Reviews of records and CDs received at Probe Headquarters in the last
few months. Reviews by Aaron, unless otherwise noted.
If you're looking for your
review go to FIND in your Edit menu.
NEW RECORD REVIEWS, JAN 7th 2002
Barberskum "…here's one we prepared earlier"
CD
Definetly from the NOFX school of punk rock, but the band has a low
grumbling sound behind the vocals which I kind of like. It's much less
produced and enjoyable. (Skumbag Records -from Ireland)
Ramonetures "Johnny Walk Don't Run Pauline"
CD
Combined the music of the Ramones and Ventures on the first CD. This
time they cover X. I'm not much into the Ventures side of things so
I'm just going to sell this despite the nice breasts on the cover. (Blood
Red 2134 NE 25th Portland OR 97212)
Superchinchillarescuemission CDep
At first I thought they were just talented, but after listening to this
three or four times the songs started to stand out to me too. Hard rockin'
Florida punk and the hooks are there. (ADD PO Box 8240 Tampa, FL 33674)
Jack Palance Band "Get This Shit Under Way"
CD
They may be the new kings of melodic punk. The band is fast and tight,
but the vocals are always low and growly. Kind of more like an energetic
and rockin' version of Leatherface or Tiltwheel. Better than the 7"
I heard. (ADD)
Crematorium "A World Where Only Nightmares
Prevail" CDep
Modern heavy metal with vocals that are almost rap, but I'm keeping
this for the cover of Whiplash (Dismal Records)
The Razzels "Throttle" CD
At first it sounded like okay loose melodic punk rock n' roll, but toward
the end of the CD I didn't argue when Keri wanted to take it out. There
may be enough songs on here for a good ep. (Get Hip, Columbus &
Prebble Aves. Pittsburgh, PA 15233)
The Bodies "Firepower is Our Business"
CD 7song
The Bodies are one of my favorite bands, but either they have been on
tour or they haven't played any shows lately. The promo sheet says this
was already a 7", but I only recognize the songs as re-recordings
of songs on "Addicted to You". I like the originals better
and the songs I haven't heard before just aren't as catchy as the first
CD they put out on TKO. This is my least favorite. I would get the first
CD on TKO instead. (TKO -distro through Mordam)
Filthy Thieving Bastards "A Melody of Retreads
and Broken Quills" CD
Members of Swing Utters, Me First and the Gimme Gimme's and Camper Van
Beethoven doing Pogues style acoustic folk rock. This is sort of drinking
music for punk rockers getting on in years. It's cooler knowing that
the lyrics are good, not that I have the focus to pay attention, but
this is better than you may think. (BYO)
Bigwig "An invitation to Tragedy" CD
Wow, these guys play fast. Not goofy fast, but driving Fast and Hard
with group vocals. They're getting better. Closer to skaterock hardcore
than anything melodic. I like it. (Fearless Records)
Mad Caddies "Rock The Plank" CD
This band is sort of guilty pleasure for me. At first I didn't think
I liked this one near as much as last years ep on Fat, but I guess this
grew on me. It has horns, but it still rocks, the vocals are smooth,
but they still can scream. Catchy songs, power chords, even the slower
songs feature sharp, pounding drums. Good stuff. (Fat)
The Goons "No Leader" CD
I swear I already a review for this one, but it's on the review shelf
so… been a while since I heard this, but it sounds a lot like early
New Bomb Turks, but not as old school punk, more straight rock sounding.
A keeper. (American Punk Records 802 South Broadway Baltimore, MD 21231)
Grumby "Storm the Gate" CD
Sometimes you just look at a CD and you know it's going to suck. I would
have bet money that this would blow before I played it. Surprise, despite
the cheesy midwest metal style artwork and lack of label backing, this
is good rock n' roll. 8 song and ano clunkers. (havecar@aol.com)
Limecell "To Evil" CD
I made a cassette tape of all of Limecells's 7"s. Turns out I was
wasting my time because they're all here, plus the songs from their
first demo. You can see they are tough guy heathens in the band photos,
but they were really cool when I put on e of their songs on the Death
to False Metal CD. First, they gave me a choice of which song I wanted
them to record, then they sent it like two weeks later. Then they wanted
to give me money up front for copies of the CD, like $262. I told them
they could just wait to send $ once they had sold them, but they liked
to settle their debts up front. A lot of the bands on that CD never
paid me, One Eye Open even said "You trust us to pay you for these
later?!" and then never paid me. Other bands never came through
with the songs they told me they would record. So I say Fuck those politically
correct fuckwads, if you want to count on someone, put your trust in
beer swillin' scum like Limecell. Support the good guys, buy this CD.
