Video of the Day

"Mr.Edison Take Your Medicine" by The Pavers

EP Review: Stole The TV

Title:  Stole The TV (Amazon, Interpunk)

Artist:  The Bombpops (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Last.fm, ReverbNation)

Stole The TV is an excellent four-song pop punk EP from The Bombpops.  The songs are, sonicly at least, in the vein of Tsunami Bomb and NOFX (especially where the drumming [NOFX] and vocals [TB] are concerned).  The best moment is the closing track "Crazy," a song that is just too catchy for its own good.  I’m looking forward to seeing what this band comes up with next.  

Currently Listening

1. “Bed for the Scraping” by Fugazi (from Red Medicine)
2. “Burning Too” by Fugazi (from 13 Songs)
3. “Bodies” by The GC5 (from Kisses from Hanoi/Horseshoes & Handgrenades)
4. “Dead Ends” by The GC5 (from Never Bet the Devil Your Head)
5. “Mutilate Me” by Teenage Bottlerocket (from Mutilate Me)
6. “Having a Blast” by Teenage Bottlerocket (from Under the Influence, Vol. 4)
7. “Fatigue” by Frank Turner (from Sleep is for the Weak)
8. “Glory Hallelujah” by Frank Turner (from England Keep My Bones)
9. “Guilty Girls” by Buffalo Tom (from Skins Disc 1)
10. “Sunflower Suit” by Buffalo Tom (from A-Sides from Buffalo Tom: 1988-1999)

Video of the Day

"Swan Swan H" by R.E.M.

Album Review: We Are Strangers

Title:  We Are Strangers (Amazon)

Artist:  Me Talk Pretty (Official, Facebook, MySpace, Last.fm, ReverbNation, PureVolume, Wikipedia)

Me Talk Pretty is an emo-y rock band from New York City.  They released their full-length debut, We Are Strangers, earlier this year.  The record is a ten-song collection of passionate music that reminds me of Paramore and Evanescence.  The record’s production is good (but a little slick), the band is very tight, and Uliana Preotu’s vocals are powerful making this a record that I’m sure the kids will love. 

Me Talk Pretty will be headlining a show in Tulsa, OK at The Marquee on December 14^th.  The show will also include Madina Lake, Hell or Highwater, and New Years Day and is part of MTP’s Wake Up! Tour which the band describes as “a call to action to youth with the goal to inspire them to have a voice and find the tools to let themselves be heard.”  You can find out more about the tour here. 

Currently Listening

1.  “Falling to Pieces” by Faith No more (from This Is It, The Best of Faith No More)

2.  “Stay Beautiful” by Manic Street Preachers (from Generation Terrorists)

3.  “Talk Me to Sleep” by Red City Radio (from The Dangers of Standing Still)

4.  “Start With” by Seaweed (from Spanaway)

5.  “Between Planets” by The Jesus and Mary Chain (from Automatic)

6.  “Never Turn Your Back on Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Wretch Like Me (from Calling All Cars…)

7.  “Mutiny on the Electronic Bay” by Against Me! (from As the Eternal Cowboy)

8.  “Show Me Mary” by Catherine Wheel (from Chrome)

9.  “Once We Were Anarchists” by Frank Turner (from Sleep is for the Week)

10.  “My Quiet Lunch Breaks” by Great Cynics (from Don’t Need Much)

Video of the Day

"Happy" by Ned's Atomic Dustbin

Album Review: This Is Only A Test

Title:  This Is Only A Test (Amazon, iTunes, Interpunk, AllMusic)

Artist:  Smoking Popes (Official, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Smoking Popes latest album is a stellar example of an excellent band that is maturing in their songwriting and playing while still keeping the youthful spirit alive.  For example the song "Diary of a Teenage Tragedy" perfectly captures that emotions of a lonely high school nerd, then the songs "College" and "Punk Band" deal with issues of choosing a career, and then there is just the silly song "I've Got Mono."  The rest of the album deals with relationships and love ("Letter to Emily" and "Wish We Were"), living life to the fullest ("How Dangerous"), and growing up ("This In Only A Test"). 

While This Is Only A Test isn't a perfect record, it is a really, really, really, really good record that straddles the line between pop punk, indie rock, and power pop.  Longtime fans of Smoking Popes should thoroughly enjoy this album and fans of the likes of Sicko, The Thermals, and/or Alkaline Trio should definitely check out this record. 

Currently Listening

1.  “Eraser” by Banner Pilot (from Heart Beats Pacific)

2.  “Right as Rain” by Chuck Ragan (from Covering Ground)

3.  “All Your Friends” by Broadcaster (from Joyride)

4.  “C’mon Kid” by Dave Hause (from Resolutions)

5.  “Never Relief” by Dead To Me (from Moscow Penny Ante)

6.  “Redemption” by Frank Turner (from England Keep My Bones)

7.  “Mile Marker 141” by Hudson Falcons (from Dancing Underneath the Moonlight)

8.  “Satellite Number Eight” by Noise By Numbers (from Over Leavitt)

9.  “Free Time” by Samiam (from Trips)

10.  “Hold the Reins” by Wagers (from New Guilt)

Video of the Day

"It's A Wonderful Lie" by Paul Westerberg

Album Review: Osaka Ramones: Tribute to the Ramones

Title:  Osaka Ramones: Tribute to the Ramones (Amazon, iTunes, Interpunk, AllMusic)

Artist:  Shonen Knife (Official, Facebook, MySpace, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Shonen Knife can best be described as an all-girl Japanesse trio version of the Ramones so it is extremely fitting that they put together a tribute album to the NYC legends.  It's almost hard to believe but Shonen Knife have been rocking out for 30 years.  I first heard the band when they got press for being one of the opening bands for Nirvana's In Utero tour (along with The Breeders) and I saw the video for their song "Twist Barbie."  Needless to say I loved the song and ran out and got the album Let's Knife.  Over the years I lost track of the band (though my wife did track down a lot of their records a few years ago) but when I heard that they were putting together a Ramones tribute, I had to check it out. 

