National CD Reviews
Issue 240 / December 2008 More from this Issue
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Langhorne Slim
When The Sun’s Gone Down
Narnack Records
Street: 09.30
Langhorne Slim = Bob Dylan + Mathew & The Arrogant Sea + Nothing you’ve ever heard
When I heard a rumor that the rock/folk Langhorne local had plans to reissue his first LP, I was ecstatic. I have been trying to find it for the last two years, even though it has been out of print. But alas, Langhorne Slim’s first critically acclaimed album is finally out on the shelves again. Lucky me … and lucky you! His ability to narrate his personal stories into song form, whether they metaphorical or literal, will pull you right in and never let go. "She Played Piano" sounds like a noble tribute to Bob Dylan, while the title track, "When the Sun’s Gone Down," gives the listener an extensive look into Langhorne Slim’s soul. Every song on this album is full of sincerity, foot stomps, pronounced mids, effective lows, and damn good songs to dance to. The twang of the banjo and simplistic vocals, which complement his stringed hunk of Maplewood, reminds me of the trail-blazing legends from the days of truth and change. –Lance Saunders
Lords
Fuck All Ya'll Motherfuckers
Black Market Activities
Street: 10.07
Lords = Black Flag + diet Anthrax + hilarious nihilism
Well, if the wall-worthy album artwork didn’t sell me, the hilarious intro track did, and I still had the music to look forward to. I’m not sure if Lords are intentionally trying to be hilarious, but that mysterious question is actually what sells me on them. The music is fairly basic, as you might see in the above equation, but it’s catchy and enjoyable. With track titles such as "Why I Don't Give a Fuck," "Cause All of You Are Fucked" and "This Isn't a Song Dumb Ass" (which surprisingly, isn’t a real song, if you didn’t guess), the complete package here is a quick but fun 23 minutes of sarcastic hardcore punk acrimony. –Conor Dow
Los Difuntos
Born and Raised in East LA
Nickel and Dime
Street: 12.05
Los Difuntos = Tiger Army + Left Alone + Madsin
This band has actually been able to get quite a buzz about them even though this is their first full-length release; they got a 7" out on Rancid Records and were rumored to have a deal on HellCat Records, but have apparently landed on Nickel and Dime. The record itself is a surprising one when you hear country, ska and 77 style punk built around a psychobilly engine; it makes for a fun listen. "Lucy" is a track that comes blazing straight at you and even boasts a rare vocal guest appearance form Rancid’s Matt Freeman. Lead singer/guitarist Christian, who has really made this band his baby, puts his heart into each track which is mostly about the experiences of a kid growing up in the rougher parts of east L.A. Blistering stand-up work accompanied by two versatile guitars that switch from hard-charging distortion to more mellow vintage sounds on a dime show that this band is not only talented, but is not willing to step into some pre-cut psychobilly silhouette. –James Orme
Maruta
In Narcosis
Willowtip
Street: 10.28
Maruta = Assuck + Pig Destroyer
I’m legitimately depressed that I missed Maruta when they opened for Phobia and Impaled in September, since they play ferocious grindcore in the best 90s powerviolence mold. Remember? Hardcore right before emo loosened its white-belted bowels all over everything? Sure, Maruta are perhaps a touch too tech, and a few of the songs suffer from studio compression, clueing one in that this is grind from a post-Nasum world. Although they don’t quiet capture the aggression of Crossed Out, they still savage the landscape and leave your eardrums with bloody noses. This’ll fit in your collection nicely between those Insect Warfare and Pig Destroyer albums. –Ben West
The Mansfields
Cramp Your Style
Gearhead
Street: 11.04
The Mansfields = the Cramps + the New York Dolls + Sun Records area Elvis
How could such a band even exist? The Mansfields have taken the most pure moments in rock n’roll history and sewn them together, not seamlessly though more like Frankenstein stitches all sloppy and such. The two songs "NYC Rock –n- Roll," a tribute song to all the marvelously notorious music that came out of New York in the late and mid 70s, and "Half Way to Memphis" which is all about the brilliant tunes that Sun Records produced in the mid 50s, pin point the 2 major influences of this band. This trio does it up right when zombies, lipstick killers, and creepy organs all make the scene and come together quite nicely. There are two Elvis covers that are good but I’d rather hear the band’s garage punk style come through than have just a straight boring rockabilly cover we’ve heard so many times. Other than that The Mansfields turn in a knock out record. –James Orme
