Glassjaw On The Move?

Glassjaw have been fairly dormant years. Since the release of 2003’s “Worship and Tribute” the band had been on hiatus. Promises of a new album were made, and here we are towards the end of 2010 and still no album. Things have been heating up for Glassjaw fans though. The band has been playing shows on and off all year, and a few weeks ago they released their first physical release in years; a new song “All Good Junkies Go To Heaven” on vinyl. This was followed up with a film clip for another new song “You Think You’re (John Fuckin Lennon)”. Follow that with another vinyl release of another new song “Jesus Glue” and yet ANOTHER new video called “Stars” and all signs are pointing to a new release coming very soon.

Enjoy the new videos and head over to glassjaw.com to purchase a digital copy of “All Good Junkies Go To Heaven” for $1.

You Think You’re (John Fucking Lennon) Video

Stars Video

Jimmy Eat World – Invented Review

Predictable. When seeing a Michael Bay movie you know that:

a)Shit is going to blow up
b)There is going to be more CGI than regular actors
c)It’s going to suck

The same goes for a Jimmy Eat World record. You are going to find ten or so tracks that blend melodies and emotion into either a rocking track or a pop sensation. This has been the basic formula since their “Bleed American” album that truly put them in the international spotlight. Their latest album doesn’t break the mould, still providing layered rock anthems and emotionally charged songs to the masses. Interestingly enough the songs that try to capture the “old” rock sound of the band, the “Salt Sweats” or the “Futures” of the album are the ones that fail to propel Invented to full potential.

Leading single “My Best Theory” sound great on its own, but when listening to the album in its entirety it fails to pack the same punch. The same stands for “Higher Devotion” that tries to lure you into a hook here and there but fails to capture attention. Then the album takes a turn with track 5 “Movielike”, a point of the album where everything just works. The driving beat of “Coffee and Cigarettes”, the layered guitars in “Littlething” the minimalistic “Cut” and the full rocking “Action Needs an Audience” gel together so well that you forget about those first 4 tracks that kicked things off.

Jimmy Eat World always end their albums with a strong finish and “Mixtape” is no exception to this long standing tradition. A fitting end to an album that could have been great, but the first four tracks just really let it down. Unlike other Jimmy Eat World albums listeners won’t get instant satisfaction on a single listen; repeat listens on the other hand allow this album to grow and flourish.

Predictable. That word sums up the delivery and execution of Invented. Yet it is still a testament to the song writing and lyrical abilities of Jimmy Eat World that even though they are predictable, they can still release a compelling record.

2.5/5

Anberlin – Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place Review

Anberlin have always been one of those bands who were on the verge of breaking out. Their brand of “Christian” alternative rock that was formed off the back of punk sentiments stands leagues ahead of other successful bands such as Taking Back Sunday or My Chemical Romance, yet they never broke through the barriers to mainstream success. Their ability to mature and progress their sound on every release since their breakthrough album “Never Take Friendship Personal” has garnered them a strong following, and the trend hasn’t been broken on their most recent release “Dark is the Way, Light is a Place”. Replacing the standard pop tones with something darker and more personal, Anberlin have delivered their most interesting album to date, yet that doesn’t mean it is their best.

Opening track “We Did This To Ourselves” comes out swinging with a gut wrenching lead riff that sounds like it belongs on a Story Of The Year record rather than Anberlin, keeping the tradition of starting their albums with a bang. Stephen Christian’s vocals soar during the chorus and bridge and leave you wanting more. Thankfully the album isn’t short of the rock numbers; “To The Wolves” and “Closer” all have that sing along quality that pulls amazing responses at live shows. The layered guitars during the verses of Closer are so slick before leading into a bellowing chorus that is classic Anberlin.

The rest of the album on the other hand is relatively uncharted territory for the band. While they have experimented and proven their worth on slower tracks on previous albums, this time around the band have really pushed their limits in what they are capable of. “You Belong Here” really shows off the wide range of Stephen’s voice. “Take Me As You Found Me” shows the intricacies between guitars that are often overlooked in the harder numbers, and stand out song “Down” is a slow building, multi-layered track that features violin, piano and shakers.

It’s always nice to see a band try something new rather then releasing the same album time and time again. Anberlin have really stepped out of their shells and have released a darker, edgier record that somehow manages to be uplifting as it discusses the journey of life and death. While I applaud them for trying, and succeeding at creating a number of fantastic soft songs, they tend to leave the album feeling a little bare. When you open up with a rocking track like “We Did This To Ourselves” you are amped and ready to go, yet the album offers little in the way to keep that energy rising. A great album that once again puts Anberlin light years in front of their peers, but just needed a little extra oomph to keep it going.

3.5/5

http://www.youtube.com/v/_HAdXUcAA14?fs=1&hl=en_US

Johnny from Children Collide Stops In

Children Collide have released a corker of an album in “Theory of Everything” so naturally we were keen to have a chat about the band, the new album and their adventures on the road. Thankfully lead singer/guitarist Johnny Mackay was happy enough to stop by for a chat.

Theory of everything has been out for a week now, how are you guys feeling about it now the public has been listening?

Well, we’ve been touring it and plenty of people have been singing along, which is nice. They even do the ‘woo’ bits in My Eagle. Unless that’s just voices in my head. I’m not sure.

How long were you in the studio for and how did it compare to recording The Long Now?

Well…I guess it ended up being about 4-5 weeks in 3 different studios. It differed in the fact that we split it between a couple of different countries and that we attempted to make it twice.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your music?

From chewing gum that’s been trodden into the footpath.

When it comes to playing a show how do you get in the zone? Are there any rituals that are performed to psyche yourselves up?

I usually just slap myself in the face a couple of times and eat a lamington.

When you first started the band did you ever envision it becoming as big as you guys have? When did you first sit back and think “holy shit this is happening”?

Still haven’t.

What advice would you offer to young musicians trying to get their music out there?

Make good music. Make sure that is what you enjoy about it. If it’s about money or getting laid you aren’t going to feel very satisfied at the end of the day.

Do you have a favourite Children Collide song?

Yeah, whichever one we’re writing or playing at the time.

You guys have been playing a lot of shows over the past few years with a lot of different artists. Who was the most fun?

I particularly enjoyed playing alongside Tame Impala at the Groovin’ The Moo festivals last year.

What are the last five albums you listened to?

Right now I am listening to a solo album by a guy called Alex Macfarlane from the band Teen Archer who we are currently on tour with. Before that I’ve been listening to M.I.A. – Maya, Kyuss – …and the circus leaves town, a Vangelis record I picked up in L.A. And Tobacco – Fucked Up Friends. We’ve also had the Teen Archer “tour E.P.” on in the car today, but it doesn’t really count as an album as it just has three very rad songs on it

Theory of Everything is out in all good music stores right now, so get on out there and support these guys!

Crocodiles – Sleep Forever Review

Sophomore releases following a highly successful debut are often stressful, strung out and highly confined efforts trying to bow down to the pressures of new found fame and to please critics. Thankfully Crocodiles’ have not fallen victim to this pressure, following up the aggressive Summer of Hate with a darker, more progressive album in Sleep Forever.

Gone are those simple and catchy hooks. replaced with a more mature and cohesive product that is far more fulfilling after repeat listens. As an offset to the new sound, the album is less accessible which is sure to segregate fans of their first release.

Mirrors opens up with a slow build before shattering into a musical wall of sound filled with crunchy guitars, and eventually culminating in reverb laden vocals that lift the song into more of a shoegaze territory than garage rock. As you move deeper into the LP you are greeted with a more psychedelic sound on tracks like “Stoned To Death” or “Hollow Hollow Eyes”. The addition of the rough organ that would sound right at home on something by The Doors really adds a new element to the organized chaos that presents itself.

