The REUTERS are back in the #CPRAMUSICNews spotlight again with their latest LP release, ‘Incubation’. I once described this band as “Killing Joke Meets The Doors” and that label still seems to apply with ‘Incubation’. Their blend of garage and psychedelic punk rock continues to pay homage to the greats of music’s past.
I really enjoyed the new lp and want to thank Erik Pols for sending us a copy of the vinyl. I really miss getting records from bands. Thanks Erik!
Favorite Tracks: Blow Smoke Up Your Ass, The Return Of Karl Marx and many more!
Sounds Like: Buzzcocks, Dirty Work, Zipperz and Subhumans
The ever popular one man punk rock band is back with ‘Volume 5: The Return of Karl Marx’! This 19 track album is FREE right now on Bandcamp, but make sure you throw some cash to help cover the cost!
Favorite Tracks: Shooting Silver Bullets, When She Bleeds (She Bleeds Bright Green), Copilot/April Fools!, and Bones
Sounds Like: Buzzcocks, Dirty Work, Zipperz and Subhumans
Good Morning Denver Colorado! (In my best Robin Williams impression)
Skabones will never be as cool as Robin Willams!
We have been stuck in quarantine for a few weeks now. CPRA has always and will continue to be strong supporters of the DIY scene. We support the underdogs in the fight against the corporate music industry. You know that industry that continues to screw bands over? So today CPRA is proud to present a one man band “Smokin’ Sam Babin!
Sounds Like: Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, The Damned, The Bronx, and Strung Out
As Tiger Army once said, “And through the darkness my love shines”. This is such a strange time for all of us. Out of the darkness the music scene is still shining through. Long Beach, CA based punks, Spider has released a new lyric video for, “Energy Gone Wrong”. We here at CPRA love SPIDER, and have reviewed them on a few occasions. You can read those reviews here, https://coloradopunkrockarmy.com/tag/spider/.
Favorite Tracks: Death Of A Nation, Stronger Than This, 23, Sadder Day, and The Darkest Night.
Sounds Like: TSOL, Ramones, Dickies, The Vibrators, The Heartbreakers, and The Cramps
Photo by Megan Brooke
It’s no surprise your friendly neighborhood punx here at CPRA love classic punk rock. Maybe we’re just all 40+? I kid of course. We grew up when punk rock was planting its roots. You couldn’t simply walk into Hot Topic and buy a Misfits shirt. You had to seek out a locally owned record shop hoping they may have one in stock. Now it’s 2019 and my have things changed. There’s one thing that hasn’t changed. My love for a classic punk sound!
It’s my pleasure to review the new Sin City Rejects new album, “Death Of A Nation”. This record features, Scotty Griffin (L.A. Guns) on Lead Vocals, Johnny Roxx (Ian Mitchell’s Bay City Rollers) on Lead Guitar & Jason Green (Sin City Sinners) on bass. This album also features guest appearances by Richie Ramone (Ramones) Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative) & Anthony Tiny Biuso (T.S.O.L., The Dickies).
Scotty Griffin Pic By Benjamin Adams
“The Death Of A Nation” starts the record with a speech clip from Malcolm X. “Our forefathers weren’t the Pilgrims. We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock; the rock was landed on us”. (Ballot or the Bullet (Washington Heights, NY, March 29, 1964). Talk about a powerful opening. The classic punk sound is so evident, yet the simplicity of it all is encouraging.
“Ask not what your country can do,
But when and how,
They’re gonna fuck you”
“Stronger Than This” is one of those songs you NEED to have when going through a tough relationship break up. It’s also my personal favorite track on the record. Green’s bass lines quickly become an addiction, while Griffin’s vocals lead the guitar into an excellent solo. The kick drum on this track will be your new best friend.
“23” is up next and grab that pogo. It’s not quite the mosh of all moshing songs, but it’s catchy, hilarious, and simple. This track is about dating a person much younger than you. I’m 42 and deathly afraid of ever having to rejoin the dating scene. Plus at 23 we are all bat shit crazy trying to figure shit out.
