If you dig: Add N To (X), Kraftwerk, DMX Krew

Jon A

Acid King III (Small Stone Records 054)
Ok… Lori S. and Acid King, the San Francisco based tuned down stoner rock band from the depths of somewhere you don't want to be trapped. This is the bands first new release since 2001 and probably the best sounding one yet. This is music that it really helps to get into if you get really stoned. Slowly prodding anthems with spaced out vocals too far in the back and basic heavy guitar riffs (virtually no guitar solos or any kind). The bass playing is very cool at times and if they did not have such a solid drummer, it could be way too boring. I totally dug War of the Mind, the 11 min monster track in the middle of the CD! Lori S., could use some variety in the way she sings, it is more or less the same on every track. Heavy shit and depending on your mental state you will find this wicked cool or dead boring….
http://www.acidking.com

If you dig: Melvins, The Obssessed, Sons of Otis, Ufomaumatt

Scott

James Apollo: Good Grief (Aquarium Records, 2005)
James Apollo was born in Libertyville, Arkansas, spend his youth in the Mid-west and on the road travelling 3500 miles playing his songs in L.A, New York, Detroit and God knows where else. Somehow this has influenced his music with a clear taste of the American western/folk tradition. There is a grandness and a sense of open horizons to the sound and compositions, a hint of Latin rhythms and a twist of Tom Waits-style cabaret to this album. The lyrics are about the beauty of sadness - as the title indicates - and they appear honest and bold as they get under your skin. This is the fourth album by James Apollo, who claims to have learned more from the roads than he did in school: "I sure remember more desert sunrises than trigonometry!".
www.jamesapollo.com
www.aquariumrecords.com

If you dig: Tom Waits, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco

Foxy

Auktion - D-beat Rock'n'Roll Mayhem CD (Wasted Sounds)
Årh hvad, smadderpunkrock! And in Swedish, too, which automatically makes me think of Rövsvett, though these maniacs are way faster and way harder than Rövsvett ever were. (Even so, they give me the chance to mention Rövsvett all of three times in only a few lines, if for no pressing reason, other than I always thought that was a cool name.) For non-Swedish-speakers there's a song here too about "Burning Police Cars", which is probably a lot more relevant and constructive than worrying about Rövsvett (four times) or other old punk bands, which the band rightfully criticize in the liner notes for being "pointless punk nostalgia" (then again, they also sing praise to tofu and soy meat…). These guys are awesome, and it doesn't make it any worse that, judging from the pictures, none of them have reached 20 yet, plus they have two girls in the line-up, one them singing, though you really can't tell from the brutal roar of the two vocalists screaming their heads off over high speed punk rock. Highly recommended and quite healthy for you, too, with all the appropriate political opinions and their being a fresh, young band.
http://www.wastedsounds.com

If you dig: Zeke, Dead Kennedys, Rövsvett (five times)

Jon A

Beasts Of Bourbon - Low Life LP/CD (Munster Records)
Reformed, yet nothing like reformed - or that would be older, but no wiser. Beasts Of Bourbon have regrouped to throw up more swampy pub rock on a forthcoming album, and this live recording from 2003 shows them in as fine form as the genre would permit. Dirty and drunken, this music is somehow unmistakably Australian, or at least it lives up to all prejudices against Australians. You know Australian football? That's how these guys play rock. A bit tiring in the long run, but the moment the first chords to AC/DC's "Ride On" comes on - I hadn't seen that one coming - you're taken aback. That's a great song, if you ever forgot.
http://www.munster-records.com

If you dig: Gallon Drunk, The Jesus Lizard, Birthday Party

Jon A

The Bloody Hollies - If Footmen Tire You CD (Alive)
Best damn garage punk rock record I have heard for awhile! This is the second album by The Bloody Hollies and it's loud and in your face like it should be. The album is produced by Jim Diamond (White Stripes, The Dirtbombs etc.) in Detroit and it has a cool live feeling. Sorta like if they where blasting away right in front of you. I am sure they kick mayor booty live so please visit Copenhagen sometime soon!
http://www.alive-totalenergy.com
http://www.bloodyhollies.com

If you dig: AC/DC, New Bomb Turks, Columbian Neckties on 25 RPM, Nashville Pussy

Don K

Bongzilla- Amerijuanican (Relapse Records)
This is American band, Bongzilla's 4th CD. While I had read about them before, I had never heard their music… Damn it sure is some heavy shit.. The vocals are very special. Not sure if you are suppose to laugh or cry when you hear them but you sure can't understand them! This is a total guitar in your face production with the drums and vocals all back in the distance as the riffs try to tear you apart. Slow, heavy doomy, stoned to the bone riff rock… The closing cover of Muddy Water's Champagne and Reefer has for sure never been interpreted or destroyed in quite this way for sure…
www.relapse.com

If you dig: Sons of Otis, Electric Wizard, Acid King

Scott

Boomhauer - Me Think OK! CD (Stupido)
This Finnish trio has mellowed out quite a bit since their fantastic early EP's that all had six tracks of wacky, semi-spastic rock'n'roll with that special Finnish charm. Yes, it's more varied now and probably also more mature but somewhere down the line they lost the spunk and doesn't sound as inspired as before.
http://www.stupido.fi

If you dig: 22 Pistepirkko, Blues Explosion raised in Finland

Don K

Ruth Brown - Black Is Brown and Brown Is Beautiful LP/CD (Vampisoul Records)
Following the Betty Davis compilation (see feature in LowCut # 26), Vampisoul have dug up another female R&B singer with quite a different approach. Predating the sexually emancipated and rock influenced Davis of the early 70's with a couple of decades, Ruth Brown belongs to the era of gownclad high class soul singers schooled in gospel choirs, and she helped build the Atlantic label back in the 50's. She would also star in John Waters' "Hairspray". This album from '69 provides a fine backdrop for hungover Sundays, especially if you skip the uncalledfor cover of the fucking Beatles' fucking "Yesterday" that opens it. Smooth, well-crafted, and stylish, if a tad unpersonal.
http://www.vampisoul.com

