Category: REVIEWS
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Salad Days Punk Doc is a Deep Dive on Dischord Records
Danny Baraz
March 1, 2015
For decades, the music industry has found ways to exploit and capitalize on homegrown music scenes. Organic movements of pubescent and pre pubescent children, finding their voice and by proxy, the voice of the other kids in their neighborhood. Whether it was grunge in Seattle, hip hop in Brooklyn or punk in Orange County, the music industry sees a devoted legion of rabid consumption and immediately moves to find a way to make money from it. It seems like corporations have never failed to corrupt the purity of art except for one exception; Dischord Records in Washington D.C. Last night I went to the L.A. premiere of Salad Days: The D.C. Punk Revolution at The Regent Theater and I learned so much about one of the most influential, uncorrupt able, DIY music scenes that has ever existed. Salad Days is most definitely a chronicle and an ode to Dischord Records. There was very little in this movie about the Bad Brains outside of the acknowledgment that they influenced the entire scene. The movie was complete enough to mention other bands that influenced the region like The Cramps, The Clash and The Ramones and even a decent amount of time
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New Album Review: The Birth Defects- First 8 Mistakes
Danny Baraz
February 26, 2015
I’m having a hard time remembering the last time I’ve been this stoked about a debut album. The Birth Defects first release, “First 8 Mistakes” is an abrasive, in your face, drink till you puke, punk rock masterpiece. It’s the perfect soundtrack to a bar fight and the type of music that will make your parents worry about your well-being. Somehow, First 8 Mistakes manages to be raw and refined at the same time. If you are thinking those descriptions are mutually exclusive then just think about the term, Pop-punk. A classification most fast paced, power chord pioneers probably never envisioned to be possible but yet here we are, drowning in melodic, bubble gum bands. The Birth Defects are a breath of smoggy air in a genre that has been gentrified and made palatable to the masses. The raw represents the music and the refined represents the albums producer, Ty Segall. But The Birth Defects musical pedigree extends beyond it’s Indie King producer. Members of The Birth Defects are made up of Petey Dammit from Thee Oh Sees, Jonathan Safley, former drummer of the band Bleached and Jason Gerkin of Shiner. But the true personality, charm and parent cringing reflexes
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Preview: “Multi Love” from Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Danny Baraz
February 11, 2015
It seems like every two years, like clockwork, we are blessed with a new Unknown Mortal Orchestra release. Music snobs insist on a certain type of consistency without predictability from their favorite artists. I received an advanced copy of the title track from Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s forthcoming release last week but I never like to give my opinion on art in haste and I’m glad I waited. Art has a funny way of morphing your perception of it from one view or listen to the next. My initial thoughts on “Multi Love”, the title track from Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new record was that it’s quite the shift from the filthy beauty of their previous works. It’s amazing how different recording methods can completely change the vibe of an artist. On “Multi-Love”, it sounds like there has been a pivot from analog recording to digital. It threw me off the first few times I listened to it but not necessarily in a bad way. It sounds so clean that it almost felt like a different band altogether but at the same time, Ruban Nielson’s vocals are unmistakeable and glorious. There is a guitar lick that comes in at the 1:47 mark of
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New ho99o9 video: Casey Jones/Cum Rag
Danny Baraz
January 29, 2015
Very few bands encapsulate all the different music we love at Janky Smooth into one band more than the band ho99o9. It’s not everything we love but it’s most of what we love, all in one band. We’ve been hyped on them since the first rumblings of their existence. Ho99o9 dropped a new song/video today and fuuuuuuccccccckkkkk. It’s the type of dissonant, distorted, digitized, angry and disturbed type of noise that can make my blood boil and give me goosebumps all at the same time. I hate to jock anyone but I give credit where credit is due. ho99o9 are the shit and we are more excited to see what they do in 2015 than we are about any other band. Ho99o9 are playing two L.A. shows this weekend and we highly suggest you make it to one, if not both. [button color=”pink” size=”normal” alignment=”center” rel=”follow” openin=”newwindow” url=”https://www.jankysmooth.com/free-show-lil-b-trash-talk-ho99o9-regent-go-wrong/”]Check out our previous coverage of ho99o9 live with Lil B and Trash Talk[/button] On Saturday, Ho99o9 are playing a free show at Church of Fun. Just RSVP at [email protected] On Superbowl Sunday ho99o9 is playing with Thurston Moore, of all people at THE GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY AT MOCA -152 NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE,
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New Album Review: Calabrese – Lust for Sacrilege
Danny Baraz
January 28, 2015
Horror Punk fans are insatiable. Like the unending hunger and thirst for brains and blood, the more the better. After 5 full length albums and an EP, Calabrese has released their 6th LP titled, “Lust for Sacrilege” on January 13 2015. I am here to report that Calabrese have pretty much stuck to the format that made them huge amongst their enthusiasts. I can say that there is a bit more soulfulness in some of the downtempo tracks like “Serpentflame” but there is nothing to offend any hardcore fans. While some of the arrangements and songs might have a few more “parts” to them and there is a larger element of dynamism contained within each song, crooning and chords are still the most prominent sound on the record. I doubt there are many out there that think Calabrese should go out on a limb and take some risks outside maybe the record distributors but Spookshow Records have to be thrilled to have artists on their label with such a consistent output of “bread and butter”. Tracks like “Gimmie War” are absolute Calabrese perfection while the song “New York Ripper” has some of the more varied dynamics that must make
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Stream Django Django’s first new work in almost 3 years.
Janky Smooth Central Command
January 12, 2015
It’s been almost 3 years since Django Django released their self titled album on January 30th, 2012. They took the world by storm with their cosmic, electro-surf sound. We’ve been wondering what happened to them for the past year and now we have something amazing to look forward to. Django Django has just made their first new work in 3 years available to stream and I can honestly say that good things like this are worth waiting for. This track, “First Light”, is true to the very finely crafted and produced form that made them an instant breakout obsession on their first LP. David Maclean (drummer/producer) and Vincent Neff (singer/guitarist) create some magic with the rest of the band in the form of dreamy and silky vocal harmonies, along with amazingly produced and completely original musical arrangements. [button color=”yellow” size=”normal” alignment=”center” rel=”follow” openin=”newwindow” url=”https://soundcloud.com/djangodjango/first-light”]Stream Django Django’s new track “First Light” here[/button] If this track is any indication of what’s to come then we are in store for an epic sophomore release from the dudes of Django Django. More info on the forthcoming release coming soon.
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Preview: Ty Segall’s title track off forthcoming EP- Mr. Face
Danny Baraz
January 8, 2015
Ty Segall keeps churning out new music at a blistering pace. Whatever you call the musical composers version of writers block, Ty Segall doesn’t have it. After an amazing reception for his last full album, Manipulator, I sampled the title track off his forthcoming EP, Mr Face and it seems that Ty Segall has finally found a cohesive sound between his last release and this new one. There is a common thread between Manipulator and what I’ve heard from Mr Face and while I’ve enjoyed the manic nature of his musical style changes, I can’t help but think that the commonality will be good for Ty Segall, long term. Mr. Face, A gatefold double 7″ EP released by Famous Class is pressed on translucent red and blue-colored vinyl and includes four new tracks and it can also double as 3-D glasses? Gimmicky but also, very cool. Each pre order of the new EP comes with an instant download of this killer new title track. [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=3742576083 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 track=829608698] “MR. FACE” EP PRE-ORDER: via Famous Class via iTunes via Bandcamp Review by Danny Baraz
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Janky Smoothest Bands for 2015: # 3 Them Howling Bones
Danny Baraz
December 20, 2014
I’ve been listening to Them Howling Bones recently released EP religiously for the past month without the benefit of the live show litmus test. I always hold off on praising a new band too much until I’ve heard what they sound like live. I’ve had my ear ball on them to place them on our list of one of the top bands to look out for in 2015 but without the live show, I would make no such proclamation. Last night, Them Howling Bones played a free show at Pour Vous with mates, The Bloodhounds. Them Howling Bones were putting em back at the bar before the show in true rockstar fashion. Something tells me that no excuse is needed for the band to reach total obliteration but it also happened to be Them Howling Bones bass player, Armando’s birthday. They did not tuck themselves in a corner when The Bloodhounds played their solid set of the more and more common rockabilly sound that is exploding in this Southern California scene. Even in the upscale setting of Pour Vous and it’s Parisian vibe with bartenders that are referred to as Mixologists, Them Howling Bones were able to transform the atmosphere
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The Top 10 Janky Smoothest Albums of 2014
Danny Baraz
December 10, 2014
We at Janky Smooth commend all the offline and online publications that take the time to find the top 10 or 100 or 1000 songs of 2014. It’s quite the undertaking and 2014 was a GREAT year for songs. To us, the mark of greatness is not the ability to write one song that people can’t get out of their heads but rather the rare talent it takes to produce a compilation of related art that is cohesive and extraordinary. Check out our picks for Best Albums of 2014 10. Black Lips- Underneath The Rainbow9. OFF!- Wasted Years8. Trash Talk- No Peace7. War on Drugs- Lost in the Dream6. The Shrine- Bless Off5. Obliterations- Poison Everything4. Ty Segall- Manipulator3. Aphex Twin- Syro2. Ariel Pink- Pom Pom1. Run the Jewels- Run the Jewels 2
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Sleaford Mods: Hip Hop Gutter Punks and their latest release, “Chubbed Up+”
Danny Baraz
November 21, 2014
There is nothing quite like a subversive point of view set to a beat and a cockney accent. With all the pseudo-patriotic musicians in the mainstream and all this psychedelic revival amongst the youth of America and abroad, we look to England and bands like Sleaford Mods from Nottingham to create a proportionately angry voice for the working class. Their latest release, Chubbed Up + is an important follow up to the minor success and major statement made by their 2013 release, Austerity Dogs. There is no sense that Sleaford Mods are “maturing as artists”. This album is a compilation of previously released tracks and new songs released on Ipecac. All their tracks feature the same, changeless, driving, monotone beats that are just a backdrop for vocalist, Jason Williamson to unleash his verbal assault against a new class of aristocracy and the sheep who allow themselves to be sheared on a daily basis. If you are looking for dynamic, musical arrangements then Chubbed Up + is not the album for you. If you are looking for signs of life and evidence of some type of pulse in the heart of man, then this might just become one of your favorites.
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Review: Reading between the lines of TV on the Radio’s latest, “Seeds”
Janky Smooth Central Command
November 20, 2014
Something is rotten in the state of New York- so TV on the Radio have come to Los Angeles to figure out how to get rid of the smell. More than likely it is the stench of love’s rotting corpse. The magic of new TV on the Radio release “Seeds” is that they want you to figure out who did the killing. The first part of Seeds is seen from the eyes of somebody who has been sh*t on pretty badly. It skims through the good memories of a relationship and finally finds the flaws that everybody but you saw, finally giving in and looking for a way to make it all disappear. In “Happy Idiot”, the leadoff single, our little sad panda lets us onlookers know… “I’m gonna bang my head to the wall/ ‘Till I feel like nothing at all/ I’m a happy idiot / To keep my mind off you.” By the end the record you aren’t too sure if the album “Seeds”, isn’t so much of a recollection as it is a confession. As with most relationship endings the lines get blurred and you aren’t quite sure who said what to who and who shoved the knife
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