CD Cover

So if you follow this blog, you are well aware NOFX is one of my favorite bands – and if you listen to the radio station you also know they get a lot of airtime. That being said, I am going to write this review as I do all others – based off the individual release being analyzed.

I am currently living in Australia, and bought this CD in Sydney the day it came out. I wanted to wait before doing the review in order to really let the music sink in, opposed to coming out with a shot-gun opinion straight away.

The CD begins with a classic NOFX introduction – a short couple lines about the leads being weak, then right into a strong guitar riff and blasting drums. Entitled “We Called it America” the first track sets the stage for another educational CD that includes such phrases as: Mex-Can-America and Fox reports “poor is the new rich”. The third track “First Call” paints a great picture into a potential day lived by the band, about drinking at 6 in the morning – its hilarious. Instead of making it to last call, the objective is to make it to first call….this track lightens up the serious tone set by the first track and tells a great story. The next song really gives some insight into Fat Mike’s childhood and his relationship with his parents growing up, for me personally it answered some questions set out by other tracks over the years. Track 5 “Blasphemy (The Victimless Crime)” holds true to their anti-religion beliefs, has a great tune, and a couple memorable quotes:

Horus similar to Mithra, Attis analogous to Krishna
Jesus, different name same story
All based on ancient Egyptian allegory

But you’ll never hear a crack about Mohammed
Cuz I don’t wanna get shot in the chest

Song six is quite possibly one of the funniest song’s in NOFX history…OK not the funniest, but its good. I am not sure if its because I secretly listen to Tegan and Sara (shhh don’t tell anyone), or because the song has an up-beat catchy sound and is flooded with lesbian talk. The rest of the CD finishes out just as strong as it starts – taking shots at certain people (Eddie, Bruce, and Paul), another song about grown adults believing in Santa Claus (Best God in Show), and more alcohol themed jam sessions. Track 11 “I am an Alcoholic” has a sing-a-long part that will leave the tune in your head for the rest of the day. You will be repeating:

I can’t because I’m a drug abusing alcoholic!

Ironically with a happy upbeat tune…

The CD center fold...

Overall the CD is great, another NOFX master piece. It can be used in the same sentence with Punk in Drublic, Pump up the Valuum, Heavy Petting Zoo, and The War On Errorism. There is a great mix of politically/religious fulled tracks and classic songs about getting wasted and random crap.

After listening to the CD I feel drenched in grain alcohol with a slight hang over, and a small desire to watch some movies from TED.

Listen to song previews, and buy individual tracks:

Or buy the whole CD:

The Sacramento California band Mozart Season has a new EP finished and its being released January 17th. They have been around for 4 years, but had some time off when the band broke up because of member adjustments. Mozart Season regrouped at the beginning of this year to start the EP ‘Apotheosis’ – and now its ready for release.

Mozart Season

Band members:

• Nate – Vocals
• Benton – Guitar
• Sam – Guitar
• Josh – Drums
• Troy – Bass

The CD starts with off with the song ‘Prophecies Part II’ – the opening lyrics were screams, and then transformed nicely into coherent emo style singing, after that around 1:35 into the first song started the growls – and instantly I was hooked. A lot of the post-hardcore bands (even popular ones) have difficulties balancing the singing styles with-in tracks, but after only the first song I felt Mozart Season mastered this art quite impressively. The second song ‘The Fall of Goliath’ again sounds decent – but as the lyrics began to register I realized there are some deep emotions behind the song writing (which always helps a bands street cred); is Goliath a metaphor for an ex-band member, old girlfriend, or the actual Philistine warrior Goliath? That’s for only our imaginations to conclude…

John Mess formerly of Dance Gavin Dance is featured in the fifth track ‘Look Mom I’m On TV’, his presence adds some nice depth to the song. The EP finishes out much how it started – good music, well balanced singing, and thoughtful lyrics. I feel they sound like a mixture of Underoath, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and From First to Last (all amazing bands).

