Tag Archives: New York

Song Review- Dhärä  –  “A PLACE IN TIME, (the entities, divided) off the upcoming album Elemental Four 

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A spilt black and white image of four musicians each of whom are playing their respective instruments.

So, a song title like that is likely to give you a second or two of pause…it did for me anyway.  Not that I do not like interesting song titles…you may already know that I am a huge fan of such things.  This one though has a bit of the mystical about it so I was caught off guard for a moment as I opened up the press release from Earshot Media.  In my mind was the question, “What the heck is this all about?”  I had not heard of Dhärä before that moment so I read on and quickly found out that they are a progressive rock band.  That genre is outside of my usual space and those opportunities always intrigue me so we were now officially at, “Exactly just what the heck is this all about?!”

I pushed play to find out the answer and wow, what a cool experience!  This is a composition with great instrumentation and quite a range of atmospheres within its 4:18 play time.  It opens with brash guitars and drums that rise up before falling away to a subtle, melodic place with a swaying bass line to carry you along.  Eventually you get to about mid-point in the song which is this great combination of guitar sound set against a rumbling drum line.  And then…a fade out to a quiet space that slowly fills with a pulsing note pattern, kind of reflective but a bit demanding also…like it is asking a question that you cannot answer.

This is available for streaming in your usual places and there is quite the interesting video here (which also includes the opening piece of the album called “the conduit”:

Musicians on this are: Austin Sandick (guitar), Chris Rodriguez (drums), Kay Tyagi (guitar) and Ryan DiPietrantonio (bass)

It is a big help to the band if you pre-save the album (due out January 11, 2026) and you can do that here: 

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dhr1/elemental-four

Your community – us and you and everyone else – is powerful…remember to support and engage.

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

Let me know you think! 

Release Alert! The Chesterfield Kings – Loose Ends: 1989 – 2004 Rare, B-sides & Unreleased

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Five men, all musicians, are gathered around a bass drum. Four of them are holding guitars while one sits on top of the drum. They appear casual and relaxed.

I wanted to get a quick post out about this very cool news – Wicked Cool Records just released this ten track set on October 31st and it is worth picking up right away.  I had the good fortune to be able to preview the music and was impressed not only by the songs themselves but also by the production quality.  This album sounds great – loud, clear and just as boisterous as anything else the Chesterfield Kings ever put out.  My personal favs are “Pictures of Matchstick Men” (a bit on the psychedelic side) and “Rosalyn” (just a killer rock n’ roll tune) but there is a lot to like here.  

Five men, two who are sitting on a bench, look out toward the viewer. They are dressed in the style of the late 1970's and appear serious.

If you are new to this band you might have to work a little harder than usual to get a full feel for their sound as it goes all the way back to 1982’s Here Are The Chesterfield Kings (if you ever see this on vinyl…please get hold of me!) and spans 11 albums and a wide collection of singles and EP’s.  There have also been a good number of musicians in and out of the group over that time period but the music has stayed consistently good and accessible.  If you want a quick tour through the years I would suggest that first album (if you can find it), Drunk On Muddy Water (with a pretty cool version of Robert Johnson’s “I Got Ramblin”), 2007’s Psychedelic Sunrise and their most recent album, We’re Still All The Same.

Once you check it on your usual places and see what you think! 

Song Review- Half Dizzy- “Darkest Days” off the upcoming album Yard Sale

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Five people, two women and three men, sit on a staircase looking at the viewer.

Very nice to see this track drop on October 17th (via Punkerton Records) which follows the release earlier this year of “Turn This Up” which I reviewed here back in July. 

This new single is a great follow-up and starts on a quick drum fill backed up by powerful guitar riffs and a pulsing bass accentuating every beat.  Lead singer Dizzy Doll’s vocals, snarly and soaring all at the same time, punch through the music nicely and there is also a ripping guitar moment around 2:08.  A really good, melodic punk style tune with plenty of volume and power!

These two singles definitely have me eagerly anticipating Yard Sale which is set to come out on December 12th.  Described in the Earshot Media press release as a “raw and reflective punk rock scrapbook — a record built from the pieces of a life lived loud, lost, and learned the hard way,” I believe this one should be well worth the wait.  

Musicians (in addition to Dizzy Doll) are: Daniel Marchelewski (guitar, vocals), Mason Cohen (drums), Mitchell Rhein (lead guitar) and Mina Maziekis (bass). 

Check it out on your favorite streaming channel (link below) – and let me know your thoughts about it – music makes for good conversation 🙂 

https://ffm.to/halfdizzy_darkestdays

And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

Album pre-orders here:

Half Dizzy "Yard Sale" [Vinyl] (Pre-Order)

Your community and all of its people are super cool….check them out when you have a chance!

Song Review- Bitters and Distractions- “The Threads”

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Two casually dressed men are looking toward the viewer. They are standing on a brick sidewalk.

