Meat Puppets - Rat Farm (2013)

Meat Puppets – Rat Farm (Megaforce)

I have to be honest, I’ve not really enjoyed a Meat Puppets album since 94’s ‘Too High To Die’, granted I haven’t really sat down and listened to the 5 albums between that one and this in great detail but none of them really got me hooked and I quickly gave up on enjoying them, so it’s with some trepidation that I put this album on and waited for the first song ‘Rat Farm’ to start playing, then I became quite surprised, this is actually really good, a great catchy opener of a song that had me waiting for the next eagerly. Is this actually the new Meat Puppets album I started to wonder because it’s got all the hallmarks of old Meat Puppets but without the OTT experimentation, I mean I do love a band to experiment with their sound but the Kirkwood’s seem to almost have been doing it just for effect and not to accentuate the song itself. What I can say is this album is by no means a classic, but it is their best album in 19 years and there are no dud tracks on here. I now actually look forward to seeing these guys support Mudhoney in Manchester rather than dreading it.

7/10

Buy here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rat-Farm-CD-Meat-Puppets/dp/B00BDSRH72/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1368702316&sr=1-1&keywords=meat+puppets+rat+farm

Mudhoney - Vanishing Point (2013)

Mudhoney – Vanishing Point (Sub Pop)

9 albums in and it’s amazing that this band still keep coming out with records as awe inspiring as this, it’s really rare to hear a band 25 years down the line sound this fresh and full of ideas. Of course at immediate listen it’s Mudhoney by numbers, fuzzed up guitars, check, strange rambling/ranting vocals, check, catchy chorus’ that don’t sound like they should work but do, check, but deeper listens bring elements of bands that have inspired Mudhoney for years, psychedelic tinges a la ‘The Heads’ and even a nod to experimentation similar to a band that already used this album title to create a masterpiece. What goes without saying is if you’re a Mudhoney fan already you’re gonna love this, if not you should love it! There’s no real standout track on this album, as usual with this band you’d be best to just listen to the whole thing, over and over.

9/10

Buy here: http://mudhoneyonline.com/fr_splashpage.cfm

Band Of The Weekish: GOD DAMN

Coming up alongside previous band of the weekish Baby Godzilla, are the just as insane GOD DAMN, dirty great riffs, relentless hammering drumming, all thrown together with melodic shouting vocals and almost psychedelic elements, it's like listening to all your favourite dirty rock bands at once with volume cranked up to 11. Still not managed to catch this band live yet, but believe me i intend to based on what i've heard, Tour dates coming are printed below, catch them while their still playing toilets.

There's quite a few releases to check out below and some for free, i hear they've got another ep soon also.

Band Profile:
Thom - Guitar/Vox
Dave - Guitar/Vox
Ash - Drums

Discography:


2012 - Demonstration Tape (Distorted Tapes)

1. God Damn
2. Beggar Boy
3. In Heaven (Theme From Eraserhead)
4. Way Down
5. Will You Be My Friend
6. Wigger
7. Half Soaked Shuffle
8. Men At Work
9. How To Behave
10. Barbouche Chop

2012 - God Damn 7" (Distorted Tapes)

1. God Damn
2. How To Behave

2013 - I'm A Lazer, You're A Radar EP

1. I'm A Lazer, You're A Radar
2. Dead On The Wall
3. Fought In The Mirror
4. Double Negative

Official Band Biography:
Can't find one

Tour Dates:
May 16th - London, Macbeth
May 17th - Birmingham, Adam & Eve
May 25th - West Bromwich, Now We Are Weekender
May 30th - Norwich, Arts Centre
June 7th - Leeds, Santiagos
June 12th - London, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
June 26th - Bristol, Fleece
June 29th - Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge
July 2nd - Leicester, Cookie Jar
July 19th - Stoke, Sugarmill
July 21st - Sheffield, Tramlines
July 27th Redhill, Redfest

Links:
http://goddamntheband.bandcamp.com
http://twitter.com/GODDAMNTHEBAND
http://www.last.fm/music/God+Damn
http://www.youtube.com/user/goddamntheband

Crooked Ways 2013 Mixtape

Put this together for myself as much as anyone else so i could have a proper listen on the way to work at some of the bands playing, got to say i'm looking forward to it more now

Dinosaur Pile-Up - Arizona Waiting
(even better than their previous output, sugar coated harmonies stacked up against heavy riffing, beautiful stuff)
China Rats - To Be Like I
(super catchy stuff, definitely ones to check out)
D.O.T. - You Never Asked
(didn't think i'd like this as much as i do, not my favourite music but it's got something sort of dancy/grimey or whatever music)
The Defiled - Black Death
(only if you like your rock fast and pompous, but a really good listen)
The Enemy - Saturday
(do i really need to tell you anymore about this band, this is another huge anthemic fucker of a song)
Fenech-Soler - Lies
(that dancy stuff that all the cool kids love, not too bad actually but only if they don't clash with someone i really want to see)
Gallops - Lasers
(is this really music, i have to disagree i find it very dull)
Glass Caves - Muscle
(more like it, cos it has words and stuff and is actually quite catchy in a mid afternoon relaxing kind of way)
Mallory Knox - Death Rattle
(much more fucking like it, the band to see, this is from they're debut album 'Signals' which is a bona-fide classic)
Peter Hook & The Light - Pictures In My Mind
(even though i am of the opinion that Peter Hook is a bit of a gobshite, this is actually really good and makes me hope he plays some Joy Division)
Rolo Tomassi - Ex Luna Scientia
(the band with the most beautifully demented singer ever, always wanted to see them live so will be making my way over for this one)
Sam Forrest - The World Hates Me
(lead vocalist for Nine Black Alps, more stripped back and lo-fi but still carrying that same knack for melody that makes his main band so class)
Yashin - New Year Or New York
(still haven't decided on this band yet, parts are insanely heavy and i like those parts but not the other parts)

Charly Coombes & The New Breed - Noise Control

Charly Coombes & The New Breed - Noise Control EP (Self-Released) (2012)

Third 4-track EP from Mr. Coombes, i'm not sure why it takes so long to hear new material from him, after listening to this i can only assume that it's down to quality control as all 4 songs are tight and crammed full of melody. Getting it out of the way there's a hint of his brother in the vocals and that's as close as you get because to be fair Charly has a much broader range bringing to mind artists such as Kevin Tihista or Ed Harcourt but with less theatrics and more focus on the songwriting. The great thing is i now have enough tracks by The New Breed to make up an albums worth, it's just a shame it's taken around 2 years to get them all, however if you shove them all together it makes one hell of a debut album. CCATNB should be going on to bigger and better things based on this new EP, hopefully they'll even release a full album at some point which judging by what they've released so far will be a masterpiece.

8/10

http://ccatnb.com/store.cfm BUY HERE - Get the 3 EP bundle you won't regret it

I Love Record Sleeves

Who doesn't?

50 Shades Of Ginger

Just because i have nothing better to do, well i do but i can't be bothered doing it, i've done a fifty shades of Ginger article. This is basically 50 bands that are connected to Ginger Wildheart through The Wildhearts, i could have looked at people who had played with Ginger in general but it would have ended up as over a Hundred shades of Ginger which doesn't really work. And obviously there may be other bands but getting this lot together was hard enough.

To make it a little easier here's a list of Wildhearts members:

Most recent members
Ginger - vocals, guitar (1990–2010)

C.J - guitar, vocals (1990–1994, 2001–2010)

Ritch Battersby - Drums (1992-1998, 2005-2010)

Scott Sorry - bass, vocals (2004-2010)

Former members
Jools - bass (1990–1991)

Pat Walters - drums (1990)

Dunken F. Mullett - vocals (1990)

Snake - vocals (1990)

Bam - drums (1990-1992)

Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph - drums (1992-1993, 2001–2004)

Willie Dowling - keyboards, piano (1993-1994)

Devin Townsend - Guitar, Vocals (1994)

Mark Keds - guitar, vocals (1995)

Jef Streatfield - guitar, vocals (1995–1998)

Toshi - bass (2001)

Simon Gonk - drums (2001)

"Random" Jon Poole - bass (2003–2005)

Scott Sorry - bass, vocals (2004-2010)

Danny McCormack - bass, vocals (1990-2003)

1. Phasslayne – Cut It Up

1985 album released featuring the drum-work of Stidi, actually a semi decent NWOBHM band

2. Mournblade – Time’s Running Out

1985 mini-album featuring short lived Wildhearts vocalist Dunken Mullet, strangely it contains a song called ‘In The Arms of Morpheus’ 

3. Tobruk – Wild On The Run

1985 album again featuring another short lived Wildhearts vocalist Snake 

4. The Quireboys – Mayfair

1988 single released when Ginger was in the band, not 100% if he’s on the recording 

5. Dogs D'Amour – In The Dynamite Jet Saloon

1988 album featuring the drumming talents of Bam Bam aka Bam from The Wildhearts 

6. The Grip – Be Yourself

1988 album featuring the talents of Mr. Willie Dowling, awful hair on the cover, and to be honest the music isn't too much better 

7. Senseless Things - Up And Coming EP

1988 Debut EP from short-lived 2nd guitarist Mark Keds first band

8. The Tattooed Love Boys – Bleeding Hearts and Needle Marks

1989 album featuring the guitaring of Mr. Cris C.J. Jagdhar, sleazy rockn'roll, not too bad but a bit dated

9. Energetic Krusher – Path to Oblivion

1989 thrash album featuring the bass talents of Danny McCormack, actual a really good thrash album 

10. Soho Roses - Third And Final Insult

1989 Glampunk album featuring early Wildhearts members Julien Dean (bass) & Patrice Panache (drums) 

11. Radio Moscow - World Service

1991 album full of Beautifully cheesy hard-rock band featuring Wildhearts drummer Ritch Battersby

12. The Wildhearts - Mondo Akimbo A-Go-Go

1992 Debut EP from The Wildhearts best band in the world pretty much

13. Guns n' Wankers - For Dancing and Listening

1994 straight up punk album featuring early Wildhearts members Julien Dean (bass) & Patrice Panache (drums) 

14. Cardiacs - Sing to God [Parts 1 and 2]

1996 album featuring a large contribution from Jon Poole 

15. Whatever - Sugarbuzz

1996 album featuring the drum work of Stidi, quite decent melodic rock band 

16. Honeycrack - Proziac

1996 album from Willie and CJ lots of bouncy pop rock goodness 

17. Jolt - Sex And Cheques

1996 EP from Mark Keds band after managing to piss off The Wildhearts, not as good as Senseless Things or The Lams but still some decent tunes 

18. Devin Townsend - Infinity

1998 album featuring the Ginger co-wrote song 'Christeen' 

19. Backyard Babies - Safety Pin and Leopard Skin

1998 mini-album Ginger contributed vocals to their cover of Faster Pussycats 'Babylon' 

20. The Jellys - Welcome To Our World

1998 album CJ and Stidi's post Honeycrack band, very strange and hi-pitched but some cracking melodic songs 

21. Super$hit 666 - Super$hit 666

1999 mini-album from very short-lived side project from Ginger around 1999 also featuring Nick Royale, Dregen and Thomas Skogsberg

22. Clam Abuse - Stop Thinking

1999 album from another side project from Ginger around 1999 also featuring Alex Kane and Kieron Pepper, very strange music possibly to be enjoyed whilst high on something 

23. Sugar Plum Fairies - Fruit Karma

1999 album from Willie Dowlings band between Honeycrack and Jackdaw4, still struggling to find a copy 

24. Dogpiss - Eine Kleine Punkmusik

1999 album by punk band, once again featuring early Wildhearts bassist Julien Dean 

25. The Yo-Yo's - Uppers and Downers

2000 album from Danny McCormack's rock'n'roll side show, actually quite good in places 

26. Bubble - How 'Bout This?

2000 album after rejoining The Dogs D'Amour for a while Bam drummed for this band who to be honest sound like The Distillers without the talent 

27. Sack Trick - Penguins On The Moon

2000 insane album featuring lots of different members including Jef Streatfield on this album 

28. Grand Theft Audio - Blame Everyone

2000 Funk/Punk/Rap of whatever album featuring Ritch Battersby, not a fan myself 

29. Plan A - Hey Ho!

2001 EP from Jef Streatfield's band after leaving The Wildhearts, hard to find their music but the bits out there sound decent 

30. Silver Ginger 5 - Black Leather Mojo

2001 album Technically a Ginger solo-project around 2001, but it just had much more of a band feel to it, and it was brilliant glammed up Rock

31. The Mau-Maus - Disco Suxx

2001 EP another CJ project, this time releasing just the one EP 

32. New Disease - Axiomatic EP

2003 one off EP from another band featuring Ritch Battersby on drums, i have no idea what they sound like 

33. Amen - Desth Before Musick

2004 album prior to joining The Wildhearts Scott Sorry provided bass for this album, not their best but still some decent songs on it. 

34. Neil Leyton - Dead Fashion Brigade EP

2005 EP Ginger is credited with  (guitar, arrangements, production) 

35. Brides of Destruction - Runaway Brides

2005 album featuring four songs co-written by Ginger and also the bass talents of Scott Sorry 

36. The*Ga*Ga*s - Tonight the Midway Shines

2005 album featuring Wildhearts touring bassist Toshi 

37. Howling Willie Cunt - World Of Filth

2006 album apparently this foulmouthed bastard has nothing to do with Ginger, funny that it made this list though. 

38. God Damn Whores - We Are the Lucky Thirteen

2006 album from Jon Poole's side-project 

39. Jackdaw4 - Bipolar Diversions

2007 album from Willie Dowlings sugarsweet rock band, best tune by far is 'SOOMA (All This Vision)' 

40. CJ & The Satellites - Thirteen

2007 album again from CJ this time with his name in the band title, fancy! 

41. Slaves To Gravity - Scatter the Crow

2008 album from band that rose from the ashes of The*Ga*Ga*s, bit grungy, they got good reviews but i've never been that big a fan 

42. No Direction - No Direction

2009 album from Finnish punk rock band featuring the drumming talents of Andrew "Stidi" Stidolph 

43. Sorry and the Sinatras - Highball Roller

2009 album from Scott Sorry's own band 

44. The Sonic Grafitti - Mystery Number
2010 one off song from band featuring Ginger, Billy Morrison, Michael Butler & Scott Lipps for the Haiti Project charity album. 

45. The Lams - Anarchy Or Death

2011 album from Mark Keds latest project which seems to have been going on for 9 years 

46. Michael Monroe Band - Sensory Overdrive

2011 album featuring the Ginger wrote 'Later Won't Wait', he also co-wrote a further 8 songs and played guitar 

47. Exit-International - Chainsaw Song

2012 EP Ginger contributed to a re-recorded version of 'Glory Horn' 

48. Ginger Wildheart - 555%

2012 triple album from the man himself, utterly brilliant stuff 

49. Mutation

2012 Pledge project that features members of Napalm Death, Exit_International, The Sisters Of Mercy, Hawkeyes, Mark E. Smith and The Cardiacs

50. Hey! Hello!

2012 Pledge project which is a duet album with the lovely Victoria Liedke

So there's a ton of records to search out, i'm not saying they're all good, but there are some gems amongst them