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| Featuring New Reviews Of: Fireball Ministry · Fivespeed · The Fully Down · Run With The Kittens · Underoath all by our newest staff writer, NIX! Click here to read a brief letter of introduction from Nix |
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| American Accent / Born to Lead A Records www.americanaccentmusic.com / www.myspace.com/americanaccent I caught American Accent early this summer and literally tripped over my heels running to nab a copy of their CD. Perky pop-rock is not usually “my thing” but the vivacity and energy of American Accent totally absorbed me. Love is definitely a prevalent theme on Born to Lead, but for once not in an overly brooding, melancholy manner. Tunes like “Superhero” and “Dream About Today” are reminiscent of more simple longings. With lyrics like “I wanna be your superhero, and fight away your fears. I wanna be the one who saves the day a hundred times a year!” these guys brought a smile to even this cynical rock critics face! The tune “Dairy Queen” could have been co-written by The Barenaked Ladies, with it’s sly euphemisms and unique vocalization. And live, this song is just plain FUN – I was singing right along with the band - and I didn’t even really know the words. (That does make sense, really!!) Chris Grano’s vocals on the yearningly beautiful “You Always Stop the Rain” are simply breathtaking. Checking out the band’s bio, it comes as no surprise he is studying Vocal Performance at Cornerstone University. Too bad most of their performances are in the Grand Rapids area – I would love to see the band live again. Definitely check ‘em out if they play near you! - Kasha Autopilot / The Starving Rose Medea Records www.autopilothq.com / www.medearecords.com Autopilot’s The Starving Rose offers a very unique, trippy vibe. This is the kinda music you play when you wanna just get into a real Zen sorta place. I especially enjoyed the distinctive tone of vocalist/guitarist Kevin Covert – his vox drift and glide, weightlessly, throughout the disk. The musical arrangements on this disk are just breathtaking. They honestly take me to a whole different realm. Numerous times I’ve popped this disk in when I am stressing, and it somehow manages to bring me back down to a level plane. That’s not to say that Autopilot is a one-dimensional act – there is a clear-cut powerful edge to their tunes, in particular the track “Squaring the Circle”, which offers a tight bottom line between bassist St.Even and drummer Eric Covert, and potent pounding keys from Alan Gadzinski. Moody, effervescent, powerful deliberate…. Autopilot flies above the crowd! -Kasha Backyard Babies / Tinnitus Liquor and Poker / BMG www.backyardbabies.com / www.liquorandpokermusic.com Swedish exports Backyard Babies offer a great selection of glam-esque pop rock chops on Tinnitus, which pulls four tunes from each of their three previous CD’s. This is a unique marketing strategy, but does succeed in showcasing the definite progression the band has made musically. The first track, “Brand New Hate” opens with a deceptively chipper tone, while vocalist Nicke Borg extols “Making enemies is good! I’ve got a brand new hate for you”! The disc immediately transitions into a heavier, metal infused sound on the track “U.F.O. Romeo”, and that’s when the true grit and tenacity of Backyard Babies shines through. In the vein of Hanoi Rocks, the band serves to reminds us Stateside commentators that Glam Rock is still viable when pulled together with talented hooks and aggressive chops. The band garnered much media attention via their successful tours with the likes of Velvet Revolver and Social D, and Tinnitus is definitely a great place to start if you are new to the Backyard sound. – Kasha Crud / Devil at the Wheel www.myspace.com/cruddetroit Often when a band presents declarations along the lines of “Think you’ve seen anything like it? Think again!” – in their bio, it typically turns out to be smoke and mirrors, a blowhard publicist with a thesaurus in one hand and a mighty spliff in the other. But my oh my, in the case of the phenomenal CRUD – I’d say that statement is unassumingly modest! Crud has garnered a reputation as a visual band, an act you’ve got to see live to truly appreciate. However on “Devil at the Wheel” the sonic vibe is palpable – you can touch it, taste it, hell my eyes were burnin’ and my clothes smelled like the after-effects of a smoke-machine after whirling this scorching CD. The lovely Danielle Arsenault coos scandalously sexy intonations, and bawdily burlesque quips alongside the razor edged, guttural growl we’ve all come to love from front man Vin E. Vin has long been an integral part of Detroit’s vast music scene… but his work with Crud stands above the rest. This fucker is rock ‘n’ roll royalty – but without the arrogant attitude!! Depraved drum beats from the fantabulous Jimmy Paluzzi, decadent, sizzling guitar lix from David Black and a throbbing bottom line from bassist Dana Forrester complete the blistering mix. Crud is SEX, baby…. And sex is GOOD!!! The tune “Meat Detonation” offers the tightest, most tangible tones I’ve heard in years. Jesus Christ, my heart now pounds to the beat of the fucking bass line! The industrial resonance of “Reality” showcases the best Detroit can offer – top notch Techno