Thrift Store Music

Monday, April 15, 2024

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)

New Direction 2:52
Global Liberation Army 2:02
I'm Gonna Be Under Your Bed 2:38
Jive Like Jehu 2:29
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:

Poerner: NA pres of Diadora

Wynona Riders (The) - Artificial Intelligence

Name: Wynona Riders (the)

Album: Artificial Intelligence
Year: 1997
Style: Punk
Similar Bands: Low Budgets, Dead Milkmen, Generation X, Clash
"One-Word" Review: Catchy Slacker Punk
Based Out Of: San Fran, CA
Label: LookOut! Records #162

Cover, Back, CD Tray, CD

Liner Notes & Lyrics, CD Back

Artificial Intelligence (1997)

Good Luck Bison 3:24
Sprang 3:45
Bang Bang Orangutan 3:29
Corrupted To Hell 3:16
Masquerade 4:26

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

Dave EC (Henwood) - Drums & Outrage (Vagrants, Pot Valiant, Filth, Toyboat, Crimpshrine, Greenday)
Richie (Bucher) - Bass & Farm Noise Toys, Art (Albany Dread, Buggerall, Courtney & The Crushers, Juke, Prick, Soup, Sweet Baby, Top Ten, Unskilled Labor, Here Kitty Kitty, Crimpshrine, Raoul, Green Day, Hunx and his Punx, 2 Lazy Boys)
John Silly (Selby) - Guitar, Vox (Bonstones, Three Years Down)
Skip (Ron Greer) - Vox, Surly Disposition (Dead Kennedys, Here Kitty Kitty, The Killer Smiles, Running Man)
Andro / Andy E (Ernst) - Recording, Keys (Sass, Andro & Ross, Diabolical Exploits, Julian Vilante, MC Sway & DJ King Tech, Toyboat, J Grooves, Subincision, Green Day, Link 80)

Unknown-ness: I don't thin i knew who this band was, but i did know Lookout! Records, and i trusted the discount CD bin at Philly Record Exchange when it was just below South Street for a $3 bin find. It can't b too serious of a record with such an obvious name-play. Assuming it will be goofy juvenile punk stuff.

Album Review: The band formed in 1988 under the name Miss Conduct, but changed to WR a year later. Later in their career, they also released an EP under the name The Nation of Wenonah (tribute to The Nation of Ulysses). It seems this EP was recorded just before they broke up for good...as "for good" not referring to their reunion shows in 2017. Current bands Bonstones (San Fran) & Running Man (IL/IA) feature members.

Lots of feedback fuzz and snotty vocals kick off the record. "Sprang" has a more slacker alternative punk aesthetic, while "Bang Bang" is the most in your face aggressive of the tracks. "Corrupted" sounds like if the Clash covered They Might Be Giants song "Spy." Masquerade is a straight up New Wave track.

Stand Out Track: Masquerade

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
Facebook
Rate Your Music
Last FM
Lookout!
Lookout! Blog

Friday, April 12, 2024

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)

Everything's Alright 2:56
Only 3:44
Enough 3:42
24 Hours 3:19
All I've Ever Tasted 4:24
Down in Flames 3:21
Couldn't Be Better 3:28
Anthem 3:47
Remedy 3:56
Dilemma 3:03
Bombs Away 3:38
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:

Nate's website/studio

Last FM

We Are Wolves - Non-Stop

Name: We Are Wolves
Album: Non-Stop Je Te Plie En Deuz
Year: 2005
Style: Electronic Party Rock, Indie, Tech/electro Rock
Similar Bands: Clinic, Liars, Faint
"One-Word" Review: all-night-techno-party-rager
Based Out Of: Montreal
Label: Fat Possum Records

Cover & Back Artwork, CD Tray & CD

Artwork pg 2-3, CD Back

Artwork pg 4-11

Non-Stop Je Te Plie En Deuz (2005)

Little Birds 3:15
L.L. Romeo 4:04
La Nature 5:44
Snake Me 3:25
Namai-Taila Cambodge (60-Tabla-60) 5:37
Non-Stop 3:02
Moi, Rhythme Magique 0:24
Vosotros, Monstrous 2:53
T.R.O.U.B.L.E. 3:57
We Are All Winners 2:57
Glaze, Blaze (Glazed the Blazed) 1:27

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

James Duhamel - Recording
Alexis Farand - Recording, Mixing
Francois Page - Mixing
J. Duhamel - Mixing
J-F Jarry Thomas Augustin - Recording
Harris Newman - Mastering
Alexander Ortiz - Vox, Bass (Frvits, Rip Pop Mutant, Physical Congas)
Vincent Levesque - Keys, Vox (Paupiere, Bronswick)
Antonin Marquis - Drummer, Vox (Le Nombre)

Unknown-ness: There were a bunch of "Wolf" named bands back in the early 00's so i assume i had heard of these folks and saw the CD in a thift store a few years later, not knowing what they sounded like, but familiar with the name.

Album Review: Out of Montreal Canada, these electronic/techno clash artists have high party energy, and experimental effects all kept in line with solid guitar sounding melody and intense, driving tempos. Their buzzing synths and even some Ween-related sounds pump out coked-up, non stop rave vibes, like what i imagine Andrew W.K. to sound like. As of today (2024), their last record was out 5 years ago, but one look on their FB page shows they are still an active, touring band.