Contains classics like, "You're Not Punk, You're Dirty" and
"Let's Do Lunch." (Steel Cage Records PO Box 29247 Philadelphia,
PA 19125)
Flim Flam Man "Exploding My Vogue" CD
Huh, this is actually really good. Manic keyboard new wave punk stuff.
Not my style, but when I put it on I think, "Huh, this is actually
pretty good." (www.flimflamman.com)
UK Subs/ National Razor F.D.I.C. split CD
This one is a keeper. UK Subs haven't lost anything and National Razor
sound just as good, old school, street style punk. This seems like a
BYO release, but it's a Baltimore label. (VMS Records 100 E 23rd St.
Baltimore, MD 21218)
Paintbox "Cry of Sheeps" Cdep
This sounds like their best yet. They've always played blazing fast
unclassifiable rock, but the great throaty vocals and song writing really
stand out on this one. WOW. (HG Fact Records www.interq.or.jp/japan/hgfact)
The Locust "Fight of Wounded Locust" CD
Although I'd heard good things about them I never checked this band
out because I was afraid they were going to be just another Spazz/ Charles
Bronson clone. However, there is more to this than ballistic hardcore
grind. The keyboards bring a whole new element. This really does sound
fucking nuts. I just got this as a promo, but Craig tells me it came
out a while ago. (GSL)
Ambition Mission "You Name It We Hate It"
CD
Good bike riding, cheap beer punk rock. Tandem boy/ girl and thrashy
good songs. There is a Hickey cover on here too! (Comuntiy Shower Records
1719 West Albion Chicago, IL 60626)
Rocket From the Crypt "Group Sounds" CD
I don't know why this band doesn't rule the scene anymore. This follows
along the same lines as there break-out LP several years ago. Maybe
they just don't tour as much. I don't seem to hear much about them anymore.
(Vagrant Records)
VA "Soulful Sounds from Soulville" CD
Impressive amount of forgotten soul music from bands you've never heard
of. I'm keeping this one. 25 tracks. (Get Hip)
The Queers "Today" CDep
They return to Lookout and return to the less angry love song punk they're
good at. I always thought The Queers had a big Beach Boys influence
but … oh, there's a Beach Boys cover on here. (Lookout!)
The C*nts "Your Funny" CD
Wow, these guys are still around?! They haven't changed either. Obviously
not in it for the money and the women. (Disturbing Records)
Exploding Crustaceans "Dudes and Bros."
CD
These guys are still around?! They sound a little more polished these
days. They look older than me. Santa Cruz punk rock house band. My guess
is they're in it for the free booze. (Unfun Records)
Federation X "American Folk Horror" CD
Don't let the folk full you, this stuff is amplified. I had to listent
to this a few days and still couldn't determine if I enjoy it or not.
It sounds pretty cool, throbbing rock beat, a little funky, vocals sound
like they are coming through a tunnel, and I guess they tell a story.
(Estrus Records)
Working Stiffs "Dog Tired and Then Some"
CD
This band was playing this stuff before the whole street punk revival.
