These here three 7 inches were all recently released by this Calgary, Alberta band. The Ketamines sound is pretty difficult to explain, which is good and bad depending on how vast your tastes in rock music venture. They play folksy, lounge-y, fuzzy psychedelic bubblegum with tan leather fringe stuck all around it. Some of the other press the band has gotten has referred to them as pop punk. I don’t really hear any punk in here other than the occasional irreverent lyric. Whatever Ketamines may sound like to you, a few things are certain: the music is well played, lighthearted and extremely likeable.
– Jay Castro
Blasting out of the ashes of Phoenix’s long time power poppers D Factor come Action Jets, poised and ready for battle. Armed to the teeth with their secret weapon of a debut single: its power packed with catchy 1970’s mod/power pop excavated from all the right places, guaranteed for maximum blast radius. Their theme song is short and sweet with a killer riff and chorus you will be humming the rest of the day. And in the tradition of Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” comes AJ’s ode to Guided By Voices front man Robert Pollard. Killer debut can’t wait to hear more! – Jay Castro
Loud, lo-fi blazing punk sung by a guy/girl tandem assault team that kind of remind me of the old London anarcho-punk band Dirt, just the vocal delivery not the music so much. The vocals are mean and aggressive but not screech-y shouted or screamed to an intolerable level. Another plus for Brain F# is despite the fact that these songs are fast and in your face, the guitar parts are pretty catchy and this makes these jagged pills Brain F# manufacture go down the gullet pretty smooth. – Jay Castro
Have you ever been walking down the street on a warm summer afternoon with a spring in your stem whistling your favorite Dave Clark Five tune when suddenly you think to yourself: “I wonder what it would sound like if Glenn Danzig sang for The Descendents?” Well guys and dolls speculate no more, Finnish punk band Dad is here to answer that very question. Fast melodic punk songs about ugly kids and IKEA sang with an unsettling amount of sincerity and passion. I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again Europe is light years ahead of the U.S. in irony and this album is another testament to that statement. – Jay Castro
Finderskeepers fire up a fantastic blend of melodic gruff/tuff punk rock. I hear a lot of Chicago influence in Finderskeepers, bands like No Empathy and Pegboy come to mind when I first listened to this EP. It’s heavy and loud but it’s really catchy and some of the choruses seem to soar, so much so that you feel it in your chest, especially with the last song “Push.” The band has two other EP’s available on their Bandcamp page, the earlier stuff has a bit more Husker Du production to it, and all of them are great. Finderskeepers continue to get tighter and more focused with each release. This makes me highly anticipate what comes next! – Jay Castro
When I first heard the first few notes firing out of this record, I stood up and felt a tingling sensation in my skull. It’s been a long time that someone’s made a record that sounds like this with this much heart and fervor. This lo-fi garage punk band from Kobe, Japan comes at us like Godzilla skating on a bullet train. Songs about Zombies, Parties and High School set to blazing fast Radio Birdman meets Angry Samoans style music. What makes Thee Mighty Fevers so formidable is that they’ve got the manic energy of early Registrators and the guitar chops of Teengenerate. What’s stopping this band from taking over the world? Absolutely nothing and I will succumb and do their bidding! – Jay Castro
Replentes lash out with furiously fast and thick Fat Wreck Chords style hardcore similar to Strung Out or Lagwagon with cookie monster vocals sung in Portuguese. This band of Brazilian punks sounds taut and together, all songs are executed quite well and in the tradition of Nat King Cole, David Bowie and Celine Dion comes a rendition of Eden Ahbez’s “Nature Boy,” which I might add is one of the most bizarre cover choices I’ve heard since Clapton did Marley. Repelentes do a fine job at what they do, however what they do isn’t particularly how I like my meat cooked. – Jay Castro
The band is comprised of sinister, spooky boys and girls from Germany with songs about murder, animated machinery, suicide and insanity. Lead vocalist Silpha Obscura is said to be of such enchanting beauty she can even arouse the dead, hence the name. No, I’m kidding, I completely made that up. These horror themed songs on this album are sung with such earnestness reminding me of Black Sails era AFI mixed with X (L.A.), giving the impression that this band wants to be taken seriously like Evanescence types or something. This may prove to be a difficult task with the word “Corpseboner” in the name. – Jay Castro
This DC area band plays a brand of likeable and melodic mid tempo mid 1970’s rock. The songs are catchy enough, but a tad long winded (opening track “Into Your Arms” clocks in at a smidge over 5 minutes). I hear hints Raspberries or Badfinger peppered throughout. When listening to this, I am reminded of the Oceans 11 remake when Brad Pitt is telling Matt Damon (posing as a gaming official) how to act when first meeting Andy Garcia. “Be specific but not memorable, be funny but don't make him laugh.” If you understand what I’m talking about then you know this band has already achieved more than most ever will. – Jay Castro
