Category: Physical Digital

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Miskatonic – Let Us Entertain Us (2007)

Miskatonic - Let Us Entertain Us
Miskatonic
Let Us Entertain Us
2007

Toss The Cars and the B-52s in a blender. Add a dash of Fountains of Wayne and a smidge of The Rentals. Voila! Miskatonic. What we have here is a band that is having fun creating quirky, poppy, indie rock songs. We’ve got boy/girl vocals, chirpy synths, buzzing guitars, and moving bass lines. Heck, the rhythm section makes these songs almost danceable, you know, if people in Boston actually danced.

Miskatonic has a nerdy innocence about it, much like early Weezer or Nerf Herder. “Sno-Cone Girl” and “Extra Terrestrial Girl” are ‘80s-tinged upbeat rockers with fun twists on the boy-girl pop song. Paul Wisner’s synth melodies are featured prominently on these songs. “Mach 4 Blackout” and “Consternation Land” really dial up the B-52s vibe. Singer Elizabeth Firger absolutely wails during “The Fall,” which also features some intense drumming from Mark Patti. “The Extra Mile” slows things down and features a cool falsetto vocal and Steve Kelly’s melodic bass line.

The highlight of Let Us Entertain Us is the new wave meets punk anthem “Dregs Of The World.” It sounds like The Buzzcocks with keyboards and cool little guitar leads. Tim Farrell shines on this track with his spitting vocal delivery. I love this song.

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Full Body Anchor -3 Songs (2009)

Full Body Anchor - 3 Songs
Full Body Anchor
3 Songs
2009

Full Body Anchor’s debut EP impresses with its frenetic vocals and aggressive guitars. “Borderline” opens the set. Despite being the most accessible tune of the bunch, it still packs a punch thanks to the rock solid rhythm section of Kevin Pickering (drums) and Dennis Carver (bass).

“Catch/Release” becomes downright hostile. Full Body Anchor deftly ratchet up the tension during the verses, releasing it with a violent fury when the chorus hits. This song absolutely kills.

“Fly By Night” opens with a cowbell groove and thickly layered guitars from Amy Griffin and Kristin Edmonston. Add in Eric Edmonston’s manic vocals and you’ve got another winner.

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The Dirty Truckers – Bush League Romance (2000)

The Dirty Truckers - Bush League Romance
The Dirty Truckers
Bush League Romance
2000

Tom Baker is the closest thing this city has to Paul Westerberg. He’s also the man responsible for creating the ragtag group of rock ‘n’ roll revelers know as The Dirty Truckers.

The Dirty Truckers share a kindred spirit with The Replacements. The Boston band’s debut record, Bush League Romance, feels as rough and tumble as the those of their Minneapolis forefathers. “Been Around” and “The Rise & Fall” sound like they could have been on Let It Be or Tim. “Settle Down” is cut from the same cloth and is still a live favorite. The ripping “Any Offers” would be a better fit on Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash. We’re even treated to a cover of “Sixteen Blue” (there’s a cover of Squeeze’s “In Quintessence”, but I’m foolishly and stubbornly talking about The ‘Mats right now).

The record also has a ‘90s indie rock vibe to it at times. “Backpack” could have been a hit on WBRU back in the day. “Thanksgiving” has a J Mascis-esque guitar solo (by David Minehan) that soars over its plaintive intro. On “The Bar” we get our first glimpse of Tom Baker’s love for The Rolling Stones, an influence that becomes more prominent on later Truckers’ records.

While the songs may not be quite as hooky as those to come, Bush League Romance is a solid rock record by a band that has become a perennial favorite around town. The Dirty Truckers know how to play good old fashioned rock n’ roll. We’re lucky’ to have ‘em.

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Star Ghost Dog – Happylove (1998)

Star Ghost Dog - Happylove
Star Ghost Dog
Happylove
1998

“I guess I’m gonna call in sick today.
I’m feeling way too healthy anyway.”

With those words we’re introduced to Star Ghost Dog. Happylove is choc-full of dark, moody indie rock with bounce. It sounds weird, but it’s true. Star Ghost Dog are masters of dispiriting songs with a spring in their step.

The somber nature of the lyrics can be startling at times. Songs with titles like “Heroin Face,” “Downer,” and “Tell Everyone We’re Dead” probably don’t need to have this mentioned. The title track declares “I love your happy love oh yes I love your happy love love love,” but I’m not buying it. This ain’t bubble gum pop.

Despite the bleakness of the subject matter, there’s warmth to these songs. They sound like pleasantly faded snapshots. They have energy. Guitars fizzle and jump. Boy girl vocal harmonies balance the often deadpan vocal delivery. You can bob your head to songs like “Kite” and “You’re Not There.” Heck, there’s even an indie disco song, “Plus De Vaches.”

On Happylove, Star Ghost Dog are still rough around the edges. By the time of their next record, The Great Indoors, the band will have polished and perfected their sound.

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The Future Everybody – It Takes Nothing (2011)


The Future Everybody
It Takes Nothing
2011

The Future Everybody know how to do power pop. “Amy (Don’t Blame Me)” makes that evident right from the start of their new EP, It Takes Nothing. There’s a horn arrangement in the chorus that’s absolutely spot on. It’s unexpected, but not the least bit out of place. “Pictures Of You” and “Strings” keep things snappy. There are bop-baddas, witty lyrics, clever bridges and memorable melodies.

It Takes Nothing closes with “Immortal”. The Mellotron-like intro is a nice touch. It’s the little things like this that make a good power pop record. In this case, though, it’s Nate Rogers’ man-unhinged lyrics that puts the song over the top.

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Helicopter Helicopter – Squids And Other Fishes (1998)


Helicopter Helicopter
Squids And Other Fishes
1998

“What are you doing later tonight?  Well I don’t know, I guess maybe drugs and gay porno…”

Squids And Other Fishes was the debut full length from Helicopter Helicopter.   It was the darkest and most raw record the band made.  There were images of things you don’t really want to know about.  These were songs about the night.  This was like a musical adaptation of Taxi Driver.

“Split my lip on a bottle of Jack.  I swear to God I never felt so good…”

There was noise and space. Both were equally brutal when wielded by Helicopter Helicopter.  Squids And Other Fishes was off kilter indie rock – evil off kilter indie rock.  The sparse arrangement of “Great Big Meaningless” added to the dirge-like feel.  “Please Please Tito” and “Gay Porno” went for the jugular.  To this day, “Lucky” is one of my favorite songs ever to come out of Boston.

“What if you knew?”

Chris Zerby and Julie Chadwick shared song writing and vocal duties in the band.  The boy/girl dynamic contrasted well with the subject matter.  Both seemed to enjoy the role of pied piper, luring the listener into their twisted world.

“I’m the only one who can stand you!”

The band did hint at the catchy indie rock that would dominate some of their later releases.  Choruses got stuck in your head (until the next one came along to dislodge it), but the pop sensibilities never overpowered the dark imagery.  In the end Squids And Other Fishes was about life in the gutter.

“We’ll smoke crack at the end of the world…”

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