Review: Jebediah – of Someday Shambles
With a Johnny Cash flavored acoustic song (complete with horse neighs as the song closes) that sings the intention of building a, “A big beer wall” opening this disk, figuring where Jebediah was exactly coming from took on an air of curiosity. But before the track officially ended, the true colors of Jebediah came strumming through. The colors are those of clean, jangly guitars that get distortion from volume, and a slightly nasal but energetic singer.
Review: Strychnine – Born Too Loose
Fast, up tempo, alcohol driven, and decidedly non-straight edge punk rock: that’s “Born Too Loose” by Strychnine. Maybe “Rock Punk” would be a more appropriate label for the band since you’re as likely to find the guys listening to classic punk records by Minor Threat and Poison Idea as you will early Kiss or even Led Zeppelin in their leisure time.
Review: Johnny Thunders – Johnny Thunders In the Flesh
Johnny Thunders was punk before you were even born. This new release from Amsterdamned Records features 17 tracks from the legendary guitarist/singer of the New York Dolls and later the Heartbreakers. Recorded live in Los Angeles’ Roxy Theater in 1987, “In the Flesh” contains enough variety to warrant multiple listenings.
Review: Frank Jordan – Decoy
Frank Jordan. Does the name mean anything to you? Nah, me neither. And I didn’t think much of it after the first time I flipped on their latest CD “Decoy” to begin this review. But then I listened to it over again and something amazing happened. It started to grow on me. I don’t mean grow on me where it was suddenly useful to help block out the sounds of my neighbors going at it all night. No, I mean, it totally GREW on me.
Review: Jimmy Eat World / Jebediah – Split EP
Jimmy Eat World are perfecting this whole soft driven distortion pop thing. This split with Jebediah is another couple of notches in their belt as all three are solid hook pushed pop rocks. Lots of trademark backing vocals, which really help define this band. Best when they keep the beat moving and they deliver steady on these tracks.
Review: Elliot – False Cathedrals
Swirling and drifting and about as heavy as a cloud on a rainy day. Sweet without and ounce of sap (ok a little sap, but mostly just dreamy emo/indie rock). Emotionally tinged vocals that have a restrained warmth and sparse melodies dominate. Splashes of sampled beats/sounds play in and out as does the piano/keys element. Occasionally, the whole thing crashes down in a cascade of Radiohead proportions (and wholly earning the comparison without falling short).
Review: Jets to Brazil – Four Cornered Night
If I were on a jet to Brazil, I would probably be going to Rio de Janeiro-”European style sunbathing”, nahsayin’? If I were in a record store with $10 in my pocket, I would probably buy the new Jets to Brazil LP “Four Cornered Night“.
Review: JeJune – R.I.P.
One of the best bands you just knew was too good to stay together. With much story telling about the band, Boston roots and brief re-incarnation/relocation to San Diego, it is all of no relevance… aside from this album.
Review: Jurassic 5 – Quality Control
A couple of years ago I was together with this girl named Kim. I knew our relationship was headed for disaster when I asked her, “What do you think of Jurassic 5?” And she said, “They’ve made five Jurassic Parks?”
Review: My Ruin – A Prayer Under Pressure of Violent Anguish
My Ruin’s “A Prayer Under pressure of Violent Anguish” is the much heavier and more cohesive follow up to the first release, “Blasphemous Girl.” My Ruin marks the newest chapter in Tairrie B.’s music career. The woman who has gone from a glam rapper working with the likes of Dr. Dre through various metal incarnations as ManHole and later Tura Satana, Tairrie has emerged with her ruin, the effacing of herself as the central focus to be part of a band.