intertwangled with guitar-laden rawk-riffage… And who can resist Danielle’s purring, “Torture me” on the loquaciously lewd “Assume the Position”? Now for my own self-indulgent purposes I’m glad Crud has not been signed to a major label – I want these babes close and accessible to my every whim! However, putting aside my selfishness, it truly is contemptible that the big boys have not snatched a band as truly stellar as Crud up – post haste!! Are ya listenin’ fella’s…. for once the buzz is REAL! - Kasha Cruiserweight / Sweet Weaponry The beautiful vocals and poppy beats make “Sweet Weaponry” a great album to listen to when you’re looking for a lift. It’s very up beat and easy to get lost to. Many of the songs are a must listen, especially “Operation Eyes Closed”. – Bartleby DevilDriver / The Fury of Our Makers Hand Roadrunner Records www.devildriver.com / www.roadrunnerrecords.com A metal band making metal music in this day and age is few and far between. I’m talking metal, not that shit that is passed these days as heavy. I’m talking old metal. You remember Slayer, Fear Factory, and Sepultura kind of metal, roots music for angry oppressed youth, not whiny bitches with distortion. Thank you DevilDriver! You decided enough was enough, pulled together your guitars, vocal fits and pounding rhythms for the metal dreamer who expects too much. The first track (End of the Line) kicks in and obliterates the ears. Then here comes the second punch (Driving Down the Darkness) and before you know it you’re weak in the pants from Metal Overload. This record just does not stop – in fact it will not let up, even if you ask it to! Set it in the CD player tray, turn it up and enjoy loudness (not the 80’s Japanese metal band). This disc delivers where others try and fail. No shtick overkill, just an audio assault you must join! – Wonder Boy Power Dirty Americans / Strange Generation Roadrunner Records www.dirtyamericans.com / www.roadrunnerrecords.com Of course if you are from the trusty Motor City you are aware of the Dirty Americans, and maybe you have been ever so lucky as to have heard one of their tunes on that corporate monstrosity we call radio. But a band of this caliber, which developed such a tremendous buzz after extremely successful touring in Japan, Europe, etc., should be heard on a daily basis. And for some ridiculous reason (ahem, cough… Clear Channel, could that be YOU we’re referring to???) they just aren’t getting the airplay they deserve. So take it from your pal Kasha, you WANT to get this CD! Although it does have a heavy retro-rock influence, it’s still diversely electric. I’d have to say the band is more akin to early Lenny Kravitz than the Led Zep references I hear flying about. And to me that is a GOOD THING! Proof that the band can’t be labeled as laid back classic, tunes like “Time in Space” and “Control” are completely out of the box, original RAWK!!! (“Control” begins with vocalist Myron imploring, “Take a look into my bloodshot eyes…” Yeah, we’re rockin’ rotten Detroit style now!!) Also, guitarist Jeff Piper has to be commended on his atypical stylings – his eccentric take on the six string is worthy of a solo album. The disc also came complete with a copy of the video for “Strange Generation” – and freak pervert that I am, I gotta say the vid brought out every sick ass school fantasy I have ever indulged in. Now where the hell were teachers like that when I was in high school? Hell, I work in a fucking high school now…. Where the hell are teachers like that NOW? Suffice it to say, the Dirty American’s are rowdy, raunchy, and sublimely naughty – and that’s the way I like my rock and fucking roll! – Kasha Disengage / Application for an Afterlife Fractured Transmitter Records www.disengage.net Disengage is a difficult band to label – at one moment their sound is purely heavy, dark and threatening like any good hardcore band should be…. But there are melodic moments as well, and intelligent, political based repertoire thrown in for good measure. Disengage manages to make you think – without coming across as preachy, all knowing. Especially catchy is the tune “Give Thanks”, where vocalist Jason Byers really pushes beyond the norm and deliver a distinctive, acerbic sound. Jason Morgan’s drumming on “Fever Dreams” is especially notable. He manages to convey an inescapably powerful pulsation although the tune really is one of the bands more melodious offerings. I was fortunate to catch the Ohio based Disengage live here in Detroit, and am definitely glad I did; as significant as Application for an Afterlife is, their live show truly takes this band to a completely different level. When they hit our illustrious Motor City again you better go catch ‘em live damn it! –Kasha Diegrinder / Goin’ Down www.diegrinder.net First and foremost, I gotta say that Diegrinder is THE music to drink beer to. I had the fortune of catching their live set at Small’s (Hamtramck) on May 31, I was trying to “take it easy” with the brews, but once they crashed the stage, automatically I was guzzling! Hell yeah! Diegrinder offers a complex mix of dementedly heavy riffs, and undeniable energy. Adam Till’s vox just shred, intense, but not blatantly so – yes, you can understand what the hell he is saying, and with true to the genre lyrics like this, that’s a damn good thing. This is definitely a band I would have difficulty placing a label on, but again, I think that is a good thing. With deafening precision, this CD starts off raw, with the blood-drenched track “How Long” and ends just the same with a hidden 6th track (cover tune “Rock Against Ass”). If you like your rock hard, old-school heavy, with thick ass guitars, a ballistic bottom line, and vox that you can bang your filthy head to, Diegrinder is for YOU! (Diegrinder has an up-coming CD soon – Detroit on Fire – we’ll post something on the zine once it becomes available!) - Kasha Doop & The Inside Outlaws / The Blood River ep www.insideoutlaws.com / www.myspace.com/doopandtheinsideoutlaws The first thing that came to mind when I listened to Doop’s ep was “classic campfire music.” By that I mean the kinda tunes you would hear gathered ‘round a bonfire on a crisp autumn evening, chillin’ with some brews and a couple of acoustic guitars. With fall quickly approaching, what could be more appropriate? Doop’s (Donald Dupuie II) emotive vocals pull the heartstrings with each poignant passage. (Virtuoso, Doop also handles Guitar, Bass, Mandolin and Harmonica – whew!) Track 2, “If I Were You I’d Probably Hate Me Too” details the type of thorny relationship that all too many of us can relate too. (“Now I come home from work and I don’t talk at all. I stay out all night and I don’t even call….” Yeah, that’s familiar!!!) Title track “Blood River” clearly has Springsteen influences, detailing the hardship of life in a small town down on its luck. The track “Shoot You Down” is full of cowboy-esque bravado, and imparts a slightly edgier vibe to this moody offering. The Outlaws have definitely landed at the top of my list of “Must See Live Locals”, and I recommend you all get off your asses and catch ‘em too! - Kasha engine. / silhouette on black www.engineband.net I had the fortune of catching engine. when they played at the Detroit Music Conference, and I am damn thankful I was just drunk enuff to think stumbling into Paycheck’s Bar without a dime left in my pocket was a GREAT IDEA! This New York based foursome offers an aggressive energy and vitality, offset with expressive lyrics and vigorous guitars. One of the greatest things about engine. is that that their album offers (nearly) as much potency as seeing them live. Singer Nick LaTrick’s vocals offer an eclectic mix of brutal dissonance and understated dejection. The compelling pulsation of drummer Tony Falco’s beat on “speech impediment” is a throwback to the days of percussionist glory. As a whole, the CD Silhouette on black is diversely layered, and highly addictive. We’ll keep you posted to when engine. will hit the Detroit area again! – Kasha Eudemonia / A Jreamer’s Seed www.myspace.com/eudemonia Very trippy, psychedelic rock…. and very very distinct. I was stumbling around the musician’s site on MySpace, looking for new recruits, and came across Eudemonia. Each of the three tunes they offered on their site were so individualistic, eclectic, I knew I had to hear more. Luckily they were cool enough to send me their full length CD. I sense something of a Beatle’s (during their age of “discovery”) kinda vibe going on, but it’s not all hippie love and sitars. Eudemonia excels at unique tempos, infectious grooves and vocals that enthrall you with their distinctiveness. My fav. tune is “For You”, which sardonically states “Everything I do in life is for you, but when it come to who you are I don’t have a clue!” The track “Too Much, Too Much” offers an Iggy Pop feel, which somehow works within the surroundings of an otherwise very psychedelic disc. If you are in the mood for something off the beaten path, definitely check Eudemonia out! – Kasha Fireball Ministry / Their Rock Is Not Our Rock Liquor & Poker www.fireballministry.com You know, the funny thing about review copies of albums is the label usually has to try and sell you on the music. I have a small pile of CD's here from our beloved Kasha, four to be exact, and from just a first, visual, impression, Fireball Ministry's is the least impressive. A simple CD sleeve. A xeroxed bio/write-up dealie folded and stuffed in there with the preview CD. Which, by the way, isn't even a real, pressed-at-the-plant CD. It's a dupe. Granted on one of those cool, Verbatim blanks made to look like 45 RPM Vinyl, but still. Cheap as shit. And I fucking love it. In fact, what I'm listening to right now while writing this isn't even their copied CD. Nope. After the first three tracks spun by I decided it was time I ripped it and added it to my musical library on a more permanent basis. Fireball Ministry's one of these bands that just reeks of a good, goddamned time. And in the end, isn't that what rock-n-roll is about? Listening to some great chords and some nice hooks and feeling good? I think so. Now granted, I do love me music that's a lot more deep and all that jazz. Messages and concepts about our current culture and all that. I can appreciate that. I can also appreciate escapism. And Fireball Ministry is balls out some good, fun, escapist shit. I don't like to get all technical about the techniques and all that too often, but when a band's low-end sound is akin to the thrumming emitted from a 650 horsepower demon Mopar shoehorned in a '68 Charger one must touch on such things. Especially when the music is just as fun to listen to as said