KESTRELS: THE SOLIPSISTs 7" by Ryan Gallant

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Record Reviews
Review can be a scary word; but fear not! These are sometimes personal sometimes serious sometimes silly stories. To be honest we're kind of finding our footing, but we're excited! Though the reviews will not necessarily be limited to east coast bands and artists; there will be a distinct eastern flavour to it because it's where we're from. We can't help it.

If you would like to join the review team or are in a band and would like for us to review your stuff please do get in touch.

!Attention! EP by Heather Grant
A buddy of mine sent me this album a few months ago; I was immediately impressed at the time and jumped at the opportunity to review it. !ATTENTION! hails from my hometown, Toronto, Ontario, and proves that the city is still capable of churning out some amazing bands. The band itself hasn't been around that long but with members of Horses and Come Clean, they are some serious punk rock veterans. This EP means business, and with the longest song coming in at a bit over two minutes these dudes manage to pull off some solid tunes without wasting any time. I have a special place in my heart for this kind of gritty pop punk; the catchy guitar riffs and gang vocals certainly do not disappoint and I always love a good, fast, under-60-second song like "Super Snack Night". If you’re into bands like Banner Pilots, d.b.s., Dillinger Four or Living with Lions it is definitely in your best interest to check this one out.

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A History Of: Action in the North Atlantic by Josh Coles
Nod your head. Yeah. Oh yeah. Drop on the ground. Roll around a bit. Kick somebody, but only if you’re comfortable with it. Above all, enjoy yourself. After all, you’re listening to A History Of’s first full length release (following up 2007’s Victory Atlas EP) Action In The North Atlantic, an album worth enjoying. Well, I enjoyed it, at least.

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Baby Eagle: Dog Weather by Matt Dixon
Recorded in Nova Scotia, mastered in Montreal, put out on You've Changed Records in Ontario, and celebrated everywhere in between. It provides a sweeping landscape of Eastern Canada; not quite the optimist, not quite the cynic but lying somewhere in between. That's where you can find this record; in the fuzzy gray that we often find ourselves in life. Hell, this record can and should be enjoyed by Canadians from coast to coast to coast. It's hauntingly honest; Dog Weather is a record from a musician who has truly mastered his craft.

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Be Bad: Vision Correction by Daniel Bay
Raucous peals of guitar, discordant shards of music, painful yowls rip through a production that is very spacious—everything has room to spread its hellish wings. When they’re in balls-to-the-wall mode, the sound is huge; picture the biggest thing you can think of, preferably something that is, at the very least, huge. Now imagine that as sound. Yeah. That’s Be Bad.

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Captain, We're Sinking: It's A Trap by Heather Grant
Well here we go. It’s me again, gushing over yet another pop punk band. What can I say? I’m a total sucker for this stuff. Captain, We’re Sinking is a four piece from Scranton, PA and their 7”, titled It’s a Trap!, rips it up pretty hard. And with an album name like that, why shouldn’t it? Admiral Ackbar approves this message. The first track, which shares its title with that of the album, is an intense start to the album. “It’s a Trap!” pretty effectively shows how raw, gritty, energetic and full of emotion this band is. This song is relentless.

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Carpenter: Sea of Sky by Heather Grant
Another band comprised of Canadian punk rock all-stars, Vancouver’s Carpenter sports a heavy hitting lineup with members of Daggermouth, By a Thread and Speaking of Heroes. We’re off to a good start already. As self-proclaimed “farmcore”, this band draws influences from Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp and Hot Water Music. Sounds like a pretty winning combination to me. Not only that, this band is a staunch supporter of independent farming, a message which often comes through in their songs. I find it refreshing to see a punk-rock band that stands for something concrete without having a preachy political agenda.

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Columns: August by Taylor Carver
When the opening of the song starts it is almost like the first 30 seconds of strumming is to introduce you to what is coming. At the 30 second mark the opening riff hits and as you follow it you are introduced to the aesthetic of the song. Simple riffs played over and over main guitar part, dreamy effects added over top of the original riff. As the song progresses it builds and builds, maybe another guitar part, maybe another effect. Half way through the song the climax hits as there as in explosion in sound and the soft subtlety of the song is overcome with loud strains of guitar, As if releasing the feelings and excitement pent up to this point in the song, Columns expels it all in a wall of sound distortion and feedback. With the volume considerably turned up now, the main riff is just a huge head bobbing mass that makes you remember why you loved the guitar to begin with (assuming you do love the guitar, if not, learn to love it. The guitar is a lot like America, either love or LEAVE it. . . . Sorry, this song brings out a lot of strong emotions in me). The song ends with loops of guitars fiddled and reversed and delayed into a mess/mass of sounds that slowly fade into quiet.

