Yah Mos Def (The) - Plays Ugly for Suckers EP

Name: Yah Mos Def (The) 
Album: Plays Ugly for Suckers EP
Year: 2005
Style: Rap-Rock
Similar Bands: Armalite, Low Budgets, Beastie Boys, Suburban Hoodz, Zebrahead
"One-Word" Review:
Based Out Of: Philadelphia
Label: N/A

Cover, Back, CD Back, CD

Lyrics

Plays Ugly for Suckers EP (2005)

1. New Direction 2:52
2. Global Liberation Army 2:02
3. I'm Gonna Be Under Your Bed 2:38
4. Jive Like Jehu 2:29
5. Scoty Biebin Owes Me Money 3:36

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Distro (Rick Mitchell) - Vox,  (The Clocks, S Prcess, Capital Action)
• xB.Aewsomex (Brian Poerner) - Vox (Hour of the Star, Track Star Records, 
• Joey Sweeney - Photo
• Mr Mike Robinson (King God) - Production
• Pink Skull - Production
• Krash - Recording, Mastering (Krash Is King Shit)

Unknown-ness: I had seen the band's name around the Philly scene for Khyber (picture was from there) or North Star Bar shows back in the early-mid 00's but never saw them. So picked this up at AKA records for a dollar to see what I was missing, but never even put this in to listen to. So not sure, but i imagine it will be some interesting high intensity synth collages, jokey stuff, and maybe an indie take on hip-hop, as the name hints.

Album Review: The Philly duo loves their classic punk and in this outfit, lays rap vocals, many Philly-centric, over the well worn tracks. Then persuaded to change their name from the rapper with the same name, YMD began with one album in 2008. This EP precedes it. The duo reunited in 2014, too. And recently, Brian Poerner became the CEO of North American's Diadaro market (Feb'24).

Included in the local lyrics added are Mike Schmidt, Killtime, Bryn Mawr, (Joey) Sweeney and all the neighborhoods as well as some dated lyrics about The Wire and borrowed lines from Ween and Bikini Kill. The dual lyricists do call back to the Beastie Boys with their different intensities, pitches and rhyme styles. And as advertised, the rapid fire lyrics overtop guitar loops work as well as any synth sample.

Stand Out Track: Jive Like Jehu

Links:

Discogs

Bandcamp

rateyourmusic

last.fm

Apple Music

XPN Reunite

Comedy Minus One

Poerner: NA pres of Diadora

Welbilt - A Beautiful Mess

Name: Welbilt
Album: A Beautiful Mess
Year: 2003
Style: Pop Punk, Power Pop, Alt-Rock
Similar Bands: Third Eye Blind, Spacehog, Live, Candlebox, Collective Soul, Lifehouse, Nickleback, Creed, Matchbox 20
"One-Word" Review: Bland-Radio-Ready-Fodder
Based Out Of: Fairfax, VA
Label: N/A

Cover & Back, CD, Case Back

Lyrics

A Beautiful Mess (2003)

1. Everything's Alright 2:56
2. Only 3:44
3. Enough 3:42
4. 24 Hours 3:19
5. All I've Ever Tasted 4:24
6. Down in Flames 3:21
7. Couldn't Be Better 3:28
8. Anthem 3:47
9. Remedy 3:56
10. Dilemma 3:03
11. Bombs Away 3:38
12. Spiderweb 3:25

Album Rating (1-10): 4.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Nate Ihara - Lead Vox, Guitar
• Buddy Speir - Guitar, Vox (Edward O'Connell, Moonshine Society, Janice Kephart)
• Nick Briscoe - Bass, Vox
• Bill Ledbetter - Drums
• Andrew "Mudrock" Murdock - Producer, Mixing (Godsmack)
• Scott Gilman - Producer
• Fred Archambault - Producer
• Ai Fujisaki - Production
• Matt Freeman - Production Management
• Tom Baker - Mastering
• Mike Fasano - Drum Tech
• Rich Flint - Welbilt Mgmt, Art, Design
• Jay Moreclock - Art, Design
• Adam Brown - Spider Photo
• Narra - Band Photo
• J. Reid Hunter - Legal

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. Was a CD given from a friend who was clearing out his collection, i believe.

Album Review: Welbilt is a radio friendly version of power pop that combines elements of generic alt-rock and a touch of nu-metal. Not sure if this has Christian rock tendencies, but it sounds like a strong candidate for hidden messages. The harmonized vocals and bro-chugging tempos sound like a band from a CW show of the early 00's that was supposed to be just the coolest...with parental approval.

Anthemic ballads and sonically vibrant are buzzwords that cover a templated rock band with a hard cover and soft, chewy center. Apparently they were Hard Rock Cafe's nominee for best unsigned band, which says it all. Singer Nate opened his own studio and still writes his own music.

