The Slackers
Peculiar
Hellcat (2006)
Yes, this could be considered a ska record, and yes, ska really is not as popular as it was a short time ago. But forget all of that genre prejudice, The Slackers are a different breed of band. Their smooth arrangements, jazzy interludes, and uncannily humable tunes allow them to transcend the musical genre of ska. If you have ever … Read more
The Slackers
Redlight (20th Anniversary)
Pirates Press (2017)
Has it really been twenty years since this album made its way out into the world? Time does fly by when you are living life, but Redlight does not sound like a two decade old record in the least bit; the Slackers still sound down right in the moment with their second album and that in it of itself is … Read more
The Slackers
Self Medication
Indication (2008)
You might not like ska music, but The Slackers are the exception to that rule (at least for me and probably should be for anyone else) with their smoother sound and laid back vibes which incorporate a variety of sounds across many different genres from jazz to salsa to soul, which all create the amalgamation that is their distinct style. … Read more
The Sleeveens
The Sleeveens
Dirtnap (2024)
You know how most records start out with an absolute banger? It sets a mood, for sure, but it often feels like the band doesn’t top it as the full album plays out. I’m definitely not saying that The Sleeveens deliver a dud with the first song here, “Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls,” but I am saying that … Read more
The Slow Death
Born Ugly, Got Worse
Kiss of Death (2011)
When The Soviettes’ Annie Sparrows voice starts Born Ugly, Got Worse devoid of instrumentation, it’s a crisp and honest delivery that complements leader Jesse Thorson’s heart-wrenching style. But once the full band kicks in for the second verse, it’s clear that The Slow Death have driving punk rock at their heart and soul, with as many singalongs and middle-fingers as … Read more
The Slow Death
No Heaven
Rad Girlfriend Records (2013)
If you haven’t heard of The Slow Death by now, you probably aren’t as depressed as the majority of us. Luckily their new album No Heaven hits the spot for the more cynical listener. Which, lets face it, punk rock has never been about sugar coating the bullshit that comes with life. If it wasn’t the album cover with a … Read more
The Slow Death
Punishers
Rad Girlfriend Records (2017)
Punishers is the third LP from The Slow Death, fronted by ex-Pretty Boy Thorson & the Falling Angels mouthpiece Jesse Swan Thorson and backed by a rotating cast that includes Falling Angel Dave Strait, Dillinger Four’s Paddy Costello, The Ergs! Mike Yannich, and a slew of others depending on availability any given night. It’s also a natural extension of Pretty … Read more
The Smith Street Band
More Scared of You Than You Are of Me
Side One Dummy (2017)
There’s something oddly humbling and comforting about listening to the Smith Street Band, it’s like they’re that hometown band you watched put on shows in garages and living rooms growing up. It just feels like you know them—their lyrics are very real and they as people are very much real, which overall creates this very humbling, raw effect to their … Read more
The Smith Street Band
Throw Me in the River
Side One Dummy (2014)
Summarizing The Smith Street Band is a bit difficult. While I want to lump them in with folk-punk, that’s only true in song structure. There’s far too much electric guitar to drop that name on them—and maybe too much to just label it “punk.” Think Against Me! without the shouting. The roots are in a louder version of folk-punk, but … Read more
The Snake The Cross The Crown
Cotton Teeth
Equal Vision (2007)
In late 2004 when folk was just breaking through and about to become the new emo, I was caught off guard by a band called The Snake The Cross The Crown. Opening for Owen, I was dumbfounded by the passion these gentlemen brought to the stage. Shortly after witnessing the spectacle that was their live show, I picked up their … Read more
The Sonics
This is The Sonics
Revox Records (2015)
Upon hearing that legendary northwest garage rockers The Sonics were releasing a new album – their first in (gulp!) nearly fifty years – in 2015, I didn’t know if I should be excited or very, very afraid. Here was a band that helped to invent the signature, rowdy rock and roll sound in the early-to-mid ‘60s and delivered songs such … Read more
The Sons of Adam
Saturday’s Sons-The Complete Recordings 1964-1966
High Moon Records (2022)
If ever a band from the mid-’60s was underappreciated I would have to surmise that The Sons of Adam might top that list. The band comprised of Randy Holden of Blue Cheer and The Other Half, Jack Ttanna of Genesis, bassist Mike Port and drummer Michael Stuart Ware of Love! High Noon Records have compiled The Sons of Adam’s complete … Read more
The Sorely Trying Days
Survival Mode
Useless World (2009)
I knew next to nothing about this band before checking out this album but the fact that they are "recommended for fans of: Dinosaur Jr., Black Flag, Hüsker Dü, and Black Sabbath" was enough to spark my interest. This was a tad misleading as the band doesn't have too much in common with those four bands, with the exception of … Read more
The Spill Canvas
No Really, I'm Fine
Sire (2007)
Patient: The Spill Canvas Brought in by: Sire Records, after a missed bandwagon. Previous History/Notes: Patient claims No Really, I'm fine!. Third commitment to facility. This session a follow up to patient's most recent visit; the One Fell Swoop incident. Symptoms: Suffers from extreme emotional stagnation; clinging firmly to the belief that the year is permanently 2004, and as such … Read more
The Spill Canvas
One Fell Swoop
111 (2005)
The Spill Canvas's debut LP Sunsets and Car Crashes showed us that in high school the members of the band were very, very, sad. With their sophomore follow-up, One Fell Swoop, it looks like the boys are out to prove they're still not over it. Self proclaimed as 'intense and emotionally driven,' The Spill Canvas are the type of band … Read more
The Spirit of 76
The Spirit of 76
Independent (2009)
There's probably nothing else that I hate worse that when bands I've never heard of because they happen to know the same people I do and they want me to review their latest release. For some reason they know I "work" for an online music site (which, by the way, they can never remember the name of) and it would … Read more
The Spits
V
In The Red (2011)
Dirty, spacey punk rawk—in a nutshell, that’s what The Spits are bringing. We could talk costumes, we could talks subgenres, and we could talk recording quality (and we will), but The Spits are a concept best described in those few words. Sound-wise, it’s largely Ramonescore run through a fuzzy filter, so much so that it sounds like half of the … Read more
The Splits
II
Dirtnap (2015)
I really like Dirtnap Records, but they can’t all be winners. The Splits start off II with a really positive vibe in “Rotten Me,” with a powerful and familiar rock ‘n’ rollin’ base behind music that’s emphatic and emotional. I really like the enunciation by singer Helena throughout this song.Unfortunately, the majority of the record doesn’t hold up to the … Read more
