25 Suaves "I Want It Loud" CD
So this group consists of Peter S. Larson (Velocity Hopkins) and Fumie Kawasaki (DJ Party Girl -- with an alias like that I feel like I'm supposed to know who that is, but alas, I don't) and one of the multitude of ex-Melvins guys, Dave Sahijdak. Despite their experimental pedigree, they play fire-breathing, blockheaded, metal that is worthy listening for a Z28-load of pot-smoking, Busch-light-drinking, trailer-dwelling degenerates on a methamphetamine run in Judas Priest t-shirts. The thing here is that the music is sounds like deadly serious metal. The album brings to mind the previously-mentioned Priest, or Motorhead most of all (an overused comparison if there ever was one, but this band is playing something a little more authentic than just a bunch of jackasses playing really fast). There's nothing The lyrics are pretty funny, stuff about "wanting it loud" or "letting it burn" "living it up" or "taking it down." The liner notes, handwritten in all caps, proudly proclaims the band's preferred guitars, strings, amps, drums, and thanks, is spelled "THANX" throughout. This is sounding, and looking, pretty authentic.

Listen while you play: Legend of Valkyrie

(Bastard Sun, Bulb Records)

Adolescents "The Complete Demos 1980-1986" CD
Fans of early LA punk have probably spun their blue album a few times or more. At their best, the Adolescents sort of went beyond standard punk rock and played songs that sounded really urgent and full of nervous energy. It felt like pretty weighty stuff even if the lyrics were just standard pissed-off ramblings. "Complete Demos" is a fantastic companion and follow up to their classic debut. The first four songs are recorded in the garage on a standard-issue 80s department store tape deck, and much of the album doesn't get much more produced than that. In a way, I think it sounds better than their polished versions that originally saw release. It's a slightly lower fidelity overall but the songs are a little snottier and crazier. The only exception is that there is a kind of weak version of Who Is Who here. They make up for it big time with two great versions of Wrecking Crew, and an incredible, deliciously lo-fi recording of Creatures (the highlight of the album for me). I don't know if it's the fact that this is a newer release or not, but I'd rather listen to this than their original debut right now. I'm just wishing there would have been an alternate track of "Kids of the Black Hole" on here. I can't get enough of that song even if it's long as hell.

Listen while you play: Kung Fu Master

(Frontier Records)

Aluminumknoteye "Trunk Lunker" LP
When this baby rips open with "Final Fling of The Amputee," with its twitchy, punk-rock panic attack, and wild, snarling vocals, you know you've hit on something good. The best part is that's not even the high point "Cannibal Chew Cud" is quaking, shaking, distorted giant with off-kilter tempos that stomp about like a science fiction beast. "Squirmling" is a weird, decaying dance number that manages to make the organ sound futuristic. (My favorite track) "Is it My Body?" is a violent, garage blitz blasted from a wind tunnel. It's loaded with crap like this. I could go on about every song, but you'd probably get bored. It's out of hand to say the least. Imagine Chrome, Oblivians, Billy Childish and Crime combined with a vacuum cleaner on reverse and you're getting there.

Listen while you play: Halloween

(Dead Beat Records)

Antiquity "Dusted" CD
I don't know anything about "turnablist" music, but I think that's the official name for this stuff. I've heard a Kid Koala record once and I remember it sounding kind of like this. Maybe This Antiquity guy (girl?) (group?) will see that as a compliment. It's an interesting, oddball pastiche of different samples and sounds, good beats, and some record scratching. I can't say I'd listen to this constantly but I'll admit that it sounds impressive. I hope that this isn't taken the wrong way, but I sort of got a kick out of the cover and insert art because it looks like it was swiped from an eight-grade comic book geek's sketch book.

Listen while you play: Gunforce

(Coach and 6)

BBQ "Take a Message/Busy Signal/Hang It Up" 7"
Mr. Mark Sultan brings it once again on this great 7". Chugging, r&b guitar blazes along while the shaking tamborines jingle along to a stomping drum beat. Its as primitive as it sounds. In fact, this one sounds a little more raw than some of his other stuff. Once again I think I'm drawn to a B-side more than the A, but all three songs are great. If you haven't had the chance to check out either of the full-lengths yet, this is a damn near perfect way to give BBQ a try.

