Think of a lo-fi cramps mixed with early Bad Religion or The Clash and then your a quarter of the way to describing The aldermen.
The band use there non standard sound to good use over the nine tracks recorded in June and July of 1997. Chris Bauer is at the mixing desk as he is for Deals Gone bad and he help the band with their sound.

The album starts with 'I know what you need' as punk rock track with little distortion on the guitars and the emphasis more on the vocals than the guitars.
'Joy Dog' is more of a rockabiliy track than a punk tune that quite good, with its pounding drum and guitar. With another guitar riff over the top.
'Rip it up, tear it out' stays with the rockability theme that has a fairly catchy chorus.
'left out and lucky' goes back to a more punk rock sound the song is one of the catchiest on the album.
'Pornographic memory' is perhaps the most upbeat track on the album and benefit for it, an Ok riff is helped by a thudding bass and a contagious chorus.
'I've seen it all' ,' the funny thing is..' and Kill 'em with kindness' are slow guitar reggae tinted skankin tunes and sound similar to The Clash, circa 1979 London Calling era. 'Kill em with kindness' and 'the funny thing is...' are two of the best tracks on the album.
The two tracks have also featured on Jump Up recent samplers. 'The funny thing is..' on 'Smash your radio' and 'kill em with kindness' on 'everything offbeat'. The latter is the better of the two.
'Hood in hoodland' the title track is a song going back to the rockabiliy style which is fairly good.

Basically the album can be divided into 3 types the lo fi punk tunes, the rockabilly numbers and the slow skankin numbers. Most rude boys will find the skankin songs the best but the other tunes are worth checking out too.
Jump Up Records.
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Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit
4.5 out of 5.

I’d had AM’s Mailorder is fun for about 9 months and never thought much of Alkaline trio, the only thing I could remember them for was their T-shirt which basically is the Clash’s debut album cover with the words Alkaline Trio replacing the ‘The Clash’.
Finally I got round to finding out how good Alkaline Trio are, and I’m grateful I did, ‘cos this album rocks.
Kinda like half way house between Tuesday (indie melodic punk) and The Broadways. (Aggressive in your face Punk Rock)
Basically giving you a melodic punk mix but with raw/distorted guitars as well that Rocks (oh have I already said it Rocks ?!!!)
Slapstick’s Dan Andriano teams up with Glenn Porter and Matt Skiba for 11 punk tunes and a couple of acoustic number which are quite good as well. (Especially ‘enjoy your day’)

Erm, its pretty hard to pick out one track as there all really good, but ‘Trouble breathing’, ‘Message from Kathlene’ and ‘San Francisco’ probably just take it due to the vocals/words. But it proves that punk rock just as good if not better than the hardcore churned out by FAT & Epitaph.
Like Small Sailor said it takes a few listened to get into but this album was so good immediately I checked out there other 2 eps.
Asain Man Records.
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Alkaline Trio - For Your lungs only.
3 out of 5.

This is Alkaline Trio's first release for Asian Man Records, and its not a bad first effort from the Chicago 3 piece. 'Snake oil tanker' is a great one minute 15 punk rock song that sets the tone. 'Southern Rock' closely follows, this track appears on 'Goddamnit' and is actually one of the best tracks of the album and it fits in well here on this full punk attitude ep.
'Cooking Wine' is a little disappointing, a mid pace tune that never really gets going, unlike most of the bands song. It has an OK riff, but there doesn't seem to be the emotion or aggressiveness as in most of the bands tunes and vocals.
'For your lungs only' is one of, if not Alkaline Trio's bet tracks. It appeared on Asian Man's 'Mailorder is Fun' but with so many brilliant ska tunes on that comp, your average rude boy may not have checked out the bands contribution to the sampler.
If you've got it check out, track 16 and you'll see what I'm talking about.
'For your Lungs only' is one of the bands fastest tunes, that has a wicked riff, chugging bass and more of the same emotional vocals.
Overall 'Snake Oil tanker' and 'For your lungs only' are brilliant, 'Southern Rock' is quite good and 'Cooking wine' is nothing special.
Its still worth buying though, especially if you don't own the bands album or the Mailorder is fun sampler.
Asian Man Records.
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Alkaline Trio - I lied my face off.
4 out of 5.

