The Single Life - 7" of Fun; featuring Borracho, Out of Vogue, Exile, Normandie Wilson,and Suzi Chunk

 Borracho - Concentric Circles b/w Circulos Concentricos

Yeah, we've written about Borracho before.  We loved the album Splitting Sky.  We have a previously unreleased live song included on our 5th Anniversary Ripple Compilation album, The Ripple Effect Presents- Volume One:  Head Music. We know these guys.  We love these guys.  And that won't stop us from writing about them again.

Because on my turntable right now is Borracho's 7" single, "Circulos Concentricos".  Yes, it's a version of an album track Concentric Circles from Splitting Sky, but damn it, don't you see the difference?   This one's in Spanish!  And that's all it takes to get me all excited again.  I'm a sucker for alternative versions of songs I like, and particularly songs sung in a different language.  I've bought the same CD many times because of bonus "French" editions, or Indonesian or what have you.  Here it's Spanish and it cooks.

Either way, the song is a monster of fuzzed out stoner mania and just needs to be heard.  English.  Spanish.  You choose.  Just listen.


http://www.borrachomusic.com/

Out of Vogue - S/T  Ep

Classic California hard-core filtered through a garbage disposal of swedish rock.  Featuring former members of classic Swedish acts such as Subject To Change, Abhinanda and Division of Laura Lee, OOV play hardcore like it’s meant to be: energetic, passionate and loud.  Instruments are played, beaten, locked up in bondage and burned.  Songs are desecrated.  Vocals are belched out along with every major internal organ.

In other words, it's perfect.

If hardcore is your thing, look in this direction.  On Salad Days Records

http://saladdaysrecords.com/

Exile - S/T EP

Damn there's some fine punk labels these days.  I've been eating up Patac Records stuff recently, and just wrote about Salad Days Records (with a review of Police and Thieves album coming soon) and now Unrepentant Records pops onto my radar.  Actually, it was their work with my friends The Enders that brought them to my attention, and damn, am I glad they did.

Exile play hardcore.  Simple, right?  Not really.  Sure it's hardcore, it's mean, it's fast, it's furious.  It's been banned in several small Bible Belt cities.  But there's more to the story here.  Exile aren't afraid to play with the song structure.  Stretching things out at times.  Letting guitars wail instead of only churn.  Gangland vocals make their appearance, but only sometimes, when it's most effective.  Vocals are spewed in a stream of mucous, but are clear enough for the intent to come through.  Songs stop, start, stop again.   "Just Walking" begins with an almost epic metal feeling, before the pummeling starts.  Whatever they're doing, it's unpredictable.  And that makes it infinitely cool.

Definitely one to check out.  http://www.unrepentantrecords.com/store.html#store-exileep

Normandie Wilson - Saturday Night Girl/ Paper & Pencil

Ok, after all that punk and chaos, you gotta let your ears cool down.  Soothe the screaming in your head.  And Normandie Wilson may be just the thing for you.  A double slice of cool, smoky lounge jazz of the kind you just don't hear too often anymore.  Normandie has a coquettish voice that dances like a stream of light upon the late-night jazz beat.   Nice trumpet and flute add to the silvery lounge feeling, filling out the spaces in the jazz trio of bass, drums and piano.  Both songs are sweet confections of ultra-cool, martini-sipping, diamond-wearing swing pop.  I'd get up and dance, but I've been barred from doing that in public.  Don't think Norah Jones, here.  Think Playboy Club in Vegas in 1962. 

