A thread for station reviews.

[Matt]

Do you think I was off-base in saying it has the mall-punk sort of sound?  It seems like it does, but I have to admit I'm not really well-versed in it.

That's nuts that you're not so familiar with File Under!  I actually listen to that more than Copper Blue.  But that's only because I'm an idiot and haven't managed to load my Copper Blue CD into my iTunes.

[Trevor]

I don't really consider Saves The Day, "mall punk," but I can understand why someone would call them that.  If anything they're kind of one of the founding fathers of "mall punk."  Through Being Cool is such a fun album, and I have continued to listen to it over the years.  I'm not exactly well versed in this genre either, but due to the fact that Saves The Day were around in the mid to late 90s, and that Through Being Cool came out in the late 90s (I think), I tend to give them a pass.  They kind of played that genre before it was hip, and they did it really well.

Copper Blue is hands down my favorite Sugar album, but I clearly need to familiarize myself with File Under.

[Matt]

Word.  I got the sense that calling them mallpunk was sort of unfair, and that they were really the ones to blaze that trail, so it's not really their fault that crappy bands aped their style.  I'll try to continue cutting them slack.

Re: Sugar -- Copper Blue is definitely the better album, but File Under has some huge hits on it.  There's also an awesome song or two on Beaster -- do you listen to that?

[Trevor]

Word.  I got the sense that calling them mallpunk was sort of unfair, and that they were really the ones to blaze that trail, so it's not really their fault that crappy bands aped their style.  I'll try to continue cutting them slack.

Re: Sugar -- Copper Blue is definitely the better album, but File Under has some huge hits on it.  There's also an awesome song or two on Beaster -- do you listen to that?

It's unfortunate that Saves The Day helped influence a generation of both awful bands, and awful people who enjoy awful bands.

I own Beaster, but rarely listen to it.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it a bit different from their other releases?  A bit harsher maybe? 

[doctoracula]

saves the day didnt necessarily start out as mall punk, but bands that sounded like them a year or two later definitely fit into that category.  its the same thing with lifetime.

[BigTasty]

So who's up for a fiver?

[Matt]

It's unfortunate that Saves The Day helped influence a generation of both awful bands, and awful people who enjoy awful bands.

I own Beaster, but rarely listen to it.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it a bit different from their other releases?  A bit harsher maybe? 

It's definitely got some weird shit on it, and some pretty harsh/difficult stuff on it.  I don't really care for it outside of one or two songs.  Seriously, next chance you get, listen to "Tilted" from that album -- maybe the best Sugar song.

[Matt]

So who's up for a fiver?

Let's do it.

[BigTasty]

Let's do it.

Co-signed!

[Matt]

Tacough Jeff Radiough!

1. Elvis Costello -- Radio, Radio.  Well, this is pretty much a perfect song.  I won't even think about trying to fuck with it.  10/10

2. Deep Sleep -- Screwed.  This is an awesome early LA-sounding punk song.  It reminds me of this old band called Aggression.  Really cool stuff.  7/10

3. Steinways -- Missed the Boat.  Since Grivet is so critical of Last FM baseball, I'm going to be critical of his drumming here: It's pretty sloppy.  Was he rushed through this and not allowed to do another take?  The bass drum is a little distracting.  Stock Steinies ending.  This was pretty decent, but I was focusing on Grivet too much to notice!  I'll give it a better score next time.  5/10

4. Dwarves -- Salt Lake City.  There was a stretch of time were I fucking loved the Dwarves.  This album is one of the things that got me out of that phase.  The Dwarves should not be playing a shitty pop song like this.  This is offensive! Get that alt-percussion out of here! 4/10

5. Dr Dre -- Nuthin' But a "G" Thang.  I still love this song.  I still own the cassingle (radio edit)! 10/10

Excellent radio, Taco!

[Jesse]

You know what's really great? The most recent Bob Mould solo album, District Line.

[Matt]

You know what's really great? The most recent Bob Mould solo album, District Line.

Really?  I've never delved into the world of Bob Mould solo.

[Trevor]

Really?  I've never delved into the world of Bob Mould solo.

OK, here's how you should do it:

S/T
Body of Sound
Last Dog and Pony Show
District Line

He has a few other solo albums, but they do very little for me.  One is pretty much acoustic, and one is pretty much straight up electronic. 

