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THE TOSSERS Smash The Window
( Victory)
In the age of Brexit and Trump, with Scotland and Northern Ireland potentially fleeling to the EU, The Tossers timing couldn ' t be more impeccable. The world has changed a lot since 2013 when the Tossers( The Emerald City) released their last album. Get past the Irish drinking songs and the St. Patty ' s day traditions, Smash The Windows is as much a rallying cry for change as it is the soundtrack to a lost weekend. Producer Andy Gerber ' s( Million Yen) production yolks the traditional Irish pub band spirit with Celtic punk rock that ' s been a band signature since they debuted in 1993. " Erin Go Bragh " is the tale of Irish migrants coming to Chicago, but in the age of immigrant bans and increased ICE patrols, what if our ancestors had been blocked from coming to the shores of the Great Lakes? Vocalist Tony Duggins growls " And our voices resound through the halls of the town / All the way to the president’ s door." Hoping that same spirit remains for today ' s immigrants. " Smash The Windows " is a trad-Irish drinking and brawling song delivered with indie spirit, worthy of it ' s place as the title single. Among the traditional songs passionately redone for the fans(" Danny Boy," " Mairi ' s Wedding," " Foggy Mountain "), The Tossers shine greatest on " 1969," where the themes of Irish independence could be applied to our current political climates in the US and Europe(" And still they walked and still they marched / Unto the bitter end ").
Chicago ' s Tossers perform a worthy formula of meshing punk with Irish drinking tunes, but Smash The Windows adds a bit of political commentary for those paying attention.
- John Vernon
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PLS PLS Smash The Window
( Slimstyle)
Upping the ante following 2013’ s LP LP, Dan Dixon and company pursue a captivating reinvention that travels forward and backward in time. The retrofuturistic“ Animals” weaves an enveloping cocoon of analog synthesizers before locking into the pulse of Dave Chase’ s bass. Dixon’ s downcast vocal echoes Fleetwood Mac circa“ Tango in the Night,” joined by a horn-fueled chorus with a slender thread drawn to frenetic older favorite“ Tusk.” Meanwhile, the balance of organic and artificial suggests visitation by a similar muse to the one that spoke to Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes when creating his 2015 solo quantum-leap Matador. The thrumming piano textures of“ We Don’ t Scare” create tension that explodes into a cathartic declaration of communal power. The song’ s coda features a club-shaking EDM groove in which Dropsonic veteran and erstwhile heavy-guitar hero Dixon underscores his vision as a beatmaker with undeniable melodic chops. Gliding robotic pulses and cathedral echo flicker and burst into another festival-sized hook during the title cut.“ Let You Down” finds the unsettling intersection between Pink Floyd’ s plaintive“ A New Machine” and the lush swell of Caribou’ s“ Sun.”“ Please don’ t depend on me,” sings Dixon with bitter honesty.“ Because I will only let you down.”“ Next!” is a demented dance track that tethers Gary Numan’ s“ Cars” to Ric Ocasek’ s Cars, and drives them both into a grinding guitar hook that sends the vehicle sailing over a fog-laden coastline cliff. The bottomless drop drifts and heaves like“ Kid A”-era Radiohead or“ Planet of Ice”-era Minus the Bear, until the cloudy guitar strums focus into propulsive flight.“ Everything’ s going to be fine,” sings Dixon.“ You are next in line.” The sentiment is less than reassuring, but the bad medicine tastes sweet on the way down. If quality songs and inventive play had anything to do with it, PLS PLS would be forced into a big-stage Lollapalooza slot under the setting sun this summer. Spin Jet Black until it happens, and claim that you heard them first.
