Medium Rare by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

kurtkurtkurt:

UPDATE 6.18.2012

Weeelllll I'm a few months late on this review. ANYways.

Medium Rare came out after the Bosstones decided they were done with their hiatus. I think it was a bunch of B-Sides and what-not. It's not their best material for sure (I can't help it I love 'A Jackknife to a Swan' and 'Let's Face it').  It's alright Ska though in the end.

Stuckski:
The Bosstones are one of those bands that I don't listen to as much as I should. Every time I hear them playing in the background somewhere, I think to myself that I really should get one of their albums, but then I instantly forget about them.
Thanks to Kurtkurtkurt I have now listened to my first full album by them, and my first reaction is moderate enjoyment. They're not blowing my mind, but they also don't make me want to blow my brains out, so it evens out to a moderate win.


RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 6/10
Stuckski: 7/10

Hang-Ups by Goldfinger

kurtkurtkurt:
I think the first time I ever heard these guys was in that movie King Pin Superman is on the soundtrack. Anyways these guys are pretty alright, they're up there with the other big 90s contenders of the ska/punk world. This album has, in my opinion, some of their better more memorable songs, but it was never as stand out as the rest of the the 90s scene.

Stuckski:
I'm in love with the nineties, and I ain't ashamed of it. The punk/ska from this era often gets overlooked, and even vilified as the beginning of the whole 'pop-punk' shit-storm that we're caught in these days, but -fuck it all- I still love it. Goldfinger is one of the bands (along with the Offspring, MxPx, Green Day, Dropkick Murphys, Reel Big Fish, and Blink 182 among others) that helped create in me a love for punk, and while I have branched out since then, these are the bands that I always come back to.

I bought Hang-ups and Turn off the Radio by Reel Big Fish at the same time from a second hand store. The covers looked cool, even though I hadn't heard of either of the bands. I think they cost me a combined $2.50. And that, boys and girls, is how I discovered ska. Hang-Ups isn't quite as good as the later 'Open Your Eyes'. But it is still pretty damn good.

RATINGS:
kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
Stuckski: 9/10

Folly - Insanity Later

kurtkurtkurt:

Sorry Stuckski.

So these guys are straight up hardcore/slam dance punch you in the face breakdown music, with a touch of ska thrown in to confuse the ska kid in me trying to skank. This album is very loud and agressive. Overall definitely not my cup of tea. I did enjoy Discussion is for the Pigs, which will give you a general feel for what they do, but I'm not always super big into screaming. I respect what they're trying to do overall, meshing two genres that seem like complete opposites, but it's hard to fully enjoy the results  for me.

Stuckski:

Well, there's a lot of screaming, I'm pretty sure these guys are pissed about something or other. Don't know what, because -once again- they are screaming. I hate screaming in music. Wait, let me elaborate for a second here: I love shouting and chants in most of my music, it adds to the energy and creates a great mood. Screaming is completely different: you can barely understand what they're saying and it just sounds like a choir of petulant 14-year olds. The few moments when the singer isn't screaming actually sound quite good. Pity he couldn't do that for the entire fucking album.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 4/10
Stuckski: 2/10

Secret Agent 8 - Secret Agent 8

kurtkurtkurt:

These guys are one of the bands that really, really got me into ska. I found these guys back when mp3.com was for artists just putting their work online. Their sound is like Third Wave Ska mixed in with some jazz. VERY strong horn section. Whenever I perform 'A Message to You Rudy' I always throw in a verse from their homage to it 'Rudi, What Happened to You?' (Sorry no youtube links unfortunately). These guys just always put me in a good mood whenever I play their music. If you can find yourself a copy of the album give it a listen to.

Stuckski:

There is a song called 'Beer's OK' on this album, and that pretty much epitomizes the entire album to me: chill. Everyone seems relaxed and happy, the brass section creates an upbeat rhythm, and they don't really seem too worked up about anything. Beer's OK and so's this album.



RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 10/10
Stuckski: 8/10

Alive Behind the Green Door by Flogging Molly

kurtkurtkurt:

If you ever get a chance to see these guys live do it. Probably some of the best shows I've ever seen were Flogging molly. Traditionally they put more energy into their live performances than you can feel on their albums. Unfortunately this album doesn't quite capture it as well (check out Live at the Greek Theater if you want a good live album by them). I think this was recorded pre Swagger? I'm not sure. Anyways it's still flogging molly which means it's still enjoyable.

Stuckski:

One of the few Celtic Punk bands to continue in the vein of the Pogues (most others seem to pick the Oi influenced stylings of Dropkick Murphies, Street Dogs, Flatfoot, et al), Flogging Molly is a pretty darn good band. Their live show is supposed to be good, and this album reflects that to a degree. Not just a dance and mosh show, more of a folk punk vibe. Easy listening if you're packed into a small bar, beer in hand, and just want the occasional chorus to chant along with. However, if you're looking to buy your first Flogging Molly album, I would recommend going with one of their studio albums.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 6/10
Stuckski: 6/10

Change by The Dismemberment Plan

kurtkurtkurt:

This album is very 'Yawn'. I was kinda just waiting for most of the songs (whole album) to end so I could say my few words and review the next album.

Stuckski:

The problem I have with a lot of indie music is that they all start to sound very similar. If you made me listen to this album tomorrow there is no guarantee that I would recognize it, even though I had to listen to it several times to even be able to think of something -anything- to say about it. It's bland, boring and they don't sound like they'd be fun to watch live. Another cardinal sin in my books.


RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 2/10
Stuckski: 3/10

Streetcore by Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros

kurtkurtkurt:

I feel like Joe Strummer was moving this direction for a while after The Clash. It all ended in a calm, smooth folk rock. He still has his gruff voice, but the agression is gone. He performs a beautiful rendition of Remdemption Song. It's worth a listen for sure for this song alone.

Stuckski:
Before you get all excited, this album is called Streetcore, but it isn't ACTUALLY streetcore. Once I got over my disappointment at that, I realized this was a pretty rockin' chill album. A lot of different instruments thrown into a style of music that I can't really describe. There's elements of reggae, country, rock...it's all over the place. Somehow it all blends into something decent, although not really that memorable.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
Stuckski: 6/10

Word is Bond by The Johnstones

EDIT: SHHHHiiiiiiiit! I'm late reviewing this. (kurtkurtrkurt)

kurtkurtkurt:

 Anyways this is a Stomp Records band. I acquired this album because I loved how bizarre this lead singers voice is. He sings in this high pitch gibberish sometimes. Anyways I love the music a lot, they're lyrics are much to be desired.

Stuckski:

Ummm is there a genre called 'bro-ska'? Decent musically. Not sure about some of the singing. L.A.D.I.E.S. was fantastic.


RATINGS:

kurtrkurtkurt: 8/10
Stuckski: 6/10

Dawn Metropolis by Anamanaguchi

kurtkurtkurt:

Man felt like I was in a video game. Seriously though made half an hour fly by with pure bliss while I was working. Matt links to all the songs below and I don't blame him. I aspire to be able to put down some phat 8bit sounds like that in my music. Props to these guys.

Stuckski:

26.1 minutes of Chippunk awesome. If you know Anamanaguchi at all it's from the kick-ass Scott Pilgrim soundtrack and Dawn Metropolis delivers with more of the same videogame awesomeness. They do a great job of combining instruments with the 8bit sounds to create a great mood in their songs.
What are the best tracks you ask? All of them, dear sir/madam. All of them.
Blackout City
Jetpack Blues
Dawn Metropolis
Danger Mountain
Overarrow
Tempest, Teamwork, Triumph (at sea)
Mermaid

Enjoy.


RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 9/10
Stuckski: 10/10

Fuck World Trade by Leftover Crack

kurtkurtkurt:

These guys are probably one of my favorite bands right now. I tend to disagree with most of their extreme politics and opposition to all religion, but damn if they don't make good music. They're a mixture of punk/ska/death metal seamlessly going through all three in some songs. Their ska Gang Control and folk ballad Soon We'll be Dead are personal highlights for me.

