Fist Vs. Tact

Left Alone

2009-03-25T20:05:00.004-06:00

Southern California's Left Alone is set to release their self titled album on April 7th. While this will be a self-titled release, it is by no means the bands first album. These guys have been together since 1996 and have recorded a hand full of records since then.

Left Alone's music will not get any awards for originality but I think these guys make some pretty good music. I like the single Three Bottles Of Wine and it has sparked my interest as to what the full length has in store. Check out the song below and if you like what you hear, pick up the album next month.

Left Alone-Three Bottles of Wine
Left Alone (myspace)

Pulley: Time-Insensitive Material

2009-03-24T14:19:00.013-06:00

After not releasing new material since 2004, Pulley has come back into the melodic punk scene again with the release of their new EP Time-Insensitive Material . This EP marks the first release under the bands own label X-Members after they departed from Epitaph Records.

While many punk bands have changed their sound over time and alienated their fans, Pulley is a band that has always stayed true to their punk roots and their new material is no different. There are only five tracks on the EP and they are all equally impressive. This five song gem should hold fans over until the band releases another full length album. Everyone take note, this is what melodic punk should sound like.

Pulley- Mandarin
Time-Insensitive Material (interpunk/myspace)

MxPx On The Cover II

2009-03-19T09:38:00.003-06:00

The new MxPx cover album will be released this upcoming Tuesday and you can listen to a few of the new tracks on the player below. My favorite song that I have heard so far off of the album has to be the cover of The Ramones’ “My Brain is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)." While that song is not available on the media player, it can be heard here. I think the guys really did the Ramones justice with that song. Check it out!

Celtic Punk

2009-03-13T20:56:00.012-06:00

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day that is coming up next week I thought I would post some songs from two of my favorite Celtic punk bands. There is no doubt that Irish heritage has had its impact on punk rock. The Pogues are rightfully credited as being pioneers of the genre by mixing their Irish heritage with their punk rock attitudes. Many bands such as The Dropkick Murphys and The Real Mckenzies have followed their lead and kept the spirit of Irish punk alive. Personally, I don’t think you can get a better combination than bagpipes and punk music. Enjoy the songs and have a great St. Patrick’s Day!

The Pogues- The Body of an American
Rum Sodomy & the Lash (iTunes)

Dropkick Murphys- Heroes From Our Past
Sing Loud, Sing Proud (iTunes)

New Found Glory: Not Without A Fight

2009-03-10T13:24:00.009-06:00

There is a certain amount of nostalgia associated with New Found Glory considering I grew up listening to these guys. Even after all these years I still consider myself a fan of the band and I have been looking forward to the release of Not Without A Fight since I heard of its development last year. Although NFG’s last album Coming Home was a slight departure from their fast paced pop-punk style, they are a band that I have come to know what to expect when they release new material.

Not Without A Fight finds NFG picking up the pace again and creating an album that reminds me a lot of Sticks and Stones, their 2002 release. As I mentioned before, their formulas hasn’t changed very much with this released with this release. The album is full of catchy pop-punk tunes with hardcore roots that mainly deal with the subject matter of relationship issues. There is no doubt that that these songs will inevitably end up getting stuck in your head. After listening to the album I found myself humming a lot of the melodies from the album throughout the day.

All in all, this is a pretty solid release from the seasoned veterans of pop-punk. This release proves that NFG isn’t going away anytime soon and definitely not going without a fight.

Found Glory- Listen To Your Friends
Not Without A Fight (iTunes)

Strung Out: Sneek Peek of New Album

2009-03-07T23:30:00.007-07:00

Lost Motel is the first released track off of Strung Out's upcoming release Prototypes and Painkillers. The album will be a compilation of demos and outtakes throughout the bands career. Fans who follow the band may recognize this song since it was featured on Strung Out's live album, part Fat Wreck Chords Live in a Dive series. At any rate, it's a killer song and I'm glad a studio version is now available.

I usually don't get to worked up over b-side albums but if Lost Motel is any indication of the type of material to be found on the record, fans of the band are in for a real treat. The album is set for release on March 31.

Strung Out- Lost Motel
Prototypes and Painkillers

Something To Do: I Command You To Dance

2009-03-07T22:27:00.001-07:00

It’s always exciting when I discover a band that really catches my attention and that’s exactly what happened to me this week when I found out about Something to Do (S2D). S2D is a ska/punk band from Wisconsin and they have had my foot tapping to their latest album since I got a hold of it earlier this week.

The album is called I command You To Dance, a title that stays true to its name from start to finish. There is some really great music to be found on the album and it’s a really fun listen all the way through. The thing that I love about the band is that they seem to have taken cues from some of the great ska bands of our time and incorporated those elements into their own sound.

Two of my favorite tracks off of the album are Robbed a Bank, and Leave Me Alone. Robbed a bank is a song that starts off with a relaxing ska beat which carries over into the verse and then it goes into overdrive when the chorus starts. Leave Me Alone is one of the harder songs on the album. It has the guitars plugged in with full distortion, breakneck drumming, and horns blazing.

While I don’t necessarily think that I Command You To Dance is the most groundbreaking ska album that I have ever heard, its certainly worth listening to for any fan of the genre. Pick up a copy and support the band!

Something To Do- Let's Not Pretend
I Command You To Dance (iTunes)

Moshcam

2009-02-06T09:40:00.009-07:00

I found this awesome website the other day called Moshcam. It's a site that has a number of full length concerts available to watch for free. One of the best concerts available to watch is an epic performance by Thrice at the Metro Theatre. I have been listening to a lot of Thrice lately (mainly The Illusions of Safety and Identity Crisis)and I am amazed at their musicianship, they're really a talented group of guys.

There are also performance by Strung Out, Streetlight Manifesto, Lagwagon, and the Gaslight anthem. This website may be old news for a lot of people but I was pretty stoked when I came across it the other day.

