Radar Bros. – Auditorium

Now that Grandaddy is no longer around, I’ve been looking for a substitute. Two songs into “Auditorium”, the new album by the for me completely unknown band Radar Bros, I was thinking I might’ve found them. But alas, the shoes left behind by my favorite bearded weirdos simply seem to be too big to fill.

It’s not that Radar Bros. are a crappy band. Picture Grandaddy at their most mellow and you’ve got much got “Auditorium” all mapped out. And I do mean ALL of “Auditorium” because all twelve songs on here are pretty much the same. They are pretty decent but where are those outbursts of distorted guitar? Where are the quirky bits that worked so well for Grandaddy? It’s that combination that did me and countless others in back when “Under The Western Freeway” came out. And it’s that magical combination that is lagging on Radar Bros’ new album.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
http://www.chemikal.co.uk
http://www.radarbros.com

The Sword – Gods Of The Earth

Austin, Texas’ The Sword is back with another chapter in their history. “Gods Of The Earth” is more of the same and I’m still liking it. It’s obvious these guys have been listening to Black Sabbath with an almost religious devotion and so they pile one awesome riff on top of the other. With a great rhythm section, you end up with an album where it’s almost impossible to stop your head from moving.

It all sounds very uncomplicated and in spite of the occasional acoustic guitar or Maidenesque dual guitar lick, there is hardly variation but don’t let that stop you. Turn up the speakers and let songs like “Under The Bough” give you a severe case of whiplash!
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.kemado.com
http://www.myspace.com/thesword

Turner Cody – First Light

On his second solo effort Turner Cody sounds like he’s longing for yesteryear. From the clarinet and the shuffling rhythms down to the cover photo, it all sounds and looks like this guy would like to have been born a couple of decades earlier.

Just like the tunes themselves, Cody’s voice sounds warm and just like Bob Dylan, Cody sounds slightly nasal and knows how to write great lyrics. While the live recordings in the studio give the whole a comfortably lazy and ramshackle feel, you can tell these guys know what they’re doing and how to do it.

What that ‘it’ entails exactly? Think of a mix of jazz, blues, folk and rock. I doubt there are many acts that sound like Turner Cody or you’d have to start going through your grandparents’ record collection but it certainly has its charm. I just wish there were a couple more hooks here to make things stick.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
http://www.bbisland.de
http://www.mrturnercody.com

Sera Cahoone – Only As The Day Is Long

Hailing from Seattle, by way of Denver, Sera Cahoone used to play the drums in the bands Carissa’s Weird and the slightly amazing Band Of Horses. But she’s out on her own now taking the alt-country route and doing one helluva good job. Neko Case, watch out!

This talented lady wrote a bunch of folky tunes that are as sweet as they are instantly memorable. Her smoky voice goes well with the acoustic guitar and with plenty of additional pedal steel, banjo and the occasional violin, things are only getting better. It’s hard to pick a favorite track on an album full of gems so I’m not gonna. Just know that if Americana is something you like to listen to, you should go out and buy your copy of “Only As The Day Is Long” today.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.subpop.com
http://www.seracahoone.com

The Donots – Coma Chameleon

Next to The Beatsteaks and – unfortunately – Die Toten Hosen, The Donots are Germany’s punk pride. I took them well over four years to release the follow-up to “Got The Noise” but they finally got around to it with “Coma Chameleon”, out on vocalist Ingo’s own label Solitary Man Records.

It was worth the wait because they once again they wrote an album that’s interesting from the spoken word intro until the last notes of “Somewhere Someday”. Just like that other European punkband that got big on Burning Heart Records, they are evolving into more of a general rock album (semi-ballad “Stop The Clocks” and “The Right Kind Of Wrong”) but there are still plenty of traces of the band’s punkrock roots (Ingo’s vocals for one).

It doesn’t make “Coma Chameleon” a bad album however. Far from it. Mainly because these Krauts know how to write a solid rocksong and seem to still have plenty of big melodic hooks and catchy choruses up their sleeves.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Solitary man records
http://www.donots.com

Mystery Jets – Twenty One

As if we haven’t heard enough jumpy UK indiepop bands lately, here are the Mystery Jets with their second album, “Twenty One”. All prejudice aside, it turns out to be an enjoyable album with catchy songs like “Young Love” and single “Two Doors Down”.

