Archive for March 2010

Episode 1322 is up

March 4, 2010

Episode 1321 is up

March 4, 2010

The Godshills “March”

March 2, 2010

This marks my 10th year of reviewing records, and one of the nicest things about doing this for so long is watching bands grow up. It’s also nice to see new releases from acts that I’ve reviewed before. Such is the case with the Godshills, although the “2008” copyright confuses me. Is this record older than the one I reviewed last year? I suppose I could look it up on the Internet. Nah, that’s too much work.
Fans of the Godshills will be pleasantly surprised with this effort. Songs such as “Fate” awaken the conspiracy theorist in me. This band sounds a lot like The Reputation, except, hopefully, the lead singer doesn’t also smoke. The Reputation had an album called “To Force a Fate,” and there was a song on it called “March.”
“The Unclean Spirit” is one of the best tracks on the album. It’s a little slower than the others, but it’s also very heartfelt. There are no distractions, and it reminds me of 120 Minutes or Tami Hart.
There’s not a weak track on this release, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out “True” and “Zoewie” as standouts. This is another quality effort from these Baltimore natives.

Episode 1320 is up

March 2, 2010

Episode 1319 is up

March 2, 2010

Episode 1318 is up

March 2, 2010

The Mood Swings “Recessionista”

March 1, 2010

This band name is a curse because of a bad Simpsons bit in which Homer Simpson recites “mood swings” in a half-dozen different inflections of voice. At any rate, this is a band that Generation Y will like because it nods at the mid-’90s girl rock revolution (Helium, Letters to Cleo etc.), and Gen Xers will be comfortable with it because songs such as “Crush” sound like the Go-Go’s. And on further review it appears there is actually a song called “Generation Y.” I swear that’s a coincidence.
The combination of the guitar and sirens at the begin of “Let’s Go” reminds me of Reno 911!, but otherwise it sounds like a Veruca Salt cover. This song definitely rocks more than the other ones, but the siren seems to cheapen the effort somehow. Or maybe I’m missing the point.
“Nothing New” has a more modern sound. If Catherine Wheel had a female lead singer, they’d sound like this. “No Place to Hide” gives a Joan Jett vibe.
It’s nice to have another band to listen to that emulates one of my favorite periods in rock ‘n’ roll history, but don’t expect anything too groundbreaking here. I’d certainly pay to see them live, though.

Episode 1317 is up

March 1, 2010