Album Review: Crooked Shadows by Dashboard Confessional (by Dan Peters)

In the early 2000s, emo/pop punk was ruling supreme. Bands like The Ataris and Jimmy Eat World could do no wrong and on a pedestal all of his own stood one beautiful man with sleeves of tattoos and the voice of an heartbroken angel. Chris Carrabba stood alone with an acoustic guitar and a bared soul and cemented himself as one of the leading authorities on the genre. When the mid 2000s came along they faded into pop rock obscurity with the less than critically acclaimed Dusk and Summer and then they fell off my radar.

Now, nine years after they last put out a record, the brand new album Crooked Shadows has magically appeared on Spotify. Dashboard are a band that got me through many a tough time and heartache as a teen and young adult so I’m extremely curious to see if they recaptured that MTV Unplugged era quality or if this is just an ash can record.

‘Grower’ is how I think I’d adequately describe this album. On first try, standout tracks like the opening We Fight, Heart Beat Here and Open My Eyes (with guest instrumentation by the excellent Lindsay Stirling of YouTube fame) struck the chords I was hoping this would hit and sound classically Dashboard enough for me to instantly like it. The rest of the album I felt was too poppy, reminded me a little of The Killers and soured the overall experience for me. I could say that and end this review right here but then a funny thing happened to me. I picked the album up again. And again and again and now it’s been on constant rotation for about a week. I still think it’s incredibly poppy, and if you couldn’t ever stand the extreme end of the emo pop punk spectrum there is nothing here to win you over, but if you’re the kind of person still wearing their Jimmy Eat World tee with pride then maybe this album will creep up on you too.

As I mentioned, We Fight, Heart Beat Here and Open My Eyes are more in a classic Dashboard vein. The latter of the two being very acoustically focused and soulful. The former being a Mark, Mission, Brand, Scar era full band affair which is breathy and serious, building to a shouty crescendo in the chorus.

Other tracks on the album like Catch You and About Us are much more standard poppy fare and initially just served as a bridge between the songs I preferred but eventually I found enjoyable in their own right. Not everything hits home and there are tunes like the title track that fall a little flat and are forgettable. All in all it’s a mixed bag, with enough for me to enjoy as a background album but it’s not the triumphant return to form that other bands have enjoyed recently – which I’m fully willing to admit is in large part due to the high regard teenage me holds the band. If you liked most of their newer stuff then you’ll probably enjoy everything on offer but if you live in those golden years then it might be more of a test on your love for them.

All in all not a bad album and definitely something worth some attention especially if you’re previously a fan. But if your tastes in punk can’t push into the poppiest side of the emo spectrum then avoid at all costs, there’s nothing for you here.

Like Dashboard Confessional here: https://www.facebook.com/DashboardConfessional/

This review was written by Dan Peters.

Album Review: Loose Ends by Rhys Kirkman (by Emma Prew)

Rhys Kirkman is a Bedfordshire based musician, sometimes solo acoustic and sometimes accompanied by a band. Being Bedfordshire based myself, it probably comes as no great surprise for me to say I discovered Rhys after seeing him play live locally. I liked his songs the first time I saw him play live, I felt suitably familiar with them the second time I saw him play and by the third time I even knew some of the words. So when Loose Ends, a 4 track EP, was released in February I thought it only right that I write a review.

Loose Ends kicks off with My iPhone Is Ruining My Life, one of my favourites from a Rhys Kirkman live set and I think you’ll soon understand why. This song manages to be both amusing and brutally honest as the lyrics talk about how we are all too glued to our mobile phones, technology and social media, etc. that we’ve lost track of what’s really important. The lyrics are simply brilliant – ‘Well since I got my iPhone I haven’t got a life, You’re supposed to use it to share things with your friends, Well since I got my iPhone I haven’t got any friends left, Won’t somebody get me a Nokia 3310.’ I particularly like that last line as it turns out I’m the same age as Rhys Kirkman and I too remember the Nokia 3310 fondly. The second track, Flat Pack Bad Back, is a love song of sorts but it is certainly not your typical soppy or cheesy love song. This is a down to earth song about building flat pack furniture for the one that you love so that you’ll have something new and functional to share in your home together. It’s sweet but also has that element of amusement that the first song had. However the most important message in the song lies towards the end when we realise that it’s not about furniture or other worldly possessions – ‘It was then I realised, That it wouldn’t matter, If we were sat on the floor, Because when I’m with you, Anything will do, And I couldn’t ask for anything more.’ Also, on a personal note, Colin has been known to build flat pack furniture by himself when I’m out so that it is ready for me to see when I get home. 