Osaka Ramones sounds pretty much exactly like I thought it would--like three Japanesse girls rocking out to the Ramones.  This is a must if you are a Shonen Knife fan and something that fans of the Ramones should also check out.   

Video of the Day

"Only" by Anthrax

Album Review: Elsie

Title:  Elsie (SideOneDummy Records, Amazon, iTunes, Interpunk, AllMusic)

Artist:  The Horrible Crowes (Official, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm, SideOneDummy Records, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

The Horrible Crowes will probably always be known as Brian Fallon's (of The Gaslight Anthem) other band.  And while there are similarities between the two bands, there are also distinct differences.  What is similar?  Both The Gaslight Anthem and The Horrible Crowes pull influences from early rock 'n' roll and soul music.  What is different?  The Horrible Crowes is much darker and slower.  Elsie is quite good but it is the kind of record that will take time for me to fully absorb and understand.  Standout moments include "Blood Loss," "Go Tell Everybody," and "Behold the Hurricane." 

Red City Radio Streaming New Split EP with The Gamits

Oklahoma City’s Red City Radio is streaming their upcoming split with Colorado’s The Gamits.  You can hear the EP here.  The EP sounds fantastic and I’m looking forward to getting it once it comes out. 

Thanks to Dying Scene for the find.    

Mental Health Break

Hardcore punk Legos.



Thanks to Dying Scene for the find.

They Stay Dead Cover Art of the Week Winner at Dying Scene

The cover of Edmond’s They Stay Dead’s latest EP Cursed has won the Cover Art of the Week poll at the punk news site Dying Scene.  The cover is now headed off to the Cover Art of the Month: November competition.  Congrats and good luck guys! 

You can read my review of Cursed here and my interviews with They Stay Dead’s Matt Owsley and Dave Klein here and here.

Video of the Day

"The Impression That I Get" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Album Review: Deep Into Dream

Title:  Deeper Into Dream (Amazon, iTunes, AllMusic)

Artist:  Ben Lee (Official, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Ben Lee's latest album Deeper Into Dream is a concept record that is the result of his research into dreams.  While still an indie pop record and very much in the traditional Ben Lee style, this record dark, trippier, and dare I say dreamier than his previous efforts.  Gone are the obvious pop of "Catch My Disease" and "I Love Pop Music" and I have to admit that I am disappointed at their absence but that's not to say that this isn't a good record, just one that has to grow on you.  At least that has been my reaction to it.  I've owned the CD for a few weeks and listened to quite a few times and it's only now on probably the 30th listen that the record is really sinking in. 

The record opens with clips of interviews from dream analysis interviews before launching into the title track, a sleepy track that right off the bat that Mr. Lee is taking things in a new direction.  The album's best moment is the beautifully lush "Pointless Beauty" with "Glue" and "Get Used to It" following close behind.  While this album lacks a knockout song, it is still a good outing that shows a new depth to Lee's music.

Currently Listening

1.  “Step On” by Happy Mondays (from Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches)

2.  “Naïve” by KMFDM (from Naïve)

3.  “Keep Waiting” by MeTalkPretty (from We Are Strangers)

4.  “TV Song” by Ministry (from Jesus Built My Hotrod)

5.  “The Cause” by NOFX (from Punk in Drublic)

6.  “Debonair” by The Afghan Whigs (from Gentlemen)

7.  “Breaking Down” by Armchair Martian (from Armchair Martian)

8.  “He Means It” by Bash & Pop (from Friday Night Is Killing Me)

9.  “Jawbreaker” by Candy Hearts (from Everything’s Amazing & Nobody’s Happy)

10.  “Minimum Wage is a Gateway Drug” by Dillinger Four (from Civil War)

Video of the Day

"White Trash Wedding" by The Dixie Chicks

Blast from the Past: 85/86

Title:  85/86 (Amazon, Wikipedia)

Artist:  Dag Nasty (Official, Facebook, MySpace, Last.fm, Dischord Records, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Dag Nasty was Brian Baker's post-Minor Threat, melodic hardcore band.  The band started with Baker on guitar, Colin Sears on drums, Roger Marbury on bass, and Shawn Brown on vocals.  The band recorded eight songs in one day at Inner Ear Studio that were to be part of the band's debut but Shawn left the band.  He was then replaced by former DYS (and future ALL and Down By Law) singer Dave Smalley.  The band went into the studio and recorded the seminal Can I Say but right before the band was to go on tour opening up for the Descendents, Smalley left the band and was replaced by Peter Cortner.  After the tour the band went into the studio and recorded the fabled Mango sessions.  The band broke up but reunited a few months later, joined by former Descendents bass player Doug Carrion and in 1987 recorded the Wig Out at Denko's album.  So within a two year period Dag Nasty went through two bass players, three lead singers, and recorded/released two classic albums. 

In 1991 Selfless Records released the 85/86 compilation which included the songs recorded with Brown on vocals (including two live tracks), the Mango sessions with Cortner on vocals, and two out takes from the Can I Say sessions with Smalley on vocals.  At the time these tracks weren't available on any other official release (most have been added to the re-issues of Can I Say and Wig Out... or part of the Dag with Shawn release). 

85/86 was the first Dag Nasty release that I ever purchased.  I found a copy of the cassette during one of my first trips to Music Dimensions in 1994.  I grabbed up the tape because at the time Dag Nasty releases were not that easy to find.  This was my first exposure to the band and what I remember about that first impression was how much Baker had influenced the sound of Minor Threat.  When you listen to those early Dag Nasty recordings, especially the ones with Brown, they really sound like what Minor Threat would have sounded like if they hadn't broken up after the Salad Days EP.  