Listen while you play: Wild Western

(Goodbye Boozy 64020 S. Nicolo a.t. Teramo, Italia e-mail: goodbyeboozyATtin.it)

The Bismarck "What Price Victory?" CD
Several ND Ex-pats find themselves building dissonant, hollery noise out in the pacific Northwest. A hard-nosed, heads-down, delivery seems to be the order of the day here, tempered with a wry sense of humor throughout -- keeping things as far away from pretensious as possible. This thing is filled to the rim with precise, deliberate noise and layered, clashing crescendos; a white-hot mishmash of rhythm and noise punctuated with a chorus of screams. While not as vicious as ye olde Big Black records (even the more aggressive tunes have an endearing, almost friendly tone to them, ala Archers of Loaf or something of that nature), I can't help but thinking of the old, sneering Albini outfit as I listen to this. The atonal, crashing racket ought to give most something to chew on, while the quietest moment, "A Meaning Accrued Through Duration," and sounds more like a practice-worthy jam to me than it does a keeper for a full-length album. Still, I'm sure some people will love it. It's fraternal twin sister, "Don't Ever Change" ought to win over even more with its catchy verses. Kudos to The Bismarck for making a good "indie rock" record for people who are tired of that whole thing.

Listen while you play: Paperboy

Pride Of Dakota Records (www.thebismarck.net)

The Black Jetts "Right On Sound" CD
I was really looking forward to hearing this and have to admit I was a little disappointed. Apparently, the band thought that the low-fi approach they took on the first album "Bleed Me" didn't please enough of the critics. I actually thought that the grimy recording quality was one of the best things about the debut. Also, the guitar pyrotechnics are a little more prominent this time around. I sort of had the Black Jetts pegged as this really basic, no-frills kind of band -- and I liked that. Now I'm hearing the solos more than the rest of the song. Their original charms are still there, but I guess you have to be a little more patient with them this time around. Get through the freaky wah-wah solos and the glam riffage and you'll detect that things get a little more interesting around Track 4. There is a fun cover of "Get Ready" just before you get to a lumbering 60s thumper, All Sexed Up. The slowed-down, sloppy You Can't Kill What's Already Dead, is a great track too. Still, if you just want to hear the same thing you heard last time (only more of it), you're not gonna find as much of it as you'd like.

Listen while you play: Death Race

(Dead Beat Records)

Bleach03 "S/T" CD
Loud metal riffs, slap bass, some pop, and hollering Japanese girls. If that's your thing, go for it. The hidden track sounds kinda cool.

Listen while you play: Clock Tower

(Australian Cattle God)

Checkmate "Empire Builder" CD
I’d love to know how Roger gets connected to all these artists. He’s cultivated this weird little, experimental aesthetic for himself that I really admire, and now he’s joining forces with Austin Texas Rapper, Checkmate and his crew. I’m a casual fan of rap. I like the old school stuff, and I’ll admit to liking 50 Cent and G Units discs last year. This Checkmate disc is pretty good. The highlight is “Respect” – a track that was produced by Fantom of the Beats, who produced the “Magic Stick” tune by 50 Cent and Lil Kim that was all over the radio some time back. It’s got kick-ass lyrics and a dramatic orchestral hook and spaghetti-western horns. Who could imagine that this came from the catalog of a tiny Fargo-based record label? The surreal nature of that alone is worth the price of admission.

Listen while you play: Rafflesia

(Coach and 6)

Darren "Deicide" Kramer "Rockin' Till The Apocalypse" CD
One-man, guitar, harmonica and foot-tappin' R&B/rockabilly action here. There isn't a great deal of variety. The tempo changes so slightly from song to song, you may lose track of where you are on the album. There is another song that is mainly finger-snapping, socially-concious poetry and an occasional harmonica punctuation. The sound is kind of thin and unexciting as well. I can imagine this guy playing at some street festival on the corner or something, but he's no BBQ, Hasil Adkins, Bob Log, etc.

