VARIOUS ARTISTS "Make Trade Fair" CD Lower Left Records 001 The first release ever from Lower Left is a benefit compilation. A portion of the proceeds from this record will be donated to Ten Thousand Villages. They provide vital, fair income to third world people by marketing their handcrafts and telling their stories in North America. So, it's worth supporting! You'll find both known and lesser-known acts on this comp which is fun. Among the more known ones you'll find Raised Fist from Sweden and Anti-Flag. Isn't that reason enough to check this one out? My favorite band on this comp must be The Resistance who plays fast straight-on punk rock. Their song "The Devil's Eye" is definitely the best one on this record. A bunch of other great bands such as The Flatliners, Machete Avenue, I Defy, Hostage Life, Humanifesto, La Descente Du Coude and The Eyliners are also worth mentioning. It's a good comp and it's for a good cause! /CD |
THE AGGROLITES "S/T" CD Hellcat 0484-2 Listen Up! Here's a perfect soundtrack for the summer! If you haven't already heard about The Aggrolites, out of California, you need to check this album out. A rocksteady reggae 5-piece that is nothing but fantastic at what they do. This 19-track (!) record is their first on Hellcat and there's not a bad tune on it! I would say that this is the best band in the genre since The Slackers. Their way of sounding traditional and still fresh is impressing. You'll find both sing-a-longs and instrumentals on this release. Is it good? Yes it is! The band have already opened up for bands such as Madness, Flogging Molly and Hepcat to name a few, and should be appealing to anyone who likes The Selecter, The Clash, Stubborn Allstars etc. etc. This is the real thing... /CD |
THE BOUNCING SOULS "The Gold Record" CD Epitaph 6808-2 I've been looking forward to this release ever since I heard "The Gold Song" and I must say that it was worth that wait. This is one of the few bands on Epitaph that are still worth listening to. Seems to me that the Bouncing Souls have found a more mature sound on this album. I like it. Actually I've always liked this band, but I've never really took the time to really listen to their records. But, after listening through "The Gold Record" a couple of times, I realize how damn good these guys are. Favorites on this album are the great "Sarah Saturday", "Sounds of the City", "So Jersey", the fast "The New Thing" and the closing sing-a-long track "For All The Unheard". This is really really good. If you're looking for a great punk rock album, go get this one! /CD |
THE LOW BUDGETS "Aim Low Get High" CD Klownhouse Recordz 004 I don't really know what to say about this band. It's not your average punk rock band but it's still kind of punky and kind of poppy... I guess it's the organ that confuses me. I guess the organ (played by Joe Jack Talcum, ex-Dead Milkmen), plays a big part of this band but I think they would be better off without it. They have a great singer though. There's a bunch of good tunes on this record but over all I wouldn't recommend it. I'm probably too narrow minded when it comes to this kind of music. Check it out yourselves to decide wether you like it or not. /CD |
SUBURBAN SCUMBAGS "We Come To Defile You" CD Klownhouse Recordz 003 These guys from Keil, Germany have been together since 1997 but this is actually their first album. When I listened to it for the first time I wasn't to impressed, but this one has definitely grown with time. Opening track "World's On Fire" is a great way to start this album off. These guys play punk rock, no doubt about that. They sometimes remind me of Reducers S.F. and singer Ulf sometimes sounds a bit like Al Barr of Dropkick Murphys. Tunes like "Gasoline Bomb", the fast "Scumbag...You're Next" and the best song of 'em all "Ricochet" makes this record a good one! /CD |
GG ALLIN & ANTiSEEN "Murder Junkies" CD TKO Round 666 Yes, I know this guy is a legend and all that but I don't get it. This record pretty much sucks. I've never been into GG's stuff and this re-issue of "Murder Junkies" is actually the first whole album of his that I've listened to. I don't like it all. Sorry... GG Allin fans will probably love it though. /CD |
PREVAIL WITHIN "The Architects of Broken Souls" CD Mightier Than Sword 001 This album is the band's first and it's a good debut. Prevail Within from Texas plays hardcore a la Rise Against and Propagandhi. Not in the same league as those bands but definitely on their way. I like the band's way of dealing with all the serious problems of today and still manage to remain positive. The world leaders gets kicked in the face on this record. Some parts of the songs reminds me of early Good Riddance which is a good thing. I think this band will get better and better with time. They sure have the potential. It also bothers me that the lead vocals are a bit low which is a pity since Brandon Hicks is a really good singer. Look this one up! /CD |
