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Brooklyn punks Up for Nothing's first full length CD "We're Singing Our Last Breath..." on Winter Street Records is a throwback to a time before the word 'emo' existed, or at least before it meant 'whiny melodic music by theater kids who never got laid in high school.' Up for Nothing prove that just because you can sing a melody and carry a harmony you are not relegated to singing songs about being picked on and having a broken heart. Up for Nothing play fast, positive punk with melodic lyrics, driven by straight up power chords and quick tempo'd drum work. "We're Singing Our Last Breath..." reminds me of when I could enjoy a band on the warped tour, when I was youthful and when I really loved music. These kids (well early 20s) really put their all into the music and their enthusiasm shines throughout the CD. I find myself with a cold beer in hand, on a rainy night grinning, drinking and singing. Zero to Sixty is a stand out among the thirteen tracks, a powerfully driven pop punk anthem that drops out after the bridge into a raucous gang chorus. The album is complemented with two slower acoustical tracks (The New Years Eve and the Last Rope...) that showcase the quality of the vocals this band is capable of. Guest appearance by NY Hardcore legend Ernie Parada (Token Entry) round out the youthful angst with grounded anger.
Paul Westerberg's latest release "49:00 of your Life" is a loud and clear middle finger to the music establishment: the TDK blank tape cover art, it's basement recording, release as an mp3 for 49 cents (yes, a penny a minute), to the entire album being a single mp3 not allowing for the tech savvy youth to load singles onto their iPods - forcing you to view the album as a whole, as intended. 49:00 is possibly Westerberg's best release since working with the Replacements. This album is just that, an album. It plays a bit like Green Day's "American Idiot" in that the album is not just music but an homage to the greats of popular music. Where Green Day's tribute is a sampling of Motley Crue, Bryan Adams, etc. Paul Westerberg digs deeper. Shades of Dylan, the Velvet Underground, and solo projects by Lou Reed and John Cale can be heard throughout. Also the raw emotion in Westerberg's voice is as prevalent as his hey day in the 'mats. A stand out on the album at about 22 minutes in is "Goodnight Sweet Prince" whose music box guitar gives way to phonic cacophony and expresses the swirling emotion of the lyric. This album is a must have for Westerberg/Replacement fans or just worth downloading for the support of a blatant snub of the music industry.
EDIT: As of 1pm July 22, 2088 Paul Westerberg's 49:00 is the most downloaded album of the day on Amazon.com
The Street Dog's State of Grace is their fourth full length release, and first on Hellcat. For those of you who have yet to discover the Street Dogs they are one of the most amazing live bands you will ever get to see. A lot of this is due to the energy of front man Mike McColgan who never disappoints on stage. Unfortunately the energy and charisma of this band rarely can be contained on a shiny plastic disc. While "State of Grace" has its moments it has not met the high expectations I held for the band who finally had the opportunity to release their music on a label like Hellcat. My anticipation and expectations further heightened with their release of the album's single "Two Angry Kids," an uptempo song telling the story of Mike and a former band mate (whose name will be withheld because even if the Street Dogs refuse to try and distance themselves from the past I will), their battle with addiction, and their salvation through music. The song is unlike anything they had previously released, almost had a hip-hop feel to its rhythm and showcased the stellar drum work of Paul Rucker. Upon receiving the album I was treated to the first track "Mean Fist" a Savin Hill style rocker that met my hopes and expectations for the band. That was where it stopped though. The rest of the album proved to be rather formulaic with obligatory Irish, Boston, and tribute to fallen friend themes. If you are not of the mindset that the Irish Punk song is at the end of its rope you haven't made it to the track "San Patricios" a song heralding the treasonous mercenaries known as Saint Patrick's Brigade, complete with mariachi guitars and authentic Spanish voice over. One can only guess that the well had run dry and the band had to turn to Wikipedia and Google to find a topic for their Irish-pride anthem. The album isn't all bad, but it did not live up to expectations; if you are satisfied with an album that continues the band's status-quo and keeps them in the shadow then you'll disagree wholeheartedly with my assessment, however if you are looking for growth form a band that has the pieces and potential to be the next big thing, then this release will seem lack-luster at best.
Mark Lind and the Unloved's third CD, the second to be released by Sailor's Grave, is by far his best to date. With a solidified line up for the Unloved in Jeff Morris (guitar), Mike Savitkas (Bass) and longtime friend and drummer Jay Messina; Mark's gritty vocals and soul bearing sound writing are provided with worthy arrangements. Always having been one of Boston's best but often overlooked drummer's with the Ducky Boys Messina's ability and timing shine on "The Truth Can Be Brutal;" with no disrespect meant to Mark's bass playing with the Ducky Boys, the combination of Savitkas and Messina is flawless in support of the 11 new tracks. Jeff Morris provides a rock solid lead guitar work with tones that vary from Westerberg pop to the growl of Slash' humbuckers. Lind's songwriting is a mature, introspective look at politics, love, and of course the City of Boston.
Upon initial listen "The Truth Can be Brutal" is a complete album, there is no filler - eleven songs that range from pop-rock, to border line Guns 'n' Roses, to punk. The brutal truth is that it took more the 3 chords Lind is accustomed to working to in order to convey his best songs to date. The quality of these 11 songs is impressive making it hard to pick a distinct favorite or favorites. At this point "Hello My Brother", a rocker that could have easily been put on G'n'R's Appetite has caught my ear along with "So She Says" and "Jack and Coke" two Replacement-esque love stories with unhappy endings.
Fans of the progression the Ducky Boys have made to date will enjoy "The Truth Can be Brutal." "The Truth Can be Brutal" in Mark's solo career is analogous to "Three Chords and the Truth" in his career with the Ducky Boys, a standout where all the pieces have come together.
Boston's Confront's aggressive style continues to walk the line between 80's Boston Hardcore and Spirit of '96 punk rock. Their upcoming release "What Have We Become" due out July 19, 2008 on Lude Boy Records is six songs of guitar driven anthems of growing up in a city and a world that push its outcasts aside. Steve Young's songwriting has grown and portrays a longing and loathing for his home that hasn't been properly portrayed since Rob Lind and Blood for Blood released Serenity. The band has grown musically as well, the track "This world" is a Biohazard influenced anthem lamenting a world gone wrong and promises to draw blood at live shows. Confront's CD release show is an all ages affair at 1pm on Saturday July 19 at the Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, MA.
