ALBUM REVIEW: The Freak Accident – The Midnight Show


 

The Freak Accident are a San Franciscan trio led by the legendary Ralph Spight (Victims Family, Jello Biafro and the Guantanamo School of Medicine) on vocals/guitar who is accompanied by bassist/vocalist Henry Austin Lannan, and drummer/vocalist Stark Raving Brad. To date, the band have put out five records and also an EP. Their new album, The Midnight Show (Nadine Records) has a theme that centres around an inside joke about having to play last at every show while excitingly the record’s striking cover art comes courtesy of poster art legend ZOLTRON who has worked with big names such as Primus, Iggy Pop, Soundgarden, PJ Harvey, NIN, Melvins, Devo, and Ween to name a few.

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ALBUM REVIEW: The Hammer Party – Classic American Plastic


Providence, Rhode Island has quite a rich musical history, Lightning Bolt, Black Dice, Les Savy Fav, and Velvet Crush all hail from The Renaissance City. The Hammer Party, named after an EP compilation by Big Black (Lungs and Bulldozer; the CD version also featured the Racer-X EP) can also be added to that list. For all intents and purposes, a supergroup, it is comprised of former members of prominent bands such as LANDED, Olneyville Sound System, Six Finger Satellite, Thee Hydrogen Terrors, Scarce, Silver Apples, The Jim Rose Circus, and The Bevis Frond.   Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Xiu Xiu – Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu: Vol. 1


Named after 1998’s Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (directed by Twin Peaks’ Joan Chen), San Jose, California trio Xiu Xiu have an astonishing fifteen full-length records to their name, of which Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu: Vol. 1 (Polyvinyl Records) is the latest. Continue reading →