A couple of the songs don’t contribute a helluva lot to the album but other than that there is nothing really wrong with “Twenty One”. Catchy, slick popsongs with jangly guitars and even a sax solo (you’ll find it) make for an entertaining summer album.
Score: 7 out of 10
http://www.roughtraderecords.com
http://www.mysteryjets.com

Flight Of The Conchords – S/T

If you are already familiar with the Flight Of The Conchords from their HBO show with the same name, you will already know all of the songs featured on this album. For those of you not in the know, Flight Of The Conchords are two Kiwis that listen to the names Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement.

Genres like lounge, a bit of funk, hiphop and Barry White… they’re all blatantly ripped off on this comedic duo’s first full-length. As with most comedy albums, some of the songs are funny and fit for repeated listens, others would’ve better been left on the cutting floor. “Hiphoppatumus vs. Rymenocerous” is an old-school rap battle between two of the worst rappers you’ll ever hear with the most ridiculous lyrics being used first. It works pretty good for them, as does the blatant Pet Shop Boys ripoff “Inner City Pressure”.

Then there are songs like “Ladies Of The World” which are semi-funny the first time you listen to ‘em and negligeable from then on. The music is laidback all throughout the album but let’s face it… no one’s gonna listen to this album for the music, it’s about the lyrics and overall they’re pretty witty with ‘I’ll pop an apple in his ass… he’s gonna wake up in a smoothie’ as my personal favorite.
Score: 6 out of 10
http://www.subpop.com

The Real McKenzies – Off The Leash

When The Real McKenzies come out of their favorite drinking hole near some Canadian loch with a new album, you know what time it is. So dust off that kilt of yours, stock up on whiskey and start a party because “Off The Leash” has arrived.


On the band’s seventh album not a lot has changed. Paul McKenzie and his clan members still like to mix up punkrock with bagpipes and are still doing a good job. I have to admit that I’ve always liked the Murphys just a little better and that too is once again no different. Even though there’s no going around the fact that opener “Chip” and “Drink Some More” are killer songs.

Something that is new are the country and dixie influences that breeze in out of nowhere on “The Ballad Of Greyfriars Bobby” and “The Maple Trees Remember”… it might seem like a weird combo but hey, it’s all folk so it’s all good.

If you’re looking for a soundtrack to this summer’s good times, pick up a copy. And as always these guys will be hitting the road hard so be on the lookout for them in a town near you!
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.fatwreck.com
http://www.realmckenzies.com

Jakob Dylan – Seeing Things

Shit, if I was Bob Dylan’s son I wouldn’t ever come near a guitar and I wouldn’t even think about trying to write a song of my own. Jakob Dylan however did and already released a couple of great albums with The Wallfowers. On “Seeing Things” it’s just him though armed with a bunch of songs and an acoustic guitar while Rick Rubin is occupying the producer chair. That same Rubin who already recorded stripped down albums with Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond. Two more names I wouldn’t want to be held up against. Jakob Dylan however is unafraid and came back out the studio with an album he doesn’t need to be ashamed of.

“Evil Is Alive And Well” might not have been my pick to open the album with but tracks like “All Day And All Night”, the almost upbeat “Will It Grow” or the poppy “Something This Way Comes” are definitely worth hearing. Jakob might not be as good a lyricist as his dad (then again few are) and I think I like him better when he’s backed up by the rest of the Wallflowers, the general laidback atmosphere of the album and songwriting skills make “Seeing Things” a first solo effort Dylan can take pride in.
Score: 7 out of 10
http://www.columbiarecords.com
http://www.jakobdylan.com

The Briggs – Come All You Madmen

The album cover is already pretty friggin’ obvious about it but most of the songs on “Come All You Madmen” are the kind of punk singalongs that are perfectly suited to raise your fists to. If not for the ode to their hometown LA (“This Is LA”), The Briggs could easily pass for a band straight from the grimiest of streets in Boston and that impression is only enhanced by contributions from Dropkick Murphys’ Ken Casey and Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ Dickie Barrett.

