86 Mentality “Final Exit” The Anxieties “The Next Mutation” Archer “Doomsday Profits” Bill Bondsmen “Swallowed by the World” Black Magic Six “Evil Acupunction” Blacklist Union "Breakin’ Bread With the Devil" Brine & Bastards “Set Sail for Sodomy” The Burndowns “Self-titled” The Crawlers “Sef-titled” LP Destructors 666 / The Ruined / Punky Rebel Media - EP Destructors 666 / Dirty Love “Lex Talionis E.P.” Disgrace “Degeneration II” Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights “Heart Palpitations...” Gunsmoke “From Somewhere” John Paul Keith & the One Four Fives “...Thrill” The Jolts “Haute Voltage” Juanita y Los Feos “Self-titled” CD Hollywood “Hit! An All Time Low.” Lothar “Supercharged”

Mac Blackout “Self-titled” LP Malamondos “Roctopussy” Miss 45 “Steals the Show” Miss Treatment “Saturnal Return” Modern Day Urban Barbarians “Sludgemouth” Mongrel “Fear, Lies, and Propaganda” Motorama “Psychotronic is the Beat!” Muddy River Nightmare Band “Polish This” Pagans “The Blue Album” Teachers Pet “Self-titled” Rambin’ Ambassadors “Vista Cruiser Country Squire” Revelons “Pop-ism!” Various Artists “Revenge of the Hot Rod Zombies” Sawed Off Sick “Den of Iniquity” Seger Liberation Army “Down Home” Slanderin’/Difference of Opinion - Split 7 Statues “Terminal Bedroom” Young and Sexy “The Arc” Young Werewolves “Cheat The Devil”

86 Mentality “Final Exit” www.derangedrecords.com

I am not much of a fan of throaty Oi-Core but every now and again a band rises above. 86 Mentality have just enough hardcore urgency to make me go at the heavy bag in my garage with a flurry of raging fists. Shit, with the right buzz on I’m about ready to bite into the friggin’ thing. What’s not to like? If you have any testosterone or pent-up rage at all, this will facilitate the venting of it. All knuckles and elbows, somehow without being completely meathead. Or maybe it is. Fuck it. I will say that the Blitz cover isn’t to exciting compared to the original, but you can’t have everything. There is a live set from Belgium also tacked onto the end of this EP. Not bad. - Ben Back to Contents

The Anxieties "The Next Mutation" www.labratindustries.com

A collision between Richard Hell, the Weirdos, and the Rip-Offs can’t be a bad thing. The Anxieties hail from the Right-To-Die state where good music constantly falls from the trees like Newtonian apples into the proverbial Garden of Eden, and rampaging meth-heads haunt the dreams of dentists everywhere. If the song title “I Hate Myself (But I Hate You More)” resonates with your sardonic sense of humor, then you and I should drink beer and listen to this album together. - Ben Back to Contents

Archer “Doomsday Profits” www.archernation.com

I gotta hand it to them, they handle the squealing, guitar-shredding, finger-tapping, 80’s heavy metal quite well. They put a melodic face on the proceedings, and shade things in with subtle grunge aspect. Several tracks are passable riff-wranglers, while others clog up my G.I. tract with radio-friendly “new school” metal. If you are looking for fretboard fireworks, there is a good amount of that here, but often they don’t launch from anywhere I wanna be. - Ben Back to Contents

Bill Bondsmen “Swallowed by the World” www.dead-beat-records.com

If you expect cheery, positive hardcore coming out of Detroit you either have the naiveté of a brain damaged six year old or you’ve never been to Detroit. The Bill Bondsmen chop and dice their way through the gloom with frenzied claws swatting guitars at every impossible angle. In a city of crumbling industry you’d expect more metal, but this record screams along organically, spitting up blood. However, they do have that Midwest gallows humor that always confuses the sheltered middle-class innocents of the affluent coasts. I mean, how can you NOT love a song called “If You Want A Picture Of The Future (Imagine A Boot Stamping On A Human Face Forever)”? Sure, constant listening may deteriorate your mental health, but its better for society than climbing up that tower with your rifle in hand. - Ben Back to Contents

Black Magic Six “Evil Acupunction” www.ahkyrecords.com

This Finnish Blues Punk duo retain a big rock sound that belies the trashiness of their peers. There is the hurky-jerky primitivism to their rhythms, but it comes off as a museum gift shop facsimile more than a down and dirty deconstruction, leaving them stranded in a sea of familiar faces from Northern Europe easily swallowed up by The Monsters. The vocals also fail to arouse my ears. They aren’t a terrible band, but I won’t be asking for a second date with them either. - Ben Back to Contents

