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454 - Satanic Widescreen (Group Sounds GS009)
This is a five piece Swedish band on the same label as Dimma
and Mugwumps. The artwork on this CD is pretty cool with just
back with white words from all the songs written here and
there and everywhere. The CD opens with the title track and
is a really cool rock tune with a great riff and some cool
horns and piano. The vocals are really raw and nasty at times
while the riffs catchy. It is more like a garagy version of
what the Hellacopters might have been like. This is revealed
in the 2nd track, Release the Hounds, which features some
cool wah guitar! S.K.Y. rocks and this CD begins to really
grow on you! The Birth of a Legend is a dark ballad or sorts.
The singer really has a special voice.. Ghost Songs II, has
a great heavy guitar riff. Rimbaud is a total foot stomping
number to get people hoping around the room Hungry/Boiled
Rice/Give me has a great guitar riff and heavy bass line.
A bit Janes Addiction like… A very stoned wah guitar
solo follows as well. Now or never fits you like a hammer.
Two Pipes of Opium in the Afternoon is a cool stoned psychedelic
song with organ. I claim this Land closes this excellent raw,
rock and roll experience.
www.groupsounds.com
Scott
Aron - Among the Dead (Orpheus Records ORPH 009)
This is the second solo record by Morten Aron (Ex-On Trial,
Ghost Rocket). It was mostly recorded at home and is a collection
of personal (religious in a way), journeys deep into the soul.
This is not light hearted music, despite the opening acoustic
number, Early Morning. Morten is mostly inspired by the great
and strange bands of the 60's. After the beautiful acoustic,
Early Morning, the music is much more like his first rare
solo record (Black Beacon- only 200 pressed on Sort Hash Records).
Underneath the Flowers, Lonely Road to Haunted Ground (like
60's Sci fi music or horror film stuff- very haunting and
original), Creeping Death and The Flow are very haunting songs
with a sound and feel like nothing I have heard before. Morgendis/The
Darkest Knight is more than half the second side Kloggesang,
another acoustic guitar song closes the record.
This is highly original music and mostly just electric guitar,
voice and limited percussion. The record is a deep journey
and like Morten writes this was recorded "at the bottom
of the Soul 1999-2002). A bit scary for some people but worth
the trip!
www.orpheusrecords.dk
Scott
Beach - 2nd Hand Cannibals CD (Mad Cell)
Why the Hell shouldn't you call yourselves Beach - when you
are a noiserocking band from Berlin, that sounds way more
like broken concrete than a tranquil beach? Right! 2nd Hand
Cannibals is the debut of this German trio, and it works fine
all the way - if you dig the whole nihilistic, angst-ridden,
cynical noise-thing. And why shouldn't you dig that. This
will probably be a cool soundtrack for the oncoming looong
greeey winter, and you could spend your money way stupider.
But I bet you already know that. www.ourbeach.de
Keith
The Black Keys - Rubber Factory CD (Fat Possum/Bonnier)
FUCK YEAH! I just love this band! The Black Keys are Patrick
Carney on drums and Dan Auerbach on guitar and vocals and
together they create the most amazing and soulful blues rock'n'roll
this side of…..well, just about anything! I got it a
couple of days ago and I have already played it at least 15
times and there is more to come. It's incredible how two people
manage to sound like a blues big band but The Black Keys got
it down in a big way and it grooves like a motherfucker. Rubber
Factory is up there with their debut album The Big Come Up
and it doesn't get much better than that. The Black keys will
finally play in Copenhagen the 21/11 and watch out for interview
in our Christmas issue…..did I mention it's a great album?
Don K
The Blues Explosion - Damage CD (Mute/EMI)
My heart bleeds for these guys. I have every single record
they have released except for the ultra rare Christmas 7"
single they did many a moon ago on Sub Pop. With Damage I
think it's evident for even a hardcore fan like me that The
Blues Explosion are past their prime. I still remember when
I heard them for the first time and was completely knocked
out by their quirky take on the blues. It was new, fresh and
fucked up at the same time. Now things have faded a bit and
I never was a big fan of all that hip hop and especially remix
bullshit that have tended to sneak in on the last couple of
albums. Having said that, there are some great songs on Damage
like Mars, Arizona, Hot Gossip and Burn It Off but unfortunately
it's not enough to hide the fact that it feels like some time
ago when The Blues Explosion were the coolest cats on the
block. Check out The Black Keys to find out how the blues
should be played in 2004.
Don K
Bored! - Negative Waves (Re-issue) CD (Bang! Records)
This australian 4-piece guitarband rocks the shit out of anybody
else from down under, at least anybody I can remember right
now, and this album is even a re-issue of a 15 year old original
edition - fully packed with live tv-appearances and a video
(only on the cd-version, of course). Its kerosene-fuelled
aggression, the wall of guitars, the Motörhead-attitude
and the singers (Dave Thomas) hysteric quirks, all makes for
a really loud and feelbad cock-n-roll-album you just MUST
own. I'd wish I'd had records like this one in 1989, when
it first came out, goddammit, I would've been the coolest
cat in the shithole I grew up in. This album could easily
have been soundtrack to the recent Australian movie (Chopper)
about local gangster Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read,
so if you haven't seen that film, or if you don't know Bored!,
shame on you and get it fixed!
www.bang-records.net
Keith
Brakes - Pick Up The Phone CDs (Tugboat/VME)
I know next to nothing about these guys but I like what I
hear. First song is the ultra short and eerie title track.
In 24 seconds they scream and shout and it sounds like Shellac
gone punk rock….or at least that's the only description
I can think of. Second track is a little more straight noise
rock and the 3rd track is only nine seconds so that is hard
to make any sense of. Pretty weird release but I would like
to hear more.
Don K
Chronics - Suggested for Mature Audiences LP (Demolition
Derby)
This is the Italian Chronics with their second album on Demolition
Derby and their fourth (I think) in all. Like the other albums
this is some seriously catchy and rocking punk rock clearly
inspired by late 70s New York bands like the Real Kids, the
Beat and the Testors, but still with a certain European -
or rather UK - feel to it. Well-played and with a good hard
sound and some great songs it's shame the vocals aren't too
good, especially the cover of TV Eye" sounds pretty bad.
A better singer would make this fucking great instead of "just"
great. This is not the youngest band out there and with a
song like "35 I'd Better Die" I'm sure they will
appeal to most of the Low Cut writing staff. It's a fucking
good song! Most of them are and I'm glad to say that the Chronics
can ad yet another swell punk rock record to their discography.
Nice!
www.thechronics.org
www.demderby.com
SN
Colour Haze - Colour Haze (Elektrohasch Records 003)
This is Colour Haze's follow up to the brilliant double CD/LP,
Los Sounds de Krauts. It was recorded in Hanover in May 2004
and is a totally analog production to try to best capture
the sound of the band and the 70s. The CD opens with Mountain
(not on the LP version). Mountain starts slowly like many
CH songs but then the groove kicks in and the band flies.
Stefan's guitar sound has never sounded so good and Phillip's
bass cuts through the mix and Mani..amazing.. Tao Nr43, is
mostly instrumental and a groove rocker. Did êl is a
really cool short 2 minutes like jazz rock instrumental. The
band really shows off here. Love is a 9½ minute mood
rocker with some beautiful guitar playing and a bit jazzy
at times as well. Solitude is a very heartfelt acoustic song.
The center piece of the CD and maybe the best song the band
has ever composed, is the 22 minute, Peace, Brothers and Sisters.
It begins slow and spacey with Dave (Sula) playing some cool
windy synths that fade away as we get pummeled by heavy riffs
and great grooves that go on and on and develop. One part
is Grand Funk, another Sabbath, Leafhound and ending with
FREE. Amazing guitar solos and jamming by the band! Flowers,
another acoustic song closes this great CD. While, Colour
Haze have not altered their sound and stick to what they do
well but they have never sound better. Long live the 70's
rock and roll.
Scott
Cult of Luna - Salvation (Earache MOSH283CD)
Cult of Luna, hail from Umeå, Sweden. This is the follow
up to the bands 2003 CD, The Beyond. The 7 piece band includes
dual guitars, vocals, bass, drums, keyboard and sound engineering.
The CD opens with the 11 minute Echoes track that slowly builds
and sets the vibe for the whole CD. While I don't care for
this style of Death metal singing, where you can't really
understand anything that is said, others like it. As the songs
are all quite long journeys, the vocals never dominate too
much and there for I can enjoy this. A vocalist like Robert
Lowe (Solitude Aeternus) would sound incredible with this
band. A lot of the music is pretty damn doomy. Vague Visions,
another 9 minute track, is a bit haunting and highlighted
by excellent drumming. Leave me Here features guest vocalist,
Tiger Lou on the harmonies. I really like the guitar on this
track. Waiting for you is very slow to start and creates the
mood in this mostly instrumental number. It has a great semi-psychedelic
guitar jam at the end. This is the best song on the CD. White
Cell sounds very tortured. The CD closes with Into the Beyond,
a great piece with cool moody piano playing. While the band
are on Earache records (known for much heavier stuff than
this) this is a cool, dreamy, doomy trip and one worth taking!
www.cultofluna.com
Scott
The Cumshots - Norwegian Jesus CD (Big Dipper/Kick)
There is both Norwegian woods, solid rockmountain and lonely
drunken Scandinavian insanity in every groove of this album,
and that IS - as we all should know by now - an okay cool
combo. Music for finally drinking that hole trough yourself.
