Tag Archives: 7-Inch

7-Inch Reviews: Jonathan Richman – “O Sun” & “Keith”

Sometimes a review is tough to start.  I find myself sitting here trying to think of how I am going to select the right words to create an introduction to the musician or band that I would like to share with the world.

I find this blog entry particularly a little more difficult to start out with not only because I am a huge fan of the musician of the EPs I am about to talk about, but I am equally a huge fan of the label that has put them out.

Blue Arrow Records is not only a brick and mortar staple in Cleveland thanks to their amazing selection of vinyl, music memorabilia, and other vintage goodies, but they are now a record label.

Makes complete sense to me.

I have been a fan of Blue Arrow since they first set up shop in 2009 and think the world of owners Pete and Debbie.  Not only do they run one of my favorite stores in my neck of the woods, but they are also quality humans.  I am lucky to know them and was floored when they told me they were going to start their own record label and first on the roster was none other than Jonathan Richman.

Jonathan Richman

I adore all things Richman.  Chances are if you are reading this, you might too.  If you do not, I highly encourage you to check out anything Modern Lovers or just jump into Richman’s solo material.  His style is unforgettable and almost always is in the most upbeat approach.  Richman always has seemed to put me in a good mood.

This month, Blue Arrow Records is releasing two 7-inch singles by Jonathan Richman including four songs: “O Sun”, Wait Wait”, “Keith” and “They Showed Me the Door to Bohemia”.  These are the first releases by Richman in five years.

I need to pause for a second and let you all know that I have been holding off on reviewing these 7-inches until I could literally just down and spin them endlessly next to me.  With luck on my side this past Friday, I was able to set up a listening station of sorts by my desktop with the full intention of listening to these releases and reviewing them.

Moving along…

The 7-inches are both beautifully pressed with “Keith”/”They Showed me the Road to Bohemia” in white (33rpm) and “O Sun”/”Wait Wait” in turquoise with light hints of red (45rpm).

“Keith” paid tribute to the one and only Keith Richards.  I loved the line Richman said regarding Keith’s style was “not exactly the blues cause it’s sorta European too.”  “The Showed me the Road to Bohemia” was a spoken word jam by Richman that was relaxed yet joyless.  Richmond can’t always be a ray of sunshine folks.  He is human after all.

“O Sun” carried a more vintage beachfront island sound that I really was not expecting but completely loved.  It was nothing too technical and quite repetitive, but mysterious like something you would hear in an old school James Bond movie soundtrack.  “Wait Wait” really reminded me of the young Richman post-Modern Lovers I had adored for so many years.  Plenty of clapping and good times were thrown in this jam with thanks to Juanramon Jimenez, a poet who Richman claimed “helped me express a feeling.”

I know I tend to tell everyone what I like and honestly, that is the whole premise of this little blog I have been holding onto for a while. If  can find just one person out there who has not heard of Richman yet and they turn into a fan, then my job is done.  I do this because I want to and there is no other reason.

Both 7-inches only have me excited even more for the full length that Blue Arrow Records aims to release this fall.  Until then, you can stop in the shop and pick up both copies or click on the album covers below to place your order today at Blue Arrow Records ($10 each + shipping):

O Sun 7-Inch Single  Keith 7-Inch Single


I find my posting of this appropriate with the statement that Pete released about Blue Arrow Records and their involvement with Record Store Day.  If you have not read it yet, please do.  It is a highly well-written discussion about his somber decision to not partake in perhaps the most popular retail event for independently owned record stores.

My thoughts about RSD are not as strong as they once were and I blame the greedy (the labels and the flippers).  Where I love to see people standing in line to buy limited pressed releases, I feel it has gone too far and has turned into just another way for big business to make their money as well as shady flippers who throw them up on eBay and make a killing (sometimes even before RSD).

There are too many releases to even count this year and honestly, there were only maybe two that I might have raised an eyebrow about.  What I am trying to get at was that I wasn’t excited about this year’s RSD offerings.  Hopefully not everyone agrees with me and still will be lining up at their favorite local shop next week.

There may not be new pressings coming out that I give a crap about, but there are stores like Blue Arrow Records with tons of old and previously loved releases that I will happily flip through with hopes of finding a gem.

Don’t dismiss RSD.  Remember it is about records, not just the new re-re-re-repressings on an 138 gram glitter-gold pressing with hologram download cards.  Go out and support your local record store and find something that you can call your own.

Check It Out: New Song By Anti-Flag

Thanks to the fine peeps over at For The Love Of Punk, everyone gets to hear the new previously unreleased Anti-Flag track titled “Close My Eyes”.

Anti-Flag 20 Years Of HellThe track was taken from the band’s final 20 Years Of Hell 7-inch split series which was only made available to those who subscribed to the  limited release through A-F Records.

I am not going to lie, I am just stoked for these Pittsburgh heroes and am thrilled to have grown up a fan of them.

I can not wait to see what they drop next.  I know it is going to rule.

Check out the track below:

Check It Out: Trophy Lungs

Happy New Year everyone!  2013 may have been a great year for music, but for me, it included a few too many months of solitude in the middle of nowhere.  Needless to say, I feel much better about being back in Ohio.  No hard feelings to New Mexico of course, I do miss them tacos.

