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Electric Six - Fire If you can find me a more fun record made in 2003, please let me know. Outkast? Too spotty. Beyonce? Too pretty. The only ones that come close, the latest by Caesars and Millionaire, are listed elsewhere. (XL Recordings/Beggars Group) Empty Promises - Residue EP This is an excellent EP from a bright new band with a ton of promise. They opener up with a rocker that could have been on the last Snapcase album. The following song is an anthem of the first order with a riff that reminds me of a song from the Twin Peaks soundtrack that blends into a chorus that reminds me of Hot Water Music at 3/4 speed. If you like your rock aggressive and intelligent (think Foo Fighters, Rival Schools, Avail, Thrice), check out this band.
Endgame - here is where tomorrow starts Chugga-chugga guitars and reach-for-the-clouds vocals. Plenty of palm-muting and open-ended lyrics on this one. Yeah! (SpectraSonicSound) Enemymine - The Ice in Me This is probably the last thing you would expect from Up Records. This album delivers a brutal pummelling to Modest Mouse as some of this borders a bit of Unwound-y goodness while other parts border the Iceburn of yore. I think it was all the low end riffin' and palm-mutin'. Congrats to Mike (ex-Godheadsilo), Danny (ex-Mocket), and Ryan (ex-Some Velvet Sidewalk for making my head hurt. (Up Records)
Engine Down - Demure In the mood for music that's a bit headier? Tired of the bubble-gum? Try Demure on for size. Incredibly well-constructed, the melodies, time-changes, and rhythms on this album are among the most sophisticated I've heard in 2002. They've abandoned the jagged, "DC-influenced"; sounds on their last two records for something a bit deeper. And the effect is a record that is dense and heavy without ever getting loud. (Lovitt Records) Everlast - Whitey Ford Sings the Blues I have to admit I was more than a little bit scared by an album that opens with a song called "The White Boy is Back"; and includes the lyric "...like Bill Shakespeare, the fakes'll disappear, the flavor in your ear, strong like everclear"; on the second track. I'm also scared by the fact that this is one of the guys from House of Pain. A solo album? As much as I was able to stomach those guys, a solo album? The single is a tune on acoustic guitar with strings backing the monotone vocals. I like the lyrics which hint at a bit of social commentary. I'm impressed the honesty and integrity of that track and some of the experimentation that they're trying here. I also respect the fact that Everlast is aware of his whiteness. However, the raps are pretty weak. (Tommy Boy Music, in the white rap section at your local Tower Records.)
The Exit - New Beat - Just a good new rock/punk band playing some songs. Fans of the Police and the Clash should be flipping over this band. (Some Records) The Explosion - s/t EP Young punks from Boston. Snotty as all fuck and I love it. Full of energy and definitely inspired by the snarl of the Sex Pistols and the punch of The Clash. A re-release of their demo. (Jade Tree)
The Explosion - Flash Flash Flash "They say somewhere in the world there's political unrest. Not as much as in my head. Seems like this day will never end."; The first thing you notice about their second release is the leap in production quality over the EP. This just bursts out of your speakers and you get an amazing sense of how tight this band is. I can testify that it stands up to their impressive live show. Is it punk? I don't know, but it's damn good. The songs themselves are great, full of spit and venom. If I were to take a stab, I'd say these boys are a bit jaded with the failed promises of some of their heroes, a little bit sick of talking heads, and more than a little ready for something new. I'm glad they've taken it upon themselves to create it and I find it really refreshing to hear a punk band that sounds incredibly novel, not willing to simply rely on old formulas, but to take the musical and lyrical lessons that we learned from the 1977 crew and expand upon them. I wish them the best of luck in their efforts!!! (Jade Tree)
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