Bite Me! CD Reviews G - R

The God Awfuls – Next Stop Armageddon (Kung Fu)  1/2

I have to admit: I like the idea of having an interactive press kit included on the CD with the music.  Easy access to photos and band links.  The part I hate is it has to keep reloading every time I take the CD out of the computer.  Now on to the music!  The God Awfuls are a little harder then the usual Kung Fu crowd is used to.  Every other word is fuck.  Usually, that’s not a bad thing.  But when the Kung Fu target crowd is a parent-friendly 14 years old or so, that’s debatable.  The God Awfuls definitely come from an old school attitude of hard politically tinged lyrics with a slightly hardcore musical style but poppy enough to appeal to many.  They are the tequila popper for a new generation – smooth enough to swallow, cool enough to tell your friends about, and harsh enough to slap you around a little bit.  -J

Industrial Playground – Too Far Down The Rabbit Hole (Vash Records) 1/2

Such a promising name…too bad their music is crap.  I’m sure Industrial Playground is going to hate me, but getting through this album was about as hard as eating a peanut butter sandwich without the jelly and a glass of milk to wash it down.  Too Far Down The Rabbit Hole begins with an elementary synth intro that sounds as if it was composed on a tinker toy keyboard.  The dull monotonous vocals on the follow up track failed to offer any hope of redemption.  It gets worse when Vash decides to get all Mr. Self Destruct on our ass.  I really hate band bashing, which is why I’m ending this review now.  -NIN

Jack Irons – Attention Dimension (Breaching Whale Records)

Being a former drummer for Pearl Jam, the Chili Peppers, and Eleven doesn't necessarily mean you should create a very self-indulgent new age record.  But, that didn't stop Jack Irons.  He also called up his former bandmates to appear throughout the record.  Most notably, the eggs all mostly end up in one basket: a cover of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" sung by Eddie Vedder with Les from Primus on bass.  While this is intriguing enough to merit a listen, having 2 songs over 12 minutes on your record sinks it to the ground.  The fact that those songs were also filled with tribal beats also gave me a raging headache that makes this review a little more difficult to write.  -Repojay

Jersey – Generation Genocide (Stay Gold) 1/4

The foursome from Ontario creep up on you with their Bad Religion meets Rancid meets U2 sound.  It’s melodic yet rebellious and fun.  Generation Genocide is packed with one rockin’ anthem after another -- “The Story of ’53,” “Violation,” “Richmond Resurrection,” and “One Way Street”.  You can sing along to every song, and if you’re off key it’s okay.  Screw bubble gum punk when you have something as fun and refreshing as Jersey.  These boys represent the new face of punk and you don’t have to be fifteen to enjoy it.  -NIN

Josh Todd – You Made Me (Todd Entertainment/XS Records) 1/4

Let’s just say that I was pleasantly surprised by this disc, and coming from someone who wouldn’t even listen to a Buckcherry CD that says a lot.  What you get in Josh Todd’s debut (J.T. is an actually band and not a solo project) is a little bit of Buckcherry with more grit and a lot more balls.  Some songs are enjoyable from the get-go, others are like “hmm, I don’t know,” but midway through you find yourself bopping along and by the end you’re screamin’ “hell yeah!”  Sometimes change is good, and Josh Todd has proven that he can roll with the punches.  Check out the punk edginess of “Blast” and “Flowers & Cages,” the hypnotic melodies of “Shine,” the soothing tones of “Broken,” and the high voltage jolt of “Mind Infection”.  You Made Me is a good time rock ‘n’ roll record that deserves to be played alongside the likes of Jet.  -NIN

Jucifer – War Bird (Velocette Records) 1/2

Alternating between frantic punk-metal and tripped out atmospherics, Jucifer’s music has always been a hit or miss.  And, War Bird is no exception.  The Athens duo’s penchant for sludge core is obvious; however, it just doesn’t suit them.  It’s Jucifer’s garage rock haute couture that shows the most promise. This is what the duo should focus on.  Eclectic, original, and creative, Jucifer has the potential.  However, they are in need of direction. War Bird is a raw collection of sludge, rock, punk, noise-pop, and whatever happened to suit Amber & Ed’s mood at the moment.  I respect it, but don’t love it. –NIN

The Junior Varsity – The Great Compromise (British Records Corp) 1/4

Sounding like a very hip mix of Dashboard Confessional and Yellowcard, The Junior Varsity is the indie incarnation of cool.  For some reason, these guys are still playing $7 shows?  On The Great Compromise, the Junior Varsity sounds like they are ready to go to the next level.  On the emo rocker checklist: lead vocalist with cracky voice – check.  Are they cute? – check.  Do they write meaningful songs? – check.  And do they rock occasionally? – triple check.  And they’re on indie label British Records.  What more could 15 year old girls want?  Chris Carrabba is soooo over (I hope).  Give the good old JV a try.  -J

Kennedy (Sea Level Records) 1/2

Before even listening to a note from Kennedy, I was sucked into reading his press that quotes him as being crushed at the moment he learned that Barry Manilow did not write the song, “I Write the Songs”.  Then I turned on his full-length debut and was thrilled by the spirited rock songs he wrote, namely “Wake Up Motherfucker” and “Turkey Pot Pie,” with its not so genius lyric, “Blue balls ain’t know fun”.  Vocalist/bassist Kennedy is joined by guitarist Yves Lelevier and drummer Aaron Finley.  The trio rocks hard, fast, and fun through ten songs with titles like, “Cocaine Junkie o.d.,” “Goatfuck,” “Coldpussy” and the super fun “I Love Me”.  This album is lo-fi luxury.  -Brendan McMahon

The Kicks – Hello Hong Kong (TVT) 1/4

The Kicks are an energetic four piece out of Little Rock, Arkansas, who play music that is reminiscent of The Killers, Stellastarr*, and the Replacements.  Addictive, bright tones mix with buoyant harmonies and adhesive hooks in order to create some catchy and addictive tunes.  Hello Hong Kong delivers a plethora of peppy indie rock songs laced with catchy pop hooks.  Let’s just say, The Kicks have the formula down.  Check these boys out.  -NIN

Less – Cover, Protective, Individual (Firecodecore.com) 1/2

Less, a mysterious San Francisco three-piece, presents some hauntingly acoustic pieces on Cover, Protective, Individual.  Influenced by the likes of Tool and A Perfect Circle, these progressive manifestations will expand your conscious psyche into the most outer realms, while atmospheric textures and soothing flamenco tones set the mood for the relaxing ride.  Aside from the monotony – it’s not bad. -NIN

Manmade God (American Recordings) 0

Dear Manmade God:

Soundgarden broke up last decade.  Their sound was over last decade.  Any attempt at updating the sound is already being done by Audioslave.  Your lame-ass attempt at sounding like Soundgarden was worse than Whitesnake trying to sound like Led Zeppelin.  Give it up now while you're young enough to get a day job.

Sincerely, Repojay

Midtown - Forget What You Know (Columbia Records)

OK...according to the title, I'll forget what I know, which is Midtown is a decent emo band.  Because this Midtown is total crappy mainstream rock.  If you ever thought punk has become the new 80s metal, this record will complete your argument.  If you truly appreciated the album when the Goo Goo Dolls went from gritty to wimpy ballads, then maybe this record is for you.  -Repojay

Misfits - Project 1950 (Misfits/Ryko)

This record is easily one of the more bizarro releases to come out with the Misfits’ name; yet it seems so far removed from the original Misfits that I wonder if you even should call this a Misfits Record.  Like Santana did when he got a bunch of fat bland rock stars to turn his smoldering guitar work from 20 years earlier to bland Clear-Channel mush. Jerry does the punk version of this by bringing aboard Marky Ramone, Black Flag alum Dez Cadena and Ronnie Spector (!) to dig up 10 chestnuts from the 50's (not one actually from 1950 like the title suggests) and give them a gothic punk edge.  This works for actual garage rock like "Great Balls Of Fire," but could you really punk up "This Magic Moment"?  And isn't the Misfits covering "Monster Mash" a little too obvious?  Because it ain't cheap to record these old songs (and reprint their lyrics which costs extra dough), there's only 10 songs and the album seems like a gyp at 24-minutes.  However, there is a bonus DVD full of the requisite crappy live performances these bonus DVDs are quickly becoming known for.  The liner notes also includes 4 pages on the dissection of how to write a perfect pop song.  How far away from punk can you actually get??  -Repojay

