Kites With Lights - The Weight of Your Heart CD EP Review

DOWNLOAD: Kites with Lights - "The Weight of Your Heart"

Kites With Lights' debut five-track EP, The Weight of Your Heart, was released last August but its sound fits perfectly with the techno-pop bands from the early to mid 80's.

Kites With Lights is the brainchild of one-man band Jonah Cordy who gives each song a full sound that would fit perfectly alongside bands like New Order, OMD and Dream Academy. Jonah has a cool and subdued voice, which is complemented by shimmering, dreamy keyboards and a pulsing dance beat that pulls you into the melody of each of the songs. This is late-night dance music that will have you swaying on the dance floor in a euphoric haze.

The Weight of Your Heart is an impressive debut and Jonah Cordy has certainly been keeping busy since its release. Check out the Kites with Lights remix of Pocket featuring Mark Burgess (from the Chameleons) or the band's cover of "Dream Attack" from the forthcoming CD Ceremony - A New Order Tribute.

Links:
Kites With Lights

The Brian Jonestown Massacre Release First Single "Let's Go Fucking Mental" from Forthcoming CD (Free Download)

DOWNLOAD: The Brian Jonestown Massacre - "Let's Go Fucking Mental" (from Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?)

"Who Killed Sgt. Pepper was recorded in early and late 2009 in Iceland and Berlin. Set for release in February 2010. This album features musicans of the likes of Unnur Andrea Einarsdottir (who recorded vocals on the last BJM album) and Felix from the Russian band “Amazing Electronic Talking Cave” as well as other musicians from France, Germany and Iceland. Will Cruthers and Matt Hollywood also return to the line-up on this album." --Wikipedia

The Brian Jonestown Massacre are back with their 10th album Who Killed Sgt. Pepper which is due out on February 23rd. The band is kicking off a U.S. tour on May 28th in Minneapolis which stops at Webster Hall on June 6th.

Here are the complete tour dates:

5/28: Cabooze, Minneapolis
5/29: Turner Hall, Milwaukee
5/30: Metro, Chicago
5/31: Grog Shop, Cleveland
6/02: Phoenix Concert Hall, Toronto
6/03: La Tulipe, Montreal
6/04: Paradise Rock Club, Boston
6/06: Webster Hall, New York
6/08: TLA, Philadelphia
6/09: 9:30 Club, DC
6/10: Mad Hatter, Cincinnati
6/11: Off Broadway, St Louis
6/13: Bluebird Theater, Denver
6/14: Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City
6/15: Knitting Factory, Boise
6/17: Crystal Ballroom, Portland
6/18: Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver
6/19: Neumos. Seattle
6/21: Fillmore, San Francisco
6/22: Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles

Links:
The Brian Jonestown Massacre's MySpace Profile

Mascara Plays the Trash Bar on February 4th (Boston Power Pop)

DOWNLOAD: Mascara - "B261" (from Fountain of Tears)

Boston buzz band Mascara is playing a CD release show at the Trash Bar on Thursday in support of the band's newly released second CD Fountain of Tears.

I've been pretty apathetic about going to shows these last few weeks (too bloody cold) but this is one that I'm going to make an effort to see. The tracks that I've heard thus far sound like a cross between Cheap Trick and Jesse Malin's short-lived band Bellvue. The faster tunes rock-out with some explosive melodies and the slow tunes were sufficiently off-kilter to hold my attention from start to finish. Two of the songs on the disc pay tribute to tragic artists; 1930’s Spanish poet-iconoclast Lorca (who inspired the album’s title) on "Ainadamar" and 1960’s soul icon Jackie Wilson on "B261". The new disc was recorded by David Minehan (The Neighborhoods) & David Westner at Woolly Mammoth and it was mixed by ShimmyDisc head honcho KRAMER (Bongwater, Galaxie 500, Ween, Low, Urge Overkill, Butthole Surfers).

On an interesting/related note, lead singer/guitarist Chris Mascara modeled moves for all lead singer avatars in the games Rock Band and Rock Band 2. Game creators Harmonix shuttled him to New York to perform marathon motion-capture sessions in the "spandex suit of lights."

Cover for Thursday's show is $6 and Mascara's website lists the band playing at 11PM. Get there early though for the free happy hour from 8-9PM.

Links:
Mascara

Dare Dukes + the Blackstock Collection Play The Living Room on Thurs., Jan. 28th

DOWNLOAD: Dare Dukes + the Blackstock Collection - "Old West Broad" (rough cut)

Savannah, Georgia's Dare Dukes released his well-received debut CD, Prettiest Transmitter of All, in 2008 and he is road-testing some new material prior to going into the studio this summer to record his second disc.

Here is one of the press quotes for Prettiest Transmitter of All:

"Four stars...[Dukes'] melodies are hook-laden but intricate. If forced to choose between a major or minor chord, Dare always chooses the less obvious and more interesting latter...Like [Vic] Chestnutt, he shows a deep affinity for the strangeness and eccentricities in people. The people in Dukes' songs are not losers per se; they are just different, kind of like we all are. And Dukes loves them for that, which makes it very easy to in turn love Dukes."
—Al Kaufman, Atlanta Music Guide, December 10, 2008

Dare is playing The Living Room on Thursday, January 28th. Dare's set is at 10PM and cover is $7.00.



Links:
Dare Dukes' MySpace Profile

Bugs in the Dark Play Mercury Lounge Tomorrow Night (Jan. 25th) with Schwervon

Brooklyn art-punk band Bugs in the Dark are playing a somewhat last-minute show at Mercury Lounge tomorrow night.

"Cancel everything and go see their next show." - Indie Sounds NY, Pete Harris

There aren't many bands where I can stand behind the above quote but Bugs in the Dark are a great live band and I've yet to see them have an off-night. I understand that the band is working on some new material which will hopefully surface as part of tomorrow's live set.

Tickets are $8.00 and Bugs in the Dark are playing at 9PM.





Links:
Bugs in the Dark

Orenda Fink Offers Free Download of Her 'Invisible Ones' CD to Support Haiti Relief Donations

Saddle Creek recording artist Orenda Fink has made her debut album Invisible Ones available for download on her website now through the end of January in an effort to encourage relief effort donations for the current crisis in Haiti.

Here is a portion of the letter that Orenda has posted on her website:

"My buddy Jeff Tafolla, who works with Saddle Creek, called me today and asked me to share a few words about Haiti. He knows (as I know some of you do) of the close relationship I’ve had with Haiti for several years now. My first solo record “Invisible Ones” was directly influenced by time spent there…even the title is an homage to this place I’ve grown to love so much.

The last few days have been intense: alternating between despair over the tragedy, hope that my friends are okay, relief when the news comes of those that have survived, and grief over the ones who haven’t.

I’m still waiting to hear news of many friends in Port-au-Prince, and points beyond."

Click over to Orenda's website to read more...

Links:
Orenda Fink
Yéle Haiti
Doctors Without Borders

Grace Weber Presents The Campfire at the Bowery Poetry Club on Sunday, Jan. 31st (Indie Soul)

Indie soul singer Grace Weber is presenting 'The Campfire' next Sunday at Bowery Poetry which features acoustic sets from The Relatives, Grace Weber Band, and Isaac Gillespie.