This ep is limited edition and think there's only 1000 12”’s but you still should be able to get it on CD.
These 4 new tracks from Chicago’s top punks sees them continue where they left off with the 'Goddammit' LP.
This ep gets better as you go along.
'Goodbye forever' is OK not a standout or memorable track, but thats only a disguise for those who think track 1 is always the best track !
'This is getting over you' is a emotional song about suffering to get over some-one. What seems to be another good 3 minute Alkaline trio song turns into a real belter when the bass kicks in and the band (especially drummer Glenn Porter) pound away for the long outro.
'Bleeder' perhaps isn't quite as good as 'This is getting over you' but its alright.
'I lied my face off' is possibly the trio's best moment so far, a guitar heavy punk rock song with a fairly catchy aggressive chorus.
'I lied my face when I said that I would be OK its never fine when you go away'
Another song about relationships which includes the lines :  'like an empty sterile room, somehow I made a mess, like watching new born babies crack from work related stress.'

What makes Alkaline trio standout is the delivery, aggressiveness and emotion put into the vocals, consistent good tunes help as well.
Asian Man Records.
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Alkaline Trio - "Maybe I'll Catch Fire".
3.5 Out of 5.

After a brilliant debut and two top class ep's the Trio come back with ten 10 emotionally fuelled punk rock dripping tunes.
The band don't deal with  melodic or catchy tunes but honest powerful punk rock.

The album pretty much carries on from the last ep, "I lied my face off ep".
"keep 'em coming" starts the album off in fine style, rampant punk with the heart felt lyrics " "I'm now huffing gas and sniffing paint to take away this buz that I call you".
"Madam Me" is another relationship turned sour song that Alkaline Trio specialise in, another good song, ".. cannot hear your cries pleading please just go away", "..warmer than piss, have you ever felt like this?".
"You've got so far to go" isn't quite as good as the first two, maybe cause its a little more upbeat in tune and lyric, telling of a night out.

"Fuck You aurora" never really gets going, its still an OK song, but its fairly light stuff.  "Sleepyhead" is more like it, a crunching guitar riff and shouting pleading vocals, tops!
The title track is a faster paced number, probably the most catchy number on the album, with more pain filled lyrics ."The most relaxing thing I do, hang half way out of third floor windows, look at rocks if I fall down, and maybe I'll fall hard, something tough to break me, something sharp to rip my insides and bleed out all this pain".

"Tuck me in" is perhaps the fastest track on the album, pounding bass louder than the guitar, not really memorable but still fairly good.
"She took him to the lake" is a quick paced, crashing track. Good tune but the lyrics aren't that special.
"5-3-10-4" is better, good tune and lyrics telling of schoolyard freaks being teased and beaten up, one of the top 4 tracks on the release.
Finally "Radio" is probably the bands most melodic effort, non distorted guitar to a slow paced tune, that kicks in to action on the chorus. A brilliant track one of the bands best.
Overall a good album, not as good as there debut or last ep, as there are a few average tracks here. But still good stuff.
Asian Man Records.
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The Bakesys - The Bakesys.
 3 1/2 out of 5.

Kicking off with ‘sex freaks’ this uptempo track has a fairly fast Ska/punk style skanking guitar with impressive keyboard playing.
The catchy keyboard skills continue with ‘The Lick’ although its not until the guitar/drum intro finished that you realise that the bakesys are about to head into the most catchy keyboard led track of all time ‘The liquidator’. The Bakesy’s update of the Harry J. All stars track, is more in a traditional song format, than the Specials toast over it.
The Bakesy’s go back to their own ammunition for track three ‘looking for love’ this poppy, two-tone Ska track, adds to the theory that whilst the US bands mainly mix Two-Tone with punk, UK bands make the late ‘70’s sound more pop like than punky.
‘Life So tuff’ is a slower track, with the appearance Phillip King’s Saxophone playing and eerie keyboard playing, it also has excellent percussion work.
‘Confused’ features on the compilation ‘Skampler 3’ and returns the album to the upbeat party mood of the early tracks, the chorus really makes this track with a guitar riff and keyboard part that are infectious.
‘Open all hours’ about getting mixed up with liquor and dope, continues the keyboard led, Two-Tone rhythm, with a pounding bass to pretty good effect.
Because of the keyboard led tracks, The Bakesys remind me of ‘The Gajits’ although the Hellcat band are more traditional Ska, than 2-Tone, both bands have catchy tracks with catchy keyboard playing.
‘Animated Violence’ is a slow track which is OK, But the album picks up with ‘days gone by’ another piece of upbeat poppy/Ska that sees the bakesy’s at their best.
‘Grass is greener’ is probably the best track on the album, due to its very catchy nature, the fast Ska track has a good chorus and sax solo.
The album ends with ‘life so dub’ this is a dub version of early track ‘lie so tuff’ it works pretty well, its not as good as the catchy track on the album.
This is a pretty good album, with 30 minutes of pretty contagious keyboard led Two-Tone/poppy songs. I  would say it would be well worth checking out by fans on Two-Tone and people who like keyboard filled Ska like the Gadjits.