Listen while you play: Lunar Lander

(Ever Reviled Records)

The Deaths "Choir Invisible" CD
Much of this record is material that appeared on the demo they were passing around last year, and the quality is still there. The new tracks are great too. The same adjectives apply here. Ghostly, fragile, complicate, gentle, subtle... At times it’s like background music for a haunted house; at times you’re thinking the Zombies or the Byrds. Either way, it's got some weird little 60s pop thing going on that is totally atypical of bands that get that tired classification. It's This album is worth it for “Go Slow” alone, an insane little effects-laden track that sounds like a tribute to Crazy World of Arthur Brown. I think almost everyone who hears them loves the Deaths. Give it a go, ok?

Listen while you play: Altered Beast

(Go Johnny Go / Elephant Park)

Dexateens "Red Dust Rising" CD
The Dexateens self-titled debut a bit more of a party, so I was sort of taken aback at first when I first gave "Red Dust Rising" a spin. I mean, most Estrus albums aren't typically described as downbeat country rock. The album is has a healthy dose of pedal steel, some banjo, and whatnot -- which may respectively turn on some and turn off others. Those who can take their rock and roll with some gritty, southern drawl will love it. As I got over that initial shock of the record, I can't stop listening to this. The opening track, "Pine Belt Blues," gives you the indication that these guys have holed up in the shed for some southern rock action (It surprises me how much I like this so much because I'm not a Skynrd fan). Things quickly shift gears with a deflating, moody rocker "Diamond in the Concrete" -- which is the expertly done, "good girl in the bad city" tune. Red Dust Rising has a some more upbeat moments (Anna Lee is my favorite rocker on the album). Harmonizing vocals really stand out on the "That Dollar," which cooks along at a fairly quick pace. But the real standouts are the outright gorgeous ballads. While still retaining the twangy edge, The Dexateens are really writing soul songs at certain poitns on the album -- especially in the case of "Devoted To Lonesome," "Can't You see," and the absolutely stunning closer "Coal Mine Lung." I've encouraged several friends to pick this up while casually discussing our listening habits, now I'd suggest the same to you. It's great for careful, attentive listening, or background music, or whatever. It's just a great album which is all you could really ask for.

Listen while you play: Orbitron

(Estrus)

The Dickies "Stukas Over Disneyland" CD
What did I do to deserve this goodie in the mail? Apparently, someone recognized me as a sucker for a Dickies re-release (which would make me a Dickies sucker, I suppose). While it's maybe not as instantly loveable as their first records, Stukas over Disneyland is still one of the finest things you'll ever hear by The Dickies, and probably any other of the standard-issue pioneering punk rock bands. Tracks are in the original PVC order vs. the version with extra tracks that Restless released some time back in the day. I've never really liked the opener, "Rosemary," much but things pick up fast with the unstoppable lineup of "She's a Hunchback," Out of Sight, Out of Mind," "Communication Breakdown," and "Pretty Please Me." "Wagon Train" takes a little longer to get into, but I have to admit that I still love it. Things finish beautifully with "If Stuart Could Talk" and the title track. I don't know if this is remastered or not (I lost the press material that came with it) but Stukas Over Disneyland in any fidelity is still great in my book. It sounds good... if that's the feedback your looking for. Stukas is over so fast that some extra live tracks or demos would have been nice for this one, and it would give old fans a reason to repurchase. I guess Overground offers this at a cheaper price than a standard disc, though. The packaging is pretty basic, with no frills or sappy, long-winded liner notes. As far as a straight-up reissue, I absolutely can't complain. If you already own some other version of "Stukas Over Disneyland" you probably don't need another one but if you're looking to fill some holes in your collection this will do perfectly.

