Press & Reviews
Review: ADD/C- "Keepin' It Real" LP (Dead Broke)
MAXIMUM ROCK & ROLL Issue #313 June 2009
I've been hearing or seeing the name ADD/C for a year or so, but I haven't listened to them until now. For some reason, I thought they were a noise band, but I'm not really sure what led me to think that. These guys sound like what would happen if your crossed a less catchy SEXY with KILLER DREAMER and made it grittier and a bit more spastic. (BD)
Review: GET BENT - "Demo" 7 inch EP (Dead Broke/Dirt Cult)
RAZORCAKE
Being a fan of demos-gone-7", I was pleased to see these songs get pressed to vinyl. Because not only are 7"s just funner to listen to, but the artwork for the original demo was completely uncaptivating. Even just adding two stock file photos of life in New York City adds volumes to these four songs of melancholic, emotive, melodic punk that’s rich in leads and sick with personal revelations. –Daryl Gussin (Dead Broke / Dirt Cult)
Review: BASEMENT BLACK- "Recovery Stories and Worn-out Welcomes" CD-R (Dead Broke)
RAZORCAKE
This was the pleasant surprise. Judging solely on the photocopied lyrics and artwork in a plastic sleeve and the spray painted CD-R, I assumed this was probably a crust or D-Beat album when I picked this up. Basement Black, instead, is melodic hardcore sung by dudes that sound like they have some serious facial hair and a bone to pick with the world. There’s a definite Hot Water Music vibe going on, but unlike Young Livers or Bridge And Tunnel, I actually find the music interesting. There’s some passion and immediacy to the proceedings that the aforementioned bands lack. At times I would say there are even traces of the Lawrence Arms more throat scratching moments and Tiltwheel showing up. The lyrics are also pretty good, to boot (although I’ll be damned if I could make out more than half of them without the lyric sheet). I think this will only get better with repeated listens. –Adrian (Dead Broke)
Review: GET BENT - "Demo" 7 inch EP (Dead Broke/Dirt Cult)
MAXIMUM ROCK & ROLL - Issue #313 June 2009
Mid-tempo melodic punk from upstate (Queens, really) that's really well played and has a great sound. Like WESTON meets HOT WATER MUSIC meets the ONION FLAVORED RINGS meets WESTON again. That's the guy from WESTON singing on track 2, right? If not, it's a dead-ringer. This fucking kicks butt, I'm getting quite excited sitting here reviewing this. There's so few bands that I really like these days that I get quite a buzz from hearing... ah fuck, they already broke up. It's just my luck. Bastards... so I guess these four tracks are from a 2008 demo, and the bands called it quit that December. Why can't they reform and
tour instead of the fucking CRO-MAGS? Oh, why do the good die young? (AD)
Review: Iron Chic - Demo
CAN YOU SEE THE SUNSET? Blog - 9 February 2009
Okay, this seems to be a recurring feature here at CYSTSFTS; I keep (finally) writing reviews of stuff I’ve been listening to for months and that I’ve already called one of my “favorites" of 2008. It’s getting old (I know) so hopefully I’ll have this stuff all written up very shortly. So this time I’m writing about Iron Chicand their amazing demo. The band features members of Small Arms Dealer and Latterman so that should get you pointed in the right direction. The five songs on the demo/EP have the almost inspirational feeling like so much of what Avail and Hot Water Music did. You know? It’s that combination of words and chords that just fc&*ing resonates. So to keep it short and sweet, Iron Chic’s demo is full of melodic and gritty sing-a-longs that are great and totally not emo in the same way that the members’ previous bands were. Don’t take my word for it though, listen to the song below and then download it for free from If You Make It.
