Aaron Livingston has been cranking out quality soulful rhythm and blues for years now. Both under his own name and as one half of Icebird, the defunct roots project he struck up with multitalented musician RJD2.
Honor Is All We Know kind of came out of nowhere. There had been rumblings of a new Rancid record for years, but no confirmations or teasers from the studio or possible release dates. Just rumour. Then all of a sudden we had a track list, and cover art, and a release date just weeks away.
With Chris Walla (guitarist) gone, the responsibility of dancing like an embarrassing parent chaperone at a high school dance rests solely on Ben Gibbards (vocals) shoulders. I hope this isn’t a burden he has to carry alone too long. Nick Harmer (bassist), time to step up your game.
Tim Armstrong’s Hellcat label (a subsidiary of Epitaph) has slowed in its releases the last few years, releasing only a couple records a year. But there was a time when they were one of punk’s heaviest hitting labels, releasing records by the likes of Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, Dis-tillers, U.S. Bombs and Aggrolites. Nowadays their roster of bands is still impressive, but it’s the lesser known bands that are the most impressive on the team.
I have no real knowledge of this band. They are elusive shadows, gods of synth, but above all, they are brilliant. Having heard Operators at their fifth show, I have to say –
This month’s album cover pick is the somewhat controversial cover of Slaine’s somewhat controversial album The King of Everything Else. As I mention in my review of the album elsewhere In Septembers Vandala Magazine(page 13), Slaine is firing on all cylinders with this record and his ability at crafting dark narratives and soundscapes and peppering them with his well honed and gritty flow, has never been more impressive than on King.
Sleepwave is the new band from former Underoath singer Spencer Chamberlain, featuring band mate Stephen Bowman. This project has been a secret for so long and now it’s finally here with its debut “Broken Compass” via Epitaph Records.
Originating from Australia, the indie rock band Hungry Ghosts has me starving for more (get it?). Released in 2000, this review makes me a little late to the party but I couldn’t help myself.
Review By Dustin Griffin – RATING 5/5 Dragons From September 2014 Vandala Magazine READ MORE ARTICLES I’ve never been to Ireland. Never been to Belfast or to Dublin. But Celtic music always paints […]
Brian Setzer has been carrying the rockabilly flame since 1979, when he formed the first incarnation of the Stray Cats (then known as the Tomcats). With the Stray Cats he lead the rockabilly revival with a number of classic albums songs which paid tribute to the great rock n’ roll artists of the 50’s.
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