Appearing 4 / 8 at Liar’ s Club, Chicago
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– Jeff Elbel |
ELEPHANTS & EMPERORS Moth
( Pavement)
Local rockers Emperors and Elephants( E + E) has managed to weather the storm after difficult times. The band was on a perfect roll until last year when a fatal heart attack struck guitarist Jeff Windisch after the band had just performed an opening set for Lynch Mob in Savage, Minnesota. Windisch had already laid down his guitar parts on the band’ s sophomore release Moth before his passing. Taking over guitar duties in the live setting will be Anthony Modica. E & E’ s implementation of grunge, modern rock and’ 90s alt-rock recalls bands such as Dust for Life, White Noise Theory, My Sisters Machine, and of course Alice In Chains. Possessing an edgier hint to its radio-friendly sound, E + E’ s 12 gritty-yetmelodic tracks will certainly resonate with the modern rock music scene. The sludgy, slow-grinding riffs of opener“ Hidden” sets the tone of the album nicely. Vocalist Jesse Andrews’ melodic, high-pitched howl and soaring Alice in Chains vocal harmonies is the perfect accompaniment to the music.“ Porcelain Kiss” is unfortunately a little too homogenized and predictable, while“ Cracks in the Wall” is quite uplifting.“ Chicago,” decorated with a soulful, bluesy flavor, is the band’ s homage to its beloved city. However, the cover tune of Chris Isaak’ s“ Wicked Game” slightly misses the mark. With Moth, E + E proves it can bounce back in the face of adversity. – Kelley Simms Appearing: 4 / 21 at Bada Brew, Crest Hill
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ALEX DEZEN II
( Poor Man)
There ' s a very astute league of humans on this planet, of whom I ' m one, who will never get over the dissolution of The Damnwells. They had that " je ne sais quois," that " X factor " that should have catapulted them to the same heights as Wilco
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or at least their buddies The Old ' 97s. But one consolation – and perhaps impetus to move on ourselves – is that the band ' s front man / songwriter Alex Dezen has made peace and moved on, obvious in his tribute to his former band, " I Had A Band," on his second official solo LP II. It ' s the perfect paean to those years and his bandmates: " I never had much of a father, but I had a band … growing up in a van " he sings, atop cheerful, reminiscent chorus and jangly guitars. There are many " tributes " and nods on this record; starting with the ' 80s-esque keyboards and Carlos Santana guitar lead on the opener " When You Give Up." Then the Fleetwood Mac-influenced " Holding Onto You( Holding Onto Me)" and " Randolph Tonight " continue to transport you to those late ' 70s radio hits, many of which employed eerie chords that painted haunting pictures, like Dezen does here. Dezen ' s never been afraid to go deep, and here " I Am A Racist " is a brutally honest self-reflection delivered with juxtaposing blue-eyed folksy soul with layered background harmonies. " New York To Paradise " is a Billy Joel piano / vocal elegy for Dezen ' s mother( though I believe she ' s alive and well). " Everything ' s Great( Everything ' s Terrible)" is his Paul Simon " Graceland " nod. It wouldn ' t be a Dezen LP without at least one song about troubled relationships, so " Fuck Or Fight " fulfills that pre-req. " The Boys Of Bummer " is a salvo to some of his favorite songwriters, and fulfills another Dezen staple – the melancholy folk song. No matter that the retro theme fades mid-record; Dezen is an adroit songwriter who has become adept at assimilating catharsis and entertainment.
– Penelope Biver
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POWER TRIP Nightmare Logic
( Southern Lord)
Power Trip’ s song“ If Not Us Then Who” really should be named,” If we aren’ t the ones to release the best thrash album of 2017, then who will?” The eight-song, 33- minute ripper of an album, Nightmare Logic makes a strong case not only for best of 2017, but for best thrash album since Metallica and Slayer first released genre defining albums in the mid-1980s. Thrash as a movement was relatively short-lived, and Power Trip’ s latest effort reminds listeners there is still much to explore. Songs“ Executioner’ s Tax( Swing of the Axe)” and“ Firing Squad” combine uptempo shredding with urgent, anxiety-filled lyrical content and delivery. Compelling thrash combines accelerator-to-the-floor riffing with repetitious grooves, and all songs deliver in fresh ways. And amid all the sonic aggression and lyrical fixation on mortality, the band offers this motivational anthem on“ Waiting Around To Die”:“‘ Human being’ has lost its meaning when you refuse to fight / If I don’ t force your hand it could cost you your life / You’ re waiting around to die and you’ re all right with it / Just waiting around to die and I can’ t stand for it.” Translation: there is hope in this nightmarish world.
– Jason Scales
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