We are somewhere deep down in Gwar/Slipknot-land, and actually
these self-proclaimed Jesus'es do it better. At least they
stand out, the real coke-deal, not at skinny fake-ass light-product.
But with songtitles oozing of such highbrow poetic inspiration
as Rotten Womb or Go Forth And Fuck, maybe you shouldn't introduce
this album on the FIRST date with your new best Radiohead-crazed
girlfriend? Anywho, this album can easily be the prelude to
many a good night out, and hallelujah and praise he-who-cannot-be-named
for that!
www.thecumshots.org
cumshots@kick.dk
Keith
Danzig- Circle of Snakes (Regain Records RR046)
I loved the first two Danzig records and then sort of didn't
hear much of the next 5. Here we are in 2004 and number 8!
The CD opens with the dark, eerie piece Wotan's Procession.
Next up is Skin Carver, a very heavy, dark song, ready for
the next Wes Craven movie! This is back to the classic first
album feel for sure and a pretty cool production sound as
well. Vocals are deep in the center of the music where they
should be, rather than way out front. There are some extremely
cool guitar riffs from Tommy Victor (PRONG), a bit Zakk Wylde
like at times. Circle of Snakes, the title track is brutal
as well. 1000 Devil's Reign, is a more melodic track the most
likely to get any radio play with the melodic singing. It
has a great doomy riff and groove though. Skull Forest is
a slow building ballad. Hellmark is the fastest hard driving
tracks on the CD and classic Danzig sound. He really belts
out the lyrics! When we were Dead has one of the coolest guitar
riffs I have heard in a while and is very doomy! Night be
Sodom is very Samhain like. My Darkness, is a really melodic
doom song. Netherbound is a riff right out of the Solitude
Aeternus book. Black Angel-White Angel closes the CD. I was
damn impressed with this effort.. Danzig is back to the roots
of evil…
http://www.danzig-verotik.com
Scott
The Detroit Cobras - Baby CD (Rough Trade/VME)
I was really disappointed by the recent mini album by The
Detroit Cobras and I was afraid my love affair with this band
had come to an end. But not quite, Baby is more in the direction
of the superb debut album Mink Rat Or Rabbit and my respect
has been restored. The Detroit Cobras do personal covers of
obscure tunes from the past and that has always been their
trademark. Rachel Nagy still sings like a dream, she has a
very distinct voice and if it wasn't been for the fact that
she is so fucked up, she would be a star with good right.
But stardom comes in different ways and recently Cha Cha Twist
from the debut album was used in a Pepsi Light commercial
which will without doubt stir up some interest. From a commercial
point of view it probably makes sense to put Cha Cha Twist
on this album as well but frankly I feel a little uncanny
about that they chose to do so. Commercials aside, The Detroit
Cobras are back in style and this album would suit fans and
newcomers alike.
Don K
El Ray - Tick.... Tick... Tick... CD (HepTown Records)
Danish El Ray delivers the goods, surf till you can't surf
any more! They have their own name for what they are doing
- they call it "Surf with a twist" - and boy howdy
is it twisty. It's so twisty; it makes me want to go shout
it from the rooftops that surf can be more than just a nice
driven party starter! The Tremolo Beer Gut have shown it again
and again, and now El Ray are apparently ready to join the
fun - what's the deal with Danish surf music? Obviously, there
is no escaping the influences (clutches?) of Dick Dale and
his merry band of prankster surfers, but El Ray have managed
to make it just a little more exciting, borrowing from the
instrumental know-how of The Shadows, borrowing from artists
like The Pixies, The Smiths and Bob Hund alike. At least,
that's what it says on the release, and I have to admit that
if they hadn't told me that they were influenced by those
artists, I'd have never guessed it - because this CD is, more
than anything else, a mad nice surf record, and it's a must
have if you dig those Baja California devil beats. And where
say Los Plantronicks are strict in their Mexican style surf
music, these guys manage to make the surf style just that
little bit more exciting, and free - with cool breaks, obvious
frequent use of tremolo arm, but most important of all, tunes
you will find yourself humming while in the shower! Now that's
scary! All the tracks on this CD are noteworthy, and for an
instrumental album, this is some of the best you'll find,
if you want a little bit of a drive in it. And it has drive,
it has tune, it has musical innovation and that taint of history
that makes it fun to listen to! For the instrumental surf
record it is, I give this a max score, it really is a peach!
