Review:

VERNON SÉLAVY - Apple Seeds 7” EP
Shit Music For Shit People

Here’s a new band from Italy featuring one guy from the Moviestar Junkies and one guy from Ten Dogs (with whom I’m not familiar). To me they fit perfectly into the latest wave of Italian (and maybe a bit French too) bands that come out of the garage scene but have a more rootsy sound like the Mojomatics and Capputtini’i’lignu. Two other duos and when I think about it Vernon Sélavy would sit very comforatable in the middle of those two. This 7” consist of three very well-written songs with a really nice sound. They don’t duo hardcore so the sound is like it would be a whole band playing. The last song ”The Way It Goes” hit me the most. It’s got a nice soulful Reigning Sound vibe to it with a chorus I’ll be humming along to pretty soon. Personally I’d think it would  be wonderful if these two guys would do something like this in italian. (Martin)

Review:

MAN OR ASTROMAN? - Your Weight On The Moon CD
Overground

I was a fan of Man Or Astroman? when they first came along (never had this LP though). This LP first came out in 1994, a long time ago now, and it was their first mini-LP (the cd consists of that LP and two 7” EPs that came out around the same time.) I had their Estrus LPs that came before (I think?!) this.  To all you young Savage readers I need to say that in those days unlike now there were a lot of surf/instrumental bands. Every city with self respect had a least one and Man Or Astroman? were  top of the line if not thee best out there. Listening to this now you can understand why. They had a much more fierce aproach and kind of a punk spirt but still played with precision. I think they had both surf, rock’n’roll and punkrock fans. And how does this hold up today? It’s not bad but I don’t really see when I would listen to this. To me who was there i think if feels a bit dated. I think reissues come way too fast these days. The one song I really like is a cover of ”Destination Venus”  but I think I’m  through with surfmusic. Who knows though, maybe this reissue will start a brand new instrumental wave. (Martin)

Review:

JACUZZI BOYS - Glazin' LP
Hardly Art

Wow, really longed for this record. I really can't get enough of the Jacuzzi Boys - love their sound and feel. And wanna go to Florida from the first tone (spent some summer vacations there as a kid). Especially the titletrack conveys an immediate presence of the hot Miami sun. Really digging the new LP and it really feels like an album a little more than "Fruits" did I am however finding it a little, just a little too tame. There's a few grinding numbers like "Glazin'" and "Silver Sphere" but a few songs could have used a bit more pummel and swagger. Great record though and I suggest you get it straight away, it won't disappoint! (Thomas)

Review:

POP. 1280 - The Grid 12"
Sacred Bones Records

Feels like I'm back listening to AmRep bands but this is a little more punky and raw than I remember them being. Spotted these guys mostly because I love the novel they got their name from, liked their first single but this is even cooler. Loud, edgy, cool vocals. Almos industrial in it's execution. Sounds dangerous. I love the titlesong but the rest isn't far behind. On the same label as Human Eye, Timmy's Organism etc. (Thomas)

Review:

THE ZIPHS - Thinking About You 7"
DELIVERANCE BROTHERS - Stab You In The Back 7"
Radio Obligato Records

Debuts all around! The Ziphs finally get a record out after having stuff in the pipeline for a few years. Think King Khan & BBQ Show meets  postpunk maybe. They've been one of my fave bands outta Stockholm for the last few years. This single should really put them on the map, great songs and sound. The Deliverance Brothers consists of Kalle and Jocke from the Manikins but showing off their love for bands like the Reigning Sound and Goodnight Loving. Well done, catchy songs, a tad too clean sounding (isn't Reigning Sound best when they sound raw?) but definitely a must for fans of especially Goodnight Loving. Both of these are on the cool Radio Obligato label, nice black sleeve with sticker, limited to 300 copies.(Thomas)

Review:

DM BOB & THE DEFICITS - They Called Us Country LP
Off Label Records

A look back and collection of unreleased songs from their repertoire circa ´99-´02, deemed "too country" at the time. This really is a country-record, but with that New Orleans-Cajun twist. Covers of Lee Hazlewood, Lou Reed, Buck Owens and of course some traditionals mixed in with the orginals (the follow up to "Hooker Bones" aptly titled "Hooker Bones 2", among others).