SMARTBOMB |
TIME AGAIN "The Stories Are True" CD Hellcat 0482-2 These guys really remind me of Rancid. It's almost embarrasing. Tim Armstrong is even singing some additional lyrics on the title-track. It sounds exactly like Rancid. I guess he has signed his biggest fans. But hey, I like Rancid so I guess I like Time Again too. After all, the songs are really really good. These guys are very good at what they do. So, if you are waiting for a new Rancid album I suggest you go and pick this one up. 13 punk rock songs, Hellcat style! /CD |
REVEREND SAVAGE & HIS HOLY ROLLERS "God is in My Garage" 7" Drunk 'N' Roll 012 / Squoodge!! 17.12 I don't know a lot about this band but I know that they're from Sweden and that they sing about god. This kind of garage rock has never been my style but I think this 7" is quite good. There are two songs on it and the one on the a-side is definitely the better one. I really don't know what to say about it. Get it if you're into Swedish garage stuff. It's not a bad record. Limited to 333 copies. /CD |
THE CHINESE LUNGS "Get Yer Lungs Out" 7" Drunk 'N' Roll 22 / Squoodge!! 17.20 This is probably one of the ugliest records I have ever seen, but it sounds pretty good! It's the debut-7" from London's The Chinese Lungs. I would describe it as up-tempo, garage punk rock with distorted vocals. "Come On" is a great tune that reminds me of "Stranded" by The Saints. I like the songs on the b-side too, but not as much. I will definitely play this record once in a while. Check it out, it's a cool 7". Only 333 copies. /CD |
VARIOUS ARTISTS "Unsound vol.1" CD/DVD Epitaph 6813-2 -"Punk-O-Rama has become Unsound. The greatest punk comp series of all time has a new name and a new attitude". That's what sticker on the cover says. Well, I'm glad they changed the name of it, since the word "punk" don't fit at all anymore. This comp contains some of the worst songs I've ever heard in my life. Out of the 19 tracks only 4 are good. "Los Angeles Is Burning" by Bad Religion is one of the best songs from their latest album. The Bouncing Souls contributes with a new track from their upcoming album "The Gold Record". There are also two hip-hop tracks on this release by Dangerdoom and Pete Philly & Perquisite that are both really good. Other than that this comp sucks. Along with the CD comes a ten-track DVD which I haven't even watched yet and I'm not sure I'm going to. /CD |
CHAPTER XI "Feel The Pain" Demo MCD No Label Chapter XI from Fort Lauderdale, Florida was formed by members from The Panix and The Korrupted. This is one of the best new bands I've heard in a while. The 7-track MCD is really good and you'll find punk, hardcore and some ska on there! Chapter XI have been playing live with bands such as Leftöver Crack and The Unseen which can be heard to a certain degree, but they are still original. I especially like the last song "Down on ur Luck". If this band had been on the latest Give 'Em The Boot it would have made it a whole lot better. I've always liked this type of punk and I recommend Chapter XI to everyone! Click here to buy it! /CD |
VARIOUS ARTISTS
"Give 'Em The Boot vol. 5" CD Hellcat 0486-2 The latest comp. from Hellcat Records. 18 tracks of punk/ psychobilly/ reggae & ska. Rancid, Tiger Army, The Slackers, Dropkick Murphys, Lars Frederiksen, Nekromantix...all the classic Hellcat bands are on this record as usual, but the best songs are actually performed by the "new" bands. I really like The Aggrolites, Westbound Train and Static Thought. If you've heard the old Give 'Em The Boot comps. you know what to expect. About half of it is good. The ska/reggae bands and Roger Miret kicks ass! 8 unreleased songs from Roger Miret and the Disasters, The Unseen, Left Alone etc. /CD |
THE STITCHES
"8 x 12"" CD Vinyl Dog VD004 This is the official re-issue of the classic album from '95. I've been told that this album is one of the best punk rock records of the 90's and I must say I agree. I absolutely love it! This is classic snotty '77 style punk rock the way it was meant to be. The only thing sad about this album is that there's only 8 songs on it. The two covers; "Better of Dead" by La Peste and "That Woman Got Me Drinking" by Shane McGowan, are just as good as the rest of the songs. If I had to name a favorite it would have to be "My Baby Hates Me", but it's all great. Everybody needs to get a hold of this one! One of the best records I've heard. /CD |
REDUCERS S.F. |