No intro necessary and in no particular logical order, my most go to 2018 releases. Spotify playlist to follow. Enjoy and Happy 2019. xo PJH
Hot Snakes – Jericho Sirens (Sub Pop) – Catching this San Diego, CA post-hardcore phenomena live earlier this year in San Francisco was a life changing experience for me, especially watching Jon Reis’ guitar work first hand and especially since I never caught Drive Jehu live, ever…at least I caught 50% of the band this time around. It was nice to see and hear that the foursome doesn’t miss a beat after a 12 year hiatus. Song’s like “I Need A Doctor” “Why Don’t It Sink In” proves this garage punk onslaught is all that, where its at and then some.
Buffalo Tom – Quiet and Peace (Schoolkids Records) – My Bean Town heroes return with a solidly mature release this year. When once they sang about feeling old and out of place in such classics as “Taillights Fade” and “I’m Allowed”, now they are older and reflecting on such topics as mortality and lost time in their latest effort. The opening track, “All Be Gone” quickly proves the trio still have some gusto left under their hood. For the “Colbourn disciples,” the bassist offers his best song yet with “Roman Cars.” “Freckles” starts out simmering before kettle whistling to a wall of sound finale while “Slow Down” beautifully reeks of Brit-Pop lyrical positivity.
Turnstile – Time & Space (Roadrunner Records) – Despite the critics, purists, and haters (largely due to major label sellout charges), this latest release from the Baltimore fivesome is 25 minutes of pure hardcore bliss plus. It’s the same formula heard on 2016’s Non-Stop Feeling and then some. I hear straight up hardcore, I hear Jane’s Addiction/Perry Farrell vocals, I hear pianos, I hear rhythmic claps, I hear metal guitar solo flirtations among all the awesome grooving breakdowns. I hear a band among a few, brave others (Title Fight, Drug Church) that has the balls to take the easily overplayed genre to new extremes other than the flogged horse Hate Breed/Earth Crisis route. I finally caught them live at this year’s ‘Tid The Season event in Buffalo, NY and they blew my world up. Fuck listing standout songs, listen to the entire record…its that good.
Eminem – Kamikaze (Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records/Shady Records) – I don’t really care for modern age rap/hip hop, always stuck in the past with my Beastie Boys, Wu-Tang Clan, BDP and Public Enemy records, to name a few. Except for a song here and there, I wasn’t even a big Eminem fan back in the day. But when the 8 Mile rapper surprised the universe and dropped his 10th studio album this past summer, I was mesmerized from the very first sample of the opening track, “The Ringer.” An “epic fail” one critic said? Please, anything but in a world of second rate hip hop garbage offered by the bad joke, Machine Gun Kelly (sit down kid, you are no match) and many others. From the jaw-dropping, bombastic, shit talking precision of Eminem insane tongue-twisting rhymes magically captured by the Jedi-Knight producing skills of Dr. Dre, to the Licensed To Ill shout out album cover, Eminem is back, pissed and setting shit straight.
Brian Fallon – Sleepwalkers (Island Records) – Ex-Gaslight Anthem front man returns with his sophomore solo effort, picking up where 2016’s Painkillers ends. With his latest release, we find Fallon continually getting his Bruce on, toying with the RnR sounds that once crackled out of the jukeboxes or classic car radios of 50/60s yesterday and finding the balance between familiarity and refreshing. Ironically, Sleepwalkers is a perfect record to catch summer rays to on a Jersey shoreline, especially Asbury Park. Some standout tracks include “Forget Me Not”, “Little Nightmares” and “Etta James.”
Green Dragon -S/T- Straight out of my adopted hometown, Maplewood, NJ’s Green Dragon plays heavy, fuzzed out, groove music with BlackSabbath, Motorhead, Hendrix and even early SST Records era St. Vitus influences heavily sprinkled throughout. Some call it “psych-rock” which to me is acceptable but I refuse to define it as Doom/Stoner Metal because both terms are fucking stupid and I don’t even know what it means and no, I wont look up how they are defined. The foursome’s 6 song release is an absolute treat from start to finish, teasing my inner moshing inclinations throughout and has given me that extra umph at the gym or on a run when needed. My go to tracks are “Poison Finger” and “Eternal Pyre” and Full Moon” but the entire album is solid.
