17th January 2010

Audio with 11 plays with 3 notes

Goofball - Epitaph
SF (self-released)

Well, I should start off by saying the press sheet for this release pissed me off (surprise, surprise).  It mentioned that Goofball included former members of what I initially read to be “Flipper … and the Dead Kennedys.”  So, I was immediately excited, but then I thought wait, why haven’t I already heard about this?

I read more closely, and realized that the sheet said “The Grateful Dead Kennedys.”  That’s very different.

Bruno DeSmartass, however, was indeed in Flipper.  So, there’s still some cred.

Now, after being pissed off at being misled by that press sheet, and after looking at the shitty album cover drawn by Spain Rodriguez - Spain Rodriguez!  It should be so much better! -  and thinking about the lame band name … I was all set for SF to be garbage.

It’s not.

It’s actually quite solid.  Nothing revolutionary going on, just straight-forward punk tracks with some punchy bass, fuzzy guitar, and energetic thrash drums.

There are some strange covers on here, too.  Cream’s “Deserted Cities of the Heart” and King Crimson’s “Epitaph” aren’t exactly what I imagine when I think about what songs a punk band might cover.  But you can’t go wrong with those guys, so I’m all for it.

Also, the last track “Riding With the Sons of Oblivion” sounds like “Walking With Jesus,” so obviously that’s awesome.

Note: I’m confused as to why this promo arrived when it did, (specifically, last week).  The record came out four years ago.  But hey, it was neat, so what do I/you care?

Tagged: white punks on dopeWTF

18th November 2009

Audio with 10 plays with 2 notes

Face Value - Holding the Grudge
Rode Hard, Put Away Wet: Clevo HC ‘89-93 (Smog Veil)

(Picture via Double Cross, as it was the biggest/best Face Value pic I could find.  Hope they don’t mind.)

Smog Veil’s been putting out some interesting stuff, and, while I think this is a cool release, it is unfortunately on the less interesting side of things.  Face Value was a Cleveland hardcore band, and this record is a sort of chronology of the highlights of their career in the “Clevo HC” scene, which is a cool thing to do, and I applaud Smog Veil for doing what they do, which is mostly underground and experimental rock stuff.  But if you’re wondering how this sounds, I’ll give you a hint: blast beats.  Wait, shit, I gave everything away.

There are interesting parts on the record, but once they take it back to the blast beats, and they always do, then it sounds the same as every other song on the record.  So, give this one a shot if you’re into quick repetitions, and, hey, give it a shot in general. I mean, seriously, have an open mind, would you?

Tagged: fuck youuraaaaawhite punks on dope

28th September 2009

Audio with 12 plays

Mission of Burma - So Fuck It
The Sound, The Speed, The Light (Matador)

Finally! New Mission of Burma! I finally got a chance to see these legends over the summer, and they put on a fantastic show.  Since then, I’ve been waiting and waiting for this record to come out.  No fears, the new record is great, and, since I won’t be able to play this particular song on my show tomorrow night, I figured I would upload it here, because it’s still excellent.  Tomorrow night, look forward to another track from the new record to be played on Blank Generation.

It’s always fun to see some older gents come by and rock with more vitality, edge, and anger than you find in the vast majority of younger bands making the rounds these days.  With that in mind, let’s hope we can all make it to that free show at MIT Sunday night.

Clearly, I’ve already got it, but just for your benefit, the new album, The Sound, The Speed, The Light, drops a week from tomorrow (that’s October 6th).  I think if you preorder it from Newbury Comics, it comes autographed…

Tagged: white punks on dopefuck you