Jesus and the Devil - Destructive Music Resists The Oncoming Light

Garage Rock…. Not a big fan of the genre but I like it enough to tell the good from the bad. One point I would like to make before delving into this review is that the thing I like most about this style is that it really gives the band a chance to be themselves by really stripping the whole concept of a band down to a basic rock formula leaving nothing but a solid foundation to build an entire kingdom on. I have heard about this band for a while now and when I popped this compact disc in I was expecting a gutsy rockabilly sound, but instead what I got was a pleasant surprise. I tell you I really think this band has something to offer. I started out this review talking about things I admire about garage rock and this band so helps me capture said elements to a “T”.

I really appreciate the fact that this band recorded half of this EP live (@ The Park West, The Vic, & The Double Door) which I think is most admirable considering most bands rely too much on production rather than even attempting to catch the emotion that drives their music in a live setting. It’s a ballsy thing to do and Jesus and The Devil hit the nail on the head. The live recording also provides a lo-fi feel that I think is quintessential to this bands overall sound.

The Lyrics are insightful yet entertaining in approach and content. If I ever have the pleasure of seeing these dudes I’ll probably be drunker than Jake “The Snake” Roberts on a Tuesday night singing along word for word.

The guitar playing and overall songwriting is top notch. While mainly staying to a more classic feel, these guys aren’t afraid to really venture off into more uncharted territories (think Rolling Stones making love to Fugazi). All in all with bands like Jet and The Strokes receiving all this mainstream attention I really don’t see why the music world can’t give these guys a chance. I like it and if you’re into rock music in general there is no reason why this band shouldn’t find a home in your cd player. -Dave Klingenberg

Preacher Gone To Texas - From The Heartland

Metalcore nowadays seems like it’s trying to surprise people constantly with their favorite things. I’ll call it the Kellogg’s variety pack syndrome. PGTT are not a bad band at all, in fact I enjoy this compact disc quite a bit. I just think it might be too much too late for I get the impression that the underground community that this band may be trying to appease has grown tired of this style and is moving on to better things.

If you’re not familiar with PGTT they play pretty close to a unique brand of hardcore that I have only seen before with Underoath. The heavy use of keyboards and mid-tempo poppy parts are thrown in for good measure. But unlike them, Preacher has a far superior vocal attack. Pretty much every member of this band has a voice. I sure wish somebody besides the lead singer would do the spoken word passages because this guy sounds like an emo Ben Stein on steroids. The screaming is emotive, hollow, and pretty gosh darn effective. The singing parts come across as urgent and sincere without coming across as your typical whinny emo-core.

The musical composition stands out the most on this EP. Every transition is smoother than a baby’s bottom. No single part really seems like it was forced in to as almost every song is a manic tornado. Chug riffs to upbeat melodies that blend together nicely really keep the listener’s on their toes. It really enhances the overall mood of this record into a positive experience. Just the kind of CD that makes you sit up straight when you’re driving.

Production on this CD is excellent and really has me looking forward to receiving more releases from this label. I can see a lot from this band in the future if they can produce a full length stacked with quality tracks like these. So if you’re into bands like Hopesfall, Underoath, or even Taking Back Sunday, give this band a try. They’ll probably make a fan out of you. -Dave Klingenberg

Driving Forward - In Motion / Ditchwater - See Me Through

Ok I’m listening to all the crap out of my little care package Jesse sent me. I want to state the reason why I’m reviewing both of these CD’s at the same time. They both sound almost identical. But if I put these two bands in a steel cage against each other I would pull for DF just because they’re at least trying to be different musically. All in all, I could burn both of these EP’s to one disc and not only would you think they are the same band, but you would think they're a bunch of old Nickelback demo’s too. I don’t really see any potential for either of these bands to blow anybody's mind. If that’s not an adequate review I don’t know what is. -Dave Klingenberg

Thrift Store Heroes - Moving On

I really didn’t know what to expect when I put this disc in. The lay out is a 10 on the cheese factor scale with some sad looking fellow hitchhiking down the side of a dirt road. I’m surprised they had the presence of mind to reduce the red eye in the photo cause it’s obviously the product of their local Walgreens (this was almost a immediate turn off).

