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New releases, late May 2011
Citizens Arrest – Soaked In Others Blood (Coextinction)
4 song EP, online download for $2.99. Their first studio recordings since 1991, featuring the original lineup of Joe Martin, Patrick Winter, Janis Chakars, Daryl Kahan and Ted Leo. CxA have always underestimated their own legacy, largely because they kept themselves so busy in the mean time. For me, hearing new songs from this band is tantamount to hearing a lost Metallica record with Cliff Burton. Their breakup and separation in 1991 into two bands, Hell No and Colossus served to highlight their ongoing internal problems, but they were smart enough to not resurrect the band (save for a scab reunion a few years ago) in name without all the original members present and accounted for. A+.
Kicking Spit – Psychrockbullshit (Tankcrimes)
Wildly fresh and original post-rock. Lots of hazy guitar parts and big choruses that will remind you of Superchunk, set firmly inside a flurry of lyrics and drums. Something like Ned’s Atomic Dustbin moving to Portland to start a stoner rock band with Bob Mould. Pure over-saturated goodness.
Vaccine – Human Hatred (Painkiller)
Distorted, fast and caustic metallic HC. It’s hard to believe that the Siege demo and the Youth Korps EP have spawned a genre, one where each band tries to out do the other in terms of how negative they can be. This was surprisingly awesome. Great understated guitar tones with lots of grit and noise.
Personal & The Pizzas – Dead Meat 7” (Total Punk)
Two song EP, total Dictators, Mummies and Ramones worship. Their full length Raw Pie has to be heard to be believed, and includes such gems as “Nobody Makes My Girl Cry But Me” and “Pepperoni Eyes”. All of their songs are about love, fighting, girls and pizza. If you have something against fun, or having fun, or watching other people have fun – then you will absolutely hate this.
V/A – This Ain’t No Cowtown (ZetaKaye House)
22 songs from Colorado artists, everything from alt-country to DIY indie rock. Volume one in a series of upcoming compilations that try and succeed at showing just how diverse and throughly awe-inspiring the level of creativity is in this state. Coincides with a weekly show happening every Thursday in June at Lost Lake Lounge in Denver. Available here.
Black God – s/t 7” (No Idea)
Post-HC from Louisville from the people who brought you Black Cross and Black Widows. For fans of Hot Snakes, Swiz and Jehu. Spastic time changes, jangly off-beat guitars and a highly inventive rhythm section.
Pentagram interview in Spin
Great in depth piece about the legacy of Bobby Liebling and Pentagram in this month’s issue of Spin. I’m amazed by his level of dedication despite all the obstacles (self created and otherwise) in his life. Call me sadistic, but watching heavy metal dudes self destruct is one of my favorite things in the world.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – reissues (Mute)
Remastered double disc versions of “Let Love In”, “Murder Ballads”, “The Boatman’s Call” and “No More Shall We Part” came out this week, which serve as the third installment of reissues from the Nick Cave back catalog. Each one contains re-mastered stereo album and 5.1 stereo surround mix as well as short films, b-sides, videos & exclusive sleeve notes. Don’t think I could pick a favorite one out of this batch.
Landing – live shows on Bandcamp
Landing has uploaded a handful of live shows and radio broadcasts to their Bandcamp site, all of which can be streamed and/or downloaded. Unlike most ambient drone which is seldom very musical or infectious, Landing deliver a thought provoking balance of textures and minimal sounds. Highly recommended.
Lethal Aggression – Demo 85
The second wave of punk produced two kinds of bands on the East Coast: the kind that insisted on making a change and those who were content to sit around drinking beer and making fun of everyone. Make no mistake about it, this falls into that second category. In New Jersey and New York, this meant that crossover and hardcore inspired fast and obnoxious low-brow punk. Bands like Social Decay, Mental Abuse and Ludichrist practically invented the genre, one that often (unfortunately) devolves into bar rock or full fledge heavy metal. As is the case with some of these dudes. The blog where I scored this is a throughly entertaining walk down that street and also has great demos from Chronic Fear, Futile Effort, Psycho Sin and Pleased Youth. As well as a Dirge demo AND a live set from CB’s. Do it.