Review: Get Bent - Demo
CAN YOU SEE THE SUNSET? Blog - 29 January 2009
So this was (according to me) the fifth best EP of 2008 but it maybe coulda been a spot or two higher. In my brief write up I mentioned that it was recorded by Latterman’s Phil Douglas and that Get Bent plays gruff but catchy pop-punk rock with a hint the heartland and just enough “Just Like Kurt" to balance out the “Broadway & Briar." Umm… yeah. So Get Bent are some dudes from Ridgewood, Queens that play some amazing punk rock music. It ain’t nothing complicated but it is so full of energy and emotion and some pseudo-country lead guitar that sounds like it’s straight out of the Brian Venable school of rock guitar that the songs on this demo (you could just call it an EP) are so amazing. Even my pregnant wife loves this band. Yeah, it’s heartfelt and a bit sloppy (read: loose and rough around the edges) and so much better because of it. Do you like Digger’s Powerbait and think that Weston was way better before Chuck left the band? Then you’ll totally love this. you can download the whole entire thing for free from If You Make It right here. How about that folks?
Review: Get Bent - Demo
NATIONAL UNDERGROUND.ORG - 10 February 2009
Get Bent Son!I ordered this demo about a month ago, lost it, and nearly cried. Yesterday, I found it snuggled between a Fest 7 koozie and Albert Camus’ The Stranger—rejoice!
I cannot express enough my sheer enthusiasm for this 5-song demo. Although I’ve never had the privilege of seeing Get Bent (why does school get in the way of everything?), who derives from Ridgewood, NY, I do have the privilege of listening to their CD-R every chance I get! Recorded by Phil Douglas (Latterman), Get Bent is melodic, gruff as hell, and rough around the edges—just how I like it, and just how it should be.
Born from Down in The Dumps, Potboiler, and Red and Blue, Get Bent is still doing something different from its punk predecessors. I hate comparing bands to other bands, I think it’s totally unfair in most cases. You can make whatever connections yourself, but for me Get Bent deserves it’s own entity.
The lyrics don’t feel like a deliberate process, they seamlessly flow with brutal honesty like nothing I’ve heard in awhile. The first jam Sleeping Bag, is the best punch in the face I’ve had this year:
“We pay for every mistake/I’m paying for it by being back on the floor."
City is an obvious favorite, lyrically and musically, and I guarantee you’ll play all five songs over and over. There’s really not much else to say other than you are doing yourself a severe disservice if you don’t get behind this band.
What’s even better? You can download it for free thanks to If You Make It, or order it for $2 from their myspace
Get Bent also put out a fantastic split 7" with Jean Claude Jam Band--and it's awesome.
(Susannah Caviness)
Review: JONESIN' / SHANG-A-LANG- Split 7" EP (Dirt Cult/Dead Broke)
MAXIMUM ROCK & ROLL - Issue #307 Dec. 2008
A nice solid split EP here. JONESIN' starts this one out with two catchy songs with a kind of twangy sound. I love the way the bass guitar sounds on this recording- a nice full sound, but not too heavy. SHANG-A-LANG rounds it out with some similar sounding tunes, lo-fi recording a lot like the first SEXY LP. I'd love to see these guys in a basement. I guess I'll just have to chalk them up as another band I'm pissed I missed at Thrillhouse, only because I got stuck at work that night. Damn. (BD)
Review: GSD - Demo CDR (Dead Broke)
MAXIMUM ROCK & ROLL - Issue #307 Dec. 2008
GSD comes out of the Long Island tradition of hardcore merged with pop punk. The guitarist throws in some fills and solo parts amidst basic hardcore breakdowns and short, spastic palm-muting sessions. They have more of a political bent with their lyrics and discuss the end of the world in their first track, "Crucifire". It seems like they're really trying to keep their music interesting and new by adding weird guitar parts, by switching up the shouting vocals, and by not sticking to a deadening chorus-verse arrangement. (Diane)
Review: Fellow Project - The Buried Life (Dead Broke Records)
Sound as Lanugage! - Nov 23rd, 2008
Long Island band, Fellow Project, is made up of members from the punk bands Bridge and Tunnel, Yes Sensei, We Meet Under Tables, and Church of the Rowdy. But, on The Buried Life, Fellow Project inject a singer/songwriter folk sensibility into their brand of rustic punk rock. Fellow Project's use of dual male/female vocals set a nice tone for the band's brand of folkish punk rock. Hell, the lead male singer sounds eerily like Frank Black. How cool is that? In fact the band's music shares a lot of similarities to Black's more countrified solo approach. This is Fellow Project's second album I believe and definitely a grower given more listens. Fellow Project won't knock you over but if you're a fan of passionate and sincere music, The Buried Life will leave a certain impression on you. (Will)
(RIYL: Slingshot Dakota, Frank Black, Whiskey & Co.)