Thrice- Deadbolt
The Illusions of Safety (iTunes)

The Loved Ones: Distractions

2009-02-03T13:30:00.006-07:00

The Loved Ones new EP Distractions was released today. The EP contains three previously unreleased originals and three covers. The EP is nothing short of amazing. These guys continue to impress me with the quality of material that they release. They perfectly bridge the genre gap between punk rock and straight up rock and roll.

The three new originals are hard hitting songs and their sound continues to develop and improve upon their previous material. I was a little disappointed that there were not more originals on the EP but I guess that gives us something to look forward to when their next full length is released.

With that said, don’t get the impression that the three covers are something to be looked over. There is a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s Johnny 99, Billy Bragg’s Lover’s Town Revisited, and Joe Stummer’s Coma Girl. These are really good covers and the band truly made them their own.

The Loved Ones are one of the best bands out there and this EP should be owned by anyone and everyone who is a fan of rock music.

The Loved Ones- Distracted
Distractions (iTunes)

Reel Big Fish

2009-01-25T22:15:00.008-07:00

Reel Big Fish came out with a cover album last Tuesday and it's being streamed in its entirety on their mayspace page. The album finds Reel Big Fish covering classic songs from artist such as Poison, Van Morrison, the Eagles and Tom Petty.

I have always enjoyed the covers that Reel Big Fish has done in the past, especially Take On Me, and now fans finally have an entire album dedicated ska covers. This is definitely a must have for any RBF fan.

Reel Big Fish- Nothing But a Good Time
Fame, Fortune, and Fornication (iTunes)

Fake Problems: How Far Our Bodies Go

2009-01-21T11:48:00.003-07:00

SideOneDummy has to be one of my favorite record labels because of their great lineup of bands that consistently produce quality material. So when I recently heard that they had signed Fake Problems, I had to check them out considering I hadn’t heard of them previously.

Fake Problems is an indie/folk/punk band from Naples Florida. It’s kind of hard to pinpoint their exact sound but they can accurately be compared to Against Me!, a band that they have opened for on numerous occasions. With that said, don’t get the false impression that these guys don’t have their own distinct sound. They incorporate many different instruments and musical styles in their songs that gives them their own identity and that separates themselves from other bands in the same genre.

To become familiar with Fake Problems I decided to listen to their debut album, How Far Our Bodies Go. I was very impresses with the album as a whole and I found it to be quite an enjoyable listen. The album has a very chaotic sound that all seems to come together to create something wonderful. The lead singer of the band has a very distinct sounding voice that is both harsh sounding and melodic at the same time.

The single off of the album, Born & Raised, is one of the best songs on the album and it perfectly sums up the bands style in approximately two minutes. Maestro of this Rebellious Symphony is one of the more raucous songs that also adds a southern flair into the mix. There is a lot of variety to be found on the album and I think that it is the evidence of the bands wide variety of influences in various genres of music. In talking about the bands influences, the frontman of Fake Problems said: "I'm definitely influenced by my musical surroundings, so there was never any decision to make 'this' or 'that' kind of song".

It is a really fun experience to listen to the album from start to finish and it will be an album that you won’t quickly forget after hearing it. If you're still not sold on how good Fake Problems is, their whole album can be streamed off of their website. I definitely recommend giving these guys a listen and I bet you will end up liking them as much as I do. Be on the lookout for their new album “It’s Great to be Alive” that comes out on February 17th.

Fake Problems- Born & Raised
How Far Our Bodies Go (iTunes)

He Who Laughs Last...

2009-01-13T20:33:00.005-07:00

In commemorating the Bouncing Souls 20 year legacy of playing their unique style of punk rock, the band will be releasing a brand new song every month in 2009. Their first song, Gasoline, was released on the first of January and it doesn't disappoint. I'm really excited to hear the other songs throughout the year.

A statement from their website reads: 2009 will not only be a celebration of The Souls 20 years as a band, but also a great big "thank you" to all the True Believers who've joined their ranks along the way.

A subscription service is also available for the hardcore fans. Those who sign up for the subscription will also receive 4 extra bonus songs at the end of the year along with the monthly releases. Head on over to Chunksaah Records to pick up the new song and/or subscribe for the whole year of the Bouncing Souls goodness.

Top 20 Punk Albums of the 90's (part 2)

2009-01-12T09:03:00.006-07:00

#10. Green Day- Keprlunk!
Kerplunk is far better than Dookie and it remains to be the bands best album. This is vintage Green Day.

Green Day- Christy Road
Kerplunk! (iTunes)

#9. MxPx- Life in General
Arguably the best pop-punk album ever produced.

MxPx- My Mom Still Cleans My Room
Life in General (iTunes)

#8. Millencolin- Life on a Plate
Skate punk at its finest.

Millencolin- Bullion
Life on a Plate (iTunes)

#7. Lagwagon- Hoss
A classic Lagwagon album that is a staple of my adolescence.

Lagwagon- Razor Burn
Hoss (iTunes)

#6. No Use For a Name- Leche Con Carne
NUFAN at their best.

No Use For A Name- Soulmate
Leche Con Carne (iTunes)

#5. Face to Face- Don't Turn Away
The debut album for Face to Face. It's a must have for any fan of 90's punk rock.

Face to Face- Pastel
Don't Turn Away (iTunes)

#4. Rancid- ...And Out Come the Wolves
A timeless classic by one of the premier punk bands of the decade.

Rancid- Olympia WA
...And Out Come the Wolves (iTunes)

#3. NOFX- Punk In Drublic
A definitive album that continues to stand the test of time.

NOFX- Linoleum
Punk in Drublic (iTunes)

#2. Bad Religion- Stranger than Fiction
An album that defines west coast punk.

Bad Religion- Incomplete
Stranger than Fiction (iTunes)

#1. Pennywise- Full Circle
True to the album's title, Pennywise came full circle to produce one of the best punk albums of all time.