Charger is fun to drive. The guitar work is masterful, the vocals have equal parts gruffness and melody and as I mentioned before, those bass lines are designed to make you feel all warm and squishy inside. Now as with anything, go online, listen to the music before you decide to buy it. But lemme tell you, if you enjoy fuzzy, heavy and most importantly FUN rock to enhance the upcoming Summer to, this is your bag. Hell, I'm gonna go out and buy their back catalog so I have the rest of this group's goodies. – Nix Fivespeed / Morning Over Midnight (enhanced CD) Virgin Records www.fivespeedmusic.com Music Rule Number 1: Do not try and rake me over the coals with your damnable DRM technology, okay Mr. Big Record Label? If I liked this music (and that's a big if) enough to go out and buy the CD, don't prevent me from listening to it how I want to listen to it, okay? Now on to the music. I think Fivespeed has some great potential. However, i don't think they'll meet these potential expectations because, well, they fall under the same ol' "good, heavy rock with pussy-harmonized vocals" camp. Some of their music is very good and a blast to listen to. But the vocals kill it. When did rock-n-roll get in touch with it's feelings and stop drinking and becoming a belligerent ass at three in the morning? Seriously, I wanna know. Like I said, there are many parts of Morning Over Midnight I enjoy. Some wonderful guitar work is prevalent here. But people, rock-n-roll's supposed to kick your ass. Make you have fun. And make you enjoy yourself. Morning Over Midnight doesn't kick my ass. Doesn't make me have fun or enjoy myself. In fact the most enjoyable part of this album will be when I can pull it out of the player and not listen to it. Again, this all pears down to taste. If you like the over-produced, over-harmonized pussy-rock the labels are feeding you, then you'll most likely love it. But if your idea of a good rock music is the equivalent of waking up from a bender in some stranger's bed, then Morning Over Midnight is not for you. – Nix The Fully Down / Don't Get Lost in a Movement Fearless Records www.fearlessrecords.com More like "Don't Get Lost in a Bowel Movement" The first thing I noticed about this CD was the packaging. From a designer's point of view, it's gorgeous. Lots of negative space. Great use of imagery and color. Lots of pastels. The typography is very mid-to-late 1980's pop. But with a modern twist. Somebody (the label, obviously) spent lots of time and money making these guys visually appealing. "Hmmm, must be a new wave revival band," I thought to myself. I could not be more wrong. The Fully Down are probably one of the most schizophrenic groups I've heard in a while. They don't know if they want to be 3 Doors Down (but really, who does?), Jimmy Eat World or Judas Priest. Imagine the mess that would be with Priest's band playing 90's metal for Jimmy's vocalist and you have The Fully Down. All the songs sound surprisingly similar and let's face it, lots of these bands as a whole sound surprisingly similar. This whole metal with harmonics thing has got to stop, by the way. The music sounds heavy and angry (which I am all for), but for fuck's sake the singer sounds like he's belting out a ballad! And I mean mash-up his a cappella vocals over some straight-up EuroPop and we're talking instant hit in France kind of ballad. And the French do NOT deserve that. Look, bottom line is, if you like this sort of genre stuff that's popular with the kids these days, by all means, go to effing BestBuy and drop your coin on this stuff. Or go out and buy two copies of Jimmy and pretend it's The Fully Down. Same thing. Only harder. – Nix Even the Odd / Popular Among Van Owners Even the Odd has produced a very catchy album with “Popular Among Van Owners”. The first song on the album, “Forgive Me” grabs hold of you. The rest of the album doesn’t let go, and “Burn it Down”, the albums last song, leaves you aching for more. – Bartleby Deena Goodman / Hard To Get To “Hard To Get To” is a very inspired album. Although I don’t usually listen to music of this genre, I couldn’t keep from tapping my foot to the beat that accompanied Deena Goodman’s wonderful voice. The title track of the album will get stuck in your head for days! - Bartleby Honest D and the Steel Reserve / Horseradish Rag and Other Songs of Music www.honsestd.com This is good ole country, not the radio-friendly crap so prevalent today. I caught Honest D when they opened for The Orbitsuns on May 27 at The Tap Room (Detroit) and the first thing that struck me about this foursome is that they are just countrified-cool! Stand-up bass, steel guitars, and damn if these aren’t the best dressed fella’s this side o’ the Mississippi (they are complete in matching, authentic gear circa Hank Williams Sr.) There are a whopping 14 tunes on this CD, but most come in at around 2 – 3 minutes each, so you’re not overwhelmed. In fact, the tunes are so rollicking and fun, you’ll be amazed at how fast the time passes. Not that this CD doesn’t offer the requisite “tear in your beer” tunes you have come to expect from the genre – but even the sad ole songs have such an honestness to them, you still find your toes tappin’. Honest D come across as the “real deal” – doing what the love for the fun of it, and not posturing for the sake of trendy-ness. Based