The post-CMJ recovery time is almost 3 weeks, at least for us late 20’s grandmas. When you get a press pass, you need to pack as much in as you can, and this year was no exception. It was my personal goal to see not only as many bands as physically possible (and that your pass allows you entry into), but also a good mix of music to round out the experience. While CMJ tends to trend much towards indie-rock then anything else, there was certainly a wide spectrum within …

When The Emperor asked me to do my first review ever for Racket Magazine (first ever review anywhere) I was scared!  The more I thought about it the more I thought why not?  How hard can it be to write a review of the singer of my favorite bands, The Alkaline Trio!? Let’s roll.
I have been a fan since I first saw them live at the Anaheim HOB in 2001.  As soon as Radio came on and the entire audience shouted from the top of their lungs the now infamous, …

Tim Kasher
The Game of Monogamy
Saddle Creek Records
9/10
Tim Kasher is known for his work with Cursive, the slightly chaotic indie band full of layered instrumentation and The Good Life, which releases mellower, though just as lush, tales of the horrors of romance. Well, apparently he’s ready to drop all pretense that Tim Kasher is the mastermind behind both and releases his latest, The Game of Monogamy under his own moniker.
Filled with the same sordid tales of love and lust as The Good Life’s previous releases, Monogamy will strike a chord with …

Cee Lo Green
The Lady Killer
Elektra Records
10/10
While the single “Fuck You” has been resonating with broke motherfuckers for months, Cee Lo Green’s The Lady Killer is here (well, on Nov 9th, 2010) and it’s fucking fantastic. While I am not discounting his work with Goodie Mob or with Gnarls Barkley, with The Lady Killer, Cee Lo seriously solidifies his already recognizable sound. With plenty of vocal harmonies backing up his soulful crooning, keyboards and (obviously) killer percussion work, TLK is equal parts 60’s Soul, 70’s R&B and current Pop. In other …

Pacer
No. 1
Chunksaah Records
4/10
The debut release from Pacer, the loud, melodic up and coming punk band from London, England, could very well be the soundtrack to some teenage boys’ Saturday night, cruising around in search of something good.
The seven songs on No. 1 sound a lot like the Bouncing Souls crossed with Municipal Waste – outspoken and aggressive, though melodic and with words to sing to. Though there isn’t a song on the album that exceeds three minutes, the aggression and grating quality of singer/guitarist Robert Wilson’s voice draws out …

Casey Curry and the Remainders
Tidal Tales From The Other Side
Self-Released
8/10
It’s difficult for me to review my friends’ work, especially of a dude I’ve known for over two decades. Even more so when I like their stuff. My friends and I are NOT nice to each other. But, when you have talented friends, it’s gonna happen. After his stint in the 60’s surf-sound band The Passports, Curry has broken away from Beach Boys and gone more Nick Cave, alternating between brooding low-keys and bombastic jams with a gratuitous instrumentation, including lap …

Gatorface
Wasted Monuments
No Idea Records
7/10
Orlando Florida’s Gatorface has created a very solid album with their recent release, Wasted Monuments. While not the strongest release of the year so far, it is one that definitely packs a punch in comparison to some of the competition out there.
I will say this right now, as far as musicianship goes Gatorface’s performance on this album is very tight and aggressive, second only to perhaps the Flatliners. They continuously deliver furious punk rock on each track that at times I kind of want to stage dive …

Trick or treat, kids. While Halloween isn’t here quite yet, I still have some audio candy for you: Killer Sharks 6! We are now offering a half dozen CD-length compilations featuring big names and no names, major label artists and no-label artists.  And, as we’ve done for the previous 5 Killer Sharks albums, we tack on some hand-done artwork to accompany it, this time around provided by Lisa Thompson, our very own British person. Seriously, she lives in England and everything.
Well, by now, you should know the drill, so make …

Dead to Me
Wait for It
Shield Recordings
10/10
Dead to Me’s latest 7-inch, “Wait for It”, was a rather pleasant surprise for 2010. There was no formal talk about the band releasing said 7-inch, as far as anyone knew Dead to Me wasn’t releasing any material this year, then out of nowhere a twitter update was posted about recording some new songs. Give or take a few weeks and there was an update about how it was going to be released in Europe in September and in America in October (just in time …

The CMJ Music Marathon is a yearly gathering of jaded music industry types and eager, not-yet-jaded college radio kids in New York City.  Young, pretty radio girls, beware: don’t be seduced by that seemingly sweet and handsome radio promoter! Just a word of advice from years of experience. The festival, which is put on by the publication CMJ (College Music Journal) takes place over 5 days and if you go hard and party till you drop, can be a 24 hour affair. From day panels to day parties to evening …

Racket gets a LOT of albums to review, but we got shit to do, mang. We all have day jobs, significant others, families and beer to drink. Or any combination thereof. Either way, sometimes we get behind and, to catch up, we bust out these haikus. If it passes for 10th grade poetry, it can pass for journalism, right?

Time to show that France is about more than berets, mime camp, and children drinking wine. This year’s festival has teamed up with Record Makers to celebrate their label’s 10 year anniversary. These guys know how to party, and with their catalog of slick techno disco-pimp grooves it’s a union that puts the “ménage à trios” back in “Ooh La La”. The festival drips signature Parisian style with a line-up showcasing the sounds of French sensuality, spirited revolution, dancey techno beats, wafty accordion, and laid back countryside drives.
Ooh La …

Darlings
Warma
Famous Class Records
6/10
There’s something very likable about Darlings, and it’s not just the urge to spoon that their name conjures up. I think, partly, it’s because I like to be surprised by music and the female lead I was expecting on this release just wasn’t so…leading – though she was there in the background. The rest of these warm fuzzy feelings stem from the vague sense of familiarity about this record; Warma is a sort of “smoosh” of ideas, sounds and other bands – and, yet, it seems to work.
When …

The Black Pacific
The Black Pacific
SideOneDummy Records
7.5/10
Black Pacific’s self-titled debut album has reminded me why I grew to dislike Pennywise so much over the years despite them being one of my favorite bands growing up. Now before you think that I hate this album I want to let you know that my feelings are quite the opposite. I actually really enjoyed it a great deal. However I do have to make somewhat of a comparison to Jim Lindberg’s old band in order to help people understand where I am coming from.
After …

Eli “Paperboy” Reed
Come and Get It
Capitol Records
9/10
Eli “Paperboy” Reed is a musical oddity. In a music scene dominated by auto-tuned techno-pop and skinny-jeaned screamers, it’s a soulful expression of the game of love. Warnings to girls whose loins would stray, longings for the missing pieces and subtle sexual innuendos are all expertly delivered with hoots and hollers that would get even your grandparents up and dancing. Horns, piano, a bombastic rhythm section and shimmery guitars pair perfectly with Reed’s voice.
While the opener, “Young Girl,” Reed lays down the style early, …

Tony Castles
No Service
Famous Class Records
8/10
At the very least, Tony Castles’ No Service is a pick ‘n’ mix of eclecticism with each track being a mile or two apart from the last. On listening to the first track, I was pretty sure that – at best – it was a full on shitter. But, while it’s too painful to use the ‘w’ word here, I’m pleased to say I…wasn’t quite right.  It’s really an interesting sound that Brooklyn’s Tony Castles have cultivated for themselves; it’s fuzzy and disjointed in a way …