Decimals Determined By Dartboard: Reviews Of Recent Releases By Local Bands, Pt. 35

Obligatory Disclaimer: Record reviews are a tricky business. It's one thing to enjoy music, but to, like, pick out what you like about it? That being said, if I review your thing and I didn't like something, don't feel too bad. My opinion doesn't matter all that much. 

Big Charley & The Domans - Can't Even Enjoy My Home - Hilltop Records / My Mind's Eye - 2 songs - 7"

Lee Dresser & The Krazy Kats - Wiggly Little Mama - Hilltop Records / My Mind's Eye - 2 songs - 7"

Golden Teardrops - Closer And Closer - Hilltop Records / My Mind's Eye - 2 songs - 7"

Here are the three latest releases in the archival series My Mind's Eye currently has going. For the interest of saving time and space, I'm reviewing all three in one. These are in order of Hilltop catalog numbers– 901, 902, and 903 (or, if you prefer, My Mind's Eye catalog numbers– MME-003, MME-003, and MME-003). Big Charley & The Domans bring us two slices of R&B– the A-side "Can't Even Enjoy My Home" and its flip, "You're Gonna Need Me." My preferred track was "Can't Even…," but people more into this style of music than me will dig both. Lee Dresser & The Krazy Kats, who are from Missouri, do two jumpin' Jerry Lee Lewis-style rock 'n' rollers, "Wiggly Little Mama" and "Hey Mr. Weasel." And just like all good rockabilly, there's some good innuendos in there. For those of you who care, The Cramps covered Mr. Dresser's "Beat Out My Love," so there ya go. "Closer And Closer," the first one here by Golden Teardrops, is a really good doo-wop ballad. The flip, "Caroline," is a more cha-cha style one that reminds me of something that would play in the background at an ice cream shop. The company sleeves and retro-styled inserts are nice touches. And all this is the real deal– 100% analog and all that stuff. Good historical documents. I don't rate singles, but since I'm technically reviewing six songs here… 3.9741/5

(mymindseye.bigcartel.com)

Pig Flayer - Pig Flayer - Quality Time Records / Saucepan Records / Wax Mage Records - 4 songs - 7", download

Pig Flayer has the exact same lineup as The Nico Missile, but Marty Brass sings instead of Ricky Hamilton. Just in case you're unaware of how that goes. These guys provide the noisy garage punk counterpoint to whatever it is The Nico Missile's doing these days. Side A's "Big Decision" and "Ghost In The Rain" are quickie rockers that are enjoyable for fans of the genre. Side B was the more interesting side to me, personally. "I Don't Like The 60's" is a slow punk burner, though I can't help but feel that there are more important things to dislike. It also shows off, if you haven't noticed thus far, that hey, that Ricky guy is actually a pretty decent drummer! "Get Me Outta Here," which fittingly closes the whole deal, reminds me of all the right things– sorta Bad Noids, sorta Homostupids, sorta Cruelster (except not as great as Homostupids or Cruelster)– just with a bit less intrigue. I can't decide whether I prefer this band live, where they're a lot sloppier, or on this record, where the sound is more restrained but I don't have to be confused by their sunglasses thing– which I don't understand, but more power to them. It's a pretty good debut. My hopes for the future are that they take it to weirder and noisier territories. And also, it's pretty cool that three pretty different Cleveland labels came together to put this one out. 3.97/5

(qualitytimerecords.bandcamp.com or saucepanrecords.bigcartel.com for a standard edition on random color vinyl (or to download, in the Quality Time case); waxmagerecords.storenvy.com if you want a very special one) 

The Roobydocks - Tavern Demo - Tall Tee Tapes - 5 songs - Cassette, download

Here's a brand new band– their first show was earlier this month. Side A is pretty unstoppable: "Peenjackle" starts off with a sample of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," then goes into a street punk ripper with a call and response chorus. "Life Is Joke" has a bit of a ska feel to it, and has some delightfully angry lyrics. Apparently, the original concept for this band was to play country music, which especially shows on "I Am Going To Kill You," which has a singalong chorus, as well as a gunshot sound effect, a "yeehaw!" and a wah-filled guitar solo. Side B has two more punkers, "McDonald's" and "Ronnie," which are both good tunes but not as great as the first side. They play street punk/hardcore/whatever with the country feel (the guitars are pretty clean throughout, as well), they've got catchy songs, and it's a fun listen– I appreciate the fun part. And if that wasn't enough, it's actually recorded pretty well– you can make out the lyrics and all the instruments! Based on Side A alone, this might be one of my favorite debut releases of the year so far– although I hear Magic City has a tape coming out soon, so that will probably shift things around some. 4.55/5

(theroobydocks.bandcamp.com to download, email tallteetapes@gmail.com or catch the band live to get a tape)

The Safeties - The Safeties - Saucepan Records - 4 songs - 7", download

A power pop record (or whatever genre this is) from Saucepan? That's a new one! It's certainly not what you'd expect from the label that brought us the likes of Real Regular or Splat. The Safeties have members of Machine Go Boom, for those of you who that means a lot to, but it's also worth noting that there's multiple Burger Boys here, too. Side A brings us two poppy alt-rock tunes with well-arranged harmonies, "No Fun" and "Silently." The first song you hear upon flipping the platter is "Only Once," which sounds very Beatle-esque to me, except that it sounds like it was recorded on someone's answering machine (but was probably, in fact, recorded in drummer Richard's basement, if I had to guess– feel free to send in angry letters correcting me) and "Evidence," which has a more similar sound to those on Side 1. I kinda don't know what to call it, as it straddles a weird line between power pop and alternative rock, but not in the same way, say, Peanut Butter Records bands do (and there's a connection there, too: bassist Bubba also plays in Cheap Clone). I don't know. My main gripe, which tends to come up frequently with this Saucepan stuff: it needs a lyric sheet. I do understand that this was a budget release (there's apparently only 100, and there are stickers on the labels for maximum value), but typically the words are an important part of music of this nature. It was enjoyable nonetheless, and I also enjoy, on two unrelated notes, the picture on the back cover and the fact that this is clearly not a band that really cares one way or the other if you think they're cool or not. If you're planning on going on a Saucepan binge soon, make sure you bookend this one with Prison Moan and Yambag, just for the most enjoyable mix. 4.18/5

(saucepanrecords.bigcartel.com for the 7", saucepanrecords.bandcamp.com to download)

Are you a local-ish band? Do you have a record out? Email vaguelythreatening@gmail.com or send it directly to Observer headquarters: The Lakewood Observer, c/o Buzz Kompier, 14900 Detroit Avenue, Suite 205, Lakewood, OH 44107. Also, thanks to Jamie Klimek for this week's title inspiration. 

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Volume 12, Issue 22, Posted 5:52 PM, 10.25.2016