Jamdown records have recently released two singles by Capone and the Bullets and Ruby throat. Both are British bands with differing styles and both singles are available from Kevin Flowerdew, 26a Craven Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5NE.
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Blue Meanies -  A Sonic Documentation of Exhibition and Banter.
3 out of 5.

What the hell is this ? I knew The Blue Meanies were weird but this is completely out there. Somehow managing to mix Prog rock with punk and ska. It ends up as a blend of thrash ska and screeching horns with  ‘70’s rock keyboards.
Thankfully on most occasions this works well, there are some duff tracks ‘F.O.R.D.’ is some ramblings over a slow drum beat and a female vocal sample, very hippyish. Thankfully CD players have skip buttons and can be used to program tracks like ‘The noise of democracy’, ‘smash the magnavox’, ‘I’m a have not’ and ‘Acceleration 5000’. The studio version of this is on mailorder is fun.
The Meanies seem to at their best when they up the volume and play at full tilt. Although ‘Pave the world’
is excellent, even though its a slower number and ends up at about 9 minutes. The 2 minute keyboard intro is tops.

‘Tread is slower track as is ‘vote no’ and ‘an average American superhero’ these prove the earlier theory that the Meanies are better playing on a fast ska/punk variation. But all 3 tracks have a few good moments, but nothing really catchy.
‘Johnny Mortgage’  is the best track on the 70 minute live album. Its a skanking bass heavy ska/punk blend with catchy brass hooks good keyboard and guitars.
‘Grandma Shampoo’ and ‘blah blah blah’ end the CD in style both fast ska/punk numbers that make the album worthwhile. As overall the good tracks out number the bad tracks.
Asian Man Records.
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Bombshell Rocks -  Street Art Gallery.
4 1/2 out of 5.

‘If you buy just one CD by a new band this year, make it this one’ said in Pulped in Issue 6 and their not far wrong. I would of thought that the rocks will be battling it out with the dropkick Murphys, unless the Bouncing Souls or a brilliant Pennywise album can stop me from awarding them the best punk band of the year for 1999.
This release Fits in nicely between Rancid self titled album and their second offering ‘lets go’ There’s no ska or oi ! its just straight punk rock.
The band used to play more hardcore but changed there style in ‘95 and it works excellently.
‘Microphone’ kicks off the album in class style, with an infectious shouty chorus, hot on it heels is ‘1.80 down’ another song with a decent chorus. There no mid album drop as ‘bad feelin’, the best track on the album, is followed by ‘joker in the pack’, ‘white city walls’ and ‘out of order’.
‘Same streets’ and ‘bright spot’ all follow in the same vein and are excellent. 10 of the 12 tracks are brilliant, the other 2 are just great !
Buy it !
Sidekick Records.
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Broadways - "Broken Van".
3.5 out of 5.

This is the final release from the Chicago Punk band but its likely that we'll see them in a different guise on Asian Man in the future. Brendan Kelly (ex slapstick)  and Chris are already in Lawrence Arms putting out stuff.
The Broadways have always been the band with the sharpest hardest edge to come out of the slapstick scene and this album continues on that theme.

The first seven tracks are unreleased, 3 tracks are from the bands debut 7" on bicycle records and the final four tracks come from "Big City life" ep out on Asian Man. Basically all the bands recordings, bar the Broken star album.

The best tracks here are the first three new tunes and the stuff from the Big City life ep.

