Minus-9- Drown CD review

Minus-9- Drown CD review

A punk-influenced drum-and-bass group who specializes in experimental, weird, almost Crucifucks-esque punk rock, though there is a theme that seems to differ from traditional punk-sounding music.  Lyrical themes are all over, but there’s definitely a lean towards war-themed songs (Blackwater, World War VII, Genocide), and it’s all at least somewhat violent- interestingly cathartic.  However, this is very driven music for missing a key component of a band, the guitar; the songs are energetic, albeit without any recognizable song structure, just rhythms and choruses.  This band could fit into just about any kind of show line-up in music right now, given how diverse and nontraditional it is.  I dig the black-and-white imagery, though the benefit of lyrics would be nice- this is discounted only because I can understand what bassist/singer Andrew is singing.  I can dig it.  The songs are memorable, though the most notable one is the last one, “Black”.  The rest don’t stand out much for music, but the vocals get kind of drilled into one’s head, for better or worse.

“I like it!”- Jim Carrey

-Aunty Social

Swimsuit- demo tape review

Swimsuit- demo tape review

This review is almost out of place, for two reasons- this is a very atypical release for me to review, and this also came out two years ago.  However, the release is deserving of a review for the sheer weirdness and the odd mix of sounds making this band punk in nature, if not in sound.

The first song “Dolphins” is a vocal-less shoegaze-y indie jam song that is definitely the black sheep of the demo. “Evaporation” is my favorite track on the demo- it sounds like a mix of the Ramones and maybe Patti Smith- simplistic yet artsy, energetic yet insightful, soft yet biting (I’d like to see what an angry singer could turn this song into- it’d be beautifully ugly); it truly sticks with me for hours at a time.  “At the Falls” has a similar vibe, but is very bass heavy and despite the light-hearted sound the guitar creates, the moody booms the bass creates are a continuing reminder of life’s bleak moments, the perfect measurement of things happy and sad.  Though the guitar largely does not follow a rhythm pattern, I feel as though it has a more artsy version of the Ramones inscribed in the sound.  “Glow Machine” comes off sounding like a 60s psychedelic surf rock jam not unlike the Trashmen, then moves into a more traditional rock n’ roll meets indie rock vibe, and alternating between the two sounds therein.  Truly odd, but the tormented, dark soul shall still find solace in this sound and song.  The last track “Sunlight” is the garage sound meets the surf-rocks sound of the 60s- the shrill shouts of the singer seem like a plea for help, yet the sound does not indicate as such.  It’s the autonomous soul exorcising its demons, its pain from the depth of its being.  It is not always easily understood, but it is relatable music.  I was surprised to like this as much as I did- fantastic work from some kindred spirits, whether be they tormented souls or not.

-Aunty Social

SNAFU- Sick As Shit EP review

SNAFU- Sick as Shit EP review

Skate punk is somewhat existent in Michigan- it has its few bands, most of them from the downriver area.  Since it’s unusual for the weather to be warm enough to skate around in this state, it’s not much of a trend.  Still, SNAFU does this style of punk pretty well; if Bam Margera had a copy of this CD, he’d probably play it in the background of one of his many television shows where he and his friends skate and bike around, doing stupid things and abusing each other in the process.  This EP is punk with ADHD and a youthful attitude (which is a bit interesting, considering this band has been around since 2006 or so), and is an improvement on the old SNAFU (they took a break for a year or two until early 2011), being catchier and more… punchy, I guess is the word I’m looking for.  Not exactly my sort of thing, but this EP has some tunes that any punk might dig.

-Aunty Social