The show starts at 7PM and the evening features "some good ol' acoustic music around the campfire, complete with free cookies and a special campfire menu including s'mores, chili, chorn bread, and hot chocolate provided by the celebrate cafe".

Grace Weber, 21 years old, is a veteran to the stage who participated as a finalist on Oprah’s Nationwide Singing Contest. Among Grace's accomplishments include singing on the famed "Showtime at the Apollo" in Harlem, NY, at the Kennedy Center, the Ella Awards, and appearing on the Today Show. Grace's ear for soul music was present at a young age and continued to grow after joining the Inner City Youth Gospel Choir in Milwaukee, WI, where she performed at churches and revivals around the city.

After moving to New York in 2006 for music school, Grace met her band mate, Julian Pollack, and formed, "Grace and Julian," along with Jayme Silverstein and Adam Jackson. After two years of performing at NYC clubs, such as The Bitter End, The Groove, and The Bowery Poetry Club, Grace and the guys decided to change the name to the "Grace Weber Band" and they have been gaining momentum since. The band did two summer tours, performing at Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI and at the Mendocino Music Festival in CA. They have also performed at colleges around the country and are continuing to gain recognition in the indie circuit as well as from major players in the music industry. "Grace and Julian" released two all-original albums and the "Grace Weber Band" is currently working on new material for the next album.

The Relatives is a band comprised of three members --siblings Katie Vogel, Ian McLellan Davis, and Gabriel Gall –who created their band in November of 2007. Their music has influences from Folk, Chinese Traditional, and Tango.

Isaac Gillespie is an accomplished musician who has self-released a record “1971.” His music is a blend of Folk, Country, and Soul.

Links:
Grace Weber Band

King Diamond Issues Remastered Version of 1998's Voodo CD (Metal Blade)

Continuing to focus on some of the reissues that came out toward the end of last year, Metal Blade released a remastered version of King Diamond's 1998 concept album Voodoo last November. (Note: a remastered version of House of God was released at the same time)

This disc was remastered by long-time King Diamond guitarist Andy LaRocque and he brings out a lot more of the details and horror movie effects than I remember hearing on the original recording. In addition to bringing out the details, there is a lot more clarity and bottom-end which makes this new reissue perfect for late night headphone listening.

Voodoo tells the story of the Lafayettes, David, Sarah (who is pregnant) and Grandpa. In the early 1930s, they move into an old colonial house on the Mississippi River which happens to have been built next to a voodoo graveyard.

"Unknown to the Lafayettes, the colonial house's servant, Salem, is involved in voodoo. Salem partakes in voodoo rituals at the graveyard, along with Doctor le Croix, a voodoo sorcerer, Madame Sarita, and Lula Chevalier, a girl who is never seen. The Lafayettes hear the voodoo drums from the ceremonies in the graveyard. They call a secret meeting with Salem to discuss what should be done. The Lafayettes decide to destroy the voodoo burial ground. Salem does not want this to happen, so he sneaks out at midnight to talk to Doctor le Croix. Le Croix gives Salem money to buy some goofer dust, and tells him that the Lafayettes must all die." -- Wikipeida

Overall, this disc should strike a positive chord with long-time King Diamond fans. Musically and lyrically, this isn't that far removed from what Alice Cooper was doing in the early/mid 70s so this disc has the potential to find a wider audience with fans of Alice Cooper and other horror rock artists.

King Diamond has also issued a bonus live video of the title track "Voodoo" (which features a guest appearance from "Dimebag" Darrell on the studio version) as a free download to purchasers of the new reissue.

Here is the YouTube version of the video:



Links:
King Diamond

Black Breath - Razor to Oblivion CD EP Review (Southern Lord)

Black Breath has played some well received shows here in NYC over the past few years with the last being a show at The Charleston last June. The band released their debut 12" EP, Razor to Oblivion, in 2008 (on their own Hot Mass Records label) and have recently signed to Southern Lord who has reissued the band's debut EP on CD.

This 4-track EP clocks in around the 15 minute mark and it is a solid slab of hardcore punk. There are immediate comparisons to 80's punk bands like Discharge, Minor Threat and early Poison Idea but Black Breath blends this all together with a solid metal overlay which brings in elements of Motorhead, Venom and Entombed. The disc hits with an immediate angry intensity as guitarists Zach "F. Funds" Muljat and Eric Wallace kick off the disc ("Razor to Oblivion") with some shredding riffs which is followed by N. MacAdams' raw, hardcore bark and some d-beat pounding drums. There are all the elements of classic hardcore on this EP which range from breakdowns ("Fatal Error") to violence inciting thrash ("Beneath the Crust") to chugging groove metal ("Murder"). Aside for the brevity of the disc, there is not a thing to complain about.

Black Breath have a full-length coming up early next year (also on Southern Lord) that was recorded in June 2009 with Kurt Ballou (of Converge) at GodCity studios. "A much darker beast than previous efforts, the record features equal regiments of Swedish death metal, American heavy metal and sheer blasphemy. Their roadshow will hit the pavement in 2010."

Links:
Black Breath's MySpace Profile

Charred Walls of the Damned: Listening Party and CD Signing at Fontana's on Feb. 2nd

Charred Walls of the Damned is a new “super group” formed by drummer Richard Christy (Death, Iced Earth, Howard Stern show) that features “Ripper” Owens on vocals, and Jason Sucof (guitar) and Steve DiGiorgio (bass). DiGiorgio was a member of Death, Control Denied and Iced Earth and Sucof has written and produced a number of metal band; most notably Black Dahlia Murder, All The Remains, etc. Charred Walls of the Damned combines Death’s technical precision and intensity with Ripper's clean vocals and the melodicism of bands like Judas Priest, Iced Earth and Anthrax.



The band's debut CD is coming out on Feb. 2nd (on Metal Blade) and Fontana's is hosting a free listening party / autograph signing that night. For anyone who wants an early listen, Noisecreep will be streaming the full album starting on Monday.

Come join Richard Christy and Ripper Owens at Fontana's Tuesday February 2nd for a listening party and signing in honor of the band's debut, self-titled album. Fans will be able to buy the new album, which comes in a Digipak with bonus DVD, at the FYE booth at the show and get it signed by Richard and Ripper Owens. The party kicks off at 8pm with live bands playing downstairs starting at 9pm. The show is FREE with free beer (until it runs out) and beer specials.

Links:
Charred Walls of the Damned

Lowry Plays Thursday Night Residency in Feb/March at Spike Hill

DOWNLOAD: Lowry - "Whiskey" (from Love is Dead)

"Deep and melancholy, yet enlightened and full of hope, Lowry's Love is Dead breaks all the rules of indie rock and then manages to sound as approachable and alluring as The Shins.”
–Skope Magazine

Lowry hit the mainstream press in 2008 with their CD Love is Dead (Engine Room Recording) and an appearance at All Points West. The band is playing a series of residency shows at Spike Hill every Thursday night in February and March prior to their heading back into the studio. The new album is being produced by Mark Christensen (Raekwon, Langhorne Slim, 50 Cent) and is slated for release by Engine Room Recordings in September of this year.

