B-SIDES
Wreck in Heaven LP

Goodbye Boozy

Some Montreal dudes from among other bands (I’m sure) the Scat Rag Boosters. Pretty okay Gun Club-ish garagestuff. The Canadians are always good at writing songs it seems and this is some decent stuff, going from garage to punk. It lacks a little bit of personality though, it ends up sounding like a lof of other stuff and as a longplayer it would have benefitted of some better production. But all in all, pretty cool just a bit plain. [TS]

 

DEMON’S CLAWS
Lost in the desert LP

Telephone Explosion

Great demo and outtakes compilation. Sounds almost as good as “Satan’s pet pig” but not as powerful. This is not to be missed however, even though it’s a little more laidback and lo fi. The Demon’s Claws continue to craft amazing songs and their country-garage sound sounds as great and fresh as ever. And don’t think that this is just filled with alternative takes or something, we’re served with twelve new songs. Cool shit. [TS]

 

FRANCE HAS THE BOMB
Invisible Angle 7”
World of Mirrors 7”

Hozac
Dusty Medical

A little weird, poppy, catchy and crispy sounding. Starting out with their Hozac single, the A-side is punkier and cool. B-side is a ballad-type thing and I fall for it immerdiately. Really nice stuff. Their debut on Dusty Medical is equally cool, has two punky tunes that are a little weird too, not too far from bands like the Intelligence. FHTB features Hideo from the cool Birthday Suits and some other Minneapolis dudes. This has some of that Marked Men sound to it, can’t really describe it but it’s just some kind of dynamic that seems similar. [TS]

 

GEORGE COLEMAN
Bongo Joe LP

Arhoolie

This was a pretty nice surprise – beatnik-bongos and weird stories told/played in a very entertaining way. An oildrum and drumsticks made of hammer handles and the sound is awe-inspiring. Recorded live back in ’68 in San Antonio. So. Damn. Cool. Atmospheric, rhythmic, tension-building.. Coleman’s voice is great to, and the combination is just amazing. Fucking cool! Try this out for a change! [TS]

 

JEFFREY NOVAK
After the Ball LP
Three Sisters 7”

LMN Records
Shattered Records

Jeff Novak of Cheap Time, Rat Traps and formerly of his own OMB now by himself again but solo and not doing the OMB-thing. This is in the general direction of mostly Jay Reatard but also Mark Sultan and Ty Segall. Doing your stuff solo, playing all instruments etc is cool and makes for a pretty unique sound, very personal I guess. This stuff is pretty good, you can still hear and recognize the style from Cheap Time. It’s just totally different. Poppier, and stranger. More Sparks or Beatles than Oblivians. The single marks the return of Jay Reatard’s Shattered label. The single is the same style as the LP maybe a bit better mastered, it sounds more powerful. Anyway, think this might grow even more on me with time. [TS]

 

JOHN PAUL KEITH & THE ONE FOUR FIVES
Spills and Thrills LP

Neverready Recording Co

Don’t really know anything about JP before he joined the Tennessee Tearjerkers but going from that it looks like he picked up a lot of chops from the master of Memphis-rock, Jack O. This is pretty darn great, Memphis style rock and roll with songwriting in the style of Jack Oblivian but without sounding like him. This is more rockabilly and it sounds excellent. Infectious to say the least. Think Rufus Thomas meets Elvis meets Jack Oblivian and sounding old and new at the same time.Nice. [TS]

 

SOUTH FILTHY
Undertakin’ Daddy LP

Beast/Trashmondain

Jeff Evans newest combo sonsisting of rotating members like Jack Oblivian, Walter Daniels, Mike Buck and John Schooley is back. This is a shortplayer of an LP though, only eight songs but they’re kinda long so it at least reach a decent lenght. Pretty great stuff though. If you were ever a fan of ’68 Comeback or the Gibson Bros you’ll love this. Good songs, nice Jeff Evans-sound and nothing new except for some great songwriting and that Memphis groove. Which I’m not one to say no to. [TS]

 

TY SEGALL
S/t LP

Castle Face Records

An outstanding debut LP from this new guy/band. Had the pleasure of seeing them live a few times too and they blow minds. Believe me, this is extremely amazing stuff. This lp sounds great, the songwriting is top notch and the sound is damn cool. There’s really not a whole lot more I could ask for. I’m sold. One of my faves right now, and I’m just discovering new favorite songs for every spin. Make no mistake, this is a record that you have to get. His follow up is due on Goner this spring. [TS]

 

WEAKENDS
S/t LP

Rob’s House Records

France’s Weakends are going strong with touring, releasing records and doing quite good it seems. They’ve got a cool sound, very american but making it a bit their own and European-sounding. Kinda like beat to garage. This is good stuff though and if you’re a fan of bands like the Black Lips, Mojomatics, Magnetix etc then this might be for you. It’s a bit bluesier than the aforementioned but pretty good. [TS]

 

v/a BURNING HELL VOL 1 7” BOX

Burning Hell Records

First in a series of boxed releases limited to one hundred copies. This should add some panic to the collector craze! Anyway, this box has the Poppets, Brainbombs, Black Bug and Homostupids. Black Bug are Swedes with a pretty cool Blank Dogs/Lost Sounds vibe, two pretty cool songs. Poppets cover two Brainbombs songs, pretty lo fi but cool and catchier than the ‘bombs have ever been. The Homostupids are cool and noisy and sound dangerous but haven’t really caught my attention more than that. Might be the short songs, “The Hawk” seems to be something like 40 seconds. The b-side is an ongoing loop of a fucked up version of the first part of that song that is the theme for CSI Miami, is it Roger Plant or something.. can’t remember.. Pretty stupid anyway.And last, but certainly the main reason this box will be sought after, the Brainbombs. Sounding like they usually do, don’t think anyone would be disappointed with this. [TS]

 

v/a INTERNATIONAL VICIOUS SOCIETY vol 4 LP

University of Vice

Volume four of this crazy series comping the wildest, strangest and craziest rock’n’roll from all over the world. Preferably in strange languages, exotic beats and danceable. Finland, Mexico, Romania, Chech Republic, Belgium, Haiti, Nigeria, Angola.. the list goes on and on. This volume picks up where number three left off and packs quite a punch. It’s over the top from the get-go and doesn’t let up. You’re definitely in for a wild night in tigertown with this one. [TS]

 

v/a  SIN-SA-TION! LP

Les disques mondiales

Pretty groovy stuff. Fun, poppy, just plain weird and crazy. It’s even got some funny swedish band doing “Wild thing”. For everyone who’s a fan of organheavy, crazy exotica. Not as good as Las Vegas Grind or Jungle Exotica as it’s just not wild enough but cool nevertheless. [TS]

 

v/a TABU! LP

Folie

Pretty damn cool exotica kinda like the Lavender Jungle more than Las Vegas Grind. Softer than wild but always very cool. Some tunes have been out there before this but it’s such a cool comp so that doesn’t really matter. [TS]