Blacklist Union “Breakin’ Bread With the Devil ” myspace.com/blacklistunion

Blacklist Union reminds me of some of the edgier commercial metal bands from the eighties like Love/Hate, Circus of Power or L.A. Guns crossed with Janes Addiction and Warrior Soul. Now take that blend and give it a modern, super heavy production and you’d have ‘Breakin’ Bread With the Devil’. The ten tracks contained herein are pretty much no bullshit rockers, most under 3 minutes. I like the band’s sound, and the album isn’t without a few decent hooks, but it falls short of really grabbing me. Still, not a bad effort. If you’re into the late eighties/early nineties hard rock sound this is definitely worth checking out. (Bob Ignizio) Back to Contents

Brine & Bastards “Set Sail for Sodomy” www.brineandbastards.com

My god, I’ve become a jaded asshole. Assuming the “Sodomy” in this title was some sort of reference to The Pogues’ “Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash,” I was apprehensive about yet another dull Irish Punk band (though I do like several of them). Just the other day I heard a friend’s ringtone and wondered why he used Riverdance music until the vocals broke in and revealed newer Dropkick Murphys. Well, the Irish Punk sub-genre has given way to another taxonomic tangent: Pirate Punk. This is a well-intentioned album that aspires to no more than having a little fun, but it just feels a little flat to me. The Wages of Sin do something similar that rises above generic Punk Rock with a gimmick. The songs here just don’t excite me. Like I said, I’m a jaded asshole. - Ben Back to Contents

The Burndowns “Self-titled” www.bigneckrecords.com

Rising like ghosts from the corpses of various Pittsburgh bands, The Burndowns have come together and forged a blue-collar garage punk sound that segues nicely between the Devil Dogs and the Hudson Falcons. I’m not claiming socio-political lyrics or anything (just the opposite, actually), but they do have a sort of street punk vocal style and working-class rustbelt sensibility that gives the rock’n’roll proceedings a touch of real grit and gumption. This is the sort of thing that you’d want to come on the jukebox at 5 o’clock in your the neighborhood bar as you crack into your first Iron City of the weekend. – Ben Back to Contents

The Crawlers “Self-titled” LP www.myspace.com/blindspotrecordspdx

Feasible hardcore punk with all the usual fixin’s. Songs against the right-wing regime currently still in power, elitist punk rockers being worse than the hippies they get their panties in a wad over, the stupidity of religious tithing, etc. Pretty straightforward stuff. - Ben Back to Contents

Destructors 666 / The Ruined / Punky Rebel Media “The Ted Rogers E.P.” Rowdy Farrago Records

Three songs by Destructors 666, England’s kings of split CDs, with one being a Flamin’ Groovies cover and the other being more folk rock than expected. Not bad stuff, but I probably won’t get their logo tattooed on my neck. The Ruined serve up one metal-punk song and one more generic punk tune. Both left my memory as quick as they came. Punky Rebel Media only gives only one song and that was more than enough. – Ben Back to Contents

Destructors 666 / Dirty Love “Lex Talionis E.P.” Rowdy Farrago Records

Dirty Love donate three female-fronted poppy punk rock songs that don’t induce vomiting, nor do they fully engorge the groin. Actually I’m leaning towards liking them. They are definitely the best band to grace one of the Destructors’ many split EPs. Destructors 666 keep chugging along adding three more songs to their copious output, this time including a Ramones cover. - Ben Back to Contents

Disgrace “Degeneration II” Band Site

It is not that these guys are particularly bad, but they do play the typical Scandinavian garage-punky big 70’s rock that has never really resonated with me. Some tracks on this comp that covers 8 years of their career are instant bores, while others put in admirable service before passing into a blank past like unknown soldiers. However, I will say that they are better than a lot of their cohorts on the same trip. - Ben Back to Contents

Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights “Heart Palpitations of the Rich & Famous” www.eskimokissrecords.com

Gregg plays all the instruments and records himself on this clever, acoustic Indie-Rock offering. On some songs he enlists women to share vocal duties with him, and I actually think the most transcendent tracks feature the female vocalists. The album consists of extremely light fare, sonically speaking, and frequently a sort of hypnosis (or unnerving anxiety) takes over the listener. The proper accompaniment would be a red wine, perhaps a merlot, and if I were to make videos for these songs, they would include a lot of kite flying and autumn trees shot on Super-8. For me, the disc is hit-and-miss, but mostly missing me. I can accord it the respect that my youthful self would have eschewed, but I still am not much into this at all, and would choose my tracks a la carte: “Adventures in Bad T-shirts,” “Half On the Way,” and “Colonize Your Eyes.” - Ben Back to Contents