If you dig: Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone

Jon A

Cannibal & The Headhunters - Land of 1000 Dances LP/CD (Vampisoul Records)
I don't really see the point of why the fine and extremely productive Vampisoul label has put out this Eastside doo-wop compilation, other than to bolster their back catalogue, but that might just be that I don't really get this genre; it's way too polished for me, and, you know, it's pop music, and that I can't dig. So there. Anyway, Cannibal & The Headhunters, which is, admittedly, a quite cool name, is a vocal quartet of East L.A. hispanics who celebrate their 40th anniversary this year, and this album compiles 18 of their classic Rampart singles, among them two versions of the hit that lends its name to the compilation. Apparently, Cannibal & The Headhunters were first to record it in the "nah-na-na-na-nah" version that was later recorded by acts like the Walker Brothers and others, which I suppose is some sort of effort, but not enough to rile me up. For nostalgists only.
http://www.vampisoul.com

If you dig: The Blendells, The Atlantics, The Blue Satins, according to the liner notes - what do I know?

Jon A

The Carpet Knights- Lost and so strange is my Mind
(Transubstans Records 009)
The Carpet Knights are 70's inspired melodic rock band from Malmö. The band has been around since 1998 and has cut several demo cds but this is their first full length CD for the Record Heaven sublabel, Transubstans. It was recorded completely in their own home studio and the result is a pretty cool 70's sound, not a modern studio sound. The band spent a lot of time on the vocals as they play a very special place in this music, which is mostly groovy but sometimes psychedelic like on the short Zonked. The Mist has a very cool dark theme to it and I like the keyboard like sounding guitar in the middle break part that fades into the acoustic guitar. Fools and Silent Callers is one of the most Jethro Tull inspired tracks and a great one. The CD closes with the great nearly 11 minute track, Last of Many. An excellent debut. This is a very special CD and one that you have to hear a lot of times to finally get sucked into it. If you don't put in the effort with this record, you will lose and never discover the magic they have created.
www.thecarpetknights.nu

If you dig: Jethro Tull, Jefferson Airplane, 70's rock

Scott

Wild Billy Childish & The Chatham Singers - Heavens Journey CD
(Damaged Goods)
Those who are used to Billy and his lo-fi garagepunk of Thee Headcoats and countless of other similar combos are in for a treat. "Heavens Journey" is stripped down delta blooze in the vein of Jimmy Reed and early John Lee Hooker, but that's only half of the 24 tracks. The rest is 'spoken word' with Billy reading his very personal poems which seems to be pretty cathartic for him. Definitely more uplifting than his bleak selfbiography. There will be a special edtion of the album (limited to 100 copies) in a numbered boxset with a new book of poetry. The multi talented Childish is also an accomplished painter. Wolf of The Buff Medways handles the drums and Billy's wife Julie plays bass and do backing vocals. A MUST FOR FANS!!
http://www.damagedgoods.co.uk
http://www.billychildish.com

If you dig: Jimmy Reed, Headcoats, Son House

Jens

Devilish Presley - Disgraceland CD + Hammer Horror Glamour CDS (November Tenth Records)
Androgynous Placebo-like vocals mixed with hardrock and horrorfilm images?!? This English band has excellent musicians with a great knack for writing memorable songs, but sadly it doesn't really connect with me at all. It's all subjective I know, but since vocals in rock'n'roll is really important to me, "Disgraceland" was a bit of an annoying experience. I like the "Hammer Horror Glamour" single (from their upcoming "Memphisto" album) a lot more, much rawer with a cool scorching guitar riff.
http://www.devilishpresley.com

If you dig: 69 Eyes, The Cult, early 70s Bowie

Disgraceland
Hammer Horror Glamour

Jens

Diesto - Doomtown 7 (Elastic Records ELS-022)
When a band describes themselves as a Thunder trio, you pretty much know you are not going to hear some quiet music and this is for sure the case. Diesto come from the Portland, Oregon music scene and create some pretty damn noisy and heavy stuff. This is very distorted and heavy shit with almost completely non-understandable vocals (described in the bio as paint peeling). The 8 tracks in 30 minutes are about all one can handle when the sound is as tough as you have here. The music is more influenced by punk in many ways than say doom metal. Ok.. I can hear the Melvins influence and a bit of Fudge Tunnel but this is way nosier than either of the other bands.
www.diesto.com

If you dig: High on Fire meets the Unsane in a Fudge Tunnel with the Melvins on speed

Scott

The Fleshtones - Beachhead CD (Yep Roc/Kick Music)
Wow! Talk about getting the right folks to produce your album, half of the tracks are produced by Dirtbombs' Jim Diamond, the rest by Southern Culture On The Skids's Rick Miller. After some 29 odd years the Queens garage giants are still as vital as ever, from the debut "Roman Gods" to their previous "Do You Swing?" the Fleshtones prove they are still the top daddies of garagerock. And "Beachhead" picks up where "Do You Swing?" left, basic fuzzed out rhythm & blues rawk done with attitude and a great knack for writing catchy party stompers. The Fleshtones are one of the best goddamn live bands on the face of the earth, and to their credit they expertly transform their outerworldly live energy into their albums. "Beachhead" is a must for fans and for anyone who are tired of all the new fake 'garage' bands on MTV - The Fleshtones are the real deal, now shake yer ass!! I would be really surprised if these cats ain't headlining next year's Primitive Festival in Rotterdam.
http://fleshtones.org/
http://www.kick.dk

If you dig: The Cynics, Kingsmen, Flamin' Groovies

Jens

The Four Slicks - S/T 7" (Savage Records)
Warning! This is what happens when you grow old, still screw around in a band and get the crazy idea to record it - and - somebody ACTUALLY puts it out on a record. It sounds something like the Four Slicks and songs called "Bye Bye Bye", "That Crazy Little House On The Hill", "Bad Girl" and "Lulabelle". I hear some A-Bones oldie raunch meet Supercharger (anno Goes Way Out) but it's not nearly as inspired and then I look at the cover and think - why?
http://www.savagemagazine.com

Morten

Green Frog Feet - Score CD (Area Int/VME)
Fat Wreck melodycore clones. Absolute rubbish. Worst cd I've had to review since Gemini Five. As exciting as watching an anal gangbang with skinny Polish junkies on Kanal Købenavn's free porn channel. Is my editor a sadist? http://www.areainternational.net
http://www.greenfrogfeet.de

If you dig: Every band on Fat Wreck

Jens

Hawkwind - Take me to your Leader
(Voiceprint Records HAWKVP35)
Well, Hawkwind has released a steady stream of live and archive releases over the past years but this is the first real full length studio record since Distant Horizons in 1997. In your Area came out in 1998 and featured 6 new studio tracks as well. I don't count Spacebrock which was released in 2000 as a Hawkwind CD as it was basically Dave Brock studio leftovers, which were unfortunately released as Hawkwind. Anyway, what we have here is 10 really cool psychedelic electronic rock tracks. The CD opens with a reworking of the classic Bob Calvert song, Spirit of the Age. It features guest vocalist Mathew Wright, who is a radio program host in the UK. It is a great re-working of the old track and more electronic but Dave keeps the very cool and distinctive guitar sound and solo of the past. A really fantastic sound the CD has. Out here we Are is a Alan Davey electronic instrumental piece and is quite nice before it heads into the very heavy and critical of the US song, Greenback Massacre. This is full on heavy space rock like the stuff on the Bedoiun records or hailing back to tracks like Sputnick Stan. Alan's voice sure has taken a beating though from doing all the Motorhead cover gigs. He does not sound nearly as good as he did in the past. To love a Machine features Dave on the lead vocal and is quite a catchy track with a very psychedelic mix of the guitar, bass and echoed vocals and acoustic guitars and layers of other sounds are built on top of a cool bass line. The title track, is very influenced by house and techno music with the electronic drums and spaced out synths. This leads into Digital Nation which features Richard (Drummer) on vocals. His voice is quite unique and I like the laid back groove of this track with flute and jazzy sax. A totally unique song like nothing I have heard before. Sunray is next and this is a damn catchy track which features Arthur Brown on lead vocals. He has such a cool and unique voice. While the basic track is quite commercial in nature the track is a hell of psychedelic trip with strange sounds and stuff all over the place. Why be normal?? Sighs is a short 1½ minute electronic piece by Alan Davey with strange samples and sounds. Very stoned… This leads into Angela Android, another songs sung by Richard but it a totally different style (a bit too strained). IT also features Simon House on violin, Jez Hugget on sax and Lene Lovich as the android. It is a brilliant mix of hard rock and pure electronic. It is totally psychedelic and features some great guitar by Dave Brock. The CD ends with a strange track called Letter to Robert which is a spoken word track by Arthur Brown under which Dave and Richard have a little strange jam of sorts… Very strange.. A great CD
www.hawkwind.com

Scott

Horrorpops - Bring It On! CD (Hellcat/Epitaph/Bonnier)
Some drunken German psychobillies at the recent Rotterdam Rumble tried to tell me how bad this album is, but I think people fail to see that Horrorpops ain't traditional psychobilly and therefore shouldn't be judged as such. To me it's PowerPopBilly and Patricia's voice gives their sound a very 80's new wave-y feel, I mean, they even perform Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" live! It's not rocket science, just good clean party music. Their cartoon-ish image probably don't help their appeal among 'puritists', but as always I judge bands by their tunes, not their silly haircuts. Patricia's spouse Kim are mostly known for Nekromanitx and his coffin shaped bass, but here he delivers some neat twangy guitar licks. I'm glad Horrorpops came up with a new record since the missus has been playing their previous "Hell Yeah!" almost everyday for a year, although this is just more of the same.
http://www.horrorpops.com
http://www.epitaph.com

If you dig: Nekromantix, The Go-Go's, Mad Sin

Jens

Jetboys - Jet Patrol LP (Demolition Derby)
I haven't heard this Japanese punk rock trio since their early (debut maybe?) 7" on Demolition Derby. Back then they sounded like a speed fuelled version of Teengenerate. Just as lo-fi and even faster, louder and much more fucked-up…quite amazing as far as I remember. This is quite different: Good sound and way slower and very Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers. Unlike many other (Scandinavian) bands who tends to take stuff like that in a severely glam-rockish style this is more in the Rip-Off vein and always keeping a seriously punk rock attitude to their base material. With titles like "You are Lukewarm, More Blitzkrieg Bop", "Hey Bitch!! Rock'n'Roll Tonight" and "Run Jet Run" everything that was ever great about Japanese punk rock and rock'n'roll is included here: Good songs, good musicianship, wild vocals, Japanese madness popping in now and then and manga style album cover. This gets better every time I put it on and even with 16 songs here there isn't a weak track in sight. Normally I wouldn't approve of a band getting slower and more well-produced but in this case it has turned out great and this is a super fucken great punk rock album.
http://www.demderby.com

SN

The Jet Set - Let's Get Broken (Wee Rock Records)
Three piece 60's revival attitude band. With a guitarist that looks like an Oasis member, a drummer á la The Hives and a (goth?) organist - well, what more can you ask for? Musical talent maybe. The energy is there, and a record is worthless without it. But energy alone doesn't
kill your record player, it takes skill - and to be honest, this is not the lot for that. They play like a bag of potatoes, heavy, lumpy, dreadful and dangerous when raw, but delightfully tasty if cooked for a long time. When a band releases a 7" and you can't tell the
difference between the A and the B side - you know you're in trouble.
Eventually, it dawns on you which side is what - but if the first 10 seconds are as boring and unimaginative as the other side (read - knock-off), then throw it in the garbage. If they get it together, it would be interesting, but deconstruction 60s rock - get off my street!
http://www.weerockrecords.com

If you dig: The Stoneage Hearts, The Hives, The Strokes

Kristian

The Juniper Band - Time for Flowers CD (Aloud Music)
The Italians are blessed with a beautiful language, beautiful women, beautiful mountains, and a cool political underground movement. Apparently, that doesn't stop them from making crappy music, though. This is nowhere near as bad as their Catalan label mates Laihn (reviewed elsewhere), thank God, but it's still terribly boring, long-stretched, and annoyingly self-absorbed. If this is all the opposition you're gonna give Berlusconi, how do you expect things to get any better?
http://www.thejuniperband.com
http://www.suiteside.com
http://www.aloudmusic.com

If you dig: Jeff Buckley, Radiohead

Jon A

Knugen Faller - Inte Som Ni 7" (Ny Vag/Wasted Sounds)
"Inte Som Ni" almost has a Stones guitar riff feel to new wave punk stomp, "Lägg Ner" and "För Sverige I Tiden" are catchy late70s style punkrock, while the speedy "Adolf Hitler" is a Zodiac Killers Light rager. The female vocals and a sax guest musician on the 2nd and 4th track gives Knugen Faller a rather unique sound that's both old and fresh. I'd imagine these Swedes be perfect on a bill with Gorilla Angreb. Good stuff.
http://www.nyvag.com
http://www.wastedsounds.com
knugenfaller@royaldownfall.org

If you dig: X, Ebba Grön, X-ray Spex

Jens

Laihn - Puzzle CD (Aloud Music)
Oh my God, this is absolutely horrible! I suppose it's somewhat like those whiny fucks Muse, only minus the metal parts, but when I stress the "suppose" it's because I haven't bee able to force myself through more than a few randomly selected seconds of this drudge. Imagine hard grunge guitars put to pop songs - then again, don't. The first song is called "Sin nadie (tal vez)"; for our non-Spanish-speaking readers that would be "Without Anyone (Perhaps)", and that pretty much sets the standard for what we're dealing with here. Absolutely despicable.
http://www.aloudmusic.com

If you dig: Muse, Jeff Buckley

Jon A

Chaz Matthews: Amazing Graceless
(Full Breach Kicks, 2005)
Chaz Matthews is the former frontman of Dimestore Haloes and this is his debut as a solo artist. Well, the influence from bands like The Ramones and New York Dolls is more than obvious on this album - actually I would go as far as calling this a pure rip-off in some concerns. This is old-school glam-punk-rock except this has no original sparkle whatsoever, no charm and it does not kick ass - even though the enclosed press material promises that Mr. Matthews in fact does kick this formerly mentioned body part! But then again: It also promises that his poster will be on the wall on every 16 year-old school girl soon… Which I seriously doubt. One thing is true: Yes, the production does sound a bit like the good ol' Dolls - they also had too much treble and too little bass to their sound - but where the fuck are the drums in this mastering? And where is the so called "dark poetic songwriting" in songs like Drinkin' for Two or Musta been Drunk?! Hmmm…
www.fullbreach77.com

If you dig: The Ramones & New York Dolls - well, go for them instead!

Foxy

MHz - Harness the Power LP (Demolition Derby)
This album compiles the complete recordings of MHz from 2000-2001. Featuring Andy Claydon from the Monarchs and Don Blum from the Von Bondies this has all the power and quality of vintage AmRep style stuff. Like the best moments of Tar combined with the Chrime and Devo maybe. Sharp and twisted but with a firm sense of rock'n'roll. This is hard and aggressive but still very listenable just like the best AmRep bands back then. Put these guys in the hands of Steve Albini and I'm sure they'd sound fucking amazing. Hell, they already do now, though I do think a sharper sound would make some of this sound ever greater! Still, this is one of the big discoveries for me. I have never heard this band so it's a bloody good job that Demolition Derby is putting this out on vinyl. The original CD version is on Flying Bomb. If you have kinda forgotten how great those AmRep bands were in the 90s get this and I'm sure it'll inspire you to dig out those old Hammerhead, Tar and Halo of Flies albums…and if you do so you're bound to find out that this is just as good!
http://www.demderby.com
http://www.flyingbomb.com

SN

MOB - We All Repeat the Past CD (Lärm)
On their 3rd record, MOB (interviewed in LowCut # 6) have finally managed to transfer all the crushing heaviness of their live shows to a studio recording, and at last they fully live up to that monicker: Monsters Of Brutality. Live, you get a picture of how this band works: You have a tiny, frail singer baring his soul in a manner not too far removed from The Cure's Robert Smith, and then on his flanks are a bunch of vikings who seem to believe they're really playing in Bathory or High On Fire. That makes for a quite interesting clash, not unlike Basque (lo:muêso) (reviewed last issue), but not as pretentious and way, way heavier. If the indie tingings might turn you off, the wall of noise should draw you in, and it's very rewarding. "Favourite Crusade" is a personal favorite for this indian summer. Look forward to an interview next issue. http://www.mobsite.dk

If you dig: Bathory, ... And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, old Mogwai

