.
Screw the mainstream
if you really want to get your rocks off you have to go to the underground.
That's just what we plan to do with this series, take some of the best
emerging bands that are out blowing away hardcore fans on the underground
music scene.
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Punk Spotlight Special
We have not one but three
reviews for you from the underground! Check out this explosive new punk
releases!
The
Reunion Show – Kill Your Television
Label: Victory
Records
Rating: 
by antiGUY
Tracks:
Television
Art Of Nothing
Stuck On You
Star Training
Character Assassination
New Rock Revolution
Alligator Love Trap
Oh... Is It A Full Moon (Again?)
On A Scale From One To Awesome (You're
Pretty Great)
Drop It!
Dedication |
Listen
to samples and Purchase this CD online |
The Reunion Show have hit upon a winning
formula with their full length debut “Kill Your Television.” That formula
is an effective mix of 80’s new wave and modern alt-pop. A sound that borders
on what some call punk-pop, but before go screaming off proclaiming, “I
hate punk-pop!”, read on because you won’t mistake The Reunion Show for
the likes of Sum 41!
Think Weezer meets Elvis Costello meets
“London Calling” era Clash meets The Romantics meets The Cars meets Jimmy
Eat World. So it’s classic new wave mixed with present day alt-pop, all
done in prime fashion. You don’t get the lame nasal tinged vocals or weak
guitars of the mainstream punk-pop bands, instead you get a great collections
of songs that aren’t afraid to breakout of a restraining formula and actually
rock and deliver unforgettable melodies that follows more in the pattern
of Weezer than Green Day but still has more of a punk edge. The vocals
are more in the true tradition of punk and new wave on most songs and then
fall into Weezer territory on others. The music itself has a mix of punk,
new wave keyboards and modern alt-pop riffing. In other words, it’s a grab
bag of sound that could have easily missed it’s mark but fortunately for
The Reunion Show and fans it hit on all cylinders.
Mixings different styles of music together
to come up with a unique sound is a difficult task, even for the most accomplished
musicians, but The Reunion Show make it seem so effortless. This is a great
disc from beginning to end that should have a wide appeal. This is
definitely a band to check out and keep an eye on!
River
City Rebels - No Good, No Time, No Pride
Label: Victory
Rating:
by Greenmuse
When most people think American punk rock,
the states of New York and California usually spring to mind. They don’t
think of the poor lonely state of Vermont, but that’s where these guys
hail from. Maybe it’s the weather that pissed them off, because they sure
deliver shovel loads of anger and nihilistic energy!
The best way I can describe the sound of
the CD is "London Calling" era Clash meets the Dropkick Murphys. The River
City Rebels's songs are fast and powerful song with real catchy sing-along
choruses with a slight skaish undertone from the sax and trombone players
in the band. The horns aren’t prominent enough to make them a proper ska/punk
band but do add a nice background for the guitars and drums. The vocals
by Dan O'day are excellent and are delivered from the heart. His vocal
style kind of reminds me of Roger Miret from Agnostic Front, but minus
the deep growling delivery that Miret gives, not that this is a bad thing.
The River City Rebels are gritty, honest
and very listenable. This CD could very well live out its life as the soundtrack
to many a drunken sing a long. The River City Rebels are a definite asset
to modern punk music.
Now that I’ve used plenty if catch phrases
here to describe this disc, I expect Rolling Stone to knock at my door
any day now for copyright infringement of some sort or begging me to write
for them (God knows they need to do some decent punk coverage –ed), but
if I were writing this for Rolling Stone I might have to include that this
CD is 2002’s roller-coaster thrill ride of punk music, check it out! There
we go, that’s more of Rolling Stone style… All kidding aside, the album
is great.
Common
Rider - This Is Unity Music
Label: Hopeless
Records
Rating: 
by Greenmuse
Tracks:
Firewall
Set The Method Down
Small Pebble
Cool This Madness Down
Long After Lights Out
Blackbirds Vs. Crows
Time Won't Take Away
Prison Break
Midnight Passenger
One Ton
Toss Around
Longshot |
Listen
to samples and Purchase this CD online |
Common Rider’s sophomore release is honestly
one of the best things I’ve heard in quite some time. This album seems
to have a bit more of a "punk" sound than their previous release "Last
Wave Rockers", but it still retains the ska roots and the message of unity
that has made Jesse Michaels(vocals and guitar) the legend he is today.
The lyrics are fairly straight forward,
but at the same time are written in a nifty metaphor laden style. With
song titles such as "Blackbirds Vs Crows" and "Long After Lights Out one
can easily grasp what Michaels is talking about, yet the songs also work
on a whole other plain of existence. Perhaps best of all, the album never
comes off as "preachy" despite it's social commentary backbone. Plus the
songs are all very catchy. Catchy isn’t a bad word in this case, if your
familiar with Jesse’s work then you know his brand of catchiness and to
use Martha Stewart's phrase "its a very good thing". This album lacks nothing;
I know that’s a bold statement to make, but it’s true!
Now we have the requisite Common Rider/Op
Ivy comparison, it must be a law you cannot mention Common Rider without
bringing up Op Ivy in the same sitting. So here it is for this review:
It can’t be done, they are two different bands, from two different era's,
sharing only a frontman and some of the same influences. I can only
hope Common Rider doesn’t go the way of Operation Ivy because I cant wait
to see what Jesse and company have in store for the future.
Its hard to really write anything other
than "its good, its good" like some kinda drunken football announcer, but
it really is that damn good. Fans from a wide spectrum of interests would
more than likely find something to like about this album. Needless to say,
I think I’ve found my pick for album of the year, unless The Clash reform
and release an album of the caliber of "London Calling" then there might
be some competition.
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