When The Sun’s Gone Down
Narnack Records
Street: 09.30
Langhorne Slim = Bob Dylan + Mathew & The Arrogant Sea + Nothing you’ve ever heard
When I heard a rumor that the rock/folk Langhorne local had plans to reissue his first LP, I was ecstatic. I have been trying to find it for the last two years, even though it has been out of print. But alas, Langhorne Slim’s first critically acclaimed album is finally out on the shelves again. Lucky me … and lucky you! His ability to narrate his personal stories into song form, whether they metaphorical or literal, will pull you right in and never let go. "She Played Piano" sounds like a noble tribute to Bob Dylan, while the title track, "When the Sun’s Gone Down," gives the listener an extensive look into Langhorne Slim’s soul. Every song on this album is full of sincerity, foot stomps, pronounced mids, effective lows, and damn good songs to dance to. The twang of the banjo and simplistic vocals, which complement his stringed hunk of Maplewood, reminds me of the trail-blazing legends from the days of truth and change. –Lance Saunders
Lords
Fuck All Ya'll Motherfuckers
Black Market Activities
Street: 10.07
Lords = Black Flag + diet Anthrax + hilarious nihilism
Well, if the wall-worthy album artwork didn’t sell me, the hilarious intro track did, and I still had the music to look forward to. I’m not sure if Lords are intentionally trying to be hilarious, but that mysterious question is actually what sells me on them. The music is fairly basic, as you might see in the above equation, but it’s catchy and enjoyable. With track titles such as "Why I Don't Give a Fuck," "Cause All of You Are Fucked" and "This Isn't a Song Dumb Ass" (which surprisingly, isn’t a real song, if you didn’t guess), the complete package here is a quick but fun 23 minutes of sarcastic hardcore punk acrimony. –Conor Dow
Los Difuntos
Born and Raised in East LA
Nickel and Dime
Street: 12.05
Los Difuntos = Tiger Army + Left Alone + Madsin
This band has actually been able to get quite a buzz about them even though this is their first full-length release; they got a 7" out on Rancid Records and were rumored to have a deal on HellCat Records, but have apparently landed on Nickel and Dime. The record itself is a surprising one when you hear country, ska and 77 style punk built around a psychobilly engine; it makes for a fun listen. "Lucy" is a track that comes blazing straight at you and even boasts a rare vocal guest appearance form Rancid’s Matt Freeman. Lead singer/guitarist Christian, who has really made this band his baby, puts his heart into each track which is mostly about the experiences of a kid growing up in the rougher parts of east L.A. Blistering stand-up work accompanied by two versatile guitars that switch from hard-charging distortion to more mellow vintage sounds on a dime show that this band is not only talented, but is not willing to step into some pre-cut psychobilly silhouette. –James Orme
Maruta
In Narcosis
Willowtip
Street: 10.28
Maruta = Assuck + Pig Destroyer
I’m legitimately depressed that I missed Maruta when they opened for Phobia and Impaled in September, since they play ferocious grindcore in the best 90s powerviolence mold. Remember? Hardcore right before emo loosened its white-belted bowels all over everything? Sure, Maruta are perhaps a touch too tech, and a few of the songs suffer from studio compression, clueing one in that this is grind from a post-Nasum world. Although they don’t quiet capture the aggression of Crossed Out, they still savage the landscape and leave your eardrums with bloody noses. This’ll fit in your collection nicely between those Insect Warfare and Pig Destroyer albums. –Ben West
The Mansfields
Cramp Your Style
Gearhead
Street: 11.04
The Mansfields = the Cramps + the New York Dolls + Sun Records area Elvis
How could such a band even exist? The Mansfields have taken the most pure moments in rock n’roll history and sewn them together, not seamlessly though more like Frankenstein stitches all sloppy and such. The two songs "NYC Rock –n- Roll," a tribute song to all the marvelously notorious music that came out of New York in the late and mid 70s, and "Half Way to Memphis" which is all about the brilliant tunes that Sun Records produced in the mid 50s, pin point the 2 major influences of this band. This trio does it up right when zombies, lipstick killers, and creepy organs all make the scene and come together quite nicely. There are two Elvis covers that are good but I’d rather hear the band’s garage punk style come through than have just a straight boring rockabilly cover we’ve heard so many times. Other than that The Mansfields turn in a knock out record. –James Orme
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