Phantom Creeps
"What Are You Waiting For?"
Necro-Tone, PO Box 2517 Acton, MA 01720
If you are a fan of Gein and the Graverobbers, you will dig this disc, largely because Gein plays in this band as well. The principle difference here is a few vocal tracks. Unfortunately, the vocals don’t grab me as well as the instros, which are top notch with a characteristic touch of evil. Sometimes the vocal stuff reminds me slightly of Deadbolt, but often they veer into more of a comical creature voice. The last track is a cover of my favorite Twisted Sister song, “Burn In Hell,” but done slower and a tad bit disappointing. Still, there is plenty here to please, with horror surf that fills the room with a lingering smell of cobwebs and foreboding. - BL
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The Briefs
"Off The Charts"
Dirtnap Records
This second full-length by The Briefs has them maintaining the upbeat punk mixed with new wave sensibilities of their first outing, but without just serving up more of the same. Some songs lean towards a 70’s punk rock feel, while others carve new 80’s & 90’s inflected trenches in your eardrums. And then you still have the healthy dose of lyrical humor and irreverence dished out with wit and a seeming silliness. My favorite has got to be “Piss on the Youth.” I mean, how many punk bands sing anthems for the “kids on the streets” or “new generation,” or proclaim that the youth are gonna have their say. Piss on the Youth! Especially when half the bands singing these songs are thirty-somethings anyway. “We Americans” takes a bravely sarcastic tongue in cheek position that also makes me smile, as I’m sure it would piss of any AM talk radio pundit. Later songs have a little darker feel without foregoing their pop sensibilities. A couple songs verge on too poppy in fact, but on the whole, the disc is quite worthy of your collection. Some great stuff on here that ought to win you over with its energy and general sense of fun. – BL
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Stalin's War
5 Song Demo
Band Site
They do what I suppose would be called progressive metal? Big guitars and some edge to it. The female vocals are sometimes screamed, sometimes sung lightly, and just don’t seem to fit for some reason. They play decent, but I’m slipping through their grip. But then again, this isn’t the kind of music that I generally listen to. - BL
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The Go Getters
"Live! In Los Angeles"
Goofin Records
Woah, these guys are sweet! I’d say they are a mix between traditional rockabilly and western swing and they have their live act down solid! The singer/drummer’s vocals are as pretty as Chantilly Lace and the music is tight, fun and interesting. Some of the best tracks are “Hip Shakin’ Baby”, “Whenever You’re Ready”, and “House of Bluelights”. I went to their website and found that they started in 1988, are from Sweden and are real Vikings! These guys have been around for awhile and it’s no wonder. How cool would it be to be a Viking rockabilly? Wouldn’t those strange hats mess up their pomps? –Lisa
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The Arrivals
"Exsenator Orange"
Thick Records
With the exception of the respectably gritty and driving tracks like “Born With a Broken Heart,” “Dirty Inches,” “Design,” and a couple others, this CD isn’t jiving with my sensibilities right away. Especially the opening track and others like the bland just-shoot-me-in-the-head “Hell Can Wait” or the emo-ish “Analee.” This Chicago band plays a sort of progressive punk rock that hits and misses. Elsewhere there are a lot of interesting movements and musical acumen, but several songs drag across the disc, weighted down by their own ambition and perhaps the hearts on their sleeve. I’m actually on the cusp of digging some of the tracks, but can’t quite get there. It may just be an acquired taste. If you like D4 or Naked Raygun, you will probably be primed to like this more than I do. What’s good about them at their best is the infusion of creativity rather than bland punk rock structures, but then for the most part the vocals really don’t fit – often too poppy. Overall though, I am inclined to pass this up. – BL
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The Beautys
