember that? I wish this disc made me as happy as remembering funny scenes of movies from my childhood. Unfortunately, this ultra pop punk band makes me wish I could rupture my ear drum with a Q-Tip again as it would be more enjoyable. Good musicians, waste of talent...honestly it’s the vocals that make me cringe. I won’t be playing this. –Lisa Back to Contents Buck Jones and his Rhythm Riders Self-Titled full-length CD Band Site While Buck Jones and his crew haven’t revolutionized rockabilly the way Einstein revolutionized physics, they seem to grasp the basic quantum mechanics involved in modernizing the 50’s sound. They sound like Slap’N’The Cats if that band didn’t suck. Many tracks have pretty humdrum lyrics, but even so they do craft some toe-tappin’ tunes that usually make up for their occasional lyrical silliness (For example of lame lyrics note the song “Rock Boppin’ Boogie,” which incidentally isn’t even saved by the music. I think if you are gonna sing something called “Rock Boppin’ Boogie” you better have sang it in 1956 or do it like old school Cramps and sound like a rambling schizo off the meds backed by a group of strategically shaved monkeys banging on fuzzed-out guitars, otherwise it just reeks of uninventive cheesiness. And while I’m on this point, don’t ever say things like “Daddy-O” unless you are trying to be funny [which is entirely possible here, since the band does have a fun party/hoedown kind of feel]). They also keep some hillbilly charm in their delivery, making this really not bad. “Devil Player,” “ChickenRun,” “Steamboat Millionaire” and “Blue Skies and Clear Water” are all pretty good cuts. I won’t be putting my copy of this release up on E-bay any time soon; I’m just saying that if you don’t already like rockabilly, this isn’t gonna change your mind. - BL Back to Contents The Revillos “Jungle of Eyes” Captain Oi Records This band has a very distinct 80’s Britt new wave/pop sound that at times I really like. And that would make perfect sense since this album was recorded in 1983 in London. The Revillos have two singers, Eugene and Fay, who take turns crooning out the newfound digitized and bizarre fun that was rampant during that era in music. Think Debbie Harry meets Flock of Seagulls meets Duran Duran and you have pretty much what this album is about. This re-release also gives you three bonus tracks. Now I am not too much into this but there is a cool song called “Trigger Happy Jack” that sounds more rock than synth poop, er I mean pop. It sure is an interesting listen, but not something I really get into. -Lisa Back to Contents The Lucky Strikes Self-Titled EP Band Site Here is another little EP that has taken me by surprise with its five naughty little tracks. And again, I either don’t have or lost the liner notes. The first track is a surf instrumental that keeps a hold of a solid rhythm and has me twistin’ till the end. Another track features a harmonica (bad ass solo included) and a very blues sounding bass groove along with smoked out, gravely vocals... yes! All in all this is an awesome EP heavy on the blues and light on the lame from a group I hope to hear much more from in the future. -Lisa Back to Contents The Jime "It’s Still Rock’n’Roll To Me" Nervous Records I wonder why the album title isn’t named after the guitar/singer/songwriters own original tunes, it perplexes me. Yes, it’s novel to cover Billy Joel, but when there are so many originals loaded up on this disc I’d think you’d name the album after something of your own. I wasn’t too impressed with the cover anyway. I liked the originals with the piano like in “Around The World”. There are 12 original songs of fast, snappy traditional rockabilly with sharp guitar riffs and plenty of solos (one tune has 5!). There is also a great rockabilly cover of “Help” and a not so good rendition of “Learning to Fly”. Sometimes it sounds like the vocals aren’t meshing very well with the music, but not too often. I’m still up in the air about this. –Lisa Back to Contents The GC5 “Kisses From Hanoi/Horseshoes & Handgrenades” Thick Records For those of you who never managed to get a copy of “Kisses From Hanoi” before it went out of print on Outsider Records, here is your chance to redeem yourself. For those die hard GC5 fans who could never get a hold of the Irish import “Horseshoes & Handgrenades” this is likewise the time for you to strike and get yourself caught up all on one disc. “Kisses...” is one of the best punk rock albums I have heard to date with its smart lyrics added to splintering guitar styling and amazing bass. The lyrics are political but not just angry arguments; they are well thought out and finely crafted words belted out by Pete and Doug. Songs like “Nothing But These Songs”, “White Flag”, “In The End” and “City Lights” make this well worth the asking price. And don’t forget the bonus of 5 additional tracks from the “Horseshoes...” EP, you’d be a fool to pass this deal up. “Culture Wars” and “Sheep In Wolf’s Clothing” really get you thinking and motivated to act...and dance. –Lisa Back to Contents Preacher's Kids “Wild Emotions” Get Hip Records For a large portion of my listening experience I found this band to sound a lot, and I mean a lot, like the Rolling Stones. Now, there is a song on here called “Death of a Rolling Stone”, coincidence? Probably. Actually, this is a garage infused rock/blues band that incorporates some piano, trumpet, trombone, harmonica, organ and even some violin in the pieces. Twelve of the thirteen tracks are all original and so they impress with their songwriting capabilities and their abilities to execute them well. There are a few songs that get kinda sappy (“Don’t Play With My Emotions”), but the album bounces back with tracks like “Respect Me”. I like this group and think they would be especially great to see live. –Lisa Back to Contents Dangerville "Necessary Evil" Band Site From the same state that gives us the joys and delights of Eminem, comes this band called Dangerville to whom I hear the bleach blonde rapper owes all his success. Many of you may not know this, but Marshall Mathers used to play harmonica on the streets for spare change when he was a junkie. He’d often play outside of bars where other bands where playing so there would be a decent crowd around to throw quarters into his change cup. He preferred to hang around Dangerville shows in particular to try and elicit sympathy from the fans by playing sad blues ballads on his mouthpiece after the show. It was at these shows that Mr. Mathers earned enough spare change to buy himself a bit of good luck. So, what does this band sound like that inadvertently enabled Eminem to succeed? They blend country with some rockabilly and a touch of punk to form a decent, tight sound. I have to admit I am not too fond of the vocals although there is nothing horrible about them, they just kinda rub me the wrong way. However, the female upright player sings on a dark, jazzy tune and I find I like that much better. But what do I know? –Lisa Back to Contents Jerry King & the Rivertown Ramblers “The Sun Sessions” Band Site Traditional rockabilly from Cincinnati Ohio has made it’s way to my ears. I don’t know why I haven’t heard of these guys earlier since we are from the same state, but nevertheless, they have crossed my path. First off I’d like to say that the singer is fabulous. He really captures the traditional style without adding too many hiccups and coming off as overly cliche. The rest of the band is apt as well, and I think they do all covers, but lets give them time to create some originals that I’m sure will be noteworthy. Some songs that really get me going are “Mean Little Momma”, “Crazy Woman” and “Her Love Rubbed Off”. I’m looking forward to hearing some new stuff from these guys. -Lisa Back to Contents Hellvis “Rock'n'Roll Motherfuckers” Band Site If you love Motorhead, AC/DC and Nashville Pussy you’ll likely get into Hellvis as well. This disc was recorded while singer/guitarist Ted awaited his court date for passing out at the wheel and crashing head on into a cop car. You get treated to 8 tracks including “Eager Beaver, Honey Pot”, “Out for the Pussy, Blood & Beer”, and “Hell Bent Boogie”. At times, Ted’s vocals put me in mind of Wolfman Jack (in a good way), and in general they are as dirty and raw as his guitar playing. Bass player BJ manipulates his instrument in ways that cause it to go off in a fiery frenzy while drummer Marty scares the ladies with his fierce pounding on the skins. They even took a line from Ben’s review of their last album and put it in a song: “born on the bayou and driven straight through hell”… sweet! These fellas play a swampy blues metal and are great to see live. I hope all works out for them. -Lisa Back to Contents Cosmonauti “Bikini Angel” Omom World All the way from Italy and these guys have the California surf sound down to an art! Seriously, if you are a fan of surf, picking up this disc would benefit you in several ways. First, owning this would improve your chances of raw, spontaneous sex with the opposite (or same if you are into it) sex. There is something undeniably hot about someone who has great taste in surf. Second, it will aid in hair re-growth by stimulating the scalp