WHO: Redd Kross WHAT: Redd Kross WHY: Ever wondered what the Beatles and the Kinks would have sounded like as a garage punk band? Redd Kross injects some much needed crunch into that familiar musical sty;e. Yes, I’m late to the game on Redd Kross, but this self-titled is scratching an itch I didn’t know I had. Or at least, it’s endlessly fascinating. I wish it was a bit shorter, but this new self-titled just has its own story to...
WHO: Shellac WHAT: To All Trains WHY: In a world full of phonies, Steve Albini was a real one even to the real ones. To All Trains is a wonderful sendoff both to the main and his band. It rocks, it paces, it pounds, it zigs and zags, and is full of humor in a way no other band can get away with. It does effortlessly what others would consider taboo. Excellent, and dude, incredible. It’s just a shame it’s...
WHO: (the) Melvins WHAT: Tarantula Heart WHY: The Melvins “joke” that this is the best album they’ve released ever or in a long time. I don’t know if that’s necessarily true, because I remember Bases Loaded being pretty great. The thing with the Melvins is that they’re constantly putting out good or above average albums. However, I gotta say, there’s something quite special about Tarantula Heart. It’s sludgy, funny, heavy, ambitious, catchy as hell yet still retains the identity of...
WHO: Dog Party WHAT: Dangerous WHY: If you want straight up Ramonesy punk rock (an easy thing to find) done well (NOT an easy thing to find), look no further than Dog Party. It’s got all the catchy melodies and heavy riffs you’d want, but these ladies put their own flare on it all. Their new album Dangerous sees them treading new waters: it’s more mature, has a country twang to it, yet it retains all the fun and identity...
WHO: Jon Snodgrass + Buddies WHAT: Barge at Will WHY: Jon Snodgrass’ appeal is very specific. His songs sound like they would fit perfectly in an ALL or Descendents album, but his drawl gives it all a country-western quality. Also, the man has a sense of humor that he doesn’t mind showing in his music. Barge at Will is a rocking collection of songs that sit comfortably in a beer-soaked bar, much like you would find in a Hold Steady...
WHO: Pissed Jeans WHAT: Half-Divorced WHY: Punks can be scary and funny. They also cry. I’ve never heard a band that combines such fury, aggression, and rawness, with hilarious observational humor. Half-Divorced is only a half hour long (as albums like this SHOULD be), and frontman Matt Korvette barks about helicopter parents, the downsides of where we live, and of course, being happy that he’s ONLY $62,000 in debt. This stuff is aggro as shit but brings a smile to...
WHO: Mary Timony WHAT: Untame the Tiger WHY: Timony might be considered a guitar goddess, but if that’s the case, she doesn’t let it on. Maybe it’s safer to say she’s a guitarist’s guitarist. That being said, anyone listening to her music can expect the guitar to be the highlight. Her newest solo record is the first one in over a decade and was written during tumultuous times: a breakup, and the loss of both her parents. But out of...
WHO: NOT WHAT: Stop the World WHY: I did not think Stop the World would make such an impact on me, mostly because I didn’t think I could ever get used to the vocals. I still don’t think I like the vocals, but Stop the World sounds like a love letter to ALL; every note, every guitar solo, every melody, every tone. For someone starving for new ALL material (“two new albums, one instrumental”), this album is a reminder of...
WHO: Kurt Vile WHAT: Back to Moon Beach WHY: Look, you’re not fooling me by calling this an EP, OK? Anything with either 10 songs or more, or longer than 25 minutes is an LP. This thing clocks in at 52 minutes, so KV, you gave us a new album last year, even if some of these songs are covers. KV is the real deal, his style is like no other, his music deceptively simple and his lyrics and vocals...
WHO: Paint it Black WHAT: Famine WHY: Did YOU know Paint it Black was going to release new music? I didn’t. They said that no good hardcore band has released more than 3 good albums, which is why the band’s last full length was released in 2008, but Famine with its speed, heavy riffs, breakdowns, smart lyrics, and hooks just proves that this band is still relevant and needs to get back in the studio to produce another full length....