Pennywise- Bro Hymn
Full Circle (iTunes)

The Complete List
20. Dropkick Murphy’s- Do or Die
19. Hot Water Music- Fuel for the Hate Game
18. The Bouncing Souls- Hopeless Romantic
17. Suicide Machines- Battle Hymns
16. Less than Jake- Loosing Streak
15. Offspring- Smash
14. AFI- Black Sails in the Sunset
13. Social Distortion- Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
12. Good Riddance- Ballads from the Revolution
11. Strung Out- Twisted By Design
10. Greed Day- Kerplunk
9. MxPx- Life in General
8. Millencolin- Life on a Plate
7. Lagwagon- Hoss
6. NUFAN-Leche con carne
5. Face to face- Don’t Turn Away
4. Rancid- And out Come the Wolves
3. NOFX- Punk in Drublic
2. Bad Religion- Stranger than Fiction
1. Pennywise- Full Circle

It's A Punk Rock Christmas

2008-12-24T10:21:00.004-07:00

Every year MxPx releases a nontraditional Christmas song that is made available exclusively to their fan club members. It’s a tradition that has been going on for several years and it's something that I look forward to every time Christmas rolls around. Since its Christmas Eve I thought I would post one of my favorite Christmas songs that they have released and quite possibly my favorite Christmas song ever. The song is called “Christmas, Night of the Living Dead” and it was released a few years ago. Head on over to their website and sign up for the fanclub to hear this years song as well!

MxPx- Christmas, Night of the Living Dead
From the MxPx Fanclub (Website)

Bridge

2008-12-23T12:00:00.008-07:00

I have been anxiously anticipating the release of Joey Cape’s solo album ever since I heard rumors of its development earlier this year. I always enjoy it when the front men from some of my favorite punk bands pick up an acoustic guitar once in a while to record some songs. I grew up listening to Cape’s familiar voice as the lead singer of Lagwagon and the only other solo material that he has previously released was a split acoustic album with Fat Wreck Chords label mate Tony Sly.

The new album is entitled “Bridge” and it came out in late October of this year. In speaking about the albums symbolic title Joey Cape said “I think the musical metaphor is appropriate because it is something new for me and it will lead me to another place as a songwriter, weather it be a better appreciation of my craft or the butt of another songwriter's joke.”

The album contains twelve acoustic tracks that clock in for a total of 34 minutes. Some of the songs may sound somewhat familiar because five of them were also enhanced to punk rock form and originally released on the latest Lagwagon EP. Although these select songs are Lagwagon originals, I like them a lot better in their acoustic form.

I have always thought that Joey Cape was a good songwriter but this album really shows off his songwriting abilities. The stripped down acoustic nature of the songs helps me to really focus in on the lyrics and connect with them on a higher level than I usually do with Lagwagon songs. The lyrical content of the album ranges from relationships to reminiscing to times long past.

One of my favorite songs on the album is “The Ramones are Dead.” It’s a song where Joey Cape reminisces about the music scene when he was younger and the joys of going to the record store in hopes to find a rarity. It’s a fitting song since those days are mostly long gone. Most people get all of their music through digital sources and the fun of actually buying an album and holding a physical copy of it in your hand has become almost nonexistent.

The whole album is amazing and I don’t think that there is a bad song to be found on it. I think it’s a great musical achievement for Joey Cape as a songwriter and musician. While I hope Lagwagon continues to produce music for many years to come, I also hope Joey Cape will release more solo material in the future. Anyone who is a fan of music in general should give this album a chance whether they like Lagwagon or not.

Joey Cape- Who We've Become
From the album "Bridge" (iTunes)

Susquehanna

2008-12-21T09:53:00.002-07:00

Susquehanna was released earlier this year and it marks the fifth album to be released by The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies in their 20 year career. The band was formed by college students at the University of Oregon in the late 80's. The founding front man, Steve Perry, wanted to experiment with musical styles through integrating his punk rock roots with a jazz horn section and a keyboardist. The result was something unique and vastly different than what was considered popular at the time.

The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies are probably best known for their 1997 hit “Zoot Suit Riot” which is a big band swing song, one of the many musical styles for the band. If you have never heard of The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies or if you have only heard “Zoot Suit Riot” don’t be fooled into thinking that this is only a swing band. The Cherry Poppin' Daddies are one of those bands that are hard to classify into one genre of music because they are so diverse. They incorporate element of punk, ska, rock, swing, Latin rock and other styles into their albums and Susquehanna is no exception.

To be honest, I didn’t even know that The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies were still producing albums until I was contacted by a representative of the band early last week. I decided to give their new album a spin and I was pleasantly surprised. It’s definitely an ambitious album that offers listeners a wide variety of the bands musical styles that they have experimented throughout their career. Listening to the album straight through is definitely an interesting experience (in a good way) because each song sounds immensely different from the next. In talking about the albums diversity, Steve Perry said "I guess I hoped for each song as a chapter in a modernist novel." I really admire the band for having the guts to release an album as ambitious as this one and I think the end result is something to be admired and enjoyed.

Since I’m a fan of ska music then naturally some of my favorite songs off of the album (Hi and Lo, Blood Orange Sun, and Hammerblow) are those that are more ska influenced. One of the more intriguing songs on the album is Rosanne, a song that has deep Latin roots and seems like it could easily be heard out on the salsa dance floor. The percussion for the song is actually played by real dancing feet and it sounds pretty cool.

Overall, I think that the album is pretty good considering I didn't really know what to expect after not listening to the band in so many years. I would recommend this album to new and old fans alike or to anyone who wants to step outside their music box and listen to something different than what they are probably used to. Check out some of the songs below and pick yourself up a copy of the album if you like what you hear.

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies- Hi and Lo
From the album "Susquehanna" (iTunes)

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies- Blood Orange Sun
From the album "Susquehanna" (iTunes)

Album of the Year

2008-12-13T00:17:00.016-07:00

Since its getting close to the end of the year I thought I would declare my choice for the album of the year. I want to make it clear that the choice I made is primarily based on how much I personally enjoyed the album and not necessarily for technical qualities.

I chose GNV FLA by Less than Jake as my favorite album of 2008. This may or may not come as a surprise to regular readers of this site, if there even are any, but I thought that this album didn't get the recognition it deserves. I thought that Less Than Jake came back to the ska/punk scene in full force this year with the release of this record. The album came out back in June and it continues to be on my regular music rotation. You can see my detailed thoughts on the album here.

