Dawes – Nothing Is Wrong

- by Thomas

The rootsy indierockers that make up Dawes are back with the follow-up to “North Hills”. This one is called “Nothing Is Wrong” and on it they use the same elements that made their debut a standout release. It’s the combination of vocal harmonies, sweet guitar sounds and a Hammond organ alongside Taylor Goldsmith’s warm vocals that does me in.

If you’re into The Jayhawks, The Band, The Eagles, Neil Young and Jackson Browne (who even sings along on “Fire Away”), you’ll be wanting to hear songs like opener “Time Spent In Los Angeles”, “My Way Back Home” and closer “A Little Bit Of Everything”… they just prove that good music is timeless.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
http://www.loosemusic.com
http://www.dawes-theband.com

John Wesley Harding – The Sound Of His Own Voice

- by Thomas

John Wesley Harding sure knows how to pick his friends… on “The Sound Of His Own Voice” he is backed up by the Decemberists, Peter Buck, Rosanne Cash and Scott McCaughey among others. Not that he needs all those big names to draw attention to his songs, the songs more than speak for themselves.

As happy and poppy as they may sound, the lyrics are not. But they’re smart and sometimes they sting a little. It’s a winning combination and with this album he’s crashing right into Elvis Costello’s backyard. Just have a listen to “Captain Courageous”, “There’s A Starbucks (Where The Starbucks Used To Be)” and the bittersweet “The Way We Weren’t” and try not to be won over.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.yeproc.com
http://wesleystace.com

Tom Freund – The Edge Of Venice

- by Thomas

You may have already heard of Tom Freund and his hat without even knowing it. He’s worked with Ben Harper on 1992’s “Pleasure And Pain” and has had bass duty throughout the nineties for The Silos. He has since then moved on to a solo career with “The Edge Of Venice” already being the good man’s seventh album.

Produced by John Aagia (John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews), Freund made an album of carefree pop sounds that come with an alt-country kinda vibe. I bet Tom Petty would approve of this. There are no multiple layers here, no experimenting… just solid songwriting that makes sense, the kind that hits just the spot.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.continental.nl
http://www.tomfreund.com

Hooray For Earth – True Loves

- by Thomas

Hooray For Earth already spreads a positive vibe with its very name and that positivity can be found all throughout “True Loves” as well. It’s a strange mix of slick melodies, dreamy vocals, heavy bass sounds and a lot of synthesizers. A whole lot.

It’s pop music for the new millennium and for once I am a fan. Because no matter how goofy or bombastic things become, I find myself thoroughly enjoying this one. It’s kinda like what you were hoping MGMT’s “Congratulations” to sound like and it leaves me with a big smile plastered all over my face.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
http://www.memphis-industries.com
http://www.hoorayforearth.net

Ty Segall – Goodbye Bread

- by Thomas

Ty Segall (or Eric Bauer as his parent know him) already made something of an impression with last year’s “Melted”. Instead of resting on his laurels, the man is already back with a new album called “Goodbye Bread”. Gone are the uptempo rockers of “Melted” (except for “California Commercial” which still comes with a strong Sonics vibe), please say hello to Beatlesque harmonies and T. Rex comparisons. Oh, and the Black Keys are never that far away either.

While still maintaining the sloppiness that seems to be a must with lo-fi recordings, this is a guy who knows very well where he’s going. Songs like “” and “” are pretty friggin’ good. Unfortunately there is also a way lesser song on here for every good one. That’s because Mr. Segall likes to lose himself in psychedelical experiments from time to time that only lead to failure.

“Goodbye Bread” is a good album but not one that will bring him into the spotlights. To really stand out, he should lose the experimenting streak on his next album. Which will probably come out in a couple of months?
Score: 6 out of 10
http://www.dragcity.com
http://www.ty-segall.com

Sixteen Horsepower – Yours, Truly

- by Thomas

Throughout the nineties and up until 2005, Sixteen Horsepower has always managed to impress with their mix of rock, religion and more traditional Americana sounds. Since their demise we’ve already had two live albums and one with leftovers but up until now there hasn’t been a retrospective.

“Yours, Truly” is made up of two CDs. The first one is called “People’s Choice” and its tracklisting is made up entirely by the fans. Seems like “Secret South” is the fans’ favourite album because it’s represented on here with five songs. This in stark contrast to “Hutterite Mile”, the only song off of “Folklore”, the band’s last album.

