The Riverdales Storm The Streets: This is an alright release from The Riverdales. I really didn't have high expectations for it since their first album was only half good. Storm The Streets starts off kicking ass with "Make Way" which totally rocks. As the album progressed, however, it became obvious that all the songs sung by Dan Vapid were awesome and all the Ben Weasel songs sucked. The best songs on this release were: "Don't Let Them Beat My Baby," "Riverdale Stomp," "I Don't Wanna Go To The Party," and "I Will Make It Up To You," but that's really not a lot with 14 songs on the whole album. One thing I thought was really cheesy was when they listed all the shows that The Riverdales ever played in the CD booklet. And the inside picture of Weasel, Panic, and Vapid looking tough with the American Flag in the background was pretty lame too. Honest Don's
The Donnas American Teenage Rock and Roll Machine: This is The Donnas' second album, and their first release on Lookout Records. Unfortunately, this was a really disappointing release. Their Ramones-type first album was so awesome that this release just makes you wonder what happened. American Teenage Rock N Roll Machine doesn't sound at all like The Ramones, but like Joan Jett...and that's not cool. This album is not without its good songs though. "Rock and Roll Machine," "Checkin' It Out," "Outta My Mind," and "Wanna Get Some Stuff" were pretty good songs, but the album as a whole sucked. In addition to the sound, their lyrics changed too. Their lyrics went from being about french kissing on the first album, to being about sex and "stickin it in" on this album. I'm guessing that their progression in lyrics is due to the fact that they've graduated from High School and have a different perspective of the opposite sex, than they did during their first album. This is certainly not that great of a release, having only four good songs out of ten. Lookout Records
Samiam You Are Freaking Me Out: This is the long awaited 5th album from East Bay's Samiam and it is suprisingly awesome! I'm sure it satisfied many fans, who were waiting two years until it was finally released. The album itself was recorded in 1996 but problems with rights and record labels pushed it back until 1998. This is the best Samiam album that I have heard, surpassing their previous release, Clumsy. The only real flaw on this album is the annoying backup vocals. Before this album, Samiam hasn't really been doing backup vocals and the ones they put on here really suck. They ruin songs like "Mr. Walker," and "While You Were Waiting," by being too cheesy 80s metal-ish. But the worst songs on here have to be "If You Say So," with its annoying repetitive and boring chorus, and their cover of The Beatles' "Cry Baby Cry." Despite those terrible fuckups, this album is awesome. It's a pretty good release from Samiam, for a change! Ignition Records
Dance Hall Crashers Honey I'm Homely: I don't know what to say about this release. I was a little disappointed with The Dance Hall Crashers since their previous album Lockjaw, was pretty good. For all you ska fans out there that got pissed when they got rid of the horns in Lockjaw should be please to know that they brought them back for some songs on this release. A lot of the songs reminded me of songs from Lockjaw which indicated to me that they were running out of material and sort of just making little variations on older songs. This album does have a really awesome song called "Last Laugh." "Next To You," "Cold Showers," and "All Mine" rock too. Another thing that disappointed me though was that they chose to make a video for "Mr. Blue," a pretty average song. Oh well, I guess my disappointment is the motif for this Dance Hall Crashers relase. Warner Brothers
The Insomniacs Out of It: This is a really really good release from the Estrus Records band, The Insomniacs. The Insomniacs have a mod/power pop sound that is totally awesome. This CD is packed with great songs that rock. "Love Me To Death," "Crystal Clear," "Get Yourself Home," "Baby Come On," are just a few. One of the coolest things about this CD is the last song called "Long Cigarette." Every CD should have a really mellow last song after having 14 rockin songs preceding it. This is a very highly recommended CD. Estrus Records
The Decibels Create Action: The first full length of The Decibels is also a CD not to miss. Like The Insomniacs, The Decibels play an awesome mod/power pop sound. The only bad part is, it's not quite as good as The Insomniacs...not even as close to good as The Insomniacs. This CD is nonetheless good. It's really really poppy and has a lot of good songs like "Good," "Change," "But I Love You," "(So You're) In Love Again," and "Create Action." At times, however, it's poppiness does get annoying, but overall this CD kicks ass. G.I. Records
V/A Beet The Meatles (7"): This is a four song seven-inch featuring three G.I. Records bands covering Beatles' songs. The Decibels rocked it out by doing a very pop-punkish version of "Please Please Me," The Kindred amazed me with their Clash-like vocals in their cover of "I Want To Hold Your Hand," and The Gain pissed me off with their crappy vocals and cover selection as they covered both "Boys," and "She Said She Said." When I first heard The Gain, I thought that I had the record player on the wrong speed because it sounded so bad. This is an alright seven-inch and really good if you want to sample some of G.I. Records' mod/power pop bands. G.I. Records
Head The Monkeys (LP): This is another LP only release by the awesome band, Head. They play a Ramones-type rock that outdoes The Riverdales. The vocals are somewhat similar to that Ben Weasel's on the Riverdales but the Head songs are much catchier and a lot closer to The Ramones. Head even has some comedy in their lyrics like: "Am I Fresh -- Are the ladies checkin' me out -- Do they notice that bulge in my pants -- Am I Fresh?" There are 15 songs on here and most of them rock like "Am I Fresh," "Magic 8 Ball," "I've Made My Peace With The Hippies," "American Classic," and much more. This is pretty good release, and highly recommended if you like The Ramones-type sound. Evil Clown Records
The Toasters Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down: Written By: Jonathan Culp The new Toasters album, a favorite of my friend Jenn, is just what I expect from the founding band of Moon Ska. This is a great album with a few flaws. The title track, "D.L.T.B.G.Y.D," is by no means superior to other songs on the record. It's the type of song that annoys you by repeating its title just to fill time -- unaccepatable. There is a nice cover of "Gimme Some Lovin" by Spencer Davis that proves The Toasters have got some soul in them. "Devil and a .45" has a nice balance between guitars and horns and "Jackie Chan" is a smooth instrumental. This album ranks up there with their Dub 56 album, with slick vocals by Bucket and Jack Ruby. Ruby is definitely not as enjoyable as Coolie was, but fills his shoes nicely. His toasting on "Woyay" is good but the ska-core intro needs to go. I've never been a huge fan of heavy metal ska but of all the bands to attempt it, The Toasters don't need to. "Today is a Good Day" reminds me of Fishbone and Sledge's "Rude Rude Baby" is damn good. This album has a stupid cover but its contents are worth listening to. The Toasters haven't changed -- great vocals, dominating horns, and the lounging organ put to great lyrics. Moon Ska Records
Bad Manners Heavy Petting: Written By: Jonathan Culp Bad Manners' Heavy Petting release on Moon Ska Records is a damn good album. It stars Buster Bloodvessel with his obnoxious yet intriguing vocals and I believe Pauline Black, now Pauline Cuff, formerly of The Selecter on backup vocals on several songs. As usual they play a parody instrumental, in this case it was "Red River Ska," a rendition of the "Red River Theme." Very similar to "Bonanza Ska" which was the theme to "Bonanza" off of their Return of the Ugly record. There is also "Feel Like Jumping," a very traditional song put to the beat of "54-36" by The Maytals. The best song on this album however, is not one of the toe tapping instrumentals but "Down Berry Wood," a very catchy song filled with rich horns, great vocals, and the harmonica that third-wave ska bands have forgotten. This is one of those albums that you listen straight through because every song is worth its wait. This isn't a new Bad Manners lineup, this is the same Bad Manners that helped create third wave ska. If you don't check it out because it is a kick ass album, get it out of respect for the accomplishments of the band. Moon Ska Records
