Athens is Shaking to the Ground

It's bands like this that make me think that there is hope for rock n roll yet.  Wading through all the over-produced crap and fickle bullshit, every now and then, your eyes will open to a gem.

The Alabama Shakes are from, you guessed it, Alabama.  Specifically, they call Athens home. This band has blown up almost overnight with their old school feel, high energy shows and, while trying to not be too rude to the bandmates, frontwoman Brittany Howard's presence, voice and all-outness could carry a backing band on Xanax. You want a band to watch in 2012? Watch the Shake's meteoric rise... just watch.

-So hard not to be what I need to right now

What a Massive Mess

At this point... I should really just stop being surprised.  The past week has seen so many reunions, that I feel like I'm an awkward teenager again, quietly listening to music in my parents basement and dreaming of bigger things to come in the future.

Still, today is a big one.  Of all my 90's vices, few were as strong as the whirlwind force led by Ian Thornley: Big Wreck. After the much overdue reunion between Thornley and guitarist Brian Doherty, the inevitable was bound to happen.  Now, we can sit in excited anticipation of the new album, Albatross (only the 3rd album in the band's sparse 15 year history).  In short, rejoice... one of Canada's greatest rock arrangements is coming back.


-Death is just another way of living

Sweet, Sour and Rockalicious

After sinking my teeth into the Band of Skulls debut album and blabbing all about it, I was rightly excited and curious to see if lightening would strike twice for this UK tour de rock.

Without dragging this one out, I'll satiate my own curiosity: the album sounds like its going to be incredible.  I've only heard 3 tracks off the new album, but so far I like all 3 and am unhealthily obsessed with 2.



-Who do you call when you can't have it all?

Positive Charge

And... as though the news of I Mother Earth, Refused and At the Drive-In reuniting wasn't 90s enough...

That's right... Treble Charger is back!  They'll be playing CMW 2012. Lord only knows what their plans are following the show, or whether this will only be a one-off... but with Self=Title being one of my most spun discs of my teens, I'm a touch excited.

-Give me everything you've got or give me more

Swedish Corpses

Oh Sweden... how I love your music. It's Friday, and you know what that means?  You're RIGHT! Friday DOES mean it's time for psychedelic doom rock!

 

Graveyard sounds like a name that should be given to a death metal band, however, I'm perfectly comfortable with it being donned on a 70's hard rock revival from Sweden... particularly when its done well. Through a tumultous history (seriously, just read their wiki page), Graveyard was forged out of the ashes of a handful of projects from folk metal (what?) to grungy blues. The result is a fantastically true to form classic rock sound. Picture Black Sabbath with a lot more acid.


-Even if I'm miles away and I feel like a fool