Overall I really enjoyed the CD, and think Mozart Season will get their name out there with this release – and if they can land a stretch of shows with a big name band – a record deal will follow shortly there after. I recommend checking them out, and on the 17th show support and pick up the CD. We will be adding a couple songs from this EP to the play-list, so tune-in to check out the music!

Track Listing:

1. Prophecies Part II
2. The Fall of Goliath
3. Ankle Deep Ocean
4. Apotheosis
5. Look Mom I’m on TV (ft. Jon Mess)
6. Saint Peter

Click the picture for their mySpace.

The band Select Start

 At first inspection I said to myself ‘great, another unsigned emo electronic indie band’ – but after I started streaming the CD my presumptions changed a bit.  Yes, it’s true we are flooded with the electronic power-pop bands, but I feel Select Start is producing a very tight sound.  It’s inevitable they will be offered a deal shortly after this release (if they haven’t been already).

The lead vocals sound a lot like Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy, and the melodies have a Motion City Soundtrack and Hellogoodbye mash-up style.  Most notable about the CD, is that they don’t drown out traditional instruments with the electronic synth too much – this alone stands them apart from the bulk of bands in this genre.  In the song ‘Hearts Will Explode’ the intro has a firm guitar riff that made me crave some double bass and growls.

Overall it’s a good CD for an unsigned band that is entering an over populated genre.  My hopes are high that when developing their sound they will continue to moderate the synth as the band did a great job with this first release.  When the CD is released we may add one song to the HiFi Punk play list for everyone to check out.  And if they happen to progressively grow harder in the future, expect to hear more from them on the radio station.

Track Listing:

• Kiss your genre goodbye
• Oh so epic
• Dress impressive
• Hearts will explode
• A playlist killed the mixtape
• If you fall (fall in love)

Click here to stream the full CD from purevolume.com

The group looking less than enthused for the photo op.

The album is jammed with deep guitar riffs, heavy drums, and the occasional lead guitar solo (track 5 – bastard’s waltz).  There is no doubt that you will feel like drinking heavily and breaking things while listening to the tracks.  The band is most comparable to Refused mixed with Rise Against while incorporating a slice of southern rock.  Track 7, Lucifer’s Rocking Chair, breaks out of that mold a bit and sounds like a Metallica  song with some Avenged Sevenfold hints as well – heavy but a little slower.

This is the perfect CD to rock out to on your way to a punk show – it will get you ready for the pits and madness.  I recommend the CD to anyone who enjoys the HiFi Punk radio station – we put 3 songs from this CD into the HiFi play-list, so be sure to tune-in!

Click on the image for the Cancer Bat mySpace.

Overall I liked the CD, some of the early songs run together, but they twist it up well with some different sounding breakdowns, like in the song “Rock Solid” they throw a skit in the middle about trying to find a party, and buying beer, and all sorts of crazy crap.  I highly recommend checking out Dance Gavin Dance!  Did I mention they are red-hot now in the scene?  Well, they are.

We are putting 3 DGD songs on the radio station, so be sure to listen for them!

Click the image for the Dance Gavin Dance mySpace!

Alesana is a five man band from Raleigh, NC. I would categorize them as post-hardcore/screamo, and the CD ‘Where Myth Fades to Legend’ holds true to all the hype surrounding this popular band. This release has some of the best screams I’ve heard in awhile, and is very fitting for HiFi Punk – you won’t be let down. The usual Emery style screams are found throughout the whole CD, as well as deep growl screams in such songs as ‘Red And Dying Evening’ which is now featured on HiFi Punk.

They are currently on tour with Chiodos and Silverstein – check out their mySpace for tour dates.

Click picture to check out the Alesana mySpace.

Never Shout Never is a solo acoustic act by Christofer Drew reigning from Missouri and has captured the ears of kids across the nation with its bubbly up-beat catchy tunes.  It may be a bit soft from HiFi Punk, but we are throwing in 2 songs from the EP to see what everyone thinks.  You can check him out by clicking on the image below, and also stay tuned into HiFi Punk to catch one of the songs.

Click the image to check out the NSN mySpace.

Hope you like it!  Let us know what you think in the comments.

-Steve