Against Me!: Russian Spies/Occult Enemies EP

I’ll predicate this review by saying that my views are definitely biased when it comes to Against Me! Having known both James and Tom for the better part of 17 (or so) years, I’ve seen every incarnation of Against Me! and I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed most everything they’ve recorded. Granted they’ve released some songs here an there that I’m not too fond of, In the end I’ve always regarded them to be a solid band with solid songs. I’ve never let that bias get in the way of my opinion though. A dud is a dud and I’ve never held my tongue in calling something what it is.

Against Me! have always been a polarizing band blessed with the gift of thick skin. In the nine years since the release of Reinventing Axl Rose, legions of fans have come and gone based on the choices the band has made. Their detractors have very vocally (or otherwise) let their opinions be heard while they (AM!) have continued to plug away and do what they’ve always done best: writing and recording new material, pounding the pavement, and playing a great many shows all over the world. They’ve been criticized for how their sound has “changed” over the years and scrutinized for not abiding by statements that they made before they were even of legal drinking age. To say that I admire their “come along for the ride or get out-of-the-way” attitude would be an understatement.

With all of that said, on the 14th of June, Against Me! released the Russian Spies/Occult Enemies EP via  Sabot Productions, and I’ve got to say that it’s really good. So what can you expect? Russian Spies and Occult Enemies have a lot in common with their more recent material, however there is a definite melodic punk (ala Leatherface, especially on Occult Enemies) influence on these songs. They’re similar to but not clones of the songs on New Wave or White Crosses which seemed to be more “rock” oriented. Lyrically, both songs are somewhat abstract and definitely open to interpretation. Perhaps reading those lyrics here will give you a better idea. In the end, this tangent/review cannot do the songs on this slab of vinyl justice. That’s why you should check them, or at least one of the songs, out for yourself. Luckily if you open this link here you can hear Russian Spies. In my honest opinion, this is worthy of the $4.00 asking price.

The Bullpen Gospels by: Dirk Hayhurst

Dirk Hayhurst is a man of many trades. He’s a professional baseball player that has spent time on both the Padres and Blue Jays (cough, and now the Rays) and their farm systems for the better part of the last decade. He’s also a blogger, a public speaker, and the creator of the mythical, part giraffe part moose, creature that is the Garfoose. With the publishing of The Bullpen Gospels he, too, is an author.

The Bullpen Gospels is an autobiographical “year in the life of…” retelling of the time he spent in the Padres minor league system in 2007. And let me just say, if I may be straight forward, that The Bullpen Gospels is a wonderful read.

Dirk does a great job in making The Bullpen Gospels relatable to the public at large and not just the average baseball fan. Sure, it’s “about” baseball, though it’s more so based on the ups and downs in the life of a baseball player. I think one of the strong points of this book is that you don’t necessarily have to be a fan of the game to enjoy the story. In fact, I’d venture to say that you really don’t have to know much of anything about the game to keep up with the story or understand what is going on.

This story begins at the end of the 2006 season where Dirk is on a team that almost wins the league championship. The Bullpen Gospels, over the course of 340 pages, proceeds to showcase the vast array of emotions there in a player that has to practically start all over again from scratch thereafter: from living in his grandmothers basement in Ohio where he isn’t even sure he’s got it in him to continue striving for the big leagues, and the disappointment of not making the double A team out of spring training, to the successful procession from single A to double A. From there he rises through the ranks and eventually finds himself on the Padres roster.

Written as a series of day-to-day stories collected together in chronological order, The Bullpen Gospels is an incredibly quick and enjoyable read. Though I am a teacher and (almost) a musician, I found myself really relating to the ups and downs that Dirk has written about and included here. To that end the scenarios presented in this book, and how he handles himself within the parameters of those scenarios, are inspiring. I can’t tell you how many times I too have wanted to throw my hands in the air and give up.

It was really surprising how complicated life can be for an athlete in the lower levels of his/her profession. Like struggling artists or musicians, cramped traveling and living conditions seem to be par for the course for athletes at this level. Whether Dirk was trying to demystify things or not, The Bullpen Gospels stands as a means to break some pre conceived notions of what it is to be a professional athlete.

In the end, what’s written above are only a few of the reasons why this is such a great book. I find that I could probably sit here and gush about it all day and the last thing I’d want you to do, oh dedicated reader, is to waste your time looking at this here webpage. It would definitely be advantageous for you to pick up a copy and discover what’s so good about it on your own. You certainly will not be disappointed.

The Heat Tape: Raccoon Valley Recordings

 

It usually takes me a while to get into most of the records that are sent to me for review. Why? The fair majority aren’t generally records that I’m into, and it takes me a while to critically listen to any given album or EP and write an honest opinion about it. This record, on the other hand, is a whole other beast entirely.

The Heat Tape features one of the folks from Dear Landlord and the Copyrights, yet sounds nothing like either of the aforementioned bands. Playing poppy lo-fi garage rock akin to older No Age, No Bunny, and the Marked Men, “Raccoon Valley Recordings” caught me off guard and roped me in instantly.

“Raccoon Valley Recordings” finds The Heat Tape playing 12 songs in just under 25 minutes. The songs are arranged in a seemingly perfect order with one song bleeding into the next. When one song ends, the next one picks up leaving the listener no time to catch their breath. This is a good thing…a very good thing! The songs are poppy, catchy, and short (with none topping the three-minute mark) but have enough variety so this record doesn’t come off as sounding like one long track. In short this record is great, and I fully intend on loudly blaring “Raccoon Valley Recordings” constantly. I know, it’s still very early into 2011, but this could be the catchiest album of the year. Highly recommended!

The Heat Tape, Red Scare Industries

 

forgetters: S/T EP

Let me predicate my review of forgetters new self titled EP with a few things. First, forgetters is a band made up of people from other bands that many of you know and love. It, however, is not my intention to mention those bands because in the scheme of things who was in what band is not important in the least; forgetters are the total sum of their parts and not a nostalgic reworking of their past “glory days”. They’re certainly not pining for days long past with this release.

Secondly, and to piggy back off of my previous point, it also is not my intention to compare this musical venture to the members’ previous bands because in the end, forgetters are their own entity. In my humble opinion they should only be judged on their own merits within the context of their current band not against what they did prior to this.

Finally, yes I’ll admit that there are a few reference points to Kevin, Caroline and Blake’s past bands, but they are just that: reference points. Don’t get this EP if you are expecting a complete retooling of what you may assume to be each of the members former bands “career high points”. In short, this a damn good release and, again, should be viewed on its merits.

Hot on the heels of many folks bootlegged live recordings come forgetters with their first legitimate release. Included herein are four songs on the four sides (one song per side) of this beautifully designed and packaged double seven-inch EP. So what can you expect to hear?

Expect four, mid nineties indie rock influenced melodic punk tunes, spread over the course of thirteen or so minutes. Musically, there’s a lot going on in these somewhat deceptively simple songs. Dare I say they are akin, in their approach (and musically in spots as well) to Sugar in that there is a lot of pop melody mixed in with the, at times, aggressive buzzsaw guitars. The recording is clear and crisp allowing each instrument to be heard individually, while maintaining each persons integral role in the band without one allowing person to outshine the others.

It’s funny, when I was younger I couldn’t care less if I was not able to hear or understand the singer. As I got older, being able to understand the singer’s lyrics became more important to me. It’s not that I’m not attracted to garbled vocals, shrieks and unintelligible screams any longer, nor am I planning on ditching half of my record collection because of the vocals. More so though, I appreciate being able to understand what the singer has to say. The vocals on this release, like the rest of the instruments, are clearly recorded and sung so that you can easily understand what Blake is singing regardless if you’re following along with a lyric sheet or not. Lyrically, expect well written non-rhetorical political tales, and personal narratives, fictional or otherwise.

In the end, this is a wonderful document of where forgetters are now as a band. Sure, some people will compare this release to the previous releases from the members of forgetters. In a sense that’s, unfortunately, to be expected. To that end I say you’re doing yourself any favors; these songs stand on their own, punk pedigree withstanding or not. Point blank, forgetters are a good band, and this a solid EP regardless of who is in the band. If you’ve seen them recently you’d know that they have accrued a bit of a back catalog. This EP only whets the proverbial whistle for what’s to come in the (hopefully) near future. I, for one, cannot wait to see where the grow/go from here! forgetters

Cometbus #51: The Loneliness of the Electric Menorah

Sorry to who I took this image from!

My cousin lent me* my first issue of Cometbus. When she lent it to me and what issue it was is now a cloudy memory, but really that’s not important. What is important is that after that moment, my life was changed forever. Yeah I know that sounds as cliche and trite as every other statement from someone on when they came of age, and music saved them, blah blah blah. Regardless, since that moment I’ve scoured far and wide for any issues that I may have missed, and I’ve made sure I’ve purchased any issues that may have just come off of the press. And over those many moons that have passed since that first issue that my cousin has lent me, I’ve watched Cometbus expand from just a zine to something else. Something more sizeable than a zine. Something more important.

This time around Aaron threw a slight wrench in the gears. Instead of writing in the style that he is most well known for; that is to say realistic fiction, The Loneliness of the Electric Menorah, is a non fiction novel about Berkeley. More so, it’s about the rise of many pivital businesses (used paperback bookstores, used record stores, poster shops, etc) and even potentially yuppies, stemming from an argument between two bookstore owners in 1963. Though this issue not loosely about his life, you know where the names and places are changed, the relatability factor is not missing. In fact, this issue makes me want to go out and find out more about the city I call home. That Cometbus inspires many people to find themselves (geographically or otherwise) is a testament to how important this little zine is to the people that read it.

Aaron must have spent tireless hours compiling a great number of interviews with Berekely locals; the friends and families of the business owners that have passed away, current business owners, and other notable people integral to the story herein. As with every issue of Cometbus, Aaron offers insight on many things discussed. It definitely helps that he is not an outisder looking in on Berkeley, making this story far from dry or boring.

Cometbus has always been important to the punk rock subculture as it stood, and still stands, as a historical document of the last 25 years. Though this issue is not focused on punk rock or the trappings of life surrounding it, The Loneliness of the Electric Menorah, is no less important or significant. I’ve always felt it to be important to find out the history of where you come from before you put it down, and with this issue Aaron has done just that.
Available from No Idea Records

*Sorry I never returned that issue Chrissy, but surely you understand!

Pinhead Gunpowder- S/T 7″

Five years after the release of Compulsive Disclosure, a criminally short collection of songs from a few previously released 7″ EPs, Aaron Cometbus and company finally return to grace the world with three or four new songs, depending on the format you purchased. Being the completist nerd that I am, I purchased both the vinyl and download format.

Let me predicate this review with the fact I love everything about this band. I love that their songs rule. I love that they’re friends playing music for the love of music. I love that they easily could have a larger label release something for them, yet only release music on their friends labels.

The brilliance in Pinhead Gunpowder has always been in their ability to write some of the best East Bay punk this side of late 80′s. That stands to reason for the, well, obvious reasons. Musically, the songs are more akin to their post Mike Kirsch recorded output (Goodbye Ellston Ave, Shoot the Moon, and various EPs) which is fine by me; those records were always my favorite. I’ve always thought that the songs were stunning poppy and catchy works of art, yet what’s separated them from the rest of the pack is their lyrics. Aaron’s lyrics are always consistently good no matter what band he may be in. As much as I like Billie’s other band (what’s their name again), his lyrics in Pinhead Gunpowder always strike a bigger chord with me. More sentimental for some odd reason.

All in all, this 7″ leaves me feeling the same way all their other 7″s do: Appreciating and loving the new songs, but hungry for even more.
Recess Records

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by: Kate DiCamillo

As a teacher, I read aloud to my students on a daily basis. Over the years I have read some amazing children’s books, and sadly have also had contact with those I would consider to be less than extraordinary. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane happens to be one of those books that falls in line with them amazing stories as opposed to the less than extraordinary.

Set in an ambiguous time (though one can assume it takes place a long time ago), Edward Tulane is a rabbit doll made out of china by Pellegrina for her granddaughter, Abilene. Pellegrina went out of her way to make Edward a very special rabbit by dressing him in the finest clothing made of silk and giving him other trinkets that would set him far above and beyond any other doll. Abilene adores Edward, yet Edward is extremely vain and only thinks of himself. After Pellegrina notices this, prior to the family’s departure to England, she tells Abilene a story of a princess who has no love for anyone, and gets turned into a warthog. The story is told in hearing distance of Edward who doesn’t fully understand the relevance of the story until it is too late. Pellegrina then turns to Edward and tells him, very pointedly, how disappointed she is in him.

Edwards miraculous journey begins when two little boys who were teasing Abilene accidentally throw Edward over the side of the boat that Edward, Abilene, and her family were traveling on toward England. From the point when a fisherman finds Edward in one of his cast nets to the very end when he meets up with Abilene years later in a doll shop, Edward is introduced to a host of different people and owners who take him under their wing. Through disappointments, heartbreak, and even death Edward learns how to love, and finally comes to fully understand Pellegrina’s motive in telling Abilene the story of the princess.

Through great writing The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane had me fully engaged the entire time that I read to the children. In fact, I was so engaged and enamoured with this book that I pined to read it when I couldn’t, and couldn’t wait to finish the book with the kiddies…I had to finish it on my own. I would highly recommend this to kids and adults alike.

A Death In The Family/Manifesto Jukebox- Split CD/LP

Announced after their tour together last winter, this split CD/LP has been a long time in coming. The pairing couldn’t have been better: two great melodic punk bands known for playing intense music similar in aesthetic and sound to some of the greats.

Manifesto Jukebox kicks things off. The first two albums by Manifesto Jukebox (Desire and Remedy) were classic in my book. There was just something about those albums…the rumbling Amebix meets His Hero Is Gone meets Husker Du bass lines, the  melodic buzzsaw guitars, the great bleak yet poignant lyrics. Every time I listen to those albums something new pops out at me. Last years Strain changed things up a bit. Gone were the really dense songs in favor of more (dare I say) airy kinds of songs. Were they bad? Not in the least. That album was really good. I just preferred the really dense dark songs. The three songs on their side of the split follow suit with more of a Wipers quality to them. The songs are poppier in some respects but still maintain some darker undertones. Though they did take a bit of time to grow on me, grow on me they did. On to A Death In The Family’s side.

2006 found A Death In The Family releasing one of the best albums of the year. Overlooked by many (a fairly silly mistake on the part of those reviewers) This Microscopic War completely blew me away. In the time since the release of This Microscopic War, they went on tour, lost a guitar player and got a new one, recorded Let’s Lose (their contribution to the Poison the World Pt. 2 compilation), went on tour again, then recorded the four songs for their side of this split: three new tunes, and their cover of My Pal by God (an Australian band fairly unknown in the states) are again amazing. Kicking things off with Sick of This, A Death In The Family grabs you and doesn’t let go until the very end. As with their previous release, you can expect dynamic songs that pack a punch. Like Dillinger Four, A Death In The Family isn’t afraid to change things up multiple times are throughout the course of a song keeping things interesting, while keeping the listener on his/her toes.

For all of you record collector nerds (me included), this split is available on red wax through Combat Rock Industry Records. Otherwise it is available on CD from both CRIR (in Europe) and on Poison City Records in Australia and North America (via No Idea Records).

Combat Rock Industry Records/Poison City Records

White York- Changing the Wheel 7″

From the old time woodcut screen-printed artwork, to the music splayed out on this two song 7″, White York comes out swinging, and I must say that I’m pretty impressed. Changing the Wheel kicks this EP off and sounds like it could easily fit on the last ‘Tone record, with its 70′s influenced punk (think the Clash or Jam) rounded out with very melodic fore and backing vocals. Very Hi-Fi Devices closes things out with more of the same 70′s influenced punk with a dash of Against Me in there for good measure. Lyrically White York follows the political punk tradition without the boredom of stale over used rehashed “punkisms” which tend to cloud the purity of many bands past and present. If this is where White York is at now, I can’t wait to hear where they will go in the future.

Feral Kid Records

Year Long Disaster- S/T CD

Straight up Southern Rock in the vein of Mountain with hints of Led Zepplin and ZZ Top. To be honest, I’m not sure if I am the best person to comment on this as I’m not really a big fan of classic rock. Sure I love Boston, Van Halen, and AC/DC but other than that I’m really at a loss with regards to reference points, etc. Though I appreciate their musicianship and how talented they are, this kind of stuff doesn’t give me a jolt. Again, it’s not their fault. I’m just not really into classic rock.  

Volcom