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June
2000
• Got
A Disc You Want Us To Review? Click Me Baby!
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Recent
Releases:
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Good
Riddance
"The Phenomenon of Craving"
Fat Wreck Chords
Rating: 8/10
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Another great release from the punks
themselves Good Riddance. Once again I am amazed by these musicians way of
keeping it real. Hard hitting guitar licks and snappy lyrics about
political issues make this CD a top buy on my list. And I always dig the
sound dubs from various movies that seem to be a trademark of Good
Riddance. I love it when a band can be around as long as these guys and
still keep their roots apparent in their new songs. Not much has changed
with the sound of Good Riddance, they are just as kick ass as their first
release "For God and Country". Another thing I liked
about this CD is the fact that a portion of the proceeds are donated to The
Homeless Garden Project. Nothing better than a band that cares! The
only thing I did not like about this CD is the fact that there are only 6
songs. But hey, it keeps me coming back for more!
Frank Rizzo
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Damnation
"Burn em Like a Rat"
Anti Records
Rating: 7/10
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Damnation is a four piece mainly from Orange
County. They are definitely a harder punk band. Certain guitar leads and
drum beats have a Slayer edge to them. They are fast and furious and
give you that kick to get out of bed in the morning and face the day. In
their 19 songs, you can hear little tidbits of many different types of
music. Hardcore, punk, and country influences abound. Damnation is a
high energy band, one that moves you to get off your lazy ass and move
around. This band is the real deal, check this album out soon!!!
Mary Jane Parker
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Bracket
"When All Else Fails"
Fat Wreck Chords
Rating 7/10
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Wow, I've been waiting 3 years for a new
Bracket release and here it is. More melodic hard hitting tunes to shake
your punk ass to! The best thing about this band is that no two songs are
the same, you never know what your going to get with Bracket and "When
All Else Fails" holds true to this! Keeping it in true Bracket
style this CD is one of the better releases from them. Bracket is one band
that isn't afraid to experiment with different speeds of music. I hate
when a band feels the need to keep all their songs the same beat and
tempo. For all you Bracket fans, you don't have to wait another 3 years
for a new CD. Word has it that they are planning on releasing a live CD
later this year!
Frank Rizzo
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Accel-4
"Rock 'N' Roll Machine"
DNA Capsules Records
(Japanese Import)
Rating: 8/10
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Accel-4, rock 'n' roll? Hell no! Accel-4's "Rock
'N' Roll Machine" takes rock 'n' roll and turns it into a mind
melting, eardrum splitting, lets slam our head against the wall, hardcore
fun! When I popped this CD into my home stereo, I couldn't help but start
up a one man slam pit! Now being these guys are from Motor City
Japan, one might think "What kind of shit do they play?" Well
let me assure you that they play some real music for real people. Their
thrashing guitar and ripping vocals show that Accel-4 means business! Even
though most of the lyrics are in Japanese you can still get the feeling
that they must be about something that pisses you off! If you are a fan of
Electric
Frankenstein the you will love this CD by Accel-4!
Scott Harding
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U.S.
Bombs
"The World"
Hellcat Records
Rating: 8/10
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This 1999 Hellcat release is not your typical
fare from the U.S Bombs. The "U.S.Bombs The World" album
is packed full of what makes the U.S. Bombs the hometown favorites they
are. But along with these little gems, are a few songs that take a little
turn that’s not your typical bombs. Duane Peters waxes poetic in a
semi-instrumental "Hobroken Dreams." Then starts to
really swing with the fifty-ish "Joe’s tune." But my
personnel favorite is "Nothin on us", that’ll have the
crowd singing along in no time. The first spin I was a little hesitant,
but after a few spins I was sold. If it has the U.S.Bombs on the cover buy
it cause I know you’ll like it. It’s the bombs.
Tim Buctoo
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Hope
"It's Not My Fault You're Ugly"
Lameass Recordz
Rating: 8/10
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This CD was sent to us from a Canadian
based record company called Lameass
Recordz. Hope is also from Canada and I have to say they are great.
With a melodic tone to them Hope pumps out tunes that remind me of the
band Samiam. Singing
about subjects from chicks to people that bring them down, Hope is the
type of music you'll want blasting while your shredding it up on your
skateboard half pipe. Although they are a newer band, I can't help but
think of my time growing up in the early 80's. Back when punk bands were
punk bands and the whole melodic punk thing was just starting out. With
great bass lines and even a bit of piano playing on one song, the whole
melody of the music stands out strong. I'm not sure if you can pick up
this winner at your local store so check out the Lameass Recordz site and
order up a hot one for your CD collection.
Scott Harding
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No Use
For A Name
"More Betterness"
Fat Wreck Chords
Rating: 8/10
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More Betterness, the new No Use for a Name release is 45 minutes full of energetic punk rock. Opposed to former albums, More Betterness is more diverse in its style, with better leads and melodies. Every song is good in its own way, from the slow, almost emo Room 19, to the faster paced songs of Not your Savior, This cd is a definite for anyone into punk or even
emo.
Colin Kooistra
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| Discs
you might have forgotten about: |
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Adolescents
"Adolescents"
Frontier/Epitaph Records
Rating: 10/10
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Ok,
if you haven't got this one in your collection yet, then shave off that mohawk
and sell your leather jacket because you aint punk! This was one of the
first albums that pulled me into making punk my choice lifestyle! With
songs about drugs, squatting and being a punk you can't go wrong this this
album! You can hear the influences of the Adolescents in all of today's
best punk bands. It's no wonder Epitaph records took it and re-released it
for those who were unfortunate and not able to purchase it when Frontier
first released it. On the Epitaph's version old and new fans will be
pleased to find "All By Myself" This is a collection of
songs in which Adolescent's guitar player Rikk Agnew plays all the
instruments and sings to all the songs. So get off your poseur ass and go
buy this mark in punk history today!
Scott Harding |
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Face To
Face
"Don't Turn Away"
Dr Strange/Fat Wreck Chords
Rating: 10/10
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Remember
back in the day when Face to Face was just starting out as a trio, just
before they hooked up with Dr. Strange records? You know, before that crap
of an album they put out last year called "Ignorance is
Bliss". That's how I always want to remember Face to Face. The
slapping of Matt's style of bass playing and the blood vibrating beats of
Rob's drums in combination with the melodic vocals of Trever made "Don't
Turn Away" the best release from Face to Face and probably always
will be. Now don't get me wrong, I still love Face to Face, but you have
to admit that after a major change in the original line up they haven't
been the same. I decided to review this classic to hopefully grab the
attention of all the new and perhaps not so new Face to Face fans who haven't
had the privilege of hearing this album yet. Do yourself a favor GO GET IT
NOW!
Scott Harding |
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The Joy
Killer
"The Joy Killer"
Epitaph Records
Rating: 10/10
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There comes a point
in any musical genre where creativity is exhausted and the music begins to
stagnate. The musical formula becomes so predictable that any idiot can
pick up a guitar and imitate the rest of the crowd. That's where the band
The Joykiller comes in to rough things up a bit and break some rules that haven't
been successfully broken since the days of The
Dickies! This all-star band consists of Jack Grisham and Ron Emory
from T.S.O.L.,
Billy Persons from Gun Club and Weirdoes and Ronnie King who has done work
with Tupac Shakur and Snoop Doggy Dog. This CD brings together the punk attitude
and sound intermixed with keyboards and piano in such a way it makes even
the biggest punk coming back for more. But don't take my work for it go
out and hear them for yourselves!
Scott Harding |