with a tingling sensation (from the rush of blood to your head). And thirdly, it will help with your troubled, adult acne. Yes, there are some of us who although are in their late 20’s still get freaking acne! This disc puts you in a sunny state of mind causing your brain to release hormones and chemicals that have been clinically proven to aid in the battle of adult acne. And best of all there are 12 tracks to drown yourself in and 5 bonus live tracks from when these Italian stallions played the US. The most important and coolest feature though is they cover The Zombies, yay! -Lisa Back to Contents Rockin' Paradox “Sin Now, Pray Later” www.uljala@pp.nic.fi/ Oooh! I like these guys! They are like a neo-rockabilly with heavy country guitar influence. The songs are well put together, have variety and are very snappy. Did I get a bio sheet on these guys? Where is it? Who are these people? “Headin’ West” has a tribal drum beat with spaghetti western bass and blues guitar that mutates into Spanish guitar, rock! All the musicians are amazing and the production on the disc really captures the full, rich sound of the guitar. A western inspired ballad to “Vampira,” a surf instrumental titled “RAF,” and the title track, “Sin Now Pray Later”, which is a spooky, ghoulish instrumental that ends this CD all make me a very happy listener. –Lisa Back to Contents The Streppers “Hedonist Hellcats” Low Impact Records Garage rock from Helsinki with a creepy organ, a little sprinkle of surf, a sleazy bent, and enough attitude to carry it off. Something to play at your next Halloween sex party. Not like anything I can pinpoint, but has a familiarity to it. Imagine the Doors, Cramps, and B-52’s lubed up and exploring each other’s fetishes. I’m digging it. It’s strange in all the right ways. - BL Back to Contents The Rollovers “Holiday Center” Band's Site I’m not really feeling these guys. I don’t know what I’d call this band, I mean they have a rockabilly song or two on here but they are not rockabilly. While some of their songs are ok, most of them are pretty boring. They are all good musicians and the singer has a nice voice, there is just something that is falling flat for me. Sorry fellas. -Lisa Back to Contents Karloff “Monster's Ruin” EP Band Site Here is a strange group of five from Scotland who say they are “the result of an experiment to stitch, bolt and melt together the dead remains of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Punk, Metal and Garage to make something greater than the sum of its parts”. They do this all well and add a big dose of horror influence, and I mean an extravagant, heaping dose. It’s like they were seeped in the juices of rotting corpses before making this recording, and I mean that in a good way. You get five tracks of this mystical blend (one is a hidden track) including a cover of the Dammed’s “Nasty”. These guys seem pretty cool and I’d like to hear more. –Lisa Back to Contents The Blowtops “Black Static” Big Neck Records Sweet Jesus walking on the water, this is insane. Noisy and intense as all hell breaking loose in a lunatic’s mind. This is dirty and chaotic, but also rhythm bound with the combustibility of a Buddhist monk in protest. Songs like “Criminal Animal Expendible” and “Honey Head Bloody Moon” are incredible. I guess you might say this is vicious art-punk that has an almost industrial churn to it. It can be dark and ugly enough to inspire masochistic frenzies. The singer sounds so unhinged that it is hard to imagine him avoiding bloodshed in concert. An intense listen for sure. My only gripe is that he maybe is too crazed and maniacal with his choked screams at times, making it a tough listen here and there. Still, get it, but be careful not to listen to it in a fragile emotional state. Yikes. - BL Back to Contents The Methadones "Career Objective" Thick Records Damn. These guys have a great punk rock'n'roll sound that takes the reductionism of The Ramones, adds guitars that remind me of the Staggers, and often great vocals that hit notes while somehow still sounding monotone. While much of this is excellent, they also do some nauseating bubble-gum pop songs like "Far Away" and "Stuck In My Head" that make me want to puke up blood. I dislike music that you can bounce your head side-to-side and skip along to. Even so, I still really like the majority of the songs on this, and some of their lyrics hit pretty close to home: "I get tired of thinking of what I don't want to be / I need a career but the thought depresses me" - It's as if they read my pathetic mind. All in all, they oscillate between being really great and being greatly disappointing, weighing much heavier on the positive side. I am sure I will listen to this again. - BL Back to Contents The Frantic Flattops “High Fi Honey Revisited” Get Hip Records These guys have been around since 1987 and have been through several line up changes since then, but none have been the best since the beginning. Here we are treated to the classic debut album with bonus tracks and never before released cuts with Ronnie Dawson. The Flattops hail from Rochester, NY and played a straight up rockabilly at this time. Fans of the Twistin’ Tarantulas may want to get this because the infamous Pistol Pete plays upright on the first ten tracks! Three tracks feature Ronnie Dawson, whom the Flattops claim to have brought out of retirement during that time period as well. You also get three live tracks that were recorded in 1993 for WMAX at Daejelon Studios. I am pretty happy with this release and will play it often. –Lisa Back to Contents The Blastoffs “Crash and Burn With...” EP Band Site If you like newer Bad Religion and that sort of pop punk, you will love this and by all means go for it. I can’t get into it; I just can’t. Musically, they aren’t that bad. These guys would do well on a teen movie soundtrack, but not in my CD player. –Lisa Back to Contents The Business "Hardcore Hooligan" BYO Records I guess all twelve tracks on this LP are about soccer. I am not really into soccer, so I miss a lot of the “guts” of this disc. We all know the Business have been around since 1980 and have been appealing to the working class, sports fans and beer drinkers in the skinhead and punk population (and those like me who fall into no category, we just like good music). Even though I don’t know who Bobby Moore or Maradona are, I can still appreciate the classic Business sound and get a good chuckle out of the ribbing the guys give opposing teams and referees. –Lisa Back to Contents Roddy “Radiation” Byers “Skabilly Rebel: The Roddy Radiation Anthology” Fiend Records Those of you who are Ska fans are sure to know the Specials, a band that started in the ‘70’s from England who played roots-rock, ska and punk. However, you may not know that Specials front man Roddy Radiation was in several other bands during his long run with the Specials and fused ska with rockabilly to form some unique sounds. This CD is representative of the mixes of genres and the new sounds that sprung forth. There are songs that were written as early as 1976 like “Lorraine” and songs that were supposed to be on the 1994 Specials album “Guilty ‘Til Proven Innocent” but were never included. Bands that are included on this anthology are The Tearjerkers, The Raiders, and The Bonediggers, which all had Roddy as the front man. I never thought of ska and rockabilly together before, but this disc has opened my ears and I like what I hear. -Lisa Back to Contents 2 Bucks Short “The Positionary Mission” Wonder Goat Records These guys come from Eugene, OR and claim their punk album is “unlike any in punk history because of the diversity of the members themselves.” They have been called “melodic skate punk” and “lyrically their message is positive and promotes trusting your dreams”. While I have nothing against positive thinking, I do have a problem with pop punk: I don’t like it. These guys have potential that’s for sure; the vocals are just too soft and fluffy. Gentle punk creeps me out. If you get into the Warped Tour you’ll like these guys. -Lisa Back to Contents Tom Walbank “Jaguar Blues” Band Site This is a self-released CD-R by a man who deserves to be picked up by Fat Possum or similar label with discerning taste in real, raw blues. I get sick of hearing that bland, slicked-up blues produced for yuppie consumption in some swanky bar with over-priced drinks. Luckily Walbank swings completely in the other direction, offering up something as gritty as it is powerful. I believe this was recorded in his home in Tucson, but you come off with the feeling it was born through hard labor in the Mississippi Delta 60 years ago. He plays the guitar and harmonica not with the goal of impressing you with technical proficiency, but instead to wrench some real feeling from the instruments much misused by lesser wanky bluesmen. That, in itself, is way more impressive. But then you also have Walbank’s startlingly soulful voice that belies the fact that it’s coming from a skinny white guy. What he does is keep it rough around the edges and lets merit shine through in the song itself, not the trimmings – a feat not easily accomplished. I just wish my copy didn’t skip and crackle so much throughout. - BL Back to