Listen while you play: Omega Race

(Overground Records)

The Diplomats of Solid Sound "Destination... Get Down!" CD
I imagine that those bands like the Diplomats probably all sound like a late-night TV show band to some people, but if you're down for some greasy instrumental groovin' these guys are just the thing. Personally I love the way the Diplomats' organ gurgles and chugs along and how the tap of the high hat goes down like a cold glass of gin. I could listen to the song Intercontinental Git all damn day. There are some excellent, chilling guitar moments here too -- and the saxaphone is just right. At the risk of sounding like a hippie or something, when you really listen and sort of get swept up on the record, your moods actually change according to the tempos and the tone of the music. You sort of go down at points, then you get a little lift. You sort of get these little stories going in your head to go along with the songs. That's soul for you, I guess. I've never seen a band like this, and I'd love to get the chance some time.

Listen while you play: Rally X

(Estrus)

The Divebomb Honey 7" EP
Sweet and gooey keyboard new-wave from Minneapolis with members of Sweet J.A.P., Subversives & Goochers. Side A works up a Lost Sounds lather without being as dark. At first listen I thought it was too a bit too laid back. Subsequent listens warmed me up significantly while I still think the recording is missing a touch of bad-assery. I think this shit could be pretty happening live. It would help if the recording were a lot louder. The keyboards should be bashing me over the head. Right now they're only giving me a light noogie. The songs are catchy though.

Listen while you play: Legend of Kage

(Jilted Records 803 Thomas Ave. St. Paul, MN 55104 USA)

The Feelers "Learn To Hate The Feelers" CD
I'm from Fargo and people here have never really been able to get over how godheadSilo and Hammerhead were located here at one time. Even though they're great bands, it's kind of weird how this fact is trumpeted from time to time more than a decade after the fact. Well, now everyone can ooh and ah over (ex-FargoMoorheadian) JG's latest band, which was never located here, but maybe you can see where I was going, there. Ummm... ok. Lots of people have already gone on and on about these guys (myself included) and it's totally deserved. "Learn To Hate" is a punk rock classic from the get go with loud, blurry-eyed, snotty delivery and a nervous, paranoid energy throughout. Get Out sounds like the musical equivalent of a rambling, nuclear-damaged lunatic. The guitar and bass in "Slit Wrists" sounds like the background music for some robot mine-field in some long lost NES game. Get the vinyl because it has an extra song and you need everything you can get by these guys.

Listen while you play: Missile Command

(Dead Beat Records)

The Fevers "Love Always Wins" CD
I doubt I'm capable of expressing what a goddamn treat this record is. Seriously, I was completely blindsided by this one. That's one of the best things about being a rock and roll dork -- that little rush of excitement you get when something all of a sudden clicks. The Fevers deliver that feeling for me and then some. I first gave this album a spin without much thought. I was only slightly familiar with the Fevers, having read about their first album, but I'd never heard it. I was at work, not really paying attention to the album at first, just barely aware of the noise in my headphones. I all of a sudden I actually noticed what I was hearing -- 50s & 60s-inspired bubblegum punk bliss awash in a blaze of crunchy psych and teenage longing. This sugarcoated, crunchy pop zooms right past the brain and goes straight for the gut. One of my favorite things in a while, for sure. Some people will think it's too sappy and poppy, but those people suck!

Listen while you play: Mr. Do

(Alien Snatch)

Gazelles! "Pink Notions b/w Plastic Panthers" 7"
You know how you put something on the turntable and it doesn't sound anything like you'd imagine it to sound? The Gazelles are like that. I don't know what the hell I was thinking, but The Gazelles was a nice surprise nonetheless. While the all of its parts are not necessarily doing anything terribly new, the sum has something singular and exciting that I can't quite put my finger on. Pink Notions is a blazing, urgent, snotty punk rock tantrum while Plastic Panthers is a dark, sleazy basher. I'd like to hear more.