"The First Seven Inches are Always the Hardest"
Diaphragm Records
This three-piece punk rock band from Indiana zigs and zags throughout this collection of their 7”s. The opening cut, “Girl From Planet Fuck,” along with many others, hits like a meteorite with its unbridled energy and animated female vocals provided by Kathleen, who also leads the charge on guitar. In many other places they wane more towards a lo-fi pop punk that I couldn’t get into (though it’s not in line with the MTV sewage). Then, on a couple tracks they pull out some surfy numbers. There is even a cover of “Jackson” by the Johnny Cash. For my money, they are best when they are rockin’ like maniac drug fiends, kept in check by their sense of humor and melody. A lot of good stuff on here... some excellent. – BL
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The Discontent
Self-titled CD
Disaster Records
At first what struck me was the singer’s similarity to Mark Dacey from Brassknuckle Boys, although he has a little more gravel and punch. The music is great too: very rock’n’roll influenced punk rock with a capable guitarist and songs that go straight for your throat. This disc roars from start to finish with the intensity of neutron bomb. Fans of anything from ballsy rock’n’roll to Oi will likely get into this chunk of auditory kryptonite. Recommended listening for sure . - BL
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The Boils
"Pride and Persecution"
TKO Records
From Philadelphia, this is some solid punk rock that doesn’t try in vain to be progressive or appeal to the suburban mall punk dorks. Instead they play aggressive “old school” punk rock and hardcore with bonesaw guitars and shout-along choruses. Direct, simple and effective. It may not be musically revolutionary, but definitely retains the spirit of rebellion. This is the kind of punk rock I was weened on. The good kind. - BL
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Antiseen
“Southern Hostility”, “Honor Among Thieves”
TKO Records
What can I say about Antiseen that I haven’t said in the past several issues when I’ve reviewed other reissues? Southern punk rock with raging redneck vocals. Can be really damn good for a few songs, but like a nice steak, you can only eat so much. - BL
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Electric Frankenstein
"Listen Up, Baby"
TKO Records
When you hear all the hype over the onslaught of rock’n’roll bands, you gotta wonder if the words Electric Frankenstein will ever cross the lips of these trend-seekers. Probably not, but their style seems to me a distillation of 70’s & 80’s hard rock done with a punk rock sensibility. This is a reissue of an earlier EP with an added 7 tracks from other singles and 2 new songs to round it up to a full-length. This is loud, cranked-up rock with screamed vocals and a reckless disregard for public standards. Not bad stuff at all when they are at their best. – BL
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Powerhowse Rock
5 Song EP
Band Site
This sounds like Kiss to me. I am not a fan of Kiss. – BL
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The Caravans
"Treasures and Trash"
Black Sky Records
Here you get some rarities and demos by one of the best British neo-rockabilly bands. On the demos it is singer/guiarist Mark Penington on all instruments, while elsewhere he plays with a variety of drummers and bassists. There is also a couple acoustic tracks that are excellent. Some cuts have somewhat low production value, but the strength of the songwriting and execution shines through. I am a huge fan of music that isn’t over-produced, and here things never become too slick or polished, opting to stay stripped down to the essentials. There is a quality in this band that I’ve always responded to - like a sort of clarity and earnestness... it just sounds more real and connected than a lot of rockabilly acts. They play close to the bone, with no grandiloquence or silly posturing, just a direct rockin’ approach that comes of living life rather than dressing the part. - BL
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Various Artists
“Dirtnap Across the Northwest”
Dirtnap Records