“(I Just Wanna) Waste Some Time With You” follows and features legend, Richie Ramone. This Ramonescore song is wonderfully crafted. Grab your partner head for the pit. This is a punk rock love song! The guitar on this track is fantastic. The next track is “Sadder Day”. This track has to be inspired by the Ramones. The “Bop” is clearly evident and adds meticulously to grand culmination. I love this track!
“Mama Always Knew” follows with a darker edge. We’ve all been in shitty relationships with people whom are bad for us. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way. If you’re like me, probably a few times haha!. The track has a nice heavy bass line, great drum work, and catchy lyrics. “If Mary Wanna” in next. This catchy anthem to cannabis is a Sin City Sinners cover. This track has been stuck in head since first listen.
“On The Darkest Night”, feels like the Cramps crawled out of the grave and reunited for just one track. The heavy bass lines, circus freak like drums, surf rock guitar riffs, and metal like vocals. This is another one of my favorite tracks. Be sure to add this to any Halloween playlist!
Damn I wish I could make this show!
In conclusion this record kicks serious ass! “The Death Of A Nation” by the Sin City Rejects is MUST own record. This is one of those albums that will appeal to not only punks, but old school metal lovers as well. The catchy songs, wicked drums, amazing bass and guitar will have you clamoring for more. Hit the link below to download now!
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Track List (Per Bandcamp)
Death of a Nation
Stronger Than This
23
(I Just Wanna) Waste Some Time With You Ft Richie Ramone
Format: July 26th (digitally) and Aug 9th (physical) via CPYRT CNTRL RCRDS.
Label: CPYRT CNTRL RCRDS
Location: Long Beach CA
Current Lineup: (Per Facebook)
Hector Martinez (vocals)
Karl Izumi (guitar, vocals)
Jeff Abarta (bass, vocals)
Alf Silva (drums)
Favorite Tracks: Energy Gone Wrong, Depression, and The Reeperbahn
Sounds Like: Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, The Damned, The Bronx, and Strung Out
SPIDER is back in the CPRA Music News headlines once again, with a brand new EP set to drop on 7/26/2019. Lala reviewed their 2018 release here, https://coloradopunkrockarmy.com/2018/12/03/spider-st-ep/. I listened to their last release and was blown away. Lately it seems we are getting nothing but awesome fucking music from Socal bands. In the last month or, so we’ve reviewed, Corporate Citizen, and Greg Antista and The Lonely Streets. Personally I feel a very strong resurgence coming from Cali based punk band in the near future.
An absolute ripper of a song provides the intro for the EP, “Energy Gone Wrong”. The steely guitars are backed by a heart pounding drum and bass. This one is for anyone who ever felt like they didn’t belong. For everyone whose parents called them, “Bad Kids”. The lyrics are so damn catchy. I fucking love this song. It’s almost like life is a written computer program. If you or I don’t fit the rules, life throws us out as an ERROR.
“This constant attempt At the experiment A pig in a poke Who can’t afford the rent This restless attempt At the experiment A suicide vest Of belligerence”
“Depression”, is up next and a cover of Black Flag’s from “Damaged”. While, Flag’s version is timeless I have to admit it is starting to sound a bit old. SPIDER’s version increases the bass, and maybe even the speed. There’s no tin sound coming from the drums, which leads me to love the cover even more. It could be just better recording or better drums, but nonetheless; this version if fucking killer.
“The Reeperbahn”, is sadly the last track. This is yet another blistering energetic romp through the song writer’s mind. Per Wikipedia, “The Reeperbahn (German: [ˈʁeːpɐˌbaːn] (About this soundlisten)) is a street and entertainment district in Hamburg’s St. Pauli district, one of the two centres of Hamburg’s nightlife (the other being Sternschanze) and also the city’s major red-light district.” This one is super heavy on drums and yet another super catchy tune.