Listen while you play: Qix

(Goodbye Boozy via Villa Pompetti, 64020 S. Nicolo (TE) Italy e-mail: goodbyeboozyATtin.it)

Gorch Fock "Lying And Manipulating" CD
Let's get the bad out of the way. There are trombones on this. That fact alone will probably make it hard to get into this record. It sort of meanders from something akin to fucked-up psychedelic jamming and old Boner Records/Trance/Alternative Tentacles-style sludge. It can be pretty good. The songs Bono, and Tap Is Crack, for example, is a pretty well put-together tank of grime, guitar and crazed effects, but there's always that damn trombone tooting away in the background. The song Michael Kolhaas captures the lysergic magic that Butthole Surfers used to have (bringing to mind the holes' great 22 going on 23 from Locust Abortion Technician). I guess the point here is to sound crazy and to do something different, so the whole thing is having its desired effect, but I'm not fully digging on it because of the trombones.

Listen while you play: Chiller

(Australian Cattle God)

The Graves Brothers Deluxe “Light” CD
I’ve always really liked Nomeansno, and for some reason this album really reminds me of those guys. They have a bit more of a retro, noir thing going on in their style, but they have the really husky, throaty yell that marks the Wright brothers stuff, and they have that sort of weird, chunky bass sound that wraps around this sinister jazzy, noise. That being said, this Graves Brothers Deluxe record would be a sort of mediocre Nomeansno record. Primarily, there are some long, slow numbers that just don’t do a hell of a lot for me. You know, the Nomeansno stuff probably might be unfair of me. According to the bio, members have played with The Residents, Thin White Rope and Noel Redding, so they likely know what they're trying to achieve, and aping the aforementioned band probably has nothing to do with it. It's just not my thing overall. To use an example from elsewhere in this batch of reviews, I can picture these guys sharing the stage with Gorch Fock, and if given the choice between the Fockers and these guys, I'd take Gorch Fock every time. The cool cover art by Jorge Alderete ought to get them more than a few spins on WFMU though, don’t you think?

Listen while you play: Mach Rider

(Good Forks)

Great Girls Blouse w/ Guitarzan vs. Bazzilla Featuring Drumasaurus Rex Split CD
I don't really dig Great Girls Blouse. The vocals sound like a mix of Tracy Chapman and Geddy Lee. Maybe the hippies love it. I'm not sure. Guitarzan... opens up with a sort of catchy little indie rock number, but a bit too bland for my tastes. There is an out of left field cover of "Rumble" which scores a few points from me, and their last track "I Wanna Get Away" sounds like a long lost Man Or Astroman? vocal number.

Listen while you play: Robot Bowl

(Coach and 6)

Guaranteed Katch "In a Sumptuous Brown Gravy" CD
This is on Reality Impaired, a label out of Joplin, MO. A band I was in once stopped through Joplin on tour, and Roger and Janine (the duo behind the label) set up a show for us and put us up in their house for a couple of days. They were great people, and were really dedicated to music and their little scene. I have fond memories of that stop today -- drinking Grain Belt and watching the gigantic TV in their living room, playing punk rock in some half-empty coffee club, and buying Atari 7800 games at the Joplin Flea Market. So anyway, I was probably more excited to hear that Reality Impaired is still in operation, than I am to listen to this CD, but it has its moments. These guys are likely one of the stranger bands you'll find in Joplin, MO -- or anywhere for that matter -- so their appeal is probably a bit limited. There are some pretty cool, deranged guitar but most of the more absurd flourishes don't really resonate with me. Ultra-heavy psychedelic sludge and doom riffs, falsetto wails, operatic singing, munchkin voices, and crazy disco and bluegrass tangents meet for tea and crumpets on Sumptuous Brown Gravy. I wasn't crazy about it, but you might dig it.

Listen while you play: Earthworm Jim

(Reality Impaired Recordings, PO Box 1285, Joplin, MO 64802)

The Killawatts "New Things b/w Addictive" 7"
Hey hey! The Killawats shoot... They score! New Things is swerves and bashes with catchy verses and freaky guitar flange. Addictive is about as good a title as it gets, considering I spun that side about 6 times in a row before I decided to swap it for another 7" It's over before it even gets started. This one's a lovely experience to be sure.