Review: GET BENT - DEMO (Dead Broke Records)
Sound as Lanugage!
I guess I should pay more attention to stuff I get in the mail. Get Bent sat on my desk for at least a week without a single glance or listen. That is until I turned the demo over and saw that it was recorded by Latterman's Phil Douglas. So, I quickly popped the CD into my computer and voila, instant awesomeness! Owing a debt to Douglas' former band, Get Bent pound out five songs of anthemic pop/punk rock. Melodic, gruff and oozing with sincerity, Get Bent exercise a more rustic take on pop/punk. "City" brings to mind the authentic quality that a band like The Gaslight Anthem have. As is the case with most of Douglas' recordings, he stays out of the way and lets the band shine through with their own style. Get Bent may not have hit a home run on their demo, but they got a double off the top of the wall. And sometimes, that's all it takes to win the game (sorry, it's baseball season, I couldn't help myself).
Review: IRON CHIC - DEMO (Dead Broke Records)
Sound as Lanugage!
Can somebody say hell yes! Members of Latterman, Small Arms Dealer, Agent and Suicide Fix combine for one of the best demos I have heard in a long time. I am not familiar with Suicide Fix but fans of the first three bands should crap their pants on these five songs. Iron Chic have the driving melodicism of Latterman with the heart of Agent and the vocal snarl courtesy of Lubrano from Small Arms Dealer. Put those three elements together and you have got a flat out scorcher of a demo. Anthemic and moving, Iron Chic have truly outdone themselves. What else is there to say? Can we get a full-length boys?
Review: HALO FAUNA - "Durak" LP (Dead Broke Records)
Sound as Lanugage!
Durak was released on Plan-It-X but Halo Fauna thankfully leaves the folk-punk in the rearview mirror. In turn, the band delivers some well played indie rock with both a musical and lyrical bite. Halo Fauna beam melodies out from every corner while keeping a quick, steady pace throughout. I keep thinking of Halo Fauna as a more upbeat, full band version of The Mountain Goats. Perhaps that is just because of the similarly styled nasal vocals though. Really, the band's intelligent and captivating lyrics mostly recall the stylings of the great Weakerthans. With the sincerity of emo and the aggressiveness of punk, the band's brand of endearing rock might have been commonplace in the past. However, Halo Fauna are left with very few peers anymore. The band are forging their own path through abandoned territories. For the listener, it creates a most rewarding journey. And the talented artwork of Kristine Virsis fits the album perfectly. With Durak, Halo Fauna have put together a strong album in every artistic aspect. Well done.
Review: JONESIN / SHANG-A-LANG – Split EP (Dead Broke Records)
Punknews.org
Jonesin' represent Holbrook, NY on the A Side, a little town that's just a short drive from my house, actually. If you look at the scorecard (recorded at the Hobo House with ex-'Latter man' Phil Douglas; buds with Douglas' new band, Iron Chic; ex-members of gruff LI punks Down in the Dumps), you probably already know what this sounds like. If you don't, it's super competent, upbeat punk with whiskey-shattered vocals unfortunately low in the mix. Granted, that last detail isn't exactly a prevalent trait--more just a slightly disappointing tick to this particular recording. Nonetheless, "Birds" and "Lost" are quick, swift, solid jams. Nothing mind-shattering, mind you, but a decent holdover between whatever Kiss of Death or No Idea is releasing this month and the next.
Las Cruces, NM's Shang-a-Lang take up the back end with a couple songs laid to four-track tape. Jonesin' are a little better, but Shang-a-Lang ain't bad. They too play gravelly, happy punk, but lo-fi and maybe with a little more jangle to them and a very slight Plan-It-X vibe. The vocals are a bit more comprehensible, too, and their cover of Lou Reed's "I'm So Free" bears some of the more memorable moments of the whole 7".
Overall, I hope you've checked out the Shorebirds LP and Iron Chic demo before even thinking about acquiring this. Oh, you have? Well, all right, you could probably give this a try then.