Contents Wayne Hancock “Swing Time” Bloodshot Records If some of you aren’t acquainted with the Bloodshot Records artist list, go check them out right away as they some great stuff. Wayne “The Train” Hancock being one of the coolest, by far. This album was recorded live over two nights at Austin’s Continental Club and shows just how marvelous this group is. “Swing Time” is a righteous blend of western swing, honky tonk, blues and rockabilly and is crammed into 15 tracks of music that will choke you up at one point and then have you ready to dance the next. The last track is unlisted and is “Summertime” with guest vocalist Rebecca Snow. She and Wayne sing lazily through the song as if they were on a porch swing in mid-August at night watching the fireflies. Some awesome musicians (just listen to “Big City Good Time Gal”!) back Wayne up and this is a disc you must have in your collection. I ain’t playing around, go get this. –Lisa. Back to Contents Tommy Nolen “My Kind of Music” Rhythm Bomb Records With 19 tracks, all originals, Tommy Nolen is determined not to let his kind of music go dormant. This is excellent Honky Tonk with some Western Swing for added flavor. I can’t imagine anyone into country music not liking this. No drums, just guitar, often harmonica, and Nolen’s voice that sounds like the genuine article. He doesn’t go for the nasal Hank Sr. sound, but has a sincere delivery with great melodies that puts me in the mind of someone singing around a campfire or at dive bar for some rowdy rednecks. In short, this is country music that doesn’t have an urban sensibility but instead actually makes you think of the hills of Appalachia, or alternately a bygone era of outlaws riding through Texas (as on the ballad about John Wesley Hardin). With great song titles like “I’ll put my sadness in the bottle” and “Forklift Driver Blues,” it’s easy to think this kind of music is in good hands. – BL Back to Contents The Vivisectors 27 track promo CD Band Site The Vivesectors from Russia are a band to watch out for. They play instrumental surf, but aren’t simply dishing out beach party background music. Instead their approach is more varied, incorporating a variety of guitar sounds, from fuzzed-out to reverby-clean as they journey through a host of tracks that range from surf to spy-fi to psychedelic blues. They have an organ to fill out the sound, but the songs are still capably driven by the guitar rhythms and textured by the melodies of the second guitar. I am giving this a big ole stamp of approval and recommend fans of instrumental music seek this out. - BL Back to Contents Torg “Hot Yogurt Enema” Band Site These guys take up where The Mentors left off... hard rock that pulls equally on punk and metal with sleazy/comical lyrics. Just reading the song titles makes me laugh with such gems as “Too Much Fiber” “Partyin’ With Jesus” and my favorite: “Burping Up Barf” (man, I’ve been there). The front cover is funny too, but in a disturbing way. It looks like one fat guy is standing behind another fat guy who is wearing nothing but a pair of pants with the ass cut out while the first fat guy is holding microphones to both the in-taking and out-taking orifices of the second fat guy. Take a couple seconds to visualize that. Got the picture? It would certainly make for some nice Christmas cards, no? Anyway, they are going for a lowbrow Cro-Magnon rock, which they pull off pretty well. While this isn’t something I’ll be cranking up often, I did like it better than The Mentors ‘cuz they are funnier. – BL Back to Contents Trailer Bride "Hope Is A Thing With Feathers" Bloodshot Records I love this band. Melissa Swingle’s voice is almost paralyzing with the drone and drawl of her lackadaisical singing. There is something paradoxical in the way that she can use her haunting, at times almost monotone, voice to achieve such memorable melodies and visceral emotional depth. The music similarly cuts close to the bone with mostly slower tunes that are sparsely orchestrated with precise minimalistic hooks, rather than less effective noodling. The opening cut, “Silk Hope Road,” features a bluesy guitar riff that has lodged itself permanently in my head, and which will probably still be playing inside my brain long after all thought has left it. It is just that good. Next comes the title track that is a poem by Emily Dickinson, which I think sets the mood for this album that seems to have a predominantly darker feel accompanying a theme of isolation and loneliness. This song also features the eerie whir of Swingle playing the saw. Throughout the CD she plays that as well as rhythm guitar, harmonica, piano, and accordion in different parts. Included is a beautifully sad instrumental in 3-4 time that mesmerizes me every time I listen to it... it somehow has an old European sound with the humidity and grandeur of the early 1900’s South. “Skinny White Girl” is easily the heaviest track, and is one of the spots where her lyrics strike brilliance as she sings of her soul inhabiting her body the way a demon does, feeling trapped in a corporeal identity. Not all the songs are dark in mood, however. A couple tracks take an upbeat country route, such as “Mach 1” where she gives a gentle ribbing to the pot-smoking, Playstation-obsessed, ‘got-a-sweet-ride-I’m-working-on-but-I-drive-my-girlfriend’s-car’ kind of guy. I should also mention that the piano hook on “Quickstep” rivals that riff in the opening track for the part most likely to be reverberating in my postmortem brain. This is just a damn good album. Probably not one you’ll put on for a beer-soaked evening with your friends, but more of one to play when you are drinking alone. Amazing work here that I‘ve listened to many, many times already. - BL Back to Contents Rip Carson “Box Set: Singles Collection” Band Site Some people always want music to constantly evolve and change to somehow become more relevant to contemporary culture. That is all fine and dandy, but there is also something to be said for people who stick with a musical style despite its being fashionable or not... These people put their own voice into a genre and stake their claim on its fertile ground. That is why I like artists like Rip Carson who obviously has a true love for 50’s music and a real talent for creating it now, half a century after its inception. The songs on this collection may not be quite as wild as his last record, but there plenty of quality cuts for dancers and listeners alike. Rip’s voice has become one that is immediately recognizable, and many of these songs have a smooth country varnish that adds to their rustic and direct charm. He struts out the salacious swagger of early Elvis on cuts like “Don’t You Lie To Me,” sings the gospel on “My Way To Canaan,” and sounds strangely like Deke Dickerson on “As Long As I Live.” The production maintains the old-fashioned feel while also being full and clear. Nothing overly exciting here, but this is still a solid album that will please traditionalists as well as people who can enjoy a good tune when they hear it. – BL Back to Contents Jakehead Self-Titled Full Length CD Band Site I was wondering what was going on in Illinois as far as rockabilly. Then I got this in the mail. Oh yeah, this is a band that needs to be known for certain. Their sound is less traditional and more reminiscent of The Stray Cats, but done in a good way, not a boring carbon copy. The guitar player delivers a whirlwind of wonder-riffs that blow over you like a cyclone. He also has a unique voice that has really grown on me after a couple listens. Overall, these songs are sure to please any gearhead greaser, dandy-footed dancer, or just lovers of rock’n’roll in general. I’d buy this quickly before unemployment gets worse, you lose your job, and can no longer afford it. It’ll get you through those tough times to come. - BL Back to Contents Rubber Gun "Grease Up" Knock Out Records This band hails from a little Dutch town, but that doesn’t stop them from blasting out some good ole punk. Rubber Gun started in 1988 and this is a reissue of their original sounds. The female singer is very similar to Blondie’s Debbie Harry with snarling sexuality from her muted vocals. When all other punk bands were trying to go for the extreme hardcore sound (and be straight edge at the same time), this band was content to play ’77 style punk and get drunk while doing it. Eleven tracks fill this disc with some real fun, melodic tunes, and although there are some tracks that don’t particularly grab me, over all this is still decidedly a winner. –Lisa Back to Contents Taxi "Like A Dog" Dead Beat Records, PO Box 283 Los Angeles, CA 90078 Punk rock from Italy that is probably closest in style to The Vibrators. The songs are mostly in English and are really damn catchy. Many songs have that great grinding mid-tempo guitar sound that has the simple urgency of late 70’s punk rock, while the songs also contain enough attitude to bring them above the level of a mere homage to the past. Very well done and worth picking up before you slip into the middle-age doldrums and forget what it’s like to be alive. – BL Back to Contents Broken Heroes / Weekend Warrors “Beer Guts and Drunk Sluts” split CD Street Anthem Records The first