Let’s wrap up this review. SPIDER’s, “Energy Gone Wrong”, encapsulates the best of a 70s and 80s hardcore theme, while embracing 2019. In comparison to their first release I must admit I am loving, this EP. It’s not that the last one wasn’t good, but it felt more like they were still working on finding their style. The songs are far more polished, while leaving the anthems and chants stuck in your head. So on 7/26/2019, be sure to pick this one up right away. I’m throwing this one in the mix for Best EP of 2019. Pre order link – https://presave.io/t/energygonewrong
Sadly there is no Denver tour date below, but I have a great feeling these guys will hit the Mile High soon enough. Be sure to pick this one up on vinyl for the best possible listen. Per the press release, “The physical release is a limited edition 7” vinyl record offered in clear and white variants. The release features two original songs “Energy Gone Wrong” and “The Reeperbahn” plus a cover of Black Flag’s “Depression.””.
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Favorite Tracks: Radioactivity, Nervous Wreck, This Machine Empowers Facists and Darkness Glows
Sounds Like: Exploited, Almataha, Rene SG, Minor Threat, and Gorilla Biscuits
We get a ton of reviews requests on a weekly basis. Some are so good, we can’t refuse. Some we have to pass, because it may not fit our format. On that note if you would like to help keep our reviews and website up, please donate here.
On that note we get a ton of pop punk review requests. Don’t get me wrong I love me some good pop punk, but sometimes you just need some good street punk in your lives. You need the energetic, fuck the establishment, pure and raw sound. Melbourne punks, Dead Already are doing just that with their latest release, “Gilded Age Of Piss”.
This EP is non stop train of old school classic punk straight out the back alleys of Melbourne. With songs like, ‘Nervous Wreck’, ‘This Machine Empowers Facists’ and ‘Darkness Glows’ I find myself fist pumping inside my office. My boss is probably thinking I’ve gone mental. Oh well fuck him anyway. So if you need something to accommodate an angry outburst, socially powerful, Dead Already’s, “Gilded Age Of Piss” is exactly the EP you NEED.
Album features a cover by The Strike, and a feature by Paul Sorrels of the The Virus
Label:
Food Waste Records
Back From The Dead Records
Location: Toronto
Current Lineup: (Per Facebook)
Zack-Lead guitar/Vocals
Mac-Bass/back up vocals
Sal- Drums/Vocals
Favorite Tracks: Where Are You, Let’s Hit The Road, Never Say Die, and Hogtown Hooligans.
Sounds Like: Street Dogs, Almataha, US Bombs, Exploited, Subhumans, Zipperz, Potato Pirates, Bad Engrish, and Last Reel Hero.
Toronto-based punks, Dirty Work released their new album back on October 12, 2018. CPRA has been slammed with album requests. If you didn’t guess by now we love music! I go into every album review with an extremely open mind. This is because what’s considered “Punk” to someone may not be, “Punk” to another.
We also like to review other subgenres like ska and rockabilly so keeping an open mind is essential when it comes to music. So how is the Dirty Work new album, “In The West End”? In one word, excellent, na two words fucking excellent! I’ve probably listened to this about 20 times in the last 24 hours. This album combines some epic elements, classic punk like the Damned or Subhumans, OI like Cocksparrer and The Business, and old fashioned street punk like the Street Dogs or GBH. There’s also a sweet turbo smash here and there. I reached out to Sal (Drummer) for comment regarding the new album. “We started writing this album about a year and a half ago. We were hoping to have it out before our last U.S. tour, “Dart’n USA”, when we played at fywrok, but unfortunately the labels that were interested would have needed a year to put it out, so once we got back from that tour we started pressing it ourselves to have it ready for our last Canadian tour, “Hogtown to Halifax”.
We will be touring down to Florida, along the east coast, in April and hopefully back throughout the Midwest next July. Rather than that, a few more Canadian runs and hopeful plans to make it back out along the west coast up through to Denver at some point.
We absolutely love hitting the road and bringing our tunes to new places and new faces. We have started writing new stuff, but no plans as of yet for a new release. Right now we’re just focused on touring this album” Hopefully we get a Denver show sometime in the future!
