Album Leftovers Roundup – February 2012

Album Reviews | Feb 19th, 2012

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We get a lot of albums to review here at ReadJunk.com. Sometimes there’s just too many to do full reviews of or we’re just too damn lazy. So each month or every few months we’ll do a Album Leftovers Roundup where we’ll give brief reviews of a lot of albums. Some of the bands and artists reviewed this time include: Tri-State Conspiracy, Bill Grogan’s Goat, Dan Andriano In The Emergency Room, Noise By Numbers, Tim Myers and many more! Enjoy!


Adele Harley – Come Into My Life
Record Label: Mafia & Fluxy
Buy on Amazon.com

Adele…Harley is a British born female singer who looks like she might be a country or pop singer..Nope, she’s a reggae singer. Think Amy Winehouse, just minus all the crack. Her vocals are good, the music is okay but nothing really stands out to make me want to listen to this a lot.

Listen To: Reason Not To Stay, Loves Taken Over
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Alamance – In The Moment
Record Label: Smack in the Face Records
Buy on Amazon.com

Sissy pop rock from New Jersey. Alamance’s music is generic and bland. I think teenage girls will like this band the most.

Listen To:
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Alukard – One Shot
Record Label: Labeless Records
Buy on Amazon.com

A 311/The Ernies / The Urge rappy, pop rock type of band that isn’t really THAT bad. The rapping part kind of sucks but I like the music when they aren’t rapping. They rap a lot in this so it’s a given I won’t be listening to this again.

Listen To: On Our Way, Conversation
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Bill Gould / Jared Blum – The Talking Book
Record Label: Kool Arrow Records
Buy on Amazon.com

Bassist Bill Gould of Faith No More and Jared Blum have created an instrumental experimental rock album that is noisy and atmospheric. This music is too out there for my tastes but think it would be perfect for a dark thriller or spy movie. Or people to get high to…

Listen To:
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Bill Grogan’s Goat – Second Wind
Record Label: Beagletone Records
Buy on Amazon.com

A Celtic band I haven’t heard yet. The first song is “The Wild Rover” which is perhaps one of the most over-played, over-rated Celtic songs of all-time. Or maybe I’m just sick of hearing it. I never liked that song though. The rest of the album fares better. The music is a bit different, raw sounding but it’s not bad.

Listen To: As I Roved Out, South Australia
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Black Metal Box – S/T
Record Label: Mind’s Eye Digital
Buy on Amazon.com

A band that really wants to be Metallica. Why not just be a Metallica cover band and call it a day?

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Blue October – Any Man In America
Record Label: Up Down Records
Buy on Amazon.com

Blue October’s new album “Any Man in America” should warrant them some new fans. I never heard of the group but the singer’s vocals sounds a bit like Peter Gabriel. Their songs are a bit mainstream, but I honestly don’t mind that. The tunes are catchy, especially tracks “The Money Tree,” and “The Chills.”

Listen To: The Money Tree, For The Love, The Chills
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Bob Lien – Paradigm Shift
Record Label: Self-titled
Buy on Amazon.com

Bob Lien is another singer-songwriter, and this is his second solo album. His singing voice is similar to that of Zach Rogue of Rogue Wave and Release The Sunbird. None of the songs really stand out per say but that doesn’t mean they are bad.

Listen To: When I Was Young
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Chris Velan – Fables For Fighters
Record Label: Newsong Recordings
Buy on Amazon.com

Wow this is some catchy stuff! Right from the opening track, this Montreal singer-songwriter pulls you in. I particularly like the ukulele tracks. Think Paul Simon meets Josh Ritter & Jack Johnson. On a cool sidenote, he was a producer for the Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars’s first album!

Listen To: Any Number Of Ways, Hurting You Kind,
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Chromatic Black – Chromatic Black
Record Label: Ok Good Records
Buy on Amazon.com

Noisy post punk/rock band from Germany. Wearing hooded sweats must be a Euro thing since Datarock does the same thing. Some songs stand out (Human Animals, Asshole in a Mirror) more than others.