Here are the details on the upcoming residency and a teaser for the new disc is at the bottom of the post.

Feb.4
9pm Peculiar Gentlemen
10pm Lowry
11pm Casey Shea

Feb. 11
9pm Ivan and the Terribles
10pm Lowry
11pm Ego Puppets

Feb. 18
9pm Luke Wesley
10pm Lowry
11pm Low Water

Feb. 25
9pm TBA
10pm Lowry
11pm No Lindsay

March 4
9pm Porter Block
10pm ...Lowry
11pm The Bloodsugars

March 11
9pm Joey Hebdo (Columbus, Ohio)
10pm Lowry
11pm Kevin Johnston

March 18
9pm All Night Chemists
10pm Lowry
11pm Willie Breeding

March 25
9pm Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie (Washington, D.C.)
10pm Lowry
11pm David LK Murphy



Links:
Lowry

Cursive Hits the Road With Alkaline Trio Next Month / Tour Stops in NYC and NJ in March

DOWNLOAD: Cursive - "Dorothy at Forty" (From Happy Hollow)

Cursive are heading out on a two month tour starting in February supporting Alkaline Trio. The tour stops at Nokia Theatre on March 12 and Starland Ballroom on March 13th.

Cursive has spent most of last year on the road since releasing their sixth studio album, Mama, I'm Swollen, in March.

Here are the upcoming tour date (all in support of Alkaline Trio):

FEB. 16 -- POMONA, CA, GLASS HOUSE
FEB. 17 -- LOS ANGELES, CA, HOUSE OF BLUES (SUNSET STRIP)
FEB. 18 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA, REGENCY BALLROOM
FEB. 19 -- PORTLAND, OR, WONDER BALLROOM
FEB. 20 -- SEATTLE, WA, NEUMO'S
FEB. 23 -- BOISE, ID, KNITTING FACTORY
FEB. 24 -- SALT LAKE CITY, UT, IN THE VENUE
FEB. 25 -- DENVER, CO, GOTHIC THEATRE
FEB. 26 -- LAWRENCE, KS, GRANADA THEATRE
FEB. 27 -- CHICAGO, IL, METRO
FEB. 28 -- CHICAGO, IL, METRO
MAR. 02 -- ROYAL OAK, MI, ROYAL OAK MUSIC THEATRE
MAR. 03 -- COLUMBUS, OH, NEWPORT MUSIC HALL
MAR. 04 -- CLEVELAND, OH, HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 05 -- PITTSBURGH, PA, CLUB ZOO
MAR. 06 -- TORONTO, ON, PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE
MAR. 08 -- CLIFTON PARK, NY, NORTHERN LIGHTS
MAR. 09 -- HARTFORD, CT, WEBSTER THEATRE
MAR. 11 -- PHILADELPHIA, PA, TROCADERO
MAR. 12 -- NEW YORK, NY, NOKIA THEATRE
MAR. 13 -- SAYREVILLE, NJ, STARLAND BALLROOM
MAR. 14 -- PROVIDENCE, RI, LUPO'S HEARTBREAK HOTEL
MAR. 16 -- TOWSON, MD, RECHER THEATRE
MAR. 17 -- CHARLOTTE, NC, AMOS' SOUTHEND
MAR. 18 -- CHARLESTON, SC, MUSIC FARM
MAR. 19 -- ATLANTA, GA, MASQUERADE
MAR. 20 -- JACKSONVILLE, FL, FREEBIRD LIVE
MAR. 22 -- ORLANDO, FL, HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 23 -- FT. LAUDERDALE, FL, REVOLUTION
MAR. 25 -- NEW ORLEANS, LA, HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 26 -- HOUSTON, TX, WAREHOUSE LIVE
MAR. 27 -- DALLAS, TX, PALLADIUM BALLROOM
MAR. 28 -- AUSTIN, TX, EMO'S
MAR. 30 -- TEMPE, AZ, THE MARQUEE
APR. 01 -- SAN DIEGO, CA, HOUSE OF BLUES
APR. 02 -- LOS ANGELES, CA, HOUSE OF BLUES (SUNSET STRIP)

Links:
Cursive

D-Lo Releases Remix of "No Hoe" Featuring Snoop Dogg (Clear Label Records)

DOWNLOAD: D-Lo - "No Hoe" (Remix - Featuring Snoop Dogg)

Bay area rapper D-Lo is back with version 3.0 of "No Hoe" - this latest remix features Snoop Dogg who drops in a new verse and straight-up takes over the hook.

D-Lo's "No Hoe" instantly caught fire throughout the Bay Area as soon as it hit the streets back in April of last year and quickly blazed its way across the country. Receiving an incredible amount of airplay, "No Hoe" swiftly became the latest Bay to LA anthem. Within weeks D-Lo was on everyone's radar, sparking remixes by hip-hop legends Too $hort and E-40. This new remix will get some immediate attention as it mixes hyphy with gangsta, minimal melody, heavy handclaps and West coast swagga.

D-Lo's latest full-length, The Tonight Show Featuring D-Lo, came out last year on PTB/Clear Label Records and is available on iTunes.

Links:
D-Lo's MySpace Profile

Freddy Madball Releases New Video "Y Qué" / Show at Knitting Factory in February

Freddy Madball has just released the first video from his new solo CD Catholic Guilt. The video was shot by Pablo Menna (Toro Productions) who had shot the "100%" video for Madball.

Pablo has some pictures and a narrative about the shoot posted to his website.

"The production was done in record time because Freddy was on tour with Madball and only would be in São Paulo for a few hours. Due to the delay of the flight from Santiago, we had just over 30 minutes to shoot on location. We chose a Cuban restaurant in Pinheiros, where the scenery and the dominoes, cigars, rum and beer went together perfectly with the music. In addition to the footage we produced on that day, the video has scenes from old school gangters films, several photos of the singer's personal archive and pictures of details of the location (by Luiz Trezeta)."

Freddy and DJ Stress are playing a Valentine's Day show with Ill Bill at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. Tickets are $16 and the show starts at 7:30PM

Links:
Freddy Madball's MySpace Profile

iPhone Game Review: iSamJackson Soundboard (Heatwave Interactive)

Soundboard applications are an interesting genre as they seem to regularly pop up in the AppStore's Top Chart of Paid Apps. I'm waiting for the day when you can link these apps to ringtones or other device sounds.

iSamJackson contains a series of quotes spoken directly by Samuel L. Jackson. These aren't movie quotes as this is all new material. There are 100+ quotes in the base application but, to keep this app fresh, there are additional quotes packs (which allow you to add additional quotes to your library) that are available as add-ons.

The base application sells for $1.99 (clean version) or $2.99 (17+ explicit version) and the two 20-quote packs (MMO pwnership and Sports) sell for $.99 cents each.