out in Mid- Michigan, I definitely hope they swing back down to D-Town soon! Seeing this band live is the complete package! -Kasha Horse Cave Trio / Hot Rods, Choppers & Rock-N-Roll Tropic Lightning Records www.horsecavetrio.com Self described as “Hillbilly Rock-N-Roll”, Horse Cave Trio literally smoked their set at the New Dodge Bar (Hamtramck) on May 21st, which forced me to accost singer Ron DeVore and badger him insistently until he handed over a copy of their CD. (No, seriously Ron was extremely generous and was glad to pass on anything that helps promote the Detroit Scene.) I knew the band was HOT live, but I had my reservations if they could reproduce the intensity on their CD. Fortunately, they absolutely have! Every tune on this CD just jams. There is definitely a rock-a-billy vibe going on here, and each tune is so catchy and compelling, I’m doin’ the chair dance as I sit and type this! (If you know me at all, you know that is the ONLY dance I should be doing – least I fall AGAIN!) I’m scrolling through to find the “Stand Out Tune” – and damn if each one isn’t just thoroughly rockin’. If I had to pick a fav it would have to be “Cracker Jack”, which, with it’s compelling blues based rhythms and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, always seems to get stuck in my head. Check out the bands site, they are playing out all over town! And they promise a new CD soon, so we’ll post something when it is released. - Kasha Hotness / We’re Taking Over www.hotnessrocks.com / www.sonicbids.com/hotness Hotness overall has a sound reminiscent of everything you loved about 70’s rock! This is guitar rock, pure, simple, unadulterated. And vocalist Paul Barning’s sultry vocals call back to the glory of The Faces, or The Stones (during the Let It Burn era!). My fav tune off the 4 song EP is the delicious “Mistake”, where Barning croons, “and if you left me now I'd be fine, just as long as you take everything that might remind of your cold ass stare, and your wanderlusting care, come to think of it, I'd prefer you gone… you’re my worst mistake!” Ohhh how those lyrics speak to me! Hotness offers a power punch with their two-guitar formula, with hooks that snatch you up and don’t let go. If Hotness continues to put out exceptional music like this, then they sure the hell will be taking over! -Kasha Last / The Fallen On their album “The Fallen” Last manages to combine a great set of driving beats, energetic guitar rifts and powerful lyrics. “Souled Out” and “Fleeting Moment” on this album are great examples. “Hell on Earth”, a song mentioning Pearl Harbor and September 11th, is also a great example of their powerful lyrics. – Bartleby Left in Ruin / Cursed www.myspace.com/leftinruin_detroit Left in Ruin is definitely one the best things I have heard from the local Detroit scene, or nationally for that matter, in a hell of a long time. Comprised of current and former members of some of Detroit’s most prominent bands (Suicide Machines, Dixie Hustler, World of Hurt, Forge, Spit) this CD grabs you by the balls from the get-go. Professional without being overstated, this five-man band detonates from a brutally subversive surrounding, down shifts to a bluesy, down home beat, saunters around in a melodic mode, and then throttles back to the top again. Dann Coburn’s gripping vocals are multi-dimensional, guttural and melodic – he moves from genre to genre without sounding forced or strained. It’s a nod to Left in Ruin’s professionalism that they incorporate melody and power without coming across like every band you hear on college radio today. I haven’t been able to catch these guys live yet, but I am damn sure gonna catch ‘em soon! A live review of this phenomenal band will soon follow! - Kasha Patrick Thomas Theory / Live & Demos www.patrickthomas.net I actually stumbled across the Patrick Thomas Theory’s website, and was so enthralled by the tunes I heard on there, I immediately shot off an email begging for more! There is definitely a Dave Matthews kinda influence here, but there is a lot more… more blues, more passion, more soul, just MORE! Standout tune to me was “Dirty Angel”, which has a grungy sexiness to it that I could just imagine (ahem) frolicking along in an adult manner to! Patrick Thomas has such a blatant sensuality to his voice; it makes imaging said frolicking effortless. The tune “Why” was recorded live, which lends a greater depth to the expressive guitar, and touching tones of the keys. The quality is still impeccable, immaculate. The professionalism of this band is apparent, and I will not be surprised if the Patrick Thomas Theory are the next “big thing” to come out of Detroit. - Kasha Pepper’s Ghost / Shake The Hand That Shook The World Hybrid Records www.peppersghost.net / www.myspace.com/peppersghost Pepper’s Ghost’s Shake The Hand That Shook The World is an extraordinarily diverse sample of what the up and coming Philadelphia, PA area has to offer. Doused in doses of 60’s era retro rock (Bowie, The Beatles), this charismatic quintet still manages to showcase it’s own unique blend of bawdy ballads and anthematic, raise your fist and punch a hole in the sky ditties. Just listen to the soulful groove-tunes of “You’re in My Heart (Little Pretty)” - and try to keep your ass in your chair!! The seductive, sultry vibe begs to be danced to…. and anyone who knows