All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

CD Review, Entertainment, Local Music, Music

CD Review: Black Hole [2010]

Leave a comment

Band: Young Adults
Release: 11/2010
Label: AMDISCS

1. “Reverie 1” – N/A
2. “Let Us Out” – A-
3. “Wasting Time” – B+
4. “Black Surf” – B
5. “Rip It Up” – A
6. “Impression” – A
7. “Over the Edge” – B+
8. “Life Under Review” – B
9. “Annulation” – B+
10. “Bummer Summer” – A-
11. “Drifing” – A
12. “Reverie 2” – C-
13. “Campfires” – B+

Comments: Funny how a band from the East Coast can have a set of influences quite similar to a higher profile band from the other coast and end up having the same album production esthetic and “punk” sound. On that note, these dudes also have an opening instrumental eerily comparable to the other band’s instrumental tracks. Young Adults are more rough around the edges, but quite clearly have direction and polish. Comparison notwithstanding, Young Adults Demo, reviewed on here back in May, was cheaply recorded and that very fact could’ve dulled some hooks and the demo’s overall catchiness…what I’m trying to say is I think that the band re-recorded some of those tracks and obtained a fuller sound for this full-length. This is true (to me, anyway) on “Rip It Up” and the ever-so-Fugazi-in-a-great-way “Impression.” I think he’s singing “leave an impression” on that one.  A highlight of the band’s instrumental get up is that sort of rolling high-pitched notes only post-punk lead guitar line that’s been utilized by a bunch of bands, most recognizably UK dark-rock group Editors. Unlike Editors, Young Adults turn up the punk levels to max, but always seem to have semblances of pop, which is nice for a band that has a sizable Boston following, but hasn’t yet jumped in the cross-country van to play to an ever-so eager underground. “Drifing” is one of the best tunes on here! Not like “yo, I’m gonna keep listening to this song over and over,” but it’s simply an immediate winner. By the way, the band I’m speaking of in the first sentence is No Age and these dudes should open for them when they hit the Middle East Downstairs.

Grade: B+ (87)

Listen To “Drifing” —

Upcoming Dates:
9/28 – Middle East Downstairs – Opening For Best Coast
11/6 – Great Scott – CD Release Show

Entertainment, humor, Random, rant

Lowell

1 Comment

KLYAMin’ at college now, I overheard a dude repeat a text message out-loud in the cafeteria:

Are you still a virgin? Still? What kind of question is that. Lowell.

Lowell, you ask? Yeah, dude seriously said Lowell instead of L-O-L or law-l, which is hardly acceptable, but better. I’m in for a long semester if I keep noticing things like this.

Entertainment, EP Review, Music

EP Review: Out of Nowhere [2010]

1 Comment

Band: Prismo Perfect
Release: 2010

1. “TV Dream” – A+
2. “Summer In The Kitchen” – A+
3. “Dead Shadow” – A-
4. “Enable Stop” – A-
5. “Wired Feelings” – A

Comments: Prismo Perfect is a band from France. They’re really good. Like they say, they play fast, but poppy rock music. They seem to be influenced by noise, punk, and garage and no track wears such influences on its sleeve greater than “TV Dream.” I only had to listen to it a couple of times before deciding that it’s amongst the best tracks I’ve heard in this young decade. That’s pretty remarkable for an obscure band from France! Combine one part No Age, three parts Ponys, and two parts Deerhunter (like on “Dead Shadow” really really) and the result might just be Prismo Perfect. I highly recommend people check out this band. They could easily become the next breakthrough Goner act or something.

Grade: A (94)

Uncategorized

CD Review: First Blood [2010]

Leave a comment

Band: Nobunny
Label: Goner Records
Release: 9/2010

1. “Ain’t It A Shame” – A
2. “(Do The) Fuck Yourself” – A
3. “Blow Dumb” – A-
4. “Gone For Good” – A+
5. “Pretty Please Me” – B+
6. “Breathe” – A-
7. “Live It Up” – A+
8. “Motorhead With Me” – A+
9. “Never Been Kissed” – A
10. “Pretty Little Trouble” – A+
11. “I Was On (The Bozo Show)” – A

Comments: Nobunny is a master of bubble gum pop. We learned this on Love Visions, his debut album replete with goodies like “I Am A Girlfriend” and “Chuck Berry Holiday,” among every other song on there. This record is the same way, but it’s quite a progression for Nobunny. Gone is the drum machine and extreme lo-fi production. This isn’t clean by any stretch of the imagination, but you can tell that it’s been worked on more and has more depth than Love Visions. “Ain’t It A Shame” starts out like a cut to a commercial break, but becomes a passionate “ha, doesn’t it suck what I’ve done to you?”  “(Do The) Fuck Yourself,” which is about as easy to understand as a fourth grade short story novel, should win something for being so triumphant and explicitly lucid. “Feels so good. Feels so nice. I do it every morning and night. Bite my lip, close my eyes, take me away to Paradise.” A little cowbell, a lot of power-pop, and a lot of having fun. That’s ‘blowing dumb,” the new way of saying having fun. I think. “Gone For Good” is the album’s first venture into the great musical style that is garage/punk. The chick wasn’t having it. Nobunny loves her (like he does everyone), but that just wasn’t enough! “Pretty Please Me” is an old sounding country number about the most casual of encounters. No love required! Just a little knack for kissing. “Breathe” is full of cheese and nonsensical lyrics. It’s funny and stuff, probably the least catchiest tune on here, but still always worth a listen. “Live It Up” is an excellent ode to turning things around and just start branching. Just do as many things as possible and not be afraid. Sounds so easy, doesn’t it? As people have said time and time again, “Motorhead With Me” will get stuck in your head. If it doesn’t, there’s a problem. It’s probably my second or third favorite Nobunny song ever ever! The toy piano complements the trashy guitars so damn good on “Never Been Kissed.” “Bozo” is the longest Nobunny song ever. It’s the weirdest for sure…especially when the fame circus theme “Entrance of the Gladiators” riff kicks in. After ten songs explaining the ups and downs of having (or lacking) femmes in life, we have “Bozo.” Nobunny is down for anything, y’all.

Grade: A (94)