Since 85/86 was introduction to the band, I got to know Brown's and Cortner's singing (the cassette did not include the Smalley tracks) so when I later picked up Can I Say it took me a bit to get used to Smalley's take on the songs.  Since then I've come to love all three of the singers and their different takes on these songs (for those who haven't heard Cortner's take on some of the Can I Say songs, I suggest searching for either the What If? sessions or the Healthy, Loud and Honest collection).  Sadly this collection is out of print, but as mentioned above most of this material is available elsewhere.  That having been said this is a great collection to have (especially since it is the only place that "Moni Q" is available and the only other place to get the Mango sessions version of "All Ages Show" is on the 20 Years of Dischord collection). 

Sadly Dag Nasty isn't as well known as fellow DC bands Minor Threat or Fugazi and that is a shame.  This band, in ever incarnation and on every album, was tight as bad-word and they produced some of the greatest and most underrated records in punk rock history.  If you are a fan of the likes of Minor Threat, Embrace (Ian MacKaye's post-Minor Threat, pre-Fugazi band), Fugazi, or Bad Religion then I highly suggest giving Dag Nasty a listen.

Album Review: North Sentinel Island

Title:  North Sentinel Island (Amazon, iTunes, Interpunk)

Artist:  The Copyrights (BandCamp, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

The Copyrights are one of the best pop punk bands going today.  Often labeled "Ramonescore," The Copyrights play a style of pop punk that obviously takes a lot from the NYC legends but they are far from a rip-off act.  In fact listening to their records I hear more Sinkhole and The Methadones than I do the Ramones or Screeching Weasel.  On top of that, this band is consistently good and that trend has continued with their latest release. 

North Sentinel Island is a blast of Midwestern pop punk brilliance that can easily stand up against anything produced by Screeching Weasel, Dillinger Four, or Alkaline Trio.  And like those later two bands, The Copyrights make their melodies and hooks sound fresh and unique.  What surprises me most about this record is that it isn't huge and the fact that some larger label hasn't scooped these guys up.  This is the band's third full-length for Red Scare Industries, one of the best labels around (despite the fact that, for whatever lame reason, the distribution company that Guestroom Records orders from does not carry their releases), but as good as they are, I'm completely shocked that a label like Fat Wreck Chords hasn't signed them. 

  

If you are a fan of bands like Teenage Bottlerocket, Noise By Numbers, Sinkhole, Banner Pilot, Dead To Me, Dillinger Four, or The Methadones then I HIGHLY suggest checking out North Sentinel Island.  Heck you should check out all of their records because I've yet to hear a bad one. 

Currently Listening

1.  “Whatever Happened To?” by Buzzcocks (from Singles Going Steady)

2.  “Pointless Beauty” by Ben Lee (from Deeper Into Dream)

3.  “Groovy Train” by The Farm (from Spartacus)

4.  “Stop Fighting” by No More (from Thought Crimes)

5.  “Knock Me Down” by Naked Raygun (from All Rise)

6.  “Peace, Love and Understanding” by Down By Law (from Before You Were Punk)

7.  “Crazy” by The Bombpops (from Stole The TV)

8.  “Happy Rain” by 7 Seconds (from Out the Shizzy)

9.  “Piggybank” by KMFDM (from Naïve)

10.  “Worn Out Passport” by The Copyrights (from North Sentinel Island)

Video of the Day

"Overtime" by D.O.A.

Album Spotlight: It’s Spooky To Be Young

Title:  It’s Spooky To Be Young (Amazon, iTunes, AllMusic)

Artist:  Meredith Meyer (Official, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Last.fm, AllMusic)

Meredith Meyer’s 2009 sophomore album is a lush and spacey experience accentuated by her sweet and sultry vocals.  The ten-song album is a dark experience filled with moody moments that work thanks to the beautiful vocals.  Meyer’s, an Oklahoma native, relocated to Los Angeles before ending up in Brooklyn, NY where she is currently working on her latest project, Young Unknowns. 

It’s Spooky To Be Young is an extremely beautiful sounding record despite the fact that it is dark both sonically and lyrically.  The music itself is the kind of indie pop that reminds me a lot of the likes of The Sundays and Mazzy Star.  The album’s standout moment is the moving “All Those Pictures.” 

Meyer will be playing the Opolis in Norman on November 25^th with Eureeka, Head Cabinets, and The Pizza Thieves.        

Video of the Day

"Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba

Currently Listening

1.  “Sweetmeat” by The Soup Dragons (from Lovegod)

2.  “Crush” by The Horrible Crows (from Elsie)

3.  “Smash It Up (Part II)” by The Damned (from Smash It Up – The Anthology 1967-1987 Disc 1)

4.  “Crazy” by The Bombpops (from Stole the TV)

5.  “Get Used to It” by Ben Lee (from Deeper Into Dream)

6.  “Never More Your Back Row” by The Copyrights (North Sentinel Island)

7.  “Groovy Train” by The Farm (from Spartacus)

8.  “Network” by No More (from Thought Crimes)

9.  “Mr. Pink” by Pegboy (from Earwig)

10.  “Screamager” by Therapy? (from Shortsharpshock EP)

My Top 10 All-Time Favorite Records

Anyone who's read this blog for any amount of time probably knows that I'm a sucker for lists.  Putting together a list of favorite bands or records or labels is just plain fun.  I love trying to figure out how I'd rank things.  Sometimes when doing these lists there are specific parameters (Top 5 Records of 2010, Top 24 Albums Released by Epitaph Records, and My Current Rotating Top 20 as examples).  Often when I make lists in regards to albums, I limit those to studio recordings excluding live and compilation records.  Well the truth is that some of my favorite CDs over the years have been live, compilation, and best-of records.  So I figured that it would be a fun challenge to put together a list of my favorite albums of all-time without limiting myself to studio records.  Some of these records have been with me since high school (one since junior high) and some I discovered within the last couple of years (one I found earlier this year).  As with anything, this is a snapshot of my tastes at this moment and will probably change at some point. 