eight songs are by New Jersey’s long-running (formed 1991) Oi band who give you more fist than an extreme lesbian porn. The singer has a cool sort of old-hardcore voice, the choruses cut deep into your brain, and the music is mostly very upbeat and pleasurable, like the recoil of a .45 caliber handgun after discharging an eight round clip. Weekend Warriors are from Pittsburgh and don’t drop the ball with eight more songs of skinhead rock’n’roll. Boisterious beer-bottle-chuckin’ American Oi that takes care not to deliver generic songs about boots and braces or any other lameness. While both bands have highs and lows on this, this split is certainly worth looking up. - BL Back to Contents Grafton "Blind Horse Campaign" Dead Canary Records Here is some splintering rock’n’roll that you’ll be picking out of your skin for days. These guys from Columbus, Ohio (virtually my backyard) have somehow evaded my radar for all things rockin’ - and after hearing this I am all the more pissed off about that. The press sheet says they are for fans of Laughing Hyenas, Mudhoney, and Mono Men among others, which gives you something of an idea of their stripped down approach. They seem to have taken inspiration from blues (via John Spencer), hard rock, punk, and moonshine to come out with a fire-breathing progeny that will burn the skin off all the docile scene panderers. This CD is a pummeling assault on the senses that becomes impossible to listen to while sitting down. If you don’t like this, then the spirit of rock-n-roll, is lost on you. - BL Back to Contents Drugstore Cowboys "Crash & Burn" Raucous Records The opening title track is great instrumental that has a juiced-up surfy, spy-fi sound. Next comes a cover of Billy Lee Riley’s “Flyin’ Saucer Rock’n’Roll,” which is saved from redundancy by the excellent guitarmanship of frontman Slim Whitfield. Throughout there are many other less traveled covers also done exceptionally, whether it be the bluesy “Crawfish” which adds harmonica, or the gritty lounge tune “Fire of Love.” Another bonus is that Slim’s voice isn’t that of a smarmy crooner Elvis wannabe, but rather has some snarl and roughness that gives them added muscle. The originals on this are also top shelf, bringing out their knack for primal rhythms and blazing guitar riffs. The production is a little flat, though, leaving me wishing there was a little more low-end and fullness to it, but that is a very minor criticism and the band surely thrives in this somewhat lo-fi representation. I’ve listened to this several times already, which is notable when you consider the enormous stack of CDs I have to get through. - BL Back to Contents Gold Blade "Strictly Hardcore" Thick Records It’s not really what I have come to understand as hardcore, whether new or old school. These Brits have more of a straight rock sound on many songs, even doing a one in homage to AC/DC. They aren’t as riff-laden or raw as AC/DC, though. Their sound is more polished and has a lot more big group choruses. The chorus on “Living Outside the Capitol” actually sounds a lot like the Clash, while the very next song is like neo-funk with brass and wah-wah guitars. “Soul Power” is catchy in the way The Knack was, and several tracks do have a discernable punk rock influence to their cadences. “Rock’N’Roll’s a Loser’s Game” sounds hip hop influenced, leading me to think anyone looking for any type of hardcore might be disappointed with this CD. They are a decent band, and I can see them getting some airplay since they capably mix genres into something with pop appeal. It’s not done badly, but not really my thing either. - BL Back to Contents Disturbance "Malice In Slumberland" Street Music OTCs If you were ever a fan of Exploited, Discharge, or other 80’s hardcore punk rock bands, you will want to check out this band from the Netherlands. This stuff is played fast, with more bite than a room full of starving cannibals. The songs are in English (if that’s an issue with your selection of foreign bands), and you can just imagine the sweaty fury of one of their live shows. Aside from in-yer-face energy, they also have some catchy choruses such as “the world is a pisshole and God pulled the chain, the world is a pisshole and we’re going down the drain.” Maybe their songs are just a tad too long and they aren’t really breaking any molds, but who cares because I still get off on this kind of stuff. Nice work. - BL Back to Contents "Strength Thru Oi!" Various Artists Captain Oi Records Originally released back in 1981, you know you’re gonna get a good serving of classic Oi by the 4 Skins, The Strike, Infa Riot, Criminal Class, Last Resort, and Cock Sparrer, as well as the consistent but strange Oi comp inclusions of good cuts by Toy Dolls and Splodge. The songs are inter-spliced with cockney street poetry, which is something that seems to have gone by the wayside in modern Oi music. All in all, a decent comp that was important in the history of the music, but by now I’ve heard (and own stuff by) almost all of these bands already. No surprises or discoveries for me, but they might be there for you. – BL Back to Contents "Supertones Surf / Modern Surf Band Spotlight” Various Artists Golly Gee Records This CD comes out of an interesting idea. It is a tribute to the Supertones, with bands covering their songs, and also each contributing one of their own compositions. There are 29 songs (The Mighty Surf Lords only donated 1 track), and fans of instrumental surf won't be let down. Bands on here include The Nebulas, The Bitch Boys, The Diamondheads, tsmf, The Metalunas, VonRippers, Estrume’n’tal, Monsters From Mars!, The Cocktail Preachers, ZPS, and the Brainwashers. The sounds range from classic surf to blazing heavy surf... from more exotic compositions to laid back martini sippers. An enjoyable listen that you can put on and kick back to. - BL Back to Contents The Delmonas "Do the Uncle Willy" Get Hip Records This stuff was originally released in the mid-80’s and consists of three ladies doing girl group music with a bit of a darker slant. It has several elements ranging from surf, psychedelia, rockabilly to Leslie Gore type stuff. It’s not all nice and clean, there is a dirty unfinished quality that adds a real rock dimension to it. This is real good stuff, one of my top favorites to review this issue. All fourteen tracks have a raw, lo- fi intensity that hits me in the gut and doesn’t stop. Pick this up! –Lisa Back to Contents Tommy Gutless Full-Length Demo Band Site These guys have risen from the ashes of the Philadelphia Experiment, and play a patriotic punk rock with lots of melody. The vocals kind of remind of a mix between Joe Blow of the Staggers and Mike McColgan of the Dropkicks. Cuts like “For the Thugs” and “East Water Street” have the jagged stab of the best street punk, while “Love, Regret, and Grief” is an acoustic number that shows their Social Distortion influence. “Americana” is another excellent acoustic tune with an even more melancholy feel to it: done quite well but fills nearly 6 minutes. What is notable on this disc as whole is that the melody isn’t putting me off most of the songs, and the patriotism doesn’t come off as completely corny. Such a thing can only mean that they do it exceptionally well. – BL Back to Contents "This is Rockabilly Clash" Various Artists Raucous Records This disc starts off with a slowed down version of “Guns of Brixton” by The Honeydippers and ends with another version by Rancho Deluxe. Surely this is one of The Clash’s best songs, one of those that always gave me goosebumps, but while both covers are fairy decent (the 1st is rather good actually), they don’t really match the feel of the original. I realize that the point is to reinterpret the song, but still I was left just wanting to hear the original. Such is the case for many of these songs, with the exception of the two covers by the Farrell Bros. (Career Opportunities, Janie Jones), The Caravans doing “Jail Guitar Doors,” The Hyperjax doing “Capital Radio,” and The Pistoleers on “Bank Robber.” The Long Tall Texans did a version of “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?” that sounds remarkably like the original minus the Spanish lines... nothing too remarkable in selection or interpretation. Still, the comp is not a bad listen, just not essential beyond the novelty of it. - BL Back to Contents The Agitators “Meeting the Lads” Street Anthem Records This Belgian sing-along street punk band isn’t bad. The first couple tracks didn’t do much for me, but then there was a good cover of “Sally MacLennane” by the Pogues, and the remainder of songs were pretty damn catchy. Most tracks are mid-tempo but upbeat, and should appeal to fans of Oxymoron and raise-a-pint-and-drink style Oi. It has grown on me with a couple listens – definitely not terrible. I guess maybe I just want it to be a little faster. – BL Back to Contents Al Foul & The Shakes Self-Titled CD-R Band Site What Al Foul has going for him is a great voice, real personality that shows through in his songs, and the ability to deliver a tune that doesn’t have you zoning out halfway through. This nine-song collection is a continuation in his decade-long stretch as Tucson’s premier primitive and roots