The most upbeat and carefree song of the EP is this next one, My Friend Jack. Starting out with a rhythmic guitar part that’ll have your head nodding and your toes tapping, Rhys soon launches into a story about his friend, named Jack of course, who has ‘got a proper job’ working in London. And, while Jack’s got a proper job, Rhys remains in his hometown and doesn’t work 9 to 5.‘Yeah my friend Jack’s got a proper job, He works all week with no time off, Down in the city with a suit and tie, But come the weekend he’s mine.’  My Friend Jack is about trying to stay in touch with childhood friends despite the different paths your lives take you on and being nostalgic about your past life together. This is something I’m sure almost everyone reading this can relate to. The last song of Loose Ends is a song that I’m not so familiar with as I’m not sure I’ve ever heard it played live before. Heartbroken is perhaps the slowest and most serious of the four songs on this album. The title might have you thinking this is going to be a song about a break-up or another form of romantic heartbreak but actually Heartbroken is about having your bubble burst when it comes to being young (or not so young as the case may be), smoking and drinking too much and just trying to have fun. ‘Maybe I can’t get away with it, Maybe I’m not that young, Maybe I can’t do the things I did when I was 21, Maybe instead of a couple of pints, I just have one.’ The song also questions whether you can enjoy drinking or smoking or whatever if you then make up for it by doing some exercise. Personally I don’t see exercise as being a punishment for doing ‘bad’ things but then I am an exercise addict! Either way, despite the somewhat sombre nature of this song, Heartbroken is really just about wanting to have fun and doing things that make you happy. Nothing wrong with that.

The versions of songs on Loose Ends are a little different to the purely acoustic versions that I’ve heard live as the EP features piano, drums and some lovely bits of bluesy electric guitar in places. I was expecting this EP to sound more demo-like but it doesn’t at all – the four songs have been refined and polished and all sound great.

Rhys Kirkman had this to say about the release of Loose Ends: ‘The EP is a small selection of acoustic songs from the last four years – I recorded them so that you can have something to listen to while you wait for my full band EP (out in May).’ So I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears peeled for that full band EP – maybe you should too.

Loose Ends is available on iTunes and Spotify (not Bandcamp, sadly) now and you can like Rhys Kirkman over on Facebook for updates on the forthcoming full band EP.

This review was written by Emma Prew.

Album Review: Keep This Close by Invaluable

Invaluable are a four piece punk rock band from Virginia Beach. Influenced by the likes of Propagandhi, Converge, The Replacements, The Flatliners and Hot Water Music, Invaluable recently released a new EP named Keep This Close.

Keep This Close begins with the song A Beautiful Fucking Bird. Starting out with some dirty guitar feedback before a crashing, unforgiving start. This is raw punk rock music - no thrills just straight up aggression. In an era of punk rock where it's mostly melodic and technical, hearing this style is quite refreshing. Vocally again it's all about being raw - there is no autotune here, just real, angry passion. The second track, The Battle Of Virginia Beach starts out with some slow guitar and some cymbal beats before a pounding drumbeat ups the ante gradually. This is a slower paced song that really relies on the band's musicianship and songwriting skills. The song builds brilliantly, having you right on the edge of explosion before things really kick off. This track allows Invaluable's lead singer to show off an impressive voice that really steals the show on an excellent song.

