I REVIEW MUSIC I BUY. The Golden Boys “Dirty Fingernails”

Band Info: at 12XU
Buy LP: at 12XU
Buy Download: Bandcamp
Label: 12XU

Guitar and keyboard driven Midwesternish rock, early Replacements meets early Elvis Costello. A reckless raw edge runs throughout the album making it fun and catchy listen. This is what The Hold Steady should sound like.

The album stumbles a bit in the middle with “Daddy’s Horsewife” a weird noise spoke word piece, a completely unnecessary interruption, followed by the weakest song on the album “Didn’t I Tell Ya Babe”. Things get right back on track with “Older Than You” and the album finishes up very nicely.

Favorite Tracks: “California”, “Older Than You”

Notes: LP comes with download code from Bandcamp, which is nice as you can get a lossless file.

New Elusive Parallelograms.

Christ the more I say or type that name the more I hate it.

A bit heavier and concise. Still got the Britpop/shoegaze done by Americans thing going on. I think the songs are better than the last album save “The Bear”.

I think the EP format is the way to go 20ish minutes twice a year is perfect.

Top Albums 2011

Music that I found worth while from 2011 in alphabetical order.

The Steve Adamyk Band Forever Won’t Wait
Similar to the Exploding Hearts but more power-pop.

Biters All Messed Up
Hard power-pop from Atlanta

Black Country Communion 2
Trapeze, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. If you like 70′s rock this is for you.

Burning Sons Reduced to Equality
Battalion of Saints meeds Discharge. Catchy and raging great vocals.

Chris Connelly Artificial Madness
PIL, Magazine, Bauhaus, Wire type thing from Revolting Cocks, Ministry guy.

Cloudkicker Let Yourself Be Huge
Instrumental more soudscape less metal this time. Still epic.

Elusive Parallellagrams Modern Splendor
90′s retro. Shoegaze, brit pop, with some Smashing Punmpkins. That sounds terrible, it is quite good though.

Hammers of Misfortune 17th Street
Classic metal with a small bit of 70′s rock and folk thrown in.

Helms Alee Weathered
Just as much noise and heaviness as the first but way more memorable.

Hurry Up Shotgun
Another band that reminds me of the 90′s. Kind of like the Sub Pop band Sprinkler but better hooks and not as heavy.

Mastodon the Hunter
Still love them. Sure it’s not as heavy but they do branch out a bit.

Michael Monroe Sensory Overload 
Ginger from the Wildhearts, Michael Monroe and Jack Douglas – it had to be good. Great rock album.

MonstrO
Torche meets grunge.

Omegas Blasts of Lunacy 
Great 80′s throwback hardcore.

Shy Mirrors Sailed Blanks
Power-pop with buzz saw guitars