Review: IRON CHIC - DEMO (Dead Broke Records)
Punknews.org
I am pretty stoked about this. Iron Chic features fellow ex-Lattermen Phil Douglas and Brian Crozier on guitar, Lubrano (Small Arms Dealer) singing, John Mee (Agent) on bass and Gordan Lafler drumming. Long Island's own punkrock supergroup! "In One Ear" starts out the demo in a way that is instantly reminiscent of Phil's guitar work in Latterman and "Steel Wall Method," the third track sounds a lot like it could be a forgotten Avoid One Thing track, down to a impressive imitation of Joe Gittleman's vocals. Overall it sounds like the guitarists have cut out the more wandering and noodling parts from Latterman's assault while keeping the anthemic feel that brought that band a fair amount of success. I'm not sure I'm 100% into the weird electronic intros to "In One Ear" and "Timecop" but the rest of those songs rip. I won't lie and say that it feels almost a little too familiar at times, but it's hard to complain about hearing more music in this vein. "Sensitive Dependence" is a slow-burner that features more Gittleman-esque vocals, crooning about loneliness and chasing happiness in life. Good times for one and all.
Review: GET BENT - DEMO (Dead Broke Records)
Punknews.org
Iron Chic might have done an admirable job of bridging the gap between the emotion of Samiam and Latterman's upbeat sing-along factor on their own demo, but Get Bent shouldn't be overlooked in all the excitement.
Get Bent operate on a largely similar bent to Iron Chic, though perhaps leaning closer to the Latterman side circa ..We Are Still Alive. Even though their demo was recorded by Phil Douglas, none of the members actually derive from that band -- instead, punk acts from the Long Island / NYC area like Potboiler and Down in the Dumps (both defunct) and Red & Blue.
The songs on Demo 2008 find a comfortable pace between medium and fast, with playful guitar licks and throaty shouts that let just about every word come through clear. The lead vocal duties are often shared and it emphasizes the camaraderic feel the band have going for them (natural considering such a specific style of melodic, sing-along punk rock).
Get Bent may be doing something entirely familiar, but it's incredibly capable, especially this early on.
Review: HALO FAUNA - "Durak" LP (Dead Broke Records)
Punknews.org
Most of the time on Durak, Buffalo/Brooklyn's Halo Fauna manage to break away from the Plan-It-X mold and manage to churn out jangly, indie pop-tinged, casually played folk-punk songs that are much closer to the Weakerthans than the Against Me! of old.
The one moment such familiarity rings out is "Rehashing Descartes," where Eric Ayotte unmistakably resembles a young Tom Gabel. However, it's actually the album's most memorable track, carrying a subtle type of urgency that finds Ayotte yelping the opening lines: "This is happening / our history repeats / and it's unstoppable." Still, Halo Fauna are very solid in the short album's other 23 minutes. Other musical standout moments come in the form of "Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo [sic]," where unexpected riffs pleasingly interrupt the song's flow, and Ayotte trying a bit of vocal dynamism in "Blame a Bird for Your Shortcomings."
Their lyrics of personal confessions, storytelling elements and vague social/political analysis bear special mention too, however. Take the pitcuresque narrative of "Exposure, Processing, and Recording": "Box up the Mad Magazine with the Cracked, comic books and sports cards. / Action figures find sovereignty in a bin with the toy cars." "Futility and Familiarity" has some choice diction and a bit of a poetic nature: "A torpid digression to complacent bitterness. / When we see the tarnish on our potentials we'll shake our heads at our neglect to cover it in plastic. / … / I'm an old man who can't catch the Frisbee his granddaughter tossed. / The burden of breath, a heartbeat, and self-pity."
It's a simple and fairly engaging formula, albeit far from overwhelming, but a definitively nice and pleasurable listen.