rock extraordinaire. It’s the kind of music that goes well with drinkin’ liquor on the porch, whittling pointed spears, and chewing tobacco. Sure, you could listen to it while doing other things and enjoy it just fine, but I’ve found this works best for me. If you don’t know Al Foul, your collection is woefully incomplete and you haven’t yet become a man, son. Put Al Foul on at your next party and watch the women purr in heat. Its scintillating vibes act as pheromones drawing them to the nearest male in a panic of love frenzy. It digs down into the core of the collective psyche and reverts us back into the basic animals that we are. Grunting wild beasts with raging hunger, lamentable apes beating our chests with the torments of desire... hunting, killing, ravaging, eating termites, climbing trees, digging holes, chewing, thrusting, running from lions, sleeping in the tall grasses of the Serengeti plains... what the hell was I talking about? Oh yeah, Al Foul: good shit. - BL Back to Contents The Spanish Barrow'in Guitar "Gotta Let It Go" Five songs (and an intro) are on here by a Japanese punkabilly band that is phenomenal. The vocals are raspy and razor-throated, the guitar-work is wild and intricate, and the songs come off with a punk rock fervor despite being way more rooted in rockabilly than most harder-edged psychobilly bands. They have a great song called “Ramones Mania,” but hell if it isn’t way more elbows-in-the-air intense than you’d expect. The songs are in English – very bad English that is very funny to read – but that doesn’t matter because the music is fantastic. They have a sound that is their own and I am really digging it. - BL Back to Contents GG Allin & AntiSeen "Murder Junkies" TKO Records This is a re-issue with lots of never published photos in the booklet, the sound re-mastered, and some extra songs tagged on to the end. You get such heart-warming classics as “I Love Nothing,” “Rape, Torture, Terminate & Fuck,” “99 Stab Wounds,” and “Kill the Police.” This is from the period when GG made some of his most brutal music. You also get the bonus of the acoustic track “Layin’ Up With Linda,” as well as an acoustic version of “Outlaw Scumfuc,” with his voice sounding as ripped up and maniacal as ever. This is a prime release by one of punk rock’s most eccentric iconoclasts who will likely never have an equal. Bottom of the barrel sleaze and unrepentant aggression - he made those traits seem like virtues as he lived life as a modern savage. Part of you might despise him, while the other part envies him. – BL Back to Contents The Seizures "Break Loose" Band Site These Germans have no regard for genre as they barrel through an evil collection of dark rock’n’roll. They have elements of garage, rockabilly, punk, metal, surf, you name it, but it is all fused together and impossible to tease apart. Songs often break in unpredictable ways, but don’t sound stitched together or contrived. Whether it’s the slow bone-crunching chug of songs like “Vertigo,” which morphs into something almost funky in between bouts of villainous oppression, or the relentless rock’n’roll eccentricity of “The Stroke,” or even the sinister devil surf of “Worst Case Scenario,” you can be sure its not like every other record in your collection. While their sound is not all bright and happy by a long shot, the album has bursts of energy and brilliance throughout. Fans tired of the same old crap will want to check this out for certain, as it melds polar extremes into an oxymoron of primal complexity. - BL Back to Contents This Moment In Black History “The Cleveland Finger” CD EP Exit Stencil Records If you want punk rock that achieves frantic intensity without resorting to tired formulas, the search is over my friend. TMIBH breaks from the basic structure of verse, chorus, verse, chorus to make songs that stun you with a cavalcade of uncharted movements that keep their momentum throughout. The guitars are played without that annoying Marshal stack, full-on distortion that makes so many bands sound like generic clones. In addition, the rhythms and hooks aren’t pulled from an arsenal of tired cliches. The singing is likewise wild, and the overall urgency through the roof. Maybe if John Spencer and early Jesus Lizard collaborated after seeing Minor Threat. My troubles in describing this can only mean that it is wonderful. - BL Back to Contents Junkrod “Full Blown Demo” Band Sites Part punk rock, part Southern rock, all good. The vocals on these 11 tracks are what you want to hear as you are tearing off-road in a beat-up pick-up full of your drinking buddies, and the music matches. Songs are about girls in love with their dildos and other proudly white trash themes. “Whore” is straight-up country done in the David Allen Coe style, and “Kinder, Gentler Me” is another great country track. “Pig-Town Loser” wins for best song title. All amounts to a good dose of redneck punk rock that has the guitar chops to back it up unlike many others with the same style. Not bad at all. - BL Back to Contents The Trip Daddys "Doublewide" Band Site Guitarist Craig Straubinger leads this band through a disc chocked full of melodies, riffs, and more riffs. They borrow liberally from rockabilly, surf, and country, but pay it back with interest in the form of a distinct fuel-injected rock'n'roll. While they include a decent cover of fellow St. Louis rocker Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" as well as Johnny and the Pirates' "Please Don't Touch," the real pleasure comes from raging originals such as "Little Piece of You," "She's Got Somethin," and "Stolen Cadillac." What I think really makes this band is the untamed impertinence that comes through in the guitar licks that seem to carry even more personality than the lyrics. It's kind of like the implacable confidence of James Dean translated into notes of rebellion strangled from the neck of a Gretsch. Very nice. - BL Back to Contents The Knockout Pills Self-Titled CD Dead Beat Records, PO Box 283 Los Angeles, CA 90078 I don't think any genre of music has so many generic bands crowding into it as those huddled under the canopy of punk rock. What I think a lot of it is missing is spirit. I mean, what I enjoy is that feeling that a band is just trying to get something out of their system, rather than trying to fill out a preconceived notion of what punk ought to sound like. The Knockout Pills give me that feeling on this disc. It was recorded on a four-track, but luckily someone knew how to do it right. There's a lo-fi quality while the instruments remain proportional and overall very listenable. They meld 70's punk rock with strong 60's influences (especially The Who & Yardbirds), but also leave lots of room for their own voice in there. Songs like "Trust Fund Rock" and "Twist Twist Slit Your Wrists" are so damn good I'm touching myself right now. There is a lot to admire here: great vocals, great energy – I’d recommend this to fat and skinny people alike. It’ll increase the size of your manhood and give your hair a natural glow with more body and bounce than you ever thought possible. Buy an extra one for your little brother, and that creepy spinster aunt you have with the harelip and mustache. - BL Back to Contents Satan's Teardrops “Set 'Em Up Knock 'Em Down” Spindrift Records Bridging the gap between rockabilly and psychobilly, Satan's Teardrops erupt from that place within your psyche where your id slithers and schemes, ready to spit its venom onto the moral fabric of civilization and stain your brain with devilish thoughts that would make your mother weep. This stuff is fast, raw, and filled with rippin' guitars a la Meteors Peel Sessions and slappin' bass that rumbles like frantic pulse. The result is a demonic wild child that answers the question of what would happen if the Rock’N’Roll Trio had been transported in their prime to the year 2003 and got hooked on punk rock. What really helps tie their sound together, though, is the acoustic guitar that augments their stripped down and cranked up approach. This ain't music for your higher self. It won't make you a better person, or teach you the mysteries of life. In fact, it might actually make you more inclined to tip the bottle, urinate from your front porch, and belch in the face of polite society. That alone should be enough of a reason to buy it. - BL Back to Contents The Round Up Boys “Blast off! Like a rocket and rock” Rhythmbomb Records The production on this sounds exactly like a 45 playing in an old jukebox, yet all the instruments are still distinctly audible. Just from that angle alone this band is cool, but the songs themselves are also quite remarkable. It’s nothing new, just upbeat and catchy rockabilly, but it is done with so much enthusiasm and charm that its impossible to keep your toes from tapping. Out of 16 songs, all but three I think were penned by the band, and the covers are obscure enough that I don’t know who did them originally. Their knack for writing authentic-sounding stuff is uncanny. You could have told me this was a rare and amazing band from the 50's and I would have believed you. Real good stuff. - BL Back to Contents The Staggers “One Heartbeat Away From Hell” Haunted Town Records Its been a few