Set It Off – Horrible Kids EP

- by Thomas

Dammit! I was just in a perfectly good pop-punk vibe and then decided to write one more review before calling it a night. Only to then pull Set It Off’s re-mastered EP out of the pile!

These guys garnered some attention by vocalist Cody Carson uploading videos on YouTube of him covering songs by the likes of A Day To Remember, All Time Low and the likes. Guess that’s already enough in this day and age. Anyway, Equal Vision took it upon themselves to re-release the band’s “Horrible Kids” EP and while I’m sure they’re not really horrible kids, their music is the kind of mindless pop dribble that I can’t take anymore. Whiny vocals, synth sounds and way too many theatrics… it’s like Panic At The Disco all over. Get rid of ‘em!
Score: 3 out of 10
http://www.equalvision.com
http://www.setitoffband.com

The Dopamines / Dear Landlord split

- by Thomas

Sweet! The Dopamines and Dear Landlord are two great but underrated pop-punk bands and they’ve just teamed up to hit you over the head with two songs each on this digital only EP.

Expect to hear straightforward songs that come with a start, a finish and awesomeness in between…there is a lot of energy going around here which is what you get when you throw raw honesty, distorted guitars and a whole lotta power in the blender. And while it is kinda short, it does serve as a good introduction to both The Dopamines and Dear Landlord.
Score: 7 out of 10
http://www.paperandplastick.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedopaminesohio
http://www.myspace.com/letslynchthedearlandlord

Transit – Listen & Forgive

- by Thomas

Transit has already released two albums’ worth of standard pop-punk sounds that weren’t bad but not exactly standout material either. “Listen & Forgive” however changes all that. They’ve injected their sound with some 90s emo influences and it works wonders for them. Check out that American Football-inspired guitar sound and hear how well it compliments Joe Boynton’s vocals.

Songs like the upbeat “Cutting Corners” and the acoustic “Skipping Stone” show an earnest band that bleeds sincerity. And I’m not the only one who took notice of these guys seeing as they even got Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump to sing along on “All Your Heart”… even though I think Stump should be thanking them for allowing him to be a part of a decent song for once. After all it’s been a while for the guy.

Anyway, asking for forgiveness in the album title might be a tad much… their first albums weren’t shitty either. But I sure as hell am listening to this one!
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.riserecords.com
http://www.thetransitwar.com

Man Overboard – Man Overboard

- by Thomas

Man Overboard never really left the spotlight since releasing last year’s “Real Talk” with what seems like an incredibly large output in just a year. And they even found the time to write a brand new batch of songs! Normally when a band drops a self-titled album, it means something. Like, they’re going for a new sound, veering off in another direction. Here however it becomes obvious right from the start that they haven’t changed a thing. Which wasn’t exactly necessary either… they were already writing ridiculously catchy poppunk songs to begin with.

The dual vocals by Nik Bruzzese and Zac Eiesenstein are still very much in effect and backed up by nice chunky guitars and big drums. The hooks, melodies, singalong parts and so on are present and accounted for as well making this sophomoric album a must for all the fans of older Blink and New Found Glory.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.riserecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/manoverboard

The Copyrights – North Sentinel Island

- by Thomas

North Sentinel Island is one of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Yup, got Wikipedia to thank for that one. It’s inhabited by 400 people who reject any contact with other people. That right there is pretty punkrock if you ask me. Which is why it makes for a good album title for Illinois’ The Copyrights.

These guys aren’t trying anything new on what is already album number five but they have a knack for writing slick melodies wrapped in loud guitars, that you wouldn’t have it any other way. Take opener “Trustees Of Modern Chemistry” for example where they channel a riff that would make the Foo Fighters proud through pounding drums that leave nothing to the imagination. They then keep it up for thirteen more songs which is more than you can say about a lot of other bands.