Stand Out Track: Dilemma 

Links:

Allmusic

Rate Your Music

Spotify

Youtube

Washington Post

Nate's Soundcloud

Nate's website/studio

Last FM

Washington Social Club - s/t

Name: Washington Social Club 
Album: Washington Social Club
Year: 2004
Style: Indie Rock, New Wave, Punk
Similar Bands: Walkmen, Cursive, Shins, The Jam, Strokes
"One-Word" Review: The-DC-Strokes
Based Out Of: Washington DC
Label: N/A

Washington Social Club (2004)

1. Breaking the Dawn 2:28
2. Modern Trance  4:09
3. Let the Night Begin 3:08
4. Backed to the Future 4:30
5. Dead Kid Town 2:52

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Amy Morrissey - Engineer
• Brian McTear - Producer, Engineer
• Olivia Mancini - Bass, Backing Vox (Her Majesty's Orchestra, Leland Sundries, Edie Sedgewick)
• Randy Scope - Drums (Her Majesty's Orchestra, Pree, Heavy Breathing)
• Bill Moriarty - Engineer 
• Paul Sinclair - Engineer
• Evan Featherstone - Guitar 
• Martin Royle - Lead Vox, Guitar
• Paul Hammond - Mastering
• Paul Sinclair - Mastering
• Mike Martinovich - Contact

Unknown-ness: I had heard of this band when i picked this ep up for a dollar at AKA back in the late aughts, but i really didn't know of them...I must have heard of them in the same breath as other bands I liked at the time, but never took the time to explore this purchase until now

Album Review: I imagine this is a sampler from their first record, Catching Looks, or actually, listening to the quality of the recordings, a pre album EP with most tracks ending up re-recorded on the album (except Let the Night Begin). The vocals have a snotty faux British quality with a youthful angst that is more new wave than punk, but still has an anxious spirit, trying to jump on the coattails of the Strokesy sound, or maybe they were poised to be DC's answer. On this EP, the songs sound much more raw and energetic than their smoother album counterparts. There are some vocal harmonies placed over power pop chord changes and the whole package seems would make a fun live show.

Based on their bandcamp page, they took an 11 year break between album two and a 4 rack ep in 2019, and have been holding down the name since with what appears to be the same line up. 

Stand Out Track: Modern Trance

Links:

Discogs

Allmusic

Bandcamp

Facebook

Spotitfy
Instagram
Soundcloud

In Music We Trust
Youtube
AV Club

Professor Spoon - 127 Somerset

Name: Professor Spoon
Album: 127 Somerset
Year: 1994
Style: Funk, Alternative, Jam
Similar Bands: Spin Doctors, Animal Bag, Dave Matthews Band, Black Crows, Moe., The Hatters
"One-Word" Review: Accomplished Hi-Brow Stoner Funk
Based Out Of: Syracuse NY / NJ
Label: none

Cover & Back

Lyrics & CD

Lyrics & CD Tray Back

Lyrics and Liner Notes

127 Somerset (1994)

1. Mind of a Kid 3:21
2. What's On Your Mind? 4:38
3. Reason 3:06
4. Danny 3:24
5. Who Told You? 2:50
6. The Knowledge 5:43
7. Keep It Down 5:06
8. Under My Skin 5:37
9. Skinner Box 5:11
10. Oblitorious 3:32
11. The Sublime Alcindor Meets the Monster 6:30

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Darren Buck - Vox, Art Direction, Design, Logo (Bitches Brew, State Radio)
• Jared Hart - Bass (Bitches Brew)
• Chris Kaye - Guitars, Cover Painting (Bitches Brew)
• Derek Landel - Drums, Percussion (Bitches Brew)
• Jordon Rothstein - Keys (Bitches Brew)
• Tony Greene - Sax
• Jason Raynovich - Cello (Tim Daisy)
• Alison Shirk - Photos
• Howard Sadowsky - Mgmt
• Jamie Santos - Producer
• Mike Jackson - Engineer, Mixing
• Alan Douches - Mastering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. Based on the album art, the band photo, the year and the name, I'm guessing this will be some Gin Blossoms, amateur alternative grunge music.

Album Review: 
So this is dated, 1994 alternative funk. I imagine goatees, berets and drug rugs abound in the fan base for this band & genre music. Their sounds shift along the lines of jazzy funk, from Black Crows, to Dave Matthews to Ben Folds, and many other 90's bands that added a funk/studio session vibe with complex songwriting to the jam band & alt genre.

They were a Syracuse College band in the early 90's playing around NY & PA. They had 2 albums, and eventually found their way to NYC, but did not last very long, as their career ended in 1995. The production makes them sound like accomplished musicians, however, this is not a genre that fits my enjoyment.

