Recent Reviews

Fall Out Boy – Infinity on High

My inner indie cred says I should hate this, nay, it commands that I at least show a passing dislike. I wish I could, but I simply can’t. And this despite hating-on the ever-smirking Pete Wentz and knowing the album is about as deep as a half-empty kiddie pool. I’d like to look at the album, raise my nose and sniff, and then tighten my plaid scarf ever tighter, but I just can’t.

There’s simply no resisting Fall Out Boy’s dark powers, which manifest themselves in soaring choruses that are ridiculously hooky. Like any good pop culture nugget, Infinity on High revels in the nether between high and low-brow. Really who’s keeping score though – all that matters is getting the kids to dance. As I look in the mirror, I’ll tell myself over and over that Fall Out Boy is a guilty pleasure. Then, I’ll open a fresh copy of the latest Hinder record and start to cry.

Crime in Stereo – The Troubled Stateside

I guess this is the third album by this New York group – but the first to move away from a hardcore approach into something more melodic. From what I’ve read, some of their fans were a little dismayed. I’m not sure why since all punk bands become U2 eventually, unless of course, you are U2 and then you try to become more like punk bands – it’s the U2/Punk Band circle of life - it’s tragically beautiful, like a hungry lion leaping on a gazelle in the Serengeti. While it won’t give you ear-boners, The Troubled Stateside is pretty solid for its fist-pumping factor. Combine this with the rarest of animals, “I, Stateside”, a political protest song that actually feels heartfelt and we’ve got a winner here.

Angel Witch – Angel Witch

I have no idea how this found its way into my Ipod, but I’m all the luckier for it. Angel Witch is guitar porno with handlebar mustaches attached. This 1980 release hardly sounds dated, but perhaps that’s because bands like Wolfmother and Early Man are wantonly strip-mining the same mix of power metal and D&D tropes. As opposed to current trends, Metal Witch isn’t about blastbeats and cookie-monster vocals but Bruce Dickensen howls, Sabbath drones and scorching dual solos. It’s totally ridonkulous and about as subtle as a dinner theatre run of Grease, but it’ll put a smile on your face and make you wanna scream like a warlock in the night. That is, if they scream. Maybe they just chant and in that case, Angel Witch will make you wanna chant like a Warlock in the night.