If you’re a fan of honest poppunk a la Face To Face, early Alk 3 or labelmates Teenage Bottlerocket, then this is definitely something you’ll want to hear.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.redscare.net
http://www.myspace.com/thecopyrights

The Reveling – Tributaries

- by Thomas

Following up their 2009 EP “3D Radio”, The Reveling strikes again with their first full-length. It’s called “Tributaries” and on it are a bunch of songs that will take you back to the 90s when bands like Face To Face, older Green Days and “Goddamnit” era Alkaline Trio did what they do best. They got the solid hooks and melodies down pat while loud guitars do their thing over fast-paced rhythms. Meanwhile Sean Morris’ voice keeps things more recent, bringing The Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon to mind.

With a production job by Alex Newport (Frank Turner, Rival Schools, Samiam), “Tributaries” sounds amazing and it’s albums like this that make me remember every single time why I fell in love with punkrock in the first place. I’m pretty sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from this band in the future!
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.theblacknumbers.com
http://www.myspace.com/thereveling

Rob Crow – He Thinks He’s People

- by Thomas

Early next year there shall be much rejoicing when Pinback’s new album finally comes out but to tie us over Rob Crow was kind enough to drop another solo album. “He Thinks He’s People” is already his sixth and it’s another good one.

For those of you who have never heard of Rob Crow or Pinback for that matter… wow dude, where the hell have you been? Think of them as the lesser known brother of The Shins and Built To Spill. Just like on a Pinback album, Crow builds his songs with the help of guitars and a drum computer before adding his muttered vocals over them. It might not sound all that exciting but trust me, it is.

There is a definite Elliott Smith vibe in songs like “This Thread” and “Tranked” whereas “Build” is more of a punky track that I did not see coming. Hell, Crow even gets even downright funky in “Locking Seth Putnam In Hot Topic” before going back to Elliott Smith on “Purpose”.

It doesn’t become quite as cosy on “He Thinks He’s People” as it does on a regular Pinback album… guess the magic really happens when Crow collaborates with partner in crime Zach Smith. But until that new albums comes out, this will do just fine!
Score: 7 out of 10
http://www.temporaryresidence.com
http://www.myspace.com/robcrow

Astronautalis – This Is Our Science

- by Thomas

For the better part of a decade Minneapolis’ Astronautalis has been cranking out tunes that could be labeled hiphop, but which actually transcend that label. Take “This Is Our Science” for example, the man’s fourth album.

“Thomas Jefferson” is a brooding song with plaintive guitar wails and additional vocals by Riverboat Gamblers’ Mike Wiebe while “Measure The Globe” is one piano ballad you will not find on the new Eminem album. That is not to say that Astronatalis does not know how to spit some poignant rhymes over solid beats… he does. But he’s not afraid to take chances either, like on the poppy “Contrails” where he gets a little help from Tegan and Sara’s Tegan Quinn.

My biggest qualm with hiphop in general is that to me it’s just beats and rhymes that I can’t relate to. Astronautalis however writes songs and if all hiphop albums were like this, I’d be wearing oldschool Adidas and baggy pants as well! Check out “The River The Woods” and “Dimitri Mendelev” to become a fan of one of Minneapolis’ best kept secrets.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.fakefourinc.com
http://www.astronautalis.com

Frenzal Rhomb – Smoko At The Pet Food Factory

- by Thomas

For years Frenzal Rhomb was the only Australian band I knew outside of INXS. Well, I knew Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan but you can hardly call them a band. Anyway, it’s been awfully quiet around Frenzal Rhomb these last couple of years. Maybe one of them drank himself into a coma or had another heart attack. Whatever the case, they’re back now with an album that for some reason has been dubbed “Smoko At The Pet Food Factory”.

What that album sounds like? Same as always! I’m not saying that Australia is behind because it’s an island or anything, but fact is that these guys still play the kind of fast-paced melodic punkrock that NOFX and Lagwagon excelled at in the 90ies. Whatever though, with cuts like “Knuckleheads”, “Back To The Suburbs” and “Dead Celebrity”, it sure is a pleasure to listen to. Glad to have you back mates!
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.fatwreck.com
http://www.myspace.com/gofrenzalgo

Banner Pilot – Heart Beats Pacific

- by Thomas

The cleaned up version of “Resignation Day” and follow-up “Collapser” already showed the world that Banner Pilot is one of the better punkrock bands to come from the Midwest in quite some time. A fact they only confirm once more with album number three, “Heart Beats Pacific”.

The bass lines thump a little harder this time around and the guitar riffs are denser and heavier but other than that things have stayed the same. They still know how to pull hooks out of thin air and Nick Johnson still knows how to write some standout lyrics. But even though “Heart Beats Pacific” is pretty much a reprise of those two previous albums, I can’t hold it against Banner Pilot that they want to refine the sound that got them noticed.

If you are into the likes of Dillinger Four, Dear Landlord, Off With Their Heads and of course Jawbreaker, you have no option… get this album!
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.fatwreck.com
http://www.bannerpilot.net

Black Box Revelation – My Perception

- by Thomas

For album number two, Black Box Revelation decided to take a little trip and ended up in LA with producer Alain Johannes. And while Johannes did help make “My Perception” sound great, it didn’t turn out to be the bombshell everyone was expecting. Or at least hoping for.

With songs that linger somewhere between the Stones and some Delta blues band, Black Box Revelation try to find their way throughout the eleven songs on here with mixed results. “Skin” is a damn fine song as is “Shadowman” and “Sealed With Thorns” sounds like some unearthed song that Neil Young wrote and then forgot all about. Sounds good, right?

Unfortunately there are also songs like opener “Madhouse” that spend way too much time with one single riff. And while the idea of writing one song and wanting to re-record it every ten years is a good one, “Lonely Hearts” is one of the weakest offerings on here.

“My Perception” is not a bad album but there are a couple of cuts on here that don’t really serve a purpose and they tend to drag the whole thing down. The other songs however do offer hope that we haven’t heard the best from these guys yet.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
http://www.pias.com
http://www.blackboxrevelation.com

Malibu Stacy – We Are Not From

- by Thomas

Didn’t really know Malibu Stacy until I received their latest album. This outfit from the south of Belgium had a small hit a couple of years ago with the punkrocky “Los Angeles” which was included in “Fifa 2007”. Other than that their claim to fame has been rather limited. That could all very well change with “We Are Not From” though.

On album number three one thing becomes clear right from the start: goodbye punkrock, hello Arcade Fire! As soon as “Razorback” comes around, I was sold. It sounds huge and the addition of trumpet and sax really ties everything together. The influences are obvious but fuck it, when it’s this nicely executed, then I see no reason to bitch about it. Next up is “Patricia”, a mellow song with great harmonies, an acoustic guitar, subtle percussion and a banjo. Equally charming are “The Road Is Dead” and “Gyokusai” and these guyskept me interested all the way up to closer “Lassa Lucia!”, which sounds like something you would hear in an elevator. A classy elevator. With a bellboy.

“We Are Not From” is the sound of a band that completely reinvented themselves. It takes balls to veer off in another direction but they did the right thing and came out winning.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.62tvrecords.com
http://www.malibustacy.com

Hightime – Ishi Prende

- by Thomas

It’s Hightime, not Lifetime! On their debut album these Adelaide natives do play fast and melodic punkrock but that’s where the comparison ends. I’m thinking there’s a fair amount of weed involved as well (which would explain the ‘high’ part in the bandname), seeing as they like to mix everything up with crazy ideas that they draw from lots of different styles. Simply put, their attitude towards music is fun and refreshing.

When they go in ska-mode, they have a bit of a No Doubt vibe going on… I guess they have frontwoman Nina to thank for that. But she can just as easily burst out in angry screams during the hardcore-oriented parts. It makes for an album that offers plenty of variety and which stays exciting up until the end. And even though I still have no idea what “Ishe Prende” means, I’m digging this one!
Score: 7 out of 10
http://www.peerecords.com
http://www.hightimemusic.com

Mindset – Midnight Sky

- by Thomas

Mindset is a Melbourne-based band who have just released their debut album, “Midnight Sky”. That’s right, Melbourne as in Australia, the land where if you flush a toilet, the water spins the other way round. And the home of Crocodile Dundee. And just like that movie, this album is fun yet slightly forgettable.