Up next is I Came, I Saw, I Drank. On this song Invaluable make you believe that they are continuing with their brand of mid tempo punk rock and by this point of the EP I'm hooked on this band. The guitar work is beautifully simple at the start of the track and pulls you into the song tremendously. It's not long before some fast paced guitar and some machine gun like drums get the party going though. There's a maturity about this punk rock, sure there are hooks a'plenty and the chorus is instantly accessible, but there's also a feeling that this is punk rock by grown-ups for grown-ups. The fourth and final track is titled A Death, So Pale. At over five minutes long it's a bit of an epic but it really shows off exactly what I think Invaluable are all about. It features the softer, slower sections, the perfect builds and some raw intensity that just blows you away.

Keep This Close left me wanting more and more. Invaluable play a style of punk rock that we don't often hear anymore. The mix of old school and new works brilliantly and creates a sound that fans of all the different genres of punk rock will enjoy.

Stream and download Keep This Close here: https://invaluable.bandcamp.com/album/keep-this-close-2

Like Invaluable here: https://www.facebook.com/invaluablevb

This review was written by Colin Clark.

Album Review: Singalong by Krang

European skate punk is certainly on a constant bearing of up currently. I'd argue that the skate punk scene in Europe is the biggest and most exciting in the world currently. One band flying the European skate punk flag high is Krang who come from Valasske Mezirici in the Czech Republic. On January 21st (my birthday incase you wanted to know), Krang released a brand new album named Singalong via Bird Attack Records and Melodic Punk Style.

Singalong begins with the song Life Is Like Mortal Kombat. I immediately like the nice little touch of the sound effect of a coin being inserted into an arcade game before we are treated to simple but energetic guitar opening. When the vocals start I'm quick to think of Thomas Barnett of Strike Anywhere and Great Collapse - excellent raspy and passionate vocals. The track is about what its title suggests, life being like Mortal Kombat. As the song progresses the band offer up metaphors as to reasons why they think this is the case. My favourite is "you have health and you have a timer, you fight for your life like a tiger, don't expect mercy from enemies." Up next is IDDQD. This forty-seven second track throws away the melodic sound of the opening track and instead travels at light speed throughout its duration. There is a great sense of urgency in the track and the passion that pours out of my speakers is infectious. IDDQD is the secret cheat code you can use in the video game Doom to give you god mode. On this song Krang sing of their dislike for people who use the code. The third song, King Of A Dancefloor, is Krang's request to their crowd, and all alternative music crowds, to look after each other in the pit and not be violent. I really loved this song. Not only is the message great but the song is written in such an interesting way. Clearly a lot of effort has gone into these lyrics to not only send out a positive message but also to entertain people. It's a shame that bands have to write songs asking for there to be no violence at a show but at least Krang have managed to write one is a style that will put smiles on people's faces.

No Fun In Fundamentalism is not a cover of the NOFX song. No, Krang have written their own song on the subject of Fundamentalism and used the same title. It's a message to fundamentalists who think it's okay to hurt people and start wars because of what it says in a book. This is another shorter, fast paced song that certainly falls into the adage of less is more, packing in its message as well as one hell of a punch in not much time at all. The fifth song is titled Zombies Should Be Slow. This song is essentially a rant about Zack Snyder's 2004 film Dawn Of The Dead saying that the zombies move too quickly. This melodic skate punk song is a lot of fun and quickly put a smile on my face. Hearing Strike Anywhere play passionate songs about the bad state the world that the world is in and then hearing Krang singing in a similar style about a zombie film did tickle me. Up next is I Ain't Got Time To Bleed. I think that this song is about not having any spare time because you are attempting to live your life to the fullest because ultimately we're not on this earth for very long. Krang have developed a trademark sound where each and every second of their music is just full up of more passion and energy than you can imagine. It's really hard not to get swept away with it all. If one song title stood out to me more than any other it was the seventh song, Indiana Jones Hates Nazis And Snakes. This is a hard hitting song about Nazis being scum. Krang have again gone down the route of addressing a serious issue whilst still entertaining their listeners with smart lyrics and smart pop culture references.

