THE AVATARS

Never A Good Time CD

This Detroit band is really a pretty fun garagerock band. With a heavily blues-drenched vocalist that comes off souding a little like the singer from the Detroit Cobras and a pretty cool and fresh production the Avatars does sound pretty good. They’ve been describes as Ramones meets Motown and that’s actually pretty spot on so I’m gonna go with that and just tell you that this maybe could have been recorded a little “lighter” and cooler but all in all it’s a pretty nice record. For fans of Detroit Cobras, Come Ons, girl groups,
(Thomas)
No Fun Records

 

BEAT BEAT BEAT

Living In The Future... LP/CD

Musically these guys have been living in the past, they’re heavily influenced by Aussie punk circa 1977. And it sounds really great. They’ve got the hooks, the pop sense and the rock to pull this off. Maybe the songs they’ve penned aren’t as memorable as, say the Saints, but it does sound great and it makes me want to pull out my Aussie stuff and lsiten again. As far as this kind of punkrock go these days, Beat Beat Beat are great. Most bands attempting this usually fall into the ‘actionrock’ genre with “heavy, man” guitars and boring songs with solos that go on for waaaay too long. If you like bands like the aforementioned Saints, Lipstick Killers, Fun Things (who they cover by way of “When the Birdmen Fly”, which sounds good but maybe it should have been left out), then by all means check this LP out. It’s sure to get your legs achin for the dancefloor and get you pulling out your airguitar!

(Thomas)

Alien Snatch Records

 

THE DEAD BROTHERS

Wunderkammer CD

More of the wide, mixed variety of styles from these ‘brothers’ obsessed with death, funerals and the dark side of life. It’s pretty cool at times and the next it doesn’t do anything at all for me. The good stuff is far too often mixed up with stuff that I don’t like too make me a fan of theirs. Liked the first album but they’ve been going downhill from there. I guess if you liked their earlier records, you might find you like this one too.
(Thomas)
Voodoo Rhythm Records

 

KAMIKATZE TRIO

French Lick CD

Basically Digger & the Pussycats with an added member playing rock. I thought this was gonna be punkrock, with the name and Digger & the Pussycats’ sound it just got me thinking this was gonna be punkrock inspired by the amazing history of Australia. But no, this is different, not as easy classifiable either. I’m thinking emo, rock.. I don’t know but it’s not really my thing at all. Which is a shame cause I really like Digger.. But I guess there’s no use in playing the same thing with two bands. That’s probably why this is different.

(Thomas)

Inertia

 

MAASTER GAIDEN

Like It Never Happened CD

Here’s a mysterious band. Never heard about them before and I think I’d remember a strange name like that. They’re a drum-guitar duo with a pretty cool sound. It’s simple punkrock but played with flair, energy and it’s catchy to boot. The label is the one that put out the Ape Shits/the Gash split and has some releases from bands like the Brokedowns. Anyway, Maaster Gaiden is really cool. Hooky and catchy like the Marked Men (not quite) and minimalistic but not sounding too minimalistic. Seems to be a new trend among duo’s, they sound like full bands. Their MySpace cites bands like Teengenerate and the Humpers as influences and that’s a little bit of how they sound, I’m also thinking New Bomb Turks and other 90’s punkrock luminaries. Wow, this was actually quite a surprise. Surprisingly good too. Check them out.

(Thomas)

Big Action Records

 

THE MICRAGIRLS

Feeling Dizzy Honey?! DBL CD

Crazy with a doyble CD but I guess that’s just to separate the cuts cause CD # 1 has brand new stuff and CD #2 has their earlier singles, which were all cool for the most part. This is definitely the cream of the crop of the Finnish scene. No other bands are even coming close to being as good as the Micragirls. They’re also one of the funnest garage bands in Europe cause they’re not retro and they’re really focusing on keeping it real simple and primal. Kudos for that! The new stuff sounds great and, of course, continues in the tradition of their other stuff. Some of the new tracks doesn’t really cut it for me but when they go for danceable stuff like “Go Go Gorilla” then it’s right back on track. This is definitely for fans of modern garagerock and garage bands on the ‘funner’ side of things, like the Fe Fi Fo Fums.

