Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008
giving the gift of local music
By Michael Wood
For Weekly Surge
Christmas is coming around, ladies and gents, faster than you might realize. With 14 shopping days left, there’s pressure to buy your loved ones the gifts they will cherish and enjoy, yet with the economy in the dumps, it’s just difficult to get them what they deserve. CD prices have gone up to nearly $20 a piece, so for music fans, it’s especially hard to shop.
There is an affordable alternative, and you can kill two birds with one stone with this one: buy local music. That’s right. Myrtle Beach has a plethora of talent, and it just so happens that many of the area’s musicians have recently released albums. You can support your local economy and save a few bones at the same time. In the spirit of “Twelve Days of Christmas,” we've rounded up 12 local CDs for you, with information on where you can buy them and what they sound like.
Title: “Rock ‘N’ Roll”
Artist: 1977
Availability: www.cdbaby.com/cd/1977
Digital:
www.digstation.com/1977
www.itunes.com/1977/rocknroll
Price: $14.95
Sound: Looking at the cover of this disc, it looks like a Kiss album. And the CD actually looks just like a vinyl record. You can even hear the distinctive sound of vinyl being played between songs. It’s like listening to a Kiss record, except it's every Kiss song you've never heard. This is a new take on a tribute band. Instead of covering Kiss tunes, they wrote new songs in the style of Kiss. With choruses like “I want to put my rock ‘n’ roll deep in your soul,” and song titles such as “She Wants It All,” “Ladies Come First” and “Gladiator” they have the spirit of Kiss down. Definitely an enjoyable listen and the packaging is great. I recommend this record for anyone who likes Kiss, Kiss, or maybe Kiss.
Title: “Mono-a-Mono EP-A”
Artist: Joe Bace
Availability: www.cdbaby.com
Digital:www.itunes.com, www.digstation.com, www.amazon.com
Price: around $13
Sound: Joe Bace is a singer/songwriter from West New York/New Jersey, but has ended up at the beach working and writing. His CD is six songs of classic rock with some heavier influences here and there. While taking heavy vocal harmony cues from The Beatles, and folk song writing style (also evident in occasional harmonica parts) from Bob Dylan, he is not afraid to rock out either. His past experience with New York City rock is somewhat evident in some of the songs, but at the same time, is by no means NYC rock ‘n’ roll. There is more emphasis on the craft of songwriting here, and less of the rowdiness you might expect from NYC rock ‘n’ roll. All in all this CD blends all of Bace’s influence of blues, rock and folk well. Fans of classic rock should check this out.
Title: “Merry EWI Christmas''
Artist: Bernie Kenerson
Availability: at his live shows, check www.berniekenerson.com for a schedule, or you can get a copy at www.cdbaby.com/kenerson3
Digital: also available at CD Baby.
Price: $13.79 for the hard copy, $9.99 for digital download
Sound: Wow, an actual Christmas album released around Christmas time! Who woulda thunk it? Bernie Kenerson has been putting his name on the map for years for his use of the ewi. Ewi stands for electronic wind instrument. There are some really interesting sounds that come out of that thing. He has taken a very modern approach to these holiday songs, adding electronic beats mixed with modern and traditional jazz. This CD would be a breath of fresh air at any party where holiday music is on the menu. I recommend this for fans of The Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, and even Kraftwerk. My favorite track is his version of “Linus and Lucy” from the Christmas classic TV special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Title:“Bridges and Breakdowns”
Artist: Ten Toes Up
Availability: www.cdbaby.com or at one of the band's shows. Check www.myspace.com/tentoesup for a show schedule.
Digital: www.cdbaby.com
Price: $14.99 for the hard copy, $9.99 for digital download
Sound: With songs such as “Summertime” and “Waiting For The Sun,” this could be a CD for anyone dreading the winter days that needs help to get through the cold. Musically these guys are a solid mix between modern rock and classic rock. You can see influences equally from Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead to more modern bands like Live, U2 and even Shinedown. The extra percussion supplied by Josh Gregory definitely adds to the whole classic rock/jam band feel that these guys have. The vocals, supplied by B.J. Craven, give them more of a modern feel. There are some definite blues influences in there too. So, any fan of good old well-rounded rock ‘n’ roll will enjoy this one.