Things slow right down on the the romantic “Girl in Black” which sits nicely in the middle of the album. It is soon followed up by the glossy, surf inspired “Hearts Of Love” which is the most out of place, yet catchiest track on the album and “Billy Speed” which has a rock swagger that is totally infectious.

Regardless of tone, sound or style all of these tracks share the same point of reference; death. The album is rather dark and gloomy, yet manages to steer clear of that worrying “emo” territory. A decent effort from an interesting band, which shows potential in their particular take on the “Garage Rock” genre.

3/5

Grinderman – Grinderman 2 Review

A dark dingy club at three in the morning; the bartender is about to call last drinks and you have your eye on someone who is standing in the corner just as legless as you are. Then all of a sudden a band takes the stage and starts playing filthy rock meets blues riffs, describing the very scene you find yourself in. This is the picture that Grinderman 2 paints when you first put the album onto your playlist.

Nick Cave has become famous the work over for his various projects yet Grinderman offer something a little different than The Bad Seeds or The Birthday Party. The album opens up on the dark bluesy filth that is “Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man” and sets the tone for what is going to follow. Filled with messy and rock filled riffs, driving bass lines and dark lyrics the band manage to create an album full of more sex, more drugs, and more rock & roll than a band half their age.

A joy to listen from start to finish with memorable tracks such as Heathen Child, Kitchenette and the driving opener Micky Mouse and The Goodbye Man, Grinderman 2 will leave you feeling dirtier than a one night stand from the dark dingy club on the wrong side of town.

4/5

Tegan and Sara Come Back To Aus

Those two Canadian Indie sensations Tegan and Sara are coming back to Australia this December in support of Jack Johnson‘s tour of Australia and New Zealand. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.com.au and the dates have been listed below.

November 28, 2010 TSB Bowl of Brooklands Taranaki, NZ

Tickets at ticketmaster.co.nz

November 30, 2010 CBS Canterbury Arena Christchurch, NZ
Tickets at ticketek.co.nz

December 02, 2010 Vector Arena Auckland, NZ
Tickets at ticketmaster.co.nz

December 04, 2010 nib Stadium Perth, AUS
Tickets at ticketmaster.com.au

December 06, 2010 Adelaide Entertainment Centre Adelaide, AUS
Tickets at ticketek.com.au

December 08, 2010 Sidney Myer Music Bowl Melbourne, AUS
Tickets at theartscentre.com.au

December 11, 2010 The Domain Sydney, AUS
Tickets at ticketmaster.com.au

December 13, 2010 Riverstage Brisbane, AUS
Tickets at ticketmaster.com.au

Howl- Brothers in Violence EP Review

Howl are a band to keep an eye on. Rising to prominence thanks to winning the Triple J Unearthed High competition in 2009; an initiative to discover Australia’s best High School band the band has matured and released a new EP to the masses. The Ballarat six piece have been working hard since winning the competiiton, and are currently touring the nation supporting Aussie heavyweights Children Collide.

The EP opens up with the frantic “It Was Never Fun” starting with a solitary bass line before exploding with rich guitars, retro keyboards and the strong vocals. Follow that up with “Brothers In Violence” and the dirty distorted bass and desperation in Michael Belsars voice as he climbs to new heights.

“The Only Reason You Came” has a driving bass and drum effect as once again Belsar tries something different, reaching a falsetto range that is pitch perfect for the song. The ending track “Cabin Fever” is the highlight on the EP, bringing with it a banging tune that is keyboard heavy and will be stuck in your head for days.

The EP starts out frantic, ends frantic and never loses pace. Even though all the songs are balls to the wall indie rock, the EP still manages to showcase the diversity in the band; creating a number of different sounds while never truly veering from the intended course. A solid indie rock EP that only confirms that Howl deserve respect.

