Monthly Archives: March 2016

Akron, Music, New Release, Pop, Punk, Review, Rock

Album Review: Worship This! – Mint

Leave a comment

Worship This! - MintAkron, Ohio’s Worship This! have really served up a killer sophomore release simply titled Mint once again on A-F Records.

This foursome punk rock band consists of some of the best humans I have ever had the privilege of calling friends, so chances are you might think this review is a little biased.

The truth is, even if I did not spend years hanging out on porches and in basements with these guys, I would still adore their music.  They are like a punk 90s DIY hybrid, but different.

Everything this band has dished out so far I have been a fan of.  I just lucked out with the friendship part.  Christ, listen to me.  I need to calm the hell down and just review this album already…

This is the second time I have had the privilege to review a Worship This! full length.  This review comes from the heart, but I’d be doing this even if these guys and I never crossed paths, because I seriously think everyone who likes punk rock needs to hear them.

Starting off the album strong was “Decisions, Decisions”.  The chorus on this track alone was insane.  I think I listened to this song about five times before moving on.  I just loved it.  It made me feel a bit old, but also made me realize how true experiences and decisions have shaped me to who I am today.

Worship This!“Miserable Again” was a quick, catchy intervention of sorts.  The start with everyone just letting loose ruled, especially with the nod to their hometown.  Listening to this track had me thinking of who they might have written this about and I guess that is the genius of it.  The dual singing on the chorus was so bad ass too.

“So Long…Sucker!” proved to me how much this bad has matured over the years.  This track started off with all members bringing their all into the music.  Very melodic to start and quick to transition.  I loved when the group vocals started up followed by simple yet fitting breakdowns.

The tough-to-absorb “19th Street” was a reminder of how life treats us all.  No one ever asks for some of the shit that is thrown at us, but we all get by one way or another.  This track hit me hard in a few ways knowing what I have been through in my life but also had me appreciate how I handled it.

“Everything Wrong” in my opinion is the best track on this album.  Adding a clip of Kenny Shopsin from the documentary I Like Killing Flies was perfect and so fitting.  The amount of angst in this song would have benefited me in my teen years.  This is one of those anthem tracks that you just immediately want to memorize.

“Loving A Wild Thing” was another song on this album I adored.  It was not like the others given the singing styles and I think that is what I liked about it the most.  It was just like a catchy conversation.  I liked everything about this tune.

Closing down the album was “Relapser”, a just brutal track of breaking down and finding new avenues.  There was enough emotion in this one song alone to last a lifetime.

I enjoyed Mint way more than I thought I would.  In fact, this follow up is way better than the debut Tomorrow, I’ll Miss You and I adored that album.  The band sounds more together and has taken that extra approach at defining their own sound but without worrying about taking chances.  Mint is a little harder, more emotional in terms of growing up, and most of all just fun to take in.

It comes as no surprise to me that Worship This! released one of my favorite albums of the year.  I have believed in this band since the first time I heard their demos and always anticipated good things for them.  Mint is definitely a good thing.

The band is headed on tour next week.  If you know what is good for you, you will try and check them out.

Worship This Tour

Music, New Release, Punk, Rock, Video

Album Review: The Falcon – Gather Up The Chaps

1 Comment

the-falcon-gather-up-the-chapsIt’s been 10 years since The Falcon dropped one of my favorite albums, Unicornography, so for me sitting down to write about this release is pretty compelling.

Anyone who fancies themselves a punk rocker has had to have heard of The Falcon unless they were living in a gutter.  They are the enigma of punk rock supergroups and just dropped  Gather Up The Chaps on Red Scare.  I am sure most people who are reading this already have listened to it 100 times and pre-ordered 7 copies of the record.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I was going to like this release at all.  Seriously, I just was not anticipating much of anything to get excited over, I mean it has been 10 years after all.  Maybe it’s also because I am old and snooty and thinking that by bringing on
Hause,  The Falcon’s dynamic might change.

hause
Dave and Me at the Gurley House in 2011 – Photo by Andee Wells

Boy was I wrong.  (Note:  I am a huge fan of Hause and even have a photo of me and him where I am smiling and he is not – I just needed to disclose that.)

The Chicago punk rock supergroup for those of you who have no idea what I am talking about features Brendan Kelly (The Lawrence Arms), Neil Hennessy, Dan Andriano (Alkaline Trio),  and the recently recruited Dave Hause (The Loved Ones).

“The Trash” started things off and immediately proved to me this album was going to be a good one.  Hearing three vocalists from three of my favorite bands all chime in at once was awesome.  Kelly’s rasp, Hause’s howl, and Andriano’s swooning mixed perfectly.

Hearing Andriano chuckle in “Sergio’s Here” made this satire of a track that much more entertaining to the point that I laughed each time I played the song.  Seriously though, this track was just a blast to listen to and you can tell the guys were just having fun throughout.  I loved the change up towards the end that just sent the song to bed.  This reminded me of older Falcon material so much.

I loved Kelly clearing his voice in the middle of “The Skeleton Dance”.  Maybe this was not scripted, but it sure did fit in.  This high-powered passion-seeking tune was super catchy but made me feel all so dirty and almost depressed by the end.

“Hasselhoff Cheeseburger” may sound like it would have been hilarious given the song title, but I think I need therapy after listening to this track.  I feel old AF right now.  Hearing Kelly strain off “I only became a man because this ugly body made me” pretty much had me reflecting past choices in life for a moment.