me can tell you the words “You’re in my heart and you’re so pretty, little pretty” were most certainly written for ME!! (snick!) The lyrics to the band’s homage to their hometown, “Friday Night in Philadelphia” states, “The after-party wasn’ t what we planned. So we raised a toast, cracked jokes, guitars in hand. We played some Stones, showcased our own, in drunken harmony.” God, that paints a picture of the way I spent almost every Friday nite in High School. Beautiful! Pepper’s Ghost possesses the rare capability of being able to switch from one style to the next without coming off as obtuse, unfocused. The tie in throughout is the melodious vox of Anthony and Michael Montesano, no matter the vibe, no matter the tone; their distinctive sound pulls you in, insistent. I wish like hell these guys would hit Detroit, because I can’t imagine the sheer FUN of seeming them play live. Check out their CD and if you like what you hear (you’re gonna, PROMISE), then get on the bandwagon and beg ‘em to hit Motown…. –Kasha The Prom Kings / (Demo) Three Kings DBC www.thepromkings.com / www.threekingsdbc.com This is one of the best demo’s I have put my hot little hands on in a long time. The Prom Kings have such a tremendous range to them, multi- faceted in every sense of the word. This Los Angeles based foursome revels in combing diverse sounds and sensations, and tossing it back at ya with a devil may care attitude. The standout tune to me was the get-off-your-ass-and-party-esque “Birthday”. Filled with explosive vox, sex tinged lyrics, and a commanding, unrelenting backbeat, just try and turn this sucker off! OK, it’s almost my birthday, what I wouldn’t give to have these guys perform at my PAR- TAY!!! I’ve heard so many bands try to show off their diversity, but wind up being all over the map, coming across as just “noise”. No so with this quartet. I am truly fascinated by the way The Prom Kings offer such diverse sounds on this disc, ranging from stand-up anthem rock, rap infused numbers and crooning ballads, but pull it all together with a tight sensibility that runs throughout. Highly listenable, totally addictive…. Get off your ass and buy their full-length disc once it is released. (I’ll keep you posted when it comes out!) - Kasha Relik / Your Sin is Envy www.relikmusic.com The first thing that struck me as outstanding about this 3 song demo is the tremendous production job, this disc sounds so clean, concise, it just adds to the overall mood and tone completely. I always dig it when indie acts go above and beyond to put out professional caliber sounds. (And their press kit was far above par as well!) OK enough about that, lets get to the meat and potatoes of the disc… and damn if Relik doesn’t just fuckin’ slay there as well. Relik has a unique tone to them, they are obviously heavily influenced by European Metal (several members in fact have immediate European roots) but the band mixes it up and tosses it back with a style that is all their own. Guitarist Sanjin Alisa clearly grew up thrashing to every Pantera tune he could get his hands on, his skills are just flawless. With his passion and precision, he is the type of guitarist who could go on to be the guy all the kiddies want to be like when they grow up. Also distinctive is vocalist John Foster’s shredding style. Think early Machinehead, Testament, etc. He goes above that one note, single dimension sound that too many heavy bands rely on. So if it’s meaty, bone crushing metal you wanna hear…. Relik is THE band for you! (Check out their site for their play dates, they are just AMAZING live!) – Kasha Run With The Kittens / Run With The Kittens Self Released www.runwiththekittens.ca This album should have been entitled, "How to Have Fun With Rock And Roll". This is not a promo copy. I'm not being paid. I'm writing this review because these cats deserve to be heard. Don't let the name fool you, they know how to throw down and rock your shit all kinds of up. You feelin' me, Sally? This is the sort of thing I try to push on people because it's eclectic. Not "pop vocals in metal" eclectic. More like, quick change-ups, switching genres on a dime and they don't take themselves too seriously sort of eclectic. I'd go so far as to call Run With The Kittens experimental or progressive, but it's far too enjoyable, fun and lighthearted to be as boring as the term "progresive" is. Some songs are laid back and loungy... almost jazzy. Others are funk-infused romps in electronics and I swear I heard a banjo in there somewhere. "Live Forever" is the best track for typical rock lovers. More so because it even makes fun of the whole, "sex drugs and rock-n-roll" schtick I so adore. Except the drugs. Other songs have a tinge of noir surf guitar and my beloved Hammond *swoon*. Absolutely amazing percussion work goes on almost unnoticed if you don't pay attention. And "Let's Make Love" is their most fun offering on this disk. And trust me, "lets make love" is not the lyric they offer in the song. Ever see Clerks? Remember the Russian song, "Berzerker?" Heh.. yeah. THAT'S the lyric. And with a quirky ditty called, "Ricky Martin Shake Your Boobies In My Face" you know these weirdo's are keepers if you're not all doom and gloom and take yourself too seriously. I'd almost venture and say they resemble Mindless Self Indulgence. Except they aren't all played