Top Sounds - U
UNKNOWN INSTRUCTORS - Funland {Smog Veil} Ask anyone who has no prior knowledge of this band to describe their thoughts and you’ll no doubt be told about hippies dressed in kaftans and headbands, acid, Monterey and/or Woodstock festivals, hash and more acid. In reality this is a project from one of the greatest rhythm sections of the USHC era - Mike Watt and George Hurley from MINUTEMEN (and fIREHOSE come to that). SACCHARINE TRUST’s Joe Baiza adds the guitar while Dave Thomas of PERE UBU and artist Raymond Pettibon assist with ‘vocals’. I’m sure Bass Player or Drum Talk magazines cream their pants over this; I purposely crapped mine just to try to stay awake. I’ve played this half-a-dozen times and never made it to the end. Think high-brow Jazz/hippy fusion boredom. Does it rock? No. Does it hold the attention? No. Did it annoy the fuck outta me? Yes. I wonder if Mike Watt is still touring with THE STOOGES? I bet IGGY rips the shit outta this!! (26.07.09)
Hit HERE for material reviewed prior to 2009 including:
UNCOMFORTABLES, UNDERGROUND RAILROAD TO CANDYLAND, UNSEEN (2 reviews)
Top Sounds - V
VANILLA POD - Poets On Payday {Boss Tuneage} Has it really been five years since the last VANILLA POD album? This was always one of the most reliable and likeable bands on the British circuit and it’s great to hear that here, on the band’s fifth album, they still sound as confident, effective and thrilling as ever. Opener ‘Saturday Night’ has to be one of the best opening album tracks heard in recent years with its anthemic chorus and pleading sentiments. Elsewhere there is the jaw-dropping sentimentality of the acoustic ‘Goosedown’ that has elements of BOB MOULD’s ‘Workbook’ era, the post-party celebration of ‘Walk Of Shame’, a frantic ‘4130’ and both ‘Soul Glow’ and ‘Promise’ that feature excellent arrangements and vocal harmonies. I still hear hints of JAWBREAKER in the band’s sound mixed with a BAD RELIGION harmonic structure with an undercurrent of SNUFF-esque Britishness. Vocalist Rob certainly impresses here being powerful and tuneful. As well as the nine new tracks, there are a couple of studio outtakes from the previous two albums, which add to the depth of quality present. And all this from a band that had the massive hurdle of coming from Norfolk to overcome!! At least, it’s a hurdle from the point of view of any Suffolkonian!! "Ave ya got a light boy?" (24.05.10)
VARSITY DRAG - Night Owls {Boss Tuneage} Second studio album for this project from the LEMONHEADS founder, Ben Deily. It kicks of well with an upbeat, catchy rocker, ‘Animal’. From there, it pans out to be a subtle and melodic album. A lot of the structures brought to mind Crowded House (check out ‘Galaxies’ - Neil Finn could sue!!) coupled with hints of early REM. Disc highlight ‘In This World’ is a sweeping track full of mood changes and incorporates some neat open, droning guitar parts that suggested ‘Candy Apple Grey’ era HUSKER DU. Unfortunately, the closing pair of tracks leave the whole disc feeling limp and lacklustre; ‘Morning’ is just plain dull and ‘Post Script’ is a ‘nice’ little track that could easily make a Lloyd-Webber musical. Tom Hamilton handles production (as he did on the first three LEMONHEADS albums), but this is far removed from ‘Hate Yr Friends’. Four or five tracks from this could’ve made a totally killer EP, as it is it’s a decent if patchy US college-Rock-Pop platter that doesn’t quite live up to the debut’s promise. (24.05.10)
VARSITY DRAG - Rock And Roll Is Such A Hassle: Live In Europe {Boss Tuneage} You should know Ben Deily was co-founder of LEMONHEADS and is the guiding force behind VARISTY DRAG. This was recorded in Austria in 2007 and features 15 choice cuts culled from the band’s debut ‘For Crying Out Loud’, a number of LEMONHEADS tracks and a few new tunes also. The band sounds appropriately relaxed, mixing BIG STAR pop subtleties with the more recognisable fuzzed Pop-Punkers. The production certainly lacks bass; it’s a very middley sounding recording and if there is a crowd numbering more than six it’s hard to imagine. Highlights include the breezy ‘Summertime’, the ‘Hate Your Friends’ pairing of ‘Uhhh’ and a stunning, disc-stealing highlight of ‘Ever’. ‘Creator’ is represented with four or five tracks. On a mellower note, there is the sublime ‘Blackout’. Have to say, Deily’s nasal whine got a bit frustrating at the end; would’ve been nice to have heard a bit of veracious ‘Creator’ fire in parts. This is a mid-price deal which is wise because, while this is enjoyable, it lacks the x-factor atmosphere needed for a genuinely good live album. (06.07.09)
Hit HERE for material reviewed prior to 2009 including:
VANILLA SKY, VARSITY DRAG, VERMIN, VOIDS