Better Dead Than Brown Or Red starts off with probably the best guitar work on Singalong. Musically this song really shows off Krang's skill with their instruments. Not only are they great lyricists but they can really slay. Better Dead Than Brown Or Red is one of the more urgent songs on the album, at times in the songs you can really feel the desperation in the vocals. The ninth song is named Fuck Fast Fashion and slams the consumerist culture that we live in. There is such anger in the song, you really get the sense that Krang really and truly believe exactly what they are singing. The backing vocals here and, to be honest, throughout the entirety of Singalong are superb. The higher pitched raspy vocal really accompanies the main vocalist splendidly. The penultimate track on Singalong is Kick Ass Or Chew Bubble Gum. On my first listen of the album this was definitely the standout track. Starting out with an audio clip from They Live (the film where the song's title is borrowed from) before launching into more of a hooky beginning, almost venturing into the realm of pop punk whilst maintaining their Krang sound. For people who are not fans of the melodic skate punk genre this is probably the most accessible song on the album and the gateway for you to discover what really is a fantastic album. And if this isn't the song that grabs you then the eleventh and final song definitely will. It's a cover of The Beatles' 1965 smash hit Help. Krang don't really stray too far from the Beatles original track but by speeding things up and singing in those brilliant gruff and raspy vocals whilst adding some brilliant harmonies, this is just a great cover and fun way to finish the album.

I know that it's only March but Singalong is already a strong contender for album of the year. If it doesn't place in my top ten at the end of the year then we know it's been another incredible year for punk rock music. Another fantastic release from the incredible European skate punk scene.

Stream and download Singalong here: https://krangpunkrock.bandcamp.com/album/singalong-2

Like Krang here: https://www.facebook.com/krangpunx/

This review was written by Colin Clark.

Column: Without Punk Rock

Recently I've been thinking a lot about all of the different things that punk rock has given me. It's kind of crazy how this simple, everyman, play three chords on the guitar as fast as you can and shout along music has played such a big part in shaping the past fifteen years of my life. From the little things to the big life changing decisions, punk rock has played a massive part in everything. Here's a list of things (good and bad) that probably wouldn't have happened in my life without the best type of music ever.

I wouldn't have learnt it's okay to speak my mind.

I wouldn't have mastered the London Underground.

I wouldn't have been propositioned by an old gay gentleman in Brighton.

I wouldn't have gone on an 18 hour Mega Bus journey to Dundee.

I wouldn't have learnt about community.

I wouldn't know how to skank.

I wouldn't have seen the most disgusting thing I've ever seen.

I wouldn't have attempted and completed a fifty-two gigs in a year challenge.

I wouldn't have discovered a passion for writing.

I wouldn't have (hopefully) gotten better at writing.

I wouldn't have friends in awesome bands.

I wouldn't have many friends at all.

I wouldn't have been offered drugs and been told I'm a devil worshipper within five minutes of arriving in Brixton.

I wouldn't have eaten raw chicken.

I wouldn't have been on a plane.

I wouldn't have met Emma.

I wouldn't live in Bedford.

I wouldn't have just been told the most exciting news.

I wouldn't have friends in South Africa.

I wouldn't have been to Florida.

I wouldn't have been to Berlin.

I wouldn't know that The Ramones are the greatest band that ever existed.

I wouldn't have learnt about mental health.

I wouldn't have learnt that it's okay to be different.

I wouldn't have had songs dedicated to me.

I wouldn't have left my favourite t-shirt in a car park in Nottingham.

I wouldn't have a team.

I wouldn't have started CPRW.

You wouldn't be reading this post.

This is what I came up with in an hour. Have a think and leave some comments about the things in your life that wouldn't have happened without punk rock.

This column was written by Colin Clark.

GOLDFINGER ARE PLAYING THE NEW CROSS INN!!!!!!

Thanks to the incredible work of Be Sharp Promotions, Californian pop punk legends Goldfinger are playing a special show at the New Cross Inn before Slam Dunk Festival on Friday 25th May! This is incredible! Getting the opportunity to see a band like Goldfinger play a pub show is one not to be missed. Check out all the details you need below.