Go buy this record before your mother! Surfs up!
www.elray.dk
Kristian
Electric Earth - Organic Songs Volume One (Phantom Music
PM7001)
Electric Earth are a fairly new Swedish hard rock band. The
digipack features fantastic artwork and a very nice booklet.
Very organic! I reviewed a promo CD a while back with the
great track, Space Mammoth, which also appears here. This
is the bands first full length record and I had high expectations
and end up a bit disappointed. The CD opens with Platnoic,
the bands first single and video. It is very Soundgarden (1990-92
era) influenced in the way guitar and bass riff hits you.
Nowhere fast, is a very Pearl Jam inspired this one. I think
the vocalist has a good and unique voice and no need to try
to sound like Vedder on the chorus. Why???? Space Mammoth
is next and has some cool programmed drums to go along the
real ones and is a really unique song and really shows the
strength of the band. Great great song. I wish the rest held
up to this standard. Dragged Down is a really nice laid back
number that I really liked a lot. Great vocals on this track.
Detroit Destroyer is reminds me of 70's KISS meets the Hellacopters!
Fun song. Sanctuary is back to the SOundgarden guitar sound
again and a strong track but not very original. Superseded
is a melodic rock song with a real poppy multilayered vocal
chorus (Alive). Sin of the Century is a track that I really
like a lot. It starts with a slow build up of just guitar
and drums and then some keyboards and the bass line slowly
filter in. I really like the guitar sound and the powerful
production of the CD. Manic Hate, starts off quite poppy and
very influenced by KISS and Soundgarden. D.W.B., is a very
heavy song with a cool sounding guitar. The CD closes with
a cover of In-a-gadda-da-vida by Iron Butterfly. It is a unique
version of the classic track but I didn't like it at all.
The CD has some great stuff on it but the band losses its
vision and tries too hard to sound like Soundgarden and Pearl
Jam. Great bands and a great sound but not new. Sorry guys..
What happened?
www.electricearth.org
Scott
The Embrooks - Yellow Glass Perspections (Munster Records)
Wow. Is that enough review for you? I'd better elaborate I
suppose. The Emrooks, straight from the UK, but if I didn't
know better, I'd have said this was a vintage UK recording,
found in a dusty basement of a 60's record store. If you threw
The Monkees and The Yardbirds into bed, and forced them to
reproduce (mental picture??), hide that wonder child in a
basement filled with 60's vinyl and brought it up in the year
2004 - you would get The Embrooks. This is fucking excellent
beat, vintage sound, groovy beat - an edge of psych and musical
skill to boot! If this isn't one of the best psych records
you have heard for a very very long time, you're not welcome
at my parties! They have that special beat-blues-psych sound
you find in the early Yardbirds releases, and the vocalist
even sounds like Clapton (take that in what ever way you want).
The tracks wary from up-tempo rock songs, to down and greasy
blues tracks with guitar riffs that'll have you spinning.
Some tracks are so psych, I swear I could smell hash and incense
- or is that just me?
I don't know what to say! I could yap on and on and on about
this record, or I could carry you to the record store. I'll
settle for the latter! Go buy this record now, and when you're
at it - get all their other stuff too. Hell, buy some for
your friends! If I could give this record 6/5 I would, but
this is a max out if I ever did see one!
http://www.embrooks.freeserve.co.uk
Kristian
Faster Disaster - Too Stupid to Quit (Screaming Pancakes
Records SP002)
Man, this is real fun stuff… The band hails from Seattle
and mix humor and irreverence with a good dose of hard rocking
music. Think the Mentors, but without the pornographic references..
The three piece band consists of Lynne Nakamura on bass and
vocals, Craig Beytebiere on drums and Steve "Esteband"
Goodlad on guitars and vocals. The CD begins with the ominous
SMOKE. A great guitar riff and lyrics! Watching her Die is
more a heavy blues rocker wit Lynne singing the lead vocal.
It reminds me a bit of the early L7 stuff. Steve has a lot
of cool fuzzed, phased guitar sounds and mixes them up really
well on the CD. Drain Pipe is a more fuzzed out garagy number
and Steve's voice really reminds me of Jello Biafra. Headful
of Lice is a cool slow song with great words. Petting Zoo
is a fast song with a great bouncy bass line that really grabs
you. The vocal delivery is really different on this song.