Less Than Jake- Does The Lion City Still Roar
From the album "GNV FLA" (Amazon.com/iTunes)

Some honorable mentions(in no particular order)include:
1.The 59' Sound- The Gaslight Anthem
2.The Feel Good Record of the Year- No Use For a Name
3.Appeal to Reason- Rise Against
4.Darker Days- Time Again
5.Build and Burn- The Loved Ones
6.Come All You Madmen- The Briggs
7.I Think My Older Brother Used to listen to Lagwagon- Lagwagon
(I know it was an EP but I couldn't help putting it on here.)

Punk Rock Documentary

2008-12-11T10:05:00.010-07:00

I found a really well done punk rock documentary on utube the other day and I thought I would post it for your viewing pleasure. It's a four part series that goes through the beginnings of the punk uprising and continues on up to the early 90's scene. The video has some really good live footage that you will probably enjoy. It kind of ends abruptly and I don't know if there is a part five or not, I will have to check on that. I have also posted a few songs of some of the influential artists talked about in the documentary. Check it out!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Iggy Pop- Passenger
From the album "Lust For Life" (itunes)

Sex Pistols- Liar
From the album "Never Mind the Bullocks..." (itunes)

The Clash- Career Opportunities
From the album "The Clash" (itunes)

Ramones- We Want The Airwaves
From the album "Pleasant Dreams" (itunes)

Anticipated Releases of 2009

2008-12-10T19:36:00.008-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a little while but hopefully I can get back on a regular schedule. As I was thinking about next year and the albums or EP's that will be released, I quickly realized that next year will be a great year for music. Here is a list of my most anticipated releases of 2009 with their scheduled release dates:

1. Strung Out- Prototypes and Painkillers "B-Sides"(Feb. 17, 2009)
2. The Loved Ones- Distractions "EP"(Feb. 3, 2009)
3. MxPx- Untitled (summer 2009)
4. The Bouncing Souls- Untitled (sometime in 2009)
5. The Ataris- Untitled (sometime in 2009)
6. MxPx- On The Cover 2 (early 2009)
7. Tumbledown- Untitled (sometime in 2009)
8. New Found Glory- Untitled (sometime in 2009)

That's all the releases that I could come up with at the moment. Many punk purists may snicker that I included the upcoming NFG album but I'm very interested to see what kind of material they release now that they are signed to Epitaph. MxPx will be releasing two albums, a cover album and a full release, and my only worry is that the band may be focusing on quantity rather than quality this time around. We shall see but MxPx is pretty consistent with putting out quality material. The new Ataris album was promised by Kris Roe to resemble their older material rather than the dark sound of "Welcome The Night". The new Strung out, Bouncing Souls, and The Loved Ones albums are sure to be upcoming favorites for the new year.

At The Show

2008-09-30T11:32:00.008-06:00

This past weekend I had the chance to go see MxPx and Lagwagon in Salt Lake City for their "We're Kind Of A Big Deal Tour" which they were co-headlining. They were accompanied by two other bands TAT and Only Crime which opened for them. The show was at "In The Venue" which is a very small and personal venue in downtown Salt Lake. It was my first time at the venue and I was initially surprised by how small it was but it made for a great punk show.

The night started off with TAT playing about a thirty minute set. I wasn't really familiar with any of TAT's songs but I was impressed by their overall performance. They are a band from London England and they are fronted by a female lead vocalist and guitarist. I felt bad for the band because there were only about 25 people there to watch them play.

Only Crime played next and they put on another good performance. They played a very energetic set but again, there was still very little people there to see them. They played songs off of both their records and they also had a replacement for Bill Stevenson, their usual drummer.

Once MxPx took the stage, the whole venue seemed to change with energy and excitement. The lights dimmed and the introduction to "Baba O'Riley" by The Who played as Mike, Tom and Yuri stormed the stage. MxPx was easily the best act of the night and they really got the crowed going. They played a lot of songs off of their older albums. Half of their set was filled with requests from the crowd which included "Buildings Tumble," "Andrea," and "Broken Bones." I was a little disappointed that MxPx only played about 50 minutes, you could tell that everyone wanted them to keep playing all night. MxPx is one of the best bands that I have seen live and I seemed to fall in love with the band all over again.

Lagwagon was the closing act of the night. They also played an awesome set and pulled out a lot of older classic songs. Some of the memorable songs played were "Island of Shame," "Making Friends," "Violins," and "Automatic." Joey Cape displayed his playful personality as he would crack jokes in between songs.

There are only a couple of dates left on this tour and if you are even remotely close to the shows, you better go. I wouldn't miss this tour for anything, its worth every penny.

TAT- Bloodstain (MP3)

Only Crime- Tenebrae (MP3)
From the album "To The Nines" (Amazon.com)

MxPx- Let It Happen (MP3)
From the album "Let It Happen" (Amazon.com)

Lagwagon- Island of Shame (MP3)
From the album "Trashed" (Amazon.com)

Build & Burn

2008-09-25T08:34:00.011-06:00

Yesterday I went out to the record store and picked up "Build & Burn" by The Loved Ones. I have known about The Loved Ones for a while but never managed to buy any of their albums for reasons unknown. There is this website that can be found here that has some really great acoustic and live sets from The Bouncing Souls, Face To Face and The Loved Ones. On that site I was watching The Loved Ones play an acoustic set and was really impressed with their performance so I decided to pick up their most recent full length album. You really should check out those performances, you wont be sorry. One of the videos can be seen at the bottom of the post.

The Loved Ones play a style of music that is different than most bands on Fat Wreck Chord. Their brand of punk is very melodic and has a very "punk and roll" feel to it. They have often been compared to other bands such as Hot Water Music, The Gaslight Anthem and Against Me.