This is one of the best comps I’ve heard in quite a long time. Part of the reason is the music sounds fresh and exciting. Not that it’s necessarily ground-breaking and unprecedented, but it is springing forth in directions contrary to where punk rock has been for a long time. There seems to be a strongly appealing and amalgamation of 70’s punk rock with 80’s New Wave and post-punk, with some straight-up rib-cracking rock’n’roll thrown in. Most of these bands I’ve never heard of but want to hear more from. To list a some of the 27 bands included on here: The Mexican Blackbirds, The Cinch, The Pistuns, The Exploding Hearts, The Cripples, Lopez, The Triggers, The Earaches, The Flip Tops, The Stuck Ups, Catahoulahounds, The Popular Shapes, The Glory Holes, The Pulses, The Epoxies, The Briefs, The Diskords, and many more. While a handful of the later tracks fall a little short of the mark, there still is ample tuneage on here to fry your circuits beyond repair. Some excellent music here to please the fickle purchaser. – BL
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The Human Adults
“Deadadult” CDEP”
Eat Me Records
This sounds in parts like a chaotic hardcore with quite a bit of screaming (too much in places – like the end of track 2) and often played at breakneck speed. I like the energy on some of the songs, unpolished and wild, but some fall of that track into unfriendly territory for me. – BL
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The Cinch
Self-titled EP
Dirtnap Records
This is a female fronted band plays a cool kind of droning post-pop-punk with driving rhythms that retain somewhat of an edge while also having a hint of an art-pop sensibility. The songs seem to ebb and flow, with rhythms juxtaposed against a little discordant noise. Some decent stuff here, especially the last two tracks. Their song on the Dirt Nap sampler (also reviewed in this issue) tops them all though. – BL
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Rockin' Ryan & The Real Goners
"Caged Heat"
Golly Gee Records
You know how some traditional rockabilly music is really good, excellent even, but it sounds kinda square? It’s like you’d listen to it while you were babysitting, or while reading the Bible. I feel that way about a lot of traditional-sounding bands, but not these guys! Rockin’ Ryan is what the bad girls listen to while they are boozin’ it up while makin’ out in the back seat with a guy whose name they forget. This band oozes sex and debauchery from every chord and still maintain a roots rock sound. Some of the best tracks are “Caged Heat”(which comes complete with sultry sax playing), “Hot Headed Mama”, “Deacon Jones Wife”, and “Please Tease Louise”. It’s a damn good way to get your pulse racing and is a perfect prelude to orgasm. –Lisa
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The Irish Brothers
"I Will Never Marry"
Band Site
This 7 song EP starts of with “Deconstructive Dentistry,” which is a really bluesy rocker that opens up with some menacing canines: a really good slab o’ rock’n’roll. The following tracks are more laid back and some actually have a little more of a western feel, but still with a full guitar sound and a nice sense of melody. The singer sounds a little like Eric Clapton in places, but better thankfully. “Circular Square” and “Hot as Texas” bring more of their rockabilly/roots rock affections to the surface. The last song, “My Lullaby” is a beautiful acoustic number, well-sung and reminiscent of country blues and hillbilly – complete with some inventive yodeling. Best track certainly. All in all, this was a good listen by a competent band that doesn’t make for easy comparisons. Worth looking up. - BL
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The Found Cats
"Full Gospel Rockabilly"
Golly Gee Records
Where else are you gonna find a rockabilly song about “John The Baptist”??? Good luck searching. Unlike last issue’s review of the Jesus Skins, I don’t think this is a joke. Every song is exactly what the title says, but there is definitely a humorous aspect when you read names like “Wham Bam Born Again!” or “Rock Me, Jesus!” The musical path is one of a mellow traditional style of rockabilly stitched up with the obvious spiritual influences. Some of it isn’t bad in parts actually, but not something I’m gonna pop in often. I am still livin’ the life of moderate sin, and I can only stand so much of the religious fixation. - BL
