7" Vinyl Review: "Pyramid of Skull EP" by Skeleton

Pyramid of Skulls

It's been a long time since the days of checking out the Seven Inches at the underground record store.

In fact, that's never really been a part of my life, but I am reading the Beastie Boys book...and they spend loads of time talking about that from way back when in their hometown of New York City.

Now, the death metal EPs....

Those I kind of remember, but that was right before CDs exploded and killed everything that was good an holy in the world..at least in terms of physical music.

Today, we consider a 7" of interminable length. This thing, if you take it front to back, is about a solid five minutes of music.

Yes....five minutes.

Vinyl Review: "Clean Feeling" by PLAX

Clean Feeling

The Cosmos is testing me. There is simply no other explanation as to why this is happening.

This reviewer is, frankly, a tepid consumer of Punk Rock. That's just the be all end all of it. There are some Punk Rockers out there that shiver me to my very soul, but that list is very short.

You may have noticed the renaissance of punk music here lately. Absolutely Not made it into our vinyl reviews and American Standards did a great interview for us.

Now today, we have Austin, TX based punk band, PLAX courtesy of the Super Secret Records imprint.

My lack of understanding Punk Music probably goes back to the 70's when Punk and Metal refused to co-exist peacefully. Even when punk and metal joined into thrash...there was still strife. So perhaps, my aversion, my personal prejudice, et al is just in my blood....because it goes a long way back.

CD Review: "Potboiler" by Future Hate

Potboiler

Let's start at the beginning.

Do you know what I love about Punk Rock/Hardcore/etc and all that jazz?

Frankly, not a whole helluvalot. Punk and Country are kind of similar to me in that, whereas I used to dismiss it all out of hand, there are now exceptions.

Punk Rock to me all goes back to the first time I heard the Sex Pistols. At the time, my metal ONLY phase was going full strength and the idea that a band who didn't have significant prowess on the instruments...

Well that was simply verboten. Why in the world should we listen to this crap? To this day though, Nevermind the Bollocks is still unlistenable to me.

Album Review: The Workhorse III: Closer to Relevance

Sometimes, instead of falling neatly into a predetermined genre, a band decides to focus their energy on just creating great songs, regardless of how they are classified.  This describes Workhorse III, a trio from Philadelphia, who have set about to make an album of infectious tunes, and leave it to listeners and reviewers to figure out how to explain it.  Their self description as "too rock for metal and too metal for rock" suits them well.  

At times I heard punk rock, at other times they were clearly crushing it in the proud lineage of Sabbath.  There were moments when a Motorhead influence seemed clear.  Which is suitable, since Motorhead themselves have often defied categorization.

The dominate theme is songs which, although often containing dark lyrical content, are high energy, catchy, and most of all fun. I listened to it once on my way to work, and already several of the songs were stuck in my head, demanding a second listen on the way home.  In all cases, the riff is king.  It is the prominence of the distorted riff which could earn them a place within metal's hallowed halls.  At the same time there is no denying the strong vocal melodies will also appeal to fans of classic rock.

Album Review: "Spiteful" by Sonny Vincent & Spite

Spiteful

Do you ever watch Futurama?

See the one where Bender tells his girlfriend, why not? Sure I like a challenge.

Sometimes that's how I feel when it comes to punk rock. It's a challenge for me just to understand it.

A friend of mine, who loves punk rock, likes to tell me that it's not music precisely, but it's an art form all on its own.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this idea and I'm failing miserably.

My introduction to punk was the Sex Pistols and to this day, I cannot understand how anyone enjoys their music at all, but I can get behind bands like the Stooges, Paul Collins Beat Band, etc...

"Instant Money Magic" by Japanther

Japanther has been around in some form or another since 2001. Formed by Ian Vanek and Matt Reilly in New York City, they have been taking their act on the road for some time.

Over the course of the years, collaborations with a great number of artists have come and gone and they have been involved with some interesting things, like the "Don't Trust Anyone Over Thirty" puppet rock opera.

I'm sure just hearing those words interested you. I know good and well I'm upset that I only just heard about it, so I missed it.

On the stage is where they have made their reputation. Tales of their shows are legend. On top of a bridge. With a cadre of synchronized swimmers. With puppets. With giant puppets. With shadow puppets. The list of the things they have put on stage with them goes on.