The Messthetics -S/T (Dischord Records)-Take 50% of DC post hardcore legends Fugazi and throw in some mysterious dude on guitar and this trio plays some serious surfy punky, garagy, progy, jazzy, gazy instrumental rock and boy it is some good shit. The band released their first full length album on the famously historic DC hardcore punk label staple, Dischord Records. Nine songs of pure, balls to the walls jamming. I personally enjoy such tracks as “Quantum Path” and “Serpent Tongue” but there are no losing cuts on this album.
Allied Chemical – This Isn’t Working Out – Maplewood NJ’s indie rock wizards, Allied Chemical, wasted no time following up on their solid 2017 release, Sword Soup, with this 11 song indie pop treat. This a trio that truly likes to have fun and refuses to take themselves too seriously and it’s great to hear other members taking on vocals, especially bassist, Jonathan “Cubic Zirconium, IV” Bloom. Track favs include “Leavin”, “Fence” and the very interestingly intriguing “Be Right Here.”
Beach Rats – Wasted Time (Bridge Nine Records) – what happens when a Washington, DC hardcore legend move to Asbury Park, NJ? Well in the case of guitarist Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion), he rounds up a superstar lineup of members in Lifetime and The Bouncing Souls and starts a band. This 5 song EP offers a fun, straight ahead, no frills, melodically uplifting hardcore. My personal favorite track, “Stay the Night” sounds like it fell off the back of the Lifetime truck. Other standouts include opener “Lonely For The Night” and the 7 Seconds sounding title ode, “Skin, Brains, And Dubs.” A wandering Soul in Buffalo, NY recently informed me that a full album is in the works….awesome.
Forevers –Between the Banners, Beneath The Floors (Dadstache Records)) Rochester, NY’s Indie rock pop superstars, Forevers quickly return with this new releaseeven while still enjoying the residual high off their 2017 ep release, Cotton Thrones. A smorgasbord of influences can be found FromThe Replacements to Guided By Voices the Hold Steady to even, may I dare say it, Third Eye Blind). Tracks like “Wait It Out” ‘Plastic Room” and “Why Do You Do The Things You Do” are my favorites. I have also included the video to their first released single “ Mattress” because it is so gosh darn cute!
Vault – S/T – Members of Avail and Snapcase and Windham converge to Staunton, Virginia to produce 6 songs/22 minutes of heavy, fuzzed out psych-rock to relish, savor and enjoy. Right out of the starting gate with “Hatchet”, this five piece means business, with consistent pummeling rhythm, engrossing hooks and kaleidoscopic vocals that don’t let up for a breather until 4 songs in with the acoustic-tinged and melodious “Memorial Machine” before picking up tsunami strength once again with “Blindfold”. I am not alone in expecting big things from this project in the future. (Bandcamp:https://vault3.bandcamp.com/releases)
Dot Dash – Proto Retro (The Beautiful Music) – DC punk scene veterans reduced headcount by one since their last recording (2016’s Searchlights) but still remain as full and tight as ever with their melodic and punky, jangly pop offerings. The trio continue to pump out the jams with these 12 songs. Many killer tunes to be found here and I personally enjoy “Tamed a Wild Beast” with it’s very early New Order feel. Other feel good hits include “Unfair Weather” and ‘World’s Last Payphone.”
Sick of It All – Wake the Sleeping Dragon! (Fat Wreck Chords) – I was re-introduced to SOIA lead singer Lou Koller at a recent local Dag Nasty show. The last I met him was 30 years ago, stumbling on him gargling his throat with salt water in the Syracuse, NY Lost Horizon’s men’s room. I was quickly reminded in 2018 how funny he is as he explained in a precise, stand up comedian kind of way, how he sang about every topic ever twenty times over and new lyrical topics was a present challenge for the new, forthcoming album. Well the band earns a gold star for their achievements as the NYHC heroes return with a solid release looking to kick you repeatedly in the crotch from start to finish. Judging by the funny song titles (“Beef Between Vegans”, “Self-Important Shithead” and “That Crazy White Boy Shit” – the last song being an ode to the legendary Bad Brains), the Alleyway Crew still have a bone to pick, but not taking themselves to seriously doing so.