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The Honkeys
Split 7"
Golly Gee Records
This is some real nice & tight, groovin’ garage instrumentals that I guarantee will have you surfin’ on the living room rug in no time.Especially to track 2 which is titled “The sound of two chemicals being swirled around in an ealenmeyer flask: good/evil”. These guys have elements of SCI fi without drowning you in B-mania and do so with skillfully played organs, synthesizers, guitar and even a harp. I am fond of every tune on here and while most average about a minute and a half in length the final track, “...” (yes, that’s the actual title) is a glorious 11 minute and 43 second tidal wave that pulls you under as your lifeless body ebbs and flows with the current. Well, if you want to get technical about it, there is a hidden track of weird, backwards played synth that is tacked on at the end and that’s why it’s so long. But it’s creepy and cool. A must have for surf fans, or any fan of incredibly kick ass tunes. -Lisa
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Gas Money
“Hopeless Love Affair”
Band Site
Here is a trio from Philly who have been pounding the pavement for 7 long years pushing their traditional rockabilly along the road. With only one original out of the 12 tracks you get to hear a lot of old songs like “Tongue Tied Jill”, “New Heartache” (Oooh! I love Ray Price), and “Ain’t that Lovin’ you”. It’s nice that they don’t beat a dead horse by covering “20 Flight Rock” or another song like that - I can tell you I was relieved. Their original song is an instrumental (well, a 4 minute intro and then vocals) called “Aztek” which as the title suggests has a southwest flavor and reminds of Bo Diddley’s song of the same title. Not a bad disc, I am anxious to hear some more originals. -Lisa
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The Rebel Rockers
“Red T-Bird”
Golly Gee Records
Fans of traditional rockabilly, get out your dancing shoes! Golly Gee Records has released two albums on one disc from this groovin’ and thumpin’ band of hoodlums. The first album is Red T-Bird and contains 10 tracks that are guaranteed to get your feet tappin’ and your head bobbin’. Songs like “Rock and Roll Zombie” and the title track are my top picks along with the instrumental “Wolf Call”. The second album, “This is the Night”, is previously unreleased and was recorded live in 1997. Most of the album is covered tunes like “Make Believe”, “20 Flight Rock”, “Rebel Rouser” and “Pipeline”. This CD is great to practice dancing to and I think you should pick it up! –Lisa
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A Planet For Texas
“Sprechen Zie Rock?”
Band Site
This marks the second full-length from this band out of Columbus, Ohio, and is one that frustrates me to no end. The disc starts off with a crusher of a tune called "Truckstop Speed” that has both whiplash guitars and menacingly incredible vocals, but very seldom do they follow up on the rest of the album. Sure, they do other good songs like “Reaganomicon” and “Death Rock Love Song,” yet there is a lot of crappy uninspiring pop-punk songs littering the rest of it - hence, my frustration. I can’t understand why a band with obvious talent and the capability to tear open Pandora’s box would do a 180 like that. The vocal styles are so different that they can’t be the same guy. They also have great cover art and the hilarious song title “The Lutheran Sisterhood Gun Club,” but then you get horrendous tracks like “The Day I Almost Died, “Broken Heartland,” and the majority of others. If they went more with the amped-up room-wrecking rock they are capable of, I’d be singing their praises to the masses. - BL
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Machine Gun Pete and the Ammunition
“The Rawness of Truth” 4-song 7”
This slab of vinyl is raw and strange. The vocals are screamed and the music churns and clangs with wild abandon. The opening cut is an odd tune about niacin, and the rest buzz by without ever coming up for air. It’s about as far you can get from pop music, and thank badness for that. Pretty cool stuff. – BL
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The Ruiners
“How's That Grab Ya?”