The second CD is “Rarities” and is filled with just that. Demos, a remix, B-sides and three covers including one of CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising” and The Gun Club’s “Fire Spirit”.

This one serves as a solid introduction to those of you who have never had the pleasure of submerging yourself in the world of 16 Horsepower while longtime fans will have more fun with the second album. It’s a little bit for everyone and it comes wrapped in a pretty slick packaging.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.glitterhouse.com
http://www.16horsepower.com

Jeffrey Foucault – Cold Satellite

- by Thomas

Jeffrey Foucault is an American singer-songwriter who has been writing some pretty stellar tunes for a couple of years now. Earlier this year he dropped “Horse Latitudes” and after that one got a good reception, they decided to give the previously digitally released “Cold Satellite” a CD release as well.

Based on the work of a young American poet named Lisa Olstein, Foucault put the words to music with the help of Billy Conway (Morphine, Twinemen) on drums, Jeremy Moses Curtis (Booker T) on bass, David Goodrich (Chris Smither) on electric guitars and Nashville session veteran Alex Mccollough on pedal steel. The result is a beautiful Americana album with a country polish and the occasional loud guitar outbreak that could give Crazy Horse a run for his money.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.continental.nl
http://www.jeffreyfoucault.com

Brand New – Your Favorite Weapon (Deluxe Edition)

- by Thomas

Triple Crown joined forces with Razor & Tie for the 10 year anniversary edition of “Your Favorite Weapon”, the album that put Brand New on the post-hardcore map. It was a great album then and it’s still a good album now that it’s been remastered. There is a lame joke to be made about a band called Brand New re-releasing a 10-year-old album, but let’s not and say I did. The deluxe edition comes with new artwork and a bunch of demos, three of which you’ve never heard before.

The Brand New you’ll hear on “Your Favorite Weapon” is obviously not the same as the evolved and matured Brand New of 2006’s “The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me” or 2009’s “Daisy” but this is still worth listening to and not only because of nostalgia.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.razorandtie.com
http://www.brandnewrock.com

Ghost Robot Ninja Bear – S/T

- by Thomas

After the demise of Nakatomi Plaza, I was worried that I’d have to keep making do with their old albums. Luckily it didn’t take Oscar A. Rodriguez long to start a new band. His new pet project is called Ghost Robot Ninja Bear and after the releases of two EPs, he recently dropped a first full-length.

Sticking with Nakatomi Plaza’s sound for the largest part, this self-titled debut immediately sounds familiar with plenty of big guitars that go from soothing to all-round destruction in mere seconds while the rhythm section is tight and loud with Rodriguez belting over it all. Opener “The Curtain Call” serves as the perfect introduction of things to come with bigass riffs washing over you before a catchy chorus kicks in. They keep this up throughout most of the album but will occasionally throw in something a little more mellow like “I Can’t Decide” which comes with a Dinosaur Jr touch.

Whatever kinda vibe they’re going for, Ghost Robot Ninja Bear always pulls it off. It takes a couple of listens to really get into this album but after that it’s hard to stop listening to it and it’s to see that Rodriguez is still around making quality tuneage.
Score: 9 out of 10
no label
http://www.ghostrobotninjabear.wordpress.com

Cobra Skulls – Agitations

- by Thomas

The dudes that make up Cobra Skulls are back with their third album. This one’s called “Agitations” and on it you’ll hear more of that Against Me, Dead To Me, The Lawrence Arms kind of punkrock that these Nevada natives have made a name with for themselves over the past couple of years.

They’re off to a great start with the one-two punch that is “Six Degrees” and “Iron Lung”. A track like “On & On” is another solid punkrock tune with its catchy chorus and a driving rhythm. The problem with “Agitations” is that there are a couple of songs that are just too run-of-the-mill to make much of an impression, something that is accentuated only more by Peralta’s slightly monotonous voice. It doesn’t make “Agitations” a bad album but I thought there was gonna be more to love.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
http://www.fatwreck.com
http://www.cobraskulls.com

Aiden – Some Kind Of Hate

- by Thomas

For the second time this year, the guys in Aiden put on their make-up and spent hours combing their hair. The follow-up to “Disguises” is called “Some Kind Of Hate” and sadly this one is no improvement over the last one. Everything my buddy Jan said about that album can be applied to this one as well, so go ahead and read it there. That way I don’t have to waste any more time listening to this piece of crap.