Gunsmoke “From Somewhere” www.myspace.com/thegunsmoke

I listened to this without looking at their press materials and thought they played some really good Western-styled rock’n’roll. While there are notes of Rockabilly and Surf scribbled in the margins, it somehow didn’t occur to me to lump them in with the Psychobilly crowd. The guitars are played clean and exceptionally well as they gallop through open country, the lyrics deal real subjects other than lackluster B-movie obsessions, and there is a sort of ponderous and pleasantly melancholy feel to the album. In short, they are conceptually much richer than the scads of creatively bankrupt Psychobilly bands clotting up the genre. That said, even on my first listen I caught what I thought were perhaps a coincidental Batmobile undertones to their arrangements, which now I realize were probably a direct influences on this Canadian band. My one gripe with them is the vocals, which hold them back from being extraordinary. The singer isn’t bad, exactly, but he’s just not very compelling, unfortunately drying out what could be a fertile mesa in the expanding desert. - Ben Back to Contents

John Paul Keith & the One Four Fives “Lookin’ For a Thrill” 7” www.myspace.com/johnpaulkeith

My father warned me never to trust a man with three first names, but he also thought that Jehovah’s Witnesses were perfectly sane, so I’ll treat his opinions with extreme caution. In fact, this is rather agreeable Honky Tonk/Roots Rock the likes of which you might find in any random Austin bar, but may be a tad more rare in their hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. It’s a decent enough vinyl, but it won’t get too dizzy on my record player. - Ben Back to Contents

The Jolts “Haute Voltage” www.hautevoltagerecords.com

Strong production values and a well-honed image seem to indicate another commercial approximation of punk rock. But here’s the difference: they actually DO rock. Energetic punk drawing on late 70’s influences (Dead Boys, Ramones, Thunders, et al… if you squint your eyes you can even make some Buzzcocks riffs), they manage to sound vital where many have gone limp and lifeless. While they haven’t topped their own “Bloody Eye Socket” song (also on their previous EP), this is still agreeable throughout despite some longer, mid-tempo cuts. - Ben Back to Contents

Juanita y Los Feos “Self-titled” CD www.dead-beat-records.com

Clean garagy guitars jangle and climb all over the keyboard landscape, which sometimes puts me in the mind of The Minds with their refreshing bursts of street-fair fun-punk (most notably on “No Tengo Ritmo”). However, Juanita y Los Feos do not hole up in a cave of stagnation, instead bringing a whole host of influences to bear out their own sound. Sometimes they seem as edgy as the Lost Sounds, while other times they come off as the wilder Spanish offspring of the Revillos. Take this excellent disc for a test drive and you will not be disappointed, unless you’re a tasteless dolt who wishes the whole world spoke English. - Ben Back to Contents

Hollywood “Hit! An All Time Low.” www.bigneckrecords.com

From the primal regions of the teenage psyche comes forth a thorough blasting of sarcastic sludge and bile. I can’t really describe what this sounds like without a trite metaphor. It’s like the breached birth of a 1960’s devil child, or maybe a dog licking your balls. It won’t leave you a changed person. It won’t leave you at all; stuck to the bottom of your brain like a wad of gum spat there by a deviant scumbag you can’t help but admire. - Ben Back to Contents

Lothar “Supercharged” www.myspace.com/lotharfinland

With an opening tracked called “Eat My Weiner,” you gotta wonder about this Finnish band. I am sure they mean it to be a stupid joke, but it’s not “idiot savant” stupid: just plain ordinary stupid. The music manages to be pretty run-of-the-mill garage stuff with a bluesy feel and some metal in their background. The last song on this EP made me want to listen to The Coffinshakers instead. I am sure these guys are fun to get drunk with, but their music leaves me bored. - Ben Back to Contents

