Thanks For Reading! I Also Do Relationship Advice: Reviews Of New Releases By Local Bands Pt. 3
Disclaimer: Record reviews are a tricky business. It's one thing to enjoy music, but to, like, pick out what you like about it? That being said, if I review your thing and I didn't like something, don't feel too bad. My opinion doesn't matter all that much.
Various Artists - Punk 45: Burn Rubber City, Burn! - Soul Jazz Records - 18 songs - Vinyl, CD, download
This is part 2 of Soul Jazz's compilations covering Ohio, and part who-knows in their Punk 45 series. This is the Akron one. I reviewed the Cleveland one, titled Extermination Nights In The Sixth City, last week. Anyways, yeah, this was pretty good. I'm glad to see The Waitresses' rendition of "The Comb" finally get a long-due reissue, as I've been a fan of that song since I heard it on Tin Huey's "Before Obscurity." Hey, speaking of Tin Huey, two of their songs are here too, as well as one from saxophonist Ralph Carney, so that's pretty cool. There are some other nice cuts on here as well that have been hard to find, like Chi-Pig and Hammer Damage ("Laugh" is pretty great). Also, stuff from the many Akron compilations that came out in the 70s and 80s that have now gone out of print ("Bowling Balls From Hell, The Akron Compilation"). Many of the songs on this came from those, actually. Plus other great stuff from Devo, The Bizarros, and Rubber City Rebels. Overall, and make of this what you will, I'd say this compilation was definitely weirder than the Cleveland counterpart. It was still pretty great though. Check it out. 4/5
Archie & The Bunkers - Trade Winds - Self-released - 9 songs - CD
Archie & The Bunkers are a band that do a lot with a little. Bands with just two members can be minimal and, dare I say, uninteresting, but certainly not these guys. This is some great music. Their sound is 'hi-fi organ punk,' very catchy and memorable, and certainly unique, with just drums and organ (and bass, on the album). "Miss Taylor" is a perfect opening song, and "You're The Victim" is the perfect closer. Besides those, my favorites were "I Wish I Could," "I'm Not Really Sure What I'm Gonna Do," and "The Roaring 20's." These guys are legitimately very talented, and this is a great album. And by the way, catch them live, cause it's a great show. 5/5
Are you a local-ish band/musician? Do you have a record out that you'd like me to review? Email me at vaguelythreatening@gmail.com or send it directly to Observer offices: 14900 Detroit Avenue, Suite 205, Lakewood, OH 44107 c/o John Kompier