Title: “Pax Emerikana”
Artist: Aftermath
Availability: at their shows or at Kilgor Trouts, 512 8th Ave N. in downtown Myrtle Beach
Digital: Nope, just physical copies
Price: $5
Sound: This band calls itself “Acid-Metal-Grunge” which is pretty damn accurate. This three-song CD is heavy. Take elements of Southern groove metal, add some technical and intricate changes, then throw in some old school thrash metal influences, and you have Aftermath. Always a good listen when you need to blow off some steam. They took “keeping it real” to a new level by on the last track, “Shoot the Fucking Television” in which they actually recorded themselves shooting a television. All three songs’ lyrics are based around political/social themes. It’s always a plus when bands are looking beyond singing about their high school crushes and actually promoting awareness. I recommend Aftermath to anyone who likes Pantera, Dillenger Escape Plan or Black Sabbath. Any metal-head that does not pick this CD up, I now pronounce you no longer a metal-head.
Title: “Like A Scarf”
Artist: Camazotz End
Availability: at their live shows, and at Kilgor Trouts. You could also write the band for a copy at www.myspace.com/camazotzend
Digital: Nope
Price: $8 at shows, $10 in stores
Sound: This recording was mastered by Kramer. Kramer is the owner of Shimmy Disc Records and has worked in the studio with artists such as King Missile, Daniel Johnston, Ween, and many more. Camazotz End fits well with Kramer’s style. They have kooky themes, silly lyrics, and the music is experimental, yet well written. The songs sound like they could be used for children’s television shows. They are fun, catchy, and have a child-like air to them. They kind of sound like a weird mix of Johnny Cash, Violent Femmes, They Might Be Giants and Flaming Lips. This record is a surefire way to have a goofy fun time. Extra kudos is given having some really nice cover art.
Title: “Bring Back the Glory”
Artist: The Classic Struggle
Availability: FYE or Hot Topic locations, or go to www.hottopic.com
Digital: www.itunes.com
Price: $10- $12
Sound: One of the most successful bands from Myrtle Beach, signed to Iron Clad Records, a subsidiary of Metal Blade Records. Being that The Classic Struggle is actually on a major label, this should be easy to find. Just go to the mall to pick up this brutal hardcore/thrash/metal record. These guys put Myrtle Beach on the map for metal. With tracks like “Fuck You,” “Wish Me Hell” and “Cowards Are Not Worthy of Graves,” you can be sure to scratch that itch for moshing. They do a great job of mixing old school metal and thrash with new school hardcore. And while they remain intense and heavy as fuck, they manage to write catchy songs. I recommend this CD for fans of Slayer, Unearth, and The Red Chord.
Title:“le vestibule-vestibule transitoire”
Artist: Electric Bird Noise
Availability: www.cdbaby.com, www.msplinks.comwww.myspace.com/electricbirdnoise
Digital: www.itunes.com
Price: anywhere from $5-$12 depending where you get it.
Sound: While Electric Bird Noise’s first three records are all between five and 10 songs in about 50 minutes, “le vestibule-vestibule transitoire” is only two songs in 52 minutes. Also unlike the first three records, this album is absent of any pop hooks, notable structure, or any beats to hold on to. This is the perfect record to sleep to, or if it’s your thing, get stoned to. With these long ambient soundscapes, perhaps it would be a great score for a moody indie movie. I recommend this CD to anyone who digs drone, ambient, avant-garde, experimental and space-rock music. Fans of Tangerine Dream, Flying Saucer Attack, Brian Eno and even Pink Floyd would enjoy this.
Title: “Everybody Needs an Angel”
Artist: St. Jack
Availability: at any St. Jack show or at Kilgor Trouts, in downtown Myrtle Beach.
Digital: SNOCAP on their myspace page www.myspace.com/stjackmusic
and www.itunes.com
Price: $ 9.99 ($5.99 from SNOCAP)
Sound: This is a very well-produced, slick sounding pop recording from some local alternative rockers. There are some straight up rock songs, and there are some slower tunes, but the glue is that they have a knack for layering with each. From the quirky keyboard lead in the sort-of title track “Halo” (well, the chorus of the song states “Everybody Needs an Angel”), to the added cello in “Wanted You To Know,” there is always an additive that makes the track a little special. All the songs are catchy, and the sound seems to land somewhere between ‘80s/‘90s alternative rock such as U2 and The Goo Goo Dolls, and modern rock such as Breaking Benjamin and Fuel.
Title: “Start to Back – Front to Finish”
Artist: The Necessary Band
Availability: at all of their live shows, excluding JimmyBuffett's Margaritaville, www.thenecessaryband.com, www.CDbaby.net
Digital: www.digstation.com
Price: $15
Sound: Going from the soulful funk to honky tonk rock ‘n’ roll, and settling down at a general classic rock sound, these guys should make any Wave 104 listener happy. The CD has a nice slick production, and at times very sax heavy, lending nods toward the yacht-rock movement. At some moments, there are long-winded blues jams that paint a picture of being at a small smokey bar in the city (probably not the city of Myrtle Beach). Fans of The Rolling Stones will love the second track, “Little Mama Rocks.” This CD is also recommended for fans of Steely Dan, Kool and The Gang, and The Eagles. This band can be found playing at a number of bars up and down the Strand on just about any given night.
Title: “Let It Pee”
Artist: The Wet Teens
Availability: Kilgor Trouts, or online at www.cdbaby.com/cd/wetteens, www.myspace.com/thewetteens, or www.myspace.com/kosherkittenrecords
Digital: only hard copies are for sale at the moment, but iTunes should have it soon.
Price: $8-$10
Sound: You have to like a CD cover and title that mocks The Beatles and Poison at the same time. A sort-of local supergroup made of musicians from other Myrtle Beach bands, including The Regime and SAVAS. Not to be taken too seriously, but this disc seriously rocks. And it centers around one of rock ‘n’ roll's famous vices: sex. With an introduction by pornmeister Ron Jeremy and song titles such as “Love Cream'' and “Lick You to the Core,” it's all about getting it on – or trying to. So, in other words, you don't want to give this one to your five-year-old nephew, but his dad might like it.
Fans of Ween, Spinal Tap and The Darkness should appreciate The Wet Teens. There's even a pseudo power ballad, the extremely catchy “Stuck In You.” Disc-ending track “Triple X Sex” is worth the price of admission alone, and would please Christopher Walken for its prominent use of cowbell and an accompanying “moo.”
(- Kent Kimes, Editor)
Title: “Do It Again”
Artist: The Independents
Availability: interpunk.com, cdbaby.com,and www.theindependents.net
Digital: iTunes
Price: $10-ish
Sound: If you are familiar with The Independents, you know of the patented hor
ror-ska sound. While they still undeniably sound like themselves, they are going in a much more melodic direction. Much of the record is in the vein of ‘50s and ‘60s pop, but done with a punk attitude (and amplification). The vocalist, Evil Presley, shows his versatility by ping ponging styles and ending up somewhere between Elvis Presley and Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister. Fans of their ska punk era will still be happy, as there is still a lot of that in there as well. The standout song for me is “Dolomite”, a tribute to the blacksplotation film of the same name. The song is catchy, has great hooks, cowbell, and some hilarious samples. Recommended for fans of The Ramones, Cheap Trick, Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly.
That’s the rundown, folks. And for future holidays, keep in mind that many local artists have recordings coming out in 2009. Some of those artists are Silenced, Something About Vampires and Sluts, Wicked Gift, Attalaya, The Shark Legs, Hand Grenade and many more.
Think globally, but buy locally.
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