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Social Distortion
Sex, Love and Rock’n’Roll
Time Bomb Records
$$$$$
8 years!!!! I have been waiting for this record for EIGHT YEARS! I am a big Social Distortion fan and when we finally received the new CD I felt like a child who got her Christmas and birthday presents all at the same time. My expectations were set pretty high but this record could live up to it! Mike Ness proofed once again that he is a terrific songwriter and the record is just the further development of White Light, White Heat, White Trash. It is also the first record without Dennis Danell, which gives it a bitter aftertaste. But Social D were always at their best when they produced great songs out of great pain. And out of great grief Mike Ness wrote Don’t Take Me For Granted three days after Dennis’ sudden death on Feb. 29, 2000. This record makes you feel the presence of Dennis more than on the former released records when he was still alive. But the record isn’t all dark and gloomy. It is also about love as Footprints On My Ceiling proofs. One of the coolest love songs ever. And the first track Reach For The Sky is an instant classic as it is a typical Social D song: fast, catchy desperate rock’n’roll punk! And Mike Ness’ has not lost his way of writing the coolest rock’n’roll lyrics ever! My favourite line: You can run, you can hide just like Bonnie and Clyde! (Track 1)
Ok, here’s my hit-o-meter for this record. 10 is awesome (like the Clash) – 1 is lame (like Loverboy).
1. Reach For The Sky (10 points)
2. Highway 101 (9 points)
3. Don’t Take Me For Granted (10 points)
4. Footprints On My Ceiling (10 points)
5. Nickels And Dimes (9 points)
6. I Wasn’t Born To Follow (10 points)
7. Winners And Losers (9 points)
8. Faithless (9 points)
9. Live Before You Die (9 points)
10. Angel’s Wings (10 points)
Yeah, this record is already a classic just like all the other awesome SD records. Both thumbs up! And don’t miss them on their US tour with Tiger Army this fall!
-Sabine
www.socialdistortion.com
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Texass Terri Bomb
"Your Lips… My Ass!"
People Like You Records
$$$$
The first song is "One Hit Wonder" and Terri is for sure no one hit wonder but a punkROCK constant over oh so many years. No other woman can rock out as hard as she can. And no other girl deserves to be called the female Iggy Pop except for Terri. She is a living legend among the punksters and when you listen to that record you just know why. Balls out in your face songs with enough drive to make you wanna dance and/or hit your head against a wall. The guest musicians on that record sound like the punkrock hall of fame: Wayne Kramer (MC5), Sal Jenco, Marc Diamond (Dwarves, Motochrist), Dave Teague (Dickies, Dimwits), Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper), Don Cilurso, Cherie Currie (The Runaways), Mike Savage (Pigmy Love Circus), Sonny Vincent, John X, Taime Down (Faster Pussy Cat) and the Newlydeads.
The record contains several songs with great hit potential like the catchy One Hit Wonder, the tough Never Shut Up (always want more), the famous Oh Yeah! (which was formerly released on Eat Shit!), the makes you wanna dance Mafia and, of course, the Iggy Pop cover I Got A Right. What can I say about Terri? She is the best! And she will soon be hitting a town near you on her upcoming European tour. Let me steal this quote real quick : "If Terri is playing a show in your town and you are not there… then you just don’t like rock’n’roll!" ‘Nuff said!
-Sabine
www.texasterri.com |
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The Bones
Straight Flush Ghetto
Liquor And Poker Music
$$$$
Do I really have to write anything about this band? If you have read at least one of my updates within the last years then you know how much I like those Swedish bastards. Punk’n’Roll at its finest! Every record of them makes you want to hop in your ’55 Chevrolet and drive down the 101 freeway into the Californian sun. They sound like Mike Ness is making love to Elvis and Lemmy at the same time. This is probably their best record so far and I am really glad that Liquor&Poker decided to distribute it here in the US. It’s a definite must-have for all of you who like punk’n’roll. My favourite song is Until I Die which has a it–does-not-matter-how-drunk-you-are-you-can-still-sing-a-long chorus. Probably the best band that ever came out of Karlskrona! Skol!