Actually it comes out a little too country for my tastes too, I think some of their more cajun-y or garage stuff would have made this great record. A sweet look back at a very underrated band, and a reminder to pick up their amazing recs on Crypt and then come back for this when you need more. (Thomas)

Review:

OBLIVIANS / ANDRE ETHIER split 7"
Scion/Vice

Never in a million years did I think I'd review a new Oblivians song.. But here it is. And it's great. Of course it is.. It's hard to not have their "old" stuff in mind and judge this on it's own merits because I think this would have been even better without having to measure up to songs like "If Mother Knew" or "Guitar Shop Asshole" or "The Leather" but.. Fuck! It's a new Oblivians song and it's freaking awesome! It's a dark Greg Oblivian-sung pounder. And it really is awesome to hear some new Oblivians stuff, even though it's weird. Truly one of the most awe-inspiring bands of all time! Andre is of course the Andre from the great Deadly Snakes. His solo stuff has taken a Dylan-esqe turn and follows suit here. It's good but not amazing. (Thomas)

Review:

ELECTRIC BUNNIES - Pretty Joanna 7"
Sacred Bones

Pretty damn great dreamy noise with a hard beat and cool songs. Especially "Pretty Joanna", Stoogey but with a hook and screaming guitars and a hard driving beat. Can't seem to get enough of it.. Really liked the LP but this is cementing even more that they're onto something really cool. (Thomas)

Review:

TY SEGALL - Melted LP
Goner Records

I just can't believe how prolific Ty is! Record after record is just pumped out and not one seems like filler. Here's a follow up to last years debut on Goner and it's great again. A bit moodier, slower and not as "blown out" as previously. Great songs. I loved the "Caesar" and "My Sunshine" singles and it's kinda nice to have them on here too. "Melted" is leaning a little more the Oh Sees way with some added instruments (played by John Dwyer among others) and groove. It fits Ty nice. Would have liked a few more all out rockers but this is a great album anyways. (Thomas)

Review:

THEE OH SEES - Warm Slime 12"
In The Red Records

Like a funky Headcoats or a garagey James Brown the Oh Sees groove is pretty damn intoxicating. Their knack for writing songs, their "own" sound, their diy attitude will surely propel them a bith further up the charts and it's all this that make them so special too. This 12" has one loooong song on the A-side, it's groovy as hell and I do like them when they get in the groove, so to speak, but maybe it works better live than on record. They make up for it with the six excellent songs on the B-side though. Groovy, funky, whatever you wanna call them, they're really good. (Thomas)

REVIEW:

HOZAC HOOKUP KLUB YEAR 2 - the first batch

Sex Church - 209 7"
Super Wild Horses - Enigma 7"
Radar Eyes - Shakes 7"

Hozac Records

Sex Church is a band that I never really checked out but always meant to. So this is really my first real listen to 'em. It's pretty dark, brooding and a little bit psychedelic, and Stoogey. Could've maybe been a bit wilder in my opinion, it's pretty slow. Pretty cool but maybe not as great as it could've been in my ears. For a cooler band that does the same sorta thing check out Flight instead.

Everybody seems to rave about the Super Wild Horses. A two-girl band from Melbourne. Just guitar and drums is usually my thing but this becomes a bit tedious when the guitar is pretty monotonic and boring. I'll give them another chance to win me over..

Radar Eyes are pretty hard to define. Punkrock but with a touch of pop and nice-ness. Think Hex Dispensers and the Marked Men maybe.. But slower. Think this will grow on me even more. Not as immediate as the aforementioned bands. Might be missing in personality, for lack of a better word. B-side is a bit too "nice" and slick but otherwise pretty cool. I'll be checking out more of their stuff. (Thomas)

 REVIEW:

BLACK TIME - More songs about motorcycles and death 12"
Wrench Records
BLACK TIME / TY SEGALL split 12"
Telephone Explosion

Rumored to be the last Black Time record, the aptly titles "More songs about motorcycles and death" mini LP is perhaps Black Times finest moment. It's an awesome romp down a highway lined with their greatest influences and achievements. Merging KBD punk, Black Flag hc, Pussy Galore noise, Gun Club/Scientists drone into a mix all your own is a feat not many band have managed and definitely not many European bands. This records is a testament to how great Black Time is.

Never got around to reviewing their split with Ty Segall but since it's back in print again it seemed appropriate. Black Time is snottier than ever and sounding a bit more British too I think. Noisy and punky and really great. Really Pussy Galore-y at times. Not a bad thing. Ty's side is him being himself, great of course. Some songs have ended up on other records too but this is prolly different versions and lo-fi. And great!

Review:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Shampoo 7"
Sub Pop

Took a little bit of a pass on Happy Birthday when it didn't win me over like King Tuff did.. But after falling in love with the b-side on here, "Alien" I've gotta give their album another shot. It's a glorious little summerditty that is just too cute and catchy to not fall for. "Shampoo" is no pass over either and should fill many a dancefloor.  But oh, "Alien" is just way too great to miss out on.
(Thomas)

REVIEW:

SHANNON & THE CLAMS - I Wanna Go Home LP
1-2-3-4-Go! Records

Shannon is prolly best know for her work in Hunx & his Punx but this, in her own glory with a great band is at times awesome! Caught them live before listening to this and that was great. The records has some downs like the more hardcore moments which could work (like it does really well for the King Khan & BBQ Show) but mostly brings me out of the nice, sunny feeling that I'm having while listening to the rest of the record. The first side is pretty magnificent while the B-side starts out with, in my mind, three duds. I'm pretty sure that stuff works out better live though. When this is great it's great.. Shannon can sing like a goddess! And the slower more r'n'b-y songs really showcase her voice and fit it really well.
(Thomas)

REVIEW:

OVERNIGHT LOWS - City of Rotten Eyes LP
Goner Records

This fits perfectly on Goner. And seems to have been somehow forgotten, which is a shame. This is a spirited continuation of a lot of stuff going on in the 90's and early 00's. Taking some Oblivians, some Rip Off Records, some Persuaders, Reatards.. but never copying. Just picking the parts. The whole sounds different than the aforementioned though, punkier than the Oblivians and weirder than anything on Rip Off. This record is pretty fucking great actually. I've missed this kinda on the spot, furious, take on punkrock. It's a short 12 song on 45 rpm, but it's sweet as fuck. A breath of fresh air!!
(Thomas)

REVIEW:

SAINTS & SINNERS VOL 1-2 LP
Sheik Records

Cool comps of sheiking rockabill and rhythm & blues from the 50's and 60's. Nice packaging, oriental style fitting the funny labelname.
A lof of unknowns for me, mostly the rockabilly guys, but also some famous ones like Trini Lopez, Lightning Hopkins, Elmore James, Little Walter.Liners for each song with some background etc is a nice touch too.The linernotes are touting some of the songs with superlatives and while I'm not sure this is some of the best-ever-songs, there's a good amount of fantastic stuff and overall, which makes these comps nice, is the mix and set up. They make for some really great listening. And if you wanna party, there's a fair amount of dancers on here too. Mostly stompers though, but who the heck doesn't like a stomper?!
(Thomas)

REVIEW:

ELECTRIC BUNNIES - Through the Magical Door LP
Florida's Dying

Pretty cool record from a cool band on a cool label. Nice packaging too. I'm at a loss for how to describe their music though.. Very moody, a lot of improv going on I would thing, a lot of building up an ambience. Like it more when they play their songs straight up, but I guess the weirdness also adds some mystery and magic to the mix and therefore the title is really fitting. I'd say this would be as much for fans of say the Black Lips and Jacuzzi Boys as it would be for fans of noise and indie-weirdness.
(Thomas)

http://www.myspace.com/electricbunnies
http://www.floridasdying.com

REVIEW:

GOODNIGHT LOVING - Arcobaleno 12"
Wild Honey Records

This is a nice little record in-between records from the Goodnight Loving, a band I've learned to love more and more. I fell for their latest fullenght, and this is a cool continuation from that. A little more laidback, folky maybe. Great sounding, by way of the steady hands of Mojomatt. The GL have that great epic songwriting capability that captures my imagionation and takes it along for a ride. The pictures and feelings they paint adds so much to the songs. This is slod out but the label is considering a repress. Let's hope it's out there soon.
(Thomas)

REVIEW:

DAVILA 666 12"
Rob's House Records

New 12" from the world's greatest partyband at the moment! Great sound, dirty and lo-fi in a great way. As always the songs are topnotch. They're pretty much a different band than the one on the ITR LP but I'd say they're all the better for it. They're a fullfledged, massive bulldozer of a liveband where all their songs mesh together in a perfect mass. Look forward to seeing them if you haven't. And love their records meanwhile. (Thomas)

REVIEW:

BOX ELDERS - Tiny Sioux 7"
Hozac singles club

I love the Box Elders and it's about time they had something new out, my LP is getting worn down. You've prolly heard the titletrack live for a while and it's an amazing little ditty in their patented Box Elders-way. B-side is equally laid back, nice and cool. Perfect for summernights. (Thomas)

Reviews - February 2010

Back after the winterbreak with some must-haves! Read more >>