10.  Complete Discography by Minor Threat

One of the first DIY, independent punk rock records that I purchased in high school was Minor Threat's self-titled cassette that collected that band's first two 7 inch EPs.  The music was loud and fast and positive.  This tape along with 7 Seconds' Walk Together, Rock Together, and the Descendents' Liveage laid the foundation for what punk rock means to me.  Before Minor Threat called it a day, they released one full-length album, Out of Step, and one additional EP, Salad Days, and it is those releases along with the material from the cassette and two tracks that appeared on the Flex Your Head compilation that were collected and released on CD as Complete Discography.  This CD is a must for any honest-to-goodness fan of punk rock.  Check out "Straight Edge," "Think Again," and "Salad Days."

9.  Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?: The Best of The Replacements by The Replacements

I first heard The Mats when I was a senior in high school and picked up a copy of their sophomore release, the EP Stink.  I immediately fell in love with the record (at the time it was a tape) but for whatever reason I stopped there.  Over the years I picked up copies of Tim, Pleased to Meet Me, and Don't Tell a Soul and while there were songs on each that I really liked, none of them stuck with me.  Then in 2006 Rhino released Don't You Know... which included two new songs (which were actually songs Paul Westerberg had written years ago but held on to in case The Mats ever got back together).  For whatever reason, this CD hit me like a ton of bricks and blew me away.  Since then I have tried to absorb every bit of Replacements' music possible (including both Westerberg's and Tommy Stinson's post-Mats work).  And even though I have copies of four of the band's releases, it's this CD that I go back to more than any other.  Check out "Within Your Reach," "Can't Hardly Wait," and "Message to the Boys."

8.  Out of Time by R.E.M. 

1991 was a great year for music and it also the year that saw R.E.M. get their first number one album.  Out of Time was an album that helped me through my sophomore and junior years of high school.  Most people will remember this record for "Losing My Religion" and/or "Shinny Happy People" but this album iis much, much, MUCH more than those two songs.  Check out my post Blast from the Past: Out of Time and "Me in Honey," "Country Feedback," and "Belong."

7.  Gold Country by Chuck Ragan

Chuck Ragan's 2009 sophomore album is nothing short of brilliant.  I picked up this CD earlier this year when I first started discovering his music and it has since spent many an hour in my CD player and on my MP3 player.  Ragan's rugged and rustic vocals have never sounded as good as they do here.  Check out my post CD Spotlight: Gold Country and "Done and Done," "For Goodness Sake," “Ole Diesel,” and "10 West."

6.  Primer by Drag the River

Primer is essentially a Drag the River best-of collection and is nothing short of alt country perfection.  What's amazing about this CD is that despite the fact that these songs come from a variety of records, it sounds and feels like a cohesive unit and that is something that speaks to the power of Drag the River's music.  Check out "Me & Joe Drove Out to California," “Beautiful and Damned,” and “Calloused Heart # 2.”

5.  The Only One by Roustabouts

OKC's mighty Roustabouts are not only one of the best bands that I have ever had the pleasure of seeing live, they are some of the nicest guys that I've had the honor to know.  The Only One is absolute punk rock perfection, perfectly mixing elements of street punk, pop punk, and post hardcore creating an extremely powerful and catchy record.  Check out my post CD Spotlight: The Only One.  Sadly there aren't any videos on YouTube of songs from this album. 

4.  Walk Together, Rock Together by 7 Seconds

I first heard 7 Seconds when the Tampa based radio show The Under Ground Circus: Chuckwagon played their cover of "99 Red Balloons" on an all-covers edition of the show.  I was already a fan of that song, but the 7 Seconds version blew me away.  Shortly there after I picked up a copy of Walk Together, Rock Together and was floored.  Here was a band that was not only bleeding energy but was singing about the same things that I was feeling as a junior in high school.  I still have the original cassette that I purchsed at Camelot Music in Lakeland, FL in 1992 (I also bought the Ramones self-titled debut on that day).  Check out my posts Blast from the Past: Walk Together, Rock Together and Albums That Shaped My Life: Walk Together, Rock Together and "99 Red Balloons," "Spread," and "Walk Together, Rock Together."

3.  Liveage by Descendents

I first heard the Descendents in the Christian Slater teen angst classic Pump Up the Volume.  Shortly after that a friend made me a tape that had Liveage on one side and the Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bullocks on the other.  The recording quality was pretty bad but the songs still blew me away.  This was the album that truly introduced me to the Descendents and to this day it contains my favorite versions of many of their classic songs.  Also this is one of the best live albums out there.  Check out my post Blast from the Past: Liveage and "Sour Grapes," "Clean Sheets," and "Silly Girl."

2.  Rattle & Hum by U2

U2's Rattle & Hum changed my life.  Specifically it was the video for the live version of "Pride (In the Name of Love)" that shook me to my core.  The year was 1988 and I was in the 8th grade.  Prior to Rattle & Hum I lived on a musical diet of hair metal and top 40 hip hop.  That didn't last for long after hearing U2.  I devoured Rattle & Hum as soon as I got the cassette and that year for Christmas I asked for all of the band's previous releases.  This band's music and message spoke so loudly to me that for a time I couldn't hear anything else.  U2 opened the door for me and through that door I found R.E.M., INXS, Midnight Oil, The Ocean Blue, and The Cure which eventually lead me to the likes of 7 Seconds, Minor Threat, and the Descendents.  Check out "Hawkmoon 269," "All I Want Is You," and "Pride (In the Name of Love)."