My ears are feeling calmer already.

http://normandiewilson.bandcamp.com/album/saturday-night-girl

Suzi Chunk - Look Back and Laugh b/w Trpwire

Since we're already back in the 60's, let's stay there a while shall we.  This CD single came in from State Records with no warning or advance fanfare.  Opening it up, I had no idea it was a portable time machine dressed up in two songs.  I mean full-on '60's girl-group, beach-flavored, groovy garage-and-pop, bringing to life two Kravin' A's underground R&B classics.  "Look Back and Laugh" kicks off with the perfect, vintage guitar tone as Suzi blasts in with "Momma told me It'll be alright"  This is spot-on Shirelles or Ronnettes or whoever you want to claim.  Put it up next to Nancy Sinatra, bust out the Go-Go boots and hulahoops.  Pure lost vintage 60's pop and just as much fun.  "Tripwire" kicks up the goods a bit with a nastier guitar riff and a down and dirty swinging beat. I mean, her backing band is called the Groovy Uncles.  Come on.   I'm doing the Swim here.  I'm doing the Sprinkler.   The "Yes, yes, yes, I know" harmony vocals are killing me.  I can't help it.  So much for not dancing in public.

If American Bandstand was still on the air, Suzi Chunk would be starring tomorrow night. 

Limited to 500 copies on translucent Red vinyl

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Chunk-Singer/162367287118799?ref=ts

Ripple Effect Unleashes 5 Year Anniversary Free Download Compilation

What started out five years ago as a forum for two music lovers to share their obsession with obscure/little-heard rock music, has grown and evolved into a Record Label, a top-rated Radio Show, and one of the world's premiere sites for discovering new and lost classic music: The Ripple Effect. To celebrate 5 years of collective Ripple Madness, Todd Severin (Racer X) and John Rancik (Pope JTE) are unleashing a massive download compilation album, featuring some of the best of the new wave of modern heavy rock bands. And it's all entirely free!

Best of all, the compilation features many brand new, previously unheard, unreleased tracks by some of the bands leading this charge of the Heavy. In addition, you'll find tracks from several albums buzzing across the websites and music blogs, and several new and waiting-to-be discovered bands.

To be released on July 22, through bandcamp, The Ripple Effect unveils, The Ripple Effect presents: Volume 1- Head Music. In it's depths you'll find such notable bands as Stubb, Ape Machine, Devil to Pay, Miss Lava, Voodoo Johnson, Borracho, and more. 23 tracks in all. All free. Some of the absolute best heavy rock the world has to offer.

To download your free copy, go to the Ripple Effect bandcamp page and get yours today!

And continue to check out The Ripple Effect each day for the latest music discoveries, and the Ripple Music record label for the latest releases from bands like Stone Axe, Mos Generator, Grifter, Trucker Diablo, Poobah, Fen, JPT Scare Band and more.

Here's the track listing:

• Devil to Pay "High Horse" - from the album Heavily Ever After
• White Light Cemetary "The Wieser" - previously unreleased
• Torso "One" - from the EP Inside
• Cody Foster Army "Built Up Knocked Down" - previously unreleased
• Stubb "Under a Spell" - previously unreleased
• Space Probe Taurus "Ridin' the Mud" - previously unreleased
• Concrete Sun "Silver Tear" - previously unreleased
• Hong Faux "Bad City Blues" - from The Crown that Wears the Head
• Hosoi Bros "Wine Witch" - from 7" single Wine Witch/Yellow Fever
• Ape Machine "Everybody Bleeds" - previously unreleased
• Deadweight "Cosmic Lunch" - previously unreleased
• SuperGiant "Rosey Posey" - from Pistol Star
• Voodoo Johnson "Swear it to the Sun" from ep Black Powder Mother Loader
• Banda de la Muerte "Espiritu en Paz" -from Pulso de una Mente Maldita
• Venomin James "Seven Years" - previously unreleased from upcoming album Unholy Mountain
• Miss Lava "Ride" - from upcoming album Red Supergiant
• Steak "Machine" - from ep Disastronaut
• The Heavy Company "Groove a Mile Wide" previously unreleased from upcoming album Midwest Electric
• Dark Earth "Dark Earth" - previously unreleased
• The Enders "Self Deluded" - New Previously unreleased from upcoming album "The Ruins of Ambition."
• Borracho "All in Play" - Live version, previously unreleased. Album version from Splitting Sky
• Arise Within "Black Pearl" - from album Volume 2
• Knall "Dark Amber" - previously unreleased

The Soda Shop Com. Volume 2

Who says you can't get something for nothing? Or nothing in life is free? Not me. Not when it comes to my collection of new stoner rock. I can thank The Soda Shop for that.