This CD features some of the stuff on East Bay Menace and other such
labels. '96-'99. (TKO)
The Partisans "So Neat" 3 song CD
I thought these guys were paying tribute to The Clash, but it says here
they are actually from the class of '78 and this is their first record
in 17 years! If you like Clash ere stuff, this is it. (TKO)
The Slash City Daggers "Backstabber Blues"
CD
Very trashy glam punk rock cover photo, and the music stands up to the
look. Jeff Dahl recorded this and they sound similar to him. I think
this band used to be just called the Daggers and they weren't as glam
oriented, but they sound better now anyway. This is good dirty punk
rock. (Unity Squad Records PO Box 1235 Huntington Beach, CA 92647)
The Generators "Tyranny" CD
If you like that working class punk with rip roaring guitar leads and
manly sounding vocals then here you are. You can listen to this and
not feel too old for punk rock. (TKO)
Yesterday's Kids "Everything Used to Be Better"
CD
I like everything on Panic Button. This is only pretty good. Melodic
punk.(Panic Button)
Selfish "Burning Sensation" CD
HG Fact is always quality, but this band just holds their own. Metal
hardcore. (HG Fact)
The Crowd CD
This is a safe bet to put in the car for a long ride with Keri. She's
pretty picky about what we listen too, but she like her punk rock to
be old school and tuneful with a slight sense of humor which is what
this is. Track 7 is a little different than the others, almost sounds
like a Smoking Popes song or somethng. (TKO)
The Hormonauts "Hormone Hop" CD
I'm not a rockabilly guy, but I'm going to keep this one just because
I think it is at the top of it's genre. Great vocals, good songs. Cool
package. (Voodoo Rhythm Records / Scheibenstrasse 53 / 3014 Bern / Switzerland)
The (International) Noise Conspiracy "Capitalism
Stole My Virginity" CDep
Petesa (our good friend who will be putting out the last two Probe Records)
is on tour with this band right now. He sells AK Press stuff at their
shows which means this is a band with a political mindset. That aside,
this is a good band. They are on Epitaph, but I guess this contains
two unreleased songs that aren't on the Epitaph release. This is closer
to dance music than punk rock, but it sounds good. (G7)
The Unseen "The Anger and the Truth" CD
Craig says this is actually hurt by the good production, because a garage
sound would give it a more classic punk sound. However, I think it has
a good hard, heavy sound. This is more aggressive than the bands you
normally hear described as street punk. Old school, spiked hair, spikes
on the black jean jacket, no sleaves, exploited patch, from Boston.
(BYO)
Varukers "How Do You Sleep???????" CD
From the same old school of angry punk as The Unseen, but this band
sounds more hardcore and a little darker. This is mayhem music. Manages
to be raw, but still sounds like a wall of sound coming at you. (Go-Kart)
Angelic Upstarts "Live from the Justice League"
CD
TKO uncovers another legendary band and records "their first US
appearance since 1982." (TKO)
Fields of Fire "keep It Alive" CD
80's style hardcore in the tradition of Uniform Choice and Gorilla Biscuits,
Fast, but somewhat melodic hardcore. (Phyte)
Digger "Trainwreck" CD six song
Maybe I was a little hard on this band last time. They aren't offensive
to anyone who likes melodic punk. Phil from Motion Sickness thinks they're
a step above. Just hard to tell one from the other to me. Very light
weight. (Hopeless)
The Beautys "Thing of Beauty" CD
This is on the high energy punk rock side of things with a little pop
thrown on some tracks, female vocals. I didn't like the 7", but
they sound pretty good here. (Cheetah's Records PO Box 4442 Berkeley,
CA 94704)
Deep Reduction "2" CD
If I only listened to this one once I'd think it's unspectacular rock
n' roll. However, it avoids being generic or specific to any one genre
of rock music. It was curious enough that I felt like giving it another
listen before writing it off, then I read that this features the guitar
and vocals from Radio Birdman. This could only grow on me. (Get Hip)
The Chargers Street Gang "Holy The Bop Apocalypse"
CD
It almost sounds like this band is too young to play this kind of old
school rock n' roll. MC5 / Stooges, but with a lot of young energy.