This EP is 4 songs of hook-y alternative grunge tinged songs with a slightly abrasive edge. Singer Chelsey Louise’s voice almost sounds too good for rock music itself. Maybe the band ought to try a cover album of Nina Simone’s Little Girl Blue and listen to Chelsey’s voice launch us all into the stratosphere like when Superman whisks Lois away in his arms. The band has been compared to No Doubt, but they’re not nearly as annoyingly plastic and perky. Think if Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard sang for Sleater Kinney and that may get you closer to Fairy Bones echelon. The band describes themselves as synth/garage, but the synth part really doesn’t come in until the last song “DUKA!,” soul/grunge may be more appropriate. – Jay Castro
From Dublin, Ireland comes this wily band of 2 guys and 2 girls playing sloppy hardcore drunkenly making their way through the crowded room. The first thing that caught my attention was the cover art of a noose holding a pocket watch, which I thought was pretty cool. The music mostly goes in the direction of early ‘80’s California hardcore, but when the girl vox pops in from time to time like in the song “Fight” is when my interest really peaks, that’s when it starts going into Conflict/Crass territory. When the Zen boys and girls find their sound a bit more, which is inevitable with time, they’ll be a tempest on the Irish Sea. – Jay Castro
I first met Alvie when I was a guest on Erratic! Radio and he was doing the sound engineering. He handed me a copy of this EP and honestly I had no idea what to expect. Out of all the sounds I anticipated, the rollicking psychedelic blues punk that exploded out of my car speakers like several simultaneously opened cans of trick snakes caught me by surprise. Imagine what a band would sound like if The White Stripes recruited Thee Oh Sees/Coachwhips John Dwyer, signed to Burger Records and someone exorcised the self righteous demons that inhabit Jack Whites anal cavity. Great songs, killer production, can’t wait for more Breakfast Pig action! – Jay Castro
From what I’ve read, Ben dabbles with adding folk elements and experimental noise to his music. But what I have before me are 3 songs of tremendously charismatic tunes that lie somewhere between Superchunk power pop/indie rock grandiose and The Replacements charming, swashbuckling Rock N’ Roll. According to his bio, Ben was in a band called Let’s Dance but has been focusing on his solo material since 2009 releasing an LP and several EP’s on different labels. Having listened to his catalog, his confidence and song writing abilities grows with each passing release. It should be only a short time before the world knows about Ben Disaster. f not, then a great injustice would occur in the universe and the earth has mere moments before it devours itself in its own dreadful taste. – Jay Castro
Coming from some bands, I would cringe at the sight of two LP’s to review in one month but since they’re from such a great band like Dead Ghosts I welcome it! Rarities is a collection of songs from out of print singles and covers the band has had up on their Bandcamp page as A Shitty Collection of Shitty Recordings. Can’t Get No is the band’s second LP originally released last year, but is now being repressed in time for Dead Ghost’s upcoming European tour. What does the band sound like you ask, oh yeah I almost forgot that part. Dead Ghosts play wonderful 1960’s influenced garage rock that’s fun, fast, and unruly. Think equal parts Dave Clark Five, Them and 13th Floor Elevators. You’ll be singing along and bobbing your head pretty much upon first listen to the songs on either one of these records. – Jay Castro
WOW, I was smitten on the first few seconds of hearing this record. Heavy dirty hooks and mid tempo 1970’s inspired rock rule the first part of this killer EP. Think Alice Cooper, the more muscular Thin Lizzy songs, and some later Stooges. However as the record plays on the band slowly stirs in some post punk/noise rock influences like Mission of Burma and Sonic Youth sounds. Believe it or not the band makes it work; all this is tossed around, cooked up and served to you on an old rusty skillet. The city of Sudbury, Ontario has reason to be proud! – Jay Castro
These French Rock N’ Rollers delivered some sweet 1960’s style melodic, lo-fi noise pop crashing on this fine long player. There is a lengthy and winding tale concerning this record. Apparently it was supposed to come out years ago and got delayed by whatever label was supposed to put it out at the time. During the delay the band called it quits and the record never really took off and got shoved in the same enormous archives the Lost Ark of The Covenants also resides. Now the fine folks at Dusty Medical and Bachelor have found it and resurrected it. According to the press release this record was recorded in 2009 in a Spanish Castle and produced by King Kahn himself! Start the mental imagery now. – Jay Castro
Judging by the grim and lonely picture of a secluded cabin in the woods on the cover of this record, I expected something, well grim and lonely. However both bands deliver some Grade A pop punk. From what I gather this is Woolworm’s first vinyl release and by the time you read this it will probably be Grown-Ups last. Woolworm are a bit warmer on the pop punk scale like Discount or J Church. Grown Ups deliver a more screechy/lo-fi sound, but still highly melodic, think of a poppier sounding F.Y.P. or if Jawbreaker would have been more drunk and rowdy during the recording of 24hr Revenge Therapy. A great record from beginning to end! – Jay Castro
