Man, I am stoked that this new Corrosion of Conformity album is so good! They were one of the first hardcore punk bands that I discovered on my own, thanks to the recommendation of Bob Muldowney in the pages of his Kick Ass fanzine in 1984. When Animosity came out a year later it was blasting on my stereo pretty much non-stop and I even interviewed drummer Reed Mullin for my high school newspaper. It was also one of the first "hardcore" tapes my friends who were into Ozzy/Dio/Priest/Scorps could tolerate. Well, at least most of it. Side two was a bit much for them but I loved it. So when it was announced that C.O.C.'s ever changing line up was reverting back to the Animosity trio of bassist/vocalist Mike Dean, guitarist Woody Weatherman and Mullin I was very excited. I missed their NY show on the first go round but heard they were great. When it was announced that they were going to do a new record I really didn't know what to expect. I think the last C.O.C. album I heard all the way through was Blind and that was about 20 years ago.
Album opener "Psychic Vampire" starts off with a heavy groove before switching up with a fast punk part before returning to the groove. A very nice Bad Brains via Mahvishnu Orchestra way to begin. "River Of Stone" and the instrumental "El Lamento de las Cabras" are slower and moodier and make a fast thrasher like "Leeches" sound even faster and heavier. "Leeches" (sung by Reed) is really the only song similar to their vintage thrash era. Unsurprisingly, "The Doom" is slow and heavy but has some fast parts, too. C.O.C. was heavily into the first 2 Trouble albums when they came out when at a time when most metal fans were not into them. I always thought it was funny how a hardcore band got a lot of metallers into bands like Trouble and Saint Vitus because they'd wear their t-shirts.
The rest of the album is just kick ass heavy rock. Not fully metal, not punk, not classic rock. These guys always liked to play in the "beyond category" vein and that's what I really like about this album. The production is great, too. Woody's guitar tone is hard n heavy and blends well with Mike's booming bass. Reed's drumming is top notch. He throws in a lot of cool Clive Burr drum fills mixed in with some Earl from Bad Brains high hat work. There's even some "Pay To Cum" style cowbell!
I hope this album finds an audience. I know a lot of their fans are skeptical because Pepper Keenan isn't in the band right now and they probably never liked early C.O.C. They lost many their original hardcore fans after the Technocracy EP and this album might not win them back if all they like is punk rock. Their loss is my gain, I guess. I got my ticket for the NYC show on March 1 and I can't wait to see these guys rage the stage again.
(this album had such an impact on the kiddies in the pool, that two writers decided to review it. you can check out the other review here)
I run into people all the time who absolutely hate working these academic fairs. They loathe what they believe is the false process of fishing for prospective students. I suppose they believe that their school’s/employer’s name should lend enough weight by itself to separate new students from their hard earned money. Huh…Northerners. As for me, I have no idea what is not to like! I love being behind the Ripple University table. I love conversing with people, letting them know that they could find a home at Ripple U. Perhaps being a Southerner imbues me with a more easygoing nature? Or maybe the fact that I’m always polite to the prospects garners a lot of positive energy in return. Take what happened earlier today for example when I conversed with a young woman who moments before had stormed away from a table several feet away from my own.
“Excuse me miss. I couldn’t help but overhear the end of your conversation.” “My conversation?” “Yes, ma’am. The one you just finished with that recruitment agent over there. You know, the one which ended with you yelling some rather strong statements her way? I hope you don’t mind my saying so, but you seem upset.” “Upset, huh?” “Yep. I’d say so. Would you mind if I asked what that recruiter said that pushed you over the edge of civility?” “If you must know, she accused me of being a confused little girl.” “A confused little girl?” “That’s right.” “I see. What did she think you were confused about?” “Life in general apparently. She said my interests were unladylike.” “Any interest in particular?” “Yes. I told her that I wanted to study music in college. She began listing off the numerous awards and honors her university’s music school has earned, but when I explained that I didn’t wish to study classical music and instead focus on rock n’ roll all the color drained from her face.” “Hah! That’s hilarious! The only thing better would be if she had actually passed out. Say…that’s a nice backpack you’ve got there. Any chance those patches sewn into it are indications of what music you like to listen to?” “Oh yes sir! Those patches represent my favorite bands. I’m really into classic southern rock like Lynard Skynyrd, ZZ Top and The Allman Brothers Band as well as heavy metal like Corrosion of Conformity and Down. Honestly I listen to other types of music, but…hey, what’s so amusing?” “The hands of fate at work my dear. I believe it was predestined that I would run into you today. You will be a perfect fit at Ripple U! We don’t put limits on what kind of music you can study. And while our music department isn’t littered with golden chalices, I can tell you that every one of our graduates has had success in their chosen field. Now I want to ask you one very important question.” “Okay, shoot.” “As far as Corrosion of Conformity goes, do you prefer Deliverance or Wiseblood?” “It’s close, but I’ll have to go with Deliverance.” “Miss, I’m afraid that advisor was right. You are indeed a confused little girl.”
Waveriders, today we’re going to discuss a little album called Southern Gentleman by the band Confused Little Girl. Now I know what you’re thinking but relax. Have no fear. There is absolutely no confusion regarding the merits of this band, this album, or the manner in which the band goes about their business. None, zero, nada. What we have here is a confident group of musicians determined to crush mountains into rubble with their powerful sound.