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Construction & Destruction: Video et Taceo? by Ryan Gallant
Most of their songs cannot be described as anything else other than "different". Certainly not in the same different way that you described that kid in 2nd grade that breathed heavily, but instead the kind of different that makes one stop and say " hunh ". Songs like Particle Science strange but interesting sound from start to finish, while Nine Houses ends with the sound of a dog barking. It's tracks like these that certainly show off the art that these guys make, and give a clear picture to what they want to display to the world. In that same way, you have songs like Night Flight, that show off what Construction & Destruction can do with little to nothing backing them up. When it comes to instrumentals, these guys are tight whether they have a large band sound or just crickets chirping. On the other hand, you have songs like Balaenoptera Borealis that have a harder and more instrumented sound that really show off the bands (yet another) other side. So many sides for one band. It's damn neat.

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Daniel, Fred & Julie LP by Ryan Gallant
I would like to start out this review by saying I've never heard about this band before in my life, and I doubt I ever would look them up if Matt hadn't asked me to. However, I need to stress something right now, that you absolutely need to at least listen to one of the songs from Daniel, Fred & Julie. Sure, I may be sound a tad bit pushy and over-bearing, but I really think this band deserves it.

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Data Cave / Ahna Split Cassette by Matt Dixon
Data Cave get the gruesome ball rolling by providing nine bursts of chaotic fun that'll be sure to knock you on your ass. What was that old adage? "Not five slaps to the face, but five slaps to the throat!" Yeah, I like that. In this case it's nine unwavering slaps to the ole adams apple. You won't be able to swallow anything after this generous helping.

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Dog Day: Concentration by Daniel Bay
Songs dripping with a world-weariness (especially noticeable in the vocal work—a sort of tired, depressed, ennui), but also, hidden within the depression, the melancholy, the lugubriousness, is a sense of enjoyment; a celebration of all these negative emotions—or, perhaps, a celebration in spite of them; a wry spitting in the face of dolor, a friendly sneer at feeling bad, a gentle kick in the ass to complacent acceptance of your lot. This dichotomous pairing of atmospheres is carried, full-bodied and eagerly alive, beyond the overarching atmospheres and into the music itself: the songs are slickly smooth, catchy nuggets of wonderful pop music, propelled into a more melancholy state by the swirls of lush, full minor chords; the dreamlike ambience, filling out the sound, adding an enfolding warmth; a sense of dread, insinuative, rearing its head, whispering dire nothings just when things were looking brighter again and then slithering away, retiring, ever-watchful, to the darkened corners.

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Dog Day: Elder Schoolhouse 12" by Dan Noye
“The groove” is common topic of master’s theses, doctoral dissertations and is as hard to describe as what muscles you use to blink. It is what makes music move, or stand perfectly still, it makes you tap your foot or sway in your seat. The lack of groove can ruin a band, or in certain cases, such as Dog Day’s latest release, the groove can propel a band into a new world. “Elder Schoolhouse” was released in late October limited to 400 copies on 12” vinyl through Divorce Records. Overall this album is a tonal shift towards an idea the band had touched before on previous releases; their sound has much more space but is always locked in, a dreary and psychedelic branch of folk-pop. It is very different from anything they have released before, yet as cool as ever.

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Dog Day: Night Group by Gabrielle Major
There are too many things I'd like to say about this band. Most of them probably start with, "DOG DAY ARE WICKED BECAUSE" but I'm going to try be a little less caps-locky and a little more coherent. When I listened to their first EP, I fell in love with the dual male/female vocals and poppy but still sort of off-kilter/dirty sound (which is, incidentally, how I'd probably describe that particular Halifax pop sound this decade). Every song was a perfect shining little gem that made me slap tables and yell things about their awesomeness every time I heard them. I did, though, think that it was impossible to write anything better, and that disappointment was inevitable with further releases. ....Then I heard their first full length, Night Group. Every time I hear that opening bass and drum line in "Lydia", which is followed up by a huge choir-like burst of guitar and vocals, I mentally grab at my heart and yell in my head that THIS STUFF IS SO AWESOME. After the first few listens, I was pretty confident in saying that I think Dog Day are currently one of the best bands doing what they're doing in Canada.

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Dog Day: Scratches 7" by Ryan Gallant
There's always a time for mellow rock. If you don't agree, you're not human.. Dog Day has proved themselves 10 fold on their new 7” “Scratches”, which is chock-full of interesting sounds that easily and effortless flow into each other. Having a the sort of vibe that I'm sure could only be imitated by Sid Vicious at a Song Writers Circle, these guys manage to make something grungy sound almost pristine in a way. Their song “Belle” mixes strong moving guitar and drum to contrast very well with the soft and melodic harmonies in the vocals.

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Glory Glory Man United: Zombies!!! by Ryan Gallant
A couple of years ago, I went to a sketchy and thoroughly amazing show at the equally amazing venue once known as the JFK house. The shows hosted at the house were some of the first I'd ever been to, and if the house wasn't enough to make any show a memory, than Glory, Glory, Man United certainly does it. GGMU played during that wonderful night when the Po-Po decided to come for a visit to ol' JFK house, and that moment combined with the bands amazing work will always live on in my memory. Isn't it neat when tragedy meets good music?

