Punk rockers from Poland reaffirm faith in dying genre

 

Written by Kit Burns

Babayaga Ojo/Sila

Never heard of Babayaga Ojo? Don’t worry about it; until Sila, this punk band from Poland never appeared on my radar screens. And if there’s a group that can actually rekindle my once profound love for punk, leave it to these high-speed, boot-attired rockers from Poland of all places.

I am completely charmed by the innocence of Sila. No, I don’t mean innocence in the childlike way. But this is a punk record which doesn’t seem to acknowledge that punk actually became mainstream in the early ’90s; the commercial compromises that nearly destroyed the genre are not apparent here. What do we get instead? No-nonsense punk in its purest form. “Zalogowcy” has an escalating intro reminiscent of the Dead Kennedys’ “Holiday in Cambodia” while “Co wy robicie!?” recalls the feminine angst of X-Ray Spex. Yes, it’s old-school and will kick you in the balls like hard liquor.

http://www.babayagaojo.band.pl

Read Full Post »

Aces High bring on the noise of rockers past

Reviewed by Kit Burns

Aces High/Aces High

Just like Silverchair in the mid-’90s, Aces High are a group of kids playing rock music that was banging heads globally years before they born. While there is no shortage of youths cranking the amps, those doing so with the cockiness and old-school dynamics of Led Zeppelin and vintage Aerosmith is a rare deal. Aces High is all about the Riff. Whether it’s the red-hot soloing in “Betrayal” or the pavement-crashing blasts of rocket fuel on “Breaking Rose,” these boys have passed the School of Rock with straight As.

Thankfully, Aces High aren’t just about the chops. Instead of continuously showing off their technical skills, Aces High have delivered a body of tunes that blend adrenaline with tough, memorable songwriting. “On Thin Ice” is prime teen angst, probably the best cut here. “In Your Eyes” and “Breaking Rose” echo both sides of Metallica – the ominous yet mellow build-up and the protect-your-ears sonic assault. As far as recent hard-rock CDs go, this is among the finest out there.

http://aceshighmusic.com

Read Full Post »

Singer/songwriter Jenny Gunn is ‘enigmatic’ and ‘playful’ on new release

Reviewed by Kit Burns

Jenny Gunn/One Thousand Words

Once in a while you run into an artist that is nearly impossible to categorize. Jenny Gunn is one of them. Taken on the surface, Gunn can be considered folk, acoustic pop, or even Americana, as in the case of “Sound Man.” However, none of those labels stick well, and it’s to Gunn’s credit that she is able to shift styles without leaving us totally confused. Instead of being puzzled by her music, I found myself intrigued by her enigmatic lyrics and playful voice.

This is not your meat-and-potatoes unplugged rock. Gunn likes to experiment with her words and, judging from the title of the CD, she obviously wants you to focus on them. Gunn can be hilarious as on “High Heels and 17 Floors,” which initially seemed to be about a despondent woman committing suicide after a broken relationship until it’s revealed it’s a fever dream from a bored, drunken chick. Yes, Gunn’s subject matter is often out of the ordinary, and bless her for that.

http://www.jennygunn.com

Read Full Post »

99 Burning’s ‘Midnight in America’ is intense, literary neo-metal

Reviewed by Kit Burns

99 Burning/Midnight in America

It’s actually already been over 20 years since grunge spawned from the beer-soaked, rain-choked streets of Seattle. By my definition, it’s already ‘classic rock.’ However, you wouldn’t know it from 99 Burning, a rather intense neo-metal band that delights in the darkness of Alice in Chains and the heavy melodicism of Guns N’ Roses.

Fronted by former pro wrestler Don Eminizer, 99 Burning is about as macho as today’s rock gets. The guitars roar with the ferocity of rampaging lions, especially on ”She’s My Nightmare,” wherein the big riffs nearly swallow you; imagine Jane’s Addiction with a real set of balls. “She’s My Addiction,” on the other hand, brings out the AOR toe-tapping side of the band’s potent rhythm section. “Cat” recalls Guns N’ Roses (or just Slash) with its reptilian riffs. There are some smoking solos on that cut. “Lonely Skies” punches the skin with its pulsating bass lines and huge chunks of guitar sharpnel.

No surprise that Eminizer is a novelist as Midnight in America has a literary quality to its mood and tempo. Now you don’t have to take college courses to read music.

http://www.99burning.com

Read Full Post »

Legal Tender is more than just a McCartney copy

Reviewed by Kit Burns

Legal Tender/Carbon McCartney

You have to love a group that not only acknowledges their obvious affection for the Beatles but actually named their album Carbon McCartney. Such humilty and tongue-in-cheek humor can endear a new fan to an unknown act instantly although Legal Tender are appealing enough with their songs. And what tunes are these: finger-snapping, toe-tapping pop cuts that are fueled by the buoyant spirit of the ’60s British Invasion and the beefy, speaker-filling riffs of ’70s AOR. “Hey Little Girl” explodes with flamboyant, glammy guitars and, yes, Beatlesesque harmonies. However, like the other retro tracks on the CD, this is no pale imitation; it really does sound like this record had originally come out during the era of its inspirations.

