New Year, great!
So it's New Year's eve day and I am sitting in the Rift office, at 6:00 AM typing away and listening to a new batch of CDs I have in. Plus I am compiling all the music releases of 2006 for the new issue which goes to press on Wednesday. I will probably fall asleep tonight about 9:00 pm so I can come into the office tommorow morning and finish up the new issue. Anyway enough of my whining - let's listen.
The Skullcranes - "Wt. Trashmore"
Spread eagle over the line of hard rock and pop punk, The Skullcranes have crafted a solid CD of cool songs. Song titles like "Nice Day For A Muscle Tee" and first tracks like "Anoka County" that has a great hook. Overall a pleasurable listening experience.
Patchouli - "The Light Behind You"
This band is from Wisconsin but makes some trips into Minneapolis to play. The name is aptly describing, hippie-ish folk with acoustic guitars and mellow rythyms and laid back vocals. It doesn't knock my socks off, but doesn't smell like socks either.
Catchpenny - "From Where You Are"
There are tons of bands in town, who I might have heard of briefly but never realized how much they have accomplished nationally or how busy they have been without even making a buzz here at all. Catchpenny are smoothly produced mid heavy pop music and while it might sells records and allows these guys to make some money it doesn't do much for me on a critical level.
Small White - Demo
It says on their one sheet they have released an EP called "Make it Small" but this CD isn't labeled as that release. These guys have some potential, they mix up a good stew of early 80's alt punk but seem to pull off a pretty good version of their own thing. They are looking for a record label to release their full length CD they have recorded but they should do it themselves and put their hand on the table.
Sounding Spirals - Self Titled or "2006"
Ray Dybzinski uses his background music for a live show that includes a self made laser light show which looks sort of like a spirograph pattern. The music is instrumental and interesting but would be enhanced by the light show, a few drinks or a few hits of something.
Alpha Consumer - Self Titled
Sometimes when the list of musicians on a CD are accomplished you get worried they might spew out something while musically enlightning it ends up boring and pretentious. The members of this band are great players, but also seem to understand that music listeners like songs that aren't hard to digest. Alpha Consumer does a good job creating interesting songs with some great noisy music behind it.
Mouthful of Bees - "The End"
With all the pre-drinking age bands that are playing in this town with the help of Afternoon Records, it is astonishing of the number of these bands that are very good. The only thing that irks me is that these bands are more schooled on indie rock then I am. It's my petty jealousy that tells me to say that while Mouthful of Bees are good, they don't necessarily stand out in the horde of other emotionally challenged post teenage bands. Live a little, play a little longer then come back and rock me.
In Pictures - "Self Titled"
This band fits really well into the local what I like to call "post 30 slow indie" I just coined that term and while it might not catch on because it is too long here is what it is. Halloween Alaska, Duplomacy, These Modern Socks etc... It is emotional indie rock, technically sound and well produced. I know some people under 30 that dig the stuff, and actually there is a great audience for it. I just happen to not get it, and luckily most of the Rift writers and other music people do.
The Jupes - "Self Titled"
This band gave me three categories to put their CD into - Suck, Competent studio effort, but couldn't play music to save their life and decent CD recorded by capable musicians. Music is never that quite cut and dry, and while they sound like capable musicians and can play the music isn't that captivating. Maybe in a Hotel lounge or entertaining some shriners or playing at the naval base that Spinal Tap were wrongly booked for in the movie of the same name.
Ouija Radio - "OH NO... YES! YES!"
I remember hearing the first Ouija Radio release right about the time Rift started and was not overally impressed. Popping in this CD, I was totally blown away and couldn't believe it was the same band. I will have dig up the first CD and see what I missed, maybe I was having a bad day. They have a great hard rock sound infused with a great vocal sound, and the songs are great.
