Think I Care
World Asylum
Bridge Nine

I’ve lived in Massachusetts for almost my entire life and I don’t think I’ve ever been to Winchendon. Judging by the sheer anger and hostility on this 10 song EP by Think I Care, I’m guessing there’s not a lot to do there and these [...]

Punchpuppet
Crazed Drunk Pedestrians EP
Are You Listening Records

I can most likely tell you that you’ll like Punchpuppet if your answer to the following question is yes: do you like The Queers or Screeching Weasel? Sounding like a cross between both of them, Punchpuppet is London’s answer to that particular style of happy/goofy/poppy punk (or whatever [...]

Agression
Grind Kings
Lucky 13

This album’s a strange one. Original Oxnard band Agression split years ago, getting back together and getting ready to record again when vocalist Mark Hickey passed away in 2000. Guitarist Henry Knowles died in 2002, leaving bassist Bob Clark and drummer Mark Aber. Oddly, Bob is nowhere to be seen on [...]

Various Artists
Brats On the Beat
Go Kart

Kidz Bop has met The Ramones and a recorded offspring has appeared. If you’ve heard commercials (or God forbid actually heard the full CD’s) for Kidz Bop, you take current pop hits, give them to kids to sing, record and viola, you have a record. Pretty [...]

Strike Out
Embrace
Unfun

On their debut LP, Strike Out rages and performs some blistering hardcore that heralds back to NYHC from the late 80’s/early 90’s. This means shouted choruses, memories of circle pits and metal guitar riffs screaming over an amazingly fast rhythm section. Like almost every other record coming out these days, [...]

Dirty Faces
Get Right With God
Jagjaguwar

Following up from last years "Superamerican", the latest from Pittsburgh band Dirty Faces "Get Right With God" is the better record. They sound more focused and even a bit more polished. I liked the last album, I just like this one a tad more. There’s a fuzzed out 70’s rock [...]

Buff Medways
Last of the Buff Medways EP
Damaged Goods

Sad news if you’re a Buffs fan, the last release for Billy Childish’s band is out and the band is no more, although there are rumors of a future live release, so last release for now. "Last of…" is a 3-song single with 3 quick tunes in the [...]

Clown Alley
Circus of Chaos
Southern Lord
I’m not sure what doomed Clown Alley to be left behind in musical obscurity, but I wouldn’t doubt the terrible name had something to do with it. Their one and only record, "Circus of Chaos", has been out of print almost since its original release.
Not too much of a shock, but [...]

Government Warning
No Moderation
Feral Ward

Hearing the debut from Richmond, VA’s Government Warning, I flashed back to hearing bands like Poison Idea and The Adolescents for the first time. It’s that good. 10 songs, over in under 18 minutes, with song titles like "Jocks and Cops", "Trend City" and "Slave Labor"… the whole thing remind me of [...]

The Manges
Go Down
Wynona/Ammonia Records
An Italian band with a Ramones fetish, The Manges have been around for over a decade playing pop-punk tunes that are revved up and over in under 2 minutes. Their latest, "Go Down", follows the pattern they’ve had all along, power chords and catchy choruses that would feel equally at home on [...]