I'm sure glad that I decided to pick up "Build & Burn" because every song on the album is amazing. My only complaint is that it only has ten tracks on it and leaves me wanting more. The lyrics on the album are top notch and the melodies are outstanding. One of my favorites on the album is "My Silent Masquerade" which is a ballad that is accompanied by a piano. Don't worry, the piano fits in nicely with the music and it sounds really awesome. The single off of the album is "The Bridge" and its also one of the standout songs on the CD. This album has been one of my best music purchases in long time and in a perfect world, everyone would own this album.

The Loved Ones- The Bridge (MP3)
From the album Build & Burn (Amazon.com)

The Loved Ones- Sarah's Game (MP3)
From the album Build & Burn (Amazon.com)

The Loved Ones- Selfish Masquerade (Acoustic)

Rocket To Riot City

2008-09-23T08:45:00.004-06:00

I recently found out about the band Bankrupt, the finest punk rock band to come out of Budapest Hungary. They have been a band for roughly twelve years playing their own brand of melodic punk in the wake of bands such as the Ramones and the Descendants. Over the course of their career they have toured all over the world while releasing three full length albums and they have recently put out a new EP entitled “Rocket to Riot City.” Since I bought this EP a couple days ago it has been playing nonstop on my computer. The thing I love most about Bankrupt is their early 90’s melodic punk sound that has been revved up and enhanced for the 21’s century. “Rocket to Riot City” contains five impressive tracks that are fast and catchy, the way punk is meant to be played. Their song "Sidewinder” has been playing on repeat in my mind since the first time I heard it and as you can guess its one of my favorites off the EP. The lyrics on the EP range from the political turmoil of their native country to the corruptness of the music industry and to their experiences on the road while they tour. Any fan of melodic punk rock should definitely grab a copy of “Rocket to Riot City.” Follow the links at the bottom to buy your copy and visit their Myspace page or website for more information about Bankrupt.

Bankrupt- Sidewinder (MP3)
From the EP "Rocket To Riot City" (Amazon.com/itunes)

Stories & Alibis

2008-09-20T11:40:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I was rummaging through my CD collection and I came across "Stories and Alibis" by Matchbook Romance. I handn't listened to this album in years and when I started listening to it again I remembered how much I liked the record. I never really got into the emo scene but "Stories and Alibis" captured my attention by the catchy melidic hooks found all throughout the album. This is the only CD that I own from Matchbook Romance and I havent followed them since this release. From what I understand, they are currently on an indefinate hiatus after they released one more album entitled "Voices." Overall, this is a really great album and would definatly be worth checking out if you are a fan of emo or melodic punk.

Matchbook Romance- Promise (MP3)
From the album "Stories and Alibis" (Amazon.com)

Matchbook Romance- Lovers & Liars
From the album "Stories and Alibis" (Amazon.com)

Cold As Clay

2008-09-19T13:07:00.004-06:00

Greg Graffin's acoustic folk album is ingenious and it really shows off Greg's song writing talents. The album is called "Cold As Clay" and it contains eleven American folk songs, a style quite different from the punk music that is usually associated with Greg Graffin as lead singer of "Bad Religion." I don't foresee myself ever growing out of punk music anytime soon but even if I did, this is an album that I will continue to be listening to for a long time to come. Greg Graffin really surprised me with the sheer quality of the album. He sounds like he has been writing folk songs for decades and you wouldn't ever know his punk roots if you were unfamiliar with his past. There is beauty in simplicity and this album goes to prove the point. I really enjoy the album and hope he continues to write and release new material while he pursues Bad Religion.

Greg Graffin- Don't Be Afraid To Run (MP3)
From the album "Cold As Clay" (Amazon.com)

Greg Graffin- One More Hill (MP3)
From the album "Cold As Clay" (Amazon.com)

Slick Shoes

2008-09-16T11:21:00.008-06:00

I was pretty disappointed when I heard a while back that the Slick Shoes had disbanded and on an indefinite hiatus. That was back in 2007, 15 months later they announced that they had officially gotten back together to start touring again and eventually put out some more records. Apparently they needed a break from Slick Shoes for a while to pursue their side project "Sigmund" which was an alternative rock band that was made up of current and former members of Slick Shoes. I personally thought that "Sigmund" was awful and I'm glad that they finally decided to start Slick Shoes up again. I have been checking their website often and I haven't heard a recent update but I hope these guys put out a record soon. Slick Shoes originally formed in 1994 playing catchy pop-punk tunes with christian themed lyrics. I really like the Slick Shoes and was most impressed by their last album "Far From Nowhere," one of the fastest albums that I own. One thing that makes this CD stand out from the rest is the insane guitar riffs that are to be enjoyed on a number of the tracks. If you can get past Ryan Kepke's sometimes whiny voice, there is really some good music to be found here that borders on the line of punk and speed metal. Check out that record and their other releases. Hopefully we can hear some new material soon!

Slick Shoes- Darko (MP3)
From the album "Far From Nowere" (Amazon.com)

Slick Shoes- Angel (MP3)
From the album "Wake Up Screaming" (Amazon.com)

Nikola Sarcevic

2008-09-12T13:57:00.007-06:00

A while ago I had mentioned that some of the frontmen from my favorite bands were starting to do their own solo projects on the side. You may recognize Nikola Sarcevic as the lead singer of the long time punk band Millencolin, but since about the last four years he has been writing and producing folk songs. He has released two full length albums, the first being "Lock-Sport-Krock" which was released in 2004 and "Roll Roll and Flee" which was released in 2007. It's quite the change in pace and music style from what Nikola is usually known for but he actually produces some really enjoyable songs. Nikola is quite the musician, as he was the one who played and recorded all the instruments on both records including the guitar, percussion, piano and harmonica. The lyrics are surprisingly really well written and its a given that most of them are about girls and relationship troubles. I own both albums and while I like them both, I definitely prefer "Roll Roll and Flee" over the later. I think that "Roll Roll and Flee" is also more accessible to newer listeners so I would recommend listening to that album first. Songs from both records can be heard on his Myspace page so take the time to listen and let me know what you think. Its good music to relax to and sometimes its nice to slow it down a bit from what I normally listen to. Right now Nikola said that he is putting all of his focus and attention on Millencilin at the moment but I cant wait to hear the other material this guy will put out in the future. Both albums can be purchased off of Amazon.com.