Jon A

Nashville Pussy - Get Some CD (SPV/Target)
Pussy Time means Angus Young worship though this time they mix their biker boogie rawk with some 70s English glam hardrock. There's a bit more backing vocals and the songs are probably a tiny bit more catchy than "Say Something Nasty". "Hate And Whiskey" is vintage Alice Cooper, "Hell Ain't What It Used To Be" and "One Way Down" recall early speedy Pussy, while "Good Night For A Heartattack" revisits Golden Earring's "Radar Love" with a death wish. Mean lean dirty loud classic southern rock, but you already knew that so just go buy the fucker, okay? Daniel Rey (Ramones etc.) expertly produced the album that has a crisp and clear sound. Neat version of Ike & Tina's "Nutbush City Limits".
http://www.nashvillepussy.com
http://www.targetshop.dk/

If you dig: AC/DC, Molly Hatchet, Slade

Jens

Jeffrey Novak One Man Band - Southern Trash LP (Ptrash Records)
Debut longplayer from the prolific Mr. Novak of Henderson, Tennessee. 4 singles on various labels and now a whole album's worth of intense punk rock, in just over a year's time. There's a slew of one man bands out there and if there were to be held a OMB convention, Novak would definitely be giving a speech about his (early) Reatards influences, the art of getting a f%¤/ed up sound, that is OUT THERE and maybe something about channelling aggression, while keeping the beat. Novak records his stuff LIVE at a place called 3rd Street Audio Terror and I'm sure the place is named after him. So, how about getting your next sonic plastic operation done by Jeffrey Novak? His guitar/kick drum/cymbal set up will perform wonders between your ears. Or how about ordering the Southern Trash ringing tone for your mobile? Have someone call you while you're standing in line at the local supermarket and you'll have the whole place to yourself in a few seconds (then you can just walk out of there with your leverpostej for free and say f%&k off A.P.!). http://www.ptrashrecords.com

If You Dig: Reatards, Persuaders, the No Butter For My Bread Oblivians 7"

Morten

Orange Sunshine - Homo Erectus (Leafhound Records LHR 006)
The excellent Japanese label, Leafhound have released on CD, the first vinyl only record by the Dutch band, Orange Sunshine. If you want to take a trip back to San Jose 1968 and relive the feeling and sound of Blue Cheer, then Orange Sunshine are just for you…The CD and also limited edition LP are with full 3D artwork, which looks very cool if you have the glasses! A great story about how the band are from 1969 is written into the book (of course these guys were not even born yet!)..The CD and vinyl issue give you 2 bonus tracks that were not on the now sold out first record. All I can say, is if you like Blue Cheer, then you deserve to give these guys a spin as it is an authentic sound and they have some really great songs as well. www.leafhound.com

If you dig: Blue Cheer, Blue Cheer, Blue Cheer

Scott

Peluze - !?. CD (Aloud Music)
The debut EP from these madrileños falls somewhere between the electro punk of bands like Liars and the trash pop of Stereo Total: It's all very playful and such, but basically it's just yet another indie band, whose only distinction is the distortion on the vocals and the bass. Better than any of the other two bands from the Aloud label reviewed in this issue, Laihn and The Juniper Band, but nevertheless rather sucky.
http://www.aloudmusic.com

If you dig: Liars, Stereo Total, Blur

Jon A

Plain Fade- Lies, Sanctions and Cruise Missles (Punos Sound punos001)
With a CD title like this you would expect the band to come from the US or the UK, but no, Finland! The words in the middle of the CD booklet are for the thinking man and pretty heavy if you interpret them the way that I did.. Ok.. the music.. There are 6 trips on this CD, 4 long (over 7 min) and two short (under 4 min). The CD begins with Weapons of Mass Destruction a slow building track that reminds me very much of the dreamy moods created by Godspeed you to Earth Black Emperor. The band makes good use of samples in their music and also great dymanics. Blue Skies Ahead starts as a dreamy new age type track after the intense ending of the first track. Chips falling where they may and Cerebellum has some nice delay guitar and some lofty-airy vocals that give the music a bit of commercial feeling. The CD ends with the title track and this is the best track on the CD as well with a lot of different moods expressed.
http://www.plainfade.com
http://www.punossound.net

If you dig: God Speed you to Earth Black Emperor, Porcupine Tree

Scott

The Priscillas - Aloha From Holloway CD EP (Damaged Goods)
If you think The Donnas have become too sugarcoated then pick up this 5 tracker. The Brit gals have crashed the party and that means crude irresistable teenage punkrock with hints of garage, glam, powerpop and that 60s girlgroup sound. Raw guitar mayhem is superbly fused with plenty of melody and hooks from 'the girls with the biggest hair in town'. The cd is a collection of two 7"s, "Gonna Rip Up Your Photograph" (out of print) and "All My Friends Are Zombies", two videos for "Photograph" and "Zombies", plus an extra track "Can't Decide". There's no doubt in my mind that Jenny Drag, Kate Kannibal, Guri Go-Go and Marvis Minx will rule the planet by the end of this decade. File under F-U-N.
http://www.thepriscillas.com
http://www.damagedgoods.co.uk

If you dig: The Sirens, The Donnas, Bobbyteens

Jens

Rev. Savage And His Holy Rollers - You Got To Believe 7" (Savage Records) + All Hail Jesus 7"(Ken Rock Records)
The Savage 7" is the Rev. preaching over a rhytm'n'blues work out and the Ken 7" is more punk rock - like some mid-90s Crypt band kicking the coke habit and going holy. All the Jesus references scared me at first and my "joke band" alarm started going off as well, but after a few spins the music holds on it's own and the energy is there too. Not bad… The Ken Rock 7" comes with a nice fold out cover, a "religious" painting of the Holy Rollers and baby Jesus, with Adam and Eve in the background, making love doggy style under the infamous tree. I'm puzzled. Please tell me what this is all about? http://www.savagemagazine.com
kensplastic@hotmail.com

If you dig: ????????????????