Application features include:

Customizable Soundboard: Inject original and authentic Samuel L. Jackson quotes into conversation with quips that suit any occasion

Personality Scanner: With the scan of a thumb print, Samuel L. Jackson lets users know just what he thinks of them

Ask Sam: Solve the great dilemmas of life by asking any question and receiving instantaneous wisdom and advice from Samuel L. Jackson

17+ Explicit Version: Censor-free version for those who want to experience the full range of class and wit from the one-and-only Samuel L. Jackson

Clean Version: Expletive-free version for those who don’t want to upset their bosses too badly when they let Samuel L. Jackson’s comments flow during a staff meeting

Links:
iSamJackson

iPhone Game Review: Frogger Turns 29 / Adds Facebook Connectivity (Konami Digital)

Konami has done a lot to improve Frogger since its original release in 2008 (as a $9.99 app no less). Frogger is now .99 cents in the AppStore and it is a solid port of the original arcade game.

Like the original arcade game, the game concept is extremely simple. You have to move five frogs across the road and river and get them into each of five spaces at the top of the screen before the timer runs out. The space on the far left is the most challenging as your timing has to be near-perfect. This is certainly doable though as I got up to level four fairly quickly.

You control the frog by sliding your finger across the screen and you can move your frog from anywhere on the screen. (You have the option to change the controls to move your frog by tapping or tilting but controlling the frog by either of these methods is a dubious prospect that generally leads to a very quick game). As you complete each level, the obstacles grow. The cars on the road move faster, the turtles dive under water and there are snakes and alligators in the river.

Staying true to the original arcade game, Komani has added the option to switch the display to"Classic Graphics". On the more modern side, Frogger is now more tightly integrated with Facebook and offers a "Facebook share" function.

There is a reason that this game is on the AppStore's list of "Top 10 Paid Games" as it is a great game for whenever you have a couple minutes of downtime. For anyone like myself who spent more than a few quarters on the original arcade game, this price is definitely right for this application.

iPhone Game Review: Happy Tree Friends: Slap Happy (Publisher X)

The Wikipedia entry for the Happy Tree Friends cartoon series says "[d]espite its childish appearance, the show is extremely violent, with every episode featuring graphic deaths and/or pain. While the violence of these deaths is comparable to that of The Itchy & Scratchy Show (the short cartoon featured on The Simpsons), the portrayal of death in Happy Tree Friends is usually more graphic and anatomically correct, depicting bloodshed and dismemberment in more vivid and often exaggerated detail."

The game starts with a smiling doe-eyed rabbit that waves at you. You can take the nice approach and tickle the rabbit who then makes happy baby-like cooing noises or, staying true to the Happy Tree Friends series, you can abuse the rabbit in a variety of progressively destructive ways.

For starters, you can flick your finger across the screen to slap the rabbit. You can also shake your iPod/iPhone to bounce the rabbit off the walls, leaving him battered and bloody with each shake. After about half-a-dozen or so shakes, the rabbit falls down dead with an eyeball hanging out of one socket. At this point, you have to perform CPR or electro-shock to bring the rabbit back to life.

If bouncing the rabbit off the walls is too tame for you, you have three 'toys' which you can use to maim, mutilate and dismember the rabbit. You can use the saw to cut the rabbit in half, you can drop the pipe through the rabbit's head and, lastly, you can use the pair of spiked walls to crush the rabbit. In each of these cases, electro-shock brings the rabbit back to life and full health.

This game is definitely not for everyone but those with an off-beat/black sense of humor should enjoy this. It would be nice to see additional characters added in future versions of the game.

Boris - Japanese Heavy Rock Hits, Vols. 1-4 Review (Southern Lord)

In the fall last year, Southern Lord announced the release of a series of vinyl 7" singles by Boris. The 'kicker' with this announcement was that if you purchased the set in advance, you received a limited edition purple vinyl pressings of the first three singles along with a bonus one-sided single that was only available to subscribers of the series. For anyone who missed out on this series, the first three singles are available on (presumably?) black vinyl from Southern Lord and iTunes.

There is nothing 'typical' about Boris' music as it varies from disc to disc and sometimes from track to track. In the case of this three 7" set, Boris seems to touch on all of the genres of their last few releases.

Japanese Heavy Rock Hits Vol. 1 starts out strong with with "8" which is a five minute+ throwback to the alt-rock pop of Dirty-era Sonic Youth. The song starts with some ambient echo-drenched power chord riffs before switching directions and kicking into some shredding guitar work, pounding drums and soaring melodic vocals. "Hey Everybody" is a driving, hard-rock take on the alt-rock formula that is one part bubblegum and one-part industrial dance.



On Japanese Heavy Rock Hits Vol. 2, Boris start things out with the c*ck rock anthem "H.M.A. (Heavy Metal Addict)" which is complete with hand-claps and the repeated chorus of H.M.A. Boris then completely shifts gears on "Black Original" which is a slinky industrial dance songs that has has a catchy groove backed by some solid guitar noodling.



Japanese Heavy Rock Hits Vol. 3 is probably the strongest single of the set and it is a return to the slow, lo-fi drone sound of Boris' early releases. The single starts with “16:47:52” which is a subtly beautiful song that features Wata on vocals backed by a minimalist piano, guitar and snare drum. It is a toss-up between "16:47:52" and "8" as to which one is the strongest cut of the Heavy Rock Hits set. "..and Hear Nothing" rounds out the single with 5+ minutes of feedback drenched, crashing monolithic drone.



The final one-sided single "Seasons" is dream-pop song in the style of early Belly. This is the first song in this set where Wata's vocals are clearly up-front in the mix. Her vocals along with an angular (almost surf) guitar gives this song a somewhat melancholy but catchy alt-pop groove.

Links:
Boris

Alvin & The Chipmunks - The Squeakquel CD Review (Rhino)

STREAM: The Chipettes - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"

My five year old thought I was the coolest Dad in the world after I was sent a review copy of the soundtrack to Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Squeakquel. Strangely enough, he never got this excited over any of the Southern Lord or Metal Blade CDs that I've recently reviewed.

This fifteen track - 50 minute - disc has The Chipmunks and Chipettes covering an eclectic mix of current pop hits, 70's disco songs, recent R&B hits and there are even a couple of classic rock tunes thrown in for good measure. Most of the songs are reinterpreted as pulsing, high energy dance mixes that feature the voices of The Chipmunks / The Chipettes but musicians Honor Society, Queensberry and Charice Pempengco add guest vocals on three of the tracks.

Here is the track list:

"You Really Got Me" feat. Honor Society (Kinks Cover)
"Hot N Cold" -(Katy Perry Cover)
"So What" - (Pink Cover)
"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" - (Dead or Alive Cover)
"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" - (Beyonce Cover)
"Bring It On" - (Ali Dee Cover)
"Stayin' Alive" - (Bee Gees Cover)
"The Song" feat. Queensberry - (Unknown)
"It's Okay" - (Unknown)
"Shake Your Groove Thing" - (Peaches & Herb Cover)
"Put Your Records On" - (Corrine Baily Rae Cover)
"I Want to Know What Love Is" - (Foreigner Cover)
"We Are Family" - (Sister Sledge Cover)
"No One" feat. Charice Pempengco - (Alicia Keys Cover)
"I Gotta Feeling" - (The Black Eyed Peas Cover)

Even though my son is five, he is already starting to embrace the whole iPod/mix tape culture and he skips around on this CD so that he can listen to his favorite songs over and over. His favorite songs to sing along with are "You Really Got Me", Stayin' Alive", "Shake Your Groove Thing" and "I Gotta Feeling".

