The Review Column Comes Of Age This Week/Multiple References To Buddy Akita: Reviews Of Recent Releases By Local Bands, Pt. 18

Obligatory 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. 

Front Porch Lights - Front Porch Lights - self-released - 6 songs - CD, download

I gotta say, this isn't really my kinda thing. Kind of indie pop-ish I would say, very mainstream pop type stuff. I can see people liking this for sure, though. All the songs sound like they could be big radio hits in the current musical climate. My picks would be "Come The Light," which kicks from a slow beginning into a still slow but more upbeat end, and the closing track, "Dance With The Worst," which besides the good title also has a cool guitar line and an interesting melody. Again, this is not my particular cup of tea, but hey, if you like poppy melodies and poppy songs, it could be for you. 3/5

Rocket From The Tombs - Black Record - Fire Records - 11 songs - CD, LP, download

The legendary RFTT return for their third reunion record (fourth overall), and this one blows the previous two right out of the water. I think a part of this might be the addition of new guitarists Gary Siperko and Buddy Akita, who replaced Richard Lloyd and Cheetah Chrome, respectively, and join original member Crocus Behemoth (aka David Thomas of Pere Ubu and 2 Pale Boys), pretty-near-original member Craig Bell (aka Craig Bell of The Down-Fi and Mirrors), and past-15-years-or-so member Steve Mehlman (aka Steve Mehlman of Roué). Aside from Mr. Akita, the rest of This Moment In Black History, Lawrence Daniel Caswell (Lives of the Saints), Lamont Thomas (Obnox) and Chris Kulcsar (Chargers Street Gang) with his famed synthesizer, are also featured on the record. I think their presence gives the songs a certain energy throughout. The album owes lots to the band's influences (see "Nugefinger" and their cover of "Strychnine" in particular), while still having a sound that's their own. My one objection is the remakes. Okay, it's great to hear "Read It & Weep," but did we really need yet another version of "Sonic Reducer"? Also, I'm not a fan of the new backing vocal arrangement on the latter, but that's being picky. I think the re-re-recordings lack energy and spirit compared to the newer ones, like the jumping "Welcome To The New Dark Ages" or the grooving closer "Parking Lot At The Rainbow's End," for example. But whatever. If you like good rock music, this is it. Oh, and one more thing: I don't care what these "experts" say, the silver vinyl sounds like crap. It looks cool, but you can barely hear the backing vocals, especially on a song where they play a major role, like "Nugefinger." Get the CD instead. If vinyl is important to you, wait for the second pressing which will allegedly be out on black vinyl. 4.5/5

Various Artists - Back To Cleveland: Horsepower - RT956 Records - 31 songs - 2xLP

This is a compilation of "live on the radio" performances on the show Horsepower, dating from 1994 to ??. I don't believe this show is still on the air, so I have to assume those question marks mean that they're not sure when exactly the last included song dates from. The majority of the record is made up of bands who either never released anything, or released records that fell into obscurity. There are a couple more 'major' acts on there though, like 9 Shocks Terror or Wayne Kramer (who is not from Cleveland, but whatever). Oh, and Buddy Akita is in this week's column twice, because he's in RFTT and in The Spasms and Teenage Knockouts, two of the bands featured here. All of the compilation is loosely 'punk,' though falling into several different categories. A lot of it is retro-sounding, sorta Pagans-ish '70s/'80s style, but there's a couple tracks that are in the more hardcore vein, and some that are way more weird. See, for example, the song "Polyurethane Passion," which is by a band whose name I don't believe I can say in a family paper. My favorites were The Mormons with "Mormons Theme Song/Your S**t," who were one of the representatives of the hardcore stuff, the two Haunted Head tracks, Teenage Knockouts' "Schoolgirl Desire," which was immensely catchy, "Come On Baby" by The Executives, and The Spasms' "Anarchy Till Curfew." I would say 9 Shocks as well, but everyone says 9 Shocks, and I already mentioned the other appearance of Steve Peffer…screw it, I liked the 9 Shocks track too. Some of it does get a bit repetitive, though as it was spread out over 4 sides of vinyl, it was more manageable. This review is getting long. I better give it a rating and shut up. 4/5

Are you a local-ish band? Do you have a record out? Email vaguelythreatening@gmail.com or send it directly to Observer headquarters: The Lakewood Observer, c/o Buzz Kompier, 14900 Detroit Avenue, Suite 205, Lakewood, OH 44107.