Listen while you play: Robby Roto

(Goodbye Boozy 64020 S. Nicolo a.t. Teramo, Italia e-mail: goodbyeboozyATtin.it)

The Krunchies "In De Winkel" CD
Some albums are so fierce that you have to just soak it in with your mouth agape – letting the tracks sift through your brain while you manage only a single thought… That thought being: “son of a bitch!” In De Winkel is one of those records. This is a veritable aural stabbing with speedy tempos, rampaging, locomotive-wreck guitar riffs, and loony boy/girl shrieking on vocals. Every song is so frantic and savage it’s like having a thousand revved-up termites in your pants (only here that is a good thing). It’s hard. It’s violent. It’s loud. It is a must have. This is one of the best punk bands I can think of since the Baseball Furies (the other being the Feelers). This is an easy favorite for the year.

Listen while you play: Gyruss

(Criminal IQ)

Last of the Juanitas "In The Dirt" CD
Do you ever get a wistful for the loud, abrasive, meaty, guitar noise of your youth – marked by burly, growling vocals, squealing feedback and thick, rhinocerean guitar madness? Do you weep tears of joy as you spin Steel Pole Bathtub and Hammerhead’s Into The Vortex? Well why the nostalgia, grasshopper? Last of the Juanitas’ latest, “In The Dirt,” is in the here and now and it is fabuloso. While the Juanitas potentially bring to mind old favorites like the prior-mentioned, Last of the Juanitas are clearly doing their own thing. Sweeping guitar thuddery and eruptive beats that could crumble stone barricades delight the senses. There are slower songs, and faster songs -- all littered with either abstract, daydream chanting or burst of barking, deadpan aggression. At its best, a great Last of the Juanitas song evokes something vaguely transcendental, like a meditation. Frighteningly good.

Listen while you play: Krull

(Wäntage)

The Lids CD
This has been out for a while, but I haven't had the chance to snatch it till fairly recently. If you haven't heard your cool friends going on and on about this one, you desperately need to get on with it and pick this one up (and you also need some cooler friends). This is powerful punk rock with sortof traditional male Rip Off-style vocals, white-hot trebley guitar riffs, and knock-your-socks-off female backups that add so much to the package. This has a serious pop strain going through it as well. Things move along at a breathtaking pace. You can almost hear the songs go WHOOOSH! Everything about this album screams fun, fun, fun. This album will leave you feeling like you spent all day at the amusement park, groping your special someone on the rollercoasters.

Listen while you play: Radical Radial

(Rip Off Records)

Midnight Evils "Breakin' It Down" CD
Full disclosure, I've always been buddies with the Evils, so take my word as is! It's been two years or so since the last record, and a lot has happened since then. Namely, vocalist Jonny has left his perch at the front of the stage, and now Steve, Curan and Vandy are sharing the vocals. The tunes are still 100 percent Midnight Evils, but they're way, way raw. Much more loose and crazy. Even without the constant hooting and hollering noises from Tim Kerr, it sounds like these guys are having a hell of a time recording these tunes. The aforementioned shared vocal duties are pretty damn cool too. Everyone sort of has their own style to contribute to the songs, Steve and Vandy sort of have the old-school Midnight Evils scream and howl, while Curan's got the big, brawny holler to match his Grizzly Adams beard. As expected, these guys keep getting better from album to album. The knuckle-dragging, juke-joint punk on "Breakin' It Down" is a fine, fine addition to your Midnight Evils library.

Listen while you play: Burgertime

(Estrus)

The Mojomatics "A Sweet Mama Gonna Hoodoo Me" CD
Looking at this thing, I was bracing myself for some a Zydeco record or something. It must be the cover & the band name. One look at the young white fellers inside, though, and I could tell I was wrong. The Mojomatics could play a ho-down with their swampy folk-country and blues, which is the meat of the record, but some of the best songs are their amazing 60s-inspired, slightly somber, garage punkers with big buzzing guitar and a infectious choruses that burrow in your skull (Please Think About Me and It's Such A Shame, comes to mind here). I'm loving the harmonica too. It's some quality stuff for sure. It's raw, good for those liquor-drenched evenings, where you want to see a band you can jump on a table, shake and snap your fingers to.