Review: GO SELL DRUGS - American Handjob CD
Razorcake
These guys go for broke and try to take your head off from the first note on this disc, and soldier on like a battering ram until the last note of the last song. Their chosen medium is a hybrid of Hardcore and hardrock with the delivery ratcheted up with so much intensity that in the hands of lesser men would probably not be 1/12 as effective. Impressive, I gotta say. - Jimmy Alvarado (Dead Broke)
Review: IRON CHIC - Demo Tape '08: Cassette
Razorcake
Wow, great find. From the name and the cover art I was expecting something totally different. But Iron Chic covers ground musically from fantastically played Methadones style pop punk to urgent Archers of Loaf style anthems, both major favorites of mine. A nice start here by Iron Chic. I'm definitely looking forward to more output from these guys. –Jeff (Dead Broke)
Review: SHANG-A-LANG / JONESIN' - Split 7"EP
Razorcake
Shang-a-Lang: Hang in with me on this. Imagine if the Dead Milkmen weren't goofy, and instead of the goofiness was a self-deprecating earnestness. (All of this through a DIY, 2008, slightly Crimpshrine'd punk rock lens, mind you.) I mean, shit alive, the Dead Milkmen were catchy as hell, made you sing along to things you wouldn't necessarily come up with singing by yourself, and it's cathartic to scream along to. They're the slightly stained, well-worn T-shirt to the Milkmen's paisley shirt with a collar. Land of Enchantment, indeed. Jonesin': From the ashes of Down In The Dumps. Sounds like Dukes Of Hillsborough by way of Gunmoll: burlaped voice, like someone's throat is a bedroll of knives, dirt, and glass shards. Florida-ation facial grown rock by way of NYC that's working on, and beginning to succeed, in sounding epic. Not bad at all. –Todd Taylor (Dirt Cult/ Dead Broke)
Review: TOTALLY FUCKED - Self-titled CD-R
Razorcake
Loud'n'heavy hardcore with a wee touch o' that metalhead-friendly crusty sound, but not so much that I'm picturing 'em with bullet belts and shit like that. Pretty good. –Jimmy Alvarado (Dead Broke)
Review: WHISKEY TRENCH - The Good Son 7"
Razorcake
Dillinger Four-style of hooky pop punk bands like New Bruises and Witches With Dicks play. Whiskey Trench supplies some of the same ingredients—the vocal trade offs that produce catchy choruses and breakdowns where the music breathes without a wanking solo to accompany it. The vocals sound like Mike and Bobby from the Thumbs, and the production of the recording lends a gravely undertone that you hear when you throw on an old Crimpshrine record. Lyrically, it's a little too mundane and self introspective for me, but, musically, the foundation is built tight. Overall, a solid record. –Dave Disorder (Dead Broke)
Review: JONESIN / SHANG-A-LANG – Split 7" EP
Jerseybeat.com
This split release from Dead Broke highlights two raw bands with powerful messages. Jonesin' may sound a bit sloppy and less than serious, but that defies the haunting nature of their lyrical content. "Birds" includes the lyrics "I'm breathing but hardly living", while "Lost" recants tales of drugs, violence, and death. The B-side from Shang-a-lang includes a cover of Lou Reed's classic "I'm So Free". However, the band's original work, "Bottled Up", is a raucous guitar nugget that hooked me instantly. This New Mexico outfit will hopefully have new releases on the horizon, for they are a more polished and refined act musically that their cohorts. However, both bands have their strengths, and this is worth picking up. (Rich Quinlan)
Review: 4 WAY SPLIT SERIES 1, 7-inch EP
Jerseybeat.com
One of the reasons why I love punk rock is because it packs a punch in a brief period of time. There are no unnecessary frills on this first four way spilt. Dead Broke Records went out and found four relatively local bands (at least relatively close to their home of Holbrook, New York), and provided geeks like me something to get very excited over, especially the blue vinyl! Down in the Dumps kicks things off with speedy, angered punk with a surprisingly melodic hook. I happen to love "Bummer," as it sounds like it crawled out of the old men's room at CBGB. Second on the docket comes Fellow Project. Their "Blow the Fucking Roof Off" has a late 1970's feel, a la Richard Hell and the Voidoids with wonderful backing female vocals. Along the same line is the now-defunct Potboiler and "Oh, Shit." This track has intelligent lyrics, a Cordova Academy Glee Club sound, and a sound that's slightly less abrasive than Fellow Project. Finally, the EP closes with Red and Blue's "The Past Few Years." With lyrics that read like poetry, and hypnotic vocals, this is a band that is worth pursuing. I enjoy all four of these bands, and I think there could be a couple of diamonds buried in the rough on this release. (Rich Quinlan)