Mac Blackout “Self-titled” LP www.dead-beat-records.com

A member of the Functional Blackouts and Daily Void, Mac Blackout has apparently doing home recordings for years, and many of those were later developed into songs for those bands. Here Dead Beat Records has collected 12 of his oddball sonic canvases brimming with artful experimentation akin to Chrome, the Screamers, Kraftwerk, and so on. It’s a strange case of an oxymoronic throwback to the late 70’s avante garde scene, except that it isn’t blandly derivative. Much like The Rebel’s psycho-nautical brain farts apart from the Country Teasers, Mac Blackout’s record requires an off-kilter consciousness to truly grasp and appreciate. Those who hunger for new territory to inhabit and experience ought to find this a welcoming landscape. - Ben Back to Contents

Malamondos “Roctopussy” www.malamondos.com

This good, twangy garage rock band has seemingly been taken under the wing of Southern Culture On The Skids, with this album recorded by Rick Miller himself. My favorite aspect is the lead guitar stylings, but Hunny Goodnight’s vocals don’t really take me to the Promised Land. Still, nothing on here warrants snorts of condescension. The well-worn rhythms may be found in many other locales, but if I saw the band live I would probably shake my drunk white ass in time with the debauchery. I just don’t think I’d go as far as to buy this if I sampled it first. - Ben Back to Contents

Miss 45 www.notalentrec.com “Steals the Show” www.notalentrec.com

At any moment of every day, somewhere in the world a band is desperately trying to be the next New York Dolls. Very few succeed, despite carefully honing their glam look. Unfortunately, this Swedish band isn’t one of the lucky ones. Although they don’t make you cringe, they are just so remarkably bland that you feel as though it is an entire album of filler. While as a conscientious reviewer I was held captive by this album, I never developed Stockholm Syndrome. – Ben Back to Contents

Miss Treatment “Saturnal Return” www.junglerecords.fi

This Finnish band gives an Indie-Pop makeover of the Rockabilly/Psychobilly genre, offering something akin to the Horrorpops, but on a much higher plain. Their self-proclaimed experimentalism allows them to circumvent hipster dogma and chart some new territories, finding themselves on the outskirts of psychedelia, bordering classic rock regions, or even flirting with epic metal song structures. The result is quite pleasant and easy to listen to. - Ben Back to Contents

Modern Day Urban Barbarians “Sludgemouth” www.myspace.com/mdubnyc

Two-piece bass and drums Noise Rock that can seem self-indulgent or impossible to listen to at times. While their set-up is like Lightning Bolt, their music is more of a constant, primal digression from song… with occasional recoveries. The vocals sound like a cross-eyed Ian Mackaye acting as a circus-master announcing cryptic things in a carnival of fractured consciousness. If you are looking for tunefulness, look anywhere but here. It’s surely annoying and perhaps pretentious (though any uneasy aesthetic inevitably gets labeled that way), but I don’t hate it. I probably won’t listen to it ever again, but I don’t hate it. - Ben Back to Contents

Mongrel “Fear, Lies, and Propaganda” www.locomotiverecords.com

Mongrel started off in a sort of mediocre but earnest 80’s politico-punk manner, then veered into modern radio metal, making several pit stops along the way. While it may be a laudable attempt to break free of scenester sound and fashion requirements, Mongrel’s stab at avoiding bland genre clichés has left them without an identifiable and compelling sound of their own. In fact, their scattershot of incoherent influences seemingly has made them the jack-of-all-trades and masters of none. One can easily suspect that the incorporation of Metallica, White Zombie, Black Sabbath (one song lifts heavily from Supernaut), grunge, and various nü metal sources is done to achieve a larger audience rather than to truly experiment in auditory hybrids. Likewise, a simple pastiche of one’s musical influences cannot be assumed to substitute for creativity. Almost as odious as pandering to genre demands is throwing together a hodgepodge of sounds and suggesting it is transcendent. Hell, why not mix together Dixieland Jazz, New Wave, and Hip-Hop music? Just because you can do it does not mean it will result in something good (though it might). However, I am inclined to believe this is a young band freshly initiated into underground music scenes and is still trying to bridge the gap. In the future better and more interesting things might happen. - Ben Back to Contents

Motorama “Psychotronic is the Beat!” www.dead-beat-records.com

The trashy punk rock genre would seemingly be a finite universe of limited expansion once it reached critical mass a few years back, however naysayers are constantly forced to eat their words when a new album of undeniable passion and hooks hits the streets. Such is the case with this two-piece girl band from Rome that reaches into the mud of creation and wallops you with an unexpected chunk of heaven. On top of the distorted fidelity (and possible infidelity), they also throw some angular turns into the forward momentum, eventually culminating in the orgasmic glow of a Gang of Four cover. Also taking cues from Jon Spencer, collaborating with Margaret Dollrod, and sounding spiritually akin to the Manhandlers, this band should definitely add some luster to your record collection. - Ben Back to Contents

