Category: Reviews

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Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola – “Shift Your Shopping!” (2011)


Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola
“Shift Your Shopping!”
2011

Here’s a little something to think about on the busiest shopping day of the year. Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola have put together a folk ditty in support of the Shift Your Shopping campaign. It’s called “Shift Your Shopping!” Go figure.

The song itself reminds me of the classic Space Balloons healthy snack anthem “Grapes”. This time the positive message is about spending your holiday shopping dollars close to home. “Mom-ing and pop-ing” as they like to call it.* Also, there are sleigh bells, which officially qualifies this as a holiday song. “Shift Your Shopping!” even comes packaged in a variety of different sizes!

Where to get it:

* Or is that “momming and popping”. I need an official ruling on the spelling of this.

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J-Krafty – “Bigfoot Likes The Ladies” (2011)


J-Krafty
“Bigfoot Likes the Ladies”
2011

I’m not gonna lie. J-Krafty’s new single, “Bigfoot Likes The Ladies”, is a novelty song. It’s an awesome novelty song. J-Krafty casts Bigfoot as a hairy gangsta and a ladies man*. Seems totally reasonable to me.

First time he sees you he’ll try and get your digits
then he’ll be textin’ you like every 15 minutes
and he’ll be brushin’ on his teeth and using mouthwash
bigfoot on the prowl for a fine lady sasquatch

Also worth noting is that Bigfoot carries a gun but is more likely to hug you than shoot you (either one could be dangerous). Also also worth noting is the use of the term “cryptozoologists”.

Joe Krafty is also “Navigator Joe” in Space Balloons, who performed a version of “Bigfoot Likes The Ladies” at their recent Rosebud show. This production is a far cry from the acoustic guitar and ukelele version on display that night. This thing sounds huge.

Where to get it:

* OK, I’m clearly out of my element here. I can’t believe I typed out the word “gangsta”. Clearly I should have used “playa” there as well. I just couldn’t do it. I feel embarrassed even thinking about it.

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OldJack – Maxi​-​Single (2011)


OldJack
Maxi​-​Single
2011

OldJack are a live favorite of mine. Pack this crew onto a small stage with some hot lights and their presence is downright combustible. It would be impossible to capture all that energy in a recording studio.* I, for one, am glad they were crazy enough to try. The result is a smoldering virtual slab of rock, rhythm and blues.**

This set opens with the swagger of “Hey Miss”. The band finds a groove and Dan Nicklin gets all Mick Jagger on your ass. Set closer “Make Up Your Mind” contrasts this with a sense of yearning and hints of a Dire Straits influence.

In the middle of it all stands “Parade”. This song is a staple of OldJack’s live set and a personal favorite of mine. It’s the one that prompted me to write “there is something special about the moments when Dan Nicklin, Kelly Davis, Christie Beaulieu and Emily Belastock all sing together” after a set at the Lizard. To me, it’s the song that defines OldJack.*** You don’t write a song this good without being onto something special. OldJack is onto something special. Thankfully, they’ve chosen to share that something with us.

Where to get it:

* Which is why I will once again implore you to go see OldJack at a club near you. Hell, travel a great distance if you have to.

**Or is it rock, country and soul?

***My five year old son would make a case for “Love Me Or?” being OldJack’s defining song.

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Watts – One Below The All Time Low (2007)


Watts
One Below The All Time Low
2007

Watts have a sound. It starts with Cheap Trick and The Rolling Stones. Then it adds liberal doses of The Psychedelic Furs and both varieties of The Heartbreakers. It’s a good sound.

Watts use that sound to power their way through One Below The All Time Low. The record opens with the fantastic swagger of “20 To 12.” It’s the Stones on steroids and it’s a scorcher. There are other great songs, too. “One Below (The All Time Low)”, “Wishing” and “Petty Revolution” all feature great lead guitar lines to go with their catchy melodies. In fact, there’s not a bad song in the bunch.

One Below The All Time Low is fun and well executed. The guitars interact with precision, trading riffs from speaker to speaker. The backing vocals are spot. John Lynch is a human metronome. This is good solid rock ‘n’ roll.

Where to get it:

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Streight Angular – “Supermarché” (2011)

Streight Angular - Supermarché
Streight Angular
“Supermarché”
2011

Damn. Streight Angular have put out two of my favorite songs of this year. A few months ago I stumbled upon the amazing “Everyone Is Syncopated”. Now they’ve followed it up with the raucous and raving “Supermarché”. It’s The Pixies meets Queens Of The Stone Age over a hyperactive dance beat. It’s a neon strobe light, inviting you to party and taunting you at the same time. I can’t stop listening to this. Streight Angular really got me now. I want some more.