Mother Superior - 13 Violets (Top Beat Records) 1/2

LA based Mother Superior deliver the goods on 13 Violets, their sixth release.  Produced by Wayne Kramer (MC5) the Mother (Jim Wilson-Guitarist/vocalist, Marcus Blake-bassist and Jason Mackenroth-drums) rocks 12 tracks of heavy rock and soul.  Perhaps better known as musicians of Rollins Band, this Mother is visceral, tough, and sturdy.  Based on the sweet soul of “Everything is Alright” and “I Desire You,” we may next see Mother Superior supporting the Reverend Al Green.  That billing might piss off the church, but it would be sure to take audiences past the river and on a stairway to heaven.  In addition to their friends Henry Rollins and Wayne Kramer, producers Daniel Lanois (U2, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan) and Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T-Rex, Thin Lizzy) have both endorsed Mother Superior.  Kneel at the altar of Mother Superior if you want to get into heaven, or just sing along to “Four Walls”.  – Brendan McMahon

My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult – Self-Titled

My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult – I See Good Spirits and I See Bad Spirits

My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult – Confessions of a Knife

(Rykodisc) 3/4

God bless Rykodisc for re-releasing these three great classic discs from the masters of the dance floor.  All three CD’s are thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended for your collection.  They are also great for long drives because they make the commute time seem shorter and traffic more tolerable.  Each disc is re-mastered and comes with three additional bonus tracks.  The self-titled effort (originally released under the moniker Kooler Than Jesus) features a tight as version of “Cuz It’s Hot”.  Confessions of a Knife dishes up an addictive blend of funky and organic instrumentation.  I See Good Spirits…is driven by nihilistic messages and pulsating beats.  Pick these little gems up and discover why TKK had such an impact on the dance floor.  -NIN

Nine Pound Hammer - Kentucky Breakdown (Acetate Records)

In my mind, there's no doubt that there's just not enough straight-up, whiskey-chasin', fired up, redneck bar rock around.  I'm always itchin' to floor my hot rod (if I had one) every time I hear one of these groups.  Nine Pound Hammer really tries hard to hit the trucker-on-Red-Bull aesthetic that Southern Culture On The Skids practically own, but they just miss the mark.  Lead singer Blaine Cartwright fared much better with the female chemistry in his other group Nashville Pussy.  Here, it's just a bunch of guys tryin' to rile shit up, but the tank is only half-full.  –Repojay

Oblivion – The Garden in the Machine  (Audiokio Productions/ Oblivionrockmusic.com) 1/2

There is something very comforting about hearing eager musicians who obviously love what they do, which is play old-fashioned prog rock with what a smidge of modern twist.  Oblivion’s Garden in the Machine is sometimes very Spinal Tap, then they turn a corner and get you with their sincerity.  I really, really wanted to hate this band, with their Stonehenge-like cover art and font (that just blows, guys), but this is why we don’t judge CD’s by their covers when we review them.  The second half of the song “The Virgin and the Dynamo” is outstanding!  The first song “Situation Six” made me want to run screaming from the room while the band did their best Darkness impression and their drummer’s heavy-handedness made me miss Tommy Lee.  On occasion, they even have flashes of Tool while wielding the double guitar onslaught.  Schizophrenic?  Absolutely.  Hate it?  It’s not going in my collection, but Oblivion has their moments if you like that kind of thing.  –J

Orgy – Punk Statik Paranoia (D1-Music) 1/4

Unfortunately, as with most bands, the record industry chewed Orgy up and spit them out like a stale piece of gum.  And, sadly, the band may forever be remembered as ‘one-hit wonders’ for their cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday,” but you still have to give them credit, especially Jay Gordon, for not letting the suits kill their spirit.  Instead of blowing all his money on booze and women, Jay started his own label, D1 Music, in order to put his production and writing talents to good use and help some talented bands out as well.  Punk Statik Paranoia isn’t very mind-blowing, nor is it mediocre, but it’s Orgy through and through.  From the signature distortion to the subterranean fuzz bass, to the deep rhythmic grooves, to Jay’s distinctive wail.  The first couple of tracks are a little weak, but the disc gains strength as it moves along.  Standouts include “Make Up Your Mind,” The Obvious,” and “Inside My Head”.  Whatever you do, don’t write Orgy off yet. These boys still have a few tricks up their sleeves.  -NIN