Muddy River Nightmare Band “Polish This” www.lastchancerecords.net

Rock’n’roll belched over top a truckload of power chords, Muddy River Nightmare Band play somewhere in the territory of Electric Frankenstein and the Supersuckers. Much like their favorite beer, Pabst Blue Ribbon, it’ll get you there, but isn’t my first choice at the bar. Decent, but probably won’t make an appearance on my i-pod. - Ben Back to Contents

Pagans “The Blue Album” www.smogveil.com

The Pagans were a great punk band from Cleveland, Ohio who came on the scene in 1977. They released some singles and compilation tracks that didn’t get a whole lot of distribution outside of Northeast Ohio, going through various line-up changes until calling it quits in 1989. Eventually the band’s cult following grew, resulting in their most of the Pagans material being released on the albums ‘Shit Street’ and ‘The Pink Album’. There have also been tribute albums, bootlegs, and an official live album (‘Live Roadkill’). And now we have another live album. ‘The Blue Album’ is offers up a performance from Madison, Wisconsin in 1988 featuring the band tearing through classics like “She’s a Cadaver”, “Her Name Was Jane”, and “Heart of Stone”. This is basically an official bootleg, but the sound quality isn’t bad and the performances are fine. If you’re a hardcore fan of the band you’ll definitely want to add this to your collection. Those less familiar with The Pagans may want to check out ‘Shit Street’ or ‘The Pink Album’ first, though. (Bob Ignizio) Back to Contents

Teachers Pet (Smogveil Records) “Self-titled” www.smogveil.com

Just when you think every lost artifact of seventies punk rock has been exhumed, along comes the debut album from Akron’s Teachers Pet. Originally recorded in 1979, the album has finally been released thanks to Smogveil Records. Vocalist/keyboard player Ron “Pete Sake” Mullens had just been kicked out of Rubber City Rebels when he joined up with his brother Kal aka “Rex Lax” to start Teachers Pet. There are some similarities to the Rebels – obviously Ron’s keyboard playing, but also in the black humor of the lyrics to songs like “Cincinnati Stomp” (about the Who concert tragedy). The band’s sound is way too raw for the mainstream, but the keyboards and a knack for catchy hooks makes Teachers Pet a little more accessible and melodic than a lot of early punk. Think The Knack crossed with The Dead Boys. Anyway, this is good stuff and I’m glad it finally got a release. Highly recommended. (Bob Ignizio) Back to Contents

The Rambin’ Ambassadors “Vista Cruiser Country Squire” www.mintrecs.com

For a lot of people Surf music means unimaginative Dick Dale imitation, but the genre is infinitely more robust than that, at least to an attuned ear. I’ve driven for hours and hours through Alberta, home of the Ramblin’ Ambassadors, and can attest that the sounds of the Pacific Coast must be a far away dream in this flat land of endless horizons (Banff National park not withstanding). When you filter an oceanic music style through a new geography of prairie grasslands, you are bound to hear intangible environmental nuances. While the Ramblin’ Ambassadors aren’t the most iconoclastic Surf band to tread upon this earthly plane, they do have their own charms and have concocted a compelling album for instrumental aficionados. So much so, that I decided to review it even though their label violated our policy and didn’t send full artwork. I don’ t make a dime wasting my time doing this, so at least respect me enough to send a proper release! - Ben Back to Contents

Revelons “Pop-ism!” www.revelons.com

Fluid pop music with welcomed artsy affectations tapped from late 70’s punk nouveau bloodlines. The singer draws in heavily from David Bowie, and exhales some Richard Hell, Joey Ramone, and John Denver. Sometimes the inflections are over the top or unsure, but it’s still possible to suspend disbelief on most songs. While I’ve made several punk references, and this release marks the band’s first release since being a part of the late 70’s early 80’s NY punk scene, this album is more (or less, depending on your bias) than a mere punk record. As the title (and the second word in this review) suggests, this is primarily a pop album with a smooth sound and slower melodies that often chime in with subtle folky undertones or seek out The Cure for inspiration. Sometimes I connect with the Revelons’ sound, while many other times I remain at a critical distance, lulled into distraction by its crawling progressions. It is definitely not a shabby album, though, even if it doesn’t really strike my fancy. - Ben Back to Contents

