Kids of the Black Hole Sun: House Boat Processing Complaints 7"

Just hot off the trails of releasing what many in the pop punk world consider to the be the best pop punk album of 2009, House Boat is at it again with a new 7 inch, ready to take asses and kick a couple of names.

Released on Traffic Street Records, House Boat picks up right where they left off; putting out catchy, irresistible tracks about life, girls, and everything else worth chattering about in 5 great tracks. Honestly, a little quite better than their previous LP. Great effort I might say. "The Self-aware Octopus" is one of the favorite tracks, displaying a fantastic usage of background vocals from Guitarist Zach, meshing perfectly well with Grath's vocals. Most fans will probably be disappointed in the fact that Mikey Erg doesn't sing too much in the band, except for a couple of lines in one song, but never fret, Mikey Erg appears in the first track "DC Showcase Presents: Inferiority Complex, Volume 420", with the group showcasing a bit of complexity in their sound.

Unaware of House Boat, here's a brief synopsis. Considered the super-group of pop punk bands due to members being in high regarded bands, such as The Ergs!, The Steinways, Dear Landlord, and Off with Their Heads. Already are receiving rave reviews following their debut LP, The Delaware Octopus.

I advise you to pick yourself up a copy. Traffic Street is still offering an exclusive package, which includes the 7 inch itself, a poster, pin,a sticker, and a download card for the Ipod generation. The rest of the package is pretty pointless in my opinion, but hey, it works. The band is also scheduling an appearance at this year's Insubordination Fest, featuring The Dopamines, The Queers, Teenage Bottlerocket, The Copyrights, and various others in Baltimore, Maryland so for those in that area, don't miss out.

House Boat Myspace

Traffic Street Records

Que Pasivos, Que Muertos: N.N Pasivos/Muertos 7"

This band is relatively new, at least in regards to Martin Sorrondeguy's music timeline. N.N. is a San Francisco Hardcore/Punk band, featuring members of Los Crudos, Limp Wrist, and Needles. Much like Los Crudos, the band displays harsh realities of life in their lyrics, all written in spanish, playing a relm of hardcore mashed in with a supple mix of Rock and Roll.

N.N formed way back in 2002, when the members finally got around to the idea of starting a band. As Martin puts in in their interview with Maximum Rock N'Roll in 2009, "We came into the band really slowly, but we were all like, "let's do this." We all understood where one another was coming from because we were all coming from a dark period. We all fit in that way."

Pasivos/Muertos 7" is their second to their credit, the first being a self-titled 7" that was released on Sorrondeguy's label Lengua Armada Records in 08'. This record sounds pretty catchy, despite genre labeling. A personal standout in my opinion is "Abrazos", a song explaining how we should come together, not in a sappy way I mind you but the idea of unity, despite the hardship. "Policia" is of course is dedicated to the police, exhibiting quite angry lyrics towards them. It's easy to quite get across, considering the first line in the song translates in English "you're useless". The record is a must have for a 4 song record; short, to the point, and manages to get the job done, or in this case, the damage done. Kudos to Martin and the crew, keep it coming.

As for attaining this record, I advise to check out your local record store. I managed to capture me a copy of this records from Reckless Records in Chicago, since I was informed by Martin himself he had no copies available. For those that live in Chicago, gracing the store with a visit would do wonders, but for those not in the Midwest, visit Reckless.com and you will thank me.

Reckless Records

Maximum RockNRoll

"I've done unspeakable things again"

Summer's coming around the corner, meaning that more shit is going to hit the fan. One example for my case; Mark McCoy's group Failures is hitting the city of Chicago, bringing them a flurry of bands either found too terrible for the softest ears,too underrated for the mainstream, way over hyped, or just misunderstood. Regardless, The madness begins.

Benefiting for Failures, I figured I would post a review on their most recent release in their catalog; Failures 7" released on Painkiller Records last year. I stumbled on this 7" just prior to a month after it was put out, a bit intrigued with the art cover. My ears haven't been the same since putting it on the record player, Where the fuck have I been? 4 songs all together, less than seven minutes, straight to your face hardcore that will leave you in the dust. Not bad McCoy, not bad at all. A favorite track in a particular is Dovetail, barely less than a minute and 30 seconds in good ole' hardcore fashion, whatever that may be.

Anyway, anyone unfamiliar with Failures is obviously unaware of Mark McCoy, founder of Youth Attack! records, and vocalist for power violence pioneers Charles Bronson and Das Oath, the latter being renowned in Hardcore history. Other than those two bands, members of Failures have also been in Cancer Kids, Orchid, Ampere, and Cut The Shit, Jesus what background history. I've heard from crazy rumors surrounding the guy, not to mention his artwork gets me a little queasy and unsavory but let's face it, the guy is one artist in his own realm and that is worth giving credit for.

So do yourselves some justice and tune into this band. As of late, Failures is hoping to record a new LP, and plan a short tour from NYC to the Midwest, culminating with an appearance at Dude Fest in Indiana. My advice; show up at these shows and witness Hardcore in it's purest.

Youth Attack! Records


Failures Blogspot


Painkiller Records

Dude Fest 2010