Morten

Rock 'N' Roll Monkey And The Robots - Detroit Trauma (Drastic Plastic)
Sometimes you listen to music and get impressed from the incredible fidelity, marvelous production or ingenious cover design. Most of the time, you get annoyed because the music behind the production sucks, big time. Other times, you listen to music, and marvel at the musical
creativity, but you still want to strangle the band for having such bad production. With the rock 'n' roll monkeys, I only annoy about one thing: goddamn worst cover typography - by a mile. I love all the
other crap though; like the cheesy retro tin toys on the cover, the worst production I've ever heard (and yes, that's a good thing in this case), and their frantic - slightly scary - children's oriented punk-a-billy. It's good music, all through - but when a scary track intro with a toy monkey speaking! I mean - it's like "IT" all over again, and that shit freaks me out... Then you read the cover notes, and realize it's not that bad - you are just dealing with a completely psychotic band from the US - that calmed me down a bit. The tracks are deliberately recorded in sub-zero-fidelity - say in the back of a
truck, or in the basement of some Tofu restaurant. But as is always
the case with punk inspired music (and this is more in the lines of
60s psych grunge), lousy sound means good music. As they say on the
back of the record "Best played on the a Boom Box, in a car, heading
west". I can only agree, but don't have this on unless its dark and raining.
http://www.drastic-plastic.com

If you dig: Black Light Chameleons, The Hunches

Kristian

Rosetta West - Illumination (Rosetta West, 2005)
No, this has nothing to do with a girl named Rosetta West - in fact she is a he called Joseph Demagore! Illumination is produced and released by Mr. Demagore, who is also the creative hand behind most of the songs, the lyrics, vocals, the guitar and the harmonica. The sound is kind of rough lo-fi with a twist of Wait'ish scruffyness to the vocals and with quite minimalistic drums and percussions. Several songs have a clear and basic blues influence. The album presents two cover songs: Spoonful by Burnett/Willie Dixon and I'll never get over You by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates. All in all a pretty cool album written under the influence of venomous bees and antique gods Apollo and Pan according to the cover notes. It's leaned back, groovy and dirty - and I'm sure that Mr. Demagore knows the music of Edgar Broughton Band…At least I hear more than a few similarities!

If you dig: Early Jon Spencer, Edgar Broughton Band

Foxy

Rosetta West - Illumination
(Rosetta West Music 2005)
Another year and yes… another Rosetta West CD. I have become a great fan of Joseph Demagore's song writing and excellent interpretation of songs of old. He is nearly always backed by the same competent band that helps to bring life forward in the Rosetta West music. The CD is a bit more blues based on this outing which is fine with me. The CD begins with the amazing song, My Life. This also appeared as the first track on the IO Pan CD. I am not sure why it was redone here. Well, a great down and dirt track… Swingtime and Bible Bangin' Blues follow are excellent tracks with Joseph singing like hell! The classic blues track Spoonful is excellently interpreted. Chain of Fools is another excellent track and this leads into the amazing version of Fuckin' with my Head by Beck. Joseph destroys the Beck version though. Great song. Superior is Very Led Zeppelin influenced but has a great groove of it's own. The CD closes with By my Side. Well, this could be the best Rosetta West CD yet.. I highly recommend you check this artist out.
rosettawest@aol.com

If you dig: Tom Waits, Beck, Alvin Youngblood, James Blood Ulmer

Scott

7 that Spells - My mommy wants to Kiss your Mommy (R.A.I.G Music)
Well, 7 that Spells is back with another full on psychedelic rock attack. I reviewed the bands debut, which I liked very much. It was full on guitar soling Hendrix influenced acid rock. The band have stepped things up here and eaten a few tabs of Acid Mothers temple but the core feeling is the same in this instrumental acid rock. The addition of synthesizer on a few tracks makes things a bit more spaced but Niko's guitar playing is still super psyched! The CD begins with the title track and slowly builds up before the main guitar riff and soloing and ych rock! synth sounds kick in and off we go…. Psych rock trip begins for 54 minutes. I highly recommend this Croatian band.
http://www.7thatspells.com/

If you dig: Acid Mother's Temple, Jimi Hendrix, Acid Jamming…

Scott

Shadowplay - Morgue (Complete Recordings) (Stupid Records)
The sheer volume of this box set is daunting: 3 CD's... What to do -
what to do? Well, it must be like eating elephants. Wrong! It's not
like eating elephants, more like eating 10 of them. I was stuck after
the first CD - I tried drinking some water, but it didn't help. I had
Shadowplay stuffed in every part of my body - and to be honest, I
wanted it off...It's not that their music is bad, they play well - and have good
tracks, but 3 freaking CD's of a David Bowie inspired 80s rock band?
No thank you, I can get that from a The Smiths LP (yuck). Oh and what is
this? Saxophone? What is this - a Finnish Moonjam?
Decent rock and roll, but not something I would personally invest in.
I've never heard of Shadowplay before, so maybe I owe them a second
chance - but in the back of my head, I hear voices screaming another
round of CD Frisbee.
http://www.stupido.fi/shadowplay

If you dig: David Bowie, The Smiths

Kristian **

Siena Root - New Day Dawning (Nasoni Records 033)
This is the first full length CD/LP by the excellent 70's rock inspired Swedish band, Siena Root. The band has put out 4 demo cds over the past couple of years. Some of those excellent tracks were recorded for this debut as well. There is a great variety of stuff and not only does the record feature superb vocals and playing but a lot of variety from crunching heavy guitar riffs (What can I do) but always very melodic and the organ playing a nice supporting role. Fever is a cool blues song and reminds me of the Allman Brothers. Rasayana is really cool track with sitar and a great heavy song develops out of it. Trippin' is probably my favorite track on the CD with some nice jamming. Little Man reminds me of early 70's Deep Purple in some way. Roots begins with a Doors like organ and a very laid back groove and develops into a cool melodic track. The very heavy Into the Woods ends this great CD and again highlights all the great playing on this CD by the whole band. The band has recently made a big change with the lead singer (Oscar) leaving the band. He also played the organ. He has been replaced by a fantastic new singer, Sonya and you can soon hear her debut on a new 7" coming out on Nasoni Records called Mountain Songs.
www.sienaroot.com
www.nasoni-records.com

If you dig: Allman Brothers, Mouth of Clay, Abramis Brama, November

Scott

Street Brats - See You At The Bottom CD
(Full Breach Kicks)
I liked the Chicago band's "You'll Never Walk Alone" 7" (two songs here are included), but overall "See You At The Bottom" is just too bland uptempo sing-along poppunk without much identity or originality. A track like "Southbound" is almost Ramones' "My Brain Is Hangin' Upside Down" note-for-note with new lyrics. It's not bad, I just need more in 2005 to get my rocks off. But Maximum Rock'n'Roll loves them, so what the fuck do I know?
http://www.fullbreach77.com
http://www.streetbrats.net

If you dig: Ramones, Queers, Parasites

Jens

Warren Suicide - I Know U CDS (Fume Recordings/Iceberg Records)
Warren Suicide - Warren Suicide CD + DVD (Fume Recordings/Iceberg Records)
Huh? Electro clash, will you? This is about as off the mark for this magazine as Aavikko above, but once again I'll try and act nice. This very Berlin trio play electro clash in the manner of their fellow Berliners Chicks On Speed, which means very detached, very arty, very self conscious, but unfortunately lacking the punk spirit the was present on at least the early COS singles. It's not something I can get myself worked up over, even if a cover of Sisters Of Mercy's "Black Planet" is somewhat nostalgic and reminds me of high school, black nail varnish, hair spray, stale beer, and too many teenage boys cramped in a bedroom. The "Warren Suicide" mini album is the better of the two - the single being just a bunch of crappy electro remixes - and includes a DVD with videos and stuff.
http://www.warrensuicide.com
http://www.fume.co.uk

If you dig: Chicks On Speed, The Faint, Depeche Mode

Jon A

Thor - Rock against the World
(Smog Veil Records SV57CD)
Thor fuckin' ROCKS! These guys from LA have a hell of an attitude, which I guess comes from having to make it on the LA rock scene, with millions of bands. Well, the THOR has been around for a long time, arising on the scene in the late 70s. IT took me a while to realize it was the same guy I had read about years back… Ha.. anyway.. this CD have a wide variety of all pure hard rocking sing a long rock anthems… Some in the AC/DC meets Brownsville Station vibe (Creature Feature) and some with a more metal attack (Turn to Blue). The lyrics are sometimes funny, sometimes clever and sometimes down right silly. Easy Woman is a foot stomping rocker dedicated to the Roller Derby queens, I guess. Serpents Kiss is a hell of a catchy number with a thumping bass line and laid back vocals. Gonna have a hard time reminds me of mid 70's KISS. Hard to Cry has a very 60'sounding guitar and features harmonica and a very raw production sound compared to the other tracks. Megaton Man is a true sing along anthem including cheesy casio keyboards… The CD ends with perhaps the best track on the CD, The Coming of Thor.. Fun stuff..
www.thorcentral.com

If you dig: AC/DC, Gwar

scott

Time To Burn - Starting Point CD
(Basement Apes Industries/Overcome Distribution)
Ahh, brilliant!
Big, ugly, masochistic, nihilistic, hateful, mean, loathsome, poetically desperate noise out of Paris, of all places. Guess then it's not all baguettes, accordions, and girls who don't trim their intimate parts down there anyway; at least it sounds like someone is doing some serious suffering in the city of whose inhabitants Georges Perec painted a none-too-flattering portrait decades ago, and, judging from this, the debut album from Time To Burn, things haven't exactly bettered since then. They might lack the philosophical finesse of Perec, but none of the grandeur: This is truly the sound of a city crushing down on itself. And it's kind of appealing, in a strangely perverted way, like drinking yourself further and further into a stupor for no other reason than trying to hit the bottom, which is where you find Time To Burn. Musically, this falls into the post-hard core / metal core / screamo category along with bands like Neurosis (sans bagpipes, thanks God!), Refused, and our own Psyke Project: Of epic scale, de rigeur screaming, immensely heavy guitars, march drums, the works. Beautiful in the same way a Bosch painting is it, and mirroring some of the same content. Highly, highly recommended!
http://www.timetoburn.fr.st
http://www.basementapesind.com
http://www.overcomerecords.com

If you dig: Neurosis, Unsane, Refused

Jon A

Tokyo Sex Destruction - 5th Avenue South CD (BCore Discs)
Ian Svenonius might hate all the bands that imitate the blueprint he laid down with Make-Up for uniform clad 60's r'n'r laced with revolutionary agitprop, as he indicated in LowCut # 3, but since he let that band go, I suppose someone's gotta carry on the torch. The (International) Noise Conspiracy do a good job of it, our own Magic Bullet Theory (interviewed as far back as LowCut #1) have forsaken the uniforms and evolved, and now Tokyo Sex Destruction too have moved a step up. On the EP I heard last spring, they were still stuck in clichés, but on this, their second album I think, they have bloomed into a might in their own right. RJ Sinclair's voice is big and roaring like Rob Tyner's, and on songs like "Song to Apologize" and "Good Morning" it all explodes in bongos, citars, and female back up vox. A very positive, sun-tinged record, produced by the always ept Santi Garcia of fellow Catalans No More Lies, and "L.U.V. Is the Feeling" might just be the best ballad of the year.
http://www.tokyosexdestruction.com

If you dig: The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Make-Up, MC-5

Jon A

Toner Low (Roadkill Rekords RKR013)
Toner Low is from Holland and this is their first full length CD. It contains 6 tracks in 46 minutes with never ending riffing, sonic drones, psychedelic trips and low-end heaviness, and a fucking great sound production (but you might have to turn down your subwoofer, if you have one or the building might collapse!) Strange artwork on this sort of digipack… no song titles on the CD or artwork, no mention of who or who many people are in the band, just some minimal info and some lyrics and the words" You are about to enter into the world of TonerLow, play Loud for maximum Effect". It is not until you put the CD into the player that you realize that the 6 lines of which appear like a poem are actually the track titles. Clever…The CD begins with an 8½ minute track that begins with a Colour Haze like bass line before the enormous guitar riffs kick in. The vocal is highly distorted an adds a strange effect. I like the bands use of samples in the next track, weighing in at nearly 9 minutes! Endless Fields is a short 2 minute track over which a strummed tuned down guitar or bass is played and a sort of static slowly builds up and takes over before the next track begins. Praying for Murphy's Law to arise begins with a slow circle like repetitive bass line which suddenly pauses and the heavy shit begins a cool story told by and Irish or Scottish guy is speaking behind the wall of sound. This track fades into the Sunn of Nymrod, which is a slow spaced out drone track. The final track, We will Conqueror is a killer 14 minute journey with spaced out synths at the beginning and a groove that is quite cool. This track is a monster. Phew… awesome stuff… get stoned!
www.roadkillrekordz.com

If you dig: Electric Wizard, Sons of Otis, YOB

Scott

Tristess - Vad Ska Vi Bli? (Ny Våg/Cage Match Federation)
Tristess sound pissed off in a snotty way and sing in Swedish about the absurd and depressing aspects of life in the happiest country on earth. The music is simple but very effective, like a "best of" mix of early punk rock and hardcore, with a twist of the secret ingredient. The saxophone riff on Falck (a song about the local security brutes) sounds like it was taken from an X-Ray Spex song and with names like Kjell Rebell, Sasse Kriminell and Johnny Farlig, Tristess are definitely paying homage to Ebba Grön, P.F. Commando etc., but never mind all that. You're not gonna care whether this was recorded 28 years ago or somewhere in Umeå 2004, because it's GREAT punk rock and you'll be too busy jumping around singing along to all of the 9 songs on this disc. Snygg!
http://www.wastedsounds.com

If you dig: Ebba Grön, Gorilla Angreb, The Regulations

Morten

The Vicious - Suicidal Generation 7"(Cage Match Federation)
Somebody's slacking in the A&R department of Wasted Sounds HQ! This combo look and sound like they spend more time in the punk rock accessories department than out on the street. If you sing about society turning it's back on you and stop thinking about the future now, you have to sound like you mean it and not like you're worried about breaking a nail or f%&king up your expensive organic mascara. With only 2 songs on a 7", at least one of them's gotta burn a whole in the floor, but I don't even smell smoke on any of these. http://www.wastedsounds.com

Morten

Whiskey Daredevils - Greatest Hits CD
(Drink And Drive)
The Cowslingers Are Dead! Long Live The Whiskey Daredevils! The Cowslingers were one of my all time fave 90s bands, so I was happy as a pig covered in shit when I got this album. Basically it's the same musical approach; twangy cowpunk'n'roll that kicks like a mule in heat. And that ain't strange since 3 of the 4 'slingers are in Whiskey Daredevils. The 'Greatest Hits' title is a goof, it's Ohio rootsrockers' debut album and it's best fuckin' record I've heard so far in 2005. Everyone of the 12 tracks is outrageously superb, from the rowdy country take on Dead Kennedys's "Let's Lynch The Landlord", to speedy rockabilly raunch like "Ida Jane" and "Ironic Trucker Hat" and the slide guitar mayhem of "Greaser Box". THIS IS THE SHIT! http://www.whiskeydaredevils.com

If you dig: Cowslinger, Legendary Shack Shakers, Gun Club

Jens

Zombina And The Skeletones - Staci Stasis CDS (Ectoplastic)
Our Liverpool ghouls are still out searching for the perfect powerpop sound all over the solar system, and this time Zombina hits bull's eye. "Staci Stasis" is Pandoras with a touch of Devo, fan-fuckin-new-wave-tastic! "Astroboy" sports a rawer punkier geetar raunch, but the melody has that vintage 60s girlband-sound, while "Red Planet" is more garagerock-ish with a strong emphasis on powerpop. ? And The Mysterians with extra candy? A new album is coming out in the beginning of 2006, and their out-of-print debut "Taste The Blood Of Zombina And The Skeletones" will be re-released later this year. This single is also released on 7" vinyl. If you wanna know more about Britian's finest punkpopsters read the Lowcut interview http://www.lowcut.dk/024_lc/interview/4.asp - just remember, in space no one can hear you scream!
http://www.zombina.com

If you dig: Revillos, Pandoras, Shangri-Las

Jens

V/A - The Ultimate Stupido Sampler (Before the Next One) CD
(Stupido Records)
Basically a calling card for this 16 years old Finnish label, and not a very convincing one either, at least it lacks anything like a red thread, since the music varies from the bad electro pop of Giant Robot over the psych pop of The Hypnomen to the folk music of Eläkeläiset. Which would even be OK, if they could just manage to hold some kind of standard, but all of this is pretty boring; even Boomhauer, whose Bad Afro 7" "Work on a Spell" I raved about back in LowCut #11, are disappointingly drab and indie-sounding on their two tracks. Another band I know from an old record are Shadowplay, who, as I recall them, used to be pretty dark, and whose singer Brandi Ifgray made a fine solo album in the mid 90's, but here sound like a Pet Shop Boys b-side. I'm sure this label must have done something right along the way, or they wouldn't have been able to keep it up for so long, but this presentation is rather disconcerting.
http://www.stupido.fi

If you dig: The Hypnomen, Boomhauer, Eläkeläiset

Jon A