"Floundering" sets the stall out aggressive punk rock, great catchy (in a weird sort of way) lyrics, but its all over in 1 and a half minutes. But no fear  2nd track "Not Necessarily the news" is in the same mould and almost as good.
"2nd Grade cells" is a really good straight fast punk rock  tune, its as good as any track on the Lawrence Arms album, actually if you put this track against any LA track you couldn't tell the bands apart, so maybe we shouldn't be to disappointed about the bands demise a T' Arms are a good replacement.
"Natural Disaster" works well, but he rest of the May 1998 record tracks are alright, but nothing exceptional.

The bicycle records tracks are a bit poor on the production side, which doesn't help the songs, the vocals are a bit low in the mix on "T.V. song".
"Broadway and Briar" is a slower punk song which isn't bad, but not as good as the fast punk of "Rainy day", like a honest sounding punk Rock band playing  US skate punk.

The "Big city life" tracks are cut above everything else (except for the first three tracks) showing how good the Broadways were at their best.
"I think I shall never see..." is real rocking track, that must be played loud.
"What Happened" is perhaps the Broadways best track, as good as "15 minutes", y'know that ace track on the Mailorder is fun and ARA album. Stick this against any Slapstick track and then try and say ska-core's better, its pretty tough.
"Lake Michigan" keeps up the late assault, another great punk rock track.
"Dropjaw" is just as good, but it shows a lighter side to the band. Still rough and aggressive vocals t his time over a more melodic guitar riff and slower distorted beat.

For people with the "Big City life" ep its perhaps not worth getting, unless your a big fan. But for every-one else its only a few quid more to shell out for the ep and 10 other good tracks.
Asian Man Records.
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The Bruce Lee Band - S/T.
4 out of 5.

Mike Park is backed up by Less than Jake for some ska/punk upbeat fun tunes. Similar to LTJ themselves.
‘Mr. Hanalet’ and ‘don’t sit next to me just because I’m Asian’ are both acoustic numbers and give weight to the theory that if Mike Park’s solo album is this good it will be one of the albums of the year.
‘Gerry is strong’, ‘going insane’, Brother, Brother’ and ‘komsomida’ are all great tracks, some of the vocals are just fun and not politically driven like some of the Chinkees stuff.
A few of the songs, ‘list’ inparticular just get going and they finsish and you think if they’d been a bit longer they’d be brilliant.
All in all its a good brand of uptempo ska/punk for fans of LTJ, Chinkees and Skankin’ Pickle.
Asian Man Records.
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Capdown - Time for change.
3 out of 5.

Capdown's debut ep recorded in 1998 sees them laying the foundations for this years explosive "civil disobedients" LP.
5 tracks that go between hardcore punk to hardcore ska / punk with the aide of vocalist Jake taking up the sax.

Title track "time to change" is a full on punk track, the fairly good guitar riff keeps the interest in the song for the 2 minute venture.
"stand my ground" is a lot better track, starting off with the basic ska/punk guitar skank it evolves into a fast paced ska/punk stomper. Then the Capdown trademark sax style comes in and it stomps over you some more, then the sax double up to really rock you up into a frenzy. Cool ska/punk!

"Yourself, your whole self & nothing but yourself" is another ska/punk track, but it has a very distorted skank with a punky guitar chorus, early ska'rdcore.

"If money's your life" is only 1 and half minutes and its basically a punky song with a bit of ska in it. It never really takes off basically cos its too short to really get hooked on it.

The final track "if we don't last very long" gives an indication of how heavy and hardcore the Milton Keynes band can get, but its still not as heavy as the first couple of tracks of their debut album. Another 1 minute 30 track, that actually benefits from not being that heavy, but its still remain catchy and powerful at the same time. Top Punk.

Overall the ep weighs in at 10 minutes as all the songs are a lot shorter and less complex than the bands recent album. In "stand my ground" and "yourself, your whole self & nothing but yourself" the release has some very worthwhile ska/punk and "if we don't last very long" is a good punk song. So 3 out 5's not bad.
Household Name records.
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Capone & The Bullets - I Don’t Feel.
4 1/2 out of 5.

This three track single from Glasgow band ‘Capone & the bullets’ is one of the best singles I’ve heard this year. As catchy as the Mighty Mighty Bosstones ‘The Impression that I get’ which won the Kerrang single of the year award. ‘I don’t feel’ is a brilliant pop, soul, Two-Tone blend all mixed into one 3 minute track.
Obviously things can’t get better than the first track, but the 5 piece keep up a good standard with ‘As time goes by’ this is a bit slower than the opening track but still has a catchy chorus. The last track.
‘Sunglasses’ is another soul, pop skanking track with a likable guitar part.  The less catchy of the three tracks but still pretty good.
This single is well worth checking out, just for the 1st track alone, the bands forthcoming  debut album will also be worth looking out for and I certainly hope it will be available soon.
Jamdown Records.
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The Chinkees - ‘Peace through music’.
3.5 out of 5.

