SCOTCH GREENS - PROFESSIONAL

I was pleasantly surprised when I found out I was going to be reviewing this album. I caught these guys opening up for Flogging Molly in March and was quite impressed with their brand of blue-collar rock 'n' roll. PROFESSIONAL truly captures the working-class sound these boys have made their own. Banjos and mandolins accompany the foot-stomping, fast-paced first track, "Rumspringa". From there, there is no looking back, as they throw us on a roller-coaster ride of in-your-face rock that lasts for the entire album. Fans of Flogging Molly would highly enjoy this band and album. Whether you pick up this album or see them live, Scotch Greens are sure to please your musical taste buds.

(Review originally appeared in the June 2006 issue of Skratch Magazine)

HOUSE OF HEROES - SAY NO MORE

Playing sounds not too hard and not too soft, House of Heroes new album SAY NO MORE comes off like mainstream rock wet dream. Melodic vocals backed by a safe but strong guitar riffs make this album as a sure fit with fans of bands like Jimmy Eat World. Through the 12 tracks on this album, we really don't get a sense of this band's true potential. This is all too common with bands that play music with media-play potential in mind. Another thing that turned me away from this album was the all-too-sweet and high-pitched vocals. I would have loved to hear the music be a little bit more experimental. I guess you can't always get what you wish for.

(Review originally appeared in the June 2006 issue of Skratch Magazine)

TWO GALLANTS - WHAT THE TOLL TELLS

In a world where the majority of music is not about quality, Two Gallants gives us a brand of acoustic storytelling that comes across like a refreshing breeze of fresh air. On this sophomore release, we get a dose of the mellow vocals of Adam Stephens, vocals which are haunted by his emotionally wrenching lyrics. Not all of the songs are Dylan-like, though. For example, "Long Summer Day" brings something a little more upbeat (though the lyrics tell a gripping story). The sixth track, "Threnody in Minor B", comes across as inspired by another influential songwriter, Tom Waits. WHAT THE TOLL TELLS proves that these San Francisco natives are only beginning their musical journey and are sure to produce even more stellar albums. www.twogallants.com.

(Review originally appeared in the May 2006 issue of Skratch Magazine)

STREETLIGHT MANIFESTO - KEASBEY NIGHTS

It's time to jump into your time machines back to 1998 for this release. Actually, this is a re-recording of KEASBEY NIGHTS performed by members of Catch 22 and New Jersey's own One Cool Guy. Bringing it back to 2006, Streetlight Manifesto has reformed not as a side project but as a full-time band. With this re-recording, it's safe to say they plan on reliving those third-wave ska memories. This album is jam-packed with catchy, upbeat punk-ska. Their sound resembles that of many Southern California ska acts of the '90s such as The Scholars and Jeffries Fan Club. Let the critics say ska is dead-I'm sure Streetlight Manifesto will be at the head of the line ready to prove them wrong.

(Review originally appeared in the May 20063 issue of Skratch Magazine)

NONE MORE BLACK - THIS IS SATIRE

It seems as though Fat Wreck has had more releases over the last three months than any label out there. With THIS IS SATIRE, the hits just keep on coming. This is the first full-length in over three years for None More Black, and they surely don't disappoint. There's something about the cigarette-smoker vocals of Jason Shevchuck that gives each song its own personality; and you couldn't ask for a better group of musicians to back it up. Perhaps the only downer to this album is "I See London", which totally drags down the momentum of the first six tracks-although it's a good track, highlighted by Shevchuk's emotionally-charged vocals. The good outweighs the bad on this solid disc.

(Review originally appeared in the May 2006 issue of Skratch Magazine)

NAZI DOGS - CHASE THE MAN

CHASE THE MAN is the debut album from this band from Germany. Influenced by classic punk acts of Europe and the U.S., these krauts have an old-school sound that is clean cut and generally impressive. Aside from their original material, this disc features three covers songs: The Suicide Kings ' "Suicide Kings", The Pagans' "What's This Shit Called Love", and Devo's "Mongoloid" (with a punk twist). Politically-motivated lyrics and tight musicianship makes "Neutrons" one of the many highlights of this release. Fans of the classic three-chord, upbeat sound should most definitely give this a chance. Eat your heart out, David Hasselhoff-Nazi Boys reign supreme in Germany's music scene. www.tkorecords.com

(Review originally appeared in the May 2006 issue of Skratch Magazine)

46 SHORT - TRUTH DENIED

Bringing it all back to basics is what Southern California's 46 Short have in mind with their latest album. Here you will find 13 tracks of fast punk rock reminiscent of old-school punk-rock acts. The lyrics are rich with powerful words pertaining to our doomed way of life in America (e.g., "Damned Nation"). All 13 tracks pretty much sound the same-but I guess it's what I should expect from a band like this. However, there's no doubt that fans of the retro sound will fall in love with this album. Well done, boys!

(Review originally appeared in the May 2006 issue of Skratch Magazine)