out and a one-trick-pony like MSI can be now days. Maybe more like a modern incarnation of Green Jell-Ö but with about a ton more talent. A small smattering of tracks also feel like they were pages taken from the Becktionary®. But in a good way. A very, very good way. So if you're down with fun, weird, quirky rock tunes that'll make you laugh your ass off, please, please, please hit up CDbaby.com and buy Run With The Kittens' CD. Oh, and Socar (The Fictional Barbarian) will rock your world. - Nix Sensation Junkies / Once for the Money The Sensation Junkies’ album “Once for the Money” has a wide range of styles. From “Never Saw it Coming” with its almost swing feel, to “Painkiller” and its Rumba beat, you experience a variety of feeling. Every song makes you either want to dance or get out a lighter, hold it in the air and start swaying. – Bartleby Skeemin’ No Goods / Skeemin’ No Goods Idol Records www.myspace.com/skeeminnogoods / www.idolrecords.com Does it make any sense to call a reasonably new band “classic”? NO?? Well too fuckin’ bad, cuz there is no better way to describe The Skeemin’ No Goods. Reminiscent of Iggy and the Stooges, and yeah a touch of the Ramones thrown in for good measure, the ‘No Goods nonetheless come across as innovative, an almighty stomp on the ever-trodden punk terrain. Having cut their teeth playing with some of the most pioneering bands around (Hoarse, The Paybacks, Seduce) vocalist/guitarist John Speck, bassist Ron Sakowski and drummer Chuck Burns pull together an intensely antagonistic sound that is a complete affront to the blasé’ route so many punk bands have taken in their quest for Greenday-esque esteem. A standout is the incomparable blues-tinged “Punch The Clock” – with the timeless line “Work will set you free, don’t work for ME!” – what white blooded, blue-collar man (or gal) can resist? Each tune surges into the next at breakneck speed, a visceral onslaught of primitive howls and catastrophically eclectic guitars. Come on… eleven songs, clocking in at under 30 minutes…. Hell yeah, ain’t punk grand? – Kasha Slant / (demo) Gotham Records www.slantmusic.net / www.gothamrecords.com I received a 2-song demo from the band Slant (Gotham Records) and as soon as I gave it a listen I emailed the record company and begged ‘em for MORE!! This unique band, comprised of two guys from Russia and two from Bangladesh, come together and interlock their individual diversity into a sound that is reminiscent of early Tool, but with a more incandescent feel. The first track, “Broken Wings”, starts off unhurried, taking the time to arouse your curiosity, then progresses towards a guttural, explosive influence. Track two, “Trust”, has a basic sense of melancholy to it; vocalist Fahim Zaman portrays feelings of loss and regret without coming across as sappy, overdone. Hey all you trusty Almost Famous readers, Gotham Records is offering the demo free to the first 25 people who sign up for our mailing list – we’ll be at Paychecks Bar in Hamtramck on May 21st to give ‘em away. Come on out – and don’t miss out on the chance to hear this exceptional band! Slant's full length CD debuts on July 12th! - Kasha Sponge / The Man Idol Records www.spongetheband.com / www.idolrecords.com If you hail from the Motor City, you know Sponge. They’re as much a part of your consciousness as Red Wings Hockey and construction on I- 75. But with Sponge’s latest offering, The Man, be prepared to have your notions completely rattled. This CD starts off glaringly abrasive, grabbing you by the short-hairs on title track “The Man” - and it’s a power-fused, provocative ride there- after. With lyrics like “Leave me dying on the side of the road, now I’m talkin’ to God” (Glue) it’s obvious the band has progressed beyond it’s neo-punk For All The Drugs... days. In the painfully honest “Shittier Day Than Me” vocalist Vin E. effuses “I’m just a fuck up, baby I can’t lie. My life’s all fucked up. I don’t wanna know why!” and then laments “Sure is nice to see someone having a shittier day than me!” Come on now, haven’t we all experienced depraved, self-indulgent thoughts such as those? Not all sonic brutality, the restful recitations of “All The Drugs In The World” will, quite simply, break your heart. (Never mind the subject matter – just imbibe those yearning vocals.) Profoundly NOW, The Man showcases the potency of Sponge’s Detroit-based roots, while exposing a darker, dissentient outlook. Stay evil Sponge… stay evil! - Kasha Spy Radio / The Donkey Show www.thespyradio.com / www.myspace.com/spyradio Classic pop-punk, Spy Radio immediately grab’s your attention with their catchy riffs and buoyant sounding vox. Of course the lyrical content is all self-loathing and depreciation, like all good punk should be! “Perfect Day” unabashedly states, “I’ll be right here making mountains out of molehills, and wondering if you ever think of me!” and is accompanied by the perfect blend of sonic warbling and infectious grooves. I couldn’t help but laugh at the lyrics to “Friends With Lesbians” which state, “Let’s make friends with lesbians, that way we can meet more girls.” Well, that is definitely one way of going about it! This CD really is just plain fun! The production quality (as well as the packaging) of The Donkey Show are prominent, but you can tell these guys refuse to take life too seriously. I