The Soda Shop is notorious for feeding free tunes to the masses. I eagerly snatched up their first digital compilation earlier this year and less than 6 months later, Soda Shop Records release The Soda Shop Comp. Volume 2. Jake Ball and Bill Goodman feature 12 promising new rock bands together in another awesome medley that quenches all my thirst for riffs. I sure could get used to this.

Don't know about The Soda Shop? Really?! I find that hard to believe but here's what they say on The Soda Shop website:

"The Soda Shop is an Internet radio station and music blog...we are being run by Jake Ball and Bill Goodman and have never been better. The Soda Shop is geared towards Stoner Rock/Metal and Doom Metal, but will play anything that rocks. The ultimate goal of the station is to focus heavily on independent bands to give them the exposure that they deserve. The Soda Shop was created out of the love for music and the desire to give underrated bands their due..."

Ball and Goodman sure know their rock/metal music and are doing one hell of a job if you ask me. I'm sure you would agree. Just listen to The Soda Shop Comp. Volume 2. Some of my favorite new bands are on this compilation and I even discovered a couple new apples-of-my-eye who I'd never heard before. That's always a bonus.

I've told you how much I love Spiderlord. A stinging new single, "Ungrounded", leads off The Soda Shop Comp. Volume 2. If you liked their self-titled debut ep, you won't be disappointed. And my 2011 front-runners Borracho end the album with the stoner rock monster, "Plunge/Return", off their debut, Splitting Sky. You get over 20 minutes of incredible free music with those 2 songs alone. Sprinkle in more of my top-pick bands of the year and you'll understand why I'm so delighted right now. Valley of the Sun get rowdy with "Deep Light Burns", off Saying of the Seers. Desert Storm crush it on "Cosmic Drips", from their recent release Forked Tongues, and fuzz-masters Naughty Mouse offer a taste of their self-titled ep on "The Eternal Dead of My Soul".

I wasn't too familiar with about half of the rock groups presented on The Soda Shop Comp. Volume 2. I might have heard of the bands or read about them on other sites, but i had never really listened to them. Two made a really strong impression and one of those flat-out amazed me. I boogie down as Switchblade Jesus feeds my addiction for southern-style riffs on "Negative Planet 11", but Odyssey 9 send me into another dimension with their psychedelic song, "Glow". I'll be finding out more about these guys. You betcha.

Bacchus Baracus also have a little impact on me with their groovy effort, "Rock N' Roll Man". And so do Domes of Silence, who punk it out on "Temple of the Wasp". Threefold Law display staggering guitars and an old-school rock/metal feel with their song called "Earth". I got into Elvis Deluxe's version of "Fire" (Loverboy), too.

Wanna know another thing I love about this free digital compilation? The cover. You ever just looked at the artwork and knew the album was gonna be great? 'Nuff said.

You can download The Soda Shop Comp. Volume 2 and it's predecessor at The Soda Shop's Bandcamp page. I've also included a link to Facebook. Like The Soda Shop's page along with me and you'll be updated regularly on the latest new stoner rock/metal releases from the unknown. They also have free download archives on their web page. Check it out. It's priceless.

I'd like to personally thank The Soda Shop. First, for another excellent free compilation. Second, for just being there.

I think it was sometime last year when I typed 'new stoner rock' into the search bar, pressed 'enter', and clicked a link to The Soda Shop. I bookmarked the page that day and I've been going back faithfully ever since - reading about and listening to great new bands, and learning about other sites devoted to my ideal style of music. It's been a vital resource for me and my Ipod.

Again, THANK YOU to Jake Ball and Bill Goodman at The Soda Shop. Thank you so much. You've given me fresh tunes from unique independent rock bands but you've also impacted my life. If it weren't for you guys, I wouldn't be writing about music today. Period.