Oddly enough, for an LP named after Paul McCartney, Davenport actually recalls John Lennon even more. (Perhaps Carbon Lennon wasn’t catchy enough.) “The More Things Change” and “Victimless Crime” offer slices of tasty psychedelia without the corniness that sometimes seeps into the genre. Those who fondly recall the Beatles’ jangling, ringing riffs will be hooked on “Tears Away” and “Missing You.”

http://mcmlegaltender.com/home.html

Read Full Post »

Matthew Chase’s ‘Everything’ is soothing, upbeat

 

Reviewed by Agnes Ingarra 

Matthew Chase/Everything

While a lot of artists today struggle with identity there are those who can achieve the impossible with the music industry today, thus creating a signature sound. Mathew Chase’s signature guitar intros and strong acoustic guitars make his album Everything well rounded and easy to listen to. Just like its title Everything is both eclectic while sticking to his roots of acoustic guitars and rock inspired melodies.

It’s a very upbeat CD with titles like “Within Your Eyes,” “Feel You Near,” and “All You Gave.” He has a soft, soothing voice to top as icing on the cake of guitars layered under it, almost reminding me of some ’80s New Wave artists. He has an agreement with iChannel for digital HD radio and a licensing agreement with MTV networks, which I’m sure is getting him great airplay and is also rehearsing to promote his new album. So be sure to show support to an artist whose sound has definitely been  perfected.

http://www.matthewchasemusic.com

Read Full Post »

Interview: Ray Manzarek of the Doors – Part I

Written by Michael Sutton

For Ray Manzarek, the Beat goes on.

In fact, the Beat has never stopped. Even after Jim Morrison’s shocking death in 1971 and the Doors’ subsequent break-up two years later, the group’s legendary keyboardist has never faded from the rock & roll scene. Whether it’s producing post-punk pioneers such as X and Echo & the Bunnymen or resurrecting the Doors with a new frontman, Manzarek continues to mesmerize and move new generations of listeners with his atmospheric, jazz-inflected playing.

One of the most intriguing projects that Manzarek has involved himself with lately is a collaboration with late ’60s garage rock survivor Darryl Read, frontman for Britain’s first punk band Crushed Butler. Combining Read’s existentialist Beat poetry with Manzarek’s cinematic keyboards, the two create fevered art on Bleeding Paradise, their third team-up.

In an interview conducted on March 14, Manzarek explained his long fascination with the Beat Generation and how it led to the formation of the Doors and his creative partnership with Read.

Manzarek has known Read for 20 years. According to Manzarek, what attracted him to Read’s poetry was that “it’s got a street credibility, an instant punch in the nose,” he said. “It’s now, it’s today, and yet it’s got its roots firmly set in the Beat Generation.”

It was the work of the Beat Generation, the groundbreaking, spontaneous, and in-your-face words of underground icons such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, that opened the Doors for Manzarek. Manzarek revealed that the writing of the Beats was “the reason the Doors came together in the first place, an attempt to wed poetry and rock & roll, the same way that the Beats had wed poetry and jazz.”

In some ways, Manzarek’s work with Read unites both approaches as Read’s delivery booms with punk intensity while Manzarek’s lushly crafted keyboards have the playful energy of jazz.

To Be Continued

(For more information on Ray Manzarek and Darryl Read, go to: http://www.raymanzarek.us and http://www.darrylread.com).

Read Full Post »

Singer/songwriter Frankie Cleary shows ‘different side’ of Pacific Northwest

 

Reviewed by Kit Burns

Frankie Cleary/The Six Year Getaway

Singer/songwriter Frankie Cleary hails from the Pacific Northwest, but don’t expect any stereotypical grunge – or even post-grunge – on his four-track EP, The Six Year Getaway. While I wish there were more songs for me to properly evaluate his talents, the tunes on here are promising enough to make me believe that there’s still something in the water up there. The first cut, “On My Own,” sounded like the Verve Pipe’s “The Freshmen” at first until Cleary’s big, soaring vocals reaches for the skies. The booming chorus and sparkling guitars suggest a cross between Lifehouse and U2, which is a pretty amazing combination for a solo act.

“Outta My Mind” surprisingly reaches back into the ’80s, its intro riff reminiscent of the Cars’ “My Best Friend’s Girl.” The track is an enjoyably melodic blend of jangling guitars and upbeat pop/rock. “Different Side” produces the strangest comparison of them all with guitars that initially echo Marilyn Manson’s cover of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” albeit more mellow. Cleary’s voice is clean and brimming with warmth; on the last song, the unplugged “The Being of Me,” that’s all you need to focus on.

www.frankieclearly.com

Read Full Post »