always enjoy listening to bands who truly seem to just love what they do, and judging from the completely infectious sounds of Spy Radio, these guys are definitely having one hell of a good time. – Kasha Underoath / They're Only Chasing Safety (Special Edition) Tooth & Nail Records www.underoath777.com I'll start off as I always do: talking about the art. Tooth & Nail definitely went out and made a nice special edition to a band I've never heard of. Probably because I'm way beyond my years and on borrowed time in my ripe old age of thirty. Clearly I'm off my nut and don't know what's new and hip. Yeah, right. The packaging is a two-disk set, one of which is a DVD of video footage. The art is just that; art. it's beautiful. Gorgeously painted renditions of the normal release's art adds much needed texture and depth to this release. But it's not about the packaging, now is it? Nope. It's about the music. The seemingly formulaic, pre-fabricated music. Underoath's music here, without a doubt, is pulse-pounding, ass-kicking music. I love how it sounds when it's running full throttle. It's unforgiving in it's pounding if not a teeny bit tedious at times. Many songs feel similar and like they are following a format of sorts. But when Underoath decides to kick you in the nuts (or the clam, sorry, ladies) it most certainly does. I get pumped and I thoroughly enjoy the synthetic jolt of adrenalin I get. But for the love of God will somebody tell these people that throaty, gravelly screaming and harmony does not mix! How the fuck am I supposed to get pumped for something when seventy percent of the vocal stylings reek of my evil nemesis, Pussification? Message to the singer guy (I shan't bother to look up the cat's name), just fucking YELL YOU ASSHOLE. It's metal. It's mean. It's scary. It's angry. It's not singing in the church choir you fucking dolt. Y'know, if back in the early 90's, I'd had known that Fear Factory would have spawned a whole movement of harmonizing singers in metal bands, I'd have gone all BOOM! HEADSHOT on those guys. Despite what good things I thought they brought to the table back in the day. And yes, I know that this all bold down to personal opinion. But it's mine so screw off. Look, I'm all for refining the metal genre, but sweet lord this harmony shit is not the way to do it. Bring in more and different types of instrumentation. Sampling, cutting, turntables... fucking cellos for God's sake. Make it more distorted and rusty and nasty. Metal should be the equivalent to a rusty nail: IT COULD KILL YOU. Alright... rant over. Don't waste your money, folks. go out and buy some Meathook Seed instead. – Nix Usual Suspect / Shoostubeaman www.usualsuspectrock.com / www.myspace.com/usualsuspect This pop-punk trio offers an incredibly entertaining, confident EP. Their songs are the sort that get stuck in your head at odd intervals - brushing your teeth, stuck on the highway in rush-hour traffic, you know the type. One thing is clear – these kids are all about having fun! (Yeah, I can call them kids, surprisingly from the distinct professional quality of this EP; the average age of the band members is about 16!! Amazing!) And they have managed to earn a fair amount of street cred in the short time they’ve been playing together – 2nd Place in the Clinton Twp. Battle of the Bands, Runner-up in the Detroit News Battle of the Bands, etc. “Homecoming” is the standout tune on this CD, paying homage to the joy and torture of good ole high school dances, but the very tightly knit styling of guitarist Joe Giordimaina shows a maturity and cohesiveness beyond his years. The cut “Time To” puts relationship woes into perspective, quipping, “It’s time to move on.” Even when waxing lyrically on heavy subjects the band projects a buoyancy and effortlessness that is truly captivating. I look forward to hearing more from the Usual Suspects – especially once they hit “bar-playin’ age”! (You know your friend Kasha, she’s got’s ta have that beer in hand, eh!) - Kasha Woodward / (Demo) www.woodwardtheband.com Listening to this five-track demo put me in an absolutely spectacular mood. The tunes are so fucking fun, it kinda pissed me off I was sitting in my crappy office with the air conditioner blowing, instead of cruising around with the tops down, volume kicked up to ELEVEN! J.P (vox and guitars) and Dan (bass and vox) have tremendous harmonizing abilities – the whole disk in fact sounds extremely tight, professional. I sense a kinda Ramones-esque vibe to the overall tone… although extremely skilled; the band is definitely in it for the fun. And isn’t that what life is all about kiddies? Funny – when I first popped the CD in, the intro to the track “Enjoy Their Company” starts off with an overly dramatic, Rob Thomas at his most depressing kinda sound, so I was like DAMN! Another CD to commit suicide to! But the kids pulled the ole switcher-oo, and immediately transitioned into a buoyant, anthematic offering. Each track is filled with attitude and a lurid swagger. I am anxious to catch Woodward live and see exactly how that bravado plays out in person! And lastly, gotta give props to the name. Growing up about a block off Woodward (Royal Oak) I have some fond memories of times spent causing a general ruckus on that trust Boulevard! -Kasha |
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