Death Trap – EP

Thrashy hardcore punk from Sydney. This is a pretty raw 7 song EP. I’m liking it. Check 'em out here. 

Convict – Demo

Fast hardcore punk. Nothing real special. Picked this up from Blackwire Records. Check out Blackwire’s blog here. I highly recommend checking out the shows they put on and checking out what they have to sell.

Convict are now Porn Ring.  

Flipper - Blow'n Chunks: The Roir Sessions

A live set of classic 80’s punk band Flipper. This was recorded at CBGB’s in November 1983. The CD that I have has the original cover drawn by Ted Falconi, but I can’t find a picture of it online to post.

The Flatliners – Monumental 7” (black)

‘Monumental’ is one of the more polished and catchier songs off ‘Cavalcade’. I’ve had a hard time getting this off my turntable. There are 2 more rocking songs on the B-side as well. Check out the video for 'Monumental':

The Flatliners – Cynics 7” (black)

Another great release from The Flatliners. This acted to bridge the gap between ‘The Great Awake’ and ‘Cavalcade’ and at the time it served its purpose well. I was hooked on ‘Filthy Habits’ (which features on ‘Cavalcade’ and is one of my more preferred songs off the album). The B-sides are good as well, but are beaten out by ‘Filthy Habits’.

The Flatliners – Cavalcade

‘Cavalcade’ builds off what The Flatliners were doing on ‘The Great Awake’. The ska influence is hardly here (save on a few songs) and the socially aware lyrics are replaced by songs about failing and drinking. The songs have also gotten more polished, ‘Monumental’ is a great example of this. Although it does slow down towards the end the energy is high throughout this record. I still can’t get these choruses out of my head.

FFO: Attack in Black, Smoke or Fire, Dead To Me

The Flatliners – The Great Awake

This album finds The Flatliners losing most of the ska edge that was predominant on ‘Destroy To Create’ and focusing on the punk and catchy courses. This album has a definite Fat Wreck vibe to it as well.

I haven’t been able to get these songs out of my head for weeks. They are so catchy, energetic and you can’t help but sing-a-long at the top of your lungs.

FFO: The Lawrence Arms, Smoke or Fire, The Sainte Catherines

Albatros – Demo

If you like gruff punk rock and a horn sections look no further than Albatros. Download this demo from Death To False Hope Records, you will also find a shit load of great records for free download there so get onto that shit. 

The Flatliners – Destroy To Create

 A great punked up ska album from Canada’s The Flatliners. For those that have a problem with the ska tag (I have no idea why. Ska rules!) you will be happy to know that there are no horns present just simple guitar, bass and drums.

The Flatliners have always have had great choruses that make you want to shout and sing-a-long at the top of your lungs. The songs are written well and the production quality is superb. The lyrics are socially conscious but are a blur as vocalist Chris Cresswell delivers them as fast as humanly possible.

This record shows a hell of a lot of energy and promise (which in my opinion has been realised).

If you are a fan of punk rock or a part time ska fan then check this record out.

Fistmouth – All Is Right With The World (single)

I picked this up when I saw Fistmouth supporting No Trigger and Such Gold at the Sando (Between the Devil and the Deep and Never Content also played). First off the packaging of this is awesome!!! They have wax sealed it!!! I lost my shit over that. This is a great song, I only wish that there were more on this CD besides the one song. Oh well, you can download the song from their Bandcamp.

Here’s a video of them performing said song at said show. Enjoy. 

Defiance, Ohio – Midwestern Minutes LP (purple mix /467)

The 4^th record from Defiance, Ohio. If you’ve have any of their other records you will know what to expect. DIY folk punk awesomeness! This record had to grow on me a bit before I began to appreciate it as much as their last efforts. I don’t exactly know why this was the case, but now I can’t get these songs out of my head. I can definitely hear some more poppy influences shining through on this record. There is something that is so sincere and honest about Defiance, Ohio. Every time I put one of their records on I can’t help but smile. They combine sweetness and gruffness so well.

This record is best listened to in Autumn or the beginning of Spring.

You can also download their music from their website, but buy the stuff if you can.

FFO: Ghost Mice, Andrew Jackson Jihad and early Against Me!

Jess Locke and N. Martin - The (temperamental) Locket (Cassette /100)

Nathan Martin (The (temperamental) Pocket, Anal Discharge, and numerous other bands) and Jess Locke (Origami Girls) have produced some beautiful country pop songs on this split. I found these songs to be really charming and stuck in my head for days on end.

I’ve seen them live twice now (at a Beatdisc instore and at a house show with Defiance, Ohio) and these songs come over really well live.

FFO: Zounds, American War, Cara Beth Satalino, Destry, Conor Oberst and Erin Tobey.