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The Got To Get Got: Sahalee by Taylor Carver
I have enjoyed previous bands that the TGTGG members have played in previously, North of America, The Just Barelys and Tomcat Combat are all on my Ipod and as any music fan knows, THAT is the true test of fanhood these days. In fact lead singer Mark Mullane’s previous band , North of America was probably at different points my favourite band, ON EARTH, and so it was with that mindset that I cautiously set forth to see this band three years ago. The show was awesome, and at the time featured another former NoA member (Michael Catano)playing drums so I satisfied about half my desire to see that band which was nice. The thing that struck me then, and ESPECIALLY strikes me now is how although Mark is almost certainly the head dude; the band felt like a real collection. Everyone added a part, and without that part the entire ‘thing’ that they were doing wouldn’t work.

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Hour of the Wolf: Obsolete by Dylan Chew
I'm going to start this review right off by saying that Hour of the Wolf is seriously one of the most underrated bands in the punk rock music scene today. There aren't enough people I know that are into this band and I don't get it! What drew me in, when I first heard of the band, was the catchy guitar riffs and vocal hooks. Everything about this band is great. Their first release, Waste Makes Waste, impressed me so much that I decided to pick up their new 10” and I was not let down.

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Iron Age: The Sleeping Eye by Kyle Fall
Austin Texas's Iron Age is back with their second full-length release and they are pushing their boundries as well as everyone else's. A mix of thrash, rock and hardcore this album should appeal to almost everyone who enjoys heavy music. There are several moments throughout it that will remind you of Metallica's work on Kill 'Em All while still catching the attention of today's punk and hardcore fans.

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Junior Battles 7" by Heather Grant
From what I’ve read on the good ol’ internet, Junior Battles gets a lot of shit for their polished vocal harmonies and skilled mastery of their instruments. Yeah, I sure do hate when people are awesome at what they do. Their self titled 7" is amazing and even if you can't appreciate the style of music you've got to give them credit for being talented as hell. These guys are from my neck on the woods in the west end of Toronto. They haven’t been around too long but they’re making a name for themselves without a question. The first song, “Basements” is full of all the things I love about pop punk; passionate, emotional vocals, layered guitars and feel-good lyrics that will get stuck in your head within seconds.

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Kestrels: Primary Colours by Ryan Gallant
I seem to recall a lot of days when my best friends and I would go to the local park, generally at hours of the night that are generally considered "late", and swing on swings and try our best to find a left behind ball to start a late night game of soccer, or something along those lines. As off topic as this may seem, I couldn't get these nights off my brain when I sat down with Primary Colors, the new album out from The Kestrels. This a sharp-edged folk band that jumped out of Nova Scotia have been making noise further than just the local bars, and for good reasons too. Their new album plays with great and catchy sounds that you can only expect from a band of their genre and level.

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Kestrels: The Solipsist 7" by Ryan Gallant
This EP really showcases what Kestrels can do, and that is make great sounding music for just about anybody. There isn't really a specific audience I would tell about these guys, because they are good band, plain and simple. I'd tell anyone and everyone about The Kestrels. So seriously, go download their EP, buy their full length, and go to the show for God's sake, because these boys bring in the funk..

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Milks & Rectangles: Civic Virtues by Josh Coles
Charlottetown heavy-hitters Milks & Rectangles have been chugging along for years now, but have just broken onto the recording scene this past summer with the 6-song EP, Civic Virtues. Though it comes in at just under 20 minutes, those 20 minutes are stuffed with catchy hooks, haunting vocals, quirky wordplay and even the appearance of some horns (brass instruments as well as devil horns: rock on).

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Milks & Rectangles: Troubleshooters by Ryan Gallant
It's a fun time to stop and think about music on this island some days. Whether you have a positive or negative view on the present state of the Prince Edward Island music scene, chances are you have at least one memory of a breathless night dancing at the JFK, BIS, Ampersand, Lyons House, or some other venue to some ramshackle band. Some fantastic acts and sounds have come out of this island, and today I sat and wrote to the easily danceable Milk & Rectangles, and their new album Troubleshooters.

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Money in the Banana Stand: There's Always by Ryan Gallant
I've been to a couple of shows that have hosted Money in the Banana Stand, and there's something I can always say when I'm walking away from the ruckus that was an amazing show, and it usually includes shouting swear words in public. It's a band like this that will always bring the sounds that make you want jumping around before/during/and after a show, and they bring that awesome show quality in to their brand new recordings, which is damn hard to do.

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The Pinecones: Sage by Ryan Gallant
Being the mellow-music-lover that I am, I fell immediately for The Pinecones. They croon about taking a girl on a nice date, then back home to meet the 'rents; they have laid back bass beats, and perfectly placed Ooh's and Ahh's. Don't get me started on the the amazing harmonies that this band produces. Songs like Mr. Shoemaker Man had me listening from ear to ear just to catch every note and word. Being one of the most interesting songs I've heard in years, I was captivated while I thought of similar songs from the classic musical Chicