Top Sounds - N
NARCOLEPTIC YOUTH - Airplay {Dr. Strange} Originally released back in 1997 as a split with ATOMIC BOMBS, this is some really snotty, nihilistic Punk Rock that mixes the sheer vocal arrogance of prime time CIRCLE JERKS with some twisted, sarcastic, obnoxious ‘core a’la APOCALYPSE HOBOKEN. As usual with Dr. Strange, this offers a little more than a simple reissue in the sense that it has been digitally remastered and includes extra tracks (decent takes on ADICTS and DAMNED tracks) plus a 22-minute interview. The 13 tracks on the album fly by fusing the unbridled aggression of USHC and an ‘82 Brit Punk attitude. Best moments would include ‘The Bitch Needs A Muzzle’ and ‘Busted Condom’ that culminates with a furiously thrashy finale. The band has some switched-on lyrics also with album highlight ‘Is This Punk?’ and ‘86 The Crap’ both stating Punk is more than an image and doing it in a way that is not dismissive or dictatorial. Neat vintage sounding stuff that is vocal and witty, belligerent and insightful. (26.07.09)
NEW CHRISTS - Gloria {Impedance} Who needs the ‘second coming’ when The NEW CHRISTS continually resurrect themselves in a fanfare of hot rockin’, raw riffin’, amped Punk Rock ‘n’ Rollin’ bliss every few years? It’s been years (seven in fact) since the excellent ‘We Got This!’ album but it’s clear from the shards of guitar that open ‘Try Something’ that Rob Younger has not lost any of his innate Rock ‘n’ Roll sus. Like you didn’t know, Younger fronted the legend that was RADIO BIRDMAN. Too often, the NEW CHRISTS is dismissed in BIRDMAN’s wake, which is incredibly wrong cuz the CHRISTS has enough sneering arrogance to teach 90% of today’s ‘Punk bands’ a few tricks while musically teaching any ‘muso’ band a few licks. The sound - as it has been for the last 25 years - is blazing. ‘The Wheel’ grinds on a Grunge riff that any flannel-shirted Seattle band would kill for; ‘My Existence’ flat-out rocks on a sublime, sneering melody; album highlight ‘The Posse’ glistens on a ringing riff as guitar leads descend outta nowhere, while ‘Bonsoir A Vous’ culminates the album in a bouncy, up-tempo rockin’ style. While it is not the intoxicating slab that the debut ‘Distemper’ was, this is still an album that a band like FOO FIGHTERS can only but wish to make. (05.11.09)
NEW YORK DOLLS - Cause I Sez So {Rhino} It seems like I have been listening to THE DOLLS all of my life, so I was both skeptical and expectant of this second album from the reformed line-up. Opening with the sneering, rocking title track and the equally impressive ‘Muddy Bones’, all boded well. Then two bluesy-countrified ballads that sounded like outtakes from Dylan’s ‘Nashville Skyline’ followed. While these two tracks certainly heralded the album’s low point (although the country honk of a clumsy reworked ‘Trash’ came close), what remained never scaled the heights of the opening salvo. ‘Temptation To Exist’ featured some surprising Spaghetti Western style coolness while closer ‘Exorcism Of Despair’ saw a return to the glitzy, ragged, degenerate rock ‘n’ roll we all love. Oddly, for such a naturally fluent and instinctive vocalist, a lot of Johansen’s vocal phasing sounds a tad awkward. It’s produced by Todd Rundgren - as was the debut album back in 1973 - but that’s where the parallels between the two albums end. Not as good as I had hoped, but nowhere near as bad as I feared! (06.07.09)
NOFX - Cokie The Clown {Fat Wreck} Apparently, after recording ‘Coaster’, Fat Mike and co found they had five songs left over. So, he and the band decided to pull "the best" five from the album sessions for this EP. A good marketing ploy, Michael, but it’s not really true, is it? These tracks are archetypal NOFX - fast, snappy, witty and rocking but only ‘Fermented And Flailing’ could be considered truly "better" than much of ‘Coaster’. That said, these is not a duffer here. The acoustic reading of ‘My Orphan Year’ is of stunning gravitas and quite unlike anything the band has attempted previously. The lead track and ‘Moved From Massachusetts’ both display those sharp lines of dialogue that Fat Mike seems to be able to supply in unending quantity, with the latter being particularly impressive. What more do you need to know? Love ‘em or hate ‘em, this is patented NOFX Punk Rock - and impressive with it. (14.12.09)
NOFX - Coaster {Fat Wreck} Once again, Fat decides to send out promos in crappy card sleeves minus any packaging bar a track listing. As before, if only half the product is sent, they only get half the review. Besides, who the fuck doesn’t know NOFX? This must be something like the band’s 12th album and I have to say, it’s one I enjoyed more than any other since ‘Punk In Drublic’. ‘The Quitter’ displays a vintage Cali-Punk sound with an ADOLESCENTS influence cutting through like no other. ‘Blasphemy’ and ‘Best God In Show’ expose some lyrically excellent observations on religion with the latter in particular being something that is both scathing and commonsensical. The usual NOFX frivolity exists elsewhere with ‘I Am An Alcoholic’ being too singalong for words. Politics is well on display too - amazing for the band that released ‘Ribbed’. Anyway, you’ve already bought it or you don’t wanna. End of review. (01.07.09)