Go here for all of the details on Facebook.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 26th March at 10am on the New Cross Inn website here. Don't sleep on this, these will sell so quickly!

Top Tens: Holly of Kiss Me, Killer and Hell Hath No Fury Promotions Top Ten Punk Rock Influences

Hey, I am Holly, front brat of Kiss Me, Killer and promoter at Hell Hath No Fury Promotions (Bristol, UK).

People often see me and immediately box my vocals and stage presence as a “Kathleen Hanna” Riot Grrrl type, which is a huge compliment. However, I didn’t come into this world screaming “girls to the front” as much as I would’ve loved too! So here is an honest insight of my top ten vocal/front person influences:

Davey Havok (AFI/Xtremist)
I absolutely adored AFI growing up, I saw them several times and adored Davey’s unique and distinctive vocals – going from Pop-Punk/Melodic notes to holding perfect screams for seconds on end. His ability to reinvent his style was always one I admired. I once got compared to Davey which was probably the best thing I have heard in my life.

Lou Koller (Sick of It All)
Lou has this amazing skill where he can execute Hardcore vocals flawlessly using just 50% projection when performing and I love his passion on stage. You can feel how much he loves music and his fans. I still melt when I meet him. Some of my lyrics are a direct nod to Lou and the gang.

Gwen Stefani (No Doubt)
Tragic Kingdom was always on repeat in my CD player when I was a teen, I knew and still know all the words. One of my first front woman idols. I loved Gwen’s style, I loved the way she came across as absolutely adorable yet likely to rip your head off – not to mention her vocal range is incredible.

Jamie Searle (Adequate 7)
Impending cringe fest – this is my big brother, I could not write my top ten influences without including him as I idolised him (still do) and often hear and see how much of an influence he is on my vocal and stage presence. Jamie also had a significant impact on my political and social views from a young age, thus influencing a lot of my lyrics and socialist shit posting.

Morgan Lander (Kittie)
Brackish was one of the first albums where it hit me that woman could sing and scream as well as, or better than, their male counterparts. I love the juxtaposition of being able to hold a note yet scream the house down in the next. Morgan wasn’t typically ‘femme’ back then either, which made me feel a lot more comfortable with myself as a teen.

Ray Cappo (Shelter/Youth of Today/Better than a Thousand)
Ray Cappo, what can I say? The creator of Krishnacore! Ray wasn’t afraid to sing about his beliefs, he was a pioneer of the straight edge scene and I have so much respect for that. I can listen to any song featuring or fronted by Ray and I immediately can tell it’s him by his distinctive voice. His vocal technicality is one I aspire to.

Brody Dalle (The Distillers)
I was late on the Distiller bandwagon. I think the first song I heard was stereotypically “City of Angels”. Everything about Brody blew me away – I envied her grit and gravel, her lyrical content and the way she performed on stage.

Zach de la Roche (Rage Against the Machine)
I was very much into politics and Rage Against the Machine taught me that anger about the injustices of the world could be penned down and released through song. With this, Zach also has an incredibly powerful stage presence and knows how to work a crowd.

Beastie Boys
Again following on from Rage, I loved the rap/metal/punk hybrid. I like singing fast and putting mini raps into our songs to mix it up, I like the challenge! I also enjoyed the lighter and fun vibe that the Beastie Boys portrayed. It’s a reminder that you can care about the world but you don’t have to be serious all the time.

CIV
Gorilla Biscuits were a huge musical influence on me growing up. CIV sings hard and fast (I’m sure you can see a pattern by now!) with a mixture of political and non political lyrical content. A fun fact is that CIV never wanted to sing at first and faced the wall when performing at gigs. At my first gig with KMK my eyes were to the ground (I have a thing about eye contact and suffer from social anxiety). I often briefly turn to face the back of the room mid set if I become overwhelmed. But I think to myself – if the legend that is CIV, who two years ago called out the bully security at a London show for acting like a police state at their gig, started off like that then I’m going to own it and work with it.

Check out Kiss Me, Killer here and Hell Hath No Fury Promotions here.