I'm not really sure how to review this band... I can't really come up with one of those metaphorical introductions that everyone seems to put in their reviews.  I guess it's pretty obvious that I don't do that very well.

I guess I can start off by saying that I respect them.  I respect them for being sincere guys.  I respect them more for that than for probably anything else they might do.  It's pretty tough to fake sincerity, so I think I'm on the right track.

I guess there's something in their music that just reminds me of this old notion of a bunch of people getting together and playing music because it's just the right thing to do.  Like old jazz bands from back in the day.  There's this real 'front porch' feel to them... I half expect someone to bust out a jug in the middle of the music, or one of those broomsticks with strings like in the cartoons.

What this amounts to, in the case of this album, are 11 songs about a variety of topics... mostly those old punk rock themes, but in the amazingly original Against Me! style... Lo-Fi, screaming/singing, guitars, echoic drums, semi-acoustic.  The songs are more about political empowerment than they are about specific instances... rising up, standing up for yourself, having integrity, and just generally doing what is right.  In some instances, the songs can be a little goofy, but for me, that only adds to the sincerity of the band... you can't realistically ALWAYS be that serious... sometimes there's room for a song called 'Baby, I'm an Anarchist.'

'Pints of Guinness...' is what made me buy this album.  An absolutely wonderful song about a woman dealing with losing her husband to alcoholism, though it was over 30 years ago.  For me, it's not really what the song is specifically about, but rather this idea that the band recognizes regular people in regular instances... that are sometimes tragic.  It's like this band wants to change the world.  And they're really trying, at least in song form, to do that.

Beyond my fondness for their sincerity, their originality hits me strongly... you don't hear many punk rock bands that started acoustic... or many bands at all that start their albums off with an intro that's very reminiscent of Johnny Cash's 'Ghost Riders in the Sky.'  That's about what their sound is... punk rock, with an acoustic side, played by a bunch of guys who sound like they grew up with classic country jam bands.  The lyrics are about as original as their sound, varying in styles and topics, yet open enough to make for perfect 'whoa's' and 'ooh's' for a crowd.

The only downside is that the singer's voice is sometimes a little too overpowering in the songs... in the second track, his voice is so scratchy that it seems to actually drown out some of the music... It's pretty difficult to understand.  But it's unique for the sound, and that's a good thing to me.  His style is similar to that 90's style of hardcore singer that has to skip words now and then to be able to scream right.  It's just interesting, because his voice ranges from singing to scratchy, even within the lines.

But definitely a unique new band, with amazing talent.  I hope they're around for a long time.

Try these songs:  Pints of Guinness Make You Strong

If I give this any rating other than a B, I don't think people will take me seriously.

Anyway... I was at this show, having procured a backstage pass from one of the Loaf who I'd worked with at the time, oh so many years ago.  What this is, is a live soundboard recording of one of the two last Archers shows which occurred in late November or early December of 1998.  These were packed, sold-out shows in a venue that hardly ever sells out in the band's hometown...  This was an emotional show for the band and for the fans...

Things have been edited, in order to save time (I remember someone commenting on Eric Johnson's job at the bird store we both worked for, but that's not on the album), or for technical issues... like I believe that one of the songs wasn't recorded this night, due to technical problems.  Otherwise, the quality is pretty good... not very crisp, but what live recording is?  The set list was chosen based on what songs the band felt had the highest 'listenability' and so many of the more upbeat songs are on here, as well as the fan favorites 'Web in Front,' 'South Carolina,' 'White Trash Heroes' and 'Wrong.'

Regardless, this is kind of a sad album... I'd imagine that it would have a great emotional impact on Archers fans... this is one of their last shows, and they play it amazingly well.  There's even a level of general despair in Bachmann's voice that you won't ever find in the albums... this was a tough show for them. 

You can hear the creativity in the band in how they stray from the recorded versions of the songs, as well as in Bachmann's voice... his amazing range in style, and general creepiness...

But you also hear the admiration of the fans in how they sing along with the songs, and cheer when they hear those first few notes of 'Web in Front' and 'White Trash Heroes'.

However, in line with this being a show for intense fans, this is also an album for the same... It's not going to be the favorite of most fans... not really even a starting point for beginners... Rather, just some sort of posthumous thrill, like the scores of other departed bands who have done the same...

But for fans, or even people who've picked up an album or two, this is one of those albums that may give them that little sad, yet uplifting feeling...  like the kind you get when driving by your childhood home.  Is that a weird comparison?  Well, it's accurate.

Try these songs:  n/a

When I heard about this EP last summer, I ordered it from the local CD shop... it took about a month, but I was damned thrilled when I got it.  3 of the members of Sleepytime Trio got back together in the form of a different band.  And the sound is entirely different.

The sound relies on musicianship more than energy.  It's more of a subtle intensity than an outright burst of emotional energy.  Since the Lovitt Records roster is almost entirely incestuous, the sound of the band is similar to others on the roster; think Ben Davis's solo work and Engine Down, only more subdued.

The sad thing about this EP is that it's only 3 songs long, pulling in at just over 12 minutes.  That's kind of short, even by EP standards... but nevertheless, the songs are pretty original...

The album starts off slow for about 30 seconds, then breaks into what I can only describe as a wall of sound... there's just a lot happening.  It's hard to classify as rock... it's just intense.

The song 'The Bridge is Out (To Burn) is what made me get the album... I downloaded the song right when the EP came out, and I fell in love with the song.  The piano during the chorus sounds almost like a steel drum... it's just a beautiful sound.

However, since the EP came out, a full length has been released, and it features two new members of the band, both formerly of 400 Years.  The sound is quite different than the EP, so this is more of a piece for fans.  If you don't like the new version of Bats and Mice, you might also want to check this out, because it is a good EP...

Try these songs:  This Can become completely all the same