Nikola Sarcevic- Love Trap (MP3)
From the album "Lock-Sport-Krock" (Amazon.com)

True Believer

2008-09-11T10:59:00.011-06:00

One of the best punk albums to be released in the eight short years of 21st century would have to be "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" by The Bouncing Souls. The Bouncing Souls have been around for about 19 years playing their brand of light hearted melodic punk music. Members of the band got together in high school to jam together but their career didn't take off until 1991 when they moved to Brunswick, NJ. There is something about the Souls that gets me in a good mood no matter what life situation come my way. "How I Spend My Summer Vacation" was released in 2001 and contains some of my favorite songs that this band has released. My favorite would have to be "Gone," a song about how music has the power of clearing darkness from our lives and replacing that darkness with the light of hope. Another classic is "True Believers" which is a brotherhood anthem that discusses a lifestyle and a faith that doesn't fade with time. I am a huge fan of the Bouncing Souls and consider them a very influential band in my life. A lot of people say that punk music is dead and left in the 1990's but the Souls are one of the few bands that are keeping the scene alive. I would also recommend their other later releases "Anchors Away" and "The Gold Record," I swear these guys keep getting better and better with every release. What are some of the bands that pick you up when your down?

The Bouncing Souls- Gone

The Bouncing Souls- True Believers (MP3)
From the album "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" (Amazon.com)

Gone But Not Forgotten

2008-09-07T12:22:00.020-06:00

Have you ever found a new band that you really like, only to find that they break up a few years later? I bet we all have had this happen and its really disheartening. Lets face it, the music industry is a tough business and its getting harder and harder for bands to survive in our pop-culture society. A couple notable bands that formed and then disbanded only after a short time later are "Autopilot Off" and "Don't Look Down." You may or may not have heard of these bands before but they are definitely worth listening to.

"Autopilot Off" originally formed in 1996 under the name "Cooter" which was later changed due to legal reasons. They had one full length release under "Autopilot Off" that came out in 2004 called "Make A Sound." This album was really good and continues to be one of my favorite Cd's and their lead singer Chris Johnson also remians to be one of my favorite singers. You may recognize at least one song off of this album, "What I Want" which appeared on the video game SSX 3. I saw the album in the store the other day for under $5.00 and I thought It was a shame that more people didn't listen to these guys. The band is currently in a indefinite hiatus and who knows when or if they will ever get back together, lets hope for the best.

"Don't Look Down" was signed onto Nitro Records for a while and managed to release two full length albums and at least one EP that I know of. Their first CD was mediocre at best as they sounded just like any other pop-punk band but their second album was really well done. Their second album "fear In Love" was so great because the band changed their sound a bit and produced an awesome rock album that was very musically technical. This was a risky but great move for the band because at the time there were pop-punk bands forming all over the place and they all started to sound the same. They separated themselves from the crowd and I think they set a new standard. It's unfortunate these guys are still not making music.
If you are at the CD store or online and you happen to come across any of the music produced by these two bands, take the opportunity to buy it and give it a chance.

Autopilot Off- Nothing Frequency (MP3)
From the self-titled EP "Autopilot Off" (Amazon.com)

Autopilot Off- Clockwork (MP3)
From the Album "Make A Sound" (Amazon.com)

Don't Look Down- To All Our Saviors (MP3)
From the album "Fear In Love" (Amazon.com)

Strung Out

2008-09-06T22:23:00.014-06:00

Strung Out is a band that will completely melt your face off. They play a style of punk rock that is extremely fast and infused with heavy metal, complete with insane guitar riffs and no shortage of double bass petal on the drums. No one can blame these guys for not being musically talented, their guitar players can shred with the best of any out there. They have been a band for a while, since 1992, and have seven full length albums released on Fat Wreck Chords. I had a chance to see these guys live a couple months ago in Salt Lake and I was completely blown away. The band puts on a killer live show and they sound just as tight as they do on any of their albums. One of my good friends got me listening to these guys and he would always make the statement that "their music sounds so beautiful." At the time I thought that was a weird comment but after listening to their albums for a while, I know exactly what he was talking about. There is just something about Strung Out that is so soothing. I think its the combination of the lead singers voice and the insane riffs that draws people into such conclusions as my friend and now myself. This is definitely evident on the album "Exile in Oblivion," one of my favorite albums. Anyways, listen to some of the stuff this band has put out, I promise that you wont be disappointed. If you already love this band then props to you for your excellent choice of music!

Strung Out- Calling(MP3)
From the album "Blackhawks Over Los Angeles" (Amazon.com)

Strung Out- Analog (MP3)
From the album "Exile In Oblivion" (Amazon.com)

Strung Out- Alien Amplifier(MP3)
From the album "An American Paradox" (Amazon.com)

Contention

2008-09-04T17:55:00.007-06:00

The music video for the third single off of MxPx's latest CD "Secret Weapon" was released today. The song is called "Contention" and its an interesting pick for probably the last single off of the record. While most bands usually pick the more radio friendly songs as their singles so that they can appeal to a wide variety of audiences, Contention is a straight up punk song that would only appeal to fans of the genre. It is definitely one of the harder songs off of their album and ranks up there with previous hardcore songs that they have done such as "Fist vs. Tact" and "Get Me Out." I think its obvious that MxPx is doing everything that they can to reestablish themselves as one of the main contenders in the punk scene after what some would call, but not me, disappointing releases such as "Before Everything and After." the reason I say that is because all three singles off of Secret Weapon have been hard hitting songs that do not apologize for their punk attitude. The Contention video is good and while I don't think its nearly their best, its definitely a nice addition to all the MxPx videos put out over the years. The video deals with themes of war and the contention, go figure, going on in the world today. Its a really short song and the video is over before you even know it. Check out the video below and go grab "Secret Weapon" if you haven't already!

