Oingo Boingo Ain't Oi: Reviews Of Recent Releases By Local Bands, Pt. 37
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.
Bad Noids - It's A Doggie Bag World - Feel It Records - 3 songs - 7", download
I wasn't expecting a new Bad Noids record this year, but I'm happy there was one. Side A is taken by one song only (a Bad Noids first) with the great punk tune "Into The Future." It doesn't really sound like the Bad Noids of the past, as in it's not some goofy hardcore thing, but it's really good. A nice optimistic song for our future, I guess. Also, it's got an excellent music video. Side B immediately lets us know that if we were worried that the Noid boys had left their "Everything From Soup To Dessert" stylings behind, we have nothing to fear. "Twelve Years Old" is a real nice hardcore ripper, though I'd like to point out that they already used the "I hate my job, I hate my boss" lyric on "Generic Song" from their previous 7" (except there, they followed it with "I hate my girl" and a line I won't repeat here instead of "I hate water, it gets me wet" like they do here). "My Friend Greg" brings out the cheerful inanity that you know and either love or hate from the group. This might be the most consistent Bad Noids record I've heard yet, but I should probably go back and listen to "Everything…" again just to be sure. Also, I think Feel It did a really nice job with the packaging for this one. 4.5/5
(feelitrecordshop.com to purchase, feelitrecords.bandcamp.com if you prefer your delights digitally)
Disco 3000 - Disco 3000 - not on label - 5 songs - Cassette
I believe that this Columbus group is named for the Sun Ra album, but I've been wrong about these kinds of things before, so don't listen to me. There are several color variants for the tape artwork, and I've ended up with a green one, which means that most of the lyrics are illegible as they are overlaid with blue shapes. What I can read is pretty interesting though! To let you know what you're getting into here, there's female vocals, saxophone, and very lo-fi audio quality. In addition to having five pretty good punk rippers (with the free jazz element, I guess– the saxophone plus the band name makes me wanna say there's some free jazz something or another to it), I also enjoy the game show music or whatever that's supposed to be getting progressively worse in between the tunes. And the tape doesn't end there, oh no! After the five tracks, you've got some avant garde assemblages to intercept, and then the whole thing repeats. Which is a good thing, because you're gonna wanna listen to it again, just to be sure of everything. I really enjoyed it, though I get the feeling that it's the kind of thing you're supposed to witness live. If anyone knows these people, tell them to bring the show up Cleveland way. 4.25/5
(I've only seen this for sale at bugcartel.storenvy.com, but seeing as that site is currently "under construction," I guess you should just try an area record store. Or you can go to Columbus and look for a copy. Oh, and the tape lists a phone number: (970) 82-DISCO, but I was too scared to try that myself. Please report back to me with your findings if you try that.)
Vanilla Poppers - Lurking In The Corner Of Cleveland Ohio - Negative Jazz - 6 songs - 7"
Vanilla Poppers finally make their non-cassette debut here, with 6 songs of their popper punk. Not pop punk, that's a different thing. I already used all my good jokes when I reviewed their tour tape "Tour Tape" several months ago, sorry. Anyway, 5 of the 6 tunes here were previously available on their universally sold out demo tape, but you should have both versions because they're different, ya know? For example, "Pleasure Rush," the band's theme song, has a bit in the middle where the music abruptly stops– nice touch. My favorites here (which are probably also my favorite Vanilla Poppers songs altogether) are "Lurking In The Corner" and "It's Love," both excellent punk rippers on which it seems like each member of the band is trying to play the song faster than the other three, while at the same time not wanting the song to fall apart. It sits right on the edge of falling into chaos, which is a sound I quite enjoy. You know and love the Poppers already from their previous releases, and all the other bands the members are in, but in their own grand scheme, this blows the tour tape out of the water and certainly holds its own if not beats the demo. For a non-Cleveland label, Negative Jazz is doing pretty good by our local acts this year, with both this and the Prison Moan 7". Oh, and in case you wondered if they were Flyin' Trichecos fans, their borrowing of the "sniff" motif (most noticeable on the Side B label) ought to demonstrate to you their feelings. 4.35/5
(negativejazz.bigcartel.com)
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.