Some of my personal favorite tracks are, ‘Let’s Hit The Road’, ‘Ready To Go’, ‘Never Say Die’, ‘In The West End’, and ‘Hogtown Hooligans’. My favorite by far is ‘Force To Fight’. The drums are wicked good, and the gutter style is just fucking epic.
I’ve laced my reviews with expletives so my job here is done. This album is guaranteed to blow your speakers out! Pick up this record, right now, https://dirtyworkofficial.bandcamp.com/.
Tracks: (Per Bandcamp)
1. Ready to Go
2. Attack, Attack
3. Force to Fight
4. Hogtown Hooligans
5. The Kids (Know What’s Going On)
6. Let’s Hit the Road (featuring Paul Sorrels)
7. Steel Toes
8. Never Say Die
9. Where Were You?
Favorite Tracks: Crazy Kids, Damn Your Soul, London Boys, She Doesn’t Love You Anymore, Little Black Book, and Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day
Sounds Like: The Heartbreakers, New York Dolls, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, The Jam, Sham 69, and The Damned.
Photo by Spencer Lloyd
In 25 years a lot can change. We’ve lost some legendary punk pioneers like, David Bowie, Steve Soto, GG Alin, most of the Ramones and sadly the list continues to grow. This leads me to Johnny Thunders and the legacy he left with his iconic sound.
Of course you’re like Ska Bones. This isn’t about Johnny Thunders and his legacy? This review is about Walter Lure and the Waldo’s. Well Yes I say on both accounts. Johnny’s unique sound left an unforgettable impression throughout the punk world.
Walter Lure and Johnny Thunders photo by Justine Fitzpatrick
Walter Lure and Johnny Thunders photo by Justine Fitzpatrick
From his start with the New York Dolls, Johnny aka John Anthony Genzale, was changing the face of North American rock. In my opinion punk was direct spit in the face to so called, “Pop” music. His guitar riffs and style can still be heard today through various other bands.
Per Johnny’s Wikipedia page, he formed the Heartbreakers after the New York Dolls began to have issues. Thunders formed the Heartbreakers with Jerry Nolan, Richard Hell and Walter Lure. Ratch replaced Nolan shortly after.
The Heartbreakers would go on to tour after with such acts as the Ramones, Sex Pistols and The Damned. Their popularity was stronger in Europe and there they recorded their iconic album, “L.A.M.F.”. This is one of my favorite albums of all time. They would sadly breakup shortly thereafter.
Walter Lure and Johnny Thunders photo by Justine Fitzpatrick
Sadly we lost Johnny Thunders to a drug overdose and some people may argue foul play. Let’s fast forward 25 years later. The punk scene has changed, but the Heartbreakers have remained in our hearts. Walter Lure has picked up the pieces of the Heartbreakers to form Walter Lure and The Waldos. His new album, “Wacka Lacka Boom Bop A Loom Bam Boo” drops August 17, 2018 via Cleopatra Records.
We decided to give the record proper spin and also because it contains the introduction track, “Crazy Kids”. Per Lure, “Crazy Kids”, is about the final days of Johnny Thunders. This song will be featured in the upcoming full-length film ‘Thunders: Room 37’. So let’s go ahead and start the review here!
“Crazy Kids” starts off with an amazing drum intro. The guitar and bass soon join in. This is really a fitting tribute to Johnny Thunders. It maintains that classic punk sound with edgy and steel like riffs. This song is extremely catchy and sure to strike some nostalgia from the CBGB days.
“Damn Your Soul”, this one has some great lyrics and that steel sound from the guitar. This one really reminds me of more of an English pub rock style song. The guitar solo midway through is quite impressive. “Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day)”, is up next on the track list.
Photo by Spencer Lloyd
This cover of Lloyd Pierce’s song is backed with trumpets. Who says trumpets don’t belong in punk rock? I’ll fight anyone who disagrees. Haha! Lure’s voice on the track really adds the needed edge to this one. “London Boys” is a cover of the original Thunders/Heartbreakers tune.
You should definitely read the history of this song over at Punk 77. This song brings a cleaner version to it, yet continues to pay tribute to Johnny. “Lazy Day”, follows it’s probably the slowest track on the record. Yet it’s catchy and fun. The chorus pushes in that classic punk sound. “Take A Chance On Me” and no this not an ABBA cover, thank God
Photo by Spencer Lloyd
This one has more of a Pittsburg/NYC sound to it. It reminds of something Bruce Springsteen would compose. The harmonica sends the message of power, but sends in the sexy. The chorus is almost addictive. “Wham Bam Boo”, keeps the harmonica style from the last song. The drums are really prominent on this one. Is Walter Lure really the Wanderer? I kid of course.
“Bye Bye Baby”, is up next on the record. The lyrics make this a great anti love song. The guitar chords and progressions are remarkable. This is probably my favorite next to “Crazy Kids”.
“Bye Bye Baby,
I ain’t that crazy,
I know that it’s time to go,
I ain’t that lazy,
You’ll be the first to know”
“She Doesn’t Love You Anymore”, this one has melodies reminiscent of the Ramones. Considering Lure worked with The Ramones on their albums ‘Subterranean Jungle’ (1983), ‘Too Tough To Die’ (1984) and ‘Animal Boy’ (1986) this sounds fantastic.
“Little Black Book, comes next with a kick ass opening bass line. This song has sort of a jazzy southern/City Of Steel sound to it. The combination of the bass, guitar riffs, harmonica, and saxophone contribute to this blues like anthem. “Don’t Mess With Cupid”, comes ripping back to set the album tone. The trumpets in the background, along with the background vocals push the progression along. This one is catchy and fun jam.
Photo by Spencer Lloyd
Now let’s talk a cover song. The classic song, “You Talk To Much”, by Joe Jones, gets a proper cover treatment from Walter Lure And The Waldo’s. This version sounds almost like some kinda rockabilly sock hop version. The sax comes in blasting to join the popular melody. Lure has definitely made this song his own.
In conclusion I am absolutely honored that CPRA received this review. This album pays tribute to Thunders, while proving Walter Lure is still an absolute punk icon. Lure has compiled a record that will appeal to old and new punks alike. Be sure to hit that preorder button on this one!
Track List
Crazy Kids
Damn Your Soul
Where Were You (On Our Wedding Day) (Lloyd Price cover)
Sounds Like: The Damned, The Exploited, GBH, Rat Scabies, NY Dolls, The Cramps, and Sex Pistols
In yesterday’s review of Blinding Eye Dog- “R’Lyeh Wasn’t Built In A Decade, Hon!”, I talked about how punk rock has changed so much over the last 40 years. In fact I’ve been on bit of The Damned kick lately, probably since they are due back in Denver this October. I recently listened to the Damned’s, “Plan 9 Channel 7”.
Don’t get me wrong I love the song, but it has this lady singing in the background. It just sounds super strange. In fact it’s actually kind of annoying. Yet it was downright creepy. I popped on the Bamboo Viper’s latest ep, “Haunted House”. How awesome is it CPRA gets to review two bands that have a classic English punk sound back to back? Let’s check this one out!
“Haunted House”, this track is amazing. It has this kind of rockabilly Misfits undertone to it. The guitar shreds on this one. The vocals are dark, yet still have a fair amount of OI. These guys should’ve been on an episode of the, “Young Ones”!
“Malcontent”, is up next on the list. This one has a great little guitar riff leading the song. The sound on this one is fantastic. The song is a bit slower, but the progression leads back into mayhem. “Payback”, rolls us into the next. The hooks on this are spectacular. The bass lends it low tone to follow suit.
This one sounds a little more western than the last. It’s basically about catching your spouse with your boss. Haha! Again there’s another awesome riff. The drums really stick out on this track, by being a bit more commanding and noticeable. This is one of the longer track on the record. It clock’s in at 07:02.
Being a fan of classic punk rock I have to say. I was very surprised how much I REALLY loved this ep. The Bamboo Vipers are paving the way for the return of horror punk. I don’t mean punk like the Lillington’s (Still love them too). I mean punk with a grittier street sound. This whole ep sounds like it came straight off the record player. That my friend’s is a truly great thing!
