Episode 1323 is up
March 6, 2010Teenage Moods “Teenage Moods EP”
March 4, 2010It could also be an EP titled “Psychic Playlist.” It’s not clear. What is clear is that this is their effort. What is also clear is that this is a high-quality Vaselines ripoff. I’m always happy to hear new acts doing this style of music.
“Psychic Playlist” is the first track. It’s OK. “Sugar Band” is second and a thousand times better. This one really does mimic the Vaselines sound.
“Attic Years” could be a Sonic Youth or Throwing Muses cover, but it’s more likely another original creation. Let’s not mess with Teenage Moods.
Last is “Little Trap.” It sounds like something Matthew Sweet did before he hit it big. It’s pretty exciting when you look at it that way.
There is a good amount of potential with these guys. And they’re from Minnesota, which is surely a way to bypass my stomach yet still reach my heart.
Episode 1322 is up
March 4, 2010Episode 1321 is up
March 4, 2010The Godshills “March”
March 2, 2010This 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, 2010Episode 1319 is up
March 2, 2010Episode 1318 is up
March 2, 2010The Mood Swings “Recessionista”
March 1, 2010This 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.
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