This group is a new one to me and they just dropped this single October 17th on Sell The Heart Records.  The press release from Earshot Media noted that the group channels “the energy and urgency of punk rock through stripped-down, acoustic-driven arrangements.”  Well, that sounded pretty interesting so I gave it a listen and was impressed. 

It definitely has a spare and grassroots vibe right from the start; a couple quick, bare guitar chords and then a raw and edgy vocal that spells out some pretty basic life moments and experiences such as “trying to figure out what our body has left.”  That general groove stays true throughout the song which also features some dual vocal parts that feel anguished and hopeful all at the same time.  This is a good tune in the tradition of punk but with the interesting acoustic style and arrangement.  

Musicians on this are: Jeremy Quitko and Travis Johnides 

This should be out there to listen to on your favorite channels now.  

And if you have the inclination…think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

More info at these links: 

www.bittersanddistractions.com 

www.selltheheartrecords.com

Support that local community – we all need each other! 

Song Review- Sadlands- “Bad Idea” off the upcoming album Try to Have a Little Fun

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Two men and two women in a wooded settings - one man sits on a tree swing as they all look toward the viewer.

If you want to get a good idea of where the musicians who make up Sadlands come from you can start with these bands:

Answering Machine – Out of Brooklyn, NY  – I first caught them on their eponymous EP in early 2018.   The songs on this are powerful alternative music with some different grooves that keep you interested throughout the four song run.  “Stadium Dreams” is my favorite here.  

Choke Up – The only song I had heard from this Boston band is “Crosses” off of their 2015 album Black Coffee, Bad Habits (cool naming points credited!).  This song is quite the musical journey from a jangly tone and kicking beat at the beginning to an elevated vocal and then back down into a a kind of grungy middle.  I later checked out the full album and it hits somewhere in the emo-punk genre but trending toward punk.  I went back to purchase it on Bandcamp while writing this but no purchase button exists…if someone has a purchase link or a copy to buy please send me the info! 

Ellen and the Degenerates  – I first encountered this band via “Going on a Trip,” a single they released in 2018.  It literally is about going on a car trip and just about a perfect recitation of what a long roadie is like.  Definitely punk in style and a sense of humor…always good.   They also have a really good album from 2019 called Return of the Herb.

So, some of the talented people from these bands came together to form Sadlands whose only prior release that I am aware of is a self-titled EP from 2023.   In my opinion the stand-out track on that is “McClellan” which has a very infectious driving guitar vibe and a vocal track that runs just a little off-pace at times … in a kind of breathless way that works well.  

And that gets us to this single from Sadlands upcoming album (on Wiretap Records) which should be out October 17th.  “Bad Idea” is a punchy, pop-punk song in the best tradition of the early Go-Go’s.  And I am talking about those  Go-Go’s songs you probably have not heard much of – the kind they used to play at Whisky a Go Go back in the late 70’s long before Beauty and the Beat came out.  I never heard it live but if you can find a copy of Return to the Valley of the Go-Go’s you will hear what I mean.  

This track leads off with a great guitar and drum sound that is soon joined by a fast-paced vocal line that seems to be rushing to somewhere.  The bass here also booms majestically over every measure, lending a heavy buzz to the music.  A really groovy and infectious song…you can play this one and feel good.  

Musicians on this are:  Jess Lane (vocals, guitar), Sam Campanile (vocals, guitar), Harley Cox (drums) and Louis Rabeno (bass).  

Stream this here: 

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sadlands3/bad-idea

And you can pre-save the album here: 

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sadlands3/try-to-have-a-little-fun/

And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

That local community you walk through everyday…is awesome…stop and smell the flowers 🙂 

Song Review- Geese- “Trinidad” from the upcoming album Getting Killed

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A trumpet player with long hair, the sun is behind the person and they are pointing a gun at the viewer with their left hand

Flashback to the Winter 2024 edition of Creem (which had the great title of “You Either Die a Punk or Live Long Enough to Become Classic Rock”) and an article by Zachary Lipez called “An American Band (Someone Please Tell America).”  This was a fairly long-form article and was a great band profile of Geese, an interesting story about his interactions with them and also an amusing takedown of Greta Van Fleet (I know…I’ve got it coming to me for even thinking it was amusing…those Fleetsters are everywhere!).   Lipez spends part of his article detailing how different and unusual much of the music that Geese perform is and that of course sent me directly to checking it out.  I picked up 3D County and hit play.

I have to warn you, or give you a bit of heads up anyway…no matter what your initial reaction is as the first track of that album (“2122”) plays just keep listening.  If your experience is anything like mine at the end of a complete run through of 3D County you may think “Well that was interesting…pretty good…a little weird, good though,” and then continue on with other things.  Soon though, you will find yourself thinking about some moments on that album;  interesting hooks, bizarre sounds, quirky arrangements…that sort of stuff and you will have to go back and listen to it again…and again…you get the picture.  It is really that good.  