years since the last Staggers album, so long in fact that I thought it wasn’t coming. I even heard they broke up for a while, but luckily they are back with another solid full-length CD. While I don’t think it eclipses their previous album (which is still one of my favorites), it certainly doesn’t lag far behind. The songs maintain their characteristic fusion of Texas punk, horror movies, and subtle country roots (most manifest in the raucous version of Hank Williams’ “I Saw The Light”). The melodies are downright contagious, delivered in Joe Blow’s unmistakable voice that almost makes you forget that he is singing dark lyrics about murder, damnation, and revenge. “The devil is a saint and the demons are disciples / the world is my domain for my lust of blood / the pleasures of the flesh are now reduced to murder / black are my pupils and evil is my child.” Working that into an upbeat song creates a dissonant appeal much like The Misfits used to have. This is just more fine work from a group of good people. – BL Back to Contents Those Unknown Self-Titled TKO Records The liner notes of this CD angrily laments the current widespread extraction of politics from the street punk and Oi scene in favor of a superficial apathy that belies its own history. Before even hitting play I liked these guys. What is the point of having a subculture that mirrors the values and ideologies of the mainstream? Isn’t that what you’d call a reduction to mere fashion? Damn straight. Especially now when the country is in such a shitty place with so many drones plugged into FOX News. Anyway, this is a re-issue of their influential debut CD from 1995, plus an added couple of bonus tracks. This disc exemplifies what is good about street punk: edgy production, bad singing in a good way, catchy songs that don’t sound like football cheers, and a driven sincerity behind the songs that shines through. This is solid blue-collar music, and probably one of the highlights for American street punk in the 90’s. - BL Back to Contents Huelyn Duvall "Ramblin' & Boppin'" Rhythm Bomb Records Huelyn was an actual 50’s recording artist and now he’s back with Wildfire Willie & The Ramblers backing him up. His voice still sounds great, and the production sounds authentic as if it were one of his old recordings. The accuracy of delivery easily counters the silliness of the boppin’ rock’n’roll lyrics, complete with back-up singers providing harmonies and piano keys a-clankin’. What’s better, though, is the 50’s style country tunes with Huelyn’s voice sounding rich and full. There’s tangible emotion in songs like “It All Depends” and “By and By,” which are amazing tracks I’ll keep coming back to on lonely nights. Anybody who has a love of 50’s rock’n’roll and country will love this. - BL Back to Contents Vortis “God Won't Bless America” Thick Records Vortis has come out with a disc that tops their previous album of last year with a heavier sound, catchier hooks, and even more political songs pertaining to the current administration’s activities. It has a snide punk rock approach that would make Jello Biafra happy, but this isn’t what you’d expect a punk rock album to sound like. Instead he sings with a weird nasal voice that borrows rap-style cadences, or protest chants, with either churning guitars or a more of a hip-hop sound backing it up (still done with instruments not synthesizers). The lyrics flow loosely over the driving beats with sound bytes of Bush and others between songs. “Suicide or Homicide” is actually a really strong punk rock tune, while tracks like “Postmodern Lament” are more artsy, noisy, droning rants. “Hoosier Cruiser” takes some rockabilly progressions and riffs and melds them with their unusual sound. This is an interesting band who comes across differently than any other that I’ve heard, which sometimes I like, sometimes I cringe, and sometimes I feel more ambivalently about it. Not a disc I’ll put in a lot to jam on often, but it does have merit. - BL Back to Contents The Electric Eye “Electric Wisdom” Dirtnaps Records The first couple tracks by this Portland band seem to have a different singer than the others. To me it sounds like a woman with an unbelievable scream, but I don’t see a woman’s name listed in the sleeve, so I am surely wrong. Must be a falsetto scream? Sounds cool in crazy sort of way nonetheless. Several other tracks also have searing vocals, but are clearly of a male source, and they relent a bit to be more understandable (although I still think he adds a few too many superfluous screams on some songs). The music is more of a trash punk rawk sort of deal, but with elements of garage and stoner rock thrown in. Some great riffs, cool progressions, and an overall atmosphere of decadence that anyone but a crusading evangelist would get down on their knees to worship. Down and dirty in such a lovely way. It pleases me much. Oh yeah. - BL Back to Contents The Helldivers “Down to Nickels and Dimes” the_Helldivers@hotmail.com This new Pennsylvania band serves up some boisterous traditional rockabilly with a lot of moxie. Way heavy reverb gives it a rustic, live feel - that and the fact it was recorded in the guitar player’s bedroom. Not the best singing, but not terrible either. Decent, lively stuff by a band I’m sure will only get better with time. - BL Back to Contents The Mexican Blackbirds "Just To Spite You" Dirtnaps Records Short, gritty, blasting punk rock songs that never slow down to let you catch your breath. The drummer Jill provides backing vocals on several cuts, and their frontman sounds like he should be holding hostages at knifepoint. Their press sheet mentions The Loudmouths and New Bomb Turks for comparison, and I would say this does sound like those bands suited up and combined to form a rock'n’roll equivalent of Voltron to kick and stomp their way through the West coast. If I were a boxer I’d listen to this as I trained on the heavy bag. Safer than sticking your tongue in a light socket, and just as jarring. - BL Back to Contents Chrome Daddies “Whose Your Daddies?” Band Site Here is an Australian country band with a host of originals sprinkled with covers of George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Bo Diddley to let you know where they are coming from. They utilize steel and slide guitars to give that requisite twang on many songs, and the vocals are a good fit with the capable musicianship. They also have lots of harmonies done well, adding to the overall richness of the sound. “Little Joe from Chicago” is one of the best songs to pull out the swing and do an exemplary job of it – think swing with steel guitar where the brass would be (it’s even better). The last four bonus tracks are taken from a live concert and are very good quality. Perfect listening for after you alleviate your intestinal cramps at a rest stop bathroom and are back on the road, renewed and refreshed, driving through the Midwest on a sunny day with a fresh mug of coffee between your legs. - BL Back to Contents Evil Devil “Breakfast at the Psychohouse” Crazy Love Records Evil Devil’s second full-length release is a better studio recording than their first, and the band itself seems to have honed their sound with tighter songs. The upright bass sounds full, the guitars are played clean and crisp with a sort of Templars Oi feel at times, and the musicianship all around has really prospered. Songs like “Psycho Is My World” and “The Stars” burst from the speakers and wrap themselves around your head like suckling sea creatures trying to get inside. “Chemicals” is a brilliant instrumental and their cover of Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita” is a bizarre gem. The singer actually sings rather than scream or growl, yet his voice carries a punk rock type of insurgence stapled to an Italian accent. Evil Devil capably mix tempos and incorporate memorable vocal and guitar melodies that’ll please even the most jaded listener, despite some lackluster lyrics. They don’t sound like a host of other bands, yet have the feel of old school psychobilly. Evil Devil should turn a few heads with this release. They stand as a testament to the growing strength of the international psychobilly scene. - BL Back to Contents Allegiance “Whose Border, Whose Fight?” Ghetto Rock Records These three guys (one from Canada and two from Japan) crank out some great abrasive punk rock that has the rumbling guitars of the 4 Skins spliced with some melodic sensibilities that sometimes reminds me of Those Unknown. Yet they don’t sound hung up on affiliations with a certain school of punk rock. Rather they craft songs informed by the past but that conjure their own alchemy of aggression. Fifteen tracks here culled from the best of their first two albums, and all of them blare with vitriolic energy. They’ve been whittling their sound since 1996, and it’s time you got stabbed by it. - BL Back to Contents The Maggots “Do the Maggot” Low Impact Records This Swedish garage band rocks and grooves pretty well. Fairly upbeat in most areas but not gonna create any cyclones around themselves. 60’s influenced but not the striving to be a mirror image. I like most of the songs somewhat, but they tend to lose my interest pretty fast. I wouldn’t change the station if they came on the radio, but I’d likely reach for something else to put in the CD player. I’m not one who always has to have fast music, but I’m just not feeling this and a little pep might save them from sounding like just a pretty decent bar band. Maybe this is just one of the cases where I should just say that they are good at what they do, but it’s not my bag... And I so wanted to love a band called The Maggots! - BL Back to Contents Duane Peters & The Hunns / The Revolvers split CD Dirty Faces Records The Hunns deliver their best track first – an acoustic number with raspy vocals and a sort of downtrodden drunken aesthetic. The other Hunns songs I actually found pretty decent as well. His voice sounds completely blown out from years of drinking and smoking, which I think sounds cool. I believe Duane Peters also fronts the U.S. Bombs, whom I saw years ago opening for the Dropkick Murphys in Cleveland. He was staggering around so drunk he got cut off at the bar and was trying to get my under-age friend to buy him drinks. We actually thought he was just some crazy drunk off the streets until he got on the stage. Once there he sang a few songs and fell through the drum kit and passed out. To his credit he tried to get up several times while crowd members were singing his songs with the bandmates (and others were throwing garbage cans and beers at the band), but eventually it was lost cause and he lay there almost lifeless. Anyway, The Revolvers do nothing for me. They sound way poppy and go on and on with the choruses. If you could see the look on my face as I tried to listened to them you’d think I took a swig of moonshine from a turd encrusted glass. - BL Back to Contents The Mutants "Voodoo Blues" Band Site Every time a new Mutants release comes to me in the mail I bless the postal service and rush it to my player at the earliest possible opportunity. Their instrumentals are seamless eclectic hybrids that make full use of dual percussionists, guitars, organ, sax, flute, and bass. This new full-length shows further progression in their fusion of sounds, reaching a new height in flawless song-writing and powerful movements that have to heard to fully appreciate. I know of no other band doing anything like this. They transcend surf and are more exotic and intriguing than most jazz. It’s like afro-funk-cuban-garage-mambo-psychedelia played in a way that requires no drugs to enjoy. - BL Back to Contents Bassholes "Out In The Treetops" Dead Canary Records The name Don Howland (guitars/vocals) sounded familiar to me, but I couldn’t think of why. Then it dawned on me. Years ago I picked up a 7” record of Southern Culture On The Skids with this guy named Don Howland. I always wondered who the hell he was, and now I know. Whew, you can’t imagine the relief. Anyway, the first track of the seven extremely lo-fi garage gems here is an instrumental with a tense, eerie feel to it. Next you get a drum pummeling with creepy vocals on the title cut followed by a spooky churner, a rusty blade cover of The Who, a raucous rendition of The Stooges, a cool re-working of Stagger Lee, then capped off with another rowdy pounding cut that’ll leave your skin blistered. Seems most people knew about The Bassholes except me, but if you too are in the dark, you’ll surely also want to get caught up. - BL Back to Contents Hollywood Superstars "Let It Shine" Band Site If I understand this correctly, this band is largely in tribute to Shermy Sheldon, a child actor from the obscure NBC sitcom “Harlem Huffington,” and who apparently died in obscurity in 2000. It is unclear if this is a real actor, or an elaborate invention of the band, which incidentally is fronted by the world’s only Shermy Sheldon impersonator. The music sometimes sounds like 80’s hard rock, such as the Motley Crue/Kiss vibe on “Girls and Boys,” or has a sort of slower Phunk Junkies feel as on “Skywriter.” “Nailed to the Cross” takes a little darker route, with spoken verses over meandering guitars before coming to the chorus. Lots of sound bites between songs (all relating to the Shermy shtick) slow down the album’s momentum and have me fast-forwarding. While it scores points with weirdness, I’m not ready to give it a passing grade. - BL Back to Contents Knucklehead "Voice Among Us + Little Boots" Ghetto Rock Records Two albums on one disc of this melodic Canadian street punk band. The vocals on the “Little Boots” (their 1998 effort) sound like The GC5 a lot, while the music is catchy, simple sing-along punk. “Voice Among Us” has the singing evolving into something more distinct to themselves, and featuring more interesting melodies applied to the verses and choruses while the songs still retain the sing-along quality of the earlier CD. I swear, some of these songs are so infectious I found myself mumbling along before I even learned the lyrics. Fans of old DKM and Rancid will like this. I do. - BL Back to Contents The Salt City Bandits "Here's to You... demo" saltcitybandit@hotmail.com These guys have a southern rock sound meshed with Oi. They give me the impression of skinheads donning cowboy hats, if that gives you any idea. The first cut “Devil Woman” is a ball-buster and easily the best on here. “Salt City Pride” is not too bad, going for a sort of country punk. The other tracks, though, are a little slow with “Knives and Guns” taking a chunky metal-ish detour that doesn’t get me where I wanna be. There’s potential here, but I’m not sold yet. . - BL Back to Contents Emschercurve 77 / Hudson Falcons "One Size Slits All" Split CD Knock Out Records Emscherkurve 77 give 6 tracks that you’ll surely sing along with - that is if you know German. Still, the guitar and vocal melodies are catchy nonetheless, and I think this band gets consistently better with each new release. Comes off like prime beer-drinking street punk, especially the Irish tune that sounds like The Porters. The Hudson Falcons give six more songs including a great cover of The Blitz and a not-so-great sleazed up ode to Chubby Checker. “Cocaine and Blowjobs” is the real prize here - a new song of blazing punk’n’roll about those Chi-town reprobates in Callaghan. All together a good release. - BL Back to Contents Silo The Huskie “Sons of Columbus” Tiberius Records From Columbus, Ohio this band of workingmen features well-crafted lyrics, but music that I really can’t get into at all. It’s a shame, because I wanted to really like this when I read their lyrics noted their location near me. I will say this: it is extremely well-played mellow, melodic rock that would seem more like a college band’s style than one of seasoned middle-aged workers. Just not my thing at all, but I can see them having great success with indie rock fans. - BL Back to Contents Get Set Go "So You've Ruined Your Life" TSR, 18653 Ventura BL. Suite 513, Tarzana, CA 91356 Poppy rock that is a shame because I like some of the lyrics quite a bit. Why do the bands with better lyrics too often play music that sounds like horrid crap to me? Their glossy press sheet says they are post-emo punk – whatever that means. They have themselves aimed at the big-time, and I suppose it could happen with the lameness of their boring music. - BL Back to Contents Bloodshot Bill & The Hubcaps "Sex, Blood & Rock'N'Roll" derekdonor@hotmail.com Really lo-fi, sloppy country rockabilly in the vein of Hasil Adkins. Sounds very cool to me. I believe they are from Europe somewhere, but sounds like they could’ve made this while drinking Schlitz and shroomin’ in the hills of West Virginia. - BL Back to Contents Sweet J.A.P. “Virgin Vibe” Big Neck Records I love everything that Big Neck Records has sent me so much that I want to send them a perfumed thank you letter with naked pictures of myself, but then that’s more of a disgusting gesture than one of gratitude. I think these guys are from Minneapolis and play punk rock the way I’ve always wanted to hear it, only more so. I have no frame of reference for band comparisons, but I imagine if you like punk rock at all, you’ll love this. So good. - BL Back to Contents "Midwest Rules: You're Weak, We're Strong" Various Artists Haunted Town Records If you’re one of those idiots who think that the Midwest is a flat expanse of punk rock void, buy this and eat your words. Plenty of great rowdy numbers by The Phenoms, Grendel, Almighty Hangovers, Roustabouts, Bump N Uglies, Mashers, and Forgotten Four among others. Plus a hillbilly rocker by Nine Pound Hammer and four songs by The Daggers, who are probably the best discovery for me on here. Plenty of good tracks make this worth your time. - BL Back to Contents Baseball Furies "Greater Than Ever" Big Neck Records Oh blessed mighty gods of rock’n’roll, thank you! This stripped-down garage punk, rock’n’roll, whatever, is one of my top picks for the year. I’ve listened to it over and over. There is so much venom and spite it’ll blacken your heart and taint your soul. The lyrics match the primal assault: “Got no reasons why I’m here tonight / Got no feelings for Jesus Christ / Got my reasons when I clench my fists / With bad bad flavor and bad bad blood, I wait.” Bruised and bleeding, I love it. Really. I said love. - BL Back to Contents The Berlin Project “Things We