Listen To: Human Animals, Asshole in a Mirror
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Commerce – The Things I Say…
Record Label: Littlest Sounds
Buy on Amazon.com

Sappy emo rock that makes me want to cut my wrist. If I saw this band live, I’d probably be known as that guy that kills himself on video at their concert.

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Dan Andriano In The Emergency Room – Hurricane Season
Record Label: Asian Man Records
Buy on Amazon.com

This is the first solo album from Dan of Alkaline Trio. I’m not a fan of Alkaline Trio but this isn’t that bad. These days, it’s normal for punk musicians to do an acoustic solo album or break off and do something different. It’s almost not normal for musicians in heavy bands to not do this. I think fans of AT will appreciate this more than I did though.

Listen To: It’s Gonna Rain All Day, Hollow Sounds
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Dead Country – EP
Record Label: Storefront Recordings
Buy on Amazon.com

4 tracks but 4 tracks I didn’t have the urge to skip. Dead Country is a melodic punk rock band, but sort of closer to melodic rock than punk. Reminds me of Jimmy Eat World. Not bad.

Listen To: The Shade
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Depedro – Depedro
Record Label: Nat Geo Music
Buy on Amazon.com

Yes, I’m reviewing an album from 3 years ago. I told you I’m lazy. Depedro is a Spanish indie-folk band that reminds me of DeVotchKa but not as good. I prefer the songs when they sing in Spanish and have a rootsy feeling to it like La Memoria and Comanche.

Listen To: La Memoria, Comanche
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Fiery Blue – Our Secret
Record Label: Doubloon Records
Buy on Amazon.com

I like old-styled country but not this type of country. This is too ballad-y & Linda_Ronstadt-ish for my liking.

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The Furious Seasons – Thank You For Saturday
Record Label: Stonegarden Records
Buy on Amazon.com

Folky rock band that sound decent but nothing really makes them stand out from the ever-growing list of bands playing this style now.

Listen To: Thank You For Saturday, Drown You Out
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Glimpse Trio – 1985
Record Label: Self-released
Buy on Amazon.com

Boring Jam band instrumentals. Nothing I hate than bands that just play guitar solos. ZzZzZ

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Guitar Bomb – Happy Hour At The Silverado
Record Label: RockPark Records
Buy on Amazon.com

Guitar Bomb sings about shit stains (no joke), fist fights with jesus and does an awful spoof cover of Minor Threat’s Straight Edge. Yes, this is that bad.

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Heads Held High – Dogs and Cats, Living Together
Record Label: Fail Safe Records
Buy on Amazon.com

A Cleveland hardcore/punk band that mixes the new HC with the old. These guys are good and not sure why I haven’t heard of them more. I think they are worth checking out! I also love the Ghostbusters reference with the album title.

Listen To: This Too Shall Pass
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I Got A Violet – Backwash
Record Label: New Model Label
Buy on Amazon.com

This album came out back in 2009 and I’d classify this album in the garage/psychedelic rock genre. I Got A Violet’s music also has a new wave, post-punk vibe to it as well. I liked the song “Brand New Dance” since the tempo was slowed down and wasn’t as obnoxious as other tracks.

Listen To: Brand New Dance
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The Last Act – Still Standing
Record Label: Angry Bunny Records
Buy on Amazon.com

This band sounds like David Lee Roth’s Van Halen when they are on their worst night, and on their drunkest. I think this might even be worse than Van Halen’s new shit as well. Which isn’t saying a lot.

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Mat Burke – Kill or Be Killed
Record Label: Self-released
Buy on Amazon.com

A punk rock influenced folk rocker based in Nashville (not surprised). Burke is similar to other punkers gone folkers like Frank Turner, Brian Fallon and Tom Gabel. Worth checking out a few songs.

Listen To: Half Empty Half Full
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Melvoy – Midnight Make Up
Record Label: Melvoy
Buy on Amazon.com

When listening to Melvoy’s 6 track EP, I can’t help but bop my head back& forth. Their indie rock sound is very danceable, in the same style as The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys and Walk The Moon. I don’t think these guys are as good but they aren’t terrible either.