Drug Church – Cheer (Pure Noise Records)– My first hardcore scene ever was in Albany, NY, catching many shows there long ago and catching many NYHC bands driving up the NYS Thruway to play shows in the capital city every other weekend. While “my” venues like 288 Lark, Hibernian Hall and South Dove Street and local bands like Wolfpack, No Outlet, Cranial Abuse and Substance are no longer around and many scenes subsequently followed, it is still very satisfying to witness an “Al”bany band making international waves while defying the rules and pushing what’s acceptable in a predictably metal-saturated scene, similar to their comrades in Turnstile and Title Fight, with their perfect blend of hardcore and 90’s alternative nostalgia . Too many good tracks on this latest release but “Weed Pin”, “Strong References” “Unlicensed Guidance Counselor” and “Avoidarama” quickly come to mind.
John Coltrane-1963: New Directions/Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album (Impulse!)– 2018 was a big year for the American saxophone jazz legend who passed away over 50 years ago, at only 40 years of age. The former recording showcases the artist’s busy recording year in 1963 just before discovering free/acid jazz (yuck, my least favorite era of his – blame it on the Trane and his love for ‘caine?) while the latter’s copy of the Master recordings “found” with Coltrane’s wife (the originals destroyed by the record company to free up storage space!!) and finally released. Both offerings are fantastic and a perfect soundtrack to the hustle n’ bustle of NYC. I admit I don’t listen to a much jazz as I use too (which my wife likes to remind me noticeably a lot) but such releases remind me a glorious age the American bebop/hard bop era truly is and why I should be listening more again.
Tuffy – Lighting Things On Fire (BF Collective) – Brooklyn power trio Tuffy setting the planet ablaze with 15 songs of witty, indie pop brilliance. Front-woman, Yasmin Dalisay will coquettishly enrapture you were Tanya Donelly-ish vocals. The title track and “Into the Mouth of Everything” are just a few tunes that keeps my broken ears happy and my foot tapping.
Verbal Assault – The Trial Reissue (Atomic Action)– when originally released 31 years ago by this Providence, RI band, this album changed the face of hardcore in so many ways and has stood the test of time mostly, at least for me, because it was such a vast improvement over the bands first release just a year prior on 1986’s Learn. All the tracks were re-mastered but in my opinion, didn’t need to be as lead singer’s Christopher Jones’ 10 second vocal hang in the opening track (starting at the 1:42 mark: ) still gives me goosebumps, while the guitar work throughout is still both spearheading and avant garde for a hardcore release from so long ago, even without the piano in “Scared”.
Terror – Total Retaliation (Pure Noise Records) – Buffalo native Scott Vogel (Buried Alive, Despair, Slugfest, World Be Free) and team sizzle up 13 songs of brutal hardcore straight outta Los Angeles. After 16 years the band still sounds urgent, aggressive and energized with breakdowns that gets you through a frustrating day or challenging workout. “Get Off My Back” ‘Mental Demolition” and “One More Enemy” pack some serious kick to the nuts.
Sleep – The Sciences (Third Man Records) – After 15 years, this San Jose, CA Doom Metal trio return with this 6 song EP. While I suffer a serious case of “jellobiafaraitis” when it comes to the vocals, the heavy, fuzzed out sludgy music makes up for the former’s shortcomings. “Marijuanaut’s Theme” and “Sonic Titan” catch my fancy.
No Sleep – Bring the Light (Reaper Records) – Since we are on the topic of sleep, Hardcore vocalist legend, Dave Smalley ( Dag Nasty, DYS, Down By Law, ALL) leads this Washington DC/Harrisburg, PA melodic hardcore outfit. These 3 songs have a real late Dag NastyField Day or even Minority of One release feel. Looking forward to more offerings by this band.
Finally, hats off to New Jersey’ indie rock darlings TheBrixton Riot for doing a killer cover of Echo and the Bunnymen’s “Bring on the Dancing Horses” for Mint 400’s At The Movies compilation. The band managed to keep true to the original while adding their own unique flare and I can’t think of anyone other than vocalist-guitarist Jerry Lardieri’s that can vocally knock this song out of the ball park. And boy did he…..
Even the video has a cool, nostalgic 80’s vibe and is also gosh darn cute….Beautifully done boys. xo
EDITED TO ADD: Of course something is always overlooked…..how did I ever forget Weezer’s insanely good cover of Toto’s 1982 hit, “Africa”?
Sooo, what have I been listening to as of late…..?
Well, for starters and definitely a no-brainer, I have been gobbling up the new Buffalo Tom release, Quiet and Peace by the plateful. Released as an early present on Christmas Eve 2017 to all those Pledge Music band donatees and finally released to the masses earlier this month with some extra bonus tracks, my Boston heroes have proven once again that they still have a lot of shake left in their tush with this solid release. Such stand out tracks like “All Be Gone”, the Big-Star-ish flirtations of “Roman Cars”, “Freckles” to 1998’s Smitten feel of “Least That We Can Do” and the Brit-Pop lyrical positivity of “Slow Down”, there are many great tunes to be found here that blend well with the rest of their discography. My pal Jerry Lardieri of NJ sensation The Brixton Riot is going to guest spot a more in depth review of album in the near future (right Jerr?).
So what else, oh….been becoming re-acquainted with Memphis, Tennessee’s “alt-country” kings, Lucero, especially since missing a recent acoustic gig by front-man Ben Nichols at Garwood, NJ’s Crossroads recently. I find myself returning to such great records as 2009’s 1372 Overton Park and 2002’s Tennesseemore often.
Also lately (re-) discovering Gainesville, Fla. punk-n-roll heroes, Hot Water Music in a major way. Heard a lot about them over the years and took a dive with their album A Flight and a Crash (2001) back in the day , which in hindsight, was the wrong place to start. After multiple false starts, I hastily and unfairly chalked up the band as meh and moved along. And then with a lot of nudging from Snapcase front man Daryl Taberski, I slowly discovered the absolute beauty the band has to offer with such records as Caution(2002), No Division (1999) and their first release Finding the Rhythms(1995), which kicked my ass upon first listen on a 7 mile weekend run. Their latest offering, Light It Up (2017) rocks and they even release a couple of awesome live albums (Chicago and at their hometown Hardback Cafe) the same year. Not sure what took so long but I am now an official convert!
Unfortunately The latest Superchunk, What A Time To Be Alive (2018) is predictable, quick and uneventful, at least for me. Some songs like “Lost My Brain” and title track aren’t too shabby, but I’ll take Foolish (1994), And Here’s Where the Strings Come In (1995), even Majesty Shredding (2010) over this new offering.
The latest offering by ex-Gaslight Anthem front-man Brian Fallon, Sleepwalkers (2018), is pretty decent. The three singles released up to the album debut, “Forget Me Not,” See You On the Side” and “If Your Prayers Don’t Get To Heaven,” all solidly rock, but other tracks like “Etta James”, “Little Nightmares” and “Her Majesty’s Service”, to name just a few, all hold their weight. Fallon sounds much more comfortable and confident with this sophomore effort when compared to his premier solo efforts Painkillers(2016), which is a great album, but does sound like he is trying to find his footing at times.
Tripped over a cool Spotify Sessions with Weezer playing a number of acoustic tracks that span their career. After last years disastrous release, Pacific Daydream, it is refreshing to hear their old songs stripped down. I love the band best when they stop trying so hard to not take themselves seriously.
Also rocking out to The Bouncing Souls a lot these days and good timing with the recent acoustic set announced at Crossroads recently. This awesome club just 15 minutes from my house is having a lot a great shows lately….Dag Nasty (with Shawn on vocals) is coming up on March with three nights with The Menzingers a few weeks ago…with more punk-based shows to come!
