Album Reviews in Flames”) and Just Plain Boring Ditties and Taking the Listener Even Further Down (“Chained” and “Feels Like a New Morning”)
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MUSIC MUSIC record is pretty uneven, vacillating between this volume, he takes the horror factor to a decent songs (“Said Too Much” and “Icarus new level, leaving the Misfits legacy behind Album Reviews in Flames”) and just plain boring ditties and taking the listener even further down (“Chained” and “Feels Like a New Morning”). into the bowels of the depraved human Reviews by B. Love, John B. Moore, & Lee Valentine Smith e CD also comes with a solo acoustic condition. Recommended for darker-minded record from frontman Dr. Robert, playing 10 Dragon*Con fans and lovers of undiluted evil The Dean’s List unplugged versions of the band’s best-known in general. (B) songs (like “Digging Your Scene,” “It Doesn’t have to Be is Way” and “Springtime for the CLAY HARPER – Old Airport Road (Terminus) whole careers wishing they’d written. is PHOTON BAND – Pure Photonic Matter, Volume 1 World”). Of the two, the solo disc is definitely (Nod & Smile/MVD Audio) The return of an Atlanta alt-rock legend album is no different: “Me and Judas got the the one worth keeping. (C) shit end of the deal/like any good soldiers, Solid release from Philly’s psychedelic indie-rockers BL: there’s folks to be killed,” he croons on “Liars,” ough THE GREENS – Serial Killer W/A Heart of Gold best known while on “From Bad to Worse” he sings, JM: Psychedelic these days for “Don’t give that Redneck a beer/David Allen (Self-Released) indie-rockers his Fellini’s and Coe is all the boy will want to hear.” Experimental singer/songwriter shows promise the Photon La Fonda Latina After listening to the baker’s dozen of Band have been restaurant songs that make up Mayberry, you’ll be BL: Kellan at it since the chains, Clay knocking back the long necks and looking Meador is best early ‘90s, and Harper also for the next fight to pick. You may get your known as a they remain played an ass kicked, but at least you’ll have the perfect playful jester on just as hard to influential role soundtrack to go with the punches. Atlanta’s improv categorize as in Atlanta’s alt-rock scene, first with iconic comedy scene. they’ve ever ‘80s band e Coolies and later alongside LOVERS WITHOUT BORDERS – Detective But all it takes been. Sounding like the MC5 on one track Rob Gal (now better known for producing (K Records) is one listen and e Smithereens on the next, the band to “Landry”– seamlessly skips from one genre to the next. Sugarland) in Ottoman Empire. Auspicious indie-pop debut Old Airport Road marks his first new the hypnotic, eir latest album starts off with “What echoing, piano instrumental that opens his You See,” a swirl of electronic noise and what album in over a decade. But, if the endless LVS: From the stream of expletives that blues belter Sandra debut album as e Greens– to realize that sounds like a creepy child’s voice counting fringes of the the guy is decidedly more serious about his that segues into a “Kick Out the Jams”-worthy Hall utters on the funky opener “Ole Ray” International is any indication, he hasn’t lost any of his music. drum beat topped with Beatles-esque vocals. P o p “Stay” reveals a dramatic, theatrical voice erein lies the charm of this band, which counter-culture edge in the interim. Underground Harper handles vocals himself on the laid- that falls somewhere between Rufus features members of Lilys and War on Drugs: comes the Wainwright and Depeche Mode, building to ere’s something for everyone. back shuffle of “Roly Poly,” the horn-laden debut 7” from balladry of “Beautiful,” and the bluesy closer, a dynamic crescendo of lovelorn emotion. You ultimately get the feeling that they Lovers Without “Got Something” brings electric organ and could not care less if others are along for the “ey Played Amazing Grace.” But half the Borders, a pop album finds him sharing the spotlight with subtle percussion into the mix, giving a catchy ride or not. ey’re simply playing music that trio featuring melody that could easily be a modern-day pop they enjoy, be it a radio friendly sing-along or a diverse variety of special guests. e hip- Karl Blau (saxophone, vocals), Alex Parrish song a more retro, almost jazzy feel. (B) hop-influenced “Get at Money” features a (guitar) and Jessica Bonin (vocals, drums). a Syd Barrett-inspired psychedelic gumbo. brief appearance by female MC Slim Red; the At times, Meador’s experimental Formed as a reaction to a wedding party, tendencies get the better of him, with “Well” haunting title track features Errol Moore on the trio– which is anchored by the beat of PUBLIC ENEMY– Planet Earth: The Rock and Roll vocals and Glenn Phillips on guitar; and the approaching Steve Reich territory and the Hall of Fame Greatest Rap Hits Bonin’s tiny drum kit– takes the usual K droning “Hurricane & Sea” bordering on skronking “I Can Find You At the Airport” Records mindset and adds a delicate pop (MVD Audio) features spoken word by ATL legend Colonel monotony. But when the groove, melody and Best-of collection for one of hip-hop’s greatest acts flourish. “2nd Most Beautiful Girl In e passionate vocals all click together, as they Bruce Hampton. World” (which, fittingly, is the second track), Still, despite the disparate vocalists and do on “Fountain,” the results show plenty of JM: I’m not written by K mainstay Lois Maffeo, gets a promise. It will be interesting to watch where genres explored, Old Airport Road almost brazenly pop spin. “My Harem Shall All Have going to wade feels like a concept album, with beautiful Meador’s arty aural experiments lead him into the debate Hashbrowns,” which would be good for the next. (B-) songs that explore the seedy underbelly of title alone, swings with loose harmonies and of whether 21st century city life. In short, it was well Blau’s sinewy sax. e garage rockin’ “Eddy” or not Public worth the wait. echoes the ‘60s with a decidedly modern DOYLE WOLFGANG VON FRANKENSTEIN – Enemy actually slant, rounding out the 4-song platter. Abominator (Monsterman) belongs in the I CAN LICK ANY SONOFABITCH IN THE HOUSE – Worth seeking out at retail or via mail Am I evil? Yes, I am Rock & Roll Hall Mayberry (Sad Crow) order, the record’s deceptively low-key of Fame (they Northwest cow-punks hitting their stride melodies and clever lyrics marks it as one of LVS: Cartoonish do). But their the best new releases of the year. e promise and hell- recent induction is obviously the impetus JM: In addition of a full album to come from the band is dwelling punk behind this new collection of re-mastered to having one anticipation at its very best. guitarist Doyle hits. And if it took a Hall of Fame induction of the best band Wolfgang Von to get these songs on vinyl again? Well, hell, it names going Rest of the Class Frankenstein’s was worth it. right now, I new album Yes, it’s frustrating that only 11 songs from Can Lick Any f e a t u r e s their expansive catalogue are represented Sonofabitch in THE BLOW MONKEYS – Feels Like a New Morning luminaries here, and that it largely ignores their the House also (Cherry Red) Alex Story revolutionary first two albums (what, no love (Cancerslug) on vocals, “Left-Hand” Graham has the musical ‘80s New Wave band struggles to remain relevant for the groundbreaking It Takes a Nation of chops to back on bass, and Dr. Chud (Misfits) on drums. Millions to Hold Us Back?). But there is not a With Abominator, the former Misfits up their in-your-face moniker. JM: single track on this record that doesn’t deserve It’s been guitarist has crafted a riveting and thoroughly With Mayberry, their fifth studio album, about six years to be here. From the stellar opener, “Welcome these Portland boys can easily have you unsettling narrative, framing the songs around to the Terrordome,” to the triumphant “Fight now since e Story’s shrill vocals. e first single, “Valley believing that’s actual Texas dust on their Blow Monkeys the Power,” there is no filler at all on this boots (to be fair, I think at least one of the Of Shadows,” has been creeping around the album. (once one of horror metal scene for a few months, but the members did actually call the Lone Star State the brightest Lyrically, the band could not be touched, deftly home for a while). eir latest is a complex full album fleshes out the details. rapping about politics and social issues, and spots on the e prerequisite brooding imagery outlines blend of alt-country and punk rock, which is ‘80s New Wave coming out with some of the most original kind of like pairing a faded Clash t-shirt with the basis of a depraved love story. e samples of their era. At a time when the genre scene) reunited, tracks dwell on murder, disembowelment, a pair of hole-in-the-bottom, duck-taped and the band seems to focus way too much on shout outs to Justin boots. necrophilia and other pleasant and uplifting luxury brands, a song like “By the Time I get to has certainly been making up for lost time. tales of the macabre. Obviously, the horror e opening title track is decent enough, if Feels Like a New Morning marks the band’s Arizona”– still remarkably relevant even now, a little rambling, but it’s the songs that follow metal genre will embrace the grotesque epic, decades later– rings out like a clarion call for fourth release since getting back on the bike.