The Tossers
Smash the Windows
Victory (2017)
The term “Irish punk” sprung up in the late ‘90s around the time Flogging Molly jumped into the spotlight and in the waning days of ska-punk. A new hyphen was needed for those into punk aggression and hybrid genres.I’ve always had a soft spot for violins, mandolins and other instrumentation common in the style. While time and more and more bands under the umbrella have turned it into something of a cartoon, there’s a time and place for it. Plus, the originators of the style almost always do it best.But enough with the genre talk. The Tossers are one of the early adopters of the style and they’ve had subtle growth and changes over their history without changing their sound drastically. One of the striking things about new material, such as 2017’s Smash the Windows is that it’s tempered, more soothing and classically focused instead of forcing that punk aggression of the early days. Sure, the record is named Smash the Windows but it’s more about enjoying a relaxing pint with friends than it’s about rioting in the streets. Without getting scientific, the album is probably over 50 percent traditional or instrumental with the more up-tempo moments selectively placed within.While … Read more
Dag Rosenqvist & Matthew Collings
Hello Darkness
Denovali (2017)
There is a familiarity that builds when musicians collaborate. Experimental alchemists, Dag Rosenqvist and Matthew Collings have met in the … Read more
Harley Flanagan
Hard-Core: Life Of My Own
Feral House (2016)
This book brings together quite a few things:For a start, it is being published by Feral House, which is owned … Read more
Mouth of the Architect
Time & Withering Remastered
Translation Loss (2017)
Dayton, Ohio’s Mouth of the Architect was a post-metal lover’s wet dream when they came on the seen. The Midwest … Read more