It also seems like this record was written and recorded by one guy, which should be impressive if this wasn’t the most unimaginative half brained song writing my ears have ever listened to. The first song “Hey” is the only song on the CD that even attempts to make this disc the least bit interesting, and it sounds like a Pepsi commercial. The rest of the CD follows this power pop (as so dubbed in there press kit) formula that these self-proclaimed HEROES take a lot of pride in. My advice to you guy’s is get good at something else. Maybe these songs can make these guys a quick buck with proper marketing (pop culture is that shallow nowadays) but this record in itself comes off so insincere that it literally puts the word industry after Music.

Biggest Problem with this is the song titles. Titles like Tonite (which is actually the way it is spelled on the back of the cd.) Best of Me, Kiss Me, Rockstar… I mean c’mon. This instance is a true testament to how simple, unimaginable, and watered down this band really is. All in all I know this CD is not for me. But if you like listening to alternative rock radio put this record in and you’ll never know the difference. -Dave Klingenberg

Overtone - Secondary Effect

Whether you like it or not, Overtone will someday leave the loving arms of Lake County. Their latest release The Secondary Effect proves that Overtone is one of the most mature sounding and professional bands in the area. The first track Shattered opens with a hooking guitar riff and rocks straight through until the song ends. The next song speeds things up with some great technical bass work from Pete Hansen, and the unbelievable vocal presence of lead singer Ayesu Lartey, who is arguably the most talented singer in all of Lake County. The first two tracks stand out as the catchiest of the album. Unfortunately those songs are so good that the songs in the middle of the record really don't compare, making the album seem spotty. That's just an issue with the track order though, every song on the album is incredibly well crafted. If you listen to the album out of order it sounds extremely tight. If you like straight up LC rock, The secondary effect from Overtone is a must have. -Justin Sternberg

Infrared - Four Song Demo

Infrared, a four piece out of Chicago has taken ahold of my ears and turned the volume knob way up! Stiff arm guitar riffs and growls that push the boundaries of nu-metal into metal blazed through my office stereo as I meandered the internet. I couldn't help but start to sing, as I can not dredge the trenches of metal warfare as this blaster can, and the volume couldn't have been loud enough. I could tell you they sound reminiscent of Powerman 500 and Rob Zombie, maybe even a little Static-X, but you would need to listen to this yourself to appreciate the build from phrase to phrase. The changes from verse to chorus and the even more driving bridges all taste well-done! The bass is heavy and consistent. The drummer finds some melody in his playing to keep pace with the well written lyrics and melodies of mayhem. Is it a good disc? Hell yea, all four songs. I would recommend them live if you like in your face metal done well. Its clean, strong, well written, and ready to emboss its name in the Chicago-land music scene. -Aaron Mooney

The Nerds - Just Because She Didn't Want To Fuck

The first impression I, or anyone I know who saw this cd, got from The Nerds was, "My, what an offensive cover." Unfortunately, that was the strongest thing on the disc. The cover shows a young woman lying on the floor, her chest bared and covered in blood, looking quite dead. Along with the album title, one can get a good feel for the personailty The Nerds are trying to project.

While the imagery is thought provoking, unfortunately the music is not. It's undeniably punk rock, played fast, simple, and repetetive with sufficient ability and little melody. If fast punk-n-roll is your thing, you could skip the middleman and go straight for a Dwarves album. You'd get a lot more than what The Nerds are offering.

Apparently, The Nerds are from Italy. Perhaps the english-as-a-second-language lyrics are hurting the groups efforts, but I doubt that's the only thing holding them back. They succeed in being repulsive, but I found myself laughing at them more than with them. The poetic high-point comes in the third track, "Beat Me": "You can take a stick and shove it up my ass. But your whip's handle surely fits [as] well." And it's only down hill from there.
John VBS had the best commentary on the CD, and it's too good not to pass on: "The cover should have been an Italian guy sitting on a toilet, whackin' it." -Chris Storbeck

Holden's Catch - Facepaint:Homicide

At only four songs long, the facepaint:homocide release from Holden’s Catch should be an easy bite to swallow, but the intricate, tension-filled music makes for a mighty lump in the throat for the unsuspecting.

The first track, “the lead assures”, reveals the essentials of Holden’s Catch: the band has chops, they obviously have an appreciation for a good hook, but not so much that they’re willing to give up their indulgent guitar riffs and dynamic arrangements. The not-unpleasantly straining vocals are almost second-chair throughout the disc, but when they are used, they’re perfectly placed and delivered for dramatic effect.