Produced by Tim Kerr and I also like the out of place cover of Black
Diamond. I'm keeping it. (Get Hip)
The Beltones "Cheap Trinkets" CD
Melodic street rock and the vocals can't get any raspier. If you like
TKO, you'll like this. (TKO)
Corrupted / 324 CD
If your little brother thinks Slipnot is heavy and brutal put this on
and watch him really shit his pants. (HG Fact)
All Girl Summer Fun Band CD
This is a little too cutesy for my taste. If you like softly sung girly
pop songs about boys then this is your band, but I couldn'' take it
for too long. (K)
Mirah "Cold Cold Water" CD
Really great vocals and interesting music. Mirah has her own style,
strange production, but the good songs are there. (K PO Box 7154 Olympia,
WA 98507)
Lonely Kings "Crowning Glory" CD
Their first record was one of the most boring rock based records I ever
heard. They still play the same style of of middle of the road emotional
rock, but, as a band, they sound a lot better now. Good execution, I'm
just not into this style of emotional rock. (Fearless)
Biscayne "You'd Build a Robot" CD
Melodic punk. I just asked Pete who this sounds like, he said, "At
first I thought it was Lifetime." Who else? "Uh… every
pop punk band." (Quincy Shanks PO Box 3035 St. Charles, IL 60174)
Atom & His Package "Redefining Music"
CD
Atom hits the big time. I haven't heard this yet, but I just asked Petesa
if it's as good as the old stuff and he said. "It's awesome!"
(Hopeless)
Right now I only have listed the new label address that did not appear
in Probe #8. I will add those soon, but they exist on a zip disc that
is in a desk drawer that I can’t get unlocked!
Airborne Virus Records PO box 16207 San Diego, Ca. 92196
Alien Snatch/ Daniel Bouche/ Morikeweg 1 /74199 Untergruppenbach/ Germany
American Punk Records 802 South Broadway Baltimore, MD 21231
Bacteria Sour PO box 422986
San Francisco, Ca. 94142
Black Punkin Records PO box
4377 River Edge, NJ 07661-4377
Brave New Records 406 South Craig St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Broken Glass Records 1688 Fairway Dr. Jamison, PA 18929
Cacaphone Records PO box 6058 Albany, NY 12206
Chemical Valley Records PO
Box 77142 Tucson, AZ 85703
Chuckie-Boy Records 2802 E. Madison St. #116 Seattle, WA 98112
Commode #5 227 21st. Ave.
SW/ Calgary, AB T2S 0G5 Canada
Common ground Records PO box
1583 North Hampton, NH 03862
Death American Delboy Records
PO box 75/ 9000 Ghent 12/ Belgium
Delboy Records PO box 75/ 9000 Ghent 12/ Belgium
Direct Hit Records PO Box 58 San Francisco, Ca. 94104-0058
Dirtnap Records PO Box 21249 Seattle WA 98111
El Sabado Records 1442 A Walnut St. PMB 407 Berkeley, Ca. 94709
Extra Ball Reocrds PO box
40005 Portland, OR 07240
Just Add Water PO box 420661
SF Ca. 94142
Microcosm 2411 Yamill Portland, OR 97214
New Age Records PO box 5213 Huntington Beach, Ca. 92615
Panx/ BP 5058/31033 Toulouse
Cedex/France
Rapid Pulse Records PO Box
5075 Milford, CT 06400-1475
Razler Records inc. 2300 Walnut St., No. 612 Philadelphia, PA 19103
Riot Records Viale Monza 26 20127 Milano Italy
Scumfuck Music PSF 100709 / 46527 Dinslaken Germany
Sin Klub Entertainment PO
box 2507 Toledo, OH 43606
Slow Gun Records 1611 S. Euclid Anaheim, Ca. 92807
Sounds of Subterrania! /PO
box 103662 / 34036 Kassel/ Germany
Sunset Alliance PO Box 31596
Phoenix, AZ 84046
Unity Squad Records 354 West
100 North / Logan, UT 84321)
Useless Records 6523 California Ave. S.W. PMB #609 Seattle, WA 98136-1879
Voodoo Rythmn Productions/Effingerstr.56/ 3008 Bern/ Switzerland
www.Rod.net 1208 SE Boise, Portland, OR 97202
Zylinder Records / Bobrinkstr. 6 / 32120 Hiddenhausen / Germany