Disaster Records
If you are in the mood for something different, but the ultimate in rockin’ weirdness, pick this up. With the strangest mix of styles I have ever encountered and a singer that sounds like a mix between Bon Scott, Robert Plant, Donny Iris and Perry Ferrel this keeps my attention and keeps me laughing. For the most part I’d say this is a snotty garage/punk band with songs like “Detroit Surfer Boy”, “Vampire Dating”(“it sucks sucks sucks sucks to be me, a lonely vampire on the dating scene”), and “Beg”. Then there are strange Cure-ish songs like “Ghost Pains”. “Prenuptial” is disco, yes, disco mixed with AC/DC. “Temptation” is a creepy, gospel song with a tambourine and piano: very interesting. I’ll be listening to this a lot, very cool. -Lisa
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Loikaemie
“III” Double CD
Knock Out Records
This release by famed German Oi band, Loikaemie, features two discs – one studio, one live, both quite, quite good. A lot of this is bruising, high-speed Oi-core grinding against the guardrails of the punk rock turnpike. The vocals are sometimes in German, sometimes in English, and always barked out with the furious intensity of a junkyard dog. And with song titles like “Good Old Rich Kid Bashing Day,” and one against “right winged scum,” how can you go wrong? Hard as the devil’s abs, and way more appealing. - BL
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The Tossers
“Purgatory”
Thick Records
Yes, these guys play Irish folk music, but fortunately they make it relevant to their own lives in Chicago rather than just pounding out nostalgic ditties to that troubled Island country. Sure, some songs deal with Irish politics, but it’s just not a central thrust that ignores their current surroundings. Also, they refrain from overdoing the Irish/punk rock combination with distorted guitars and street punk sensibility, instead opting for mostly acoustic numbers complete with mandolin, tin whistle, banjo, and violin. However, their punk rock roots do show through in the song compositions, lyrical bend, and occasionally directly erupting such as on “Chicago,” which seems almost like two separate songs when the irritation turns to anger, mounting into skin-peeling, snotty punk rock. The lyrics address everything from international affairs to the aforementioned gentrification of Chicago and the hopes and frustrations of working class people. The songs can get a little long, but like with most good Irish music, the earnestness and craft behind them elevates the disc. They can sing a decent, woeful ballad or turn to alcohol-fueled rowdiness without missing a beat. This is solid work by a band I’m sure can set a bar ablaze. - BL
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Evil Conduct
“Eye for an Eye”
Knock Out Records
These Holland skinheads play the sort of punk rock reminiscent of Blitz or one of those bands from the late seventies/early eighties, and they do so extremely well. The vocals are great from the first cut of singalong Oi! which retains an element of roughness that bolsters their overall cheerful and upbeat sound. Most of the tracks on here would go over great at the bar. No all the songs, however, have that melodic aspect. “Intolerance” is great, hard as nails aggro Oi! with heavier vocals. Still, the vast majority of tracks on here are more aimed at drinking and good times than smashing up the place. They also do a cover of Sham 69’s “Borstal Breakout,” which is thankfully the only cover and pulled off wonderfully. Judging from the cover, these guys look like they’ve been in the scene for some time, and hopefully for some time to come. - BL
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Derita Sisters
"The Great Satan"
Trash 2001 Records
First off I’d like to say the band members are not sisters, they are not even girls...but they have an amazing guitarist. He plays like old metal style, it’s sweet. However, although they are all great musicians this isn’t really pulling me in. It sounds poppy and the vocal style (kind of whiney, emo?) detract from the proficiency of the music. I mean, musically these guys rock out...they definitely have merit. Maybe it just needs to grow on me, dammit, I won’t give up on these guys...the music is too good. -Lisa
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Hollywood Hate
“Product of Our Environment”
TKO Records
These guys play something along the lines of Electric Frankenstein, but with something of a dark L.A. feel. Some of it rocks pretty hard, but on several songs I begin to lose interest. Respectable and decent, but just not quite getting me there. – BL
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The Barseros
“Pushy Polemics”
Trash2001 Records
What puts me off about this band is the choruses mainly, being big and melodic, damaging their rocking capabilities. Still, some songs are fast and somewhat crunchy albeit with big, boring production values, yet tracks like “Queens Are Made of Distance” really brings it down. Poppy and polished in a way that leaves me hanging. They do a cover of Johnny Kid and the Pirates, though, that has some growl. Overall, not absolutely terrible, but not compelling either. - BL