All-in-all, Alvin & The Chipmunks - The Squeakquel is a cute disc. It also meets my key criteria for kids music as it doesn't annoy me after the 100th play. While this disc isn't anything that I would play while by myself, if it keeps the kids interested in music and playing an instrument, more power to The Chipmunks.



Links:
Alvin & the Chipmunks - The Squeakquel

A Storm of Light Start Coast-to-Coast Tour Next Month; Show at Union Pool on March 18th

Brooklyn ambient/doom metal band A Storm of Light are heading back on the road next month for a coast-to-coast tour that finishes up with a show at Union Pool on March 18th.

For most of the West Coast shows, A Storm of Light is playing with Shrinebuilder. Harvestman is along for a few of the West Coast dates as well and there are shows with US Christmas, Via Vengeance, Rumanian Buck, Batillus, Indian, and Battlefields on some of the other tour stops.

A Storm of Light is touring behind their second release Forgive Us Our Trespasses which came out late last year on Neurot Recordings. Kerrang described this disc as "focused on song-craft and what unfolds is a majestically epic and intimidating soundscape. A haunting, bleak and impressive record."

A Storm of Light's 2010 touring lineup is: (Note: the band has an open call out for a permanent drummer)
Josh Graham (Battle Of Mice, Blood And Time, Neurosis): guitar, vocals
Domenic Seita (ex Tombs): bass, backing vocals,
Geoff Summers (Batillus): drum ands
Zohra Atash (Religious To Damn): vocals.

Here are the upcoming tour dates:
2/18/2010 Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA
2/19/2010 Gallery 5 - Richmond, VA
2/20/2010 The Hideaway - Johnson City, TN
2/21/2010 King Pin Bowl - Athens, GA
2/22/2010 Club 529 - Atlanta, GA
2/24/2010 Rubber Gloves - Denton, TX
2/25/2010 Emo’s - Austin, TX
2/27/2010 23 West - Tempe, AZ
2/28/2010 Club Congress - Tucson, AZ
3/02/2010 Casbah - San Diego, CA *
3/03/2010 Echo - Los Angeles, CA *
3/04/2010 Echo - Los Angeles, CA *
3/05/2010 Voodoo Lounge - San Jose, CA* + HARVESTMAN
3/06/2010 Oakland Metro - Oakland, CA * + HARVESTMAN
3/07/2010 The Independent - San Francisco,CA * + HARVESTMAN
3/09/2010 Neumos - Seattle, WA *
3/10/2010 Rotture - Portland, OR
3/13/2010 Triple Rock - Minneapolis, MN
3/14/2010 Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
3/15/2010 Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, OH
3/18/2010 Union Pool - Brooklyn, NY
* w/ SHRINEBUILDER



Links:
A Storm of Light

Welcome to Ashley Release New Video For "Nothing But Grey Skies Ahead" (Chicago Post-Punk)

Chicago post-punk band Welcome to Ashley have released a new video "Nothing But Grey Skies Ahead", which was filmed by singer Coley Kennedy and bassist Jeremy Barrett. "Nothing But Grey Skies Ahead" is the first video from the band's newest EP "Absent Man" which is available on iTunes.



Links:
Welcome to Ashley

City and Colour Release "Live at the Verge" Digi-Single (Vagrant)

STREAM: City and Colour - "Forgive Me"


City and Colour released a new two-song digital single, Live at the Verge, this past Tuesday that features "Forgive Me" (from Bring Me Your Love) and a solo acoustic cover of Alexisonfire's "Boiled Frogs." These tracks were recorded in February 2008 for the Canadian XM satellite radio show, Live at The Verge.

Here are the remaining tour dates on City and Colour's headlining tour:

Jan 16 2010 8:00PM, The Filmore (reserved seating) w/ Lissie, Detroit, Michigan
Jan 21 2010 8:00PM, Central Church w/ Lissie - SOLD OUT, Austin, Texas
Jan 22 2010 8:00PM, Filmore w/ Lissie, San Francisco, California
Jan 23 2010 8:00PM, Henry Fonda Theatre w/ Lissie - SOLD OUT, Los Angeles, California
Feb 1 2010 8:00PM, Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Feb 2 2010 8:00PM, Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Feb 15 2010 8:00PM, Queen Elizabeth Theatre w/ Rural Alberta Advantage, Vancouver, British Columbia

City and Colour - Boiled Frogs (Alexisonfire)


Links:
Dallas Green's MySpace Profile

Adam Green Opens for The Cribs Tomorrow Night at The Fillmore (Jan. 16th)

DOWNLOAD: Adam Green - "What Makes Him Act So Bad"

Former Moldy Peaches' singer/songwriter Adam Green is currently out on the road with The Cribs and the pair are playing The Fillmore at Irving Plaza tomorrow night.

Adam is touring is advance of the release of his sixth solo disc, Minor Love, which comes out on Fat Possum on Feb. 16th. The new disc contains 14 folk-rock songs reminiscent of the ‘60s and ‘70s. British magazine Artrocker recently described Minor Love as Green's “best work to date” and the songs range from the ruefully ruminative opener “Breaking Locks” to the grooving, velvety “Buddy Bradley,” the ‘70s glam stomp of “What Makes Him Act So Bad” to the haunting “Cigarette Burns Forever” and “Boss Inside".

Minor Love was recorded in Los Angeles, CA, in late spring with producer and friend Noah Georgeson (Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, Little Joy). Green plays the majority of the instruments on Minor Love himself; guest players include Georgeson and Rodrigo Amarante of Little Joy.

Tickets for tomorrow night's show at $27.50 and doors are at 8:30PM.

Links:
Adam Green's MySpace Profile
Adam Green - "Castle and Tassels" Solo Acoustic Performance on TimeOut NY's The Volume

Nick Oliveri - Death Acoustic CD Review (MVD/Impedance)

Nick Oliveri is currently touring behind his second solo CD, Death Acoustic, and the tour stops at Piano's next Saturday night (Jan. 23rd). Oliveri is playing with Weird Owl (Tee Pee Records) and Goes Cube (The End Records) and advance tickets are $10.

Death Acoustic is a collection of mostly covers with the majority of the songs coming from bands that Oliveri has played with in the past. While this is an acoustic collection, there is nothing soft or gentle about some of Nick's reinterpretations of some of these songs. Nick attacks songs like Raw Power's "Start a Fight" (the disc's opener) and new song "Invisible Like The Sky" with an aggressive brutality that will make listeners never again associate acoustic with emo. From this point, Oliveri goes into a raw cover of The Dwarves' "Dairy Queen" and melodic stripped-down version of QOTSA's "I'm Gonna Leave You".

