CD REVIEWS
Reviews by Jaime Pina & Glass Onion
The Dickies Rarities Collection, With Alternate Version Of “ Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind “
Review by Glass Onion
LoSeasoned SoCal punk rock icons The Dickies crack open their crusty old sock drawer and unearth a bevy of unreleased musical treasures. Balderdash From The Archives is the first ever rarities collection from the group and stretches all the way back to the band’s mid-‘80s salad days through the ‘90s and into the 21st century. The collection includes both live and studio gems, rough demos and alternate versions, and songs that have never appeared anywhere else!
As a special preview of the album, which is set for a worldwide release on February 10, one track has been released to digital platforms, an alternate version of “Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind” from the band’s celebrated third album, 1983’s Stukas Over Disneyland. The alternate version is a little less polished but all the more powerful for it.
Stream the track: https://orcd.co/the_dickies_outofsightoutofmind
Balderdash From The Archives will be available on CD and vinyl, with special bonus tracks featured on the CD version including the group’s re-cut versions of “Banana Splits (The Tra La La Song),” “Paranoid,” and “Nights In White Satin,” as well as their recently release single “Blink 183.” This is one collection that Dickies fans will not want to miss!
Order the CD/vinyl: https://cleorecs.com/store/?s=dickies+balderdash&post_type=product
Pre-order/pre-save the digital: https://orcd.co/the_dickies_balderdash
Infamous Stiffs -
Kill For The Sound
Golden Robot Records/Die Laughing Records
Vinyl Review by: Jaime Pina
From their veteran punk rock pedigree you might assume that Infamous Stiffs would be a raucous hardcore band with plenty of fist-pumping, slam-pit anthems for offer but this is not the case. While songs like Freak Parade are sure to connect with the leather and Docs crowd the band deals mostly in high-energy Rock N’ Roll. Singer Scott Wilkins was with top action rock legends Electric Frankenstein and there is a hint of that in this band along with some early Black Flag and The Dictators in the band’s D.N.A. – dominating whatever hardcore sensibilities the band members may be bringing to the table.
Guitarists Mark Pananides and John Gilhooley keep the rhythms tight and locked in with bassist Jim Perrault and Ryland Steen on drums. The solos are short but fiery with Wilkins leading the charge with his distinctive and versatile vocals and the band adding back-ups for extra muscle on some of the tunes. The band also delivers an unexpected and fun cover version of Comin’ Down by Australia’s proto-punk legends Angel City.
“They had been bouncing a couple of tunes around before I creeped on over,” says Wilkins of how he joined the others. “They had Paul Brashire from The Chiefs but that faded, so I was told.” Originally coming together in 2019, the band was united in looking for a sound that leaned more toward shakin’ Rock N’ Roll than a lot of the music they had previously been associated with. “Gilhooley reached out to me to see if I wanted to give it a go and I said ok provided they learn the Angel City tune!” It is obvious Wilkins has a lot of respect for the band who should have made it big in the US like their fellow countrymen AC/DC but still enjoy a large cult following worldwide. “I mean who doesn’t like Angel City? Doc Neeson’s voice I’ve always respected and their tunes are good listening food.”
The vinyl release comes with a lyric sheet and my copy was on red vinyl. Fans of the band member’s past accomplishments will enjoy this and people looking for high-energy thrills will get a big kick out of this as well. And just how did they come up with the band name? Wilkins explains the ritual of deciding on a handle. “The most difficult part of being in a band, the dreaded name,” he laughs. “I think it just got spit out and everyone went, hmmmmmm not bad.”
“Demons”
Rock And Roll With The Punches
Savage Magic Records
Review by Jaime Pina
In a way this band has many influences, all of them essential ingredients to creating great Rock N’ Roll. But whenever I try to pin them all down I can’t really decide. “Demons” has a unique sound integrating clean, precise singing with music that goes from high-energy top rock to grinding and sleazy Rock N’ Roll to hook filled hit single type songs. The band has worked with Jeff Dahl and that connection makes sense. They both share a love for bands like The Stones, MC5, Stooges and The Dictators as well as being energized by the punk scene.