Piebald - All Ears, All Eyes, All The Time (Side One Dummy)

To me, Piebald has been another super-young, faceless Emo band who really had nothing new to offer and certainly nothing to make me pay attention.  However, their new record changes all that.  Simultaneously going to a more mature sound (think Ben Folds in spots) while growing even more lighthearted, Piebald have managed to transcend the genre and make it more open to more ears.  They've also made their songwriting much more endearing.  And while there's still some immaturity lyrically, they have finally escaped the high school years from which they started in and moved a big leap forward into being an intelligent band for young and old.  -Repojay

Pinkeye D'Gekko - Dry Clothes For The Drowning (Force MP Entertainment)

This album does so many left turns it practically drives itself around the block twice!  The block that it's on isn't the most interesting thing in the world, but as a vehicle that keeps circling your block you can't help but keep watching.  Maybe it's dangerous; maybe it's there to protect you.  But, as the (atrociously named) Pinkeye D'Gekko circles your block, it ensnares you first with some standard bar rock only to digress into near-aggro metal.  After that, tight Britpop sounds disarm you before the pub rock rears its head another time and so on and so on.  No one song is particularly great, but just for the sheer admiring of an unsigned band to have the audacity to shift musical gears so often and never wreck makes it a very worthy listen.  -Repojay

Polysics – Neu (Asian Man Records) 1/2

Self described as the Japanese Devo, and dressing up every bit the part, the quartet Polysics also owe a debt to Kraftwerk, B-52s, and the band whose namesake graces this record.  The big problem with this is no one should every try such a mix in their right mind.  I don't care what drugs you decide to take, just pick one of these and don't expect us to digest the whole bunch, as you're only likely to end up in a pretentious mess.  That said, Polysics don't do nearly that poor of a job, but I can't sit here and recommend this ping-pong-y mess of an experiment in dated musical genres.  Interesting in moments and blips, this could be just one of those mix tape moments type-of discs, but your head just may explode if you listen to the whole thing all the way through at once.  -Repojay

Production Club – Follow Your Bliss (Lunch Records) 3/4

Production Club is the brainchild of producer Wally Gagel.  Along the lines of Moby’s ‘Play’, Follow Your Bliss is a great album in which Gagel integrates varied influences to create an eclectic and diverse collection of tunes that contain lots of tantalizing grooves and flavorful beats. “Let Go of the Reigns,” with its blend of street gospel, tribal chants, and raw techno beats is a prime example.  Tracks range from the reggae-inflected “Sacrifice” to the Brit synth pop vibe of “Man on the Scene”.  This talented individual can create appropriate accompaniments for other artists and fluidly mix them with his own self-expressions.  The compositions that feature guest vocals are very complimentary to the style of the artist.  All in all, Follow Your Bliss is an enjoyable to listen to from beginning to end.  -NIN   

The Rasmus – Dead Letters (Interscope) 1/4

“In The Shadows,” the intro track brought back memories of Savage Garden.  “Guilty,” and the next couple of songs that follow, called to mind a modern day Bon Jovi.  The Rasmus, a band out of Finland who prefer to be known on a first name basis, write the most catchiest, commercial tunes on the planet.  Ripe with of gleaming melodies, driving riffs, and anthemic choruses, these powerful tracks will soon be infecting airwaves near you.  -NIN

Red Tape – RadioActivist (RoadRunner)

Fans of Amen will definitely dig what Red Tape has to offer.  This Sacrament-based band draws heavily from the hardcore/post hardcore of the late ‘80s.  RadioActivist is chock full of high-energy tunes that you can thrash, pogo, and flail your arms to.  The crushing riffs and pummeling beats provide lots of quality head banging moments.  These politically minded, razor-sharp anthems barely let you come up for air.  Mosh enthusiasts will enjoy the freight train riffs of “Strike Tonight” and the smokin’ hot grooves of the Fugazi-influenced “Reactor”.  -NIN