“If Dave Did It” was probably my favorite track on the album.  Obviously from the title, this song was almost all Hause making excuses and calling everyone out, but that did not stop the others from interjecting over him making it for one engrossing listen.

Andriano added his own touch with “You Dumb Dildos”, a song that spanned all over the place.  At times I felt I was listening to a Westernized AK3, but in the end, everyone just went berzerk and there I was standing wondering what the hell just happened.

Gather Up The Chaps is totally unbroken when it comes to mingling in the punk and the rock with loads of nonsense and hard knocks.  This album was quick and all over the place, but at no point was I ever bored listening to it.  I think it is safe to say this is one of the better albums I have heard this year.

Akron, Download This!, Hip Hop, Music

Check It Out: Maidenstone

1 Comment

MaidenstoneThis post goes out to everyone who thinks I only ever talk about punk rock.

You know folks, I do like other genres of music and one of them is hip hop.

So let’s talk about hip hop shall we?

One thing I have always liked about hip hop is the beats that fuel the lyrics.  I am sure many of you can agree with me that a rap song with terrible beats is nothing to talk about.

Akron, OH’s Maidenstone specialize in beats and unique instrumentals.  They are not a rap group, but rather a couple of pals who decided to borrow lyrics from various rappers and supply samples and beats taken from a wide span of musicians and composers.  The result is an outstanding mixtape and does not focus on just one genre.

Here, check it out:

Consisting of pals Cory Maiden and TJ Firestone, Maidenstone dropped their hip hop collaborative in December on BandCamp.  The best part?  It’s free for anyone who wants to hear what they threw together.

I think one thing about Maidenstone is that the samples are well-thought.  “Holy Shit Batman” caught my attention thanks to the eccentric samples of Pulp and The Jesus and Mary Chain while “We Are Groot” had some Pet Shop Boys.

“Dark Arts” was insane and I hope to hell Mos Def hears this.  Who knows, maybe he will be making a request for Maidenstone to create beats for his next release.  That Peer Raben sample was just dark but powerful.

Of course I loved “Son of a Gun”.  If anyone knows me, ODB is one of my favorite rappers out there.  Add some piano and horns playing track from Perez Prado, and you have yourself a crazy ass track.

Another track I have to make mention of is “Vertical Kryptonite” and not just because Big Boi is on it, but because Maidenstone sampled The Greatest Show on Earth and it fits perfectly.

Sometimes tracks can be recreated in a good way.  I am not talking about some shitty Genesis cover by Disturbed.  I am talking about taking great songs and putting a new twist.  It is kind of like a remix, but to me, this is a little more complex.  Seriously, just listen to this.  I guarantee you are going to dig some of it.

I also love their puck rock inspired covers to their mixes.  Dammit, I just can not stay away from punk references, can I?  Oh well.  Download this and enjoy.  I know I did.

90's, Music, New Release, Punk, Review, Rock

Album Review: Face To Face – Protection

Leave a comment

954_cover_450I am getting to that time in my life where the bands I grew up with and adored are hitting those milestones that make you realize how fast time is moving.

Face To Face have been around for 25 years now.  Seriously?  25 years already???

It certainly does not feel that long, but they did form in 1991, so it makes sense.  This So Cal punk rock band has been a favorite of mine since the mid-nineties and still are to this day.

So, how do you celebrate two and a half decades of being a band?  You release an album with help from an old friend.

Today, Face To Face dropped Protection on Fat Wreck Chords.  Without even breaking down the album yet, I need to tell you that this album is killer and certainly celebrates this band in the best way possible.  Listening to the album in full, it is clear Trever Keith and crew recorded the album for the fun of it for their fans.

“Bent But Not Broken” started off the album with some force.  I loved the quick baseline but loved more hearing Keith sing on what I interpreted as not giving up.  Following was “I Won’t Say I’m Sorry”, a track that has memorable lyrics that got stuck in my mind regarding denying fault.

“Double Crossed” reminded me of a much younger Face To Face complete with hard  bass lines and group vocals.  “See If I Care” to me almost sounded like a statement to those who ever doubted the band.   I’m sure it is about some ex though, still, I like my take on it.

“Fourteen Fifty-Nine” was another track I just dug a ton.  I think the thing I most about this track was how it spoke on the sad current state of affairs when it comes to entitlement.

“Keep Your Chin Up” was an upbeat positive track aimed at those who could use some confidence.  “And So It Goes” closed out the album and was as energetic as the very first track.

To he honest, I have not been this excited by an album for a long time.  Protection is exactly what I was hoping for by a band I have adored for more than half of my life (mind you all, I was about 15 when I first discovered them).  Still full of emotion and plenty of energy, this band certainly does not sound like they have been around for a quarter of a century.

I am not praising this album just because I like what I currently heard.  I am saying this because there are so many bands out there who lose their style that made them great as they mature and go through changes.  Face To Face has certainly seen their fair share of changes over the years.  Hell, I thought they were going to call it quits forever in the early 2000s.

I’ve been listening to Protection almost daily for almost 2 weeks now.  That is saying a lot right there.   In fact, I was not even the biggest fan of their last two releases.  Protection though for me is very up there next to their self-titled and  Big Choice.  I know, bold statement by me, but this album was seriously a great listen.

I am stoked the band dropped Protection.  I hope you are too.