Confused Little Girl is made up of four people; Billy Van Muddlestein, David Washburn, Red Reilly, and Josh Henry. While their bio lists Orlando, Florida as their hometown, I’m pretty sure that this group lives well outside of the downtown metropolitan area. In fact, my guess is that their actual home is located deep inside the Everglades. Why? That’s easy. Not only do they come right out and say repeatedly in the album’s first song that they ‘come from the swamp’, but their music contains all the hallmarks I would expect from swamp dwellers. It is marvelously sludgy like a swamp’s muddy landscape. Also, there is tremendous muscle behind the aggressive instrumentation. This muscular sound will envelop the listener like an alligator’s jaws, and it won’t let go. Lastly this band is very deliberate with their music. They never seem to be in too much of a hurry. Putting a foot wrong in a swamp can be very hazardous to your health. The composition of these songs seems to incorporate this valuable lesson. So what about those songs?
Southern Gentleman tears your speakers asunder with one of the most thunderous opening tracks I’ve listened to in some time. Seriously, I may not have come across an opening salvo as righteous as this one all year. Confused Little Girl means business, and “I’d Rather Booby Screw A Walrus” is there to sledgehammer that point home. That’s right. Awesome song title, amps to eleven, bowel-shaking main riff and choruses; it all adds up to transform the listener into a grotesque bobblehead attempting to forcefully detach its head from its neck! Thankfully my head is still attached because I need to further compliment this band.
The low end stomp Confused Little Girl possesses is a thing of beauty! Thick as molasses guitar and bass tones deliver devastating body blows to your eardrums on songs such as “Hookers On Horseback”, “Books and Guns”, and “(Hey Dad) Stop Looking At Porn On My Computer”. The band is not content being a one-trick pony either. They switch things up by throwing in the mostly ballad-like “Ink To Paper”. Another added wrinkle is how they take different vocal approaches such as the ethereal singing during the choruses to “Jordan Catalano Needs To Break Up His Shitty Band” or the cleaner, twang-heavy vocals during “Vegetarian Homeless People”. One last note. If you hadn’t noticed, this band comes up with some outlandish song titles. If the ones I’ve already mentioned haven’t convinced you of that, how about “Honestly, Who Gives Their Genitals Pet Names”? Simply stunning!
The bottom line here is that Southern Gentleman is an album you need to hear. If you love southern metal like Corrosion of Conformity or Down, or just stupendous riff-machines like Clutch you can’t go wrong with Confused Little Girl. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to finish filling out this rental agreement for an airboat. The swamp is calling. Rock on and rock out!
This gig is the greatest and one thing I'm learning fast is that my kinda music knows no boundaries or borders whatsoever. I'm listening to awesome tunes spanning the globe. It's like I'm on a rock/metal world tour.
Next stop: Serbia. Yep...I know. The only sounds I've heard from there are the grunts bellowed by hot women tennis players. I never thought my next top southern metal album would rise from a former war-torn country in southeastern Europe, but Concrete Sun (now that's heavy) sure blew me away with their debut, Sky is High. It teems with jackhammer riffage straight outta NOLA, and overflows with super-weighty vocals. I love Sky is High more than a fat kid loves cake and I quickly included it among my favorite releases of 2011.
A huge 'thank-you' to guitarist Bojan for hooking up The Ripple Effect with a digital copy of Sky is High. This is what he told us via email:
"Concrete Sun is a five-piece band from Novi Sad, Serbia. 'Southern sludge-n-grunge' is probably the closest you can get in an attempt to put us into a genre, but there's a lot more to the story than just that." Bojan said, "Our music is a blend of southern rock, blues, stoner, groove, sludge and grunge, characterized by bluesy melodies, sharp vocals and heavy riffage."
I couldn't have put it any better Bojan, but I'd like to add that it's also phenomenal music. Sky is High is 9 tracks of fresh southern heaviness that I've been craving for what seems like ages. Sure, veterans Crowbar finally have a new album, but Down and Eyehategod haven't put out any new songs in while and the real C.O.C. ended years ago. So did Acid Bath and Floodgate. Concrete Sun are the new European rookie starters on my southern metal roster. Hell to the yeah 'cause my Jonesin' days are over for now.
On the outstanding Sky is High, I hear hints of Black Label Society guitar licks along with the NOLA-inspired riffs. The vocals excite me, too, and bring back fond memories of another southern rock/metal darling of mine - Sixty-Watt Shaman. This album is hard as granite and I enjoy every song.
"Just a Beginning" (3:43) is the first on my copy, but shows up last on the Bandcamp track listing. No wonder it's one of my faves. It pulverizes me like a cinder block to the head the riffs are so dense. I think it's the beginning of a first-class album. "Euphoria" (4:24) is next, with dual guitars mixing it up before a rolling groove takes you along for a ride.
"Last Man Under the Sun" (4:52) is maybe the only song which I think has a mellow feel, but it still showcases a hefty chorus and amazing guitar/bass solos. "D.A.N.U.B.E." (4:43) and "Junkyard Dog" (5:03) both grab and throttle my neck.
I think one of the best on Sky is High - musically and vocally - is the longest, "God Forsaken Prostitute" (5:49). It's pure southern metal greatness...but the poor girl. You can almost feel her pain. Kidding. "Ruff Song" (3:10) is the bluesiest to me and just might be the most appealing to the general public. The title track "Sky is High" (4:00) begins with an intimidating southern riff and "Hide Behind" (4:22), another top choice, is peppered with Zakk Wylde guitar squeals.
Concrete Sun are looking for a record label, Bojan wrote. Hello...? Ripple Music...? The band was formed 2007 and went through a lot of lineup changes which halted its initial progress, including a year-long hiatus in 2009. Current members since 2010 include: Cerovina Strahinja (vocals), Mijatovic Bojan (guitar), Zivkovic Budimir (guitar), Petrovic Strahinja (bass) and Topic Milos (drums). Each "continues to evolve musically," according to Bojan, "with every member bringing their own set of influences into the story."
Sky is High by Concrete Sun (Aug. '11) can be downloaded in digital format (name your price) from Bandcamp. It's a must-have for any fan of 2-ton southern metal so click the link below and get crushed. Now.
