WORLD WAR IX - PANIC ATTACK

f there's one thing World War IX has made clear with their debut album PANIC ATTACK, it's that simplicity is a good thing. This 11-track disc is filled with good ol' three-chord East Coast punk rock. No need for flashy sound effects and extravagant guitar solos. The catchy vocals from Max Strum and bouncy guitar riffs from guitarist Justin Melkmann make for an upbeat feeling that has your foot tapping though out the duration of the album. They also threw in a surprise by covering GG Allin's "New York Tonight". PANIC ATTACK has the feeling of a classic punk album. It's raw sound makes for a real treat for anyone who enjoys no-thrills, no-frills East Coast punk rock. Surf on by their Website for more info on this four-piece band from NYC. www.worldwarix.com

(Review originally appeared in the August 2005 issue of Skratch Magazine)

SHELBY - THE LUXURY OF TIME

Let me start out by saying I have never really liked U2. They're mediocre adult-contemporary rock from Ireland. (Let the hatemail come pouring in.) So why bring up my distaste for Bono and the boys here in this review of LUXURY OF TIME by New York band Shelby? For one, the sounds heard on this album are a total rip-off of bands like U2 and Radiohead. The beat structures for a majority of the songs are simple and repetitive. The vocal stylings of Kenny Cummings are almost a dead-on match to those of Bono. The feeling I got when listening to LUXURY OF TIME was like I was listening to musical version of a mime, just waiting for it to break out of its imaginary box and have a personality. My suggestion: pass this up, unless you enjoy bland and boring contemporary rock. This one is a dud!

(Review originally appeared in the August 2005 issue of Skratch Magazine)

THE WILLOWZ - TALK IN CIRCLES

Don't be fooled by their name: The Willowz aren't here to sing you a lullaby. With their newest release, TALK IN CIRCLES, I'm sure they will have you wide awake, bobbing your head, and begging for more. What you will find on this album is 60+ minutes of raw, unadulterated, rockin' garage music with some mellow, low-key tracks (like "Equation #2" and "Blind Story"). The vocals from Richie Follin and Jessica Reynoza make for a good balance between the strong backbeat and blaring guitars that create their unique sound. This is what garage music is intended to sound and feel like. "Horn Song", "What's Wrong Is Right", and "Linear Communication" are some of my personal favorites. WALK IN CIRCLES is a must-have for anyone who flat out loves good rock 'n' roll.

(Review originally appeared in the July 2005 issue of Skratch Magazine)

THE TRANSMISSIONS - OVER WIRES

Hailing from Los Angeles, The Transmissions bring us OVER WIRES. This album is a collection of 11 cuts that are filled with a mix of up-tempo rock, catchy lyrics, and funky guitar riffs from Christian Bienne. The first track, "Traffic", hits you hard with a strong percussion foundation backed by driving yet subtle guitar lines. At times, what seems to be a loosely-structured song turns into a jam session in which each band member can shine at what they do best. I liked that a lot. The guitars are always in harmony with the drumming of Dennis Duncan and are the driving force behind this album. In all, OVER WIRES showcases what The Transmissions bring to the musical table, music with a hard-hitting edge that is different and refreshing. Find out more by checking out their Website, www.thetransmission.net.

(Review originally appeared in the July 2005 issue of Skratch Magazine)

KASH - OPEN

The world loves a gimmick. If this holds true, the world will love OPEN by Italian quartet Kash. Unfortunately, after giving this album a spin, I would have to strongly recommend that the masses stay away from this release. Kash's sound is an attempt to recreate the sounds of the post-rock days of Bowie but falls way short. The vocal stylings of Stefano Abba aren't anything to be excited about, as his shrieking and mumbling lyrics feel dead and meaningless. The guitars strum sporadic chords that seem to be out of place with the beat. I did, however, find a diamond in this music madness from their drummer, Flavio Cravero, whose display of percussion skills were the only positive aspect. In the end, OPEN sounds like nothing more than musical mush, and Kash's attempt to be "different" comes off sounding a bit too rehearsed.

(Review originally appeared in the July 2005 issue of Skratch Magazine)

DISENGAGE - APPLICATION FOR AN AFTERLIFE

APPLICATION FOR AN AFTERLIFE is Disengage's third LP and doesn't hold back when it comes to foot-smashing beats and hard-hitting, heavy guitars. As I finished listening to the first track, "Pharmacyland", I was pretty impressed with the musical aspects of this album. As I ventured on through the next five tracks, the music became repetitive. The beat structure of the majority of the songs remained the same and became a bore to listen to. I found the lyrics well-written and meaningful, but lead vocalist Jason Byers's vocals didn't convince me they were heartfelt. In fact, I didn't feel anything. "Love Letter Rough Draft" did impress me with its tempo changes and lyrical content, as I finally felt some true emotion from this band. With that being said, I can't suggest buying APPLICATION FOR AN AFTERLIFE. The few songs that were promising aren't enough to keep this title afloat.

(Review originally appeared in the July 2005 issue of Skratch Magazine)