Category: Reviews

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OldJack – “Take A Bow” (2012)


OldJack
“Take A Bow”
2012

It’s only fitting in the midst of all this Rumble mayhem to have a listen to OldJack. Last year the band had one of the most improbable runs in Rumble history.

When Dan Nicklin sings “Take a bow/Tell ’em they can’t count you out” you listen. He’s been there, after all. There’s an honesty to OldJack’s music that comes across in Dan’s voice. Behind it all, the band are their usual smoldering selves, settling into a verse groove that rides a “The Ballad Of John & Yoko”-esque bass line. OldJack wisely play to their many strengths on “Take A Bow”. Tasteful guitar leads and trademark backing vocals find their space. Just when you think you’ve got the song figured out, the band pulls the plug on the expected electric Twangcaster solo. In it’s place is an airy acoustic guitar section that sets up the big payoff: a wall-of-sound inspired middle eight. It’s the kind of sequence that reminds you of the unexpected places good songwriting can take you.

Where to get it:

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Camden – “Getting Around” b/w “(Talking On The) Telephone” (2012)


Camden
“Getting Around” b/w “(Talking On The) Telephone”
2012

On their latest 7″, Camden somehow come off as both laid back and hyperactive. “Getting Around” is the indie-bopper that starts things off. The song asks “What you think about me?” I think you’re catchy as hell and I’m playing you over and over again. The two sides of the record are listed as “A” and “AA”. Smart move, because “(Talking On The) Telephone” is just as strong. The band continues the caffeine buzz and rips out some extended melodic guitar parts for this one. What a great pair of tunes.

The record itself is a black, small hole 7″ that come in a full color jacket (which is all inserted into a vinyl bag). There’s even a lyric sheet. It’s also available as a digital download.

Where to get it:

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The Rationales – “Radio” (2012)


The Rationales
“Radio”
2012

Well, The Rationales have done it again. The band went into Q Division with producer Ed Valauskas and came out with a top notch recording of a killer song.

The Rationales debuted “Radio” at the opening of the club it shares a name with. They were rightfully giddy in doing so. They knew that had a scorcher on their hands. The song is a blistering rock number, shedding much of the Americana that the band is usually tagged with in favor of a driving beat, fuzzed-out bass and jagged guitars. The Rationales continue to evolve as a band while maintaining a knack for writing a good hook. It’ll be fun to hear what they come up with next.

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Airport – Go Up (2011)


Airport
Go Up
2011

With Go Up, Airport have created a fantastic pop record. I call it “pop” for lack of a better term. This sometimes-rock/sometimes-Americana/always-melodic record draws heavily from both the FM and AM bands of the ’70s radio dial. The closest comparison I can think of is a rockin’ version of Jackson Browne with Teenage Fanclub harmonies. Check out “Yeah” and the damn near perfect “Knot Again” for a couple of examples. That doesn’t tell the whole story, though. The title track has some Tom Petty twang. “Hate You” balances a biting verse with a sweet chorus melody that makes the medicine go down a little easier. The band hints at psychedelic pop on the verses to “Automatically Everything”. Locally, these guys are mining the same territory as bands like The Rationales and Eric Salt & The Electric City.* Like those bands, they’re doing it very well. Go Up holds its own with the best of ’em.

Oh, and the “Crimson and Clover” reference in “Comfortable” is one of the best things I’ve heard in a long time.

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* Go Up sports one member of Eric Salt & The Electric City, with another member having recently joined Airport for live shows.

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Emily Peal – “Bang Bang” (2012)


Emily Peal
“Bang Bang”
2012

What happens when Emily Peal covers Cher? Magic. Dark, dark magic.

Truth be told, this version has more in common with Nancy Sinatra’s stark cover than the original. Emily’s take thrives on the moments that slip through the cracks. There’s a tension to the sparsity that is undeniable. The mind can wander to some pretty dark places in between reverb-drenched arpeggios, places fully realized when Emily and The Band Of Skinny Men go off at the 2:37 mark.