Such a Pain has a really deranged guitar riff and sound and
again Jello comes to mind. The CD ends with the excellent
title track and a great fuzz guitar. Dead Kennedys meets L7
meets the Mentors! This band is cleaver, funny, tongue in
cheek and they rock. Great stuff!
www.fasterdisaster.com
Scott
Flogging Molly - Within A Mile Of Home CD (Side One Dummy)
Another speedy folkpunk record by Flogging Molly which sounds
like their previous albums (which is a good thing!). Fronted
by ex-Fastway Irish singer Dave King the Californian outfit
tear into the material like there's no tomorrow. The Pogues
gets the amphetamine treatment once again, I fuckin' love
this kinda mix of emotional old school folkmusic and in-ya-face
fast punkrock and whats keep Flogging Molly well above their
peers is King's awesome voice. On "Within A Mile Of Home"
we get a little more politics than usual like the anti-Bush/anti-terrorist
"Screaming At The Wailing Wall". Lucinda Williams
does vocals along with King on "Factory Girls",
a touching working class hymn. The album is backed with nuggets
of frantic folk hymns (as usual) - either you love this stuff
or you don't. Flogging Molly fuckin' rules, and I can't wait
to see'em on a stage again. End of story. Now buy me another
pint of Guiness, okay?
http://www.floggingmolly.com
http://www.sideonedummy.com
Jens
The Forty Fives - High Life High Volume CD (Yep Roc)
It's no secret that I proclaimed The Forty Fives as the masters
of the r'n'r universe after seeing them (for the 2nd time)
at this year's Gutter Island, and after hearing their 3rd
album I'm glad to say it wasn't just the alcohol talking.
"High Life High Volume" is just top notch rhythm'n'blues/garagerock/blue
eyed soul, kinda like Mitch Ryder meets The Swingin' Neckbreakers.
Songs like "Go Ahead And Shout", "Superpill"
and "C'mon Now Love Me" are some of the greatest
high energy r'n'r songs written. Definitely their best record
to date! Produced by Dirtbombs' Jim Diamond.
http://www.thefortyfives.com
http://www.yeproc.com
Jens
The Heatseekers - In Praise of CD (Ohev Records)
Former band members in the Cavity and the Crumbs go together
and form a band called The Heatseekers, and what do you get?
You get fast, rocking, punk-rock with emphasis on the rock
part mind you! Because this is rock, even if they sing it
in that annoying punkish fashion, this is all about rock-n-roll
from my point of view, and they do it very well indeed! I
know they say they play punk and everything, but if you listen
to the tracks, you (or at least I did) get the impression
that these guys are more influenced by [blues-] rockers than
punkers. It has the speed of punk, and the vocal and instrumental
aggression that comes with it, but it still has a distinctive
blues feel to it, especially the solo guitar plays quite a
few shuffles and blues riffs. Tracks like "New (old)
Song" is a garage rock track, played to perfection -
and with a staccato feel that would make Sweatmaster turn
their heads in appreciation! The track "Stranded"
starts out with a guitar strum that could have come straight
from AC/DC, then continues in traditional punkish manner.
This is a cool record, though at times I feel a little put
down by the fact that its to damn fast and furious. I like
a good piece of fast rock and roll, but when its this good,
its almost a shame they went the punk route, instead of letting
the riffs and vocals linger for a while. But the union of
these two great bands, have spawned a new player - and The
Heatseekers are definitely worth pushing the repeat button
for!
www.heatseekers.org
Kristian
Lesbian Lipstick - Gotta Love It CDS (Winterland Music)
The Copenhagen sleazerockers go glam, and thankfully it's
not the cruddy Mötley Crüe excrement we're talkin'
about. My friends spent a whole lotta dough on this one track
with high profile Danish producer Thomas Treolsen (Powersolo,
Junior Senior, Superheroes etc.). First time I heard the song
I thought it was too slickly produced, and the drums lacked
some serious balls, but then I heard it several times on high
volume and it started to grow on me. "Gotta Love It"
is a fuckin' great and catchy tune which really captures the
vintage sound of T. Rex and other 70s glam icons like Mott
The Hoople mixed with a touch of AC/DC. Okay, the boys have
maybe overdone the 'yeah yeah yeahs' and they look like moronic
dickheads on the backcover, but still, you can't keep a good
infectious rock tune like this down. I'm incredibly curious
of what the hell they're gonna do next since "Gotta Love
It" borders on the excellent and the ridiculously hyper
sickening commercial. Talk about guilty pleasure! At the moment
I sing the song in the shower all the time while I'm soapin'
in my beergut, yeah, you can start barfing now, I've lost
all my punkrock credibility, haha.
http://www.lesbianlipstick.com
Jens
Lord Sterling - Today's song for Tomorrow (Small Stone
Records SS-045)
Lord Sterling is part of the New Jersey psychedelic stoner
rock scene and features Jim Baglino (now in Monster Magnet).