Just wanted to add one point Jan didn’t mention in his review… how terrible is Wil Francis’ voice? Seriously! It’s flat like a 6-year-old girl’s chest (hey, I guess that’s their fanbase!) and more than once seriously off-key. Which makes it even funnier that in the liner notes he himself writes: ‘my mother used to tell the neighbors that it sounded like I was killing cats on account that I couldn’t sing hardly at all’ (sic). Newsflash… you still sound that way buddy!
Score: 2 out of 10
http://www.victoryrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/aiden

Make Do And Mend – End Measured Mile

- by Thomas

After two EPs, the guys in Make Do And Mend felt ready to drop their first full-length. It’s been out for a while on Panic Records already and Shield Recordings took it upon themselves to release “End Measured Mile” over here. For which I would like to thank them because it is a fucking great album.

Opener “Unknowingly Strong” takes you right to Hot Water Music’s “Caution” days and show that melody and being abrasive can very well walk hand in hand. The sheer power with which they knock songs like “Ghostal” (with guest vocals by La Dispute’s Jordan Dreyer) and “Transparent Seas” out of the ballpark are a dead giveaway that these guys have their roots in the hardcore scene. And if you couple that energy to great guitar leads and James Carroll’s gritty voice, well then you’ve got yourself a damn fine album that deserves to be played over and over again.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
http://www.shieldrecordings.com
http://www.makedoandmend.me

Counterparts – The Current Will Carry Us

- by Thomas

“The Current Will Carry Us” is the name of Counterparts’ second album and it’s a no-frills kinda hardcore affair where they crank out the heavy and get the job done in just over half an hour. Contrary to a bunch of other bands on the Victory roster, these Canadians rely on passion and anger rather than technical prowess and experimenting with different styles.

Songs like “MMVII” and “Jumping Ship” are dirty and frenetic hardcore tunes with melodies that lurk in the darkest corners and quite simply, they will kick your ass. When you play in a hardcore band, you’re not going to reinvent the wheel… but I doubt that’s what Counterparts is about. Just like their countrymen and labelmates in Comeback Kid, these are guys that want to plug in, play loud and get the fuck out. If this was Facebook, I would ‘I like’ this album right away.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.victoryrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/counterparts

Dead To Me - Moscow Penny Ante

- by Thomas

2009’s “African Elephants” was a love it or hate it kind of an album with Dead To Me incorporating a fair amount of dub and reggae into their snotty punkrock. I never really got into it but I was still curious to hear what they would come up with next. Luckily for me they went for the loud guitars again on “Moscow Penny Ante”, an album full of punkrock anthems.

Producer Matt Allison did a great job (as always), making everything sound all nice and crispy. Chicken takes lead vocals on most of the songs on here with new guitarist Sam Johnson (VRGNS, New Mexican Disaster Squad, No Friends) chipping in every now and again. The other new guitarist responds well to the name Ken Yamikazi (Western Addiction) does a nice job of dropping melodic riffs over a gritty foundation.

With less “African Elephants” and more “Cuban Ballerina”, “Moscow Penny Ante” is a return to form for these geography-loving punkrockers. Just like The Dopamines or Banner Pilot, Dead To Me aren’t reinventing the wheel here… they’re just about writing fun punkrock songs that can whip a sweaty basement crowd into a frenzy in one minute or less.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.fatwreck.com
http://www.myspace.com/deadtomesf

Nothington – Borrowed Time

- by Thomas

“Borrowed Time” is lucky number three for Nothington. Their first two albums weren’t bad either but they never really stuck with me. This time around however, Jay Northington and his buddies wrote a bunch of songs that are far more agreeable.

Chris Matulich handles a lot more of the vocal duties than on “Roads, Bridges And Ruins” and it’s that interaction between him and Northington that makes “Borrowed Time” way more fun to listen to. Their Lucero meets Social D kinda punkrock didn’t change all too much with the hard-hitting rhythms, loud guitars and catchy hooks still in place.

