Sounds
Guitar Wolf
Loverock
Narnack Records
“I don’t know, dude, I just hit play and that’s what happened!” I explained to my roommate when he asked why the paint was suddenly peeling off my walls. Who would’ve thought that out of Japan, the land of everything ridiculous, Godzilla would come back as a three-piece rock-and-roll killing machine.
For those of you in the know, you don’t need to read any further-just go buy the Wolf’s new album Loverock and call the bros over for some hot riffs and cold ones. And turn it up. For those of you who don’t know-prepare for salvation, because they’re about to kick down the door, and they’re dressed like three leather-clad ninjas. With songs about motorcycles, fire, and Amazon women, you can’t go wrong. Plus, it’s sure to win over the parental units-especially when they have to repaint the house.-The Bobcat
DeVotchKa
How It Ends
Cicero Records
Russian-polka indie rock? Is that even possible? Hell, yeah-it’s called DeVotchKa, and DeVotchKa slays it. This Colorado-born band combines traditional guitar rock with instruments like accordions, sousaphones, and bouzoukis-there’s even a little bit of Mexican mariachi sound in there-to create one kick-ass musical mutt. And like the Flogging Molly or Calexico of Eastern European folk melodies, this stuff effin’ rocks. I’m telling you, How It Ends plays like the movie soundtrack to your life-if your life was actually cool and mysterious. It’s all swigs of vodka, subway rides into wide-open spaces, and romantic interludes involving Sherpa-beanie-clad strangers with finger tattoos.-Jennifer Sherowski
The Colour
The Colour Is Out & About
Monarchy Music Group
If you stare at this album long enough, you realize that one of the band members sketched on the cover is actually the very same haircut-havin’ CAPiTA teammate you saw get a TransWorld Check Out in one of last season’s issues. Yup-Luke MacMaster. But instead of being a snowboarder who’s in a band, Luke’s more like a rock and roller who snowboards-so don’t feel bad when you like this album. The Colour rips into some hook-packed guitar happenings-the lead singer sounds like a younger, more fun Robert Smith, the music’s like a catcher’s mitt of rock-and-roll guilty pleasure. Fans of Hot Hot Heat will be swayed.-J.S.
Hot Snakes
Live, October 31, Portland, Oregon
By Chris Coyle
Seeing the Hot Snakes this past Halloween got me to thinkin’ about some things. First, remember when Halloween was scary? Not because of ghosts and haunted houses, but because every piece of candy was potentially packed full of poison-laced razor blades? Those were the days. They don’t make psychos like they used to.
Then I really started to get emotional, because a review of the Hot Snakes’ album Automatic Midnight was the first thing I ever wrote for this magazine. Now, here I am, years later-writing the same bullshit again. It really brings a tear to my eye.
Think about it-if the Hot Snakes didn’t kick so much ass, I’d probably be cleaning Porta-Potties. That night, watching John Reis play like a man possessed while dressed up in a skunk outfit, I thought to myself, “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be able to take something as simple as a music review and turn it into a self-involved rant.” Then I looked around the rest of the stage-I saw Rick dressed as some sort of human gumball machine, Gar looking like he just stepped off the Baywatch set, and Mario was doing his best King Diamond impression. I wondered if they even knew that if it wasn’t for them putting together some of the best records and live shows in rock today, I wouldn’t be able to stroke my own ego every month by belittling my friends in a internationally read publication. Wow, the power of music, huh?
P.S. Buy the Hot Snakes’ new album Audit In Progress-it kicks mucho ass-o.
Jeremy Jones’ Downtime-In-Alaaska Playlist
“Folsom Prison Blues,” Johnny Cash
“Concrete Jungle,” Bob Marley And The Wailers
“Highway Man,” Willie Nelson
“Yoshima Battles The Pink Robots,” The Flaming Lips
“Luchenbah Texas,” Waylon Jennings
“Kashmir,” Led Zeppelin
“If You Don’t Like My Fire,” Ben Harper
“Mixology,” D.J. Z-Trip and D.J.
“Police And Thieves,” The Clash
“Rainbow,” G-Love and Jack Johnson
