Dark Skies
Self Titled
(Empty Records, 2006)
Ya know, I love the MC5, but I don’t really need them name dropped every ten minutes (this was an example of name dropping to ensure my credibility). The trio that is Dark Skies draw from that pool of rock and release an album of music easily surpassed by the cover art. I’m pretty confident that living in the sixties and seventies would have provided me with a great deal of fun, so I can understand the affinity bands have for attempting to recreate that time through notes. Each track of this recreation has positive elements, whether it’s the funky bass, a musical freak-out or guitar screeches, but when taken as a whole, the album falls short of anything that could be listened to more than once, or even once all the way through. Empty Records is toying with our emotions folks. The general public will be exposed to The Reatards or some other viable act and then we’re given Dark Skies. Mr. Empty Records Label Boss, we want to love you, but give us a reason.Red & Gold
Your Napoleon
(Lujo Records, 2006)
First things first, Red & Gold should listen to more Minutemen then they do currently. Because, well frankly, that would make them better. Nevertheless, sometimes as a writer, when there’s nothing good to say, you examine an album within the scope of a general genre and general society so as not to have to delve into the music that you’re made to hear. That’s what I’m going to do now. The fact that this album exists and somewhere is currently being heralded as good, speaks volumes towards the state of underground rock music. Yes, it is marvelous that technology allows the disenfranchised to create and distribute music and all kinds of media. And no, there should never be any portion of the general populace that should be silenced. But, the fact that this Pennsylvania band has the opportunity to release an album on a label across the country seems a bit absurd. Even if viewed under the circumstances of a local punk show, as openers of course, this band would come off as rather bland and at best energized, but a bit misled. What is crammed into this thirteen minutes of music is screamy, tempo-shifting punk that most likely would be referred to as indie or some such other hip genre name by the three men that make up this group. The first track that greets the listeners’ ears is “Beg for Water” with it’s over zealous drumming that attempts to fit half a beat extra into few spots throughout the track. The two vocalists do compliment each other’s yelling over the five songs. And on “Darkest Days (My Hope and Song)” each takes a stab at singing while the music is at its’ most relaxed. Just to not leave a horrible taste in anyone’s mouth, it should be noted that this trio is moderately adept at tempo changes. That’s probably about it though.