Stuckski:

I don't know what to make of Leftover Crack, their music is kind of all over the place. I really don't like the songs where the vocals tend almost towards screamo, but then the next song will be an awesome softer, almost folk punk track like Soon We'll be Dead. In between are some real nice punk gems. Gringos Son Puercos Feos reminds me of some of the older NOFX material, which is always a good thing. And the hidden instrumental at the end of Operation: M.O.V.E. hit me in the right spot for some reason. I'd say the second half of this album is better than the first by far.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 9/10
Stuckski: 6/10

Best of 2001-2009 by Rasmus

kurtkurtkurt:

Umm... The album cover looks kinda cool? It doesn't help their generic rock sound, but  I think it's the most positive thing I can say about the album. I suppose I can also say "They're a band who plays their instruments and form songs." So they've got that much going for them.

Stuckski:

I had to resist the urge to take a hatchet to my music collection before starting this music blog. I almost convinced myself that it would be preferential to admitting owning some of the pop albums I do (see Aguilera, Christina). Now that we've been through a few reviews, I realize that what I'm really embarrassed about is all these generic rock albums I own. I mean, the Rasmus? Who the fuck are these guys, and how on earth do they have enough music to create a 'best of' album spanning eight years?! They sound like a Linkin Park knock-off, in a bad way.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 1/10
Stuckski: 2/10

Specials by The Specials

kurtkurtkurt:

My love for this band goes back to when I first truly started exploring music. It wasn't until middle school when I began to be able to use the internet to find music. Since there were a multitude of programs (Napster) that allowed ease to acquiring music I began to broaden my musical (ska) horizons. While they were hardly the first Ska band I ever heard and not the band that got me into the music (Five Iron Frenzy and a multitude of other Christian Ska bands take that title) this album gained a place in my heart the more I listened to it and I learned more about the genre.

As far as albums go The Specials' Specials is one of my favorite albums of all time.

A Message To You Rudy, Little Bitch and Gangsters are a good sampling from this album.

(Note to peeps. My version is the U.S. version so it includes their song Gangsters which is not on the original UK pressing.)

Stuckski:

Well, they're pretty...special. HAHAHAHHAHA...Get it?! Super cool joke there, I'm really topping myself this time. I've already mentioned my feelings about two-tone ska on previous posts (recap: they're good feelings), and the Specials are the kings of two-tone. Love 'em, and love this album. One a side note, when I spent about one second filling in as guitarist for my friend's band The Openers (who have since reached level 16 and evolved into Use the Boost, a chip-punk extravaganza), we covered A Message for You Rudy, and that is -to date- still the only ska song I know how to play. Who was that friend who's band I was in, you ask? Why nobody else but the fan-fuckin-tastic mr Kurtkurtkurt himself!


RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 10/10
Stuckski: 9/10

Your Favorite Weapon by Brand New

kurtkurtkurt:

Well that sucked. I mean I guess I've heard worse (Seether) but still pretty terrible. Biggest disappointment was Soco Amaretto Lime. I thought to myself "Oh, it's gonna be a fun upbeat song. Surely if the song title is a mixed drink. WRONG.
Stuckski:

I don't know what's up with this album, but I was bored to tears listening to it, and that is the only flaw I cannot forgive. I think it's supposed to be some kind of pop-punk or something, not sure. Generic, boring...yawn.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 2/10
Stuckski: 1/10

Anthology of Releases: 2001-2003 by Career Suicide

kurtkurtkurt:

This album is great, it's an hour long and has 44 songs on it. These guys go from blitzkrieg fast with You Call this a Life? to the more traditional 80s hardcore sounds of Moron. Definitely pit material. Get ye some!

Stuckski:

If I had to describe hardcore punk in one word, I would probably choose "Energy". Hardcore is about leaving behind all the complicated affectations we add to our music and getting down to the raw energy underneath. I've never listened to Career Suicide before, but from the first track to last, I was sucked in by the raw chaotic simplicity of their music. I can only imagine how awesome their live show is! If you don't feel like moshing and headbanging while listening to this music, you are probably seriously deficient somehow. Seriously, go get yourself checked out.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 9/10
Stuckski: 9/10