I don't think I've appreciated the diversity of Oliveri's vocal styles prior to this release. Nick delivers a cover of Kyuss' "Love Has Past Me By" in a gutter punk voice and goes from there to frenzied screamed/spat vocals on a cover of the Moistboyz's "U Blow". One of the highlights of the disc is a melodic and lilting cover of The Misfits' "Hybrid Moments" which features double-tracked vocals.

The disc wraps up with a fuzzed-out version of Mondo Generator's "Unless I Can Kill" which captures the intensity of the original song, a straight-forward melodic cover of The Dwarves' "Follow Me" and a reworking of G.G. Allin's "Outlaw Scumfuc". On this last track, Oliveri goes beyond the song's original version and gets closer to the outlaw country sounds of Hank Williams than G.G. Allin was ever able to.



Links:
Nick Oliveri's MySpace Profile

Weedeater Front Man "Dixie" Dave Collins Shoots Off His Big Toe (Southern Lord)

The previously announced recording session with Steve Albini and shows in the midwest with Nick Oliveri are now on hold.

"As most of you know, here in the WEEDEATER camp we pride ourselves on a long tradition of shooting our band in the proverbial foot right before we're supposed to do something important. Whether it's a big tour, a recording session, or whatever else we're supposed to do, invariably we will find some way to try and thwart our grandiose plans. Well, it's no different for this recording session, except that this time we really did shoot ourselves in the foot. In fact we regret to inform all of you that this weekend, Dixie Dave shot his big toe off whilst cleaning his favorite shotgun. Yup, that's right. When reached for comment, Mr. Collins gave a quote that speaks for itself: 'It wasn't my intention to shoot off my big toe. This really fucking sucks and the pain is unbearable.' Mr. Collins' doctors have advised that he is to be bed-ridden for the next few weeks during his recovery. This will obviously affect the recording session (and the few surrounding shows in Jan/Feb), which will now have to be postponed until after the March/April "nine-toe" tour. Said tour is still 100% on, however, so check back soon for updates on venues and exact dates. It looks like the support bands will be awesome and the band is really stoked to play this new material after touring for so many years on the same basic set. Yeah...we knew that too, sorry but we're about to make good on it. And of course after all, we gotta keep workin', like workin' men do. Shooting your big toe off isn't free, for fuck's sake! So to re-cap...Keko sacrificed his pinkie for Down/Melvins, Shep broke his hand for Today is the Day, and now Dixie has generously offered up his big toe for Steve Albini to nibble on. Unless overtly fond of Limburger cheese and rotten flesh, Master Steve is advised to decline. Good day - WEEDEATER"

Links:
Weedeater

The Accused Release 'Curse of Martha Splatterhead' on Ltd. Edition Blood and Gore Splattered Vinyl

You have to hand it to Southern Lord for continuing to give people a reason to buy vinyl. Toward the end of last year, Southern Lord released a limited edition 180 gram vinyl version of The Accüsed's The Curse of Martha Splatterhead. The vinyl is limited to 1,500 copies - 500 copies on 'blood and gore splattered' vinyl and 1,000 copies on red vinyl. The vinyl version also contains two bonus tracks: a cover of the UK Subs classic "Living Dead" and a reworking of the old Accüsed favorite “Wrong Side of the Grave" (from Return of Martha Splatterhead).

Curse of Martha Splatterhead is the band's first new release since 2003's Oh, Martha! and features a new lineup under the leadership of founding member/guitarist Tommy Niemeyer. On this new disc, The Accüsed stay true to the sound of their past discs and blast through fourteen cuts of aggressive crossover thrash in under 30 minutes.

Niemeyer's buzzsaw guitar propels most of the songs and new vocalist Brad Mowen does an admirable job of filling behind Blaine Cook. Mowen comes at these songs with range of vocals styles that run the gamut from hardcore shout-alongs to grind-metal growls to brutal thrash metal shrieks. The new rhythm section of Dorando Hodous on bass and Mike Peterson on drums pound away like a jackhammer but they are able to follow Niemeyer through a number of twist, turns and breakdowns (sometimes within the same song). Lyrically, the band continues to follow the splatter-punk/horror movie themes of their previous releases and the song lyrics aren't for the faint of heart. Check out the sewing machine sound effects on the Ed Gein inspired track "Hemline". There is even some B-movie horror film sound bites between some of the tracks which add to the overall horror-punk ambiance of the disc.

This is a solid release from a band that has stayed true to form over the years. All we need now is an East Coast tour.



Links:
The Accüsed

The Buzzcocks Release Deluxe Versions of Their First Three CDs Next Month (Mute)

Mute Records are giving deluxe treatment to the first three Buzzcocks albums next month. Another Music in a Different Kitchen, Love Bites and A Different Kind of Tension will be re-released on Feb. 9th as 2CD sets containing demos, live shows and all the relevant non-lp singles.

The Buzzcocks first disc, Another Music in a Different Kitchen, contains a John Peel session, fourteen demos and a full live show recorded at the last night of the Electric Circus in October 1977. Love Bites contains two Peel sessions as well as thirteen demos from Summer 1978 and a full concert from the Lesser Free Trade Hall in June 1978. A Different Kind of Tension includes all the associated singles (including "Parts 1–3"), two different John Peel sessions and eleven demos.

Here is the full track listing:

A Different Kind Of Tension

CD 1
1-Paradise
2-Sitting ‘round At Home
3-You Say You Don’t Love Me
4-You Know You Can’t Help It
5-Mad Mad Judy
6-Raison D’Etre
7-I Don’t Know What To Do With My Life
8-Money
9-Hollow Inside
10- A Different Kind Of Tension
11-I Believe
12-Radio Nine

Associated Singles
13-Everybody’s Happy Nowadays
14-Why Can’t I Touch It
15-Harmony In My Head
16-Something’s Gone Wrong Again

CD 2
Associated Singles
1-Are Everything
2-Why She’s A Girl From The Chainstore
3-Airwaves Dream
4-Strange Thing
5-What Do You Know?
6-Running Free
7-I Look Alone

Demos
8-You Say You Don’t Love Me (Demo)
9-I Don’t Know What To Do With My Life (Demo)
10-Harmony In My Head (Demo)*
11-I Don’t Know (Demo)
12-Run Away From Home (Demo)
13-The Drive System (Demo)
14-Mad Mad Judy (Demo)*
15-Jesus Made Me Feel Guilty (Demo)
16-Something’s Gone Wrong Again (backing track) *
17-You Know You Can’t Help It
18-I Believe July 1979 Indigo Arrow-Chronology

BBC Sessions

John Peel Show 10/18/78 TX 10/23/78
19-Everybody's Happy Nowadays

John Peel Show 5/21/79 TX 5/28/79
20-I Don't Know What To Do With My Life
21-Mad Mad Judy
22-Hollow Inside
* previously unreleased

Another Music In A Different Kitchen

CD 1
1-Fast Cars
2-No Reply
3-You Tear Me Up
4-Get On Our Own
5-Love Battery
6-Sixteen
7-I Don’t Mind
8-Fiction Romance
9-Autonomy
10-I Need
11-Moving Away From The Pulsebeat

Associated Singles
12-Orgasm Addict
13-Whatever Happened To...?
14-What Do I Get
15-Oh Shit

