Seems like we’ve had a lot of East Bay stuff recently. Or am I just imaginging things? Anyway, it’s welcome. I might have that impression because I was listening to Operation Ivy in the car earlier today, I guess. I’m highly suggestible.
Folks, do you really want to hear my thoughts on the archetypical “college rock” band? You do not. They are vapid. My thoughts, not R.E.M.
[Read More]We’re still trying to clear the dust from the emergency remodel around here. Still lots of work to clean up the visuals, and the posting schedule is likely to be a bit erratic for a while. Apologies!
Yes, the song from “Portal”. But even though some of the worst dudes you know get far too excited about this, it’s a fun tune. Don’t let the nerds ruin shit!
[Read More]I really kind of tend to think of noise rock as mostly a 90s thing, with it kind of falling out of fashion after that point. But, of course, it’s alive and well, and bands like yesterday’s Pile and today’s Buildings are showing that there’s plenty of excellent stuff being made. I miss you, Amphetamine Reptile, but there are plenty of bands keeping the sound alive.
[Read More]Last time, I said that I liked Blood Lust more than The Night Creeper. And, yeah, I like this song! Go past me!
We don’t listen to a lot of stuff around here that’s just, you know, pop. But it can be a nice break every now and again to relax, put on something pretty and kind of undemanding. That sort of describes this record very well, but I enjoy it as a change of pace.
[Read More]Ska-Core, The Devil & More is an EP with mostly covers released in 1993, notably primarily for this nice cover of a Marley tune. Other than this, it’s far from an essential release.
March 16-20, 1992 might be the Uncle Tupelo album that has aged the best. I’m not sure it’s my favorite, I don’t think it’ll ever displace No Depression. But the stripped down, acoustic production suits the material so well, and the traditional songs they picked to go with their originals all mesh so well. I truly wish we could have gotten a few more of these before things fell apart.
[Read More]The essential insight of Rocket From The Crypt, that garage rock is even more fun with a saxophone involved, is an elemental truth of music. It’s a lesson that more bands should learn.
Like, this is a perfectly good song. But, let’s add a sax and see how it smokes!
I’m going to avoid the obvious joke of saying this song needs a sax. It absolutely does not. It just needs to be cranked to tooth-rattling volume to be perfect.
[Read More]Thoroughly enjoyable instrumental from Our Bodies Our Selves, one of the stronger mid-career MTX albums.
This song is a serious jam, even when it’s a very straightforward cover of the song. I’ve decided that I really like having Claw Hammer’s album length cover of Devo’s first album in the library just to increase my chances of hearing the tunes.
[Read More]That’s month four of hitting every day! Woooo!
Too late, Mr. T Experience! Valentine’s Day was two weeks ago! What are you even doing!
Singles Breaking Up is, indeed, a singles comp. Pittburgh’s instrumental maestros put everything into their singles, so the comp is a solid album, if maybe not quite as coherent as their records due to not being recorded at once. You can do a lot worse than this record!
[Read More]The bands that got famous in the third wave of ska were those that took the second wave and went further towards punk. No Doubt, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, folks like Goldfinger, Save Ferris, a bunch of others, they all leaned heavily on rock to make the sound more appealing to a broader audience. But that left out a bunch of other bands who drew more on the first wave and the original sounds, and who didn’t get the attention. Those are the bands that I mostly continue listening to these days. The Robustos are one of those forgotten bands, who played just straight ska, without mixing stuff in, and this album (Introducing…The Robustos) is a good listen.
[Read More]I wasn’t following music during the Jam’s heyday, what with being too young, but they were pretty big shit. Specifically, according to Wikipedia, “That’s Enterainment” is still the best-selling single in the UK ever. Pretty impressive! Lovely song, too.
Here’s MTX doing what they do best, laying down a catchy pop-punk tune for three minutes and then getting out of here. I will honor them by doing the same.
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