1.  Breaking Things by ALL

While U2 changed my life and 7 Seconds seemed to sing what I was feeling, ALL, more than any other band, feels like family.  I first heard of ALL when I was a freshman at OU.  It was geography class and I had befriended another fan of punk rock and one day after class he told me that ALL was going to be playing at Rome in Norman.  I'd seen the flyers for the show but didn't know who ALL was and when he explained that they were the Descendents with a different singer, I immediately took note.  Sadly I missed that show but it wasn't too long after that that I picked up the band's latest album Breaking Things and was instantly a fan.  These were some of the catchiest and fiercest songs that I'd ever heard and this band summed up the topic of love better than anyone I'd ever heard.  And if all of that wasn't enough, they had (and still have) one of the best singers that I'd ever heard in Chad Price.  Since then I have hunted down every ALL and ALL related release that I can get my hand-and-a-half on and devoured them all.  Breaking Things would be ALL's last record for long-tome label Cruz/SST Records before making a short-lived jump to the majors before Milo came back into the game for a record and the band joining Epitaph Records.  At this point I own ALL's entire catalog (including all of the Descendents' records and the TonyALL record) but it is Breaking Things that is my favorite.  Check out my post Blast from the Past: Breaking Things and "Shreen" (how this song wasn't huge still boggles my mind), "Original Me," “’Cause,” "Right," “Stick,” and "Guilty."

Video of the Day

"Locomotive" by Alex Winston

Video of the Day

"Stumped" by Minor Threat

Video of the Day

"Dance of Days" by Embrace

Video of the Day

"Good Enough" by Mudhoney

Album Review: Heart Beats Pacific

Title:  Heart Beats Pacific (Fat Wreck Chords, BandCamp, Amazon, iTunes, Interpunk)

Artist:  Banner Pilot (Official, BandCamp, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Last.fm, PureVolume, Tumblr, Fat Wreck Chords, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Listening to Banner Pilot’s Heart Beats Pacific is an immediately memorable affair.  The record is extremely catchy, filled with hooks and big choruses and there is something about it that seemed so reminiscent of some other band but I couldn’t put my finger on it.  After listening to the record a few times last night, it hit me – Jawbreaker, this band reminds me of Jawbreaker.  But even then there were elements of some other influence that I just couldn’t put my finger on (my first thought was Blink 182, and that wasn’t meant to be insulting, but that didn’t feel right either).  So this morning when I started looking up information and links about the band and record, I noticed the continued references to Banner Pilot as a “Midwestern style” punk band with references to the likes of Dillinger Four, The Lawrence Arms, and Alkaline Trio and then everything fell into place.  This band is the perfect mix of Jawbreaker and Dillinger Four.  Then I realized that I have no idea how I haven’t heard Banner Pilot up until this point.  

Heart Beats Pacific is an excellent punk rock record that fits somewhere in-between the subgenres of pop punk, emo, and melodic hardcore, so in other words – Midwestern punk (I’d never really put a name to it but the label fits since many of the Midwestern punk bands are similar in style).  The music is catchy and the lyrics are heartfelt filled with stories and emotion.  If you’ve never heard Banner Pilot but are a fan of any of the aforementioned bands or Dead To Me then I highly recommend checking out Heart Beats Pacific, I think you’ll like what you hear.  

Video of the Day

"The Other Shoe" by F***** Up

What Comes After Occupying?

So the Occupy Wall Street Moved has planned a Day of Action today in response to various cities around the country enforcing laws and city ordinances regarding people being in public parks between the hours of midnight and 5AM.  Now whether or not this was a coordinated effort as urged by the Obama administration, as some have theorized, I have no clue and I really don’t care.  

Since this movement has started it seems like all we’ve heard is that these folks are pissed.  I get that.  I’m pissed too.  The economy is in the tank, our political leaders are little more than whores on sale for the campaign dollar, major corporations seem to care very little for the people that they employ or service, the working class is getting squeezed from every side imaginable, and those with power and money continue to rule society and often get away with whatever they want.  That’s some pretty jacked up stuff and it only scratches the surface of the problems that are facing our country.  So I get it, I really do. 

Now my question is, what are you going to actually do about it?  

Do you think this Day of Action is going to do much, if anything, other than inconvenience a lot of people who are just trying to get by?  Sure there will be some folks in positions of power that will be prevented for doing something for a day, but what in the blazes good is that going to do?  Lord knows I’m not giving those leeches a pass, but in all honesty what do those in NYC hope to actually accomplish today? 

And how will vandalizing a store or a bank fix the system?  

We have serious problems that are going to take serious people working towards serious solutions and I’m sorry but yelling in the streets isn’t going to get the job done.  

There are those who will compare the Occupy Movement to the Arab Spring and say that yelling in the streets brought real change in places like Egypt.  I submit that trying to equate the Occupy Movement to the Arab Spring is a false comparison.  Let’s use what happened in Egypt as an example.  The protestors there were protesting an authoritarian government and in doing so worked to disrupt the government and eventually bring it down.  That is not what is happening with the Occupy Movement.  The only legitimate comparisons that can be made are with either the Tea Party and/or the Civil Rights Movement.  So why have/did these movements work?  In both cases they held protests, but then went home and worked in their communities to change things.  If the Occupy Movement wants to actually do something, they need to follow that lead.  They need to pack up the tents, head home, and organize to work for change. 

It’s never enough to just scream that the system is broken.  There has to be more to life and to a movement than just being against something, and if a movement is nothing more than a bunch of people pissed at the world then that isn’t going to stick around for very long.  Hatred and rage can only fuel someone for so long and even then it creates a fairly empty existence.  

But there is hope.  We really can make the world a better place but it won’t be easy and it won’t be quick.  We must raise our kids with the proper values and show them that there is a better way (and I’m not talking in some crazy religious kind of way either).  We much teach them that respect and hard work and dignity and the Golden Rule are things that should be followed and adhered to, no matter what.  That is how we change the world, one person at a time.  