BBC Session

John Peel Show 9/7/77 TX 9/19/77
16-Fast Cars (2.15)
17-(Moving Away From The) Pulsebeat (4.40)
18-What Do I Get (2.50)

CD 2
1-Boredom (demo)
2-Fast Cars (demo)
3-No Reply (demo)
4-You Tear Me Up (demo)*
5-Get On Our Own (demo) *
6-Sixteen (demo)
7-I Don’t Mind (demo) *
8-Fiction Romance (demo)
9-Autonomy (demo)
10-I Need (demo)
11-Orgasm Addict (demo)*
12-What Do I Get (demo)*
13-Whatever Happened To...? (demo)
14-Oh Shit (demo)

LIVE AT THE ELECTRIC CIRCUS
15-Fast Cars (live)*
16-Fiction Romance (live)*
17-Boredom (live)*
18-Sixteen (live)*
19-You Tear Me Up (live)*
20-Orgasm Addict (live)*
21-Moving Away From The Pulsebeat (live)*
22-Love Battery*
23-Time’s Up
*previously unreleased

Love Bites

CD 1
1-Real World
2-Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t‘ve)
3-Operators Manual
4-Nostalgia
5-Just Lust
6-Sixteen Again
7-Walking Distance
8-Love is Lies
9-Nothing Left
10-E.S.P.
11-Late For The Train

Associated singles
12-Love You More
13-Noise Annoys
14-Promises
15-Lipstick

BBC Sessions

John Peel Show 4/10/78 TX 4/17/78
16-Noise Annoys (2.55)
17-Walking Distance (2.00)
18-Late For The Train (5.10)

John Peel Show 10/18/78 TX 10/23/78
19-Promises (2.29)
20-Lipstick (2.40)
21-Sixteen Again (3.14)

John Peel Show 5/21/79 TX 5/28/79
22- E.S.P.

CD 2
1-Love Is Life (Lies) (demo)*
2-Just Lust (demo)
3-Operatoros Manual (demo)*
4-Ever Fallen In Love (demo)*
5-Nothing Left (demo)*
6-Sixteen Again (demo)*
7-Raison D’etre (demo)*
8-Real World *
9-Nostalgia (demo)*
10-E.S.P (demo)
11-Lipstick (demo)
12-Children (Promises) (demo)
13-Mother Of Turds (demo)

LIVE AT LESSER FREE TRADE HALL 7/21/1978
14-Breakdown*
15-What Do I Get*
16-I Don’t Mind*
17-Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t ‘ve)*
18-Noise Annoys*
19-Nothing Left*
20-Get On Our Own*
21-Love You More*
22-Fiction Romance*
23-Autonomy*
*previously unreleased

Links:
The Buzzcocks

Sid! By Those Who Really Knew Him CD/DVD Review (MVD)

This release combines a well put-together 80-minute documentary on Sid Vicious with a 10-song live CD from one of Sid's solo shows at Max's Kansas City.

Starting off with the CD, this is an audience recording but it is one of the better sounding recordings from Sid's four solo shows at Max's Kansas City. Sid Sings (Virgin) was predominately composed of tracks from Sid's 9/28 and 9/29 shows at Max's. This disc contains the entire first set from the 9/30 show which is Sid's last known live performance.

For this show, Sid was backed by the Idols ("Killer" Kane, Jerry Nolan and Steve Dior) and played a mix of predominately Sex Pistols, Stooges and NY Dolls/Heartbreakers songs along with the obligatory "My Way".

Here is the track list:
1) Search and Destroy (Stooges Cover)
2) Chatterbox (NY Dolls cover)
3) Something Else (Eddie Cochran cover - studio version on The Great R n' R Swindle)
4) Belsen Was a Gas (Sex Pistols cover)
5) I Wanna Be Your Dog (Stooges cover)
6) Stepping Stones (Monkees Cover - studio version on The Great R n' R Swindle)
7) Take A Chance With Me (Heartbreakers Cover)
8) Don't Give Me No Lip, Child (Dave Berry Cover - studio version on The Great R n' R Swindle)
9) Chinese Rocks (Ramones/Heartbreakers Cover)
10) My Way (Sid's solo single - studio version on The Great R n' R Swindle)

Moving over to the DVD, this documentary is refreshing as it focuses on Sid's life before the Pistols and his story is told by his childhood friends. This disc also stands out from past pieces on Sid as it paints a balanced picture of both his foibles (which have been the predominate focus of past pieces on Sid) and his sweet side. At the extremes, the narrative retelling of Sid's life range from Caroline Coon's gushing adoration to Marco Pirroni's dismissal of Sid as a punk rock moron. There is some balance between these two extremes with commentary from boyhood friend Jah Wobble, 100 Club promoter Ron Watts (who tells the story of Sid beating Nick Kent, throwing the glass at the 100 Club Punk Festival that blinded a girl, etc.) and friend/band mate/occasional roommate Viv Albertine (The Slits).

Together, all of the personal narration does a great job of humanizing Sid and breaking through the image of the strung out junkie who toured the States with the Pistols in early '78.

Links:
A Guide to Sid Vicious' Live Recordings

White Mice - Ganjahovahdose CD Review / Show at Death by Audio on Jan. 15th

Providence, RI noise rock wackos are back in down next Friday night (Jan. 15th) for a show at Death By Audio with Liturgy and Little Women.

White Mice's latest release is Ganjahovahdose (20 Buck Spin) which came out last October. On this release, the band sticks to their tried and true formula of combining groove-oriented noise rock with an adolescent sense of humor that ranges from religious blasphemy to an obsession with cheese.

White Mice are one of those bands that your friends will never understand. The band performs in bloody mouse costumes and the new disc contains songs entitled "Placenta The Crotchtower", "The Shroud of Urine" and The Crapture". This alone should tell you a lot about the band's toilet-humor based outlook on life.



Ganjahovahdose is a sticky, sludgy mess that comes on like the inbred bastard child of the Butthole Surfers and The Jesus Lizard. This is loud, rumbling noise rock that careens off in multiple directions and production values be damned. The vocals are completely buried in the mix and range from black metal growls to tortured (likely) drug-induced yammering. What adds to the fun is that between the songs, there are snippets of dialogue and crazed sounds bites. One example of this is the 911 tape of the Michigan cop who called for emergency assistance because he thought he was dead from eating pot brownies.

The funny thing is that, beneath all this cacaphony and noise, there are some solid bass/drums melodic grooves that make it hard to get these songs out of your head.

Links:
White Mice

Hypno5e: Photos and Video Interview From the Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY 1-6-10

I had the chance to spend some time with experimetal band Hypno5e on the first night of the "Metal As Art" tour. The band is in the middle of a coast-to-coast tour with The Binary Code and Revocation which finishes up back on the East Coast with a show in Trenton on February 6th (complete tour dates below). For anyone who missed this catching the band this time out, they are heading back on the road for a second leg of the tour starting on Feb. 9th.

Hypo5e is in the process of finishing up their second disc which is due out later this year and early feedback is that this new disc is much more violent and futuristic than the ambient metal sound of the band's debut Des Deux L'une Est L'autre.