Where to get it:

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Miskatonic – Favorite Records (2008)


Miskatonic
Favorite Records
2008

Miskatonic is breaking up soon, but in 2008 they brought us another EP of synth-happy new wave inspired power pop. This three song effort sounds and feels very much like their debut full length, Let Us Entertain Us. If you liked that record, you’ll like this EP.

“Favorite Records” is the standout track. The song is infections, with snappy drums, pop culture references and a sing-along chorus. There’s also some cool interplay between the guitar and keyboard. Vocalist Elizabeth Firger seems more confident on this EP than on Let Us Entertain Us. The darker “Sudden Silence” has a cool ending that works well with the song. “Taunt” closes out the EP, showcasing some nice contrast between the verse and chorus.

Where to get it:

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The Bynars – “Haunted House” Remix Single (2011)


The Bynars
“Haunted House” Remix Single
2011

Let’s pretend you are The Bynars. It’s mid-October. Halloween is right around the corner. You’ve got a hip power pop number called “Haunted House” on your latest album. It’s got a retro-horror keyboard part, a cheap-shot scare hit after the first chorus and a catchy vocal hook. Seems like a good time to make the song available as a free download to drum up a little publicity.

If you’re The Bynars, though, you probably realize you need to up the ante. After all, you’re the band that made an interactive music video. You don’t do things in a small way. So you get Sawtooth to do a hyper remix of the song with enough whirrs and blips and beats to make dance-inclined folks giddy. And you get Chris Piascik to do some amazing artwork. And you put it up on the web. For free. Only until November 1st. Because you’re The Bynars, and it seems like a cool thing to do.

Where to get it:

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Township – Ladywood (2007)


Township
Ladywood
2007

Township has a brand new record coming out this weekend. I thought It would be fun to look back at the first release I picked up from the band a few years ago.

Township has ‘70s boogie down to a science on Ladywood. Throughout the four song EP, the band successfully channels Foghat, Mountain and Thin Lizzy without completely aping their forefathers’ sounds.

It’s all good fun even if it has been done before. The songs have big sing-along hooks and good old fashioned solos. While the guitars grab your attention first, it’s worth noting John Sheeran’s exceptional bass playing. His parts are melodic and always fit the groove of the song. Marc Pinansky has a voice that suits the material well.

I originally picked up Ladywood for the song “Give It To It”. It’s a classic rock monster. What sold me on Township is that the rest of the EP does not disappoint. “Summer Of Dudes” sounds like it could have been an AM rock radio staple. The verses of “Moanin’” hint at early Aerosmith, with slinky guitar riffs and stunted adolescence lyrics. “S.O.S” has a reggae tinged verse and a driving chorus which may be the high point of this collection.

Where to get it:

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Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents – “Bandit of Love” b​/​w “That Moon Was Low” (2011)


Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents
“Bandit of Love” b​/​w “That Moon Was Low”
2011

Holy smokes! Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents are back to steal your heart and soul. The A-side of this digital single is a number called “Bandit Of Love”. It’s pure girl-group goodness with a spy music twist. This thing just jumps out of the speakers. What a band! What a recording! Let Jenny and the gang take you back to a time when music was fun, even for the brokenhearted.

Once you catch your breath, grab your best girl and head back out onto the floor for “That Moon Was Low”. The Graham Parker-penned B-side is a ’50s style slow dance. Lovely.

Where to get it:

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The Dirty Truckers – Washed & Ready (2006)


The Dirty Truckers
Washed & Ready
2006

Washed & Ready is another batch of gritty rock n’ roll tunes from The Dirty Truckers. Tom Baker is still at the wheel, but the rest of his crew has changed. Dave Foy replaces Jim Delios behind the drums and Tad Overbaugh joins in on guitar. Most importantly, long time ‘Trucker Jamie Griffith makes his debut on bass.

Tom still draws from the well of The Replacements on songs like “Off The Hook”, “Without A Sound” and “All She Ever Wanted,” but the songs are catchier this time around. “Heavy Metal Weekend” begs for a crowd sing-along (and gets it during live performances). The ‘90s indie rock influences that occasionally popped up on Bush League Romance are gone, replaced by a more straight up rock & roll feel. It’s a revved-up romp in the vein of The Rolling Stones (“Not Missing A Thing”) and Tom Petty (“Cunnin’”).

Like their debut album, Washed & Ready features two cover tunes. “Help You Ann” (Lyres) is solid and energetic. The album closer, Nick Lowe’s “Ragin Eyes”, features a fantastic harmonica solo by Jed Parish (The Gravel Pit).

Six years is a long time between albums. Thankfully Washed & Ready delivers more of what you would expect from The Dirty Truckers.

Where to get it: