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EP Review: Eighty-sixed, Kid – s/t
22 October, 2020 Brian Mc	Leave a comment
Cleveland's Endnote Records made their introduction during the start of this stupid pandemic this past Spring and the first act they signed was Akron native Daniel Palmentera's Eighty-sixed, Kid.
Perhaps this means absolutely nothing to you and that's cool, but if you know the history of Palmentera and the man behind Endnote, Andrew Wells, you'd be like me and understand how much sense it makes for these two to be working together. These two have a history together that includes friendship as well as creative avenues and seeing them form this partnership was one of the better things to happen in 2020.
Eighty-sixed, Kid started as a needed progression once Palmentera's previous punk band, My Mouth Is The Speaker, seemingly put things in park for a while. The stage name came about after constant solo-touring all over Northeast Ohio for a few years. With the routine performances came fine-tuning and maturity forming a sound that contains plenty of unselfish demeanor.
The debut self-titled EP by Eighty-sixed, Kid will be released on October 30th, and let me tell you, it far surpassed my expectations. Palmentera put it all out there without holding back whatsoever.
"I Like Their Old Stuff Better" relates to anyone who truly holds passion to being engulfed in music. I loved how personal this pop punk song was and even more so appreciated the chorus. It's a catchy, heartfelt track that's extremely relatable, especially to me.
That's not to say the EP was all cheerful material. "Gut Punch" pushed back to the 2000s emo days and brought forth gutted feelings about moving forward on an uneasy path. The track wasn't too complex and held itself together even with it being heavy on the sorrow.
Another track to mention was "When You Came Home You Never Really Came Home". This song hit me because I've lived this a couple of times and I would never wish this feeling upon anyone. People tend to say how a certain song pulled on their heartstrings, but this song punched a hole in my heart and left me numb for a moment.
There was no reprieve in emotion by Palmentera on this EP. He literally put himself out there for all to hear and you can feel the pain. As mentioned before, the self-titled EP resonated with me perhaps in an uneasy way, but I appreciated the hell out of it. I look forward to what Eighty-sixed, Kid creates moving on. This is not an act to sit on at all.
You can preorder the EP by visiting Endnote Records.
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Album Review: Sam Russo – Back to the Party
4 April, 2020 Brian Mc	Leave a comment
Being cooped up because of some asinine virus has not been my favorite thing as of late. I really shouldn't complain though, as I know many pals of mine are hurting severely because of this pandemic. If I could help everyone, I would. Trust me on that.
I offer a distraction to anyone who needs it right now via music. It's the least I can do.
My pal Toby from that punk label out there called Red Hair Bimbo Trees or something sent me a message today reminding me that the great Sam Russo has new material that just dropped and encouraged me to stop sitting there and do something.
Who is Sam Russo you ask? He's a UK punk rocker who honestly could put his back up these days to a young Frank Turner when it comes to musical style and craftsmanship, but that's being a little lazy for comparison. Said differently, if you love when punk lead singers do their solo thing and get all Revival Tour on your ass, you'll love this dude. I guarantee it based on his storytelling ability.
Russo has actually been around for a while now and Back to the Party is his third release on Red Scare Records. I was lucky enough to get a good taste of him thanks to 2015's Greyhound Dreams and have really been waiting for the day he dropped some new tunes.
"I took a lot of risks on this record and I'm so glad I did because it came out sounding really original and totally true to what I was trying to say for so many years." – Sam Russo
"Purple Snow" started off the album a little personal and a tad incoherent in terms of the story within the song. I adored this track upon first listen. Russo honestly has never sounded better. Perhaps a personal memoir, this track carried enough emotion to have me thinking of some of my past history. I am curious though, was the snow purple from Mad Dog 20/20? One can hope…one can hope.
"Good and Gone" I think was taken from my own personal memory of most of 2009. This song hit the heart hard, as it sung of hurt and triumph. These are the tunes that make me happy exist because the show me where I've been, where I can from, and what I've become.
"Darkness" followed and continued to tug on forced-in feelings with an apologetic excuse on interpersonal communication, or the lack thereof. Wholesome and pure, this track probably will be relating to a lot of folk.
There's so much that can be said about "Young Heroes" based on how the listener took it in. Given the current situation, this track speaks volumes to those who are working harder than ever based on some stupid pandemic. Not trying to sound cliché at all, but there's a lot of heroes in my book right now.
I can not really talk about a certain track on here in great detail, but if you know me, you know it totally kicked my ass by the title alone. The past will always sting back when you least expect it. Maybe I need to appreciate it more than I give myself credit for seeing how it shaped me, but still, that shit hurts. Nice job Russo, you jerk – I might have had a tear or two let loose…
Just when you think there'd be a slight let up of sorrow on the album, "Tears" kicked in. This really was a beautiful track overall, but not to be reckoned with if you're trying to lift them spirits high. I mean, that chorus alone gave me chills. Add lap-steel guitar playing that sparked a slight country feel made for my favorite track of the record.
"The Basement" ended the album with symbolism at its finest. Russo came to terms with life due to rummaging around and only could sit back and reflect on where things went wrong. Putting a lid to the album with this track just made so much sense.
Russo is a storyteller as much as he is a musician. Personal tales might make you want to hug your drink a little harder when you listen to this album, but let's be real – sometimes it is nice to remember you're human.
Back to the Party is a must listen for any music fan. Although some songs were full of ache, there really was a silver lining in terms of hope. I feel like I am trying to be motivational here, but let's face it, times are weird as hell right now. We can all use a distraction.
Hang in there folks.
Back To The Party by Sam Russo
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It's that time of the year again folks where I share with you the bands and albums that caught my attention throughout the year.
Sure, my reviewing is infrequent these days, may not make total sense or even be read by many for that matter, but I can tell you that I am listening to as much music as possible daily.
If my memory serves me correct, this will be my 10th Best Of post. Sitting back and just thinking that this blog has been around for 10 years now completely floors me. Thanks to anyone who's ever stopped by to see what's good. Here's to however many more years I decide to keep this going.
With that said, happy holidays and here is my list in no particular order:
Timeshares – Out There EP
-Easily one of my most played EPs of the year. I was obsessed with it for weeks and was caught off guard in a good way by it. I can not wait for their next full-length now. Loving their rejuvenated sound.
Strung Out – Blackout the Sky EP
-Not going to lie. I was not stoked at all to hear Strung Out was going to do an acoustic album. I do not know why I even doubted that they would not have done something amazing. This EP was amazing and showed a completely different side to one of the best bands out there.
Spells – Loose Change Vol. 1
-Ok so this is a collection of early out of print tunes by the Colorado punk party rockers, but this was my first taste of the band after somehow missing out of them for all these years. I caught them touring with Off With Their Heads earlier this year and turned into an instant fan.
Curtail – All Your Luck
-This is probably one of the best releases that came out this year that you may have not heard about. I could sit here and talk about it for hours, but I will leave it to you and check it out. Just think 90s alt rock mixed with 00s emo/post-hardcore goodness.
Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers – Brought to Rot
-This was the most punk rock album to come out all year. Laura Jane Grace is sincere as she talks about her current dwelling and overall situation without holding back. I was overly impressed with this one.
Turnstile – Time & Space
-An amazing hardcore release that really is so much more once you get sucked into it. It really is a genius album to listen to especially with some 80s punk and R&B moments tossed in for the hell of it (just listen to "I Don't Wanna Be Blind"). Certainly happy I stumbled on these guys.
Light Years – Afterlife
-Hands down, this is one of the best pop punk albums to come out this year. I knew it was going to be good, but I did not realize it was going to be that good.
Face To Face – Hold Fast (Acoustic Sessions)
-This album has turned me into an even bigger Face To Face fan. I feared hearing it because I really did not want to hear a punk band play acoustic renditions of their songs, but man, I was so wrong to doubt them. They reinvented their songs in the best way possible.
The Interrupters – Fight The Good Fight
-Two-toned, punk fueled, and amazing throughout. There's a reason why Tim Armstrong produced this album.
The Ruen Brothers – All My Shades of Blue
-This album was like listening to The Gaslight Anthem team up with Roy Orbison to score a Wes Anderson flick. I adore these guys and hope to hell I can see them live one day. This was the album that complete caught me by surprise this year and fell in love with.
Spanish Love Songs – Schmaltz
-This album is like the energy of The Menzingers + the emotion of MakeWar. The band clearly has matured into something incredible and this release proves it. Do not sit on this one.
Red City Radio – SkyTigers EP
-This is the best thing this band has ever done. There was just this certain amount of gallant confidence throughout. The song "SkyTigers" proved that to me over and over.
Johnny La Rock – Gold Codes
-I was drunk in Vegas earlier this year and admitted Gold Codes was an album of the year for me. La Rock is a hidden gem in Cleveland that the world really should get to know some.
Bar Stool Preachers – Grazie Governo
-Working class and bad ass all in one album. These guys rule. It's like Dropkick Murphys if they were a ska band.
Mad Caddies – Punk Rocksteady
-Taking punk rock songs and putting their own reggae style to it was just a brilliant idea. This covers album was done right and received well by this listener.
Restorations – LP5000
-Yeah, this was one of my favorite releases this year. This band can do no wrong and I appreciated their maturing lyrics more than ever. Seeming them live finally this year was also an added bonus.
Four Fists – 6666
-This collaboration between P.O.S. and Astronautics completely slays. This rap duo really dropped an impressive album complete with plenty of punk references and beats guaranteed to get stuck in your head for days.
Vessel of Light – Woodshed
-This album takes everything great about Danzig, White Zombie, and even old Alice in Chains and puts them all together for a solid listen. Super impressed with this one.
Frank Turner – Be More Kind
-Everyone needs to listen to this album, especially "Be More Kind". I am fairly sure it will make your day if not a better person. Frank Turner is one talented mo-fo.
Lucero – Among The Ghosts
-I love this album mostly for the band embracing where life has taken them over the years. They have not lost their style one bit and for that I thank them. This has turned into one of my favorite Lucero releases.
Thanks for reading and happy holidays!
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EP Review: Face To Face – Hold Fast (Acoustic Sessions)
It seems like every punk band out there is dropping acoustic albums as of late. This facade may come off as lazy or desperate to some, but when stripped down right, it makes so much sense. Still, it is easy to just dismiss them because of how many are out there.
I have to give it to Unwritten Law though who first captured my fascination with the whole punk rock bands doing acoustic renditions of their songs years back. I remember hearing Music in High Places and becoming obsessed instantly. Then Rancid busted out an acoustic set in front of me live once at one of their shows and I adored it. Perhaps this aging punker just enjoys slowing down things a little bit.
When I heard Face To Face was releasing an EP of acoustic versions of their songs over the years, I was nervous. Mind you Face To Face is easily one of my all time favorite bands from my 90s, I was worried that it would not go well, but I couldn't have been so wrong.
Hold Fast simply is songs from Face To Face's 30+ years (with a slight hiatus) career put into an acoustic style. Perhaps sparked from their "Econo-Live Tour", the band decided it was their turn to try. Actually, Face To Face did acoustic sets years back as I remember a friend's band opening for them and quickly having to learn how to relearn their songs so they could stay on the bill with them – Back to this EP though.
Hold Fast is listed as an EP, but at 33 minutes, it could easily be an album. I was impressed to see 10 songs tracked on the Fat Wreck Chords release and was more impressed with where they call came from on their discography.
"All For Nothing" started off the EP with an alt-country twangy version of the catchy Laugh Now, Laugh Later track that I am sure Lucero fans would totally appreciate. I quickly realized after this song alone the amount of time put in by Face To Face to transformed them into a completely different style.
"Disconnected" was the song I was most worried to hear. This radio-friendly track that caught the most attention on Big Choice was part of the soundtrack to my life in the late 90s and I'm still quite fond of it to this day. I held off listening to this song at first and waited until the album came out to take it in. I had nothing to worry about. This song was perfected transformed from a pop punk jam to an acoustic masterpiece. I loved everything about this song from Keith's slowed down singing to the backing vocals and even the guitar playing.
I was kind of shocked to hear "Keep Your Chin Up" the EP as it was a new song, but as soon as the chorus started I immediately understood. It fit perfectly.
"Don't Turn Away" was completely dissected and put together as one hell of a track. The lyrics remain the same, but everything else about it screams alt-country with even some rockabilly qualities to it. This was such an enjoyable track to rediscover though a different genre. Just wait for that guitar solo.
"Aok" was another version I just absorbed and adored instantly. This is one of those other songs that was part of the soundtrack of my life and hearing it on a different caliber was just so appreciated.
I can not say every track on the EP blew me away as some were at status quo like "Ordinary" and even "Velocity", but I did not skip past a single song. Nothing was completely unbearable which led me to believe the band truly gave it their all.
I truly feel Face To Face did this for the sake of trying something new and not looking for a quick paycheck (leave that to Me First and the Gimme Gimmes). These So. Cal. punks have matured so much since back in the day and clearly have moved past their punk rock roots musically. I really think people who never were into Face To Face are going to hear this and become fans of these renderings. I am also hoping they just decided to make new music in this style. I have the feeling it would be amazing.
Don't dismiss this EP at all folks. Face To Face is far more talented than you think, especially if you just assume they are just some aging punk rock band looking for a quick payday.