Long Island NY trio bring country kissed music for those with a Rock N’ Roll heart. This band consists of members from Iron Chic, American Hellfire Club, Sister Kisser, among others. This is the bands first full length already having a fist full of 7”s under their big belt buckles. I know the word “country” scares a lot of you PUNX out there but all labels aside; this is some top notch earthy Rock N’ Roll with heavy introspection. Along the same lines as Lucero, Ryan Adams and early Wilco, this is one rock solid release; I’m going to see if I can find me the rest of their stuff! – Jay Castro
This debut album from a trio of malcontents from Nottingham, UK hits hard takes no prisoners and laughs in your face all while doing so. The punk rock in this record is heavy and fast, the guitars are loud and there are hooks galore. The funny thing is: with all that I described above which leans on the music having a sense of urgency, the band weaves a lot of pop culture references and jokes throughout. It’s like the equivalent to watching Evil Dead II for the first time and asking yourself: wait, was that supposed to be funny? Because it was but judging by everything else that’s going on it shouldn’t be! – Jay Castro
Strong, sweaty and highly melodic anthems crowd this New York band’s second LP following 2010’s Don’t Go Swimming full length. This time around the band seems to crank up the volume a bit more. The music on this record has a very likeable New Jersey/blue collar aesthetic to it, which I totally love. I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again; if you’re in a band you don’t have to be original, just put 100% of YOUR blood, sweat and tears into it and the rest will fall into place. Unwelcome Guests sliced veins, bursting sweat glands and exploded tear ducts spill all over their finely crafted and sincere Rock N’ Roll tunes; absolutely terrific album for fans of The Loved Ones, Smoke or Fire and Gaslight Anthem. – Jay Castro
Sightless start things off with some light, crispy and airy pop punk that almost strays into indie rock territory. Crystal Swells has a more noisy, aggressive and dark side to their songs. Kind of reminds me of early A Place to Bury Strangers. Both bands do a great job of bringing the rock to the table. If someone were to ask me to pair these two bands on a release I would probably refuse, but they actually go pretty good together as long as you listen to Sightless first which greets you at the entrance of the dark tunnel you are about to go into and Crystal Swells is what you encounter as you venture on in.
– Jay Castro
A band that lived many moons ago in a land called California that seemed to be on the brink of breakthrough, at least on a cult status anyways but kind of petered out over time. They opened up for great bands like The Replacements, and even Dead Kennedys but from what I can see had a constant revolving door of members. This is another compilation of Blow Up’s demos, live and unreleased tracks compiling the bands earlier years, the LP Groovy Dynamite Heavy Now (1981 – 1988) chronicles the bands later career. This is some sloppy, juvenile Rock N’ Roll with heavy glam influences. There are some real gems in here, Blow Up falls somewhere in between The Heartbreakers and The Real Kids realm and that’s a fantastic land in which to dwell in! – Jay Castro
Tempe AZ’s Petty Things take a lot of elements from 1960’s rock and cradle it, nurture it, and not a moment too soon present it to us in a highly charismatic fashion. Year of The Dog has lean and loud guitars with hooks o-plenty, drums that sound like their being played with cinder blocks instead of sticks and a front man with a commanding voice to put all these things in line. I hear Sonics muscle, Seeds energy and even some Tommy James and The Shondells in there just to round out the effort. Wonderful record, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it and I will continue to do so! – Jay Castro
Italian Glam/Punk superstar upstarts Faz Waltz come at us again with even more hooks, charisma and relentless energy than ever before. The band’s previous efforts, like 2011’s Life on The Moon, seemed to be heavily influenced by Marc Bolan. Back on Mondo is the band’s third LP and, much like teammates Giuda, have now added Gary Glitter, New York Dolls and some David Bowie into the skirmish with explosive results. For anyone that likes any of the above bands, by whatever means possible get your greasy mitts on this album, play it loud and let your eyes roll back into your skull and fall into everlasting bliss. – Jay Castro
Needles//Pins once again come at us blasting their punk rock cannonballs using power pop cannons on their latest 7” that came out late last year that showcases two prime cuts of this stellar Vancouver outfit. The A-side is a feel good Saturday night anthem and the B-side has Needles//Pins longing for their significant other and features backing vocals from Vanessa of The Ballantynes fame. If you ever wondered what Stiv Bators would sound like singing for The Undertones, well here’s your chance to find out. – Jay Castro