Heddbuzz


http://thesodashop.bandcamp.com/album/the-soda-shop-comp-volume-2
http://thesodashop.bandcamp.com/
http://thesodashop.wordpress.com/
http://www.facebook.com/sodashopradio

Borracho - Splitting Sky

Calling Borracho's debut Splitting Sky  'heavy' is like saying Heddbuzz 'enjoys' stoner rock. It's a severe understatement. This album is an epic, earsplitting fuzz-fest and it's certainly in my top 5 releases of 2011 so far. It might even be my #1. We'll see.

'You can't go wrong with Borracho. One of my favorite new bands,' I told Racer when he asked what I thought of the D.C. rockers. Of course he already knew I was a fan and probably had the album, too. He was right. I didn't tell him but honestly, I was as excited as a puppy during playtime when I learned I could give my opinion of Splitting Sky in writing. I think I peed just a little bit.

Borracho and Splitting Sky are looming large above the current landscape and distant horizon of stoner rock, in my opinion. Others may want to seek shelter. Torrents of powerful vocals and illustrious lyrics pour down while thick bluesy riffs, waves of booming bass and thunderous drums merge to form a massive musical supercell. Get the picture? Splitting Sky is a friggin' F-5, people. It's an 8-song rock typhoon that will flood your senses and knock you on your ass.

Think I'm not dead serious? Never take a storm warning lightly.

The first 2 are the only tracks under 6 minutes. "Redemption" literally startles me in a millisecond, as a thunderclap would, it's so loud. This rock instrumental (1:36) is a sign of the devastation to come. It's not gonna let up and it'll be one hell of a ride. "Concentric Circles" arrives with a bang, too, with a great beat and rhythm. 'One shot it's over....' Ya damn right. It was for me. A jaw-dropping moment, like seeing a tornado in person for the first time.

Borracho have exactly the guitar sound I love. Dead-on. Hell yeah.

"Bloosucker" has the wah and the crunch, with a great groove. Amazing solos. A thick bass line and a rattle greet you in "Grab the Reins". This song's over 11 minutes long. Blues rock and doom-laden sound to much of it, i think. "All In Play" (8:23) starts with one of my favorite riffs on the album and has some great lyrics too.

"Never Get It Right" reminds me of an old 'Chains song in the beginning. I'm thinking this is gonna be the eye of the hurricane that is Splitting Sky. When things are gonna calm down for a while and I can catch my breath and survey the damage. But I can only rest for a few minutes. A commanding riff march tells me there's much more wreckage to come.

"Grinder" just chews you up and spits you out. Super fuzzy southern guitars here that makes me move. Memorable chorus. Jeez this band is awesome. I'm almost at a loss for words.

"Plunge/Return" is saved for last on Splitting Sky. Could be my first pick though. It's more of the same musically but there's just something about it to me. Plus it's the longest (11:36) so there's more for me to enjoy.

Here's some history on the band taken from their Facebook page:

"The band took root in 2007, when four friends and bandmates set out to create a side-project that would indulge the heavier side of their musical tastes, and challenge their musicianship in new ways. The idea for Borracho was to create a straight-up stoner rock band to feature the vocals of Assrockers drummer Noah. In order to move him out from behind the kit, Adam West/Assrockers lead guitarist Mario moved onto the drums, an instrument he’s dabbled with for years. Adam West bassist Steve picked up his trusty flying V and like a riff machine, began unleashing material that quickly grew beyond the bounds of any one genre, probing further and deeper than his prior musical pursuits and, indeed, than the current group’s expectations. Assrockers rhythm guitarist Tim filled up the critical low end on bass, and the final piece was in place."

Borracho are here to stay and they're firmly planted in my forecast for stoner rock. I can't wait til the skies darken and another crushing release rolls in from the east.

--Heddbuzz

http://borracho.bandcamp.com/album/splitting-sky

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Borracho/27452683494

http://www.reverbnation.com/borracho