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Panda Kid, “Summetry” LP
If Panda Kid ever deigns to tour the Midwest, I can’t begin to think of how much I’d thank them for the absolute joy they bring into my life with each and every release. Summetry, their latest LP, got...
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Podcast #107, “Rush to Judgment”
Recording this podcast, I was all kinds of excited about getting it done, doing a phone interview, and then heading out to enjoy some sunshine. The sunshine disappeared, some support screws sheared off...
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Podcast #109, “Sick & Tired”
This episode of the podcast reveals the mystery of why I sounded so horrid last time, and not-so-coincidentally features me saying awful things about Jenny McCarthy. On a positive note, the plans for a...
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Thee Tsunamis, “Delirium and Dark Waters” 7-inch
Thee Tsunamis‘ Delirium and Dark Waters 7-inch on Magnetic South is just so much fun, I can’t believe they haven’t hit the Terminal Boredom hype machine. The songs aren’t scary — you look at the cover...
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PUP’s self-titled LP out today from SideOne Dummy; BUY IT
Toronto’s PUP have the stateside release of their self-titled debut out today via SideOne Dummy. I’ve been listening to it pretty regularly since I was turned onto them by Wade from Black on Black,...
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“Hardcore, Punk, and Other Junk” demonstrates aggressive music has more to...
It’s a shame that Hardcore, Punk, and Other Junk: Aggressive Sounds in Contemporary Music is sort of marketed as an academic book. This collection of essays, edited by Eric James Abbey and Colin Helb,...
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Hobocop, “Half Man, Half Cop” 10-inch
Hobocop‘s Half Man, Half Cop is just the right amount of lo-fi. It’s not quite as rudimentary as Apache Dropout, but it’s fuzzy and dirty. The fuzz and distortion works with the music, though, rather...
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Stalins of Sound, “Tank Tracks” LP
More dirge-like than the Spits, less poppy than Devo, and more abrasive than Digital Leather is Stalins of Sound. Their Tank Tracks LP — out next week on Slovenly — took a few listens to really grab...
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Watery Love, “Decorative Feeding” LP
Watery Love‘s new album on In the Red, Decorative Feeding is blown the fuck out. It appropriately pegs the VU meters in the red for pretty much the entire duration of the LP. Decorative Feeding isn’t a...
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James Fearnley’s “Here Comes Everybody” is an energetic, involving story of...
It’s always with fear and trepidation that I crack open a musician’s memoir. For every Keith Richards autobiography, there are several dozen tomes that collapse under the weight of their own...
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Bloodpheasant, “Traum” LP
The newest Tor Johnson Records release, Bloodpheasant‘s Traum, showed up a while back, and it took me nearly a week to get to listen to it. I’m usually prone to throwing whatever Paul’s sent in the...
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Four new Slovenly singles from The Anomalys, PUFF!, Thee MVPs, and Useless...
Three upcoming singles from Slovenly Records, as well as one (PUFF!) on their new imprint, Mondo Mongo. These all came into my inbox at the same time, so they’re all getting reviewed simultaneously....
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The Big Iron, “We Will Fall” LP
The Big Iron‘s We Will Fall sounds like the ’80s, but not the one you remember. This isn’t the 1980s of synth-pop, New Wave, or yacht rock — the Big Iron are the sound of VFW shows, of the bands...
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The last batch of singles from Windian Records’ founder, Travis Jackson
Getting a big package of singles in the mail is always exciting, especially when you’re not expecting them. It’s bittersweet to open the box and realize that these are the last singles overseen by the...
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Red Kate / Bad Ideas split 7-inch
The first release from Kansas City’s Mills Record Company features the finest punk rock ‘n’ roll the city has to offer, with two songs each from Red Kate and the Bad Ideas. Red Kate continues the...
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Late Bloomer, “Things Change” LP
Ever since Late Bloomer debuted “Use Your Words,” I’ve been foaming at the mouth to hear all of Things Change, their sophomore LP on Tor Johnson, Lunchbox, and Self Aware Records. I tried to hold back...
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Black On Black / Greys / Westerners at the Replay Lounge
More shows need to be like this: all ages, over by 9:00pm, and cheap. I would go to each and every matinee rock show, schedule allowing. There’s something wonderful about getting off work, eating...
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Alex Ogg offers up a balanced history of the Dead Kennedys’ early years
Author Alex Ogg has accomplished a rare task with his new book, Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, The Early Years. In the history, out now from PM Press, Ogg manages to present all...
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Ray Creature, “Ray Creature” LP
Ray Creature, the new project from Leg’s John Booth, has an interesting record out now on Sister Cylinder. While I’m not really into the whole post-punk aesthetic, I’ve gotten a little further into the...
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Glasper’s “Burning Britain” for the fans only
Ian Glasper‘s tenth anniversary edition of Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980-1984 (out now from PM Press) is an invaluable resource for anyone looking for first-person narratives of the...
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