Razorcake Issue #19

is, the Red Onions don’t really soundlike this live, except for the smokingweed part. They’d probably benefitfrom better production, because thisrecord is so muddy that the energy doesn’treally come across. Five bucks saystheir next record is a winner, though.–Josh (Revenge, never a bad idea to putyour address somewhere on the record)REDSCARE, THE:Eight Pieces of Summer: CDThis is not The Red Scare that releasedtwo albums on Troubleman (and I haveto say that I wish it were because Imight have actually liked that). Tounderstand this record, think of theMighty Mighty Bosstones’ DickyBarrett fronting a mediocre (at theirbest) college rock band, playing musicfrom 1992. If that sounds unappealing,I’ve done my job. –Puckett(Teenage Rampage)RESTARTS, THE:System Error: CDStraight-up, no-bullshit punk rock froma ten-year-old power trio out of Englandthat owes more than a bit to early DOA,which isn’t bad at all. Their lyrics areright in line with their English anarchobrethren – especially The Subhumansand Oi Polloi – making explicit warningsabout genetic tinkering, overpopulation,and the dehumanization of workfor a faceless company. They bring severalflourishes of their own – along withheaps of conviction, venom, and catchiness– to make the entire CD an enjoyablelisten all the way through. SystemError’s simple, yet very effective. Ifyou’re so inclined, there’s an interviewwith them up on our website, too.They’re touring the US. –Todd (Active)RIPPERS, THE: No Mört: CDA Spanish band here serving up somerippin’ (pun intended) punk rock, rawand leaning toward the hardcore side ofthe fence without tumbling over intothat camp. The unnecessary cover of “IWanna Be Your Dog” notwithstanding,these guys make a mean racket.Recommended. –Jimmy Alvarado (H)RIVETHEAD: The CheapWine of Youth: 12” EPThis issue’s cover band, and this badboy is part of the reason. I’ll admit itright here, I love pop punk, from StiffLittle Fingers and the Buzzcocks toLove Songs for the Retarded-era Queersand I celebrate a good portion of theScreeching Weasel catalog, but I have toconcede that I was hearing few worthytorchbearers or upgrades in the 2000s.(Joe King, what’s the title of your nextsong? “Fuck fuck cunt fuck fuck fuck?”The well is dry. Go fish.) Rivethead notonly have the irresistible melodies andthe smart-as-a-baton-across-the-mouthlyrics while not taking themselves tooseriously, they’ve got an ace in the hole.They sound relevant, like they’re actuallystruggling and fucking up in theworld at large, not just complaining thatWednesday’s deli tray wasn’t supposedto have olives with pimentos or suchminutia-laden crap a lot of pop punk hasbottomed out in. I’ve had a head start onthis EP. The band gave me a burn of itabout six months ago and it’s been onconstant play ever since.Recommendations don’t come anyhigher from me. (Thumbs up to Recess,too, for pressing this on the more expensive,often overlooked, but clearly superior12” 45 format.) –Todd (Recess)ROCKET SUMMER, THE:Calendar Days: CDHi, Bryan Avary. Why did you presentyourself as a band when you are the soleperson? Nice pictures of you with yourB.C. Rich Warlock. How did you makeit sound so happy? Just wanted to saythat your songs are sweet and touching.Made me want to go out and play hopscotch.–Donofthedead (Militia Group)ROTGUT: El Borracho: CDStraight-up pissed off punk rock, thekind of CD that the uninvited guest at afrat party slaps on the host’s stereo andproceeds to fuck the living room upbeyond repair with his size 12s. Musicto violently monkeyshine to, if you will.Rotgut would’ve been the support bandon tour with the early years of AgnosticFront or Murphy’s Law. Some of youout there might even remember a few ofthe members here: Their frontman,David Cooperstein, busted out vox withthe SoCal outfit, Last Round Up, anddrummer Suzy Homewrecker laid thebeat for such bands as Hollywood Hateand about a million others. Way worthyour time, so get your own copy of thisbefore I unexpectedly show up to yournext party and introduce my size 12s.–Designated Dale (Rotgut contact:(562) 639-6822)ROUSTABOUTS, THE:The Only One: CDFirst of all, this is relatively straight-forward,well-done, melodic and competentstreet punk. Sure, maybe a handfulof bands have an edge on these guys, butthe shouted choruses and ringing,anthemic chords carry the songs wellenough that it should appeal to any fanof Bombshell Rocks, The GC5, etc. Inshort, this is solid enough to own andenjoy several times on its own merits(i.e., I’d keep it regardless). However,compared to the other shit I’ve satthrough for this issue, this might as wellbe Strong Reaction for my money.–Puckett (Haunted Town)RYMODEE/GHOST MICE: Split: CDRymodee: First of all, I love This BikeIs A Pipe Bomb. So, my expectationswere pretty high, and I was let down atfirst listen. I get really excited aboutnew sneakers, probably because I buy anew pair on average about once everytwo years. I get them home and smileevery time I walk into my room and seethem practically shining next to my pairof old faithfuls. Then I put them on forthe first real time, not just around theapartment, but for the whole day.Something just feels wrong. They’reshiny and have soles fully intact, butthey just don’t feel right. I usually won’twear them again for a couple of days,but I keep going back because I knowthat with a little time they’ll fit justright. That’s what happened withRymodee for me. I knew there wassomething to this, I just had to get to thatperfect spot with it. Redemption camein the form of some cramming before afinal and a loud group in the libraryapparently studying for their Petty Shitand Hair Tips 101 class. This was theonly CD I had, so I listened to it eighttimes in a row. Somewhere around thesixth listen I felt the last of the solebreak in and felt it fit perfectly aroundme. More folk and bluegrass influencethan TBIAPB, and no catchy pop hintseither, but for quiet-time listening itdoesn’t get much better than this for melately. Ghost Mice: Definitely decent,