Stand Out Track: T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

Links:
Wiki

Soundcloud
John S Forrester

Instagram

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)

Breaking the Dawn 2:28
Modern Trance 4:09
Let the Night Begin 3:08
Backed to the Future 4:30
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:

Spotitfy
Instagram
Soundcloud

In Music We Trust
Youtube
AV Club

Warm in the Wake - Gold Dust Trail

Name: Warm in the Wake
Album: Gold Dust Trail
Year: 2007
Style: Jangle Pop, Alt-Country, Roots Rock
Similar Bands: Wilco, Shins, Gringo Star, Belle & Sebastian, Essex Green, Dr. Dog
"One-Word" Review: Laid-Back-Southern-Indie-Rock
Based Out Of: Atlanta, GA
Label: Live Wire Records, Ryko Distribution

Cover & Back

Liner Notes, CD Tray, CD

Gold Dust Trail (2007)

Tame Thoughts 2:45 (single)
Hearts vs. Heads 2:59
Golden Inhibition Destroyer 3:45
Good King 4:30
What You Seek 3:59
Iron Worker 2:31
Skeleton Friend 4:26

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

Chris Rowell - Guitar, Mandolin, Vox, Writer (King Lear Jet, People Years)
Dan Barker - Piano, Organs, Synth, Vox (King Lear Jet)
Andy Barker - Bass, Vox (King Lear Jet)
James Taylor Jr - Drums, Engineer, Mixing (King Lear Jet)
Colin Cobb - Executive Producer, A&R, Marketing
Page Waldrop - Pedal Steel (Popular Sex, Dash Rip Rock, Vidalias, Michelle Malone, Young Antiques, Steve Walsh, John Austin, Butch Walker, Bourbon Dynasty, Crowfield, 68-75, Ocha La Rocha)
Robert Lee - Electric Guitar, Backing Vox
Adam Lasus - Producer, Mixing (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Yo La Tengo, Helium)
Edward Rawls - Engineer
Jim Marrer - Engineer
Colin Leonard - Mastering
Chris Miller - artwork
Mark Pollock - Layout
George Fontaine - Promotion
Michelle Roche - Publicity
Rooth Blackman - Sales Director
Marlise Paxman - Product Manager

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band...looks like they will be an Americana Indie Band, reminding me of The Golden Republic in design. It doesn't come across like an album i'd pick up, so not sure where i got it, either by friend or by radio station discard bin.

Album Review: The second EP from a band who stuck around for about 6 years playing a jangly, pop country tinged brand of laid back rock. With roots in Alabama, many of this album's themes revolve around lives lived in the south. Some of the songs are jaunty, some are sleepy, but all sound like an effort to match The Shins or Soul Asylum's "New World" from Grave Dancers Union.

They began as King Lear Jet, who apparently sold songs to shows like Felicity and Dawson's Creek, and rebranded themselves in the late 90's.

Stand Out Track: Golden Inhibition Destroyer

Links:

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Vomit Launch - Dogeared

Name: Vomit Launch
Album: Dogeared
Year: 1992
Style: Punk, Indie, Jangle Rock
Similar Bands: L7, 4 Non Blondes, Popguns, Happy Family, Co-Ed, Taulah Gosh, Heavenly, Beat Happening
"One-Word" Review: Bite-Free Jangley Folk-Punk
Based Out Of: Chico, CA
Label: Teen Beat, Mad Rover Records

Cover, Back

Liner Notes, CD Back, CD

Dogeared (1992)

Hence the Box 2:57
Smokebreak 3:21
Story of My Life 3:15
Smile 2:50
Old Peculiar 3:40
Curl Up and Dye 5:22
Unsafe With Fewer Drinks 4:29
Oh, That One 3:48
Spinach 3:25
Virtual Oblivion 3:09
Flies 4:27
All Fouled Up 3:05
Harry Monk in the Boatrace 0:50
Stillness 4:48

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

Lawrence Crane - Bass, Guitar (Chucklehead, Elephant Factory, Idler Arms, Sunbirds, Chris Eckman, Welcome, Sleater-Kinney, Christine Darling's All-Gurlesque, Sean Croghan, Sophie Lux, J. Hell, Jenny lewis & the Watson Twins, Crack City Rockers, Dew, Andi Starr, Brent Lewiis Ensemble, BOAT, Portland Cello Project, Elliot Smith)
Patricia Rowland - Vox (Chucklehead)
Steve Bragg - Drums (Severance Package, Special Forces)
Lindsey Thrasher - Guitar, Vox (Sun Supreme)
John McKinley - Lead guitar ( Bait, These Days)
John Baccigaluppi - Keys, Engineer, Producer (Sea of Bees, VC & the Saucers, Fool Killers, Seed, Calexico)
EJ Bellocq - Cover Photo
Montana Swisher - Band, Trish Photos
TeenBeat Graphica - Graphics & Layout
Holly Hodge - Drawing

Unknown-ness: never heard of this band, but I liked the name, and i was familiar with the label, so i figured i was getting into some facet of punk...whether that is Riot Grrl, crust or folksy punk, i am not sure. But i am going to guess it leans more melodically than angry noise.

Album Review: There is definitely an angsty edge to the vocals, but the production has a folky feel to it. Like 4 Non Blondes playing L7. There is jangly production that is hard torn between the college radio style popular at the time, and trying to maintain a rougher edge. Curl Up & Dye drives with punk drumming at the start, but it mellows out into a trippy alt rock song.

The band was formed in 1985 as "an excuse to drink beer," released seven albums and toured primarily on the West Coast. They lasted until 1992, and most members have continued ties to the music industry through magazines, art, and record store ownership.

Stand Out Track: Hence the Box

Links:
Wiki

Severance Package bandcamp

VL covers