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- Never Never Shake Baby EP This EP contains a couple songs that were recorded during the sessions for The SceneÁs Out of Sight. It also includes an alternate version of ËShining JewelsÓ, re-mixed and embellished with a new guitar part by TSOoS producer J. Robbins. I think the band made the right call in leaving these songs of the near-perfect TSOoS as their inclusion likely would have only weighed it down. It is, however, the last two tracks on this EP that make it essential. The live version of ËI Hope This Makes It Easier for YouÓ, while not a great recording, is a bit more gnarly than the album version, which fits this song well as sing/guitarist Tim Scanlin tries to make it easier for his lover to break up with him as he subtly tells her about all the girls heÁs been fooling around with. (Check out ex-Samiam/Mr. T Experience member Aaron Rubin on bass on this song.) The highlight of this record, however, is their cover of the 80Ás tune ËShe Talks in Stereo.Ó ScanlinÁs slinking around the mic and the increased punch the Slacks give this song make it much better than the original. (Post-Parlo Records) AFI - Sing the Sorrow After mining the depths of the punk rock scene for over ten years, AFI takes a stab in the majors with their first album since 2000Ás brutally good The Art of Drowning. Legions of fans donned their black clothes and eyeliner to see their heroes. The question remains, ËIs the hype justified?Ó Absolutely. If thereÁs a better-SOUNDING record in 2003 (notice I didnÁt say ËbetterÓ), feel free to send it my way. Under the guidance of producers Jerry Finn and Butch Vig, AFI created one of the biggest sounding records in a long time. The guitars sound like their burrowing through your eardrums while the layered vocals at times feel like an attack by a swarm of vampires. The drums sound amazing. Even if one canÁt stand the high-pitched vocals, one has to appreciate monstrous record they created; the these guys took the resources available to them for this record and batted the ball out of the park. The album continues at a frenzied pace with brilliant, brutal, and occasionally beautiful songs of loss, redemption, and introspection å the lyrics often imply a search for a sense of belonging and meaning. The strength of this album is in its completeness. The band invites the listener into its world and takes her/him on a journey into its world. Strong from start to finish, this is a master work that should stand as one of 2003Ás classics. |
Archers of Loaf - White Trash Heroes at the drive-in - in/casino/out |
Alkaline Trio/Hot Water Music - split CD
The Also-Rans
- The Resignation EP | Atombombpocketknife - Fly vultures fly
7" Someone should nominate File 13 for a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts for their efforts in keeping up with the impressive and stunning output of Knoxville's Thumbnail. The good work continues with this new band featuring Sir Burns and Sir Sinkovich de Thumbnail. This is no Thumbnail, kids, despite the lingering presence of a love for the un-melody. One side wants to rock real badly (think Swervedriver with a dash of Unwound) but the recording is on the flat side (I bet this song is a killer live), while the Berkeley, CA other tends toward the minimalist, repetitive sleepy-time music of Low. These kids sound promising. (Oh, yeah, what a great name!!!) (File 13) Audio Learning Center - Friendships Often Fade Away Friendships Often Fade Away marks the return to music for Christopher Brady, the singer for Pond, whose Rock Collection remains one of the great under-appreciated albums of the late 1990s and whose live show was even better. On Friendships Often Fade Away, Brady teams up with Steven Birch (ex-Sprinkler) and Pond producer Adam Kasper to create a pretty solid, thoughtful pop record. The record seems to be an exercise in exploring different rhythms and sounds, using Brady's pensive lyrics and high-pitched vocals as the base. While the album lacks the dynamics of Pond's tunes, the variety on the record makes this an album to check out, if you're not afraid of the poppiness that ALC embraces. (Vagrant) |
| AM/FM - audiot EP AM/FM is a collaboration between Brian Sokel (Franklin) and Michael Parsell. It has the feel of lazy summer afternoons, mid-career Beatles records, and lemonade stands. Musically, I would place it somewhere amongst the Jesus and Mary Chain's Stoned and Dethroned, Teenage Fanclub (Bandwagonesque or Songs from Northern Britain) without the fuzz, or Built to Spill (There's Nothing Wrong with Love)without the guitar trickery. It is poppy and breezy and the opening track "The Death They Claim" is still in my head hours later. (Skylab Operations) American Steel - Rogue's March American Steel - Jagged Thoughts |
August Spies - s/t Speedy punk rock with blurry, slurry vocals (think Tim from Rancid after a couple beers or John Lydon after one.) The guitar is a bit too chime-y for my tastes and needs a bit more crunch. The lyrics tend to be on the juvenile side, but you have to have some hope for a band that knows enough to cover The Avengers' "We Are the One." (Espo Records) Avail - Over the James and The Fall of Richmond EP "I'm moving on now, so I can see what I am leaving behind." I have to admit to joining in the Avail army rather late in the game, signing up after hearing 4 A.M. Friday. I'm now a believer. This album actually works as a great companion piece to 4 A.M. Friday. There are songs about feelings on here, songs that link the personal with the political, songs about hitting the road and returning. Whether it's intentional or not (I'm willing to guess that it is), the lyrics on the 2 albums begin to suggest a vision of Richmond, but it could be anybody's hometown. I love the stark photography in the booklet too. The EP is actually a split with (Young) Pioneers. It includes the album version of "Lombardy St.", a mostly acoustic version of "New #2" (there's a different version on the album), and a cover of "You May Be Right" by Billy Joel. (Young) Pioneers have a couple of fast punk tunes with some pretty overtly political lyrics. My favorite is "Race Music" because it reminds me of Billy Childish and features a few references to the Civil War. They've also included a track called "French Colonial Running Dogs" which features someone named Xavier talking about nationalism and its effects. (Lookout! Records) |
Ancient Greeks - The Song is in You Jangly pop with a laid-back, lounge-y feel. The smart instrumentation includes a drummer with impeccable timing and creative rhthms. The bass lines are catchy enough to get one's noggin a bobbing. With stronger vocals, this band could become an adequate substitute for kids caught outside a Sea & Cake show without a ticket. RIYL: The Sea & Cake, Graig Markel, The Dismemberment Plan (Flameshovel Records) Anniversary - Your Majesty This album was actually a pretty pleasant surprise to me. Their previous releases didn't really do anything for me, but this time out, I think that they've managed to take their obvious love of 1960s pop and fashion it into something that sounds fresh, catchy, and totally unexpected. (http://www.anniversaryrock.com; Vagrant Records) |
The Avengers - died for your sins How did I miss out on The Avengers? Probably because I was listening to teachers at story-time around the time they were playing their first show...if I'd known, I could have been the coolest nursery-schooler around You see, The Avengers were apparently one of the most influential bands to come out of San Francisco in the late 70's. Clash-influenced punk rock with one of the best punk singers ever, Penelope Houston. The great thing about this disc is that it collects every Avengers tune to date, with live tracks at the end. Also interesting to note is that some of the songs were actually re-recorded last year especially for the disc. I liked the inclusion of a list of all their shows too. Wonderful. Thanks for bringing this band to my attention! (Lookout! Records) |
Anti-Flag
- Underground Network |
Aviso'Hara
- goodnight sweetheart Great ideas on these songs. Interesting musical ideas being brought forth in interesting ways. Big sounding drums, punchy bass lines, and some pretty potent guitar lines that will appeal to any Chavez or No Knife fan. Produced by Chris Pierce of Sinkhole/Doc Hopper and sounding great. (Vital Cog Records) |
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