Good Shade – Lunch (2017)

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Bandcamp

• Punk rock 
• Pop rock 
• Alternative rock 
• College rock 
• Psychedelic rock 
• Power pop 
• Agit-pop 
• Pomp rock

Comment: this 15-notch album is the second in a trilogy by considering such topics as access to quality meal (as the title hints at), possibilities to moving upward the societal ladder and disparities in power and privilege. And it is largely influenced by the election of Donald Trump as president. For Shane Natalie who is behind the project it is adverse event. I have no intention to consider the last mentioned aspect but the first mentioned aspects should be more balanced within a society. Of course, total equality as an idea is a sort of utopia because people are different by their abilities, intelligence and wishes and fortitude. We must have no intention to repeat the practice of Red Khmers through a million of corpses. Given that the state as an institution should be as thin as possible and as much be presented as it is needful for a citizen. In a word, the human being needs that basic needs as vitamin enriched food, shelter and solid education could be fulfilled. And for a talented and hard-working individual there should be possibilities to move forward both educationally and therefore socially. Yet do not forget a most important thing – a human being can still be classified as animal and his/her life is a tremendous fight. The societies are still in a latent state of war, i.e all human beings are fighting against each other even if there are the appearances of collaboration. Musically the whole relies on power pop/punk rock/college rock numbers while at times adding psychedelic spices with fingertip. I wish the artist would have added more madness and hystery and exaggerated energy to the music to add more credibility to support his message. At times it chimes in a way too sabbatical mode. The sensitive outing is a bit in the discography of Quote Unquote Records.

Art School Jocks – Art School Jocks (2017)

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Father/Daughter

• Fuzz pop 
• Indie punk 
• Alternative pop/rock 
• Indie pop/rock

Comment: Art School Jocks is a female quartet from Atlanta, Georgia, USA whose music seems to be punk grounded at the first glance yet by going on you get realised it is platform for the chicks to move further to the indie scene. Ali, Deborah, Dianna, and Camille define themselves as existential basement pop band. It might be their most direct relation to punk music is bound through their critical attitude towards some racial and sex relation based concerns and even the footy sense of living pours out from the lyrics. It is sometimes said that the way to hell is pathed with good intentions. You can perceive that feel within it as well. Fortunately the pessimism is supported by solid guitar music coated with fuzzed-out vamps and dreamy glimpses. Given that this short 12-minute outing has been managed to set up a vivid and invigorating whole. The release is a part of the discographies of such labels as Quote Unquote Records, and Father/Daughter Records.

Shinobu – 10 Thermidor (2015)

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• Power pop
• Alternative pop/rock
• College rock
• Indie pop/rock
• Art rock

Comment: The Californian, US-based Shinobu is a meritorious quintet whose 11-track issue used to mostly drift between college rock and power pop elements which frequently are superimposed or blended into each other. More profoundly, it does mean their song structures are built up quite straightforwardly and the combo`s lyrics is about anxiety, haunting past, and warped reality. The favourite tracks of mine are those where the band decided to abandon usual verse-chorus form and develop into extraordinary ways. For instance, at Hell Screens the track starts off with hirsute, thrusting guitars being quite similar to an angular, math rock exploration. And it is very sympathetic to listen to the somehow elliptical and swaying chorus at the rear part of the song. Jokes is a great punk song with appropriate, nihilistic energy which always used to make sense. The most favourite of mine is Melbourne Cup which embarks on by reminding of Albarn & Coxon`s (Blur) songwriting but which will finish off being awash with permanent echo and delay effects thereby magnifying the whole effect. In a word, the album as a whole experience is solid and enjoyable.

Bomb The Music Industry! - Vacation (2011)

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Lastfm

8.9

/Psychedelia, Pop punk, Alternative pop/rock, Brass pop, Baroque pop, Art rock/

Comment: pop punk/happy punk/easycore is obviously not the first choice of mine. Yet, Bomb The Music Industry!`s Vacation is an issue I used to love to. Why? Because of those trivial and straightforward rock hooks which are mixed up with the acute form of psychedelia, dream-soaked appearances, infectious brass pop whiffs and even art rock-ish splashing. For instance, the favorite of mine is The Shit That You Hate which in its baroqueness reminds of High Llamas, and Flaming Lips. The shit what we like.