Epinions Recent Reviews for PezKing

Dropped the ska for Fun, Upbeat, Boston Hardcore to Kick you In The Head

Fri, 12 Jul 2002 16:19:54 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Once again, and band I reviewed in an editorial nearly a year ago now has had their CD re-issued by Resurrection A.D. Records. Some good things are coming from this label, go check them out.

So much good music is coming from Boston these...

Another round of Ska-Core, but more mature, and more Core

Wed, 10 Jul 2002 13:25:47 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - This is probably the album I’ve waited most eagerly for its release. The Spitvalves have become friends of mine, and I already knew half the songs on this CD before it was even recorded, simply from live shows. After months of delays, a long stretch of...

Glamorizing Struggle- the true essence of punk?

Thu, 4 Jul 2002 20:41:58 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Similar to other bands hailing from the Richmond scene, Strike Anywhere straddle that line between political punk and emo-influenced hardcore. The music is typical four-on-the-floor punk blast, but done with a nice sense of pacing and drama. The vocals...

Bringing back REAL hardcore.

Sat, 29 Jun 2002 12:26:04 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Far too much of what people call “hardcore” these days is really just Metal made by kids who have had some connection to the straight edge scene at some point. Deep chugging chords played ultra fast, and inhuman screaming are NOT the hallmarks of...

WIAB Late Write Off- It Started On A Church Mission Trip

Sun, 16 Dec 2001 23:11:27 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - When I first started high school, I liked music a lot, but I was not yet really into music. It wasn’t a part of me. I really loved bands like the Crash Test Dummies, Weezer, Fountains of Wayne, and They Might Be Giants (still do), but all the...

Fishbone Chronicles Part IV, 1991- The funky party starts to rock hard

Mon, 16 Jul 2001 18:43:13 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - As they move into the 90’s, Fishbone crossed over from being a funk band that rocks, to a rock band that’s funky. They also set the pattern for the decade of having more stylistically diverse albums. This album alternates between ska more akin to their...

Fishbone Chronicles Part III, 1988- The peak of punk-funk-soul-ska but still even more to come

Sun, 1 Jul 2001 03:43:41 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Going from behind the times in 1985, to way ahead of their time in 1988, Fishbone would unleash the perfect meld of rock, funk, ska, and soul. Angelo Moore’s vocals evolved into his trademark powerful croon, and Norwood would finally show us what he had...

Fishbone Chronicles Part II, 1986- Evolving sound, funky new wave, still only the beginning.

Thu, 28 Jun 2001 12:55:33 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - This is the weirdest album by a band that thrives on weirdness. A year after their self-titled debut EP, Fishbone gets in your face with "In Your Face" (sorry, bad pun). The cover looks like it should be for a rap album, but inside is still the...

Fishbone Chronicles Part I, 1985: Humble beginnings, great things to come.

Fri, 8 Jun 2001 21:53:34 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - When these six young black men from LA put out their debut in 1985, I wonder if anyone knew what a revolutionary and long lived group they would turn out to be. Outstanding musicianship and vibrant energy aside, there was nothing too terribly auspicious...

Leaders of the Hardcore Ska revival.

Mon, 28 May 2001 13:59:18 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - This is an update of a review I wrote a long time ago, before this CD was even listed on Epinions. A year after it was initially released "fine print" has been reissued on Resurrection A.D. Records, a hardcore label out of New Jersey. The Spitvalves have...

What's with the 3rd wave's obsession with Metal?

Fri, 6 Apr 2001 15:48:47 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - The tracks on this disc can fall into one of two categories: those that provide a fairly faithful translation of the original, and those that put their own spin on it. Then that second category can be split into two: the ones that turn metal into ska,...

Hardcore legends take a wrong turn into bad metal

Sun, 21 Jan 2001 17:28:40 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Suicidal Tendencies started off as a great hardcore-thrash skate band, but somewhere along the way, they took a wrong left turn into hair metal territory. They always blended punk, metal, and very slight hip hop influences, but have had a hard time...

