Bremerton punk icons MxPx have released news to fans that they are taking a break from touring to head back to the studio for a new album. It’ll be the first new release since 2012’s “Plans Within Plans”. No word on when the new album might be released, but exciting news from MxPx none the […]
Bremerton punk icons MxPx have released news to fans that they are taking a break from touring to head back to the studio for a new album. It’ll be the first new release since 2012’s “Plans Within Plans”. No word on when the new album might be released, but exciting news from MxPx none the less.
For a little taste of “Far Away” from “Plans Within Plans” check out the video below. [Read more…]
Swiss punk act Hateful Monday have released a video for their song “Life Events”. Shot on the roof of a retirement home in Geneva, the video leaves me hoping that’s where I end up. How cool are these seniors to have a punk rock show on the roof of their digs? Check out the hard […]
Swiss punk act Hateful Monday have released a video for their song “Life Events”. Shot on the roof of a retirement home in Geneva, the video leaves me hoping that’s where I end up. How cool are these seniors to have a punk rock show on the roof of their digs?
Check out the hard rocking seniors here.
Hateful Monday released their latest album on September 15th. “Unfrightened” was released via Torch of Hope Records. [Read more…]
British folk crooner Beans On Toast aka “Drunk Folk Singer” or if you prefer “Barefoot Troubadour” has released a lovely video for his single “Jamie & Lilly”. The video gives us a glimpse into the lives of a nurse and a teacher, it’s a story of the testament to the strength of love. For those […]
British folk crooner Beans On Toast aka “Drunk Folk Singer” or if you prefer “Barefoot Troubadour” has released a lovely video for his single “Jamie & Lilly”. The video gives us a glimpse into the lives of a nurse and a teacher, it’s a story of the testament to the strength of love. For those lucky enough to find love we smash through the day no matter how tough just to get home to see the one person who puts a smile on our face. I think the lyrics “love stays true, while the world goes crazy” sums up the song and the video perfectly.
You can enjoy the video below.
The new single/video comes off the upcoming album from Beans On Toast “Cushty”. As usual the new album drops on his birthday December 1st on Xtra Mile Recordings. The new record will be the ninth release for the London based folk singer, his first since 2016’s “A Spanner in the Works”. [Read more…]
Philly easycore/pop-punk group Eight are streaming their new self titled EP “Eight”. You can give it a listen below. It’s the second release from the band, the first since their previous self titled album released November 2015. The new and improved self titled album will be released through Dead Broke Rekerds. If you’re a fan […]
Philly easycore/pop-punk group Eight are streaming their new self titled EP “Eight”.
You can give it a listen below.
It’s the second release from the band, the first since their previous self titled album released November 2015. The new and improved self titled album will be released through Dead Broke Rekerds. If you’re a fan of The Weakerthans or the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs you’ll enjoy these guys. [Read more…]
Joy Opposites, featuring ex-members of FACT (Japan) and The Amity Affliction (Australia), have premiered a music video for the brand new track “Gold Blood.” You can watch it below. “Gold Blood” is taken from the band’s upcoming album Find Hell, which is set to release on November 8th via Hostess Entertainment. You can find our […]
Joy Opposites, featuring ex-members of FACT (Japan) and The Amity Affliction (Australia), have premiered a music video for the brand new track “Gold Blood.” You can watch it below.
“Gold Blood” is taken from the band’s upcoming album Find Hell, which is set to release on November 8th via Hostess Entertainment. You can find our review of the album here.
When Darius Koski released his debut solo album, Sisu, on Fat Wreck Chords a couple of years ago, I remember thinking that even though it was the longtime Swingin’ Utters and Filthy Thieving Bastards guitarist and principle songwriter’s first album under his own name, it nevertheless seemed like it was a quintessentially “Darius Koski” album, full […]
When Darius Koski released his debut solo album, Sisu, on Fat Wreck Chords a couple of years ago, I remember thinking that even though it was the longtime Swingin’ Utters and Filthy Thieving Bastards guitarist and principle songwriter’s first album under his own name, it nevertheless seemed like it was a quintessentially “Darius Koski” album, full of the sort of neo-folk/Americana rooted non-traditional punk rock left turns that made the Utters and the Bastards unique in their own regards. It was solid, and different from the Utters for sure, but not THAT different to leave people confused.