Taking a whole lotta cues from acts such as With Honor, Comeback Kid and other modern melodic hardcore bands, they pound their way through the ten songs on here with plenty of thudding drums, shouted vocals and gang vox alongside the occasional breakdown. It’s all executed with plenty of energy yet nothing really sticks out and you can hardly call this original. Now, maybe if they would wrestle an alligator onstage… then we’re talking!
Score: 6 out of 10
http://www.peerecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/mindsethc

The Bombpops – Stole The TV

- by Thomas

San Diego’s The Bombpops is a relatively new name in the SoCal scene with “Stole The TV” being only their second EP. Yet I’m pretty sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from them in the future. Apparently Red Scare felt the same way which is how come they’re the ones releasing this new 4-song EP.

Expect to hear four fast and catchy pop-punk songs that slow down in all the right places and come with dual vocals by two ladies called Poli Van Dam and Jen Razavi. They also dish out some great riffage and look pretty damn cute to top things off. To even things out, they are backed up by two strong and sturdy men who have put together a solid rhythm section.

If you are into Ergs-like pop-punk, you should definitely check out the Bombpops. If only because of the fun band name!
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.redscare.net
http://www.myspace.com/thebombpops

The Decline – Are You Gonna Eat That?

- by Thomas

I never heard of these guys before, but The Decline is an Australian punkrock band who have just released their second full-length. “Are You Gonna Eat That?” comes with a controversial yet funny cover which pretty much tells you exactly what the band is about.

The tuneage on here is fun enough yet always comes with a message about how we’re fucking up our society when we’re not too busy fucking up another relationship. It’s all very fast, very tight and very melodic and it would’ve made perfect sense on the 90s roster of Fat Wreck. So yeah, hardly original but you just don’t hear this kind of straight-forward punkrock enough these days. So kudos to them!
Score: 7 out of 10
http://www.peerecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedecline

Psychedelic Horseshit – Laced

- by Thomas

Fat Cat already doesn’t have the most accessible bands on their roster and their Splinter Series is reserved bands that they even consider weird. Psychedelic Horseshit is one of those bands and on “Laced” they are out to prove that you don’t need to be able to sing, play an instrument or write a song to get a record deal. Well, that can hardly be surprising.. just look at the Pussycat Dolls of the world. At least these guys are honest about it in their bandname.

Anyway, I have no idea what this is supposed to be, I’m just hearing a lot of keyboard sounds and percussion that are annoying as fuck with some dude mumbling over it like a complete fucking retard. Here’s to ten minutes of my life that I will never get back!
Score: 0 out of 10
http://www.fat-cat.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/psychedelichorseshit

World’s End Girlfriend – Seven Idiots

- by Thomas

Mixing up different styles is cool. It’s not always done well but it can definitely spruce things up. In the case of Katsuhiko Maeda aka World’s End Girlfriend, it pretty much sucks. He throws every style known to mankind upon each other and then watches it all fall apart. Somewhere throughout these 80 (!!!) minutes you’ll hear everything from indie rock and drum ‘n bass to industrial and classical music. “Seven Idiot” sounds like the hyperkinetic soundtrack to a bad manga cartoon and I don’t think I even reached the halfway mark before deciding that this album would look a helluva lot better in my trash can.
Score: 1 out of 10
http://www.erasedtapes.com
http://www.myspace.com/worldsendgirlfriendworldsendgirlfriend

The James Cleaver Quintet – That Was Then, This Is Now

- by Thomas

Despite being called The James Cleaver Quintet, there’s only four guys in this UK-based band and guess what? None of them is called James Cleaver. They released an EP called “Ten Stages Of A Make Up” last year and are about to drop their debut full-length at the end of the month.

“That Was Then, This Is Now” feels like talking a walk through the mind of a mental patient. It switches pace continually, disappears behind corners only to then pop up again in the most unexpected place possible. These guys are loud, abrasive and pretty much right up in your face and have mastered the art of letting hysterical parts segue into melodic bits with ease. Like halfway through “Don’t Just Stare At It, EAT IT!”, which is then followed by the loungy “The JCWho?” which wouldn’t look out of place on a Richard Cheese album.

If you’re into thoroughly fucked up hardcore with a melodic veneer and a sense of humor, then make sure to check out “That Was Then, This Is Now”… you won’t regret it!
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.hasslerecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/thejcq