February 19, 2006 by George Koroneos
Nick 13, founder, singer, songwriter of the psychobilly band Tiger Army got into the rock-a-billy movement gradually, having spent his youth involved in the punk rock skateboarding scene. “That was the first music that I really fell in love with and got deeply into,” Nick 13 told Life In A Bungalo backstage at a local Damned show. “At the same time I always liked 1950s rock n’ roll and what little I knew of rock-a-billy, whether it was the Stray Cats or stuff like Buddy Holly.” Read the rest of this entry »
February 19, 2006 by George Koroneos
In only two years, My Chemical Romance has gone from a band of punks with a solid plan of getting out of their New Jersey basement to a world-wide touring rock group that has spawned legions of fans with their gothic version of pop-punk. Read the rest of this entry »
February 19, 2006 by George Koroneos
When you think of Avail two things come to mind—Catchy hardcore and rabid fans. Life In A Bungalo gave singer Tim Barry a call last week to find out why they’re doing this quick Northeast tour, as well as the latest happenings with the band. Read the rest of this entry »
February 19, 2006 by George Koroneos
The bling has dulled. Hip-Hop has lost all its shimmer and shine, but dig a little deeper, past the MTV garbage and you’ll find fresh Atmosphere. A trio of old school hip-hop freaks who are single handedly making rap music cool again thanks to their latest release “Seven’s Travels.” Life In A Bungalo caught up with Atmosphere’s resident DJ Mr. Dibbs to find out how life on the road with his comrades-in-arms Slug and Ant has been over the last year.
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February 18, 2006 by Adam Circumstance
Sworn Enemy
“The Beginning of the Endâ€
Abacus Records
You’ve heard this a thousand times for a million bands but I’ll say it anyway…mix Slayer, Pantera, and Hatebreed and you’ve got Sworn Enemy. Add all the usual hardcore producers on board. This is Sworn Enemy’s sophomore release and you’re not going to find anything groundbreaking or even remotely interesting on this disc.
Guitars and drums sound very slick and polished. I actually expected more mosh breakdowns and youth crew choruses. When the boys slow it down and play the more Seasons in the Abyss-like “Scared of the Unknown†they are at their strongest.
These boys might look tough and they get props for touring with Anthrax, but this disc is lame. And please stop putting out promos with 99 tracks that are split into :20 second song snippets. My ipod doesn’t like that shit one bit.
Doesn’t Rock l Kinda Rocks l Rocks l Really Rocks
February 18, 2006 by George Koroneos
Morningwood
“Morningwood”
Capitol Morningwood have sprung out of Nowhere, NYC to become the next big saviors of rock now that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have gone into hibernation. Savior might seem a bit drastic, but hey, these dudes (and chick) know how to rock.
Opening with a “Nu Rock,” Morningwood cast aside the pop imagery for a pretty intense ride through distortion alley, destination rock. Much like their peers Death From Above 1979, Morningwood rely on some pretty cranked up bass noise to drive the tune. Most of the other tunes keep the beat up with heavy inspiration from the Pixies and a sound that bites just a bit from recent Donnas records. Again, not a bad thing.
Speaking of morningwood, the guitarist of this band has a horrible hard-on for his flanger pedal. Nearly every track as wave after wave of sweeping guitar notes that sound like they a bad Pink Floyd cover band. Luckily that’s where the crap on this record ends. Well except their pseudo hit single “Nth Degree,” which is pretty awful.
Doesn’t Rock l Kinda Rocks l Rocks l Really Rocks
February 18, 2006 by Adam Circumstance
Good Clean Fun
“Between Christian Rock and a Hard Place”
Equal Vision Records
Good Clean Fun are not a Christian band—in fact they are a joke hardcore band whose shtick (I thought) had presumably run out a long time ago. For no real reason they’re back to spread their tongue in cheek Posi-Hardcore message.
Yes I smirked at some of the lyrics (i.e. Sometimes she’d play him music while they’d lie in the dark/He finally heard old Fugazi, he said, (this sounds like bear vs. shark) than I sat back and thought wait a minute, why am I bothering to read lyrics for a band that is this foolish. “A Little Bit Hardcore, a Little Bit Hardcore” is a perfect example. It sounds like every other song the band has ever recorded..which of course is a staple in the career of most “crew” hardcore bands. This band will be huge in the smaller hardcore scenes. The singalongs are retarded and fun to sing. The fat girl that sings”Punk Rock Love” also bothers me a lot. And of course the gem of this record, “The Myspace Song”, is going to make this band way bigger than they should be. Go to www.myspace.com/goodcleanfun!!!
When they try to write a serious song like “A Healthy Dose of Reality Television” 30-something singer Mr. Issa comes off as a bitter couch potato. He must have been pretty bored to bring his band out of retirement.
It might be “Good Clean Fun” for 16 year olds, but for old fucks like me Good Clean Fun is still a one trick pony. I’d like Good Clean Fun to know that the “cruelty-free, positive lifestyle” that they wear on their sleeve is a crock of shit. I’ll take my Chain of Strength, Gorilla Biscuits & Youth of Today with a Jack and Coke and a giant cheeseburger. Deal with it.
Doesn’t Rock l Kinda Rocks l Rocks l Really Rocks
February 18, 2006 by George Koroneos
Action Action
“An Army of Shapes Between Wars”
Victory Records You know your band is in bad shape when your press bio claims that you are a leader in the nouveau wave movement that everyone from the shitty Killers to genre architects Franz Ferdinand are trying to disassociate themselves from.
Action Action are hardly cast from the same mold. Rather than try to make kids dance with overplayed hi-hat tapping and peppy guitars, this band seeks to bore their listeners with nauseating keyboard work and little-to-no six string action. There’s no fun on this record until the last handful of songs, where the group pick up the temp and rock a bit. “Analogue Logic,” the most rocking track on the record, even finds the band crying over and over that “This is the worst track.” Sheesh.
This band can best be compared to Orgy after having smoked a ton of weed. Just droning techno babble that does no one any good. Avoid and move on.
Doesn’t Rock l Kinda Rocks l Rocks l Really Rocks