Listen while you play: Psychonauts

(Alien Snatch)

Night Terrors "Zurfluh!" CD
Tony Sagger, Kevin Mistreater & another guy, I think, are all involved with this band, and it sounds like they're having a pretty good time drinking heavily and bashing out unintelligible ultra-distorto guitar-scuzz. It might not quite be on par with Sagger or the Mistreaters, but there are some great slices of sludge (re: I Have Throw This Man Away & Feast of Blood are my favorites), and overall it's good, sleazy, lunkheaded fun. It's as sharp and nasty as a bag of rabid wolverines, with a dense, raging fog of alcohol and sleep deprivation. You gotta love the cover of Testors' Bad Attitude.

Listen while you play: Texas Chainsaw Massacre

(Goodbye Boozy via Villa Pompetti, 64020 S. Nicolo (TE) Italy e-mail: goodbyeboozyATtin.it)

No-Fi Soul Rebellion "Lambs to the Slaughter" CD EP
Crack open "Lambs to the Slaughter" and you'll find yourself a self-contained, all-too-short, husband/wife dance party. These Western lovers cook up a lascivious mix of greasy funk, live & pre-recorded beats, various assorted keyboard noises, and rock and roll guitars. Top it off with the vocal stylings of a tall, white Alaskan doing his best job at channeling Prince & the Brothers Johnson by way of an "Up With People" & Devo dry hump... and watch the boys & girls run run run in the general direction! This CD contains the track "Church" from their split with Volumen, four additional tracks and a Quicktime video for a previously-released tune. It's way more organic & loose than the typical 'lectronic punk/indie band. I would love to see a live show.

Listen while you play: Galaga

(Wäntage)

The Phenoms "Home Brain Surgery Kit" CD
Hard, fast, beer-drinking rock and roll rules at The Phenoms pad. You can almost see the liquid flying through the air and the foam spilling across the floor when you give these guys a spin. You'll hear some rapid-fire guitar riffs should leave you sore in the morning and just a tasteful dash of whoa-ah-ohs. At a live show, you could maybe see yourself getting a little out of control and doing something that could get you into a little bit of trouble the next day. You know what I'm talking about. Oh man it sounds like fun. The CD format is a little long for these guys. If I split this up into something like 5 singles, I would seriously love every single one, but together, the songs sort of blend together a little more than they should. The songs are good but nothing really stands out. I don't know, maybe they should write some crappier songs to throw in with the good or something. Don't let my weirdness scare you off though, this is some severe punk rock and roll noise. If that sounds good to you, you won't be disappointed.

Listen while you play: Advance Wars 2

(Beercan Records)

Scat Rag Boosters "Charlie's Dirt Road b/w Mommy" 7"
Scat Rag Boosters can turn in some beautiful noise, although I've never had the chance to prattle on about them until now (I have some other stuff, but it was never timely enough to write about here). Their howling-at-the-moon, wild anthems of booze and primordial urges are about as good as they get. Charlie's Dirt Road is delivered with all the drama and panache of the creepy, loud drunk guy who always takes the stool next to you at the bar and makes you nervous with tales of prior violent situations. Mommy is a terrific garage howler that swings and whips its way into a bazillion shattered pieces of beautiful rot. Oh my. Mommy is great and Charlie's Dirt Road needs to be heard to be believed. Sound good? Yes.

Listen while you play: Jungle King

(Goodbye Boozy via Villa Pompetti, 64020 S. Nicolo (TE) Italy e-mail: goodbyeboozyATtin.it)

The Sirens "Hellraiser and other Sweet Songs" 7"
More glam covers from The Sirens -- if you liked the Suzi Quattro cover 7" you'll enjoy these covers of The Sweet. Hellraiser is great, but for my money, the B-side is the real shit. You pretty much couldn't ask for a better cover than "Fox On The Run." It's a good, faithful version, and that song has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. Wig-Wam Bam is great for the same reasons. Maybe its the whole 70s glam thing that these ladies have going on, but this shit sounds like it should be blazing out of the system at a roller rink.

Listen while you play: Gotcha!

(Wiped Out)

Subway Surfers 4-song EP CD
These guys play some really basic, mid-tempo rock and roll where the vocals basically mimic the guitar notes. I can imagine liking it better if these tunes were played at double-speed or something. It's missing the fire. It's something I could probably sit through if they were opening a show that I was watching. If they were headlining I'd probably split.

Listen while you play: Renegade

(Deep Eddy Records)

Sweatmaster "TomTom Bullet" CD
If you're looking for some brawny, mirrored-shade muscle car pop with a healthy dose of fuzz and lazy stoner vocals, then you came to the right place... It's really glossy, heavily produced, but kind of catchy all the same. It's all good and brainless stuff about your "sweet little darlin'" or "kickin this town." It seriously sounds like a Queens of the Stoneage/Hives mixup. One of the guys even looks like the guy who got kicked out of QOTSA (the Dwarves guy). Depending on your point of view, that could be the greatest thing in the world or poison for your ears. Some of the poppier songs are pretty enjoyable (No Accident or The Kid are standout tracks). A couple of the songs don't move me at all, but there's nothing terribly wrong with them. Others still are godawful (I'm sorry, but Song With No Words is just terrible). Warts aside, it may be allright for a spin or two.

Listen while you play: Tron: Maze A Tron

(Bad Afro)

Swing Ding Amigos "The Mongolita Chronicles" CD
Don't let the weird name put you off (I was really worried that I'd start hearing some rockabilly or swing music whenI put this on). The disc is crammed with super wild, ultra-hyper guitar fury. It's fierce and fast, with nary a moment to take a breath. It seems like it takes five minutes before you get seven songs into this record. Its many charms vary wildly from song to song, but it's LOUD the whole way through. One second you're listening to spastic, unintelligible, static blasts of punk rock, and then you hear a little pop riff to screw with your head a bit. It's a schizophrenic good time. Even the songs that you don't like at first will usually win you over by the end. I don't get sick of hearing "Tik-Tok," a jerky, frantic punk song that sounds like the lyrics could be in French but they probably aren't. Give this one a chance for sure.

Listen while you play: Spider Fighter

(Rock N Roll Purgatory/ Wronghole Records)

Vee Dee "Blood Zombie" 7"
So what's going on with "Somebody Loves You"? Was that on purpose? Did the jackets get printed before you found out that there wasn't enough room on the B-side for a third song? This is a great record and everything, but I was so bummed that it ended with "Her Eyes" on the B-side. As is always the case with this band, I wanted more. Oh well. If you were to ask me to look back at 2004, and name the band that snared my attention more than any other, I'd probably tell you that it was Vee Dee. At first I thought they were just this great punk band from Chicago (having only heard the song Midwest Tet at that point). At that time, I had no idea that Vee Dee had considerable substance -- they can't be pigeonholed as just a bunch of drunks making noise as easily as I first thought. They have a relentless tension, ferocious, hard-nosed waves of aggression with melodic releases and psychedelic flourishes that create this downtrodden-yet-uplifting mood. The more you listen to it, the more complex and interesting it seems. Blood Zombie, is a really good track from the LP "Furthur" and "Her Eyes" is a terrific B-side. As you probably guessed, the packaging lists a mystery song known as "Somebody Loves You." But it's a no show! Seriously though, it's not a big deal. Taken on the merits of the two tracks that actually appear, we've got a winner.

Listen while you play: Satan of Saturn

(Goodbye Boozy via Villa Pompetti, 64020 S. Nicolo (TE) Italy e-mail: goodbyeboozyATtin.it)