Singer/guitarist Mathias Carlsson has a clear vision of what he wants to put across and how he should do it and his vocal and guitar playing express a love of Rock N’ Roll through the ages. At times he expresses matinee idol charm like a Ricky Nelson or Buddy Holly and a certain playfulness like on Six Pack Of Champagne. His guitar playing reflects this as he can play in a variety of approaches for whatever the song demands. A good example of this is Sparkle with a little bit of 60’s Scott Walker type pop tragedy to it. Rounding out the power trio is drummer Mick Jacobsson and Tomoko Sukenobu on bass. Whether it be on the high-energy tunes or the pop influenced numbers the rhythm section provides a solid wall of sound. And yeah, Tomoko is a badass female bass player who goes from a tough distorted tone in the aggressive numbers to throbbing low end in other tunes.
Skull Practitioners -
Negative Stars
In The Red Records
Vinyl Review by: Jaime Pina
Hailing from New York and featuring former Dream Syndicate guitarist Jason Victor, this power trio lay down some very heavy jams. Critics have compared them to many bands and personally I don’t hear any of it. While having a definite psychedelic edge to their overall sound, I hear a little Hawkwind and a lot of the Stoner Rock they inspired. At the same time this is all filtered through a post My War Black Flag punk rock lens. Musically I would say this was in the same adventurous vein as records like Huevos by The Meat Puppets or I Against I by Bad Brains. I’m not comparing this record to those iconic releases as far as their importance but what I mean is that it strives to take rock music, specifically something linked to the punk genre, to other places with no fear of working on intricate playing or imaginative arrangements. Like these bands I mentioned, they steamroll over walls of tradition and they don’t lose any of their heaviness or commitment to rock.
As I pointed out earlier, the songs have some well thought out arrangements. Its not like prog but more like the band being willing to take the songs where they need to go during any given spot. Victor is an amazing guitar player with the smarts, taste and chops to pull off being the guitarist in a power trio. For the big sound the songs and nature of their rock demands it is a tall order but Victor excels. And of course the big sound also relies on the locked in rhythm section here with Kenneth Levine on bass and Alex Baker on drums. Together they create a foundation like two tons of solid concrete that Victor can do his magic over with confidence. They are a great little rock band and I mean that as the highest compliment. Solid playing and great songs with an old school SST attitude. And it’s unanimous, the cover art is awesome!
The C.I.A. -
Surgery Channel
In The Red Records
Vinyl Review by Jaime Pina
In a way this band has many influences, all of them essential ingredients to creating great Rock N’ Roll. But whenever I try to pin them all down I can’t really decide. “Demons” has a unique sound integrating clean, precise singing with music that goes from high-energy top rock to grinding and sleazy Rock N’ Roll to hook filled hit single type songs. The band has worked with Jeff Dahl and that connection makes sense. They both share a love for bands like The Stones, MC5, Stooges and The Dictators as well as being energized by the punk scene.
Singer/guitarist Mathias Carlsson has a clear vision of what he wants to put across and how he should do it and his vocal and guitar playing express a love of Rock N’ Roll through the ages. At times he expresses matinee idol charm like a Ricky Nelson or Buddy Holly and a certain playfulness like on Six Pack Of Champagne. His guitar playing reflects this as he can play in a variety of approaches for whatever the song demands. A good example of this is Sparkle with a little bit of 60’s Scott Walker type pop tragedy to it. Rounding out the power trio is drummer Mick Jacobsson and Tomoko Sukenobu on bass. Whether it be on the high-energy tunes or the pop influenced numbers the rhythm section provides a solid wall of sound. And yeah, Tomoko is a badass female bass player who goes from a tough distorted tone in the aggressive numbers to throbbing low end in other tunes.