Category Archives: Music Reviews

Song Review- Militarie Gun “Thought You Were Waving” 

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Yeah, yeah, I know, everyone loves Militarie Gun these days…I would mention that I should have written about them back in ’21 but, hey, who would believe me?  But in case you do…check out “Fell On My Head” from All Roads Lead To The Gun…you will not be sorry!

This track (released in July 2024) has a bit of Semisonic in there (it’s a good thing I swear) and the booming front with the rhythmic vocal lures you into a mellow world overlaid with enough noise to keep your attention – definitely worth a listen! 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://militariegun.bandcamp.com/music

Please get out there and support your locals – all of them need you – and community is powerful! 

And please think about purchasing this song after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- The Dirty Nil “1990” from the album Free Reign To Passions 

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The first few times I heard this one I was not “all aboard” for liking it – but I gave it a few more spins and have changed my mind.  This is a good song and worth a listen.   

Starting with some great fuzz, this track is loud from go and with clear, powerful vocal work.  The transition into the chorus is a boomer with a sound wall backed by a deep drum line.   A little buzzy solo adds some nice flavor.  

Also, if you want to hear another good song and be entertained along the way…check out their video for “Blowing Things Up In The Woods” – it is a good bit of corny humor.

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://thedirtynil.bandcamp.com/

Your local bands need you 🙂 Please remember to get out there and support them as much as you can – community is powerful! 

And please think about purchasing this song after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- Action Man “Youth Anthem” from the album Adventures in Boredom

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Yes indeed…I am hanging out in my time machine for certain this weekend…all the way back to 1996 and happy to be here!  This came across my wavelength courtesy of the KC Punk Archive who are preserving the “punk-adjacent music from the greater KC / Lawrence metro area from the 1980s through the mid 2000s”…and what a great project!  

I picked this track after listening to the entire album mostly because it called me right back to the 90’s both in tone and arrangement – that slightly distorted yet still twangy guitar intro, a drum drop-in and then all together for a well-delivered and catchy track.   The message sent out is simple but still effective even after all these years and a line like “one and one don’t make one, it’s more like eleven with you,” is just darn good. 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://kcpunkarchive.bandcamp.com/

Please remember to get out and support all of your amazing locals…community is powerful! 

And please think about purchasing this song after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Adventures in Boredom by Action Man

Song Review- Junkyard Tornadoes  “Sweet Mary Jo” from the album American Planck Time 

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I have been enjoying this band for a few years now, both for their creativity and also for their slightly self-effacing, irreverent manner…the kind of people you can imagine spending some good times with along the path of life.  

This track caught my attention initially due to the contrast between the low-tone, clean portions (check the first ten seconds as an example) and the slightly pegged out boomer parts that weave in and out throughout the track.  It gives this kind of delightful, discordant mood to the entire song that fits the lyrics well in my opinion.  The guitars are prominent with a little harmonica blending in later on to give a little breeze to the enterprise.  You can take this one with you all day long. 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://junkyardtornadoes.bandcamp.com/

Hey! We are halfway through 2024…and your locals need you – please remember to get out there and support them…community is powerful! 

And please think about purchasing this song after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- Doug McKean “My Heart’s Playing Tricks on Me” 

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Just a short time ago I had the pleasure of checking out Doug’s discography on Bandcamp and was definitely impressed with the range of genres he brings to his music – and he also has some very insightful lyrics that will give you some thoughtful moments.  

This recently released track almost has a hopeful melancholy to it…moody lyrics come in at the beginning tinged by some brighter strings underneath that push you forward until you hit the melodic guitar part around which this song revolves.  That pattern repeats accompanied by an understated drum beat, a progression that keeps this song sounding straight-forward while it builds up in your memory.  It will stay with you and is well worth a listen.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://dougmckean.bandcamp.com/

As always, please get out to support your local musicians and other talent – they need you and community is powerful 🙂 

And please think about purchasing this song after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- Arthur Adams “You Hit the Nail on the Head” from the album It’s Private Tonight 

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This is an oldie but very goodie 🙂 and cuts all the way back to 1972.  After bumping into this album through the Cleopatra Blues page I was hooked right from go.  