If it’s anthems you’re looking for, these guys service you with “Charge Into The Sun” (with an additional solo by Brian Baker) and “The Ship Is Now Sinking”. They are the kind of punkrock songs that simply charge ahead and take no prisoners. But The Briggs have a sensitive, more cuddly side as well that they like to show in folkier songs like the Flogging Molly-esque “Oblivion” or the ballad that is “Molly”.

“Come All You Madmen” is yet another solid and diverse release by the LaRocca brothers and definitely worth your time if you’re looking for some exciting streetpunk.
Score : 7 out of 10
http://www.sideonedummy.com
http://www.thebriggs.org

Me First And The Gimme Gimmes – Have Another Ball

One of my alltime favorite Graspop Metal Meeting moments has to be when Me First And The Gimme Gimmes played there between all the black, death and hasbeen metal acts. Especially when they pulled out the ukelele and went into “I Believe I Can Fly”.

It shows what kinda band the Gimme Gimmes are. The problem with a joke that gets out of hand though is that it isn’t funny anymore. Up til now these guys avoided that pitfall by having fun concepts where they fooled around with everything from showtunes to country. But would it still work with “Have Another Ball”, a new album with not so new songs recorded back in 1997 during the sessions for their debut, “Have A Ball” ?

The answer is yes because I caught myself smiling when I heard The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop” being used as the intro for “You’ve Got A Friend” and “Only The Good Die Young” is probably one of the best covers the Gimme Gimmes ever laid down on tape.

If you bought the now out-of-print 7” series, you’ve pretty much heard all these songs before. But it should be a treat for everyone else, provided by one of the longest running gimmick bands in punk.
Score: 7 out of 10
http://www.fatwreck.com
http://www.myspace.com/gimmegimmes

Neuraxis – The Thin Line Between

Neuraxis have already been going at it for twelve years. In that time they’ve released their share of albums and continually gotten better. That’s once again no different on “The Thin Line Between”, which is without a doubt their best so far. While it was already obvious two years ago with the release of “Trilateral Progression” that these Canadian dudes were technically proficient without losing themselves in it, they now seem to have concentrated on making things more fluent and dynamic.

I don’t always find technical death metal the easiest genre to get into but these songs have some serious groove to ‘em without the band losing sight of death metal clichés and even melody. And thanks to a great production job, “The Thin Line Between” is well on its way of becoming one of my favorite tech metal releases. It may be a very short list but they’re on it now and I guess that’s saying something as well.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.prostheticrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/neuraxis

The Old Haunts – Poisonous Times

The Old Haunts is a rock n roll band of the jingly jangly variety. When you’re playing this kind of music, you’re most likely not going to reinvent the wheel. But hey, you can drive an old car just as well and you don’t really need GPS, 23 airbags, a new fuel injection system or an MP3-player to reach your destination.

These guys got that alright and so they churn out a dozen songs that drive just fine with former Bikini Kill drummer Tobi Vail laying out the rhythms while Craig Extine is pouring his heart out with an a-typical trembling voice. And while the bass lines rumble on, The Old Haunts speed up most of the time, occasionally stop for a slow burner (“Sunshine”) or decide they wanna go surfing instead (“Sister City”). Not entirely memorable but still a decent addition to your collection.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
http://www.killrockstars.com
http://www.myspace.com/theoldhaunts

The Kills – Midnight Boom

When Alison Mosshart (formerly of Discount) and Jamie Hince (formerly of Blyth Power and Scarfo) teamed up, they probably didn’t expect The Kills to get as big as they did when they released “Your Mean Side” back in ’03. Overcome by their success they made the mistake of releasing pretty much the same album (only slightly less good) in ’05 under the moniker “No Wow”. Which brings us to today where people were anxiously awaiting album number three. Would they repeat themselves again or make some changes?