Say” Orange Peal Records Umm... bland pop-punk with slick production and horrible vocals. Makes me want to ram pencils into my eye sockets. Better turn it off before I hurt myself. - BL Back to Contents Uppercut “Four Walls” Blackout Records Uppercut originally released the “Four Walls” EP in 1989 when they were regarded as part of the second wave of hardcore. The opening cut seems to bear out that claim, but the second one has terrible droning vocals and a slower tempo that I don’t generally associate with hardcore. They pick it back up from there with growling, barked vocals. I don’t know, it just doesn’t get my blood pumping (with the exception of “The Machine Breaks Down” that has an 80’s speed metal sound). The second half of this is later recordings by an offshoot band of Uppercut called Mind’s Eye. They kind of have a Melvins sound I guess. It's not very good. I’d pass this up. – BL Back to Contents The Procedure “Rise of New Reason” Black Out Records Every band that they are compared to in their press bio I have never heard of: Shai Halud, Cave In, Ensign, Hope Conspiracy, Sensefield, Thursday. Sounds like metal-core with some nerd melodies thrown into the screaming here and there. It has been banned from my CD player, and if it tries to return, I will be forced to stomp it under foot like a disease-ridden rat. - BL Back to Contents Thee Oh No's Self-Titled 7 song CD-R Band Site From Mesa, Arizona Thee Oh No’s sound like energetic 60’s garage rock as interpreted by 70’s punk rockers sniffing glue. While so many others try this kind of music, these guys have nailed it with humor and sometimes a silly poppiness that doesn’t get stale or annoying. They high-step over the boring mid-tempo garage schlock and duck under the usual punk rock hurdles to get to the finish line ahead of the rest. Fun music that will iron the wrinkles out of your furrowed face. - BL Back to Contents "Cock'N'Roll: The World's Sleaziest Bands" Various Artists Sleazegrinder Porn, sleaze, and rock’n’roll. There are 26 songs on here to beat your meat to. Strong tracks by Lanternjack, Hellside Stranglers, Gunhack, Sugabomb, Big Block Hitchcock, Dog Shit Boys, Muscle Car, and others makes this an okay comp. Mostly AC/DC influenced sort of rock, with some 70’s punk (maybe New York Dolls influence here and there), a touch of Mentors, and a lot of Nashville Pussy. If it were a porno I’d only get semi-hard.- BL Back to Contents The VaGiants “Short and Hard” Band's Site The girl who sings for this band has a unique voice that their press sheet compared to Tina Turner’s. I am not too sure of that, but I’ve got nothing better, so I’ll go along with it. She does belt out the tunes, backed by a band that was obviously weaned on AC/DC and 80’s cock rock. I like her voice to a point, as she is definitely a good singer, but something about it doesn’t sit well with me.... kind of the way she holds notes. The music has some really good guitar hooks and electrified rhythms, but I’m not in love with it either. I’d say they are a good band and if they were opening for another band I really liked, I definitely wouldn’t go sit in my car and drink during their set. - BL Back to Contents Black Print “Movement” Quincy Shanks Records This band deserves a prefix. “Post”-something, I think. Post-hardcore? Post-emo? Post-emocore? It’s got a postmodern disjointedness, and a postal worker’s level of dissatisfaction with the world. Interesting... creative perhaps, but doesn’t grab me by the testicles, squeeze, and say “hey fucker, love me!”. Hard to listen to. Quite, quite hard. - BL Back to Contents The Dames “Sin & Tonic” CD EP Band Site Five songs, three girls, and some fairly decent slower punk rock music. I don’t really like the singing on most of this. I hear they are way better live. If somebody asked me if I liked this band I’d probably just shrug my shoulders, turn my palms up, and curl my lip. - BL Back to Contents The Silence "Audio Alchemy" Band Site West coast melodic pop-core. Hey, did I just invent a genre? Probably not. They sound like crappier Pennywise with more screaming, slower songs, and worse melodies. The sheet says they are like AFI and Saves the Day. I have no idea what those bands sound like, so maybe. If they sound like this, I don’t like them either. – BL Back to Contents Smut Peddlers “Ten Inch” 10" Dead Beat Records California punk rock with ranting vocals, a rock’n’roll flare, and an un-showered, sweaty aroma. Best track has got to be “Rebatron Party” about a Hepatitis C soiree. “Don’t know what I’ll be wearing, only that I want to score and get it on, I’m gonna bring a whole lot of ribavirin and interferon.” Eight songs here to bounce through your head as you knock the mirrors off a Lexus. - BL Back to Contents Estrogenocide “I Like to Cuddle” M.H. Records, 36 Central Park Rd. Plainview, NY 11803 Digital schlock about raping and killing women. I think songs titles like “I Will Shoot My Load In Your Headless Corpse” say it all. It’s almost comical actually. Almost. These guys can’t have girlfriends, so I imagine that they fuck each other. This is just plain stupid. - BL Back to Contents The Klingonz "Up Uranus" Crazy Love Records This is the first new release in years by this well known Irish psychobilly outfit, and it’s not a slacker. The production is improved, the bass is slapped like mad, and they continue to bash out dark & heavy tunes with sci-fi, metal, & punk influence. They deliver it with a sense of humor on songs about fat cross-dressers, midget porn stars, failed experiments making robot assassins, and a hospital worker who hears the voices of aborted fetuses commanding him. Well-played with a unique sound. Cool stuff. – BL Back to Contents Protagonist “Hope and Rage” Black Out Records Hardcore punk in the style of Unseen, but with a lot more modern, melodic flare and a lot less edge to it. The songs tend to lose their impact as they go on too long, or take too long to start (the first track has him shouting “here we go” a few times in the long intro, and its almost punishing waiting for them to actually GO). While some songs have some really good moments, I think it’s a little cheesy to sing “we are the army of hope.” The best cut is probably “Forgotten Youth” (despite the cliche title), since it has good energy and rings in at under two minutes. Many of the others are pretty damn bad, like “Maginot Lines,” which is, well, just pretty damn bad. Another thing I’m not really into is the slick guitar tone or the perfect studio production. I really don’t think I would put this again. I tried to like it, but it’s a lost cause. - BL Back to Contents Baby Strange “The Make-out Sessions” Band Site I think the singer sounds little like Billy Corgan, and the music I guess would be light pop rock, or maybe indie rock (since I don’t know what exactly that is but I think it would be like this). I imagine this is what the college coffeehouse, sweater-and-glasses, kind of person listens to in their Volkswagens. Again, they are good at what they do, but it makes me hungry for a gun barrel. – BL Back to Contents Condemned 84 2-song 7" Haunted Town Records Two rare cuts from 1986 by this classic Oi band re-issued under license from Link Records. I remember a big controversy about them at the Beer Olympics a couple years back where they didn’t play due to their politics, but I don’t know if any of that was true. I never really heard a lot of these guys except on comps, and these two songs are pretty good. I really like the A-side with “No Way In.” Good British Oi. - BL Back to Contents The Fitts 4-song 7" Big Neck Records Great female vocals on this punk rock band that has such great song titles as “I Have to Laugh (When I See You Hurt),” “Girls like U (Deserve to Die),” an my favorite “Contaminated (By Your Dick).” They have a raw delivery, great hooks, and the right attitude. Get it or live in shame and ignominy.. - BL Back to Contents The Ponys 2-song 7" Big Neck Records These guys play catchy mid-tempo 70’s inspired punk rock. Really not bad. Better than a lot of bands in the same boat. - BL Back to Contents Branko 4-song 7" Black Juju Records This is good instrumental garage that also uses Caribbean beats, sax, echoed, reverb-ed, and fuzzed guitars to full effect. Very cool stuff. – BL Back to Contents Marvel “Heroine Tracks” 7" Black Juju Records Here you get Swedish rock’n’roll with a 70’s style. The 7” comes with super-hero trading cards that have their backgrounds, personal stats, and special powers and weapons. It is said that they draw upon the powers of MC5 and Kiss. I like this, but the Kiss part of their influence might be what keeps me from really liking it. Good rock’n’roll, but the vinyl’s not gonna get worn out. - BL Back to Contents Coffinberry 3-song 7" Exit Stencil, PO Box 110775 Cleveland, OH 44111 Hell yes! Finally my last review! Will I ever listen to music again? I’m sure I will, but after this I’m gonna stew inside a warm blanket of silence for a while. Anyway, this band plays rock music that has whiny vocals and no real energy. I dislike this. It makes me very unhappy. I wish I didn’t save it for last. - BL Back to Contents

Review Index: Go Further Back In Time

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