(Thomas)

Bone Voyage Recording Company

 

THE MOJOMATICS

Songs For Faraway Lovers LP/CD

A new blast of genuine, americana-styled folksongs done up garage style. Great songwriting, great production..everything’s great! This guitar/drums duo is something out of the ordinary at they don’t try to go for a minimalistic sound but rather make it sound full. The songwriting is heartfelt and simple yet packs a lot of emotion. They’ve written ten originals and then added two great covers “Stealin’ Stealin’” and “Hard Treavellin’” both old standards worked up to sound like the Mojos. The package of the records is amazing too, from a cool sleeve to an amazing inner sleeve to an added video on the CD. Go out and get this!

(Thomas)

Alien Snatch Records

 

MONDO TOPLESS

Take It Slow CD

Long running American garagerock. They’ve been around for about 15 years and this is their fourth record. I’ve crossed paths with them before but they’ve never left any permanent mark in my ears and neither will they this time. The’re far too diverse in their style and not exciting enought too keep me listening for any longer amounts of time. I’m saying skip on this CD and buy something else instead. There’s a bunch of much better garagerock out there like the Micragirls or the Avatars, both reviewed above.

(Thomas)

Get Hip Recordings

 

RED LIMO

Soulful Attack EP 7”

Debut 7” from this (I think) Brooklyn band. And it’s pretty cool. Reminds me of a lot of stuff without sounding like any one of them. Thinking a little Velvet Underground maybe, a little Suicide... Pretty minimalistic but played great and with a great portion of feeling. Think these guys might be heading somewhere interesting.

(Thomas)

Made On The Moon

 

RIVER CITY TANLINES

I’m Your Negative LP/CD

I really enjoyed all their singles and had really high hopes for their first ‘real’ fullenght. They’ve gone into a real studio and gotten a full blown sound that I think they can make work but unfortunately it feels like the songs aren’t quite there. There’s a great bunch of songs and some really great ones but there’s also a few that doesn’t really cut it. Which is a shame cause this is a great band, and I think they are gonna do a whole lot better than this in the future so just consider this the small potatoes while the big guns are being brought out.

(Thomas)

Dirtnap Records

 

V/A ALWAYS IN THE WRONG PLACE #1 LP

Goddamn cool soulcomp. I love this slow stuff too, it doesn’t have to be really wild and crazy to be great soul. This is a compilation of heartwrenching love songs from more or less unknown singers that have great voices and have recorded some terrific songs. Recognizable names are Bobby Patterson, Big Maybelle and the Kelly Brothers. Essentially a record dedicated to love. Take heed!

(Thomas)

Heart Sore Records

 

V/A SON OF BLUNDERBUSS LP

The guys who did the first Blunderbuss only a few months ago strike again with a new, and I think, even cooler comp of sleazy, raunchy, trashy rockarolla. This is great stuff. Some bands from the first volume appear again and some new names pop up. You might have heard some of this before but this is too good a record to pass on. Some wild stuff for any dancefloor and some crazy stuff to laugh at. Excellent!

(Thomas)

One Shot

 

V/A DOWNTOWN ROCKIN’ AT THE GARDEN OF EDEN LP

Follow up, and anudda great blues platter in the Downtown Rockin’ series, and I think I might actually like this one even more than the first one. Some really great blues rompers mixed up with some grinders. Great shit everything on here. Haven’t heard any one of these tunes before either. Great sound, but lose the porn cover art next time.

(Thomas)

B-Sharp!

 

V/A GONERFEST 2 DVD/CD

The all-mighty Gonerfest documented thru’ a live DVD and a live CD. The DVD’s the real treasure. Great sound and above all, great picture quality. This is fun to watch! A lot of these live dvd’s aren’t that great, they get kinda tedious after a while, it’s not like being there at all.. while this isn’t being there either, you really get an urge to go next time. And that’s the best grade this can get I think. Must be really really fun to watch for those who were there. The live CD is more of a bonus thing. You get cuts from most of the bands who played and it all sounds great.

(Thomas)

Goner Records