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The Most Underrated Rock 'n Roll Artist in the Past 5 Years – The White Buffalo
19 February, 2018 Frank Soltysiak	Leave a comment
[It's been a while since one of my pals has guest blogged on this here ol' site, but when Frank reached out to me recently with something he wrote asking me to check it out, I just had to share it. Great read by a great dude. – Brian]
As we gingerly step into 2018, our world has become consumed by politics. Our news are politics, our "Funny-Shows" are politics, our comedians are politics, and with all of this, our world has become a house divided. Before all this though, there was an even greater divide happening in a much more important arena, the music arena.
Over the past five years, rock 'n roll has been the passenger on a downward trend, taking it further and further from the main-stream, and closer to obscurity. Some would debate that the greatest reason for this is the general malaise and declining quality of the rock 'n roll form, while others place their bets behind the "Only Big Enough for One of Us" philosophy regarding the rap vs. rock debate. Despite all the bluster and hot air one thing is quite factual, that as of last year, it is documented that hip hop has taken over the head of the pack in the music world.
With this seismic change in the musical landscape, artists that should have been on the fast track to super-stardom and all that entails have been pushed down into what was characteristically deemed the "independent" group. Artists that should get the elusive radio play and playing to thousands of people at a time are lucky to get on college radio and play the back rooms of the established venues. Those that should be in the limelight, have transitioned into unknown or the tombstone title of "niche".
One artist that doesn't belong in any of these secondary groups, one artists who stands on musical talent rather than glitz and bling, the most underrated artist in recent memory is The White Buffalo.
The White Buffalo, aka Jake Smith, can undoubtedly be placed at the top of the list of underrated artists in the shrinking rock genre of today's musical society. With vocals that range from haunting, as heard in "The Whistler" and "Come Join the Murder", and travel up the spectrum to romantic, spotlighted in "Love Song #1" and "Come On Love Come On In", all the way to a tone that could be called soulful and introspective, divinely illustrated in "Oh Darlin' What Have I Done", or upbeat, like "Avalon".
Smith's music cannot be classified and gently placed into a nice tight fitting box. It can go from straight rock 'n roll to a little bit of twang, from bordering country to in your face melodic yelling. And maybe there's the rub – because with the push he's gotten, it doesn't make sense that he's being pushed down into the lands of obscurity.
Case in point, ask the average, run of the mill, rock 'n roll fan, what is the most popular show that they have watched in the last 10 years, that they still watch on Netflix, the show that had one of the best soundtracks ever, that they owned the t-shirts, the hoodies, the hats, and the merch, that they watched or recorded or DVRed EVERY TIME IT WAS ON TELEVISION, and most of them will say the same thing: Sons of Anarchy. And this juggernaut of a show, Sons of Anarchy, was the first introduction for the White Buffalo to the masses.
Smith's music accompanied some of the most disturbing, some of the most poignant, some of the most influential, and some of the most powerful scenes of the entire show. When Clay gets his back tattoo blacked out in shame, enter "The Whistler", or when Tara, Jax's wife realizes her negative transformation and pulls a gun on Jax and then leaves him, scored by "Oh Darlin' What Have I Done", or arguably the most powerful moment of the show, when Jax rides his bike to certain doom in the series finale, there was only one song that could properly usher this show out and push the main character off of this mortal coil properly, and it was "Come Join the Murder" by the White Buffalo.
Smith had a spotlight shone on him from one of the most heavily watched shows of the decade, his music led in scenes that there was no going back from, and his music was the prototype for the entire soundtrack, and yet for some reason he is not shining his Grammys or counting his movie credits. And there is no reason for that. Other than the fact that he has been criminally underrated by the powers that be in the music industry, and this fact is in fact, a crime.
Since his contributions to SOA, he has not rested on his laurels, nor has he let the show define him. He has put together three stellar albums: Shadows, Greys, and Evil Ways, Love and the Death of Damnation, and most recently Darkest Darks, Lightest Lights, which illustrates his stunning mix of the rock 'n roll, deep, deep blues, and outlaw country.
Smith continues to prove that he is actually the preeminent musical story-teller in music today. The White Buffalo's music gives listeners a constant reminder that although one might look brash and gruff on the outside, the inside can be a cauldron of emotions and feelings and thoughts and ideas. Every album is a different trip to a different place, exploring different roads to get to the destination.
The masses are missing some of the greatest rock 'n roll that has ever been produced, and what is ever more disappointing than that fact, is that they don't even know it. The White Buffalo entrusts personal stories to the listener, that many people could relate to and enjoy. The White Buffalo is the everyman, with a badass growl, a tender soul. He's someone you'd have a beer with anytime and the most underrated rock 'n roll musician in recent history.
Seek him out, watch him, listen to him, go to his concerts – just do yourself a favor and enjoy his work.
-FS
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