Well, on “Midnight Boom” they made some changes while keeping all of the trademark Kills ingredients. Their two voices, the dry guitar and the oh so essential drum computer are still present and accounted for but Spank Rock producer Armani XXXchange threw in some funky beats and lots of synth parts that make things way more dynamic and – dare I say – catchy. Goodbye Velvet Underground, hello Blondie! I don’t mind at all and I’m pretty sure the triphop-esque “U.R.A. Fever”, the gloomy “Black Ballon”, the raging “Sour Cherry” will please all the indie hipsters in their leather jackets.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.dominorecordco.com
http://www.thekills.tv

Born To Lose – Saints Gone Wrong

After having spent some time in various side-projects and almost certainly in a whole lotta bars, the guys in Born To Lose decided to pull it back together, played some shows and ended up writing a new album called “Saints Gone Wrong”.

These Texas boys rock throughout the entire album, never slow down and seem to be having a lot of fun doing it. It all sounds very powerful and Chris’ vocals along with Ben’s backups alongside the guitar solos kept my ears glued to the speakers right until the end. Expect tons of melodies and even more ‘whoa whoa’ singalong parts. This is punkrock played with a rock n roll attitude. Or the other way around. Whatever floats your boat. In any case, this is a solid album!
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.peoplelikeyourecords.com
http://www.borntoloserocks.com

The Grip Weeds – Infinite Soul : The Best Of The Grip Weeds

New Jersey’s The Grip Weeds is one of those bands you’ve never heard of but wish you had. Dunno how those things keep on happening but they did with Big Star. And now again with The Grip Weeds, who just like Big Star play some excellent powerpop with psychedelic diversions. Think The Kinks, think The Who, think the Byrds, think Revolver-era Beatles… basically think of every great rockband from the sixties, throw it all together and you’ve got The Grip Weeds.

With Little Steven Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records they have found a new home and to celebrate the occasion there is now “Infinite Soul”, a collection of hits you have never ever heard before. Plus one brand new song called “She Brings The Rain”. And if that one is anything to go by, then the band’s fifth album that they are now recording should be quite the treat!
Score: 7.5 out of 10
http://www.wickedcoolrecords.om
http://www.gripweeds.com

Thee Oh Sees – The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending A Night In

Thee Oh Sees have released a whopping seven releases since 2004, including a double album. Not always as Thee Oh Sees but also under the monikers OCS and The OhSees. I don’t exactly see the point but as long as John Dwyer does I don’t have a problem with it either.

On the band’s latest album “The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending A Night In” they mix up lofi grease rock with the fuzzed up sounds of a band like Jesus & Mary Chain. All 14 songs are sung as a duet with Brigid Dawson being the second singer and all of them sound alike. Luckily for the band it’s a pretty sweet and sassy song that I listen to a bunch of times.
Score: 6 out of 10
http://www.tomlab.com
http://www.myspace.com/ohsees

Pukkelpop 2008... a preview

Ah yes, it’s that time of the year again where we feel our intestines start to weaken at the thought of three more days of drinking, eating junkfood (by choice not because there isn’t anything healthy to eat) and listening to loud music. In other words, it’s Pukkelpop time! This year it will all take place on August 14-16 at the same place it always does, Kiewit.

Thursday is not only a great band, it’s also the day when the action begins. And how! We will kick the day off with the ridiculously catchy indierock of The Pigeon Detectives, to be followed immediately by the scathing hardcore attack that listens to the name Have Heart. They will be playing at The Shelter. No, this is not the zillionth Pukkelpop stage. It is the revamped version of the Skate Stage.

Next up is the first of many difficult choices... do we go for The Cribs or the new sensation that is Santogold. We don’t know yet but we will hopefully when the time comes. Any way, we will be washing a burger down with a beer or two after that while enjoying the not so soothing sounds of either The Unseen or Danko Jones. We have never seen The Unseen before which is why they are The Unseen. Once we have seen them they will have to disband or change their name. We have however already seen Danko Jones countless times yet he always plays an amazing show... second hard choice of the weekend!