MxPx- Contention (MP3)
From the Album "Secret Weapon" (Amazon.com)

I Think My Older Brother Used To Listen To...

2008-09-04T11:46:00.019-06:00

Lagwagon's new 7 song EP might possible have the coolest title I have ever seen, its called "I Think My Older Brother Used To Listen To Lagwagon." Its funny because that's probably a very accurate statement, these guys have been rocking since 1990 and have been one of the premiere punk bands of the past two decades. I have been listening to these guys for a long time and many of their older songs, namely off of "Hoss" and "Double Plaidnum," remain a staple of my adolescent past. While I wish Lagwagon would have come out with a new full length record, I was undoubtedly excited when I heard that they were releasing an EP. The new EP finds Lagwagon sticking to the same melodic punk formula, which is a good thing because it works. Why change something when its not broken? Lagwagon is one of those rare bands that continues to get better and better as they age and this EP is proof of that. Overall, every song is worth listening to over and over again, these seven songs should hopefully tide us over until the next full length release. The lyrics on the EP are serious in nature but not nearly as depressing as the lyrics on their previous CD "Blaze" which dealt with the death of their friend Derek. Most of the songs on the EP are also going to appear on Joey Cape's (lead singer) solo acoustic record, "Bridge", that is set to release in mid October. Keep an eye out for that solo CD, one of the songs "No Little Pill" can be heard on his myspace page and "Errands" can be heard down below. Aside from that, this release proves that Lagwagon still has plenty more music left in their career and its nice to see that there are some bands left playing this style of music.

Lagwagon- Memoirs and Landmines(MP3)
From the EP "I Think My Older Brother Used To Listen To Lagwagon" (Amazon.com)

Joey Cape- Errands (MP3)
From the upcoming album "Bridge" (Pre-order)

Appeal To Reason

2008-08-28T21:26:00.011-06:00

Rise Against has a new album coming out on October 7th. The new CD is called "Appeal to Reason" and it sounds really good so far, judging off of their first single "Re-education (through labor)." The single can be heard on their myspace page and can be purchased off of itunes. Rise Against has been one of my favorite bands for a while and I'm really looking forward to the release. If you have never really listened to the band then I would highly recommend checking out their Cd's "Revolutions Per Minute" or "The Sufferer & The Witness" for starters, those should hold you over until October 7th. You can also check one of my favorite Rise Againt songs down below.

Rise Against- Give It All
From the album "Siren Song Of The Counter Culture" (Amazon.com)

Going To The Show

2008-08-18T15:47:00.010-06:00

I'm getting excited about the upcoming MxPx and Lagwagon show on the 26th of September in Salt Lake. They will also be performing with Only Crime and Tat. It should be a really good show and I'm trying to find people to go with, post a comment with your e-mail address if you are interested.

Lagwagon- Making Friends
From the album "Double Plaidinum" (Amazon.com)

MxPx- Southbound
From the album "Life In General" (Amazon.com)

Only Crime- Eye's Of The World
From the album "Virulence" (Amazon.com)

Sneak Preview

2008-08-13T19:20:00.005-06:00

The Gaslight Anthem is now streaming their new album in its entirety on their myspace page. This is a good chance to give the album a sneak preview before it comes out on august 19th. Go and give it a listen! I haven't had a chance to listen to the whole thing yet so I will let you know what I think in a couple days. Hurry, I don't know how long these songs will be up!

Bedouin Soundclash

2008-08-08T20:17:00.004-06:00

Whenever I want to listen to something different and unique, I adjust my speakers to Bedouin Soundclash. They are a band that explore many different styles of music ranging from reggae, funk, soul, ska and punk. I have never listened to a band quite like these guys which makes them so fun to listen to. They have three full length albums that they have released and they are currently signed onto Sideonedummy Records. All the members of the band are from Ontario Canada which is interesting because their name and style of music often makes you think that they are from the islands. These guys are extremely talented and their songs are very well put together. You kinda have to listen to them to understand just what kind of band they are. If your interested in switching up your playlist, give these guys a spin on your CD player. Some of my favorite songs by them include: "Music my Rock," "Walls Fall Down," "St. Andrews," and "Shadow of a Man." Go to their Myspace page to listen to some more of their songs, give it a chance and I bet you will end up loving these guys.

Bedouin Soundclash- St. Andrews

Bedouin Soundclash- Shelter
From the album "Sounding A Mosaic" (Amazon.com)

No Use For A Name

2008-08-07T18:36:00.002-06:00

Lately I have been listening to a lot of "No Use For A Name." I have been a long time fan and their latest album, The Feel Good Album of the Year, really impresses me with the quality of music that this band continues to produce. NUFAN is a band that has been in the punk scene since 1987 and they have proven themselves to be one of the best in the business. I bought their new record when it came out in April of this year with great anticipation and I was not disappointed in the least bit. While this is a good album, I don't think it is quite surpasses my personal favorites of Leche Con Carne and More Betterness, classic albums in my opinion. Just about every song on The Feel Good Record of the Year is worth listening to and it starts off with one of the bests NUFAN songs ever recorded, "The Biggest Lie". Most of the songs are fast tempo and there are occasional slow songs mixed in as expected as the band gets older. Other than the opening track, the other notable songs are "Under the Garden," "The Trumpet Player" and "The Night of the Living Living". The album flows very well and there is not a lot of filler to be found. I would recommend buying this CD if your are a fan of good melodic punk music, Its a solid album that will not let you down.