I LOVE solo Bob Mould, and the song "Fort Knox, King Solomon" from his S/T rivals anything Sugar did.

[Matt]

Trevvie is definitely right that Scared of Chaka -- All My Friends are Ghosts is a 10/10.

[Matt]

OK, here's how you should do it:

S/T
Body of Sound
Last Dog and Pony Show
District Line

He has a few other solo albums, but they do very little for me.  One is pretty much acoustic, and one is pretty much straight up electronic. 

I LOVE solo Bob Mould, and the song "Fort Knox, King Solomon" from his S/T rivals anything Sugar did.

I'm scared to go through with this!  I'm sure I will eventually, though.

[Jesse]

Really?  I've never delved into the world of Bob Mould solo.

Really. I'd rank it above File Under, and possibly above Candy Apple Grey as well.

[Matt]

Really. I'd rank it above File Under, and possibly above Candy Apple Grey as well.

How do you rank all the Husker Du albums, Jesse?

[BigTasty]

RADIO MATTEIO?!

1. Los Campesinos! - Drop it Doe Eyes - With a name like this, I was expecting some sort on latin band. This is poppy-british stuff. This isn't bad. There's some weird stuff going on, bells, the guitar kinda sounds strange too. I gotta go with a 5/10

2. The Only Ones - Another Girl, Another Planet -This is some 70's power pop stuff. Hmm..the beginning sounded a lot like Bush's "Glycerine". This obviously predates them by a a long time. This is catchy enough. Nice little guitar solo too! 7/10

3. Tape and Wire - Church of Beer - My best friend from high school, who now lives in So. Carolina was telling me about a bar out there that holds church service. I always thought that was pretty neat since Jesus was one of the first home wine makers. I've never heard this ban before. Its some 90's sounding alternative stuff. Pretty good. I'll go with 6/10

4. Dead Mechanical - Shitty Wedding - Hey, its Dead Mechanical! This band is TERRIBLE!!! I kid! I actually really like this song. You know this song, so I'm not going to bother describing it! 7/10

5. The Failures Union - Give Way - I've never heard these guys. Its kinda funny because this reminds me of Dead Mechanical a little bit. The music mainly. This is pretty good. I'll go with a 7/10

Good station! Full of a lot of stuff I'd never heard before! A+ Would listen again!

[Trevor]

Trevvie is definitely right that Scared of Chaka -- All My Friends are Ghosts is a 10/10.

Which makes the song "December" from the How To Lose EP a 15/10.

[Matt]

Which makes the song "December" from the How To Lose EP a 15/10.

I have to re-listen to that.  For some reason it did not make my 22-song Best of Scared of Chaka playlist!

[BigTasty]

Goddamn critical Grivet!! Why's he gotta mess up my radio like that?!! 

[Trevor]

3. Tape and Wire - Church of Beer - My best friend from high school, who now lives in So. Carolina was telling me about a bar out there that holds church service. I always thought that was pretty neat since Jesus was one of the first home wine makers. I've never heard this ban before. Its some 90's sounding alternative stuff. Pretty good. I'll go with 6/10

5. The Failures Union - Give Way - I've never heard these guys. Its kinda funny because this reminds me of Dead Mechanical a little bit. The music mainly. This is pretty good. I'll go with a 7/10

A 9/10, and 10/10 respectively for me.  Great songs, great bands.

[Jesse]

How do you rank all the Husker Du albums, Jesse?

Zen Arcade
Flip Your Wig tied with New Day Rising
Candy Apple Grey

and I don't have the other ones. I've been meaning to pick up Warehouse because I've heard good things about it here, but I never see it in stores.

[Matt]

My Best of Scared of Chaka playlist (in random order):

Beating Up
Toilet Duck
Straight to the Office
Plan B
All My Friends are Ghosts
Wanna Make it Happen
Horshack
Loaded
Have a Heart Attack
Glass Socket/Broken Jaw
Frozen Out
High
Wretched
Japan
Dead Afterwards
Why Are You Weird?
Goodsky
I Must
Girls LIke You
Who's to Know
I Don't Wanna
My New One

[Trevor]

I have to re-listen to that.  For some reason it did not make my 22-song Best of Scared of Chaka playlist!

The lyrics to that song are great.