Even Johansen“Quiet & Still”(FiveOneInc.) Staying true to his album’s moniker, Even Johansen has fashioned something precisely that – quiet and still. You drift sleepily in and out of each song, never fully aware of where one ends and the other…
FYP ““Toys That Kill”” (Recess Records) FYP sucks. Or so, I thought. I think it’s more of an aquired taste, because past albums just didn’’t do it for me, and it’s a type of punk that usually hits the spot.…
Various Artists ““Fat Music Volume 5: Live Fat Die Young”” (Fat Wreck Chords) In the tenth grade I was together with this girl named Grace Kim who spent “hours and hours” making a mix-tape (no CD burners back then) for me.…
Flotsam and Jetsam ““My God”” (Metal Blade) Yeah, I’m sure every dumb fuck out there is getting big fat jollies by doing exactly what I’m about to do… My God? My God is right! It’s exactly what I thought when…
Atom & His Package ““Redefining Music”” (Hopeless Records) From the first nasal rap attack eliciting Bloodhound Gang flashbacks, I knew Atom & His Package was going to be a self-indulgent wankfest. When it works, this melds the better elements of…
Bare Jr. ““Brainwasher”” (Immortal Records) On “Why Do I Need a Job” lead singer Robert Bare Jr. drunkenly moans, “Why do I need a job?-I feel so free-I got nowhere to be-so why do I need a job?” Hate to…
Big in Japan ““Destroy the New Rock”” (Honest Don’s Records) Big in Japan? They should be big in America. A mish-mosh of punk riffs and awesome drumbeats that have hints of Screaching Weasel and Elvis Costello. Hell, Fuckin’’ Joey Travers…
Cataract ““Golem”” (Ferret Music) The best part of having this job is getting to review groups like Cataract that just blow my mind. This hard-as-shit band slams their way from deep within Europe, specifically Switzerland. They have been tearing apart…
Ann Beretta ““New Union… Old Glory”” (Lookout! Records) It’s anthemic working class songs for the down trodden who still insist on getting back up even after the 100th kick down. The songs are good if formulaic. Take Op. Ivy, Bruce…