What Was Once Is By And Gone, released last Friday (November 3rd, also on Fat), pushes the genre-bending theme to newer and bolder and more diverse levels. Sure there are still some Americana-based elements that would have fit nicely on Sisu; album-opener “Black Sheep” and the slow burning “Old Bones,” for example. That fact that stands to reason given that like on his debut album, the bulk of What Was Once Is By And Gone was culled from two decades of songs and song ideas Koski had in the bank. There are a handful of tracks like “Yes I Believe” and “The Observer” that seem to pay direct homage to the uptempo chugging, reverb-heavy rockabilly freight train that Johnny Cash perfected a half-century ago.
But then, of course, there are the more conceptual pieces that make What Was Once Is By And Gone not only stand apart from Sisu, but truly shine in its own right. “Imitation Tala” has has an acoustic backbone that, combined with Koski’s subdued drone, give the track a “world music” feel that reminds me of the band Three Fish, itself a side project for Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament a couple decades ago. “Stay With Me” and it’s whistle-driven melody evokes a sort of melodramatic cowboy waltz. “Another Man” might be the most straight-forward, Tim Barry-esque acoustic songwriter track that cuts deeply in its emotionally honest tale of introspection and self-doubt.
What Was Once Is by And Gone also contains a few instrumental tracks, though to they are really more vignettes than truly songs. “Tangled Chords” is a brief hodgepodge of reverb guitar,, spoken word voice-over, and what appears to be the sound of somebody hammering a nail. “A Little Buzz” is bright and hopeful. “A Version” sounds a bit like a sad, blue carnival with it’s weaving trumpet and synthesizer melodies. The repetitive, staccato piano undertones of “Soap Opera” give the track a haunting quality that evokes feelings of a movie score. In fact, all four of the vignettes do a good job of evoking different, movie score style feelings, and that’s not an accident, as Koski has expressed an interest in dipping his toes in that water in the future.
After a relatively busy post-comeback period a few years ago (three albums in four years), things have been quiet on the new music front from the Swingin’ Utters for a little while now. And while there aren’t traditional punk tunes present on What Was Once Is By And Gone, it serves as a welcome addition to the Koski catalog and hopefully offers him enough of a repertoire to make a go at the solo artist route alongside his normal Utters duties.
4/5 Stars
French folk punk act Forest Pooky announced a 3 week tour of the U.S, Canada, and Europe. Forest Pooky will be touring with Yotam Ben Horin and Seth Anderson . You can check out the tour dates below.
French folk punk act Forest Pooky announced a 3 week tour of the U.S, Canada, and Europe.
Forest Pooky will be touring with Yotam Ben Horin and Seth Anderson .
You can check out the tour dates below.
San Diego pop punk act Watashi Wa Dance Party are now streaming their new single “Ruminating” from “Character Volume II: Wade” on Bandcamp. “Character Volume II: Wade” will be released on November 10th! You can give the single a listen below.
San Diego pop punk act Watashi Wa Dance Party are now streaming their new single “Ruminating” from “Character Volume II: Wade” on Bandcamp.
“Character Volume II: Wade” will be released on November 10th!
You can give the single a listen below.
Wisconsin feminist punk act Fox Face have released their new LP “Spoil + Destroy” via Dirtnap Records. You can stream the album below.
Wisconsin feminist punk act Fox Face have released their new LP “Spoil + Destroy” via Dirtnap Records.
You can stream the album below.
Helsinki, Finland melodic-punk band Clarkkent are streaming a new, two song single. “Money Religion” and “Disorder” are up on the band’s SoundCloud now. The self-released affair is also available on all the usual digital platforms. You can have a listen to both tracks below.
Helsinki, Finland melodic-punk band Clarkkent are streaming a new, two song single. “Money Religion” and “Disorder” are up on the band’s SoundCloud now. The self-released affair is also available on all the usual digital platforms.
You can have a listen to both tracks below.