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VINYL REVIEWS
By
D.J. Short
PREVAIL
WITHIN/SMARTBOMB :: Split
Prevail Within does your
garden variety melodic hardcore
complete with well-meaning lyrics. However, it must be said that using
“attenuate” to set up a rhyme (on “Kill
the Lights”) suggests the highly
probable use of a thesaurus. Smartbomb’s “Gangs of
America” has an absolute
killer hook that carries the song to the wax’s completion.
[Mightier
than Sword, mtsrecords.com]
SUPREME
COMMANDER :: 120 Years
in the Business 7”
Is there some sort of hardcore lyrics generator somewhere on the
Internet? Because this is just some really contrived stuff. On side A,
“Crash Helmet” ended early. Or is it just me? In
any case, thanks record player.
[A389, a389records.com]
THE CAULFIELD
SISTERS/JULIE PEEL :: Divine Candy
7”
This split finds each artist covering a
classic. The Caulfield Sisters do a pleasant version of Jesus &
Mary Chain’s “Some Candy Talking.” With
the band’s Coachella set still fresh in your humble
reviewer’s mind, I’d say pick up the real thing
first. Peel’s version of “Divine Hammer”
sounds just as fresh as when Kim Deal inked it for The Breeders.
[American Laundromat,
alr-music.com]
JOHN P.
STROHM/DYLAN IN THE MOVIES :: So
Long City Skies 7”
At times, music veteran Strohm
comes off as a more radio-friendly Jeff Tweedy or Gary Louris. And
that’s not a bad thing. Dylan in the Movies, a Belle
& Sebastian reference, is the project of Boston-based
singer/songwriter Brian Sullivan. “City Skies” is
tailor-made for those moments when J.D. neatly wraps up the end of a Scrubs
episode. Don’t steal my idea, Braff.
[American Laudromat,
alr-music.com]
THE SPECTACLE
:: I, Fail 2 x LP
12”
This now-defunct Norwegian sextet
once tore away at convention with their prog-rock influences.
Ten-minute songs from a hardcore band? What? Sick of the same
ol’, same ol’? Pick this one up while you still
can. The cover art alone is worth it.
[Scenester Credentials,
scenecred.com]
SORRY DOGS :: The Rejection Years
12”
The Rejection Years
consists of
10 completely remixed and re-mastered tracks from the much sought-after
No Dogs Aloud
release. This sweet looking piece of wax brings back
remembrances of their distinct SoCal pop hooks with plenty of bratty
edge for good measure.
[Under the Underground]
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