Next on our lists is a mix of old and new(er) with Joan As Police Woman, the anthemic folkpunk of Dropkick Murphys, Serj Tankian (System Of A Down frontman for those of you living in a cave), maybe a little bit of Black Light Burns (Wes Borland’s latest project), the honest alt-country of Drive-By Truckers or – like last year – Editors and a spoken word performance by Henry Rollins. Not to mention that we would also like to see The Flaming Lips, Thrice and The Ting Tings. Which would make this difficult choice 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively. By then it’s already Friday technically speaking and to wake us up a little for the drive home, we plan on watching Soulfly tear it up and then find our way back home without tearing anything up. After all, we will still have two more days to go!

On Friday we get to sleep in a little and enjoy a healthy (or not so) breakfast because the first band we want to see is Cult Of Luna. After that things will no doubt become hectic again with Los Campesinos, Cold War Kids and the Canadian skatepunks A Wilhelm Scream. Oh, and Volbeat. Unless they have another death in the family and have to cancel their show again like at Graspop. Let’s hope not for their and our sake.

Time for dinner is planned in next because even tireless rock journalists need some fuel. And beer. It’ll either be a noisy night with Metallica and Meshuggah playing or we can go for the double attack of Lanegan and Dulli (The Gutter Twins) which is a little more quiet as are Alkaline Trio, Tokyo Police Club or the nervous twitchy rock of The Futureheads. By then we will have no doubt lost count of the amount of difficult choices. Oh well, as long as there is enough beer to wash down the occasional attack of sorrow we should make it just fine.

We would probably like to keep things a little more quiet on day number three but the people at Pukkelpop didn’t take that into account and so they planned a lot more cool acts for the final day of Pukkelpop. How about showing some Belgian pride? God knows we can need in a time where we don’t even have a government. Luckily for us we do have some excellent bands and they all seem to gather at Pukkelpop: Black Box Revelation, Monza, The Hickey Underworld, Soulwax and so on... they’re all gonna be there.

As are the psychedelic rockers from Black Mountain, the fun lovin’ skapunks that make up Less Than Jake, the slightly dramatic Dresden Dolls or the hype of the last months, MGMT. You like more reputed and subdued names? Well, how about Manic Street Preachers, Elbow, Bloc Party and Sigur Ros? Or what’s that? You say fuck subdued? Alright, for those who like things a little louder than their parents there’s always As I Lay Dying, Neurosis or the reigning kings of metalcore, Killswitch Engage.

Whatever it is that gets your panties in a bunch, you are sure to find it at Pukkelpop. We will be there and no doubt so will you!

The Legacy – Beyond Hurt Beyond Hell

The Legacy is a UK-based hardcore band that already dropped two releases in the past. It got kinda quiet around them in 2004 due to several line-up changes and a couple of bumps in the road. But they’re back now though with a new album called “Beyond Hurt Beyond Hell”.

They kinda remind me of a band like Unbroken with the more melodic and atmospheric parts going hand in hand with the aggressive parts. They don’t reach Unbroken’s level just yet though and while “Beyond Hurt Beyond Hell” is a fairly solid release, I didn’t remember too much from it afterwards.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
http://www.visiblenoise.com
http://www.myspace.com/thelegacy

Firewater – The Golden Hour

So what do you do when your wife wants a divorce and an idiot gets re-relected into the oval office. You can either sit at home and feel depressed or you can go out and see the world. Luckily for us, vocalist Tod A (ex-Cop Shoot Cop) did just that and came back with enough ideas to fill an album with Firewater’s punkrock meets gypsy and klezmer tunes.

When they started doing what they do ten years ago, people were confused but now with acts like Gogol Bordello and Beirut exploring the same path, it’s kind of the hip thing to do. Not that Tod and friends give a fuck, they just like to write solid songs. And there’s plenty of those to be found on “The Golden Hour”. With exciting and eclectic songs like “This Is My Life” and the anti-Bush tirade “Hey Clown”, it feels like a journey that you can dance to in your own living room. These guys should be a treat live as well so make sure to check them out when they’re in your town!
Score: 7 out of 10
http://www.bloodshotrecords.com
http://www.firewater.tv