“Revenge of the Hot Rod Zombies” Various Artists www.bossbeatrecords.com

It is exhausting to review compilations. This one, as you may have guessed from the title, is crammed full of revved-up Rockabilly ragers and Psychobilly freakouts with all the usual speedways and potholes along the way. There’s plenty of new blood mixed with some more recognizable names: Los Duggan, The Chop Tops, Los Creepers, Hellbound Hayride, Pep Torres, Devil Doll, The Merry Widows, The Phenomenauts, The Slanderin, Dead City Rockers, Los Hot Rods, Badluck Bandits, Gamblers Mark, The White Barons, and more. Naturally, expect some welcome detours as bands splice in the requisite punk, metal, Mexicana, ska, blues, country, and/or surf influences to varying degrees of success. It is what it is: good, bad, and ugly. Worth picking up as a snapshot of the West Coast psycho/greaser scene. - Ben Back to Contents

Sawed Off Sick “Den of Iniquity” www.sawedoffsick.com

Comprised of former members of Ghoultown, Phantom Rockers, and the Hotrod Hillbillies, Sawed Off Sick tastes like a country metal sandwich you’d get served at any of the finer Texas Psychobilly establishments. They don’t ever really climb their way out of the genre trenches, but that just means they’ll probably survive longer. You could do worse, but those not already loving Psychobilly probably won’t hop the fence. - Ben Back to Contents

Seger Liberation Army “Down Home” www.bigneckrecords.com

When The Briefs issued a mock fatwa on the annoying jackass who gave us such horrible songs that I fart in disgust with the mere thought of them, it instantly became one of my favorite songs. However, this band consisting of garage rock all-stars from such bands as The Dirtbombs and Bantam Rooster never hopped onto the Bob Seger Hate Wagon. Instead they’ve been mining the marked man’s early and disowned catalog and re-recording those songs in their native fashion. It doesn’t take too much imagination to guess that this’ll sound worlds better than the “Old Time Rock’n’Roll.” They’ve turned a few pages back and earmarked the best bits. While I’m not beside myself in drooling ecstasy, it’s definitely an enjoyable outing. - Ben Back to Contents

The Slanderin’/Difference of Opinion Split 4-song 7” www.splitsevenrecords.com

The Slanderin’ kick out two songs of adequate LA Psychobilly reminiscent of the Meteors or Mad Sin. It didn’t blow my mind, but it didn’t flat-out blow either. Difference of Opinion played okay screaming hardcore on their first song, but their second cut went pretty far south of wonderful. On the whole, I’d say this 7” is easy to shrug off. - Ben Back to Contents

Statues “Terminal Bedroom” www.derangedrecords.com

Excellent power pop that will fit nicely in between your Tranzmitors/Jeffie Genetic CDs and The Exploding Hearts, the Statues also outfit their guitars with the pep and vigor of The Briefs or old Bad Religion, as well as throw some angular post-punk quirk in the pot. You could do much, much worse without even trying. This CD collects three of their 7”s as well as some bonus material, and it’s definitely handy to have around the house during those times when you need a non-chemical pick-me-up. - Ben Back to Contents

Young and Sexy “The Arc” www.mintrecs.com/

Wistfully meandering through and album of ethereal pop music, Young and Sexy use an unexpectedly light touch and sparse orchestration for a band with their unfortunate moniker. This is a lyrical drift that oscillates between dreamy and drowsy, employing both male and female vocals in the dithering of aural landscapes. I can see them on a bill with other Canadian Indie bands, such as Arcade Fire, though they definitely aren’t interchangeable. As I listen to this, I find myself in valleys more often than on peaks, probably owing to the extreme softness of these minimalist lullabies. I’m not ready to buy up real estate in their neighborhood, but I wouldn’t throw rocks at their house either. – Ben Back to Contents

Young Werewolves “Cheat The Devil” www.theyoungwerewolves.com

It takes bit to overcome my trepidation and misgivings about reviewing another Horror Rock band, but the Young Werewolves kicked every last drop of cynicism out of my thick skull with their opening track, “Hollywood.” It’s a glammy garage rocker so caustic and catchy that the CDC, who fears it could become pandemic, recently instated a sonic quarantine on this Philadelphia band. The rest of the CD maintains infectiousness with only a few steps into benign territory. They cull various strands of Rockabilly, Surf, Garage, and esoteric influences into a collection of hybrid moments that largely stand apart from their schlocky peers, while also finagling outstanding mileage from the overworked engines of horror. An impressive and fun release that ends with a Duran Duran cover; you can put this record on at any house party with total confidence. - Ben Back to Contents

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