Click here to edit title
Click here to edit subtitle
Top Sounds - A


ABOLITIONIST - The Instant {DIY} PODCAST PLAYED Album number four from Portland's most underrated band. You get 12 tracks, kicking off with the title track and it’s apparent that Dustin and crew have amped the sound. After a deceiving slow, chugging opening, the song rips into something akin to PROPAGANDHI. The JAWBREAKER comparison is still valid (see ‘A Little Animal Liberation Never Hurt Anyone’), although now in a much lesser way than ABOLITIONIST’s previous work. From there, it continues as a fusion of those two, and something that has become very much the band’s own sound. Highlights include the embittered ‘Backlash’, the sedate riffage and potent message of ‘Totally Bonkers’ and closer ‘Lonesome Death’ while ‘Failed Projections’ with its urgent riff and ominous verses takes the best track. While these are short and concise songs (only one song breaks 2 minutes 30 seconds), they are far from simplistic; you get different moods, well thought out arrangements and plenty to suggest that this is the band’s best and most individualistic work so far. Already a big player here at the House Of Scanner and I’d put money on it being one of the Top Ten albums of 2018. (18.07.18)
ABOLITIONIST - The Pinnacle EP {DIY} First release in a couple of years from this excellent, underrated band outta Portland, OR and you get four tracks kicking off with the title track, that is surging, chunky and direct. ‘That’s No Forest, Stupid’ follows and raises some interesting points about cash-crop farming, and could be the standout track on the EP. Of the remaining two tracks, closer ‘Not Alone’ most mirrors the JAWBREAKER sound of old while ‘Surrounded By Everyone’ pivots around a dual bass/ guitar lead line that’s akin to early BUZZCOCKS but played with more power and greater dynamics. All the tracks, bar the lead song, clock in at under two minutes, and while there isn’t any fucking about, the songs remain structured and involved. I’m guessing this acts as a warm up for the imminent fourth album, ‘The Instant’ and, if these tracks are anything to judge it by, it’s gonna be worth the 2+ year wait since the previous ‘Vicious Rumour’ album. Watch this space... (25.02.18)


Two years on saw the release of ‘Humungus...’, which took all of the traits on the album above and amped them some more. This is faster, tighter, better produced and ever more bellicose in its humour - see ‘Yuppie’, ‘Pizza-N-Beer’, ‘Fuck The Neighbours’ and ‘Velvet Elvis’. It’s easy to hear why this album in particular was such an influence on the likes of NOFX; funny, scathing and blistering in the jams. It’s also the one that features the classic, iconic ‘Pope On A Rope’ as well as personal fave ‘Bugs’. Pressed on super-limited green or blue vinyl (just 100 of each), or a more common yellow (800). What more does a Punk want??
I have to confess, I had never heard 1988’s ‘Cruising With Elvis...’ before. Not sure why; we just never crossed paths. Besides the original ten tracks, you get a bonus six tracks recorded live at Gilman Street in ‘87. While this is still resolutely Punk Rock, it is noticeably slower and more textured than the two albums above, and musically brought to mind CHANNEL THREE (check ‘Swindle’). Several tracks stand out: ‘Bulimic Food Fight’ retains all the crazy humour of old, the cover of THE AVENGERS’ ‘Second To None’ is great and ‘Flip Side Unclassified’ continues that CH3 vibe to awesome effect. The live tracks are, as you might expect, garageland quality but raging and intense (‘Pope On A Rope’ is just fucking manic!!).
So, a bit of US Hardcore history made available again. If ya curious, go for ‘Wacky Hi-Jinks...’ it remains an era favourite for me. (14.04.20)

AMERICAN SPACE MONKEY - Crash Landing {DIY} Six track mini-album from this beguilingly named Canadian band. I instantly warmed to them when I saw that the song titles were all single-worded and combined made up, ‘Fuck You All ! We Quit’. ‘Fuck’ kicks off with a subtle intro before blowing up into something akin to SCREAMING TREES going balls-out Rock before a filthy, distorto bass worthy of DISCHARGE opens ‘You’ which morphs into something along the lines of a nasty SOUNDGARDEN. Those more-rock orientated Grunge bands continue to be the main pointer for the album but this is way more than a Seattle milking. Parts of it are as ominous as MINISTRY and as noisy as CONVERGE while others creepy-crawl with BLACK FLAG ‘My War’ era intensity. Standout ‘We’ lurches on a bruising riff and towering vocal. The band’s outta Vancouver, Canada and is probably a bit too Metal/ Grunge inspired for my more spiky preferences, but it was an enjoyable listen and I imagine that they probably kick up a sulphuric and damage-inducing experience live. (18.05.18)
ANSWERING MACHINE - Bad Luck {Wiretap} Five piece outta Brooklyn, New York and no doubt named after the REPLACEMENTS song as from opener ‘Riverdale’ there is a ‘MATS vibe but with some very smart, highly harmonised dual male/ female vocals. It’s the band’s debut album, you get ten tracks that, besides the ‘MATS, has a vague AGAINST ME! feel, if played via the Country vibe of WHISKEY AND CO and a splash of BIG STAR ‘Radio City’ era. Rather smart indeed! Highlights include ‘Bubblegum’ which is exactly that with the surge of RAMONES, ‘Marie’ that has a driving bass and rich vocal and ‘Water Signs’ that’s a snappy, Wilco Johnson-esque guitar riff and DANCE HALL CRASHERS feel while highlight has to be ‘Hollywood Smog’ that floats along on a fantastic vocal performance, BLONDIE-esque guitar line and as evocative of Hollywood as ‘Los Angeles’ by X is of LA. Killer closing acoustic track too. I really enjoyed this; it sounds fantastic, the songs are totally addictive and while those harmonies evoke an alt-Country feel, the playing has enough attitude and drive about it to make me wanna pogo through the fucking roof!! (26.11.20)

Hit HERE for material reviewed prior to 2018 including:
ACTION PACT, ADOLESCENTS, ADVERSARY, ALTERNATIVE TV, AMEBIX, ANGELIC UPSTARTS, ANTI-FLAG, ANTI-PASTI, ANTIQUE SCREAM, ANTI-SYSTEM, AP AND THE SILENT BRIGADE, ARCTIC FLOWERS, ARNOCORPS and AWAKEN I AM