4/5

Grinspoon – Inferno Nightclub Traralgon 9/9/2010 Recap

Tonight Aussie rock legends Grinspoon assaulted the stage of Inferno Nightclub in Traralgon, bringing with them a set that started off a little slow but ended with so much energy and power. The band opened up with their latest single off Six to Midnight “Run” which immediately got the crowd jumping to the beat. A few songs in we started to see some older works with “Better Off Dead” from their Easy record and the pop hit “Hard Act To Follow” from Thrills Kills and Sunday Pills.

During the first half of the set the band seemed to be lifeless, not really showing the raw energy we all know Grinspoon are capable of. It wasn’t until about half way through that the band really found their stride, hitting the audience with hit after hit. No Reason, Lost Control, Champion, Pedestrian, Chemical Heart all brought with them thunderous approval from the punters.

Phil walks out onto the darkened stage with an acoustic guitar and a harmonica and starts a little jam. The crowd immediately calm down as they try to figure out what he is playing. Before long he breaks it out into a wonderful acoustic rendition of their big hit “Just Ace”. The rest of the band joined him for a great cover of Motorhead‘s “Ace of Spades” before closing the night with the intense “Dead Cat X 3”.

All in all it was a damn good performance. Once Grinspoon found their stride they blasted onlookers and reminded us why they won our hearts so many years ago, and proving they can still bring the good when push comes to shove.

Don’t forget to check out our interview with Grinspoon here.

We Chat With Grinspoon

Mere hours before they hit the stage of the Traralgon Saloon Bar we talk to Grinspoon; one of Australia’s finest ambassadors when it comes to hard rock.

Grinspoon have been a functioning unit for over a decade now. When you first started did you ever dream you would be in this position so far down the track?

Definitely not we had absolutely no idea what we were getting into when we first started. It’s crazy to think we`re 6 albums down the track. We always had a lot of ambition and a big work ethic but we usually pretty unfocussed- and drunk ha ha…..

Six To Midnight was a return to the darker, grungier side yet still managed to showcase your other sounds. The album has been out for a year now, how do you feel about it?

I had a listen to it for the first time ages the other day and I reckon it stacks up pretty well- there`s a few songs in there that I`d kind of forgotten about which were really cool. Made me think we should be playing a few of the more obscure tracks off the album.

Grinspoon were the winners of the first ever Triple J Unearthed competition. How important was winning that competition to launching your career?

It was super important in giving us a leg up and bringing us some national recognition. The song that won was Sickfest, and it went on to become the most requested song on Triple J for the 12 weeks. Obviously that helped. Even with winning the comp we still had to work our butts off to make the most of it though- at first we thought we`d be instantly huge but it took us ages to get a record deal….

You guys are from a small rural NSW town. Do you find it important to get out and visit the smaller towns rather than just playing the big cities?

We`ll play anywhere, big or small. Being from a regional area we all know how cool it is when bands come into town- often the regional gigs are the best cause everyone is just so pumped to see a touring band. City gigs are cool to but people there get to see bands all the time- plus regional gigs gve us a chance to see heaps of Australia.

Do you have a favourite Grinspoon album?

If I had to say one it would be New Detention, but Six to Midnight is up there as is our debut, Guide to Better Living. iI like the hard fast, raucous stuff. All these albums have songs that are really energetic and great to play live.

What advice would you offer to young musicians trying to get their music out there?

Just write as much original stuff as you can and be prepared to take any gig, anywhere. Work hard and have fun and the returns will come along. Don`t be to big for your boots when you first start, remember everyone starts somewhere. And if your a band stick together through thick and thin- don`t start sacking band memebers over little jealousies and stuff, your band mates are your best asset.

You guys have been playing a lot of shows over the past few years with a lot of different artists. Who was the most fun?

Shihad, Unwritten Law, Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies, Snowdroppers, the list goes on.

What are the last five albums you listened to?
Eels- Blinking Lights and Other Revelations, Calling all Cars, Them Crooked Vultures, Holly McNarland, The Bronx.

Thanks guys, looking forward to seeing you rock the Saloon Bar stage in Traralgon!

Yeah we will!