The Lashes: “Get It” (Columbia Records)
A lot of people have this fixed idea of Seattle as a dreary, overcast, depressing rainy place and for good reason, since it does rain all the time there. When you mention that a particular band is from Seattle, one likewise associates the Seattle connection as a de facto genre of music, due to the homogeneity of many bands that hail from that great Pacific Northwest metropolis (think: Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone, The Melvins, et cetera). Well, The Lashes are heterodoxy vis a vis their Seattle roots; upbeat, slick, crooning, “Get It”, their debut, is a lavish pop opus. The more I listen to it the more it grows on me; these damn catchy hooks from songs like “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I want” or “Daddy’s Little Girl” swirl about in my mind for hours after listening to the CD. You will be made to dance! (www.thelashes.com or www.columbiarecords.com) – KM.
The Experiments (s/t) (self-released)
The Experiments are the ultimate DIY, underground indie band – they’ve been around since 1994, a coming together of some members of NYC’s Dead Ducks and LA’s Beverly Pills, originally. Then, in 2003 Brian Chase, formerly of Boston’s Suburban Rejects joined up, adding a new influence to their songwriting. In March of 2005, The Experiments put together this self-titled CD, partly recorded live at Blind Melon’s, in San Diego and also at “Dan’s Apartment” and at Spotless Digital in Ocean Beach. Their music is a sludgy, raw punk-rock that is more influenced by old-school punk-rock from Detroit, like MC5 or the Stooges than by hardcore bands like MDC or GBH. The juxtaposition from club to bedroom to studio only adds to the low-fi, indie ethos, bringing out the gist of each song in a pure form – only an acoustic guitar and a vocal mike would be purer. To get some free songs, news about the band and whatnot, check out www.theexperiments.com – KM.
Dehra Dun: “Better Faked” (Singleton Records)
Wise beyond their years, ahead of the curve in terms of sounds and style, Dehra Dun have appeared on my radar and I have taken to their new CD, “Better Faked” with a great degree of enthusiasm. The CD starts out with a 30-second intro called “The City is Born”, that, like all the songs on “Better Faked”, segues right into the next song. It’s a moody record that starts out with some movement, so to speak, but midway through, takes a turn towards melancholy, starting with track seven, the beautifully haunting “Division”, a very stark, plaintive song that brings the mood down a bit. From there we get, for a spell, some quiet meditations, like “Rose Tint”.
Burnt Chorro: “Made in the USA” (Stems & Seeds)
Burnt Chorro is a laid-back, reggae/dub/punk outfit, not unlike Long Beach Dub All-Stars, the aftermath of Sublime; they start out with an aggressive, punk attitude, talking politics, pot and hot chicks. But it also slips into some mellow, ganga-flavored ‘dub’ jams, agitprop and a tinge of hip-hop throughout, which makes this CD better, flowing in and out of subgenres, mixing things up. It’s definitely not bland or monotonous, as they keep it fresh and interesting as well as injecting humor, not taking themselves too seriously, which will be one aspect of the downfall of the right. It’s got political messages, social awareness and a platform of reform for outdated, oppressive, reactionary right-wing governments; but it’s done in a mellow, nonabrasive way. “Made in the USA” is not an in-your-face diatribe (well-deserved as that may be), nor a polemic, but a pleasant-sounding mix of Dub, hip-hop and pedantic punk-rock (www.stemsandseeds.org) – KM.
The Deviltones: “Riding the High Horse” (Hard Knox Records)
The terror of Richmond, VA, The Deviltones are a rough-and-tumble, leather-bound, long-haired grungesters that kick out the jams in a most raucous way. On “Riding the High Horse”, something that fans have been waiting 15 months to hear, this quartet shows what they can do with a couple gee-tars and some skins. The Deviltones really drive home a traditional heavy metal groove; it’s not speed/death metal, not nu-rock, a la Korn, nor is it the industrial/aggro bent of Pigface or Ministry. Perfect for the local bar-club on a Friday night: great to let loose to and lose yourself in a fever pitch of beer-soaked, cigarette-burned, sweaty rock ‘n’ roll. Check out “I Gotta Gun” or “13-69”, both uber-representative of The Deviltones oeuvre (www.deviltones.com) – KM.
Towers of London: “Fuck it Up” (TVT Records)
The very British, Towers of London” have put out another single, “Fuck it Up”, backed with another cut, “Down in the Streets”. “Fuck it Up” could be the next big anthem for disaffected youth, at least in England. The soundtrack to an anarchist riot? Absolutely! Both tracks are rocking, ebullient and effusive; infectious rock and roll that stays in your head for a bit after hearing it. Don’t expect to hear this on the radio anytime soon… (www.tvt.com or www.towersoflondon.com) – KM.
DMZ//38: “Never Surrender” (self-released)
DMZ//38 is the nom de guerre of a Korean-American who has just come out with “Never Surrender”, a 4-song EP that he recently released on his own, with no record deal, no label support. I only mention that he is Korean for the reason that he uses the handle “DMZ//38” – which is an obvious reference to Korea, which tells me that he wants to use his ‘Korean-ness” to express a particular point-of-view. There is no hard-core political message here, mostly just innocuous pop music. But then, in places like Pyongyang, just putting out a ‘harmless’ pop record is enough to get you arrested, depending on what you say. (www.dmz38.com) – KM.
The Messengers (s/t) (Mordam Records)
Riot Grrrls, The Messengers are a rockin’ quartet from Cincinnati who bring a tuneful, less abrasive approach to punk. Quasi-political songs like “American Slob”, “Fight the Rich” or “Lost Cause” have a jangly, poppy edge to them, they’re hummable, but they also have a bit of that riotous, anarchic spirit, as well. Better than Hole, that’s for sure. (www.themessengers.cc or www.mordamrecords.com) – KM.
Richard Hawley: “Coles Corner” (Mute Records)
At first it was easy to be dismissive and say that Richard Hawley is just another Leonard Cohen-manque. But as I listened further, to “Coles Corner” I was so enraptured by the beautiful, lush ambience of the songs that after a while, it became “Leonard who?” The stark, slow, quiet pace of most of “Coles Corner” is almost funereal in parts, though; something in which to lose oneself in, in a bubble bath, in bed, driving late at night on a dark highway. One thing, though, track six is not the “Born Under a Bad Sign”, not the Howlin’ Wolf classic (…”If it wasn’t for bad luck/I wouldn’t have no luck at all”) (www.richardhawley.co.uk or www.mute.com) – KM.
Miles Away (s/t) (Bridge Nine Records)
Sort of like Helmet, or a right-wing Fugazi, Miles Away have that straight-edge sound, clean-cut, in appearance as well as sonic intensity. On their eponymous debut, MA rips through ten cuts of lean, mean songs. While they’re not very diverse, musically, they certainly have determination; Will, you might call it. Each song has that distinctly razor-sharp guitar buzzing on, backed by violent drums and thumping bass. Tight. (www.milesawayhc.tk or www.bridge9.com) – KM.
The Trouble: “Nobody Laughs Anymore” (Bridge Nine Records)
“Nobody Laughs Anymore” – boast or lament? This is the latest from Massachusetts’s The Trouble, a hard-core punk outfit that really kicks ass. It’s a little like Fugazi, with that terse, razor-sharp delivery. The Trouble are a force of their own, though and it’s nice to see that true punk is not dead. The coolest thing about “Nobody Laughs Anymore” is actually, ironically maybe, the so-called secret track, the last cut, #15, in which they cover Joy Division’s “Insight”. Kudos too, to Bridge 9 records for being a home for up-and-coming punk rock, hard-core, straight-edge, indie metal, etc. (www.bridge9.com) –KM.
Andrew Shapiro: “Invisible Days EP” (Airbox Music)
Andrew Shapiro is a musical wunderkind of sorts. This EP, “Invisible Days”, is a breath of fresh air; dreamy, fluid, brilliant. Unlike his previous EP “Six Etudes”, which was all solo classical piano originals, this EP is more along the lines of Brian Eno or Jon Hassell with vocals. Helping out on vocals is Keisha Hutchins, who breathes fascinating life with her beautiful voice. Also, playing flute is Peter Hess; Shapiro sings a little and plays all the keyboards. A versatile and talented musician, Shapiro is one to watch out for… (www.andrewshapiro.com)– KM.
November Kills: “Russian Roulette” (Hotfoot Records)
I was of a mixed feeling, at first, regarding “Russian Roulette”, the debut from November Kills. Upon first listen I was not awed or impressed greatly. On the other hand, I wasn’t turned off or repelled by it either. But after a couple more times in my CD player I warmed up to it. “Russian Roulette” has a hard-edged, rock & roll sensibility. It’s not metal, not punk and it’s not pop or power pop. It’s something somewhere in between all those labels. All through the CD it kept my interest; song after song had an infectious appeal that was pleasing to the senses. If you’re a big fan of Taking Back Sunday or Hawthorne Heights you’ll like “Russian Roulette” and want more of NK. (www.novemberkills.com or www.hotfootrecords.com) – KM
The Stove: (s/t demo)
The Stove is an up-and-coming dance-clubland-spacey combo. They have an ethereal aura, playing fluffy, spacey dance music. This 5-song demo I got my hands on is actually well-done, it sounds, thanks to today’s cheap and accessible technology, makes anyone a studio professional. It is now musical anarchy out there and the line between types of marketing are being erased, which makes it easier for just about any kind of crap to get out there; but on the other hand, it gives a platform or a forum for those who are unable or unwilling to get ensnared into the corrupt commercial music racket – alternative vehicles for independent, original, eclectic, new and varied stuff. The Stove are not bad at all – they could get better and probably will as they keep on doing it. To find out more information and/or for access to their music, check out www.thestovemusic.com – KM.