Maudlin - "The Penitent Never Regret" and an advance copy of the song "Stacy Dahl"
I guessed I just forgot about this band, and then the CD they released in 2005 came in my mailbox. While on one of their reviews, they are compared to Nirvana and the Pixies, I feel they more sound like X (John Doe Vocals) when David Priebe does the vocals and without the rockabilly. I might have to give this a few more spins, I am really starting to dig it. When I was starting to put the CD away another CD in a paper envelope which I thought was a CD with photos on it and all the usual press stuff but it was an advance copy of the song "Stacy Dahl" which is more of the same as what is on the first CD but a bit better. Watch out for this band, they are looking like they might make some waves in this town.
Flink - "Volvo" single from their upcoming full length.
This song is really good, sort of poppy but heavy guitars and a little bit noisy. I look forward to hearing more from this band.
Chooglin' - Self Titled
While they were picked to Click and somewhat critically acclaimed, I haven't got the just of Chooglin' yet. Maybe they are a love them or hate them band, and while I am still somewhere in between. While the Midnight Evils rocked, both Chooglin' and the other offspin band The Bullets haven't affected me the same way. Maybe it's not fair to compare members previous band to the last band they were in, but where is the magic that the Midnight Evils sent deep into my loins.
Grace Darling - On The Tracks
The roots, bluegrass and folk scene have really blossomed in town. Grace Darling plays a haunting mix of olde time music with the acoustic guitars, banjos and other old timey instruments. What they haven't done which might be to their benefit is stick to the rules of bluegrass and olde time music and have created a unique sound.
Blacktop Badge - Self Titled
Country and blues tinged rock and roll, in a CD package that looks like a hard rock CD. They seem like they would be a great bar band if they mixed in some covers. Other then that, I don't see anything to anything to complain about or write home about either.
Ruthless - Strawberry
Who is the guy in the gangster handkerchief with the crazy hair, that is all I want to know. This is a pretty solid hip-hop CD. I like the lowend bass lines wandering through the tracks and the loops sound well produced without being over produced, and the rhymes are dope! Sorry about that it just flowed out, like the flow of the rapping on this CD. I like the fact they have a unique vocal sound, and while once in awhile you can hear a little Atmosphere or may I say a hoarse Eminem without getting harassed, it never sounds copied or just like anything else.
Wow,
That was quite a list. Enjoy your new year and I might be able to get in another post by the 2nd.
The Skullcranes - "Wt. Trashmore"
Spread eagle over the line of hard rock and pop punk, The Skullcranes have crafted a solid CD of cool songs. Song titles like "Nice Day For A Muscle Tee" and first tracks like "Anoka County" that has a great hook. Overall a pleasurable listening experience.
Patchouli - "The Light Behind You"
This band is from Wisconsin but makes some trips into Minneapolis to play. The name is aptly describing, hippie-ish folk with acoustic guitars and mellow rythyms and laid back vocals. It doesn't knock my socks off, but doesn't smell like socks either.
Catchpenny - "From Where You Are"
There are tons of bands in town, who I might have heard of briefly but never realized how much they have accomplished nationally or how busy they have been without even making a buzz here at all. Catchpenny are smoothly produced mid heavy pop music and while it might sells records and allows these guys to make some money it doesn't do much for me on a critical level.
Small White - Demo
It says on their one sheet they have released an EP called "Make it Small" but this CD isn't labeled as that release. These guys have some potential, they mix up a good stew of early 80's alt punk but seem to pull off a pretty good version of their own thing. They are looking for a record label to release their full length CD they have recorded but they should do it themselves and put their hand on the table.
Sounding Spirals - Self Titled or "2006"
Ray Dybzinski uses his background music for a live show that includes a self made laser light show which looks sort of like a spirograph pattern. The music is instrumental and interesting but would be enhanced by the light show, a few drinks or a few hits of something.
Alpha Consumer - Self Titled
Sometimes when the list of musicians on a CD are accomplished you get worried they might spew out something while musically enlightning it ends up boring and pretentious. The members of this band are great players, but also seem to understand that music listeners like songs that aren't hard to digest. Alpha Consumer does a good job creating interesting songs with some great noisy music behind it.