The CD opens with Pivotal Planes a hard driving psych rocker
with all sorts of weird sounds, horns, organ and effects worked
into the head mix. I really like the vocalist (Robert Ryan)
but not when he uses the angry vocals, he sounds so much better
in the mid to low range. This time it's for real is a straightforward
rock song. Hidden Flame is a snotty punk inspired rocker and
this is followed by Thread will be Torn. This is where the
CD really takes off into the psychedelic rock territory -
ala On Trial. Thread and Password are really excellent songs
inspired by the greats of the 60s, with organ, sitar and cool
effects. Poison Lips is the most 60's inspired track with
that twangy guitar and effected vocals. Evaporate is a slow
moody dark psychedelic trip! Tough times for Troubadours is
back to the aggressive rock of the earlier part of the record.
The title track brings it back down and is a brilliant track
that floats in it's own space. The CD ends with a great cover
of Set the Control for the Heart of the Sun by Pink Floyd.
An excellent psych rock record!
www.lordsterling.net
Scott
Morticia's Lovers - Smash the Radio LP (Demolition Derby)
Great Italian old-school punk rock. Kicking ass in the vein
of the Rip-Off's and the Infections. Not much new under the
sun, but fuck that cuz this is punk rock the way it should
be. Raw guitars, cool solos, rocking songs, abrasive vocals
and lotsa energy. Some weird Korg organ here and there sounds
cool and songs like "Try", "Chemical Drugs"
and "Love is just an Hippy's Thing" - just check
the spelling on that last one - are top notch punk rock anthems.
Gets better and better for each spin it get on the turntable.
Only let down here is the awful version of "Alcoholiday"
which features the worst female vocals I've heard in years.
What a shame cuz the rest of the album rocks like shit and
it's actually a five razorblade release if you exclude that
one song. This could easily have been on Rip-Off records and
fans of that label will love this. Kris at Demolition Derby
digs out some cool European shit these days and this is probably
the best.
SN
Mystery Girls - Something In The Water LP (In The Red)
I reviewed the debut album by this young band in one of the
first issues of Lowcut and I liked the energy which was evident
in their version of garage rock but the song writing still
left something to be desired. The new album is a step up in
the right direction and the first song Autumn Turns To Fall
really blew me away. Mystery Girls play blues based rock'n'roll
and r'n'b with youthful vitality. The harp is wailing and
the guitars are everywhere and although this album does not
change rock'n'roll history in any way it's still well worth
getting hold of. I had the pleasure of catching them live
at Beerland in Austin in March and they were definitely one
of the coolest bands on the bill.
Don K
On Trial - HEAD (Molten Records CD004)
This is a CD collection of cover songs by the Danish Psych
band, On Trial. These tracks have all appeared on the different
vinyl versions of the Head 10". Also included are studio
outtakes from the Blind by the Sun sessions and the Parchment
Farm 7" record. This collection is much more psychedelic
than the recent Baby Woodrose cover record, Dropout. Like
Baby Woodrose, On Trial (Guf of Baby Woodrose, his first band),
they cover LOVE and 13th Floor Elevators and the Stooges.
Some of my favorite covers on the CD are 5 years ahead of
my time by the Third Bardo (also covered by Monster Magnet
but On Trial had been playing it years ago!), Signed DC (LOVE)
and Interstellar Overdrive by Pink Floyd (A very psychedelic
version!). This is an essential psych rock release with great
dual guitars and spaced out sounds. www.ontrial.dk
www.molten-records.com
Scott
On Trial - Live (Molten Records CD006)
On Trial is Denmark's longest running psychedelic rock band
(1986-present) and has released many records. This is the
bands first real mass produced live record. The Psychedelic
Freakout Party (Burnt Hippie Recordings) was released as a
double vinyl only record in 300 copies and was all audience
recordings but captured the spirit of the band in the late
90's. This CD was recorded in June 2002 at Loppen in Christiania
(despite the sound of a huge crowd, which was added and I
think it comes from Deep Purple Made in Japan!) It was the
last gig with Anders (Guitar) and Guf (Drums) before they
left to play full time in Baby Woodrose. It is a pretty standard
set for this time period. The CD begins with Higher (from
the Bad Afro 7" record of the same title). It features
a good mix of tracks from all the main records, Head Entrance
(Blood Butterfly, Lovecraft), New Day Rising (Flashing'hast,
Do you see her, Sleeper), Blinded by the Sun (Blinded, Everything,
Downer and Driver). Also included is a jam with a guest sitar
player. The CD ends with a rocking version of Parchment Farm.
