“Hot Shit” is a bit of a
departure from the standard Quasi sound. The album opens with some bluesy
riffing by Sam Coomes on the title track, but as the album progresses Hot Shit
finds it’s focus. Thematically it’s a straight smack down of the Bush regime.
Coomes calls out and disses Bush, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft and that “sellout,” Tony
Blair on “White Devil’s Dream.” I mean really why beat around the bush, so to
speak, and couch your protest in symbolism. I find the straight put down
refreshing. Musically it’s the sound of loneliness. Most of the songs have a
last song feel to them, most notably “No One” with Coomes singing in falsetto
over a pounding drumbeat and haunting organ. Sad chords, sad melodies and a sad
sack president all add up to an engaging intelligent rock record. (Dave Ignizio)
Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra La La Band (with choir) - ‘”This
is Our Punk Rock,” Thee Rusted Satellites Gather and Sing’ (Constellation)
Constellation Records
has been steadily putting out music by independently minded mostly instrumental
groups for the last five years or so. Godspeed You Black Emperor is the one
band that took off and has found the most success as their sold out shows at the
Beachland Ballroom would attest. But any number of other bands on the label are
just as good. “This is Our Punk Rock” may be the finest album the label has
produced. From it’s opening featuring an untrained chorus to it’s minimalist
instrumental pieces and charmingly off key vocals all four tracks are
mesmerizing. “This is Our Punk Rock” proves that punk is an attitude more than a
sound. As usual this group pushes limits and destroys boundaries like the Bush
administration destroys the environment. (Dave Ignizio)
Give it up for Akron. It only
took twenty years, but the music scene is back in the spotlight once again. All
you kids wistful for the old days of Devo, the Bizzaros and Clone Records better
check out the new shit. Six Parts Seven (some from Akron some from Kent) have
been playing awesome intelligent instrumental rock for awhile now. Someone in
Seattle noticed at least. Suicide Squeeze a well respected indie label out
there has put out their last two albums and just issued this split which
features one song from Six Parts Seven and three from the Black Keys. This is a
very fair representation of what both of these bands are about. If you’ve been
curious pick this up. If you like it you’ll enjoy the full lengths from each of
these worthy bands who have little but geography in common. (Dave Ignizio)
Have you ever wondered
what the Ronnettes would have sounded like if they were produced by My Bloody
Valentine’s Kevin Shields instead of Phil Spector? Well, the Slumber Party’s
newest disc answers that musical question. I saw them open up for Yo La Tengo a
couple of years ago and they were so quiet that you could here people talking
over them. This album doesn’t exactly rock, but the fuzzed out guitars mixed
with the sweet, laid back vocals of Alicia Berg make this record far more
memorable than their Beachland performance. “New Trouble” is a standout track
mixing a simple keyboard melody with vocals reminiscent of Holly Golightly
devolving into a drumbeat with the sounds of people talking and cellphones going
off. That one gives way to the organ ballad “On-t.v.” another standout on a
record chock full of quality “chick-rock.” (Dave Ignizio)
“Hot Shit” is a bit of a
departure from the standard Quasi sound. The album opens with some bluesy
riffing by Sam Coomes on the title track, but as the album progresses Hot Shit
finds it’s focus. Thematically it’s a straight smack down of the Bush regime.
Coomes calls out and disses Bush, Rumsfeld, Ashcroft and that “sellout,” Tony
Blair on “White Devil’s Dream.” I mean really why beat around the bush, so to
speak, and couch your protest in symbolism. I find the straight put down
refreshing. Musically it’s the sound of loneliness. Most of the songs have a
last song feel to them, most notably “No One” with Coomes singing in falsetto
over a pounding drumbeat and haunting organ. Sad chords, sad melodies and a sad
sack president all add up to an engaging intelligent rock record. (Dave Ignizio)
Constellation Records
has been steadily putting out music by independently minded mostly instrumental
groups for the last five years or so. Godspeed You Black Emperor is the one
band that took off and has found the most success as their sold out shows at the
Beachland Ballroom would attest. But any number of other bands on the label are
just as good. “This is Our Punk Rock” may be the finest album the label has
produced. From it’s opening featuring an untrained chorus to it’s minimalist
instrumental pieces and charmingly off key vocals all four tracks are
mesmerizing. “This is Our Punk Rock” proves that punk is an attitude more than a
sound. As usual this group pushes limits and destroys boundaries like the Bush
administration destroys the environment. (Dave Ignizio)
Give it up for Akron. It only
took twenty years, but the music scene is back in the spotlight once again. All
you kids wistful for the old days of Devo, the Bizzaros and Clone Records better
check out the new shit. Six Parts Seven (some from Akron some from Kent) have
been playing awesome intelligent instrumental rock for awhile now. Someone in
Seattle noticed at least. Suicide Squeeze a well respected indie label out
there has put out their last two albums and just issued this split which
features one song from Six Parts Seven and three from the Black Keys. This is a
very fair representation of what both of these bands are about. If you’ve been
curious pick this up. If you like it you’ll enjoy the full lengths from each of
these worthy bands who have little but geography in common. (Dave Ignizio)
Have you ever wondered
what the Ronnettes would have sounded like if they were produced by My Bloody
Valentine’s Kevin Shields instead of Phil Spector? Well, the Slumber Party’s
newest disc answers that musical question. I saw them open up for Yo La Tengo a
couple of years ago and they were so quiet that you could here people talking
over them. This album doesn’t exactly rock, but the fuzzed out guitars mixed
with the sweet, laid back vocals of Alicia Berg make this record far more
memorable than their Beachland performance. “New Trouble” is a standout track
mixing a simple keyboard melody with vocals reminiscent of Holly Golightly
devolving into a drumbeat with the sounds of people talking and cellphones going
off. That one gives way to the organ ballad “On-t.v.” another standout on a
record chock full of quality “chick-rock.” (Dave Ignizio)