Listen To: Dirty Girl, I Love You
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Misty Gonzales – Misty – Rock & Roll Freedom Show
Record Label:
Buy on Amazon.com

Why would someone call themselves Misty. It seems like a stripper name. “Now coming to the stage is MISTTTYYYY!!” Misty is a female rocker that’s really aimed at teenage girls. Her music has been on MTV reality shows and Degrassi so that’s the demographic this music falls under. Female solo rockers isn’t really my thing and I didn’t like this music at all.

Listen To: Nothing
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Mongrel Revenge – This Means War
Record Label: Screaming Ferret Records
Buy on Amazon.com

Mongrel Revenge is an aggro metal/punk band that reminds me of the 80s punk rock I used to listen. I thought this band would be garbage but it’s actually decent stuff. Listen to the album here (http://mongrel.bandcamp.com/album/revenge).

Listen To: Catharsis, Beyond Repair
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The National Rifle – Man Full of Trouble
Record Label: Self-released
Buy on Amazon.com

I don’t know what to think of this band. Every track there is something different, and they don’t have a set style. It’s just a bad mixture of everything really. The National Rifle would be better if they would pick a style and go from there.

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Night Birds – The Other Side of Darkness
Record Label: Grave Mistake Records
Buy on Amazon.com

Thrashy punk rock from New Jersey and these guys should be talked about more! The track “Landfill Land” immediately reminded me of Dead Kennedys; especially the guitar riffs. It’s has that East Bay Ray/surf punk style. A lot of the tracks have that feeling to me, and think that’s a good thing! Listen to the album on Spotify here (http://open.spotify.com/album/3zS4UGEqZhYWIw8XaLXJqI).

Listen To: Neon Gray, Landfill Land
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Noise By Numbers – Over Leavitt
Record Label: Jumpstart Records
Buy on Amazon.com

I thought I recognized the vocals; it’s Danny Vapid! Noise By Number’s Over Leavitt is the band’s second album and I like what I hear from the start! Sort of like The Riverdales meets The Replacements. I honestly haven’t hear of Noise By Numbers until just now, but glad I decided to review this. I’ll listen to anything that Dan is apart of. His vocals are very distinct, and anything he’s in is just very easy to listen to if you’re a punk rock fan.

Listen To: Lost My Way, I Don’t Think So
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Peter Bradley Adams – Between Us
Record Label: Mishara Music
Buy on Amazon.com

More and more Singer-songwriters are coming out of the woodwork lately, which I think is a good thing. I particularly like the style, especially ones that have a twangy or folky feel to their music. Peter Bradley Adams is no different. He also seems like someone that just knows how to put together a great song. “Don’t Rest Your Weight On Me Now” is the song that stands out from me. My only complaint might be there aren’t that many songs that are fast paced.

Listen To: Don’t Rest Your Weight On Me Now, Katy
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Revel 9 – The Razorblade Diaries
Record Label: CD Baby
Buy on Amazon.com

Revel 9 is a heavy rock band from Lawn Guyland. I’m impressed with the production quality and half the album is all right. But I got bored with this after 2 songs. There’s just some bands like this I can’t take seriously.

Listen To: Another Mistake
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The Riverwinds – The Riverwinds
Record Label: LP/EP
Buy on Amazon.com

The Riverwinds seem to like several styles of music and it comes across that way on their self-titled album. Classic rock, Americana, rock, blues, folk rock, and even country are some of the styles I picked up while listening to the band. I think they sound best when they are playing twangy Americana or folk rock music. Even the name, The Riverwinds, seems like they are destined to play that music. Overall, I liked some songs but thought this could have been better.

Listen To: Lyla Lynn, Let’s Roll
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Shaky Deville – Hot Asphalt
Record Label: Hobolight Records

Irish influenced songs that are more of the bar rock variety than the Celtic/Celtic punk kind. Don’t go expecting this is the Pogues or something. Shaky Deville sounds like the hillbilly version of AC/DC. Not really a fan of this. Adam Coozer seemed to like this more than I did. Oh well.

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Subculture Stereo – Subculture Stereo
Record Label: Self-released
Buy on Amazon.com

A clusterfuck of noises. Avoid.

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Sugarplum Fairies – The Images We Get
Record Label: Starfish Records
Buy on Amazon.com

Sugarplum Fairies is an Indie pop duo from Vienna that now reside in LA. The singer has a atmospheric singing style that’s a bit haunting and enchanting, but other times it makes me sleepy. This music would best fitting for an indie movie or a perfume commercial.

Listen To: Plastic Skies
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Supplement – Supplement
Record Label: Self released
Buy on Amazon.com

After so many years of listening to punk rock, I just don’t know what to say about it sometimes. Supplement sounds like the punk bands from the 80s but not as good. Their self titled album isn’t awful or anything but its not memorable either.

Listen To: Heroes
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Sweaxxy Chogg – Bootload of Boogie
Record Label: Scratch It Back Records
Buy on Amazon.com

This is a bootload of torture. I never felt like jumping out of my window, but if I ever hear this album again I might just have to do that.

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This Day Will Tell – Too True To Be Good
Record Label: Indianola Records
Buy on Amazon.com

More screamo music I can’t tolerate. Hearing the band scream isn’t even tolerable, which is usually the saving grace of screamo bands. I kind of wish people would stop sending music like this to me.

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Tim Myers – Technicolor
Record Label: Zync Music Group

Holy crap, it’s that song from that commercial! Tim Myers does the infectious song “Under Control” from Chase. I’ve been humming that song for awhile now but it’s good to know who does the song now. Besides that song, the rest of the album is beyond catchy. I don’t know how you can’t listen to this album without feeling happy.

Listen To: Under Control, Technicolor
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Toy Soldiers – Whisper Down The Lane
Record Label: Mad Dragon Records
Buy on Amazon.com

The opening track “Thrown Me Down” is annoying but the next track “Hard Times” is good. Toy Soldiers play indie-folk music that borders on alt-country and Americana. I prefer the songs that are upbeat and the guy is singing. The girl in the band is a bit over the top.

Listen To: Hard Times, Love Ya Like I Love Ya
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Tri-State Conspiracy – Outbreak
Record Label: Self-Titled
Buy on Amazon.com

Tri-State Conspiracy are back for more swingtastic ska music! I don’t listen to enough swing music, I especially should be listening more Tri-State Conspiracy. Their previous album was a strong album and this one is as well. Honestly, there aren’t enough ska swing bands out there. If someone is looking to start up a ska swing band, Tri-State Conspiracy is a good example on what to sound like. What I like about these guys is how tight the horns sound, the pace of the music and just their willingness to play music that isn’t really the newest fad at the moment. Hats off to the band.

Listen To: Mr Huntingworth, Call It Quits, Rented Hall Shuffle
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Voice of Addiction – Reduce Reuse Resist
Record Label: Sel-released
Buy on Amazon.com

Think early Ignite meets Ducky Boys. One of the vocalist has that high pitch “whoas” that remind me of Zoli from Ignite/Pennywise. Not meant as a dig with this vocalist but I don’t think his voice is as good as Zoli’s though. I prefer the main vocalist who has a rougher sound. The music is fast pace and worth checking out if you like some of the bands I mention above.

Listen To: Constant Pollution, Mother
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Various Artists – Shame
Record Label: Sony Classical
Buy on Amazon.com

The soundtrack to Shame has a wide variety of music. Classical pieces, jazz pieces, 80s and disco tunes. Honestly, it seems very random when listening to the soundtrack by itself. I’m sure the soundtrack to the acclaimed Michael Fassbender movie will make sense when watching the movie.

Listen To: John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Glenn Gould
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Vintage Blue – Strike The Mics
Record Label: Vintage Blue Recordings
Buy on Amazon.com

An impressive debut full-length from these Chicago bluesy rock band. Their tunes have a flavor of the E-Street Band; that horn bluesy bar band rock. Usually I say bar band as a bad thing but in this case, I mean it in a good way. I wouldn’t necessarily listen to this but others definitely will appreciate Vintage Blue.

Listen To: Speak
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We Landed On The Moon! – This Will Be One For The Books
Record Label: Self-released
Buy on Amazon.com

If this band’s name is in reference to Dumb and Dumber, they have already scored some brownie points with me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t really a fan of their music. The female singer sounded fine, and the band as well, I just wasn’t really interested in any of their songs.

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