Hypno5e played a strong 45+ minute set that and seemed pleasantly surprised to be called back for an encore. To steal the band's words (check out the video interview), Hypno5e's set sounded like a cross between Pink Floyd and Gojira. After getting lost in the band's hypnotic ambience, I have to think that this must be one h*ll of a trip when the band is able to bring along their video backdrop. Hopefully the band will be playing bigger rooms next time through where their video screen will fit.



Here are upcoming tour dates on the first leg of the "Metal as Art" tour:

Wednesday, January 13 - Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge
Thursday, January 14 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Conservatory
Friday, January 15 - Dallas, TX @ The Lounge on Elm
Saturday, January 16 - San Antonio, TX @ Zombies
Sunday, January 17 - Austin, TX @ TBA
Monday, January 18 - Amarillo, TX @ War Legion
Tuesday, January 19 - Gallup, NM @ Juggernaut
Thursday, January 21 - Los Angeles, CA @ Cobalt Cafe
Friday, January 22 - Ramona, CA @ Ramona Mainstage
Saturday, January 23 - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Parish
Sunday, January 24 - Sparks, NV @ New Oasis
Monday, January 25 - Portland, OR @ Ash Street Saloon
Tuesday, January 26 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
Wednesday, January 27 - Spokane, WA @ The Cretin Hop
Thursday, January 28 - Boise, ID @ Gusto’s Bar
Friday, January 29 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Outer Rim (w/ GAZA)
Saturday, January 30 - Denver, CO @ Lion’s Lair
Sunday, January 31 - Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge
Monday, February 1 - Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
Tuesday, February 2 - Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room
Wednesday, February 3 - Nashville, TN @ The Muse
Thursday, February 4 - Cincinnati, OH @ Dirty Jacks
Friday, February 5 - Baltimore, MD @ Sidebar
Saturday, February 6 - Trenton, NJ @ The Championship

Links:
Hypno5e's MySpace Profile

X-Ray Spex - Live at the Roundhouse, London 2008 CD / DVD Review

After a 13 year hiatus, X-Ray Spex reunited for a single show at the Roundhouse, London on Sept. 6, 2008 and this show was released last month by Year Zero on CD and DVD.

Unlike some of the "we're only in it for the money" reunions, X-Ray Spex are in great form. The twenty-track set includes almost the entirety of Germ Free Adolescents ("Plastic Bag" is the only track not played) and Poly Styrene's voice has held up exceptionally well given that Germ Free Adolescents was released thirty years ago. Other songs include three tracks from X-Ray Spex's 2005 reunion Conscious Consumer along with one new and previously unreleased track "Bloody War".

In addition to Styrene's frentic vocals holding strong, the band sounds in top shape. Unlike the 1995 reunion, the lineup for this show is more of a 'pick-up' version of X-Ray Spex with bassist Paul Dean as the only hold-over. The line-up for this show includes Sid Truelove (Rubella Ballet, Flux of Pink Indians), Gt. Saxby (Arnold, Poptones) and Flash (Rip Rig & Panic, Jah Wobble, Don Cherry and The Slits). In comparison to some of the quasi-legitimate (bootleg?) X-Ray Spex CDs that I bought in the 90s, the band's performance this night is phenomenal. This the first show that I've heard where Polly sings with an air of (self-) confidence and the tightness and competence of the band adds to the overall performance. Flash adds some great sax riffs throughout the show so, while Laura Logic is missed, Flash is able to successfully fill the gap.

In what was a pretty daring move, the band opens with their best known song "Oh Bondage Up Yours". This gamble paid off and you can watch the crowd pogoing and singing along for the entirety of the set. The band only slows down when they hit the tracks from Conscious Consumer but this doesn't seem to deter the crowd or throw off the set as songs like "Crystal Clear" are hypnotically melodic. For the encore, X-Ray Spex closes with a second, faster version of "Oh Bondage Up Yours" which Polly sings with her daughter and grand-daughter.

This disc is a great addition to X-Ray Spex catalog and let's hope that the band doesn't take another 12 years before releasing their next disc.



Links:
X-Ray Spex
Photos from X-Ray Spex at CBGB (from CBGB's Shine)

Krieg (NJ Black Metal) Signs to Candlelight Records

Candlelight Records announced the signing of recently reformed NJ black metal band Krieg and will be releasing the band's sixth album, The Isolationist, later this summer.

Main creator Imperial says, “it is truly an honor to get to work with a professional label at this point in Krieg’s career. The Isolationist will be more experimental, uglier, and yet more beautiful than previous Krieg records.” The album will start production in early February at Volume Studios in Chicago and is tentatively planned for a July release.



Links:
Krieg's MySpace Profile

Testament to Perform 'The Legacy' in Full on Upcoming American Carnage Tour

Earlier this week, Chuck Billy announced on KNAC that Testament will be playing the entirety of their 1987 debut LP The Legacy on the upcoming American Carnage Tour.

"We decided last night that instead of putting — because we only have a 40-minute set to pick — instead of playing a medley of songs, we decided we're going to do the entire "The Legacy" record, start to finish, in its entirety for the show. We did it last year, over in Holland, and then we did a show in London. And that show we did "The Legacy" and "The New Order" back to back, just like on the records, song after song." - Chuck Billy

For anyone who wants an early listen as to how Testament's set will sound, Testament's latest disc, Live at Eindhoven '87 (Prosthetic Records), is a great place to start. This is a live set from the band's European debut at the Dynamo Open Air Festival where the band tears through the majority of The Legacy LP.

Testament released 5 tracks from this show on a European EP (which was later issued in the US) in 1987 but this is the first time that the band's full 10-song set has been released. In addition to the longer set, the sound has been remastered and sounds significantly better than the original EP.

Here is the complete track list for the disc:

1. Disciples of the Watch
2. The Haunting
3. Apocalyptic City
4. First Strike Is Deadly
5. Burnt Offerings
6. Alex Skolnick guitar solo
7. Over The Wall
8. Do Or Die
9. Curse of the Legion of Death (C.O.T.L.O.D.)
10. Reign of Terror

For whatever reason, the American Carnage Tour is skipping NYC and the closest the tour is coming is the Izod Center in New Jersey.

Here are the complete tour dates:
1/18 WaMu Theatre, Seattle, WA
1/19 Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR
1/21 Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA
1/22 Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA
1/23 Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ
1/25 Magness Arena, Denver, CO
1/26 Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, NM
1/27 El Paso Coliseum, El Paso, TX
1/29 Verizon Wireless, Houston, TX
1/31 Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN
2/1 Gwinnett Arena, Duluth, GA
2/2 Broadbent Arena, Louisville, KY
2/4 Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN
2/5 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL
2/6 Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI
2/9 Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford, CT
2/11 Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
2/13 Susquehanna Center, Camden, NJ
2/14 Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA
2/16 Pavillon de La Jeunesse, Quebec City, QC
2/18 John Labatt Centre, London, ON
2/19 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
2/20 Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
2/22 Moncton Coliseum, Moncton, NB
2/23 Metro Centre, Halifax, NS



Links:
Testament's MySpace Profile