This entire thing reminds me of the ALL song “What Are You For?”.  I think the lyrics (see below) fit perfectly here. 

 If you look for something wrong long enough I'm sure you'll find it
Save your psychic self-defense
'Cause I don't care what you're against

What are you for?
I want to know, why don't you tell me so?
What are you for?
Quit giving me negative what makes you want to live?

They shoved shit down your throat and told you that
It smells like roses
But it was just too hard to swallow, then you got
Halitosis
Save your evil, save your breath
'Cuz I don't care what you're against

What are you for?
I want to know, why don't you tell me so?
What are you for?
Quit giving me negative what makes you want to live?

You're tired of being pushed around
Want to tear the system down?
Hey bro - let's go!
Just quit your bitchin' about the situation

It's not that tough and it's not enough to point your finger
And I don't know why you should listen to me 'cause I'm just a singer
Your open mouth don't make you tough
I see you and I'll call your bluff

What are you for?
I want to know, why don't you tell me so?
What are you for?
Quit giving me negative, what makes you want to live?
What are you for?
What are you for?

Currently Listening

1.  “Wish on the Moon” by Chuck Ragan (from Covering Ground)

2.  “Times They Are A-Changing” by Chuck Ragan (from Build and Bleed)

3.  “Average Man” by Dag Nasty (from Minority of One)

4.  “Justification [What If? Sessions]” by Dag Nasty (from Healthy, Loud and Honest)

5.  “Get Over It Or Get It Over With” by Drag the River (from Bad at Breaking Up)

6.  “So Lonely” by Drag the River (from Closed)

7.  “Betray” by They Stay Dead (from Cursed)

8.  “Darkness” by They Stay Dead (from They Stay Dead)

9.  “Still Be Around” by Uncle Tupelo (from 89/93: An Anthology)

10.  “Left in the Dark” by Uncle Tupelo (from No Depression [Bonus Tracks])

Video of the Day

"She Sells Sanctuary" by The Cult

Quote of the Day

‎"Since the powers of nature in this dreamer, in that dreamer, and in the macrocosm of nature itself, are the same, only differently inflected, the powers personified in a dream are those that move the world. All the gods are within: within you – within the world." 

- Joseph Campbell, The Masks of God: Creative Mythology (Vol. IV), p. 650

10 Questions with Matt Owsley (They Stay Dead, Euclid Crash)

Edmond’s Matt Owsley sings and plays guitar in the outstanding melodic hardcore band They Stay Dead.  Prior to playing in TSD he played guitar in Euclid Crash.  They Stay Dead recently released their second EP Cursed (read my review here) and will be opening for Colorado’s Elway on November 28^th at Brass Bell Studios.

This interview was conducted via email November 11-15, 2011.  

For more information on They Stay Dead check out their BandCamp, Facebook, Twitter, ReverbNation, and Last.fm pages.  

Dave:  When did you first start playing and writing music?  How did you get introduced to punk rock?

Matt Owsley:  I started playing and writing music towards the beginning of high school.  I went from being Garth Brooks’ biggest fan to a punk rock kid thanks to befriending a few of the older cool kids who passed me some Minor Threat and Screeching Weasel records.  After hearing those I was hooked!

Dave:  You currently sing and play guitar in They Stay Dead and previously played guitar in Euclid Crash.  How did you get involved with Euclid Crash?  What other bands have you played with over the years?

Matt:  I met the Euclid Crash gang in high school when we decided to start the band.  I've spent most of my time in and out of Euclid Crash over the years but have also played in various projects with the TSD gang that didn't materialize until everything fell into place with They Stay Dead. 

Dave:  Are there any specific guitar players or bands that have helped shape how you play guitar? 

Matt:  Growing up I always tried to emulate Stephen Egerton & Brian Baker. (Editor’s Note:  I agree.  Egerton and Baker are easily the two greatest guitar players in punk rock history.)  Now I am lucky to have Danny Black in the band whose guitar skills I have always secretly admired since his Minutes Too Far days.  Thankfully Danny is not aware of this!

Dave:  Do you have a songwriting process?  With They Stay Dead, is the songwriting a collective process?  Have you consciously written differently for They Stay Dead than you did for Euclid Crash? 

Matt:  I feel like now in TSD I am finally in my natural habitat where I can write songs that are just aggressive and in your face while still trying to hold onto a bit of catchiness.  They Stay Dead is more of a collective song writing process than EC which is a nice change of pace.

Dave:  So far They Stay Dead has self-released two three-song EPs.  Dave Klein stated that the band was more interested in putting out EPs every few months instead of a full-length album.  What made you decide to forego the album route?  Have received any interest from any record labels?  If you could work with any label, which one would it be?  

Matt:  So far we like the momentum generated from having the more frequent EP releases.   We are all opposed to having any filler songs on an album so we like being able to release 3 or 4 songs at a time knowing that they are what we believe to be great songs! We have received some interest from some small labels but I would personally like to be on a label like Paper & Plastik.  We have friends on that label and I love a lot of the bands on it.

Dave:  What are your thoughts on the music scene in Oklahoma?  Is there much of a scene in Edmond? (I remember back in the ‘90s there were quite a few punk bands that came out of Edmond.)   

Matt:  The 90’s Edmond scene was great!! It was so cohesive and there were so many kids involved.  The first show I ever played was in Edmond opening up for Anti-Flag.  There is a decent scene in OKC.  There are still a lot of punks doing house shows and such but everything seems very sporadic and at times hard to get kids to come out for shows.

Dave:  Outside of playing in a punk rock band, what do you do? 

Matt:  I work for a land development company that builds houses and develops land for places like Carls Jr’s and Buffalo Wild Wings.  So needless to say I eat a lot of hamburgers and buffalo wings.

Dave:  This is a High Fidelity inspired question.  What are your Top 5 bands/artists, albums, movies, television shows, and books/authors? 

