Drew MorganEveryone’s favorite obnoxious punk band is back, after only 16 years! That’s right, I’m talking about The Dead Milkmen, who have an all-new album recorded and ready to go. The Milkmen broke up in 1995, but got back together in 2008 after playing a few shows that went well for them. After composing new songs and touring for a few years, they began recording The King In Yellow in 2010, and released the hard copy…
Album Review: The Black Belles’ Self-Titled Debut
On first listen, The Black Belles’ debut is quite comfortable; it feels like an old standby. That might be because I’m a big fan of The White Stripes and The Dead Weather, two bands that have Jack White’s weird influence. After having been signed and produced by White, this band has his presence going for them as well. Everything Jack White touches is tinted with his unique style, although I’m definitely not complaining. In addition…
Album Review: Tom Waits, “Bad As Me”
Tom Waits’ newest album, Bad As Me, feels like a nice change from boring ol’ Rock & Roll. In fact, it’s everything but! As one goes from track to track, there’s soul, jazz, folk, some Spanish-sounding ballads, and more. Tom Waits has always been a versatile artist, and he sure shows it on his newest offering. Take the opening track, “Chicago.” It feels like the studio engineer hit “record” just a few seconds after the band…
Five Finger Death Punch – ‘American Capitalist’ review
Andrei Mihai
Album name: American Capitalist Artist name: Five Finger Death Punch Genre: Heavy Metal Released: October 11, 2011 Label: Prospect Park ZME Rating: 9/10 Website: FFDP As one of my mates quite eloquently put it, ‘Five Finger Death Punch delivered yet another great set of groove metal’. Many have said that this would be the album that defines their sound, and that now we’re truly going to see what they’re made of. Well if you…
Quickie album review: Patrick Stump, “Soul Punk”
Steve Lampiris
In which the former Fall Out Boy singer/guitarist/genius behind-ist channels his most obvious influence (Michael) and makes a soundtrack to a John Hughes film that’ll never be. A synth brush allows Stump to paint in broad strokes which, in turn, lets all of the (catchy as hell) melodies bouncing around in his head to come through. The absence of power chords allows his underrated vocal talents to soar on ohh’s and ahh’s to the top…
Quickie review: Lou Reed and Metallica, “Lulu”
The Halloween release date is appropriate: Here, the ‘Frisco boys are pretending to be a metal-ized Velvet Underground. Having tried everything across this record to filter “Heroin” through their ’80s thrash, their ’90s blues-based hard rock and their 2000’s attempt at a return-to-form, they clearly want to be the ’60s legends so, so badly. But guess what? Getting Reed to sing on your record doesn’t make your band VU mk. II. But that doesn’t stop…
Ska is Dead (Syke! It’s Awesome!)
I had the good fortune to see the ska-punk band Mustard Plug play in Toledo, OH recently, at Frankie’s Inner City. They’re a Grand Rapids, MI-based band, so it was odd for me – a Michigan resident – to see them out of state. One of the people I went with has seen them six times in the past, once only 30 minutes away from our podunk little town, so it felt a little foolish…
Album Review: Kasabian – Velociraptor!
Tom
Album name: Velociraptor! Artist name: Kasabian Genre: Indie Rock/Space Rock Released: September 16, 2011 Label: RCA/Columbia ZME Rating: 7/10 Website: kasabian.co.uk Comparisons have always been rife between Kasabian and Oasis but the Leicestershire band has moved one step closer to the legendary Mancunians with their latest record. Much like the majority of the sane population, Kasabian’s Sergio Pizzorno admitted to all but worshipping Noel Gallagher in the ‘90s as Oasis established themselves as the finest…
Honda Civic Tour 2011: Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance
The Honda Civic Tour has struck again – for the 10th year in a row, as a matter of fact! This year, the annual pop/punk/hip-hop/rock show is featuring the headlining acts Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance, with an ever-changing selection of supporting bands. When the show went rolling through Detroit, my concert-going city of choice, they brought along dance-punk-indie-pop duo Matt & Kim to warm up the crowd. Sadly, I wasn’t able to dance to…
Warm Up With Mineo!
Alice Smith
Mineo may be clowning around, but their music is for real.