Album Review: Desperate Ground

Title:  Desperate Ground (Saddle Creek Records, Amazon, iTunes, Interpunk, AllMusic)

Artist:  The Thermals (Official, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

The Thermals sixth album, Desperate Ground, sees the band returning to the ultra-stripped down and lo-fi power pop of their first two records More Parts Per Million and Fuckin’ A.  As with anything that The Thermals release, Desperate Ground is filled with extremely catchy songs that straddle the power pop, punk, and indie rock genres creating that perfect blend of Weezer, The Clash, and Sebadoh.  This time around though, the songs lean more towards the band’s rawer influences, giving Desperate Ground a sense of renewed energy and urgency.    

Album Review: The Bronx (IV)

Title:  The Bronx (IV) (Amazon, iTunes, Interpunk, AllMusic)
Artist:  The Bronx (Official, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, BandCamp, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia) 

The Bronx plays a fascinating mix of early rock ‘n’ roll (ala The Rolling Stones), garage rock (ala Electric Frankenstein, especially in the vocals), and punk (ala Hot Water Music) with a dash of southern rock (ala Lynyrd Skynyrd) thrown in for good measure.  The band’s fourth album is a blast of punk fueled rock anthems that are driven as much, if not more, by their hooks than their ferocity.  The record’s best moments are the ones that sound like they should be rock radio’s anthems of the summer; in other words “Along for the Ride,” “Youth Wasted,” Pilot Light,” “Ribcage,” “Valley Heat,” and “Last Revelation” all should be huge hits because are that good.  This record is a must for fans of ballsy rock anthems.  

Currently Listening

1.  “Wanted Sometimes” by Big Eyes (from Almost Famous)

2.  “Might We Dance” by Druglords of the Avenues (from New Drugs)

3.  “Valerie is Getting Married” by Masked Intruder (from The Wedding 7”)

4.  “Get Low” by Plow United (from Marching Band)

5.  “Dinosaur Treadmill” by Invisible Hand (from Songs In The Key Of Bob)

6.  “Failure” by Arliss Nancy (from Simple Machines)

7.  “Nothing To Say” by Run, Forever (from Settling)

8.  “Just Me” by Val Ventura (from Sun Down California EP)

9.  “Youth Wasted” by The Bronx (from The Bronx IV)

10.  “Take Me Out” by Off With Their Heads (from Home)

Top 20 Albums of 1993

In 1993, the alternative music boom was entering its second year of existence and the musical landscape was in a bit of a transitional period.  For the most part, longstanding underground acts like Dinosaur Jr. and The Lemonheads and groups made up of scene veterans like The Breeders and Belly were still getting picked up and pushed by the major labels.  At the same time, the majors were starting to learn how to manufacture their own “alternative” bands without having to dive into, what I’m sure the executives saw as the ugly, the underground scene (the first such band being Stone Temple Pilots whose debut Core was released in late 1992 and from which they scored more than a few hit singles in 1993; bands such as STP and Candlebox [who I admittedly like] were a sign of what was to come).  Despite being a time in flux (not only in the music industry, but also in my own life…I graduated high school that year), 1993 produced some stellar albums (including my personal all-time favorite).  You can also check out similar lists that I put together for the years 1991 and 1992.

20.  Become What You Are by The Juliana Hatfield Three

19.  Saturation by Urge Overkill

18.  Last Splash by The Breeders

17.  Sound of White Noise by Anthrax

16.  In Utero by Nirvana

15.  Four by Seaweed

14.  Icky Mettle by Archers of Loaf  

13.  On the Mouth by Superchunk  

12.  Kerosene Hat by Cracker

11.  Recipe for Hate by Bad Religion

10.  Come On Feel The Lemonheads by The Lemonheads

9.  Out the Shizzy by 7 Seconds

8.  In On The Kill Taker by Fugazi

7.  Where You Been by Dinosaur Jr.

6.  Transmissions From The Satellite Heart by The Flaming Lips

5.  Vs. by Pearl Jam

4.  Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins

3.  Superstar Car Wash by Goo Goo Dolls

2.  Big Red Letter Day by Buffalo Tom

1.  Breaking Things by ALL

Other Notable Releases  –

Camels, Spilled Corona And The Sound Of Mariachi Bands by J Church  

Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell by Meat Loaf

August And Everything After by Counting Crows

Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs

Laid by James

Wiggle by Screeching Weasel

Anthem for a New Tomorrow by Screeching Weasel

Candlebox by Candlebox

14 Songs by Paul Westerberg

Is It ... Man or Astroman? by Man or Astro-man?