I’m no expert on the “Chicago Emo Sound”, but I’d guess the members of Holden’s Catch are more than a bit familiar with it. From what I do know, I think holden’s catch are capable of deftly destroying that clichéd style and building something new from the pieces. Evidence of this is the ending of “the lead assures”, which, after a token introspective guitar bridge, effortlessly builds to a driving fury, tastefully reprises an earlier idea from the song just once, and abruptly ends. Not the work of amateurs.

To the music’s benefit, the arrangements of the other songs are less organized than “the lead assures”. “is it may yet” pulses and sighs while frenetic bass lines snake through the beats. The first vocal line and muted guitar riff of “blue eyed death” are delivered to pierce and sting like the lost friendship referenced in the song. This type of guitar work seems like Holden’s Catch’s specialty, the pinnacle of which is the progression on the cd’s closer, “serox’s personell”. I think the fine production of the recording plays no small part in the way the languid two-guitar theme of this song drips out of the speakers; the grain of the guitars is palpable, captivating. That may be half the secret to the cd’s success; with poor production these songs may hold much less weight, but credit to the band for presenting the music appropriately.

Most music and works of art, good or bad, offer new revelations with each re-visit, but facepaint:homocide is one that I actually want to re-visit. -Chris Storbeck

Spitalfield - Faster Crashes Harder

Another hit from the Sinister Clan. This CD has already been reviewed as one of the best local punk rock cd's to come out this year. Recorded at Kingsize (The Anniversary, Gods Reflex) the sound is no less than stunning along with great production ideas. I would like to point out which aspect of this cd I like the most, but I really can't put my hand on it. The music is one not to be reckoned with, Mark's singing is extremely heartfelt and sincere and is equal in power as it is in emotion. Great things will be happening for this band if they keep producing quality music like this. Tracks to look out for are "Off to the Shoulder", "Arbor Lane", "Line Jumper", and "Spiral Staircase." You won't be dissappointed. -Nick Rymut

The Argyles - One 8 Track In Two Days Demo

One of the problems with producing a demo on a four, or eight track (here comes an observation that is both painfully obvious, and stupid at the same time...) is that what you'd like to do, and what you have room for are, often times, two very different things. Let's face it, very few of us are Eddie Van Halen's on our instruments, and even fewer of us are the Steve Albini's of the four track. That being said, I was very impressed with what Chicago's THE ARGYLES managed to accomplish on their demo ONE 8 TRACK IN 2 DAYS.

The band, made up of bassist Kevin Goggin, Guitarist Chris Detlaff, and drummer Chris Gach deliver energetic, upbeat, and often times humorous punk rock music, even if it is a little fuzzy sounding. Ok, things I like...For starters, any CD with a quality Charlie Manson sample, like the one before track 4, "PSYCHO CRAZY", is aces by me. The music is very reminiscent of the punk scene in Chicago about 5 to 7 years ago (you remember, it was right after you bought that Dookie CD by that Green Day band...), a time when everyone wasn't nearly as angry, or dropped-tuned as they are today. As far as I am concerned, that's a good thing, mainly, because if they don't like this review I have a better chance in a street fight with them than say a band like SYNECROSIS. All in all, there's not much wrong with music that makes you smile.

Ok, things I, shall we say, irked me a little...For one, these guys sound like they really could benefit from some kick ass studio time. Everyone is more than musically proficient, but it's the sound that at times lacks punch, and definition. Also, the vocals tend to fall flat here, and there, not enough to annoy you, but enough to give the impression that the boys in band weren't able to push as far as they would like to, not because of ability, but probably most related to their means of recording. But then again, what the fuck do I know? Bright spots...I have to say this band would probably come across great live. Their drummer is very much like the drummer of Blink 182 in both style, and speed (don't get angry Mr.Gach, I hate Blink 182 as much as the next self respecting punker, but their drummer rocks, so in a fucked up way, this is a compliment...). Also, despite the whole two day time limit, the demo doesn't feel rushed, is almost totally devoid of fuck-ups, and miscues, and in the end gives you that warm punk rock feeling in your belly. -John

Before Today - Urgency Sense

Ok, I don't listen to too much of what, for lack of a more offensive term, what the kids call emo, and furthermore the crossbreeding of this "emo" with my beloved punk music, like all aging, jaded bastards, has left me scared, and unsure of the future of my children, and my children's children. On top of this all, I am not exactly what you would call a good Christian, I guess you could say I do a lot of my work on the "dark side" if you will (and no, I am not talking about Star Wars, or big black men, although I often dream of the latter, I mean Satan, you big sillies...), and that is what is going to make this review all the more difficult.