No Use For A Name- The Biggest Lie
From the album "The Feel Good Record Of The Year" (Amazon.com)

No Use For A Name- I Want To Be Wrong
From the album "The Feel Good Record Of The Year" (Amazon.com)

Chuck Ragan

2008-08-02T19:59:00.002-06:00

Chuck Ragan, the guitarist and vocals behind the punk-hardcore band "Hot Water Music" launched his solo career last year recording acoustic folk songs. It's been kind of interesting to see guys from some of my favorite punk bands start to branch off and explore other musical genres as they get older. His first full length album "Feast or Famine" was released in early 2007 and it continues to amaze me with the musicianship that Chuck Ragan exhibits in his songs. He sings with so much heart and passion which is something rare and hard to find in music these days. The lyrics are also really well written as they explore themes varying from religion, politics and relationships. There are a number of instruments being played throughout the record including the guitar, harmonica, banjo, violin and organ. All of the various instruments make the album more interesting to listen to and give the songs a more substantial feel to them. Punk influences can definitely be heard in some of his songs, the most notable being "The Grove" which has has more of a punk attitude and features chanting vocals in the background. The more impressive songs on the album are "For Broken Ears" and "Do You Pray" which are traditional American folk songs that have thoughtful lyrics and catchy melodies. Throughout his career, Chuck Ragan has established himself as one of the premiere underground singer/songwriters of this generation and this solo project just goes to prove the fact. Go get this CD and check out some of his other songs on his website including "Loz Feliz," his live CD.

Chuck Ragan- Do You Pray (Live)

16 Years and Still Running

2008-07-31T14:49:00.003-06:00

16 years ago this month MxPx played their first show in Bremerton Washington and a as far as I'm concerned, a punk legacy was born. They have been one of the hardest working bands out there, producing 9 full length Cd's and over 17 total releases. I first became a fan in junior high school when I heard their album "Life In General" and I have been listening to them ever since. MxPx has been one of those bands that never really received the recognition that they deserve while countless bands that they've influenced have gone on to fame and fortune. Secret Weapon, their latest album, is amazing and goes to show that the band still has plenty of life left in them. They are planning on releasing "On The Cover 2" by the end of the year and a full length in 2009. If you haven't gotten Secret Weapon yet, make sure you go and give it a listen, it one of my favorite records that they have produced. By the way, I'm planning on going to the MxPx/Lagwagon show in Salt Lake City on September 26th, let me know if you are interested!

MxPx- Secret Weapon
From the album "Secret Weapon" (Amazon.com)

GNV FLA

2008-07-30T18:41:00.002-06:00

Late last month I picked up the new Less Than Jake CD and after having the chance to listen to it for a few weeks now, I have really been impressed with the album as a whole. The CD is called "GNV FLA", a title that pays homage to their stomping grounds in Gainsville Florida. This is Less Than Jake's seventh full length album and they are sounding as good as they ever have in the course of their 16 years of being a band. Many people, including myself, were a bit disappointed with their previous release "In With The Out Crowd" because it seemed as if the band was just going through the motions and the CD was lacking in the horn department, which is usually characteristic of the ska/punk style that LTJ is known for. GNV FLA pulls out all of the stops with horns blazing and all the catchy hooks that makes this band so awsome to listen to. The sound to this album resembles that of the "Hello Rockview" era of LTJ with a lot better production and a cleaner recording. Some of the more notable songs on the album are "Does the Lion City Still Roar" and "The Space They Can't Touch", songs that are sure to be instant fan favorites because of their classic LTJ style. The CD is a coming back to form for a great band and proves that Johnny Quest is wrong, they are not sellouts. I would recommend picking up a copy as soon as possible, its only $7.99 on iTunes and might possibly be the best eight bucks you have ever spent on music.

Less Than Jake- Does The Lion City Still Roar
From the album "GNV FLA" (Amazon.com)

Have Another Ball

2008-07-30T07:17:00.003-06:00

The all-star punk cover band, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, released their seventh full length album earlier this month entitled "Have Another Ball". As usual, the band covers pop classics of the past while giving the songs a little punk flavor of their own. The most notable songs on the album are "Country Roads" originally performed by John Denver, "You've got a friend" originally performed by James Taylor and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" originally performed by Elton John. Overall, the album is a fun listen and its also amusing to listen to "punked out" versions of the songs that your parents used to play in the car on long road trips.

Me First And The Gimme Gimmes- Country Roads
From the album "Have Another Ball" (Amazon.com)

The 59 Sound

2008-07-24T19:08:00.001-06:00

The title track off of The Gaslight Anthem's new CD, "The 59 Sound", was released the other day. The new song sounds great and I can't wait to hear what the rest of the album has to offer. Check it out and let me know what you think.

The Gaslight Anthem-The 59 sound

Tumbledown

2008-07-23T14:04:00.004-06:00

Tumbledown is the most recent side project of Mike Herrera, lead singer and bassist of MxPx. Tumbledown is quite different from the brand of fast paced punk rock that MxPx is widely known for because Tumbledown is a folk/country band that shows obvious influences of musical legends such as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. Their first E.P. entitled "Atlantic City" was released over a year ago but it continues to be some of the most played songs on my iPod. Don't be turned off when I mentioned that this is a country band because I'm not a country fan at all and I love what the band has done so far. Mike also doesn't really have a singing voice that is characteristic of country artist, most of the time he sounds just as he would on an MxPx album. This E.P. really goes to show just how talented Mike Herrera is and how he is not limited to any one style of music. Overall, Tumbledown is a refreshing breath of fresh air in an often stagnant music world. I would definitely recommend picking up this E.P., it can either be found on itunes or on the bands myspace page. Mike Herrera has also promised a full length cd in the near future so keep an eye out for that as well.

Tumbledown- Atlantic City

Tumbledown- Ballad Of A Factory Man
From the album "Atlantic City"

The Gaslight Anthem

2008-07-22T20:05:00.000-06:00

The Gaslight Anthem is one of the best bands to form within the past couple years. They are a punk rock band from Brunswick, New Jersey and have been a band since 2005. They have recently signed to Sideonedummy and were previously on XOXO records. They have one full length record out entitled "Skin or Swim" and an E.P. entitled "Senor and the Queen." One thing that I really like about this band is their unique rock and roll sound with punk overtones. Their music is laden with catch anthem like choruses that beg for you to sing along. They have a new record coming out on August 19th that I am really looking forward to. Their new cd is called "The 59 Sound" so keep posted for a review of that record, in the meantime I would highly recommend checking out their previously releases.

The Gaslight Anthem- I'da Called You Woody, Joe