Sceneazine.com
Music Reviews
by Julia Pope
Anton & the Colts
“6:45 & 450 Down”
We have all either been so down, or in such a good
mood, we end up going to a nightclub and gotten a
drink. Sometimes, there would be a band playing. And
they would be playing country, rock, rockabilly, rockblues.
No matter what walk of life you are, when you hear
Anton & the Colts you would have to imagine yourself
as the down-and-out fifty year-old down nursing a gin
and tonic at a local bar. They’re Tom Petty, Jackson
Browne, and Clapton, all on the same stage. And they
have plenty of guitar and just the right tonic to soothe
a broken heart.
The guitar intro for “Sister Cocaine” almost parallels the one for “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” not to mention
the message of the song. Of course, the only difference
is no harmonica.
Led Zeppelin gave us “Black Dog”. Anton gives us
“My Black Dog & Me.” For a song about a dog, it is a
very subdued story. But at least for this song, it is consistent with the title. Conclusion of song still monotone, a song that has a happy ending but the tone of
voice doesn’t change.
“Rattle all Yer Bones” is by far the best song on here
musically and lyrically. It lies mostly in the the drum
solo in the intro. I can imagine this song mainstreamed
on both country and rock radio stations.
Anton & the Colts-a lot of guts, guitars...and a lot of
fumblin’ and stumblin’.
one Else” and “Let’s Be Honest.” Concerning the former,
There’s just something about “promise me the world”
that just makes me nod my head in agreement. Perhaps I’m jaded and maybe more cynical than I should
be. And if I never discovered my inner punk rocker, I
am now. I probably never have to listen to “Surrender”
again. Oh, no, no no. Perish the thought! I need my
Cheap Trick, always.
And we all, at some point in our lives, need some
education in some form or another at the School of
Rock. Everything about the music is so punk you can
taste it. I almost got the impression these guys went
to an actual School of Rock, studied Punk Rock under
rock & roll’s finest, and graduated magna sum laude.
When listening to this, I felt like I was Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer, when she asked Adam
Sandler, “Have you written anything lately?” Then, he
just let it all out. And that’s just what August Ruins did
on this CD. They outdid themselves in “showing” me
they are who they are.
And they didn’t disappoint. Guys, your education
at the School of Rock wasn’t a waste.
August Ruins’
“Momentary Victory”
With their latest CD, Momentary Victory, it’s a “tell
and show” moment: They “tell” it in their titles, they
show it in their lyrics. The titles of August Ruins’ songs,
for all intents and purposes, speak of rebellion and all
the other like things punk rock has been known for all
these decades. The two titles that stand out are “Every-
Page 14
Calligram
“Calligram-EP 2014”
There are many promises a band makes. Just
about all of them promise musical integration, because
chances are, all of the members comes from different
musical backgrounds. In listening to and finding out
more about Calligram, a thrash metal band, has done
the same thing. While I consider this almost funny, I
decided to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Since I’m percussively minded, I give credit to the
drummer. Of course, if the band didn’t have the drummer, there wouldn’t be a thrash band. When the vocals
begin on “Murder of a Silhouette” the song gets, for the
lack of better words, “interesting.” But it’s only when
the tempo of the lyrics is the same as the drummer.
Now, regarding the bringing in that integration of
musical styles Calligram had promised, I will give them
credit for that mandolin “teaser” they have at the beginning of “Murder of a Silhouette.” However, there needs
to be more than just that, and more often. Perhaps,
a surprising break in the middle of a song or more of
these non-metal music intros. Furthermore, on their
Bandcamp web site, they had the names of people who
had “mixed” and “mastered.” They’re there for a reason.
Perhaps they should utilize them more often.
Mythical Motors
“Reimagined Pyramid”
They say ignorance is bliss. If that’s the case, then
why aren’t people more happy? It might be because
people don’t know Mythical Motors and haven’t listened
to their new CD Reimagined Pyramid.
While t H]\