Matt:  Descendents, ALL, The Get Up Kids, Minor Threat, & Screeching Weasel.

Dave:  What’s next for you? 

Matt:  I have short term goals.  And my next short term goal is making this show amazing:

Elway, They Stay Dead, Two Snakes at Brass Bell Studios on November 28th!

Dave:  Any final thoughts? 

Matt:  I’d love to do a split 7’’ or cassette split with another band! So if anyone is into that let me know!

Currently Listening

1.  “Betray” by They Stay Dead (from Cursed)

2.  “Stick” by ALL (from Breaking Things)

3.  “Years from Now” by Dave Hause (from Resolutions)

4.  “Look Back and Laugh” by Minor Threat (from Complete Discography)

5.  “Alternative Monkey” by Perfect (from When Squirrels Play Chicken)

6.  “Fall Into Line” by Roustabouts (from The Only One)

7.  “MRR” by Wretch Like Me (from Calling All Cars…)

8.  “No Division” by Hot Water Music (from No Division)

9.  “I Came from the Future” by The Lillingtons (from Death By Television)

10.  “Yours to Keep” by Guided By Voices (from Bee Thousand)

Video of the Day

"Sometime To Return" by Soul Asylum

More Pretentious Band Photos

Will the horror never end? 

Thanks to Dying Scene for the find.

How Well Do You Know Pop Punk Quiz

I couldn’t resist this one – How Well Do You Know Pop Punk.  There were two questions that I had no idea about and they both pertained to The Lillingtons’ album Death by Television (which I’ve never listened to but will have to check out now).  My biggest complaint with this quiz is that there isn't a single question about either the Descendents or ALL (yet multiple questions related to Screeching Weasel).      

You are a 86% true pop punk rocker!

You definetly aren't one of those posers hanging around the malls. You probably think The Ramones are the greatest band to have ever exsisted. And your right. Kids should stop listening to what the media wants you to hear. Go out to a local cd shop and pick up some band's record that you never heard of. If you got 100%, you really know your stuff and I would hang out with you any time. Nice job, and I'll see you guys around.

How well do you know Pop Punk?
Take More Quizzes

How UU are You?

Here’s another quiz that I took, it’s the How UU are You? quiz (results below).  The part in the results that I found accurate is the part about being conservative from one point of view but liberal from another.  I have no problems at all with being “middle of the road.”    

You are 64% Unitarian-Universalist!

You're very "middle of the road": you're pretty conservative, from the UU standpoint, but you're pretty liberal from the Christian standpoint. You probably self-identify as a Christian, but you don't believe everything just because it's said to be so. You question some things about your religion.

How UU are you?
Take More Quizzes

The Religious Identity Test

For fun I took The Religious Identity Test today (see results below).  As with any of these tests, you can gleam a lot about the perspective of whoever wrote it based on the questions.  In the case of this test, it was very much a are-you-Christian-or-not type of quiz.  

The Religious Identity Test Your Result: Somewhat humanistic, with some supernaturalism You have a generally humanistic outlook, though you tend to be open to some ideas that would be considered supernaturalistic. Hence, you probably reject most of the dogma and creed of traditional religion, and you probably consider most organized religions outdated in today's world. You value reason, but an attachment to supernaturalism lingers in you. Describing yourself as Christian would not be accurate, as your general outlook is more humanistic than Christian.
Humanist
Christian
The Religious Identity Test Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

545 vs. 300,000,000 People -- MUST READ

Recently retired journalist Charley Reese’s final column for the Orlando Sentinel has been making the rounds in email lately (you can read that version here and another version here) and for good reason – it makes total and complete sense.  

Money Quote (though honestly I could quote the entire thing) –

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

 […]

Those 545 people and they alone are responsible. They and they alone have the power. They and they alone should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided they have the gumption to manage their own employees.

Read it and think about it.  

Currently Listening

1.  “Punk Band” by Smoking Popes (from This Is Only A Test)*

2.  “Chasing Heather Crazy” by Guided By Voices (from The Best of Guided By Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates)*

3.  "Glendora" by Rilo Kiley (from The Initial Friend EP)

4.  “The Boyfriend Box” by The Mr. T Experience (from Yesterday Rules)

5.  “Glory Daze” by The Nils (from Green Fields in Daylight)

6. “Wish on the Moon” by Chuck Ragan (from Covering Ground)

7.  “Scars” by The Copyrights (from North Sentinel Island)

8.  “Red Line” by Banner Pilot (from Heart Beats Pacific)

9.  “To Have and to Have Not” by Billy Bragg (from Life’s a Riot with Spy vs. Spy)

10.  “There’s a Party in the USA” by Doug McKean (from Esperanto Sessions)

*Someone should do a mash-up of these two songs.  Just click on the links, listen to the videos and you’ll see what I mean.  

Album Review: Everything's Amazing & Nobody's Happy

Title:  Everything's Amazing & Nobody's Happy (Official, BandCamp, Kind of Like Records, iTunes)

Artist:  Candy Hearts (Official, BandCamp, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm)

One of my favorite records of the year that wasn't released in 2011 is Candy Hearts' full-length debut Ripped Up Jeans & Silly Dreams, an excellent collection of '90s indie rock meets '90s pop punk style rock 'n' roll that includes some absolutely brilliant gems.  The band's follow up, Everything's Amazing & Nobody's Happy is just as good if not better.  The best way to describe Candy Hearts' sound would be to imagine if The Muffs and Sebadoh (at least their songs like "Rebound") had a kid.

Everything's Amazing... opens with the extremely fun "Tongue Tied," a song about stumbling over ones words, which perfectly sets the stage for the entire record.  From there the record travels over issues of relationships, music, and love all from a strongly feminine point-of-view.  These are very traditional topics in the indie punk world but singer/guitarist Mariel Loveland breathes new life into them, making this record new and refreshing while still feeling familiar and safe (and by “safe” I mean something that you can always go back to and feel comfortable and at home with).  I’d list the standout moments on this record but honestly the entire thing is fantastic (listen below). 