Trophy Lungs - No Judgement EPAnyways, a new year brings new music and new posts from yours truly.  Last month (rather, late November), a band by the name of Trophy Lungs got in touch with me asking me to check out their 7-inch EP titled No Judgement that Death To False Hope Records dropped.  I told them I would be happy to take a listen.

2 months later, I am pleased to say I have given that EP a steady listen over the last couple months and finally thought I would take a moment out of my busy life to spread the love.

The threesome, hailing from Boston, have a fun sound to them that is more of a power pop punk approach that found myself digging a while lot.   I found myself digging the band even more when I saw the video they dropped for one of the songs on the EP (see below for that).

After watching all that bull mess on New Year’s Eve with all the crappy bands I have not heard of, it is nice to fall into a band like this.  I look forward to seeing what they dish out in 2014.

I was hoping to score me a copy of the 7-inch of No Judgement, but it looks like this blogger here waited too long and it is perhaps sold the hell out.  Oops.  I will keep searching and at least I can listen to it via the internets.

Check it out:

Check out the video the band release for their song “Dad’s Away On Business”

(nice Iron Chic shirt dude!)

7-Inch Review: State Lines – Self-Titled EP

I am one of those guys out there who has no problem admitting that they like the band Brand New.  Yeah, I can be a little sensitive when I need to be and sometimes pop-punky emo rock is all I need to soothe my nerves.  I am beyond the point in life where if you question me about this confession that I will challenge you to a duel with fists and a spiked club, but you get my drift.  Point is, I like all sorts of music and it was no surprise to me when I first heard State Lines and immediate dug them.  They sound relatively close to a younger Brand New and I am sure they are completely aware of that.

Earlier this year, State Lines, with help of Tiny Engines, released a 4 song self-titled 7-inch EP.  The result is a quick listen, but those four songs beg to be played over and over again.  They may have formed in 2010 and were probably born right around the time I was kicking ass in high school, but they do not sound very novice at all.

Speaking of high school…that guy on the cover of this 7-inch reminds me of Rotor Man.  Unless you grew up in Cleveland and went to Geauga Lake in the 90s, chances are you have no idea who I am talking about.

Anyways…

“5’s On The Elephant” started things off and was hands down the best track of the four.  This song that reminded me of the all the bands I started branching out to once I became a late fan of poppy punk  thanks to a girl who used to work with me at a record store back in the day.  It was almost a blend of Brand New and Taking Back Sunday and I completely was sucked into it.  Pounding drums matched up with catchy guitar playing just carried along a fun vibe throughout.  “Plenty Of Time” followed, but was not nearly as powerful as the opener.  Still, it was a good track that sped up halfway though.  B-side “Win Free” was another solid track to listen to.  I loved hearing the raspy voice of Dimitri met with Werring’s harmonic singing throughout the track.

Here’s hoping that this EP is just a sample of what they have in store for their next release which should be coming up shortly.  So what if they sound like Brand New? They sound amazing and I think that hey are well aware of that and plan on acting upon it.  Here’s hoping that their follow up LP drops very soon. I am stoked about this young act and can’t wait to see where their talent takes them next.

Check it out for yourself and see what I am taking about:

“Be Your Bro” With Those Darlins

Next Tuesday, Those Darlins will be releasing a 7-inch of two new new album songs entitled “Be Your Bro” and “Let U Down.” This is the first taste from their sophomore album Screws Get Loose that is dropping at the end of March on OH WOW DANG Records.

It is safe to say I am excited. If anyone knows anything about me, I am a big big Those Darlins fan.  After seeing them last Fall, it is safe to say I am stoked to hear their new release.  They changed their sound up a little and it sounds amazing.

7″ Track list
Side A) Be Your Bro
Side B) Let U Down

Those Darlins are currently touring in support of their new release. When these girls (and Linwood) tour, they tour…

Photo by Veta&Theo for Ovvio Arte

TOUR DATES:

JANUARY
27 – Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s
28 – Hattiesburg, MS – Thirsty Hippo
29 – Auburn, AL – The Independent

FEBRUARY
17 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic #
18 – St Louis, MO – Pageant #
19 – Chicago, IL – The Vic #
20 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue #
22 – Louisville, KY – Headliners #
23 – Cincinnati, OH – Southgate House #
24 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel #
25 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead #
26 – Charleston, SC _ Music Farm #
27– Jacksonville, FL – Freebird #

MARCH
1 – Orlando, FL – Plaza Theater #
2 – Tampa, FL Skipper’s #
3 – Tallahassee, FL – The Moon #
4 – New Orleans – Tipitina’s #
5 – Houston, TX – House of Blues #
17th-20th — Austin, TX — SXSW
24 – Washington, DC – The Black Cat +
25 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom +
26 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom +
27 – Boston, MA – Middle East +
29 – Providence, RI – Firehouse 13
30 – New Haven, CT – BAR
31 – Baltimore, MD – Golden West

APRIL
1 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall +
4 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room +
6 – Denver, CO – the Bluebird +
7 – Salt Lake City, UT – the Urban Lounge +
8 – Boise, ID – Neurolux +
9 – Seattle, WA – the Crocodile +
10 – Portland, OR – Dante’s +
13 – San Francisco, CA – the Independent +
14 – Santa Cruz, CA – the Rio Theatre +
16 – Santa Barbara, CA – the Mercury Lounge

JUNE
2 – Ozark, AR – Wakarusa Festival

# w/Old 97’s
+ w/Black Joe Lewis