The last Chinkees album was basically Mike Park backed up with Tuesday and AM’s main Producer Robert Berry on keys, but this new album sees a completely new line up with Mike Park, one that includes Asian Man’s Advertising and promo worker Miya on bass.
Whilst not being as immediately as catchy as 'are coming' 'Peace thru music' still is good as certainly has its moments.

The band are named The Chinkees in protest and statement to the reality of racism. 10% of the bands royalty's go towards anti-racist organisations.
The album has a mix of political songs ('run away'- about the Korean war, 'Japanese exchange student' - about Racism and 'Crowded Forum', 'Purpose of Education' about Education.) and personal songs about dreams, life and relationships.
Musically wise there all pretty upbeat ska/pop/punk. Operation Ivy meets DHC with an infectious organ sound.
Stand out tracks are : 'Japanese Exchange student', 'Through my heart', 'Christmas' and Ultraman. Basically because of the sheer catchiness. 'Trophy Winner', 'Tijuana Song' are both organ led instrumentals and the album includes a traditional Korean song 'san toki' and acoustic number 'will I have a chance?' to round out the album.
Infectious and well worth buying.
Asian man Records.
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Day Old Brutus - 8 Track Promo.
3.5 out of 5.

This Upcoming US band from Sioux City mix East coast hardcore with ska to produce an energetic and aggressive blend of ska-core. The 5 piece have played with Johnny Socko, Catch22 and Inspector 7 among others and this 8 track release should see them get support even more ska/punk acts.

The 8 track goes from hardcore with a blazing trombone to skanking punk/ska a la the exceptions or Eclectics.

The first two tracks show the contrast with the opener "For the right" being a belting hardcore number with a piercing trombone to the 2nd number "Pressure" an infectious catchy ska/punky number. Both work well.
"listen up" is another punk/ska number with a stop start chorus. Although the album singer James Jansma keeps up the hardcore style vocals, but what makes the songs stand out is Chad's resounding trombone.

"King of deception" picks up the pace and is more hardcore and has a distorted skank sound.
"Bulldog" starts of as a regular ska/punky number but the chorus and the finale have a raging hardcore chant of  "bull-dog", "bull-dog". Which is one of the only times on the album that you can really join in and sing along to the vocals.

"Accused" is a track where you really notice the guitar, the riff is pretty good, most of the other tunes its the shouty vocals or the trombone. But "Accused" has a brutal guitar riff.

"Knowledge" heads back in a ska direction, with a quick paced punky chorus, the thing about this track is you can join in on the backing vocal "ooooohhhhhhs"  during the chorus.

"jester's dead" is the last track, its a fierce hardcore tune with a cracking trombone riff. This and "Pressure" are the highlights" of a really good debut release from the band.

Definitely worth checking out live and on wax and CD any-one who likes both hardcore and ska will enjoy along with fans of Hot Stove Jimmy, Exceptions, Eclectics, Link80 & Thumper.

Write to the band at: PO Box 320, N.Sioux City, SD 57049, USA.
email: dayoldbrutus@juno.com
web-site : http://www.dayoldbrutus.com
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Deals Gone Bad - Overboard.
4 out of 5.

Overboard is DGB's follow up to the early 1998 album "large and in charge", an album that had some special moments, with the likes of "The Elephants", "Pirates", "Dollar down", "Leaving town" and "good times". Overboard follows on from the debut, in that you know DGB are a top band and when they play uptempo rocksteady like drunken pirates there's no one better.  The only thing is they quite often like to slow it down for more skinhead reggae numbers, which whilst good, are overshadowed by the skanking faster tunes.

The above case is proved straight away with the first two tracks, "I'm sorry" is a brilliant rocksteady catchy singalong song with the repeated chorus of "I'm sorry", its as good as anything DGB have done so far. But its followed by a slower reggae "better off" which is not as instantly likeable.