Great stuff.
www.ontrial.dk
www.molten-records.com
Scott
The Ordinary - Don't let me die a waiter CD (Audiction
records)
When a band is hailed as being the new NYC sound, you know
it can't be half bad. New York has always had a lot of good
rock'n'roll and punk names, with a big potential to break
through on the (inter)national scene. The Ordinary are no
exception. The heart of the band is, however, from Liverpool,
not that it shows in their musical style though - you'll find
no Beatles on this CD. Instead, you'll find 5 tracks with
an understated punk feeling to them, and lyrics that'll actually
make sense to you, even if you're not a Molotov-cocktail swinging
anarchist. I know I said you cant tell the band "leader"
is from Liverpool, but somehow you can sense the English indie
feel to this record, its somehow present, even if you cant
put your finger on it. Its English, without being pop, its
NYC without being hardcore punk. It's also not genius, but
who cares when you find a record that, at times, gives just
a little meaning to your life, and manages to portray punk-rock
as more than just a way of blowing off steam.
www.theordinarynyc.com
Kristian
PinBoys - No Control CDS
Extremely well-produced and skillfully executed pop punk/emo
whatever. This Danish outfit has both male and female vocals,
and both can carry a tune. Sadly this kind of music means
jackshit to an old rock'n'roll asshole like me. That's a very
rude thing to say, but that's just the way I feel, if my dick
ain't hard I'm bored. I'm sure they'll do just fine without
my approval. http://www.pinboys.dk
Jens
Replicator - You are under surveillance (Substandard Records
SUB1027)
This band comes from Oakland, California. They are a high
energy 3 piece that plays intense, smart, Nomeansno inspired
bass driven rock with intelligent lyrics-no love songs! The
band mix in the occasional sample or bizarre synthesizer sound
when it feels appropriate! They are sometimes angry but when
you read the liner notes, you know they are quite cool. This
sounds great when cranked up. This is the bands first full
length CD. They had a previous Ep called Winterval.
www.replicator5000.com
Scott
River City Rebels - Hate To Be Loved CD (Victory)
Glam rock can be done incredibly wrong or just right. I glad
to tell ya "Hate To Be Loved" belongs in the latter
catagory. River City Rebels have seriously changed their musically
approach from straight ahead '77 punkrock to a coming off
as a sleazy soundtrack of backstage activities at Max's Kansas
City in the early 70s. Maybe getting New York Dolls' Sylvain
Sylvian as a producer had something to do about it, haha.
They've added a trombone player and a sax player to the line-up,
and it fuckin' works like a charm. Decadent party songs like
"Cloudy Times", "I'm So Vain", "Dreamy
17", "Glitter And Gold", "Her New Man"
and the title track evoke the very best of the Dolls (they
even do "Don't Mess With Cupid") and Lords Of The
New Church. River City Rebels give eye liner make-up a good
name! Hmm...didn't Victory used to be a straight edge punk
label? Anyway, I'm sure Johnny Thunders and Arthur Kane are
dancing along in their graves.
http://www.rivercityrebels.com
http://www.victoryrecords.com
Jens
Dexter Romweber - Blues That Defy My Soul CD (Yep Roc)
Remember the glorious Flat Duo Jets? Well, this is the singer/guitarist's
second solo album, and it rocks like a motherfucker, baby!
Drunk on rootsy blues, country and rockabilly Mr. Romweber
truly defies the 'retro' stigma, and puts so much grit and
soul in the 14 songs that it leaves ya completely dizzy afterwards.
We get full-on rockers like "Rockin' Dead Man",
"Unharmonius", "Outta Sight", "Nabonga",
"The 309" and a bone chillin' version of Charlie
Rich's ballad "I've Lost My Heart To You". A slow
acoustic track like "Prison Called Life" would've
pleased the late Johnny Cash, and I'd have liked to have heard
his take on this tune instead of faggot Depeche Mode covers,
but hey, that's just me being a cynical a-hole. The production
fits the songs perfectly, Rick Miller of Southern Culture
On The Skids sure knows what he's doing. Dexter, come tour
Denmark soon, okay?
http://www.yeprock.com
Jens
Thee Suckin' Dicks - "1977 Limited Edition"
7" (H-Records)
This 7" was handed to me fresh out of the box on my first
night out in Madrid by some gleaming boy in the street, whom
I suppose is a dicksucker, then, and thanks for that, you.
As would be derived from the band name, Thee Suckin' Dicks
are punkrock with no frills, and even if they tend a bit too
much towards mid-tempo for my taste, they're cool in a sort
of Zeke-way, very straight up with barked vocals and economic
chord use, and complete with sportscarloads of attitude, skimasks
and all. This was recorded back in 2002, so whether it's a
reissue or was just delayed I really have no idea, but I'm
looking forward to find out!
