My brief reviews of SR.comp Disc 2.
Lazerwolfs
“La Media”
Good production, although the mix seems a little studio-sterile. All the instruments are audible and sound pretty good, but it lacks a level of cohesiveness in the mix. The playing is tight, pretty straight-up for the most part. I liked the short syncopated part in the middle a lot. Nothing new going on here, but they do their thing well. I’d like to hear a few more tracks.
Iota
“Shit Luck”
I like this. Too much distortion on the vocals for me, as the singer isn’t just a screamer, but his voice is made generic by the effects. Really dirty, mean guitar sound that suits this band well. I thought the bass could have been louder in the mix, but this track had my head nodding in a few spots. This band shows some real potential.
Hognose
“Local Honey”
I like this intro a lot. Great guitar sounds, but the mix needs more bass guitar. This is a stomp your foot, get drunk and yell song. The vocals are standard yelling, but they are well placed and work with the song. Nice song composition as well, I wasn’t bored waiting for a change-up. I’ll check out more of this band.
Decendents of the Red Sun
“New World Samurai”
Very Floyd-ish intro, which is pretty cool. The production is clear, but too clean for this s t y l e. I need to hear more of a live off the floor feel for this to really grab me. The drumming is a little awkward at times, but fluid in other spots. I think there’s real potential here, but it’s just not quite there yet. I liked the Bass Balls in the outro – crank it up in the mix. Good mellow spacy rock.
Mescalero
“Crosseyed Rollin’”
Straight-up hard rock, and well done. Production and mix fits the song well. These guys are fun live I’m sure. There’s nothing I haven’t heard before, but again – it’s honest and is played with confidence. Not my usual fare, but I appreciate it. I’d go see them if they came to Vancouver.
Gravitron
Worms Pt.1”
I can’t really judge this on it’s own. It might be better in the context of an album, but on it’s own it sounds like a couple guys fucking around in the studio.
Swamp Donkey
“Safe to Say”
I like this a lot. The bass tone leaves a lot to be desired, as the guitars sound great. Pretty standard progressions, but it’s played with confidence. You don’t have to re-invent the wheel, but if you’re sailing thoroughly charted waters do it with attitude. Some nice time changes. Good song, good production, with some more writing these guys could write some great songs.
Tonerlow
“Grass”
You can hear the speakers being hurt by the guitars and bass. Good stuff. Very plodding, doomy intro that breaks into a strange whispered part. Creepy and when the original riff comes back it growls in a menacing way. This is well done, although this music is always way better liveI like how the vocals were withheld until late in the song, but again – too much distortion. I like tape distortion on screams, but too many bands are killing the vocals with too much stomp-box or effects rack distortions. I think with half the effects the vocals would be much more powerful. Good stuff, production suits the song.
Durga Temple
“Rock Juice”
I like the guitar sound a lot. This band is good, but the vocals do nothing for me. Bouncing 4/4 guitar rock, and they do it well. This song is growing on me the more I listen. If you get a singer that has more than the standard “Rock Yell” s t y l e of singing I’d be all over this. The singer isn’t shit by any means, it’s just that the vocals feel like an afterthought. One of the stronger songs on the disc IMO.
Uccultum
“Last Ride”
Decent production, but was far too predictable for me. Vocals need work. I liked the bass tone. Not great, not terrible, just kinda “there”.
Elephantine
“Black Stalk Motherfucker”
Sorry, but this is not good. Too John Garcia, bad lyrics, cliché guitar squeals. Sounds like a bar band to me. I think all these guys are capable of more on the songwriting end and if they steered clear of the clichés they’d be in a better place.
Calamus
“Once More”
See above review. I have this CD, but with better songs. They can play their instruments but it’s not going anywhere. The guitar tone is pretty nice and thick though.
Catapult the Smoke
“Devil’s Spell”
Really good production, the instruments all sound clear and real. I’d go see this live. Tight, steady drumming. I did feel some of the transitions were awkward (not in a good way) but overall I liked this song. I’d like to hear another tune to see if they mix it up and keep it interesting.
The Fallopian Dudes
“Siddartha”
Kyuss “Wretch”-era knock off. Not bad, but if you’re gonna sound this much like another band you should just do covers. I have heard way too many other bands do this much better. On the other hand, if you love early Kyuss and want more stuff that sounds like that, you’ll love this. Decent production.
Durga Temple
“Stoner (rock) Think Tank
Some cool riffs, but sounds like a drunken rehearsal space jam session. That snare drum needs to be drowned in the bathtub. I like the fuzzy bass. This is a baby song, full of promise, but still pooping it’s pants now and again.
The Kalen Lander Band
“Swing”
My drummer does this on the 80’s Roland keyboard in our jam space. It’s amusing, but I’m not going to play it in my car. Kudo’s for using that slap bass with bongos and the keyboard sitar setting. You have hundreds of these songs on your computer I bet. At least you don’t sound like Kyuss.
Planet Gemini
“Burning Laughter”
This is weird music. Reminds me of early Ween at times for some reason. I like the parts, but I’m not crazy about the structure. The guitar sound is weak, and the mix is pretty thrown together. There is something about this that I like a lot, but there are parts that annoy me too. Not too bad, but I wouldn’t buy it. If the recording was better and the parts were tightened up I might feel different.
URL: http://www.hundredyearsband.com