BEFORE TODAY is a (gasp!) punk/emo band that hails from the Chicagoland area. This righteous four piece consists of Tullio Cox on bass, and vocals, Ben Greeno on drums, Kellen Kerwin on guitar, and vocals, and Jay Rutherford on vocals, and guitar. Their demo, entitled URGENCY SENSE consists of six beautifully crafted songs, one live track (track 2 "ROOM ONE-FIFTY-SIX"), and an intro that is so good, it's down right depressing. Not depressing because it makes you feel sad, depressing because you hear it, and say, "Wow, my band totally sucks...". Ok, what I like about you...The talent level of this band makes me sick. I often wish when watching young prodigy bands play that I could go back in time with the knowledge of music I have know so I could help the past me prevent the future me from sucking so bad at guitar. Listening to Before Today makes me realize that to catch up with them will take several return visits back to the future for me. The three part harmonies are well conceived, and well delivered, and the music itself comes across as extremely fresh, and full of life, mainly because I get the sense that these guys actually care about their music, and have a real understanding of dedication.

The band's music has a shining optimism that only confirms the fact that none of them have dated any of my ex-girlfriends. Now, things that can only be described as mild criticism for a pagan... one constant theme of most bands whose lyrics lie mainly in the realm of spirituality, and relationships, it's often difficult to tell which songs about which, unless the words "she", or "God" are used. Also, I could do with a little bit more anger, and a little bit less angst on the vocals, but that's always the case when you're into the devil music, and such. Bright spots... Well, let's put it this way, these guys are a five hundred watt light bulb, both thematically, and musically. I highly suggest that all Goth rockers get a restraining order against this band, or you may never be shrouded in darkness again... I'm going to go pray to my dark lord, and master for forgiveness now... -John

Cutoff - Hats Off To Evil

My original title was going to the ever so offensive (at least to Canadians...) "Canada eh?", but considering how much I like this particular CD, I decided to go with an obscure Simpson's quote out of respect to the boys in Burlington-Ontario's CUTOFF. and their fan-fucking-tastic album HATS OFF TO EVIL, released on Canada's EAST END INDUSTRIES label. What can you say that has a sample from the "Evil Dead", and a moment within a song where the band spontaneously breaks into "In the Hall of the Mountain King". Well, first, lets just say I'm a fucking dork for knowing "In the Hall of the Mountain King", and then let's say some nice things about the band. CUTOFF is Ben Rispin on vocals, Mike Ouelette on bass, Lee Buckland on guitar, Mike Fontaine on guitar, and Steve "K'-Dog" Kramer on drums. Oh, where to begin...

First off, these guys are disgustingly tight. I'm serious...it makes me vomit, but in that good, "you've rocked my intestinal lining out" kinda way. The production on the album is awesome, and I really want to know what guitars, and amps the bands plays on because the entire album has incredible guitar tone. The drums are fast, and precise in that new school, perfection punk Fat Wreck Chords style, but as far as drums go, there is nothing wrong with that as far as I can see. High points are definitely track 2 "SEPARATE WAYS", and track 5 "BOY BAND GIRL". Okay, things that made me go, "Why'd you do that? You're so good...Don't do that!" There's really only two things that kinda bothered me, one is the cheese factor in some of the lyrics, (cheerful optimism, or that "She broke my heart" voice...") but that's mostly because I'm a bastard, and I find no joy in the world, and I don't blame these happy Canadians. The second thing is track 10 "BLOWN UP THE SPOT" contains a short segment where the singer "raps", and it's not that he does a bad job, actually it sounds just fine, but I have come to the conclusion that this new infusion of rap in punk bands like "Good Charlotte", or "Sum 41" doesn't do anything for me, especially in Cutoff's case. It's mainly because their lyrics, and vocals are so good that the whole rap thing detracts from that a little bit. But if you dig that sort of thing you probably will think I'm a fucking idiot. Bright spots...Well, I have to say that I scored a killer CD, and all I had to do was write about how much I like it. How about that fucking deal? Seriously, if you like Van Diesel style drums (that's fast and furious...), and guitar driven punk rock done by some cannucks who take the thankless job of rocking your ass very seriously, then CUTOFF, might be the band for you. Check them out on WWW.EASTENDINDUSTRIES.COM, and get a preview of a future band to be reviewed, SOMEHOW HOLLOW. -John