Listening to songs like “End Of The Day” and “Hopeless”, I have to say that this really is the band’s best work to date and I can’t find anything that can still hold them back this time around!
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.redscare.net
http://www.myspace.com/nothington

Elway – Delusions

- by Thomas

After a mellow intro that also serves as a throwback to the band’s past (10/4 Eleanor is their previous name), they kick out the jams with “Passing Days”. One thing that becomes clear from the get-go is that even though these guys are from Colorado, they sound like a bunch of great Chicago-based bands. Yup, think Larry Arms and Alkaline Trio for your RIYL.

Gruff yet melodic and with more whoa’s than you can shake a stick at, that’s Elway in a couple of words. Songs like first single “Passing Days” or “Song For Eric Solomon To Sing” now have a little place in my heart (hey, it’s almost Christmas… I’m allowed to be corny!) and Elway show they deserve to have their own spot in the poppunk scene, saturated as it may be.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.redscare.net
http://www.myspace.com/elway

Close Your Eyes – Empty Hands And Heavy Hearts

- by Thomas

Last year Close Your Eyes already surprised me with “We Will Overcome”, an enjoyable album if you’re into melodic hardcore. Without wasting any time, these Texans got their asses back in the studio and recorded the follow-up. They haven’t changed much on “Empty Hands And Heavy Hearts”… just more of the same hook-laden hardcore that sounds like a mix between Comeback Kid and Ignite.

Opener “Hope Slips Away” sets the pace right from the get-go and they keep on racing at the same speed through the rest of the album while throwing catchy choruses and tasty breakdowns on top of each other. There are hints of A Day To Remember and Take It Back here as well and basically it’s wholesome hardcore all around.

Simply put, you can’t really go wrong with this one if you’re into any of the abovementioned bands.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.victoryrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/closeyoureyesmusic

Gameday Regulars - … But It’s Hell In The Hallway

- by Thomas

Gameday Regulars are three dudes who obviously share a love of sports and while one might expect them to live in Gainesville and sport beards listening to their debut EP, these guys are actually from NYC.

“… But It’s Hell In The Hallway” comes with six songs that would make Chuck Ragan & co proud… driving rhythms, loud guitars injected with plenty of melody and vocals so gruff that you could use them to scrape anything off of your shoes. “Hearts And Bones” and closer “The Whiskey Keeps Us Young” sound like two songs Hot Water Music just hasn’t gotten round to recording yet. If this is just their debut, I can’t wait to hear what they’ll come up with next!
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.mtsrecords.com
http://www.gamedayregulars.net

Mixtapes – Hope Is For People

- by Thomas

Can anybody still keep track of all the Mixtapes releases that keep popping up? I sure can’t! This Ohio outfit sure is a busy bunch, something that is also reflected in their upbeat happy brand of pop-punk.

“Hope Is For People” is a new 5-song 7” filled with catchy melodies, male/female vocals, lots of energy and a Metallica reference (“The New Ride The Lightning”). Which only adds to the coolness. Mixtapes are not about reinventing the wheel but they bring their songs with so much enthousiasm that it’s hard not to get caught up in it.
Score: 7 out of 10
http://www.animalstylerecords.com
http://www.mixtapesohio.com

Me First And The Gimme Gimmes – Sing In Japanese

- by Thomas

Earlier this year the Gimme Gimmes released “Go Down Under” for their upcoming Australian tour. And now there’s “Sing In Japanese” for their… yes, Japanese tour. Doesn’t seem like they’re spending a lot of time anymore on coming up with original themese, does it? Makes me wonder what’s next… Fat Mike drops an EP with The Jam’s “Shopping” and Dolly Parton’s “The Bargain Store” next time he decides to go to Wal-Mart?

Anyway, there’s six songs on here that get the royal Gimmes treatment and I don’t know a single one of them. I’m sure “Kokoro No Tabi” and”22 Sai No Wakare” were huge hits in the land of the rising sun but when you don’t know the originals, it’s just not funny.

I’m sure they’re still having a blast playing sped up covers but I’m getting tired of them milking this one-trick pony… on a sidenote this made me wonder if you can even milk a pony? Whatever. They should just keep it in the basement.
Score: 4 out of 10
http://www.fatwreck.com
http://www.myspace.com/gimmegimmes