Crazy Jazz Ska-Core split album

Wed, 10 Jan 2001 01:31:26 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - This is not a review of “Good Luck.” Before Big D had their current album (which has been reissued on several labels, but now seems to have found a permanent home at Asian Man), they put out a split full length with Drexel, called ”Shot...

Positive thrash-ska at it's best

Mon, 1 Jan 2001 19:54:40 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Now that I have been at Epinions for a whole year, it is time to go back and take another look at the very first album I reviewed. When I read my first review, I cringe. I often recall this review, and think how drastically my writing has improved,...

Youth Brigade/Swingin' Utters- can't wait for Volume III

Sun, 10 Dec 2000 01:57:07 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - I picked up this release, Volume II in the BYO spilt series (their motto “2 great bands together on 1 classic record” is very accurate), when I saw Youth Brigade a couple months ago. Comparing their performance that night with the footage...

Everyman- a Moral Play

Mon, 4 Dec 2000 14:20:49 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Sorry, this review is not about Jack Lemmon (a fine actor) but about a video of a production of the medieval play "Everyman." This is not quite like a normal movie review, since I originally wrote it for a humanities class, with specific...

Always use protection when making love to a Badger

Sun, 26 Nov 2000 20:52:44 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - They may not have invented it, but the Dead Milkmen were surely the kings of humor based punk rock. With their patented mix of snapping bass, ringing guitars, sneering little kid voices, choppy drumming, odd miscellaneous sounds, and the occasional rant,...

"Alive Behind the Green Door"- live album, plus Bosstones

Sun, 12 Nov 2000 17:02:22 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - I figured it was finally time I got around to reviewing their live album that I picked up at the Warped Tour, after seeing Flogging Molly for the third time last Wednesday night. I’ve already reviewed their studio debut and their performance at the...

Music: Let's review "Music" the same way most people review albums!

Mon, 6 Nov 2000 17:32:29 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Music is a very good thing. It was started a long time ago. Music rules! I love music. I listen to it all the time. I listen to it when I am driving, sleeping, or reading. There are many different types of music. Music to make you happy, music for when...

Rock and Pop: AOL only promotes bad teeny bopper bands

Thu, 2 Nov 2000 13:48:19 GMT

rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - I was baby sitting a friend's kid one night, and he was plaing around on AOL, listening to Nsync. He said that he liked rock and roll, and that Nsync was cool. I tried to show him some good rock band's web pages, so he could lsiten to some better music,...

Old School Brit punk with the voice of experience for today

Wed, 18 Oct 2000 12:37:54 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - I’m amazed that Leatherface are not more well known here in the states. A mainstay of the punk scene in Britain from the late 80’s through much of the early 90’s, you would have thought that they would have some reputation on the other side of the...

The Bouncing Souls Live- bottled for your convenience

Wed, 27 Sep 2000 16:16:43 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - While it would be impossible to capture all the spirit of fun and energy at a Bouncing Souls show, this EP comes close. A Souls show is always filled with brotherhood, and an easygoing atmosphere. These songs don’t sound like they do in the...

Another great ska-punk band "matures"(?)

Thu, 21 Sep 2000 16:55:00 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Why is it that all these great bands that made a name for themselves playing a great blend of punk and ska think that as they get older, they have to drop one or the other? Bosstones, Rancid, Hippos, Less Than Jake, NOFX, No Doubt, Goldfinger, Suicide...

Just like a Woman- Cheap and Evil

Sat, 19 Aug 2000 23:15:10 GMT

rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Also like with women, when it comes to this CD, cheap and evil can be good or bad, depending on both the level of quality you want, and your own value system. I doubt I need to point out the pros and cons of cheap and evil women, so let me explain why I...

Asian Man Records does it again! This time for charity!

Sun, 6 Aug 2000 15:49:11 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author PezKing - Hey, looky here, two reviews for the price of one. Also covered within is a review of the Japanese import “Plea For Peace” EP on TV-Freak Records.

Sort of “Volume III” of the “Mail Order is Fun” series, this CD has the...