Mouthful of Bees - "The End"
With all the pre-drinking age bands that are playing in this town with the help of Afternoon Records, it is astonishing of the number of these bands that are very good. The only thing that irks me is that these bands are more schooled on indie rock then I am. It's my petty jealousy that tells me to say that while Mouthful of Bees are good, they don't necessarily stand out in the horde of other emotionally challenged post teenage bands. Live a little, play a little longer then come back and rock me.
In Pictures - "Self Titled"
This band fits really well into the local what I like to call "post 30 slow indie" I just coined that term and while it might not catch on because it is too long here is what it is. Halloween Alaska, Duplomacy, These Modern Socks etc... It is emotional indie rock, technically sound and well produced. I know some people under 30 that dig the stuff, and actually there is a great audience for it. I just happen to not get it, and luckily most of the Rift writers and other music people do.
The Jupes - "Self Titled"
This band gave me three categories to put their CD into - Suck, Competent studio effort, but couldn't play music to save their life and decent CD recorded by capable musicians. Music is never that quite cut and dry, and while they sound like capable musicians and can play the music isn't that captivating. Maybe in a Hotel lounge or entertaining some shriners or playing at the naval base that Spinal Tap were wrongly booked for in the movie of the same name.
Ouija Radio - "OH NO... YES! YES!"
I remember hearing the first Ouija Radio release right about the time Rift started and was not overally impressed. Popping in this CD, I was totally blown away and couldn't believe it was the same band. I will have dig up the first CD and see what I missed, maybe I was having a bad day. They have a great hard rock sound infused with a great vocal sound, and the songs are great.
Maudlin - "The Penitent Never Regret" and an advance copy of the song "Stacy Dahl"
I guessed I just forgot about this band, and then the CD they released in 2005 came in my mailbox. While on one of their reviews, they are compared to Nirvana and the Pixies, I feel they more sound like X (John Doe Vocals) when David Priebe does the vocals and without the rockabilly. I might have to give this a few more spins, I am really starting to dig it. When I was starting to put the CD away another CD in a paper envelope which I thought was a CD with photos on it and all the usual press stuff but it was an advance copy of the song "Stacy Dahl" which is more of the same as what is on the first CD but a bit better. Watch out for this band, they are looking like they might make some waves in this town.
Flink - "Volvo" single from their upcoming full length.
This song is really good, sort of poppy but heavy guitars and a little bit noisy. I look forward to hearing more from this band.
Chooglin' - Self Titled
While they were picked to Click and somewhat critically acclaimed, I haven't got the just of Chooglin' yet. Maybe they are a love them or hate them band, and while I am still somewhere in between. While the Midnight Evils rocked, both Chooglin' and the other offspin band The Bullets haven't affected me the same way. Maybe it's not fair to compare members previous band to the last band they were in, but where is the magic that the Midnight Evils sent deep into my loins.
Grace Darling - On The Tracks
The roots, bluegrass and folk scene have really blossomed in town. Grace Darling plays a haunting mix of olde time music with the acoustic guitars, banjos and other old timey instruments. What they haven't done which might be to their benefit is stick to the rules of bluegrass and olde time music and have created a unique sound.
Blacktop Badge - Self Titled
Country and blues tinged rock and roll, in a CD package that looks like a hard rock CD. They seem like they would be a great bar band if they mixed in some covers. Other then that, I don't see anything to anything to complain about or write home about either.
Ruthless - Strawberry
Who is the guy in the gangster handkerchief with the crazy hair, that is all I want to know. This is a pretty solid hip-hop CD. I like the lowend bass lines wandering through the tracks and the loops sound well produced without being over produced, and the rhymes are dope! Sorry about that it just flowed out, like the flow of the rapping on this CD. I like the fact they have a unique vocal sound, and while once in awhile you can hear a little Atmosphere or may I say a hoarse Eminem without getting harassed, it never sounds copied or just like anything else.
Wow,
That was quite a list. Enjoy your new year and I might be able to get in another post by the 2nd.
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