DGB line up slightly differently to the debut with the Nate Braddock replaced with Louis Well on trumpet and Julio Herrerea in for Aret Sakalian on keys, also Sax man Karl Gustafson has been added to the 4 man brass sound.

"Fat cat" is one of the better reggae styled tunes with lush horns, make it one of quite a few top tracks on the album along with "shame and humiliation", the excellent sound of drunken pub rock/rocksteady .

The sound '68 is recreated with a version of the Derrick Morgan penned "loverboy" which works pretty well with its bouncy bass line, offbeat horns and smooth sax solo.
"stop and listen" is also reminiscent of early ska/reggae with the backing vocals and Harry J sounding keys.
"too early too late" goes back to the slower reggae style, with a not bad sax solo.

"In the land where no one walks" is a  more lively track, with a cool sax and what seems to be a pirates sword fight in the middle of the track! This brings back the good rocksteady pirate times to the album.
The fun times continue with "honest woman, Honest man" an instantly danceable rocksteady skank with Motown like horns.
The cover of "Games people play" is less danceable than "honest woman..." but still has a bouncy bass line and catchy/rousing chorus.

Just before the albums end, it seems that the Shane McGowan and the pogues have joined in for the finale. But no its DGB with Matt Hensley on the accordion knocking out there own Pogues style/drunken pirates number "shiver me timber", a cool anthem that should be on all pub jukeboxes.

Overall "overboard" is better DGB's debut because there are more skanking rocksteady tunes than "large and in charge" but there are still a few slower reggae stuff, that if you can  appreciate them better than me then you'll love the two styles on display.
"I'm sorry", "shiver me timber", "fat cat", "loverboy", "honest woman, honest man", "in the land where no one walks" and "shame and humiliation" are the best tracks, so there's 7 out of 11 cool bouncy upbeat numbers. So if you put together the best of "overboard" and "large and in charge" and you've got a non stop danceable record.
Jump Up Records.
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Doctor Manette - The same thing over & over.
3 out of 5.

This album has been a long time coming, Dr Manette featured on Jump Up's first 'everything offbeat' comp in 1997 and this album was recorded in late 1997.
So is it worth the wait ? Yes, definitely for fans of MU330, Weezer and Orangetree.
'The same thing over & over' is very much a rock/ska album, less ska than MU330 but just as catchy, with some hints of Weezer throughout the album.

Kicking off with 'paper fish' a mix of fast skanking ska and distorted guitar riffs, with the 2 brass members joining in at various intervals. The song relies on a pretty good chorus riff and vocals, and is a pretty impressive start.
'2c' starts of like a Weezer song and part way through has a very weezer like guitar melody line, but mostly its punky riff with added horns.

'Bonkers' is a mix of distorted skanking guitar and heavy riff with piercing horns, nothing special.
'Under over' is a slower more mid paced ska tune, with a good melodic horn addition. That has a punky guitar and dense horn outro.

'Preston' is probably the best song on the album, a catchy rock song with chanting style singalong vocals, plus Antonio Carrozza (trumpet) and Paul Henklemann (sax) joining in, on parts of the song.
'Preston' shows the album has similarities to 'Orangetree' also on Jump Up! (reviewed in issue 5) both albums have a few great ska/rock tracks but most of the album is take it or leave it rock/ska.  Thankfully for DoctorMannette, the album does have more memorable moments than Orangetree's' fixing stupid', but neither of them will go down as ska classics.

'Guilt' starts of like a fast metal song, with its thrash riff, but then turns into a mid paced ska tune, with fast distorted chorus. It then goes real slow with a smooth sax solo. Throughout the song there's fairly melodic vocals.
'Diesel' also starts off like metal number, but when the horns come in its more like thumper, this is a 1 and half minute, pretty pointless instrumental.

Things pick up for 'Sap' a bouncy skanking ska/pop song, with a sax line that you can hum along to and chorus you join in on.
The album goes into big rock mode with '15 labels' the track which featured on 'Everything offbeat' comp. So with it being on a comp, you know its likely to be one of the best tracks on the album, and it is. Big punk rock intro riff then loud piercing but tuneful brass, followed by a fast skanking riff. The songs all about bands who sell out for fame and about why everything DoctorManette have done is better because it came from the heart. A poignant message to indie bands is then finished by the message 'Stick to your guns, you'll get your fair share, good things come to those who wait, so keeping rocking hard'.
'Happiness' starts off like a latino song, but soon goes ska/punk with the guitar switching between fast skank and
rock. Its a quite good song, its has a pretty catchy chorus, thanks to the melodic sax and a rocking end that starts slow and speeds up.
'The one and only' only really gets going during the big riff chorus with female backing vocals and the album ends with an average song 'something I've been meaning to say...'.