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The Cocroach Candies / Derita Sisters
Split 6-song EP
Trash2001 Records
The Cockroach Candies have male and female vocals and play a sort of melodic punk rock that doesn’t really get rise out of me. The Derita Sisters play older style California punk rock with melody, but to better effect. “Fuckmobile” is actually a pretty decent cut with a sense of urgency. Their side isn’t bad, but I’m not in love with this 7” as a whole. - BL
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Los Cobardos
“Hot As A Bitch On 45” 4-song 7”
torsten.hildebrand@s1997.tu-chemnitz.de
How can you say anything bad about a band that has a song about crusty punks standing in front of you at a show and getting their dreadlocks in your beer? You get some pretty good mid-tempo lo-fi rock’n’roll with good vocals from this German band that keeps it gritty rather than resorting to fancy studio contrivances. This is a very limited pressing on thick red vinyl and marks their first release. Although it can be a little repetitious and sometimes could use a shot of amphetamine, it’s not a bad first showing. - BL
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Pistol Grip
“Another Round”
BYO Records
I really like this disc – upbeat street punk anthems that gets you in the crosshairs and unloads. The vocals aren’t gravelly but still retain their traction on the slopes and curves of the CD. Their sound is catchy and kind of melodic without being poppy. They’ve toured with Oxymoron and played with The Business, and seem to be along the same continuum while adding their own signature to the genre. This is something I’ll be listening to in the future for certain. Songs like “Gypsy,” “A Murder of Crows,” and “Empty Shells” make it an electrifying listen. – BL
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Consumed
“Pistols at Dawn”
BYO Records
I am not really jiving with the poppy vocals on this. They are highly produced with thick sounding guitars and the droning melodies are repellent. I wouldn‘t say they‘re bad a what they do, it’s just not winning me over at all. I highly doubt I’ll be listening to this again. – BL
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The Crackheads
“Drunk" 2-song 7"
Dylaramma Records, 3218 Fullerton Ave.
Apt. 26 Chicago, IL 60647-2533
Here you get pretty good basement recordings for these two mid-tempo punk rock songs. It’s not bad, as it stays away from cheesy melodies and such, but it’s not making my hair stand on end. - BL
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Various Artists
"Banzai Compilation #9"
Kamikaze Records
Here are 23 tracks of surf, lo-fi garage rock, rockabilly and more - all done by bands that I was completely unfamiliar with, many of which are fantastic. The CD opens with the Hawaiians who sound a lot like the Ramones, then moves into a bizarre, futuristic surf instrumental by Peter G. and His PC. In fact there are a lot of strong instrumental cuts on here including tracks by Dos Canones, Stingrays, Tiki Tiki Bamboooos, Martin Schmidt, Grahli Morlock, Vampires, Are We Electric, and a beautifully mellow tropical-sounding song by Surfpatrouille. More on the rockabilly end you have the Jailbirds and the Rockin’ Slickers. Then there’s the lowdown garage rock of the Primates, Cha Cha Guerillas, and the Masons. What you a left with a cool comp full of bands you might otherwise never have heard. – BL
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The Riffs
"Underground Kicks"
TKO Records
This is a re-issue of The Riffs’ first album originally on Pelado Records. Fortunately they ditched the long-ass intro of “We Are The Riffs” that started off the original pressing inauspiciously. The Riffs play a good stripped down 70’s punk rock that comes with the seasoned feel and attitude that says their not some trust fund kids playing dress-up. The production also helps to keep it raw and immediate. That said, several of the songs don’t really grab me in the right places. Sometimes they’re too slow and uneventful (like on “Streets of Tomorrow“), and also many of them can go on too long. This is an okay release, but I think their second album (also on TKO) really brought them closer to where they want to be. - BL
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The Black Keys
"The Big Come Up"
Alive Records
From as near to me as Akron, Ohio comes a band that I somehow missed out on until now. A friend of mine played some for me and I immediately thought of Elmore James, R.L. Burnside and some of the bands on the Fat Possum roster – then lo and behold, The Black Keys have signed to that label. Their new release will be out in April, but this older one merits attention also. They play gritty and real, with mesmerizing guitar chunks and rusty nail vocals that sound soulful and decidedly un-yuppy. One could be forgiven for assuming this band to be from Mississippi. They bake up delta blues with a touch of 50’s & 60’s rock and soul into one tasty dish. Damn fine stuff. - BL
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