This is my first time listening to this band and boy was I surprised. It’s great that people like La-Ti-Da Records realize that some of us that listen to punk rock aren’t lunkheads and appreciate other types of music. The Jay Von’s saunter on over to us from New York featuring members of Reigning Sounds, Robbers on High Street, and a few others. The music is well-crafted lounge/soul/R&B with an organ that’s there to make sure our hips don’t stop swingin’ and our fingers don’t stop snappin’. This 7” also came out late last year and I’m glad too much time didn’t pass before I was able to hitch a ride on the Jay Von’s soul train! – Jay Castro
We’ve written many times about Steve Adamyk and anyone that reads Audio Ammunition regularly knows that in our minds, this band can pretty much do no wrong. For anyone that doesn’t however here is a brief synopsis: SAB is a smart, meaty, infectious aggro-pop punk band from Ottawa that parks their car in the same garage as bands like My Brain Hurts era Screeching Weasel, Snuff/Guns n’ Wankers and 1970’s punk poppers like Generation X and Buzzcocks. If you are a fan of any of the above-mentioned bands, its high time you get into SAB and this is the perfect place to start. What am I saying, anywhere is a great place to start with these guys! – Jay Castro
This is one finely crafted record, especially for those of us that are old enough to remember the 1980’s. This ain’t any kind of new wave record though. Temecula, CA’s Forty Nineteens take their influences from the likes of Tom Petty, The Stray Cats, Elvis Costello and even The Fabulous Thunderbirds at times. Produced by David Newton (Mighty Lemon Drops) and mastered by Paul de Gre (Peter Gabriel, X, Los Lobos) with their sophomore release; the Forty Nineteens seem perfectly positioned for world domination. – Jay Castro
Formed in 2011 in New York then moved to Atlanta, the band has released a song on an Oops Baby records comp and a 7” before releasing this LP. So don’t worry, you haven’t missed too much, there is still time to go find everything this band has done and you’ll want to as soon as you hear them. Dinos Boys create a riotous sonic stew of bands like The Briefs and the Stitches but with a power pop execution. The boys spin it with a flavor all their own. Bands like The Damned and Menace also come to my mind when listening to this record. One of just a hand full of records released so far this year to absolutely enslave my mind. – Jay Castro
I’m not exactly sure what I’m listening to here or what I’m supposed to take away from it. Mallevs conjure up some serious atmospheric mechanical doom noise that sounds like early Wax Trax Records stuff. This EP really doesn’t get going until the third actual structured song In The Dark, which is quite good and has a lo-fi, tinny, drum machine droning mixed with a white wash of ghostly vocals. This is for fans of Throbbing Gristle, Prurient (when they used to put out records that sounded like they were recorded inside Satan’s flatulent anus) and all around spookiness in general. – Jay Castro
This is the New York quartet second LP following 2011’s self-titled debut and thankfully not much has changed since. On their second LP the band continue to spew their fun, ultra catchy, high energy bluesy power pop influenced punk n’ roll so all those kids who get sent to the principal’s office have something decent to listen to. If you’re a fan of The Cry!, Biters, eternal adolescence, cheap booze, tight pants and tattoos and honestly what real American isn’t! So go grab yourself a copy of this record tonight on the way to the Rock N’ Roll club. – Jay Castro
My first reaction when I read the album title was uh oh, is the band confessing something concerning the contents here in? But when I started listening to the album, there is nothing here that can be considered erroneous by anyone. This time around, Sonic Avenues seem to take a slightly different approach; infusing some dB’s style harmonies and jangly guitars into the mix. However the music still propels in precisely timed and placed explosions with Max’s snotty vocals and JC’s hammering drums that will still bring the building you’re in down on your head. – Jay Castro
This Canadian band has been around since 1994 releasing their brand of unhurried, atmospheric indie rock like smoke slowly engulfing the planet. They have a hand full of releases, their debut Somniun being their most admired, even lending a couple of tracks off of it to the TV show version of La Femme Nikita. Everyone compares them to bands like Slowdrive or The Verve and their early stuff sounds more to that style. The two songs on this album however I hear the early emo stuff in it like Christy Front Drive or Clarity era Jimmy Eat World and even post rock like This Will Destroy You and God Speed! You Black Emperor. If you’re life sometimes needs some tranquility, then SIANspheirc is the perfect soundtrack. – Jay Castro
Not to be confused with Southern California’s Chiefs that brought us the fabulous song “Tower 18” among others. This Chiefs is also from the late 1970’s but from the other side of the world, Austria to be exact. This here 7” is the only thing this short lived band ever recorded. Legend has it they practiced 5 times and played 1 show then kaput! Three songs that have a similar sound to that region’s other bands that appear on Killed By Death/Bloodstains comps. Try to imagine part Germany’s Pack, Belgium’s The Kids and Raxola. This is some pretty primitive recording, but the punk Rock N’ Roll fury shines through despite the fact. Essential record if you are a fan of the above mentioned bands or compilations. – Jay Castro
These record reviews originally appeared in Audio Ammunition on May 20th, 2014
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