If you have never heard Candy Hearts but are a fan of bands like Great Cynics, The Muffs, The Thermals, The Promise Ring, Sebadoh, Broadcaster, or Cheap Girls then you need to give this band a listen.  Seriously, this band is really, really, really good and Everything’s Amazing & Nobody’s Happy is one of the best records of the year.

Everything's Amazing & Nobody's Happy by candyhearts

Video of the Day

"Before You Go" by The Sick Rose


Thanks to Power Pop Criminals for the find.

Currently Listening

1.  “One Silver Dollar” by Audra Mae (from Haunt)

2.  “The Snake Bite” by Audra Mae (from The Happiest Lamb)

3.  “Lights” by Broadcaster (from Welcome to the Wetlands)

4.  “All Your Friends” by Broadcaster (from Joyride)

5.  “Do the Right Thing” by Leatherface (from Minx)

6.  “Not a Day Goes By” by Leatherface (from Mush)

7.  “Skips A Beat (Over You)” by The Promise Ring (from Very Emergency)

8.  “Perfect Lines” by The Promise Ring (from Nothing Feels Good)

9.  “The Voice” by Teen Idols (from Full Leather Jacket)

10.  “Come Dance With Me” by Teen Idols (from Teen Idols)

Video of the Day

"Avoiding Catatonic Surrender" by Tim Barry

Album Review: Moscow Penny Ante

Title:  Moscow Penny Ante (Fat Wreck Chords, Amazon, iTunes, Interpunk, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Artist:  Dead To Me (Official, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Last.fm, Fat Wreck Chords, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Dead To Me has gone through quite a few lineup changes since their 2006 debut album Cuban Ballerina but that hasn't caused the music to suffer.  In fact I'd go so far as to say that their debut and the follow up EP Little Brother are nothing short of punk rock perfection.  Their sophomore full-length album, African Elephants, was the first release without guitarist and co-vocalist Jack Dalrymple (who left the band to focus on being a father).  Dalrymple was replaced by Nathan Grice.  Admittedly I didn't think that much of African Elephants when it first came out.  Part of my issue with the record was that Dalrymple wasn't on it (I've been a big fan of his work going back to the early days of One Man Army) but over time I've come to enjoy the record and think highly of it.  

Fast forward to 2010.  Grice had left the band and been replaced by Sam Johnson while Ken Yamazaki was added on guitar to the band to help fill out the sound.  This new lineup has toured relentlessly and recorded a couple of 7 inch records (one being a tour split with Riverboat Gamblers and Off With Their Heads) before releasing their third full-length album, Moscow Penny Ante, last month.  And I think it's been that extra time together as a band, touring and recording 7 inches, that has made this record sound like it was recorded by a band that has played together for years (plus I'm sure it helps that guitarist Yamazaki played with Tyson "Chicken" Annicharico in Western Addiction). 

Moscow Penny Ante is classic (if that term can be used for a band on their third album) Dead To Me -- melodic pop punk with hints of melodic hardcore and post hardcore with extremely passionate and often very personal lyrics.  From the opening thunder of "Undertow" to the closing notes of "The World Has Gone Mad," Moscow Penny Ante is a stellar record.  Johnson really steps up to the plate and is an excellent compliment to Chicken's singing.  And while a part of me will always wonder what each new Dead To Me record would sound like with Dalrymple back in the band, this lineup has proven to be extremely solid.  

Longtime fans of Dead To Me should not be disappointed with Moscow Penny Ante in the least.  For those who have never heard Dead To Me then this record is as good a place as any to start because in all honesty, all of their releases are good to brilliant.  Fans of The Bouncing Souls, ALL, Jawbreaker, Red City Radio, or The Copyrights should definitely check out Dead To Me.     

Album Review: A New Home in the Old World

Title:  A New Home in the Old World (Last Chance Records, Amazon, iTunes)

Artist:  Austin Lucas (Official, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, ReverbNation, Last.fm, Wikipedia)

Austin Lucas' latest album A New Home in the Old World is another shining example of his tremendous, yet sadly underrated, talent.  Probably best known for the album he released with Chuck Ragan, Bristle Ridge (which is an OUTSTANDING record), Lucas has made a career out of playing earnest alt country/Americana that could as easily fit right next to the likes of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash as it does next to Uncle Tupelo and Drag the River.  

Like most of his albums, A New Home in the Old World is driven by ballads but also includes some faster numbers like “The Grain” and the album's first single, the tremendous “Thunder Rail” (see below).  This record is also driven more by electric instruments than acoustic ones, which works and makes Lucas standout from many of his alt country and folk punk contemporaries. 

If you have yet to hear any of Austin Lucas' work, then I highly suggest checking out A New Home in the Old World and the aforementioned album with Chuck Ragan Bristle Ridge. 

Currently Listening

1.  “Gentlemen” by The Afghan Whigs (from Gentlemen)

2.  “Screen” by Broadcaster (from Welcome to the Wetlands)

3.  “Hold My Bed” by Chuck Ragan & Austin Lucas (from Bristle Ridge)

4.  “Scars” by The Copyrights (from North Sentinel Island)

5.  “Twenty Five” by Great Cynics (from Don’t Need Much)

6.  “Last Call” by The Loved Ones (from Distractions)

7.  “Another Token Protest” by My Name (from Wet Hills and Big Wheels)

8.  “Pop Goes the World” by The Nils (from Green Fields in Daylight)

9.  “New Breed” by The Pietasters (from Willis)

10.  “Sapsucker Sluggo” by The Zoinks! (from Bad Move Space Cadet)