-Sabine
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Welcome To Circus Punk-A-Billy (The Sickest Show On Earth) V/A
Wolverine Records
$$$$
Oh yeah! This record is great! For everybody who likes psychobilly/hellbilly bands: you should definitely get this record! And for all of you who want to get an overview over the psychobilly scene, this record provides you with all the top bands in the world. And it should not be missing in any record collection! Here are some of the highlights: Nekromantix, Mad Sin, Peacocks, The Phantom Rockers (their cover of Brand New Cadillac is awesome!), The Ripmen, Koffin’ Kats, Kings Of Nuthin’ and The Hangmen! All in all 30 tracks that make you want to go out with a guy who has a flattop!
-Sabine
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Mad Caddies
Live From Toronto: Songs In The Key Of Eh
Fatwreck
$$$$
This is a classic because it brings all the energy of a live Mad Caddies show into your living room, your car or whereever you want to listen to a really good punk/ska band. This CD has 19 songs on it which sound like a compilation of the best Mad Caddies’ songs from all 5 records. Here are some of the highlights: Macho Nachos, Contraband, Villains and All American Bad Ass! Yeah!
-Sabine
www.fatwreck.com |
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Peepshow III DVD V/A
Fatwreck
$$$$
This DVD is really good because it features so many good bands: Anti-Flag, Nerf Herder, Strung Out, The Lawrence Arms, Rise Against, Mad Caddies, No Use For A Name, Sick Of It All, Lagwagon, None More Black, Goober Patrol, Subhumans, Squirtgun, Bad Astronaut, Avail and NOFX! Do I really have to say more?! This DVD features the best typical Fat bands like NOFX and the best of the "new" Fat bands that sound more HC like None More Black. If you like punkrock you will for sure like this DVD!
-Sabine
www.fatwreck.com |
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Prima Donna
Stray Doll
I Am Jesus (ASCAP)
$$$
If you like the New York Dolls, you will like Prima Donna. This is Kevin Preston’s (The Skulls) side project and you can hear on this record where his heart truly belongs. Three catchy, melodic, piano driven, heartbreaking rock’n’roll songs that will make his teen girl fellowship awe with joy. It proves once again that Kevin is a terrific guitarist and he is also signing the lead vocals on all 3 tracks. His voice still has to mature but he’s already on his way to become a true rock hero. But it’s still a cool record and I am sure that we will hear and read A LOT about Kevin in the next years as he is leaving a huge impression every time he is picking up his guitar to play some chords.
- Sabine
www.primadonnarocks.com
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Take Action! Vol. 04 V/A
Sub City
$$$$
If you like emo, hc and posthc, you will definitely like this compilation. It has bands on it like: Terror, Mastodon, New Mexican Disaster Squad, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Coheed And Cambria, Taking Back Sunday, Brazil and Melee. The special thing about this record is that a portion of the proceeds (equaling 5% of the suggested retail list price) earned by the artists and Sub City Records from the sale of this compilation will be donated to the National Hopeline Network 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) a service of the Kristin Brooks Hope Center. This is really a good thing since "every 17 minutes, at least 6 Americans lose a loved one to suicide, for a total loss of life to suicide of more than 30,000 people each year". This record is a good way to raise awareness to such a serious topic. The only thing I don’t quite get is: how can you put emo/hc bands who do a very desperate and angry style of music on a compilation that is there to prevent from suicide?! At least they did not feature the Smiths on that record. Hehe. Anyway, it’s a really good compilation CD which has 41 tracks on it. And I really like the fact that CD1 is starting with NOFX and ends with Go Betty Go because these two bands really make you feel good.
-Sabine
www.subcity.net
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Keane
Hopes And Fears
Interscope Records
$$$$
This is not really my type of music but it’s a really good record. For all of you who like bands like Coldplay; you should get this record. It’s the best guitar band record released by a non-guitar band so far. The piano is very strong here and the singer got a killer voice. Sweet melodies combined with enough desperation that makes you want to get melancholy and very drunk! Keane are really popular over in Europe and I am sure they will become equally popular in the States as soon as this record gets some airplay. Thumbs up!
-Sabine
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