Where to get it:

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Eddie Japan – “You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone” (2011)


Eddie Japan
“You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone”
2011

Eddie Japan have put together one snappy little pop gem with “You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone”. If this song was a drug (and given the number of times I’ve listened to this one I can safely say it’s addictive*), I would imagine the listed side effects would be toe-tapping and spinning around.** It’s that kind of song: carefree in feeling with a devilish bent to the lyrics. Less moody and exotic than the typical Eddie Japan fare, “You Will Find Me Dead In My Comfort Zone” proves that good bands play to the song.

I’m impressed.

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* Using the words “safe” and “addictive” in the same sentence feels weird.

** Or maybe some enthusiastic head bopping.

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Thick Shakes – Why Buy The Cow (2011)


Thick Shakes
Why Buy The Cow
2011

The Thick Shakes Why Buy The Cow EP is everything garage rock should be: raw, catchy, overmodulated and pressed on 7″ black vinyl. It sounds easy, but few do it this well. A song as great as “Go Back To New York” doesn’t need to be dressed up in fancy clothes. Just spit, snarl, bang it out and get the kids bopping. You even get a couple of kickin’ B-sides in “Neighbor’s Goods” and “Banned From The Laundromat”.

As for the vinyl, it’s a small hole 7″ in beautiful basic black. It’s wrapped in a folded jacket and inserted in a vinyl bag. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Where to get it:

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Reverse – Monkey Mind (2009)


Reverse
Monkey Mind
2009

You know that game where you put together your dream band from people in bands around town? Wait, what? You don’t play that game? Sure, you do. Anyway, sometimes when I play that game I end up with Reverse.

Monkey Mind is Exhibit A of what said dream band can do. Let’s start with Mr. Ian Kennedy. The man is one of the most creative guitar players in town. Have you ever heard a Telecaster make such sounds? It’s like he sprinkled it with magic riff dust. Then you’ve got Mike Piehl behind the drums. He’s a beast. Look no further than opening track, “Fluorescent”, for proof. Mike Quinn is about as solid as they come on bass. The kicker is that his backing vocals mesh perfectly with Ian’s croon-meets-scream vocals.

All of this would be for naught without some songs to back up the sonic fury. Thankfully, Reverse don’t let us down there, either. Monkey Mind is one solid record in the songwriting department. The aforementioned “Fluorescent” is in-your-face, melodic and has a heavy groove. I think I’ve mentioned in the past how much I love “Victoria”. “Slow” alternates achingly beautiful verses with a devastating chorus. “January” is a great example of how well Ian and Mike Quinn’s vocals work together. The title track and “Helicopters” are as frantic as “Good Cop Bad Cop” is deliberate. Every song has hooks to spare.

Monkey Mind came out some seven years after Reverse’s debut, The Jersey Switch. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait that long for their next record.*

Full Disclosue: The lovely and talented Nicole Anguish of Daykamp Creative did the artwork for this record.** That doesn’t make this record any less of a monster. Just letting you know.

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* Seriously, guys, don’t make us wait that long again.

** I think the artwork was done some 4 years before the record came out.*

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The Russians – Crashing The Party (2010)


The Russians
Crashing The Party
2010

The sky is bluer than you know.

I want you to love this record as much as I do. I want you to get all caught up in the weight and introspection. I want you to be washed away by the harmonies and the layers of guitars. I want you to hear a songwriter at the top of his game. I want you to understand what a great opening track “The Record’s Over” is. I want “Not So Loud” to end up on all of your mix tapes. I want you to groove to “Sober and Un-Upsetting” and “Make It Easy”. I want you to bask in the sunshine of “You Know”. I want “Talking To Yourself” and “Crashing The Party” to devastate you. I want “Lovesickholiday” to bring you home. I want you to listen to Crashing The Party. I want you to love The Russians.

I want you to be happy.

Where to get it:

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Cooling Towers – “Charlotte” (2011)


Cooling Towers
“Charlotte”
2011

Cooling Towers grab you right from the get-go on “Charlotte” with feedback drenched guitars and an undeniable bass line. It’s not long before the drums snap into place and the band launches into a sizzling piece of post punk bliss. It’s aggressive, melodic and it grooves. So good.

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