Overall the Chicago 5 piece produce a record that is a mix of 6 good ska/punk songs and 6 songs that are nothing more than average.
As there are that many ska releases out at the moment, it would be understandable if  this one was missed out peoples shopping list. But for fans of MU330, Weezer, Orangetree or Jump UP! records, at £7 from Pulped they won't be disappointed.
Jump Up Records.
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Dropkick Murphys -The Gangs all here.
4 out of 5.

This was going to be a test for the dropkicks, to see what they could come up with for the 2nd proper album. ‘Do or die’ their 1st hellcat release was mainly re-recordings of old material and the Early years was just that, material recorded on EPs between 96-97.
So it was going to be interesting to see what the Murphy’s can up with for their new album, especially with Al Barr replacing Mike McColgan, who quit due to lack of commitment.
A taster of what was to come was the ‘Curse of a fallen soul’ 7” that was excellent and so is this full length.
The album gets of to a dodgy start with ‘Blood and whiskey’ following the roll call, this is nothing more than an average punk track. (like ‘3rd man in’ on ‘do or die’) The album really starts kicking off with ‘pipebomb on lansdowne’ this rocks, a fast hardcore punk offering with a chorus that attacks and attacks again.
‘Perfect stranger’ isn’t as a good as ‘pipebomb’ its more of a punk rock n’ roll song.
‘10 years of service’ and ‘upstarts and broken hearts’ are fairly good punk songs but nothing special

Devils brigade and ‘homeward bound’ are quicker and harder than ‘10 years ..’ and ‘upstarts...’ and work out as better songs.
‘Curse of a fallen soul’ has different start and dome different words to the 7” version, but thankfully its still as good, similar to ‘finegan’s wake’ as good as ‘skinhead’ and the Dropkicks actually wrote it, excellent !
‘The fighting 69th’ and ‘Amazing grace’ are the two traditional song the Boston boys tackle in hardcore style on this album. (Cadence to arms and finegans wake got the treatment on do or die)
The fighting 69th is excellent and is one of the best tracks on the album. ‘Amazing grace’ sees the boys join in with Joe Delaney who’s back on the bagpipes.
‘Wheel of Misfortune’ starts off like ‘caught in the jar’ but is a slow punk track, but its better than the mid tempo tracks and what makes it even better is Johnny Cunningham on the fiddle. The fiddle also comes back on the title track which is more of an upbeat sing along track but is still good. It’s a bit of a surprise that two of the better tracks are slower numbers with fiddle playing, hopefully we’ll here more stuff like this from the Murphy’s in the future as well a the fast explosive punk stuff.

 ‘The Gangs all here’ is as good as ‘do or die’ both album have about 7 or 8 outstanding tracks and 8 good but nothing special punk tracks.
Both have a couple of covers of traditional songs, one of which ends up accompanied by bagpipes, the other ends up being one of the best cuts on the LP. It’ll be interesting to see what the Murphy’s do for their next album But we can be thankful there’s not acoustic stuff on ‘the gangs all here’
Hellcat / Epitaph Records.
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Dropkick Murphys/ The Business - Mob Mentality.
4 out of 5.

What happens when one England's top streetpunk bands meets one of USA's top bands. Taang Records records it and slaps it out on vinyl of course!

So here it is, a taster for more of the two bands in combined action and the first great record of 2000.

Kicking off first with McBusiness, the Dropkicks and business on the same track, Barr and Fitz each taking turns to snarl out the vocals. "Mob Mentality" is a rallying call, telling the story of skins and punk in 2000.
"Skinheads on the webpage, punks on the net". A top song by a top combo.
The B-side sees the Business take on DKM's "The streets of Boston", renaming the "the streets of London", this speeded up version is alright but never as good as the original, which I don't think is one of the Murphy's best tunes.
The Dropkick's do a better service to the Business' "Informer". This is one of DKM's strong points, there takes on covers, the majority  of their best tracks are covers, "Skinhead...", "Finegans wake", "Working" & "Watch your back".
Taang Records.
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