I am sure this going to sound very “America-centric” but when I think of straight edge, posi-core bands the last place I tend to think is well….nowhere else on the planet except for the USA, which is clearly my bad. But the genre is internationally alive and kicking and in full force, especially in the UK and especially in cities like Manchester where bands like The Smiths, Oasis, Joy Division and The Stone Roses come to mind but not bands like Insist. Such bands are bringing back the posi-core sound of 80’s and 90’s which is definitely a breath of fresh air with so many American bands beating the dead Hate Breed horse to death with the dark, metallic flirtations and modulated vocals, all while draped in black clothing.
Not that metallic hardcore is bad, in fact I recently discovered Brooklyn’s Incendiary with their latest release Thousand Mile Stare which has very in your face Inside out/Rage Against the Machine groove/vocal metallic vibe.
Speaking of new bands that are replicating the awesome sounds of yesterday, Los Angeles’ Fireburn is another “Super Group” and the legendary Bad Brains reincarnate for a new generation of kids with their hardcore punk/reggae dub sound. But despite the glaring similarities, the former still refreshingly rock.
I also finally got around to listening to the band Bane (I know, weird right?) and love their debut record, 1998’s Holding This Moment.
One band/album that I always missed and could never find for years is BL’AST “In My Blood” (1987) which use to kick me square in the balls every time my younger self listened to it. It sounded so later Black Flag-ish too the point that Henry Rollins and Greg Ginn allegedly hated them so much that the latter still released iton the infamous hot mess label, SST Records. Lo and Behold, it is apparently Dave Grohl’s (yeah, that fucker) favorite record too from back in the Scream days and he remixed it a few years ago, stripping it down to what BL’AST would sound (driving and loud) and releasing it under the name Blood!I may give Grohl shit but man, he and the band teamed up and nailed this project perfectly with this re-release. Check out this cool video of the project and original recording below.
My other pal, Mark Segal (of NJ powerhouse, Atom Driver ) turned me on to the Brooklyn punk sensation The Royal They with his own recent Reviewstalker.com review. Holy fuck moly this band is good and their latest release, Foreign Being has already made it on my top of 2018 list.
Finally, more Brooklyn bias as power duo Tuffy returns with another killer release, Lighting Things On Fire with 15 songs of witty, indie pop brilliance. Like her days of Bear Trap, I can listen to front woman’s Yasmin Dalisay sing soft and sultry all day….
Until next time, enjoy the Spotify Playlist below with songs from the bands above ! xoxo
Ladies and Gentlemen, I humbly present to you part 2 of 2…..
I have updated the Spotify playlist from Part I to include songs from each of the bands below…..see below it is now COMPLETE.
I am now stuffed, sun-burned and enlightened, hence I shall deep dive back into the musical past…but from what I heard with some early musical releases by the likes of Buffalo Tom (GODS), Superchunk, Brian Fallon, Mudhoney, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Royal They, among others, sounding like 2018 is going to be a kick butt musical year!
Will find you at the tail end…
17. Iron Chic – You Can’t Stay Here- I accidentally stumbled upon this band via Spotify following a Gaslight Anthem playlist with their “hit” “Cutesy Monster” while shopping at a Wegmans in a far away, foreign NJ town while waiting out a birthday party my son was attending. The Menzinger’s nuttier first cousin from Long Island, NY, this punk -n- roll band makes a surprising return after some testing personal challenges with this new release. I can’t get enough of the song “You Can’t Stay Safe.”
18. Matthew Ryan – Hustle Up Starlings – a solid release from this Pennsylvania bred veteran whom I first heard sharing the same stage at a Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem, The Horrible Crowes) acoustic show. While it doesn’t kick me as square in the groin like 2014’s Boxers, a lot of ground is made up with songs like “(I Just Died) Like an Aviator.” and the beautifully chilling “Maybe, I’ll Just Disappear”.
19. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Who Built the Moon? –/Liam Gallagher – As You Were –TheGallagher brothers automatically make my list for numerous reason- OASIS, their working class bravado, their worship for Man City, etc. The usual warring siblings apparently have buried the hatchet (though I strongly suspect it is part of a larger conspiracy), but you would never guess it from listening to younger Liam’s debut solo release, who clearly has/had a serious bones to pick with his older brother. While the British Press is eating it up, Paul Weller (legendary front man for the Jam) and I agree the music it is just more Beady Eye (dressed in a shorter skirt), Liam’s first post-Oasis effort that had inspirations for the stars but never quite made it out of the stratosphere to crash and burn. Songs like “For What It’s Worth” and “Greedy Soul” aren’t too shabby. On the other hand, after two albums of Oasis-tinged guitar rock, Noel Gallagher decides to explore some of his other musical interest and have fun with this latest offering. “Holy Mountain”, “Black and White Sunshine” and “Dead In the Water” are some of the songs I gravitate towards. Ultimately, nothing mind-blowing from either brother which gives further proof for them to cut the shit, re-unite Oasis and conquer the universe.
20. The 65s – Wolves And Men – This 2 song EP from this Lyndhurst, NJ band continues to proves they are veterans in playing rock music properly since 2009 – that is, heavy, loud and raw. I really dig the song “As My Body Numbs.”
22. Battery – For the Rejected by the Rejected – After a 20 year hiatus, this nation’s capital “youth crew” who I have seen live many times return with more straight ahead blazing hardcore with some gut-chuckling song titles (“Has Been”, “Go Back to the Gym”). Another great gym workout motivator.
24. Morrissey-Low In High School –Similar to 2014’s World Peace Is None of Your Business, Moz’s latest release wasn’t designed to win over a huge legion of new fans and quite possibly an (deliberate?) effort to shave off a couple of layers of old. Rather, it is for us die-hard fans that will blindly defend him to death with one eye while rolling the other at his ongoing antics. But dig deep and you find some gems, like the opening track, “My Love, I’d Do Anything for You”, along “I Wish you Lonely” and “Jacky’s Only Happy When She is Up On the Stage.” More importantly, Morrissey remains what we all love about him – brutally honest, beautifully brilliant,Wildeanly witty and at times, annoyingly infuriating. It is unfortunate that many critics allow their own biases get in the way, frustrated that they can’t pigeonhole the Mancunian God into a neatly social/political package with a bow, hence taking swipes at his art.
25. French Postcard –Misc. –another SOMA NJ band turning heads with kick-ass music with their heavy dream-swirl, fuzz-gaze, psych-rock approach to their art, resulting in many fine tunes. (Bandcamp only: https://frenchpostcard.bandcamp.com/).
26. Quicksand – Interiors – Despite the original band lineup, not sure what makes this a “new album” from these NYHC post-hardcore kings since the music lost a lot of that relied upon “groove” found perfectly on 1990’s S/T, 1993’s Slip and 1995’s Manic Compression. Front-man Walter Schreifels is singing more like he is in Rivals Schools or Walking Concert and is still hooked on his guitar effect pedals he discovered in Dead Heavens. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great record and one of 2017’s best releases, just not very Quicksand, IMHO, and if someone played it for me with out disclosing the band, I would immediately recognize Walter’ vocals for just another one of many of his projects. If you approach Interiors album like, let’s say the latest Star Wars film, it is definitely a decent, fun release, just don’t ask too many questions.
27. Nihiloceros — S/T- from the ashes of the fab Samantha (RIP) comes Brooklyn’s finest moment in “Trash Pop.” Their debut 5 song EP showcases heavy rocking, pumping, fun songs that will put a shake in your rump and a pep in your promenading. Front man Mike Borchardt and Co. sounds like they are having a blast and the last laugh at the same time.
28. The National – Sleep Well Beast – Like Radiohead, I consider The National a “mood band”, an interesting phenomena where 1.) no other music is working, 2.) hear a “mood band” 3.)have an epiphany that it was the”mood band” you were craving but would have never figured it out unless you heard them. Interestingly, this baby steps, better than expected release from this Ohio born band has many Kid A/Amnesiac noise flirtations scattered throughout, with songs like, “Turtleneck” and “No One Else Will Be There” and “Day I Die” being some of the many standouts with the latter tune easily fitting nicely on 2013’s Trouble Will Find Me.
29. Plaid Dracula – Plaid Sabbath – ThisBrooklyn, NY fuzz drenched glam rock trio are taken no prisoners with their this 3 song EP release. Their song “Bitch Cannon III” is worth the price of admission alone. If still too much, just steal it….it’s worth the jail time….
30. Dead Stars – Perfect Patterns – The Brooklyn, NY trio continue their straight forward, 12 song barrage of fuzzed out pop that doesn’t miss a note from last years Bright Colors. Songs like “Precious Things” and “Pink Clouds” will have your foot tapping and head bobbing.
31. Husker Du -Savage Young Du – a huge 4 LP/3 CDs release (with massive amounts of photos, a hardcover book, “flyerography” and even reported matching packing tape) of remastered, original board tapes, demos, and session masters before the St. Paul (you heard me right) trio landed on the infamous SST Records. Too many good songs to choose from, so be my guess…
32 . Atom Driver -Slack Jaw – For fans of the West Coast, Rocket From the Crypt/Night Marchers (hey Jay!),/Drive Like Jehu thingy, this New Brunswick, NJ super-group trio banded in 2016 and already offering you this ball-crushing 5 song EP of post-punk mayhem that knocks the wind out of you and have you begging for more. Don’t believe me…try songs like “Slack Jaw” and “Hate Me Now.” And if that aint enough, check out their other ass-whupping 2017 released EP, In The West, on Bandcamp:(https://atomdriver.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-west).
Ok…ready for it….and yes, I saved for last on purpose.
33. U2 – Songs of Experience –yeah no shit, I can’t even believe it made the list either but after multiple listens, something finally clicked in the middle of a 10 mile run, which reminded of similar click with the same said band 30+ years ago, when I openly despised them at Red Rocks and adored them by Live Aid 85, which made me realize that my perspective may have been stubbornly a tad off after so much recent bouts of disappointment. Yes, ridiculously over-produced, but if you can manage to look beyond the shimmering packaging, the borderline electronic drums that I can’t even believe Larry Mullen Jr. allowed to be released, the obvious band boardroom scheming with their marketing team and attorneys close by, and finally the Rolling Stone Magazine $Blind$ Protectionism (they have payroll to meet, you know), songs like “Get Out of Your Own Way” into “American Soul”, “The Showman” and “Red Flag Day” are decent and will fit in nicely with their 35 year backlog. Not sure how much I will listen to this latest offering, but I can’t honestly keep ripping on a band when I sometimes have two delay pedals on my pedal board, nor can I play favorites with the kids and turn a blind eye to adore the vain antics of Stephen Patrick while pretending to tsk tskPaul for doing the same. Besides, their anthem “With Or Without You” is etched into the bottom of my soul as it was on the car radio 30 years ago when I first learned of the eventual inevitable passing of my mom, marking the first and only time I ever cried about it and still makes me think of that moment every time I’ve heard it since. And being an 1/2 Mick, it is definitely an Irish thang….
At least maybe I can ween my boys off Coldplay with this offering…who knows….
ALBUM REVIEW: Brian Fallon, frontman for the Gaslight Anthem (GLA), always spoke in interviews of what to musically expect with each new upcoming GLA album. Ironically, every time he declared the band was taking their sound in a bold, new direction, they delivered yet another kick ass collection of familiar “punk-n-roll soul” with gritty, Ness meets Petty vocals.
This time around discussing Get Hurt, their fifth full length release, Fallon spoke about the wonder of some bands that drastically changed their sound and live to talk about it, a very risky move that often doesn’t end pretty for rock bands. Get Hurt is by no means Achtung Baby or Kid A but for GLA it is. Unlike their peers in the National and the Hold Steady, both recently releasing great but “safe” albums, in efforts to reach the next level of rockdom, it seems GLA courageously said “fuck that” and decided to shake things up a bit. The Garden State darlings finally kept their word, grew a pair and took the plunge, interestingly at a time when they too are eyeing that same rockdom and should play it safe. Audacious? Ballsy? Yup…I agree.
Quite simply, Get Hurt is far more rock and far less punk, more Petty and less Ness, full of ambitious, stadium size anthems with the band trying to live up to their very name. Sure you have the traditional punkish ferocity of “Rollin’ And Tumblin” that still packs a similar punch like “1930” does on their 2007 debut album Sink or Swim or “Orphans” on 2012’s American Slang, but is also the closest “typical” GLA song on the entire album and smack right in the middle of the playlist, reminding their fans that they didn’t forget where they come from and still punk as fuck. The intriguing title track sounds like a scrubbed up, leftover Horrible Crowes (Fallon’s side project, check out their excellent debut record, Elsie) number that is just begging for radio play. Other standout tracks include “1,000 Years,” “Helter Skeleton,” “Selected Poems” “Stay Vicious” and “Dark Places” (my favorite track thus far).
But yet again, perhaps both GLA and their fans should have seen it coming since it isn’t like the band didn’t flirt with different ground before . Mixing punk driven rock with 50’s sha la la’s and 60’s R&B groove has been constant in their music since 2008’s The 59 Sound (their second full length release). Or check out the Cure-ish “Old White Lincoln “on the same album. Then try listening to “Get Hurt” and “Here Comes My Man” from 2012’s Handwritten back to back. Pretty complimentary if you ask me. One could even argue that the band has already been mildly indulging in experimentation with 2008’s Senor and the Queen EP since the recording has a much different, almost disjointed feel to it despite decent songs (especially “Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts.”).
Overall Get Hurt is a solid effort and, I will say it again, a ballsy move by a band whose engines have been noticeably sputtering a tad bit on their last 2 releases. If you are looking for the blue collar punk of the past you may be let down but I am kind of relieved GLA sound has pleasantly aged and matured from the first time I saw them at Asbury Park’s Stone Pony on their 59 Sound tour and from the New Brunswick basement scene where they hatched. Will GLA fans get hurt with this new release? If you grow a pair, dive in like the band did maybe you will suffer some scrapes or a bruise at most…and pleasantly so.
MUSIC NEWS: We recently started a NJ/NY rock shows page on the Review Stalker music blog ( oh hey that’s us) so we can keep track of everything we get invited to go to on our facebooks and are normally missing out on. This month there’s about 10 shows we think you should check out by Lightouts, Brian Fallon, Man Man, Black Wine,Dave House, Shayfer James,Greg D,Reagan Youth, Social Decay,Wharton Tiers Ensemble, Unbutton, Risk Relay and a whole ton more. Check out the shows page!
In other rock news this week: Vivians Girls have decided to call it quits as the cute factor has worn off and their new bands are much better with this whole playing guitar business. They booked two ALL AGES shows as a see ya later as noted on their website. The first will be on February 14th at The Church on York in LA. The second will be on March 1st at Death by Audio in Brooklyn. Now shall begin more in-breeding in brooklyn with more off-shoots and who knows what. Also as FYI if you google Vivian’s girls plural you will get a dominatrix website.
On January 14, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s open internet rules, commonly known as “Net Neutrality” because ISPs are not classified as “common carriers”. This ruling allows ISPs to charge companies for access to its users and charge users for access to certain services. Fewer companies will be able to afford access for innovative ideas and products. Which mean the big media agencies can charge you more for our already sucky bandwidth and choose which website get a faster speeds and connectivity. You should be fucking Pissed about this so help restore Net Neutrality now!
As reported in Guardian/UK Noel Gallager reviewed Oasis videos and guess what? He hates them all! Not a surprise. He’ll be the first rock star to fire himself from his band because of artistic differences I’m sure in future.
BIG TAKEOVER – Heading Towards A Shallow Grave: New York’s Nepotistic Music Scene: New York’s punk scene love itself too much by Cody Conard. There is reason we really don’t know who is who anymore or why bands sorta all sound alike. Cody goes into some details in this rant.
Apparently there was a “Last show” at some place called 285 Kent and Brandon Stosuy from Pitchfork can be heard crying all over the streets of Brooklyn or complaining about people not curbing their dogs. It’s a sad world when a grown man cries for no apparent reason. (as heard on twitter). This is the Yipsters 911.
Just when Vinyl reports record sales because new music lovers are digging the experience of handling the wax. Dr Dre launches beats meusic yet another streaming service! The ironic thing is a lot of hip fans are super into fidelity so is streaming some shitty bit rate gonna cut-it? Check out the article by Brad Wheeler on Why the reports of vinyl’s death are greatly exaggerated.
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