Vampire on Titus by Guided by Voices

So Tonight That I Might See by Mazy Star

Black Sunday by Cypress Hill

Star by Belly

Slip by Quicksand

19 Naughty III by Naughty by Nature

Mr. Machinery Operator by fIREHOSE

Stain by Living Colour

Frank Black by Frank Black

This Time by Dwight Yoakam

Beaster by Sugar

The Full-Custom Gospel Sounds of the Reverend Horton Heat by The Reverend Horton Heat

Republic by New Order

Rancid by Rancid

Pottymouth by Bratmobile

Exile in Guyville by Liz Phair

Chrome by Catherine Wheel

Mexican Moon by Concrete Blonde

Doggystyle by Snoop Doggy Dogg

Currently Listening

1.  “The Other Side of Lonesome” by Lucero (from Texas & Tennessee)

2.  “Randy’s Getting Married” by Dan Vapid & The Cheats (from The Wedding 7”)

3.  “Just Me” by Val Ventura (from Sun Down California EP)

4.  “Failure” by Arliss Nancy (from Simple Machines)

5.  “Hooray for the Holidays” by Druglords of the Avenues (from New Drugs)

6.  “Across State Lines” by Face To Face (from Three Chords and a Half Truth)

7.  “Southern Belle” by Radio Reds (from Southern Belle)

8.  “Next Five Minutes” by Plow United (from Marching Band)

9.  “Tell You Why” by The Gateway District (from Old Wild Hearts)

10.  “In My Time Alone” by Crimes (from Crimes)

EP Review: Texas & Tennessee

Title:  Texas & Tennessee (Official, Amazon, iTunes)

Artist:  Lucero (Official, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Lucero’s latest EP Texas & Tennessee is an instant classic.  This four song collection is a prime example of how great this band can be.  On the heals of 2012’s Women & Work, Texas & Tennessee puts back some of the edge and bite that was missing from last year’s full-length back into the mix.  This EP encompasses everything that is great about Lucero – lovelorn and whiskey soaked lyrics; music that perfectly blends southern rock, country, and soul played with the heart of classic punk; and production that sounds great without sounding slick.  This is the kind of record that I can listen to over and over and over again and never grow tired of hearing.  Do yourself a favor and get this EP.    

EP Review: The Wedding 7”

Title:  The Wedding 7” (Solidarity Recordings, BandCamp [Solidarity], Amazon, iTunes, Interpunk)

Artists:  Masked Intruder (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, BandCamp, Last.fm, Fat Wreck Chords); Dan Vapid and The Cheats (Official, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, BandCamp, Last.fm)

What do you get when two of the best pop punk / power pop bands in the world get together and put out a split seven inch EP in honor of a mutual friend’s upcoming wedding?  Absolute brilliance, that’s what.  On this split EP, Masked Intruder and Dan Vapid and The Cheat have each written a song for Solidarity Recordings’ Randy’s July wedding.  Both songs are the typically fantastic mix of pop punk and power pop that you would expect from these two bands.  In fact, this EP is a must for fans of these bands and the pop punk and power pop genres in general.  Yes it is that damn good! 

Currently Listening

1.  “Sequestered in Memphis” by The Hold steady (from Stay Positive)

2.  “Front Seat” by Arliss Nancy (from Simple Machines)

3.  “Let’s Talk” by Flashlights (from Don’t Take Me Seriously EP)

4.  “Where I Stand” by The Thermals (from Desperate Ground)

5.  “Next Five Minutes” by Plow United (from Marching Band)

6.  “Party Favors” by Lawnmower (from Whack Yer Brain)

7.  “Across State Lines” by Face To Face (from Three Chords And A Half Truth)

8.  “Golden Rust” by Limber Limbs (from Limber Limbs EP)

9.  “Less Rest for the Restless” by Iron Chic (from Spooky Action)

10.  “Time Machine” by Frank Turner (from Tape Deck Heart [Deluxe Edition])

EP Review: Crimes

Title:  Crimes (Limited Run [Black Numbers], BandCamp [Black Numbers])

Artists:  Crimes (Facebook, Twitter, Stereokiller, Black Numbers Records)

Every once in a while a band will come along with a release that grabs you from the opening notes and leaves you with your jaw on the floor wondering where in the hell this pure brilliance has been hiding.  That’s exactly how I felt listening to Crimes self-titled EP.  Simply put, this four song EP is nothing short of perfect with songs that blend hooks with big choruses, heartfelt vocals, and that perfect mix of rock, punk, post hardcore, and power pop.  Crimes is the kind of release that could easily be loved by fans from all over the rock ‘n’ roll landscape.  Fans of Avail, Hot Water Music, The Menzingers, Social Distortion, Seaweed, Hum, Doughboys, Cheap Girls, Samiam, Dead To Me, and just about everything in-between need to get this EP because it very well may be the best thing to come out this year.        

Top 13 Manchester/Baggy/Shoegazing Bands

In the late 1980s and early 1990s a slew of bands sprang up in Europe that mixed elements of ‘60s psychedelia, acid house, power pop, and rock, taking influence from acts such as New Order, The Smiths, and The Jesus & Mary Chain.  The scene’s success peaked in ’91 and subsequently disappeared after the Nirvana explosion.  Some bands that had started as part of this scene (Blur and Oasis for example) went on to be part of what became known as Britpop. 

In recent years there has been a bit of a shoegazing revival with artist like Tiger High, R.M. Hendrix, Mean Tom, Easter Island, La Sera, and Eux Autres bringing the sound to a new generation.  For the purposes of this list, I am focusing only on the bands that were active in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s. 

For more information on these sub-genres, checkout out the following articles on Wikipedia:  Manchester, Baggy, Shoegazing, and Britpop. 

1.  Ned’s Atomic Dustbin

2.  Jesus Jones

3.  The Soup Dragons

4.  The Charlatans UK

5.  EMF

6.  The Ocean Blue

7.  The Farm

8.  Inspiral Carpets

9.  Happy Mondays

10.  Blur

11.  The Dylans

12.  Chapterhouse

13.  Oasis