Jon A
The Sunday Drunks - On The Prowl CD (Deadbeat)
This is the second full lenght sizzler from Dallas rocksters
The Sunday Drunks, and its fistfuckingly smack on, in a delicious
no shit Ramonesque kinda-style. A little over half an hour
of speed-induced straightschool Texan rawk, with no boring
artschool-pretensions, no half-assed neo-garage blingbling,
and probably that's why they never will find their way onto
any radio station in any bad-ass neighbourhood near you. But
somebody should invite them over here, something tells me
they rock live!
llazarine@yahoo.com
www.dead-beat-records.com
Keith
Torn- Promo 2003 (Denmark)
Torn is a 4 piece rock band from Copenhagen. The band have
existed for a few years but this is really sort of a side
project as most all the other members are tied up working
in cover bands. Anyway, the band describes themselves as progressive
rock, which this most certainly is not. Optimism starts the
Demo and is very TOOL inspired. It fact it sounds too much
like TOOL, riff after riff (no guitar solos). The Fracture
if it were not for the eastern sounding bit of the guitar
could be very close to the first song. Very TOOL inspired
but a bit more hard attacking this one. The song leaves me
wanting something (a guitar solo perhaps??, bass solo, something
interesting to happen).
Underground is the most commercial but also original sounding
track on the CD. They strive to make some heavy rock but lack
originality. Sorry guys but better luck next time. Is this
what happens when you play in too many cover bands??
www.torn.dk
Scott
The Walking Owl- Fa-Sol (Orpheus Records ORPH 010)
This is a record by a Danish musician, Bardo. This is a special
mix of acoustic folk psychedelia. He has been compared to
John Fahey, St. Michael and others. I think this description
is pretty right on, although the record is not that psychedelic
as a lot of the St. Michael stuff. The record features 17
songs of guitar and storytelling. In between are a few short
numbers with strange noises and things. If you like acoustic
folk with a psychedelic edge, this is well worth checking
out. It is only released on vinyl.
www.orpheusrecords.dk
Scott
Zamarro - Lust in translation CD (Supermodern)
Ahh - the three guys in Zamarro are back from their US tour
with some nice straight forward rock, straight from the Swiss
Alps! If I had designed the cover for this release, I'd have
put "Excellent music for driving" in huge big yellow
letters all over the cover, because this is definitely driving
rock! Sit back, let the music sink into your ears, put the
top down, and drive coast-to-coast.
This isn't original, they aren't blinding musicians, and the
lyrics won't tip your world upside down - but it has that
special rock characteristic that makes your life seem easier,
and care free. This is bohemia in a piece of plastic, if the
thrills bottled their bohemia as pure California sunlight,
then Zamarro could bottle theirs as Chicago twilight! So what
you get when you buy this CD (and I think you should) is 11
straight forward, no surprises rock, with some very potent
sounding instruments considering the fact that there are only
three of these guys! Not bad at all! Only grudge I have against
this album is that the vocals sometimes sound a little too
soft-core, making them clash a little with the backing. If
your looking for a revelation in hardcore rock, then don't
think Zamarro will be the eye opener, but if you want a good
CD - then look their way! I also heard they are touring Europe
in 2005, and if these three guys can reproduce that much sound
live - I'm there!
www.zamarro.com
Kristian
V/A Powersolo Vs. The Real MoneyMakers 7" (Mastermind)
Powersolo fans might wanna get this single since there's a
horn-free version of the radio hit "Juanito". "Speedway"
is a cool fast rockabilly tune. The Real MoneyMakers feat.
Tæve members (read my interview elsewhere in this issue)
but this is completely different. Remember Larry & The
Lefthanded? Well, this is weird noisy psych punk as well but
unfortunately its not that great, even though they do a tribute
to Danish rock legend Peter Belli in "Belli The Wolfman".
mastermindrecords@ofir.dk
Powersolo Real
MoneyMakers 
Jens
V/A Sick56/Higgings "Out Of A Black Pool E.P."
7" (JSNTGM)
Side a features two fast hardcore tracks by Sick56 which recalls
Exploited and Varukers with a little streetpunk thrown in,
not bad. Higgings who previously did a kind of a highly political
Billy Bragg-gone-punkrock thing has a drummer and a bass with
him this time on "Cool Britannia Uber Alles", which
is as you probably have guessed an updated (and quite clever)
version of The Dead Kennedys classic about England involvement
in the ludicrous Iraq invasion, sorry, I of course mean 'liberation'.
This (heavy!) purple vinyl single is limited to 500 copies.
http://www.jsntgm.com
Sick56 Higgins
Jens
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