Stand Out Track: Danny

Links:
Discogs
Allmusic
Youtube Documentaty
Amazon
Facebook

Flinch! - Dyslexic Rhino

Name: Flinch!
Album: Dyslexic Rhino
Year: 1999
Style: Rockabilly, Punk, Grunge
Similar Bands: Dead Milkmen, Butt Trumpet, L7, Danzig, Misfits
"One-Word" Review: Raw Raucous Rock
Based Out Of: Gaithesburgh, MD
Label: none

Cover & Backs

Liner Notes & CD 

Dyslexic Rhino (1999)

1. Lonely Holiday 1:54
2. Kick the Can 1:33
3. Hail Bop 2:02
4. Octopus 2:48
5. Angie Speaks 2:31
6. Candle 2:25
7. Baby Said 1:50
8. Schizophrenia 3:02
9. Downtown 3:32
10. Here We Go Again 2:01
11. Expontaneous Combustion 11:04

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Doug
• Kevin Good - Mixing
• Djodjo - Mastering, Artwork
• Melissa  - Vox
• Al - Vox
• Stephanie - Photo
• Rodrigo - Artwork
• Rossano - Artwork
• James Belmore - Vox
• Al Armbrister - Drums
• Luciano Silva - Bass
• Thomas Kendrick - Guitar

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, from the album + randomly generated title, they're about 5 years to late for the self-made alt-grunge vibe the album puts out. The poor quality photo with a "green screen" effect makes them look like the album should have been made in 1991. Adding to the dated vibe is the 11 min long track 11, which is in all likelihood, concealing a hidden track of phone pranks and fart noises.

Album Review: The songs are solid: fast and driving punk, like Hail Bop, with touches or rockabilly like on Schizophrenia, and juvenile humor. Octopus sounds like a straight up Dead Milkmen song. Candle, or the fuck you song, reminds me of The Misfits.  Three songs are fronted by female "guest vocals," guests, because none of the band members are listed on the liner notes. The final song is a 3:35 instrumental, followed at the 9:30 mark by a raunchy sexualized hidden track. 

Nothing is out there on the internet about this band, aside from a minimal Discogs page (which doesn't include this album...only a compilation of this and another one) and some download/download requests). Which is a shame, because these folks sound quite competent at what they do.

Stand Out Track: Candle, Kick the Can

Links:

Discogs

Bulgogi - Juan Dissed the Cyclops Baby

Name: Bulgogi
Album: Juan Dissed the Cyclops Baby
Year:2016
Style: Emo, Metal, Prog, Hardcore
Similar Bands: Mr. Bungle, Mr. Big, Gwar, Dillinger Escape Plan, Majin Buu (the DBZ character), Braniac, Blink 182
"One-Word" Review: Terrified Chamber Prog Punk 
Based Out Of: Asheville, NC
Label: none

Insert Cover & Back, Sleeve Cover & Back

CD & Lyrics / Liner Notes

Juan Dissed the Cyclops Baby (2016)

1. School 4:46
2. Hymn 5:30
3. The Drill 6:51
4. Rotten 7:10

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Nick Jones - Producer, Mixing
• Drew Hall - Artwork
• Tim Tsurutani - Guitar, Vox, Lyrics (Forks of Ivy, Tam Tsu, CAW! CAW!)
• Galen Dotson - Bass (Antique Firearms)
• Ryan Comer - Guitar
• Hugh Huffstutler - Drums

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, and from first appearance, i wouldn't have thought they were american until i saw the back of the insert that said Asheville NC. The artwork and color scheme is gothic creepy & earthy, but they seem like a real band with media/arty backgrounds at their live shows from the inner picts. I'm going to guess it's a brand of sludgy dark metal / prog.

Album Review: Overall, there is more falsetto shrieky hair metal sounding vocals that sore over the sometimes prog, chamber or sometimes driving pop-punk. But often, the tone switches to dark, deep hard core grunting...a nice juxtaposition of styles, drawing comparison to the frantic work from Mike Patton and Dillinger Escape Plan. It is very arty and intriguing as the range of vocal pitch is vast. I kinda really like it, but would not be quick/proud to share it with others

This is their third album, but first as a four piece who set out to write a rock opera. With this 4 song ep, they nailed the operatic part of opera, and it is quite theatrical, so it qualifies as a Rock Opera Short. They've quoted influences from Queen, Ween, System of a Down...no surprises there. But Tim moved to Chicago in 2017, so the idea of the band making more music is at least on hiatus as of now.

Stand Out Track: School

Links:

Bandcamp

Broadway World

DMME let it Rock

Spotify
Keys and Chord

Rock Times
Musicguy 247
Music Street Journal

Midwest Record

Galen on Reverbnation
Reverb Nation
Asheville Punk Scene