When you read the roster of musical talent on this record you expect to be hit with a grand collection of sounds and this track does not disappoint.  A nice little jangle of guitar leads into a boppin’ and swayin’ drum beat and soon the clear and smooth voice of Adams.  The clavinet is just fantastic also and lends a special flavor.  You can definitely see yourself hitting the streets for a little walkabout with this one playing from the old boombox – totally awesome:)

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://arthuradams.bandcamp.com/

Please remember to get out there and support your local people & establishments…community is powerful:) 

And please think about purchasing this song after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- Double Grave “1991” 

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This might not be my favorite song from these musicians (for that please see “western world” off their echinacea album…a strangely haunting song with a great bass line) but I wanted to put it up here as DG is calling it done after all this time.   Even during times when I was trying to puzzle out exactly what they were up to I always found the sonic experiment they offered up to be very interesting.  

This one leads off with a nice guitar part (that evoked a little Smashing Pumpkins in me) and heads into the lyrics covered by a subdued drum beat before picking up a little atmosphere mid-song.   That sonic buzz sticks after that with several nice distortion clouds cutting in..and then it drops right off…good-bye.

Thanks to Double Grave for the very interesting ride over the years and best wishes for your futures:) 

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://ggrraavvee.bandcamp.com/

As always…remember your locals – community is powerful 🙂 

And please think about purchasing this song after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- Bo Ramsey “Get Away” from the album On The Range 

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Song Review- Bo Ramsey “Get Away” from the album On The Range 

This album just dropped in the last week and it was the first I had heard from Ramsey since Wildwood Calling in the mid-10’s …although I realized as I looked into this that I had missed some stuff along the way.  Nice to be back in the groove with this guy 🙂 

First of all…you can bring me a song with some Nashville-tuned guitars anytime…what a sound that delivers…and it runs its way all the way through this one (thank you Bryan Vanderpool).  Above that, this track has a simple, melodic sway to it that draws you in and keep you tapping away with some nice keyboard work and the straight-forward lyrical style from Bo.  I could sit around and play songs like this all day long.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://boramsey.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-range

When you have time,,,please get out and support your locals…community is powerful:) 

And please think about purchasing this song after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Song Review- The Drowns “1979 Trans Am” from the album Blacked Out

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This entire album (just released earlier this month) is a rollicking good time all the way through and it was a tough choice but I eventually landed on this song.  I think that is mostly because its style brought me right back to a point in my 20’s when we out too often and too late and just having a great time.  Plus, songs about cool cars are just classic and fun.

This one comes in on a nice bit of percussion work that gives the song a snappy, light start before the rockabilly guitars cut in and weave between the sing-song lyrical pieces.  There is also a great bass line running along in this track that beats just as hard as the drum.  By the time you get to the end…well, you have had a good time listening for sure.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://thedrowns.bandcamp.com/

Remember to support your local artists as much as you can – community is powerful 🙂 

And please think about purchasing this song from them after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…

Album Review- Wetflix – Demo

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In addition to the fact that the cover art here reminded me of an artist I knew quite some time ago…any time I can give a listen to a demo tape is a good day.   There has always been something about the raw bits and pieces of these offerings that greatly appeals to me. 

“Mandarinas” comes in hard and fast offering some classic punk-style lyrics and chord progressions.  I had a garage-party moment when I first heard it for sure.  That good vibe carries right on through this album with fuzzy guitars at the front and a clean but slightly subdued rhythm section.  There is an interesting change of pace when you hit “Fish Brain” as it has a little bit more of a sing-song quality to it before the aptly named “Screamie” punches out to the end.  The mixing is a little rough especially with the vocal tracks but hey, that just makes me like it all the more.  This album comes out courtesy of RIP Records (Miami, FL) and is well worth a listen & purchase.  

You can check out more of the music and information on the Bandcamp page https://riprecords.bandcamp.com/album/demo-4

Your local establishments need you …please support them when you have a chance – community is powerful:) 

And please think about purchasing this song from them after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…