Various Artists - We’ll Inherit The Earth... A Tribute To The Replacements

Tribute albums are very touch and go, there’s always one band that absolutely slaughters the cover. I tend to steer clear of tribute albums but after a shitty job interview I decided to do some retail therapy to help heal the wounds. I ended up buying this due to, in my opinion, some great bands contributing their versions of some Replacements songs.

All in all this is a good collection of covers, although the bands don’t really stray to far from the original song formulas. I didn’t find myself reaching for the skip button either which was a positive as well.

Here’s the list of what band does what song as well for those that care:

1. The Ergs! - "I'm in Trouble"
2. Hi Ho Six Shooter - "If Only You Were Lonely"
3. Basement Black - "Raised in the City"
4. Drunken Boat - "Kids Don't Follow"
5. Off With Their Heads - "Goddamn Job"
6. Blotto - "Color Me Impressed"
7. Modern Machines - "Mr. Whirly"
8. Druglords Of The Avenues - "Favorite Thing"
9. The Tim Version - "Nowhere Is My Home"
10. The Queers - "Unsatisfied"
11. Tiltwheel - "Skyway"
12. Whiskey Sunday - "Can't Hardly Wait"
13. North Lincoln - "Kiss Me On The Bus"
14. The Obsoletes - "Waitress In The Sky"
15. Against Me! - "Bastards of Young"
16. J. Page - "Left of the Dial"
17. The Draft - "Little Mascara"
18. Thomas Barnett & Rob Huddleston - "Here Comes a Regular"
19. Jason White - "Torture"
20. The Urchin - "Rock 'n' Roll Ghost"
21. This is My Fist - "Beer For Breakfast"
22. Drag the River - "Portland"
23. Almighty Do Me a Favor - "Treatment Bound"

Chris Duke & The Royals – Promo CD

I picked this 2 song promo CD up for free when I saw them at Blood Sweat and Beers 4 on the weekend that’s just gone by. They play ska punk that sounds like an Australian version of Reel Big Fish. The songs are energetic and fun, even if they should’ve been written in the 90’s.

Between the Devil the Deep – Souvenirs (single)

After disappearing for a while moody, post-punk band BTD&TD have returned with a new single and a new bass player. The single features 2 songs, ‘Souvenirs’ and ‘God Hates the New Facebook’, which have been taken from their debut album that is yet to be released. The song writing has improved a lot and the production on this single is better than it has been on pervious releases.

You can buy this single, and some of their other releases, from their Bigcartel. This is a great Sydney band and I urge you to check them out. Hit them up on their Facebook and their Myspace.

Bay City Rollers – Wouldn’t You Like It? LP (black)

Crank the cheese!

Chuck Ragan – Gold Country LP (black)

This is the third LP from Hot Water Music front man Chuck Ragan. I picked it up for my Dad for his birthday.

As with his last records there is a strong folk and country vibe here. However, what makes this record that little bit more special than the last two is the way artists such as Jon Guant, Austin Lucas and others add to songs.

Chuck is one of the better punk front men turned solo acoustic artists and this is a truly great record. I challenge anyone not to enjoy this.

The Arrogant Sons of Bitches – Three Cheers for Disappointment LP (clear)

This is the final release from probably one of my favourite ska bands. Front man Jeff Rosenstock has gone on to form Bomb the Music Industry! This LP is one of the best ska albums ever in my opinion; it’s fast, catchy, aggressive and has you singing along in no time.

You can download it from Quote Unquote Records (Jeff’s record label). Also, you can find heaps of great records up for download including Bomb the Music Industry!, The Matt Kruz One, Cheap Girls, Laura Stevenson and a whole lot more.

Also make sure you download Chewing on Tinfoil’s ‘Get Rich or Try Dyin’’. A great ska band from Ireland.

The Measure [sa]/Flamingo 50 – Split 7” (clear w/blue, white and black splatter)

I picked this up from Amoeba Records in Hollywood along with a bunch of other stuff. You need a whole day to explore that store but I only had a few hours and limited cash, but if you ever have a chance to go to an Amoeba store DO IT! They have a few stores across the US.

Anyways this is a split between New Brunswick’s The Measure [sa] and Liverpool’s Flamingo 50, both female fronted pop punk bands.

I bought this for The Measure’s side of the split (having never herd of Flamingo 50 before) and they deliver with catchy melodies and great tunes. What we’ve come to expect from The Measure.

Having never listened to Flamingo 50 before this served as a good introduction to the band. Their songs are catchy and definitely have more of an English feel to them, but I felt myself liking The Measure’s side a little bit more.

The Measure have also recently broken up.