Category: Blog

Posted on

Space Balloons – Welcome To Balloononia (2011)


Space Balloons
Welcome To Balloononia
2011

“Hey buddy, want to hear a song about mustaches?”

“Yeah.”

If you want a mustache you gotta take care of it…

That’s how it started. My five year old thought a song about feeding and reading to your mustache was funny. He liked it so much he made me play it over and over and over. I couldn’t even play the rest of the Space Balloons EP, Welcome To Balloononia, for him. He just wanted to listen to the song about the mustache.

Then he started singing it around the house.

I did eventually convince him to listen to “Grapes”. He liked it.

I had made it clear that we were going to listen to the whole record (all three songs clocking in at just over four minutes), so “The Tale Of The Space Balloons” came on next. Oh boy. This intergalactic tale of balloons, lagoons and monsoons captivated him. I can’t even tell you how many times we listened to this song.* I have video of him singing this song in the car. If my son was a member of The Recording Academy, “The Tale Of The Space Balloons” would win the 2011 Grammy for Record Of The Year.**

Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola, who also happen to be Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling (who sound nothing like Space Balloons) and integral parts of about a billion other projects (which vary in their degrees of Space Balloons similarity), seem to be onto something here. The kids dig it.

Where to get it:


* Well, actually, thanks to the wonders of the iTunes play count, I could tell you. Truth be told, I’m afraid to look.

** I predict “The Tale Of The Space Balloons” is a better song that whatever wins the actual award.

Posted on

Miskatonic @ The Rosebud Bar 7.27.2011

It’s been some time since Miskatonic last played a show. They came back with a fistful of new songs to debut for an enthusiastic crowd at The Rosebud.

Posted on

The Modifiers – Show And Tell (1998)


The Modifiers
Show And Tell
1998

If there was a club for bands that carry on the spirit of The Replacements in Boston, The Modifiers would be card carrying members (along with The Dirty Tuckers and *AM Stereo). Their rock is loud, loose and noisy. There are melodies and stories to be told.

The Modifiers may have some Westerberg hero worship happening, but they never go quite so far to make you think they should be sending the guy royalty checks. The songs are solid indie rock affairs. “Favorite Waitress,” “Glowing” and “Passage Through” are all fine examples of The Modifiers sound. “Outbound” is an ode to Mary Lou Lord a-buskin’ on the Red Line.

There’s not a lot of variety on Show And Tell. For the most part The Modifiers do one thing and do it well. The band does mix it up a bit on the bass driven “Tonight.” “Possession” is an all out basher. “Rough Draft” breaks things down to just guitar and vocals, showing once again that underneath all the noise it’s the song that matters most.

Where to get it:

Posted on

Helicopter Helicopter – Analog & Electrical Fields (1999)


Helicopter Helicopter
Analog & Electrical Fields
1999

Analog & Electrical Fields picks up where Helicopter Helicopter’s debut album, Squids And Other Fishes, left off. The songs are still dark, still noisy, and still beautiful.

The album opens with the blistering “Ghost Face”, which is reminiscent of the aggressive rockers of their debut. In fact, “Ever Since The Buzzards Moan”, “Scarab In A Hole” and “Sinking Light” all share the same ethos as those early songs.

The band begins to expand their sound a bit on this record. “Please Take Me To Mars” sounds like it would be at home on The Flaming Lips’ Transmissions from the Satellite Heart album. “Firefly Mechanical” lays back a bit and really lets the vocal take center stage. The triumphant closing chorus of “Map” could be on infinite repeat for a very long time before wearing out its welcome.

Helicopter Helicopter have created a classic album by balancing their emerging pop sensibility with their knack for dark imagery. The band proves once again that there’s beauty in the shadows.

Where to get it:

Posted on

The Great Bandini – The Great Bandini (2008)


The Great Bandini
The Great Bandini
2008

On their one and only album, The Great Bandini just couldn’t seem to get enough of crunchy guitars and sweet vocal harmonies. We should all take a moment to thank them.

The barrage of catchy melodies is relentless. If the world was just and true this record would have spawned more hit singles than Def Leppard’s Hysteria. The songs are concise and well arranged. Solos are melodic and purposeful.

The Great Bandini managed to find the perfect ratio of rock-to-roll for their songs. “Maintain Relaxation,” “Rubber Knives,” and “Testa Mia” are raucous numbers with strong melodic sense. “Are You In Love With Him?” is a bittersweet pop song turned up to 11 that calls Teenage Fanclub to mind. “No Reply” has a magical British invasion guitar outro. “Sleep Through The Summer” sounds like a lost track from Superdrag’s Headtrip In Every Key.

This record makes me happy to be alive.

Where to get it:

Posted on

Quintaine Americana – Dark Thirty (2003)


Quintaine Americana
Dark Thirty
2003

Bad Motherfuckers. That’s what Dark Thirty should have been called. It should have been a self titled album. Bad Motherfuckers by Bad Motherfuckers. Then people would know exactly what they’re getting.

There’s nothing nice about the music Quintaine Americana makes. They are a rabid dog snarling at anyone who gets too close. The bass provides the growl. The guitars provide the bite. The music is dark, heavy and earthy. They lyrics are cinematic, moving pictures of backwoods characters that prowl the night. The band shines a light on the things you don’t want to see. You can’t look away.

The hooks are as big as the riffs on Dark Thirty. “Hitchhiker in Black” sets the tone. The sequence of “Then One More”, “Set Me On Fire” and “Hogs” absolutely kills. On second thought, add “The Sky” and “Blast Away” to that sequence as well. “She Lets Me Ride” tears along a dirt road at full throttle. For the most part their attack is focused. Get in. Take your shot. Get out in well under four minutes. Move on to the next victim.

With Dark Thirty, Quintaine Americana sets the bar for heavy rock n’ roll almost impossibly high. A gritty document of some dudes doing what they do best. Bad motherfuckers being bad motherfuckers.

Where to get it:

Posted on

The Kickbacks – Motel Stars (2006)


The Kickbacks
Motel Stars
2006

Motel Stars is full of roots based rock n’ roll polished to a high sheen. These personal tales of everyday life are the handiwork of Tad Overbaugh and his former band, The Kickbacks. The subject matter of the songs may be melancholic (“Fixed To Be Broken”) or raw (“Tip My Girl”), but the band delivered them with a ray of hope and refined pop hooks. While they certainly had a knack for writing compelling ballads, The Kickbacks were at their best when they let things rip a little. “Lazy Eye” and “Collect Calling For You” should be all the proof you need of that.

Where to get it:

Posted on

Streight Angular – “Everyone Is Syncopated” (2011)


Streight Angular
Everyone Is Syncopated
2011

Do you miss The Pixies? I’m not talking about the content and amicable version of The Pixies that tours now, but the hungry and desperate version of the band that created so many beautifully noisy songs? You do? Then maybe you should check out the song “Everyone Is Syncopated” by Streight Angular. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh is it crazy good. How can you go wrong with fuzzy guitars, a memorable beat, a melodic bassline, a dash of synthesizer and a fantastic vocal hook? You can’t. Plus, they mention exfoliated chickens. That has to account for something.

Where to get it:

Posted on

Mellow Bravo – Strut (2010)


Mellow Bravo
Strut
2010

Do you like your ’70s inspired hard rock with a healthy dose of bombast? I thought so.

Mellow Bravo deliver the goods on Strut. They hook you out of the gate with the heavy groove of “Highs And Lows” and the blistering “I Get Off”. Mellow Bravo makes you feel good. Just try to not sing along to the “ooo ooo” parts in “Must Be My Woman” or “I Wanted A Girl”. You can’t help yourself. “Freshman Prom Queen” is wildly inappropriate and unbelievably awesome. “Hard Timin'” has a swinging guitar riff that sounds too good not to have been played before.

Just when you think you’ve got Mellow Bravo pegged as the ultimate party band, they hit you up with “Just Like Water Would” and “My Head And Heart”. Keith Pierce and Jess Collins carry these songs with their well paired vocals. Oh wait, did I just imply that Mellow Bravo aren’t the ultimate party band? No, no, no. They are the ultimate party band. They just happen to be able to go a little deeper as well.

It would be impossible to capture all of Mellow Bravo’s live energy in a studio setting, but Strut comes about as close as you could hope for. For one last hurrah, they close out the record with a live version of “Light Up My Little Love”. Mellow Bravo rules.

Where to get it:

Posted on

Sidewalk Driver – For All The Boys And Girls (2009)


Sidewalk Driver
For All The Boys And Girls
2009

Sidewalk Driver are know for their over the top live performances. Anyone who has ever walked out of the club covered in glitter and confetti after one of their shows will tell you that. They’re one of those bands you’ll tell your kids about having seen back in the day.

The thing that makes Sidewalk Driver truly special, though, is that they manage to back up all the glitz and glamor with great musicianship and songs so catchy no quarantine can contain them. For All The Boys And Girls is a non-stop barrage of clever lyrics and big rock hooks. Sidewalk Driver have managed to create majestic anthems with enough depth and imagination to make them personable, even when the scenarios presented within are so absurd that few people will actually be able to relate to them.

“Dancing With Her Friends” gets things going on the right foot. Phasered guitars and a snappy beat propel the carefree lyrics. “Marianne” is heartfelt and almost feels like an updated “Maggie May” at times. “Seeds & Stems (Just Like Angels)” may be the greatest song Elton John never wrote. The intro to “Radio” reminds me of Sweet with its glam meets bubblegum sound.

Things get awesomely weird on “Wake Up, John!” and “Jenny Don’t Really Like The Boys”. The former is heavily indebted to David Bowie, the latter to Lorena Bobbitt. In lesser hands, songs like these would become novelties. With Sidewalk Driver, these songs become essential.

It’s pretty clear by this point that I think Sidewalk Driver are pretty great. Would now be a good time to point out that I haven’t even mentioned the song yet? You know, the song. “Tornado”. “Tornado” is the song that makes people’s heads spin. “Tornado” is the song that makes my head spin.

With their skillful mix of witty lyrics, undeniable melodies and classic rock sound, Sidewalk Driver have managed to make an album of uplifting music with artistic integrity. That’s not an easy thing to do. Most happy music is written off as insubstantial. Cynical music is almost always taken more seriously. I’ve always said I admire The Flaming Lips for being able to make thoughtful, joyous music. I feel the same way about Sidewalk Driver.

Holy moly. I’ve just made references to Sweet, David Bowie, Elton John, Rod Stewart and The Flaming Lips. Are Sidewalk Driver really that good? Yes. Yes they are.

Where to get it: