Bad Assets- The Spirit of Detroit CD review

Bad Assets- The Spirit of Detroit CD review

There are many stereotypes of Oi! music that often make one laugh at the cheesiness: Going out for a drink with ‘the boys’, the general independence/ distrust of authority, hatred of working/ one’s job, and being boot boys of some sort.  This is mostly a mix of those things, plus an addition of a Detroit and modern twist to the songs.  Although all the elements of cheese are present, Bad Assets manages to avoid being too cheesy- it’s what I would call an “appropriate level of cheese”.  This is actually pretty stellar ’77 style punk rock (without the artiness of Richard Hell or the cock rock feel of the Dead Boys) with some clear, crisp production that gives the album an appropriate feel.  Not a groundbreaking release, but a strong one for the genre that it is.  If you ever listened to Blitz or felt like going out for a drink with ‘the boys’, give this a listen.

-Aunty Social

The Destructors- Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll CD review

The Destructors- Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll CD review

A rock record that, while alright, is a little too self-aware for me.  It’s like a punk record that sings about being punk, or a hip-hop album that raps about making beats.  Outside of that metaphysical aspect, this is more of the garage-y punk sound that is somewhat unique to this band.  Nothing that really stands out as great, but the track ‘Sex in Chains’ is downright painful to listen to, to the point of where thinking about the song’s topic causes one to lose any potential boner/ wetness/ arousal because it will remind one of the truly awful chorus.  It’s also just plain blasé to sing about rocking out in 2012- some political and personal topics never lose fuel over the years, but rocking out is a song topic that needed to die a long time ago.  Rhyming is good, the mix is balanced, and the sound is pretty much crystal clear- not all bad news here.  Worth getting a burned copy or borrowing, but a great album it is not.  Passable is more like it.

-Aunty Social

Beverley Kills/ The Destructors- split CD review

Beverley Kills/ The Destructors- split CD review

This starts out reasonably well- I was surprised.  The first three tracks are by Beverley Kills, and this reminds me of a slightly more poppy version of Vice Squad- the singer of this band has a little less snot and a little more tone to her voice.  Actually, it’s kind of enjoyable.  The music is mostly the same, although I hear some Anti-Nowhere League in the basic sort of street punk-y sound Beverley Kills has.  The mix is clear, the lyrics are decent, I would like to see what this band has in store for the future.  There’s a lot of potential for them, especially if it’s grittier and less professionally recorded next time around.  The Destructors’ songs are mid-paced fuzzy punky garage rock from Britain- somewhat of a sound of its own, but nothing to go nuts over.  These are pretty much standard fare for Destructors’ songs- nothing very good or bad, just unnoteworthy.  Unfortunately, they had to following a surprisingly stellar band like Beverley Kills, and couldn’t keep up.  Oh well- better luck next time, fellows.

-Aunty Social

The Astronauts/ The Destructors- One Wave/ Schwerpunkt split CD review

The Astronauts/ The Destructors- One Wave/ Schwerpunkt split CD review

The first two songs by the Astronauts are mediocre- nothing much to say about them, other than they didn’t particularly stick with me.  The third song ‘The Things You Crave’ begins to tip this side of the CD in a very downward manner- this song could not be slower, and sucks pretty hard, to be honest.  Even for plain rock and roll, this blows.  ‘Wild’, while a little faster, isn’t a lot better, but it’s a step forward- it has speed in some spots that I can dig.  Some of the slower parts bore me, though.  ‘One Wave’, unfortunately, sets a new low for music labeled ‘punk’- this song is fucking god awful.  If I wanted to make a happy person more humble and grounded, I would play them this song, because it is that agitating and distracting.  Holy fuck, do I never want to hear that song again.  The last two songs are, again, largely unremarkable in a positive or negative way.  I doubt they will be in my head for more than five seconds after I finish writing this review.  Next is the Destructors side- I was hoping that it was slightly more notable, but it isn’t, though it is a bit higher quality.  This is usual Destructors stuff- rock-influenced, clear-sounding, catchy punk out of Britain.  Nothing to jump for joy over, but my time wasn’t totally wasted, and especially so in comparison to the Astronauts’ side.  You get what you likely expect out of these guys.

-Aunty Social

Don't Look Down/ The Destructors- Je Suis Radio split CD review

Don’t Look Down/ The Destructors- Je Suis Radio split CD review

The first part of this CD (three tracks, I should say) is a captivating mixture of the Buzzcocks’ melody and Blitz’s anthem-y British Oi!/ street punk, done by a band by the name of Don’t Look Down, who could very well have been at home in that original era in the early to mid-80s.  This is some catchy, fun music, which is related to the other band on the split, but manages to steer mostly clear of the drudgery of political songs, sticking instead to more proletarian themes (and for the better; communicating something serious in this music would likely go over listeners’ heads).  I look forward to this playing at a punk house party on the stereo.

Now for the Destructors’ contributions:  These tracks, instead of the usual street punk politics-laced themes, are much more reminiscent of the original British punk invasion.  Stiff Little Fingers, 999, Sham 69, all of the songs from the Destructors side take from these bands and sound a lot like them, while spinning the music to deliver their own unique message.  This is usual decent Destructors stuff- either you like it for what it is or you don’t.  I, however, do like it.  Thumbs up, just not WAY up.

-Aunty Social

The Destructors- Media Studies CD review

The Destructors- Media Studies CD review

Catchy, anthemic, Oi!- influenced street punk at its finest.  I can see going out for a round or two at the Painted Lady and having this play in the background.  I think this is probably what politically informed punks listen to on the way to the pub- not a bad thing at all.  It’s got a nice little jig to it, and it’s audibly pleasant.  Reading the lyric sheet is another story, however; this is some poetic prose preaching politics (and how it can relate to people like us).  Not a reinvention of the wheel, and no need for one, with what this music is.  For those who don’t like NPR (I myself fucking hate the radio), this will do well as pleasant-sounding informative background music.  Also, big thumbs up to the guy who mixed this.

-Aunty Social