So then we have this upcoming album Getting Killed, set to drop on September 26th and which currently has two tracks out that you can listen to and purchase / pre-order (if you are so inclined).  “Trinidad” will definitely give you some strange vibes with its discordant instruments underpinned by a wonderfully groovy rhythm section and changing vocal patterns.  It is a stunner of a song and makes me think that this upcoming album has a lot of promise.  

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

Musicians on this are: Cameron Winter (vocals), Dominic DiGesu (bass), Max Bassin (drums) and Emily Green (guitar).

And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

Our communities are great places to get to know each other 🙂 

Song Review- Half Dizzy – “Turn This Up”

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Remembering back to when I heard the song “Broken Down” playing in the pre-set music for a bar band in 2023 I recall being pretty impressed by the blistering pace of the music and the “you can’t beat me down” message.  That track was from the first release Half Dizzy had on Punkerton Records and since then they have also released The Faceless (with quite interesting cover art) and now this single that dropped on June 20th.  

A decent amount of people and reviews have mentioned in the past that Half Dizzy evokes some Rancid vibes.  Although I tend to stay away from those direct comparisons in general, on this new track it is hard to avoid.  The  composition, tone, vocal style and great energy all combine to definitely have you reaching back to your best Let’s Go moments.  That being said (and in a positive way for sure) these musicians have talents and grooves that set their own high standard.  Solid guitars playing off each other, a rumbling bass line, busy & sharp drums and shared vocals that are boisterous and clear.  Overall, an uplifting, power-for-you anthem for the upcoming summer.  

Quick streaming link here: 

https://found.ee/halfdizzy_turnthisup

If you go out and give “Turn This Up” a listen…think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand. 

Check out your local community – it can be a pretty cool place:) 

Release Alert! The Dreadnoughts – “Polka Pit”

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It was great to hear about this single release and to get the news at the same time that there will be  a new album out in September this year (on Punkerton Records).  The Dreadnoughts always bring the energy and usually makes me want to jump right back into the pit.  This song brings a bouncy beat and kicks along for 4 fun minutes…polka and punk always!

Once you check it on your usual places you can get a vinyl pre-order in here…grow the collection 🙂 

https://punkertonrecords.com/products/the-dreadnoughts-polka-pit-vinyl

Album Review- WYLDLIFE – sorted

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Finally after five years I get the great news that this band has a new album dropping on May 16th from Wicked Cool Records.  It has been a long time coming but given the results I would wait again!  I have been a fan of this crew going back many years and while I have liked some releases more than others you can put this one right near the top.  WYLDLIFE have long been a bit bratty and irreverent but they know how to sell it with catchy hooks and an in your face style that gets you up and jumping.  

The album leads off with “Bystander” and gets right down to business.  This track has an absolutely hammering kick drum driving it all the way through and is complemented nicely by fast and ripping guitar work.  

Another highlight for me is “Little Headcase” which is a song of a different tone and style and notable for a couple reasons.  The composition and arrangement really deliver a sense of space within the music; a touch of nostalgia and dreaminess while still being backed by powerful vocals and rhythm.  There is also a terrific guitar solo starting at about 1:55 that takes this track to the next level.  

Ten total slots on this album and they are all solid – a couple other favs are “Terminal Blue,” “Goes Without Saying” (great bass work on this one) and “Dizzy.”  I know this album took awhile to get together and it offers a variety of styles and sounds that is reflected in front man David Feldman’s quote; “It’s like dumping out a big box of puzzle pieces.  It’s all over the place – and so are we.  But now, it’s sorted.” I would suggest that this puzzle box is well worth a listen and a purchase.  WYLDLIFE (Feldman along with Sam Allen, Spencer Alexander and Russ Barrnett) have the rock n’ roll thing down pat.  You can pre-order it here:

https://orcd.co/wyldlifesorted

Please support all of your local businesses, artists, musicians and neighbors – community is powerful! 

And when it comes to music, listen to all kinds and think about purchasing whenever you can – steaming music does not pay much even times a thousand.  

Album Review & General Plea-The Bobby Lees – Skin Suit 

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I had to get this out due to a disturbing but understandable post by this fantastic band…namely a message indicating that they were going to play out their current tour schedule (through December 20th at the the Bowery Ballroom in NYC) and then would be going on indefinite hiatus.  Their post included references to the general state of the music industry these days – you can check that post on their FB page. 

This album is their most recent and is such a solid production all the way through.  From the abrupt starts and stops of “Move,” to the booming cacophony of “Riddle Daddy,” and the disconcerting squeal and almost hip-swaying rhythm of “Blank Generation”…well, it is just a lot of damn good music.   There are some poignant messages in those lyrics also so listen closely:) 

The Bobby Lees have always been such an eclectic mix of styles, volume and sounds…hopefully they come back but until then please give them some attention when you have a minute.

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

And please remember to support your local artists…they need you and you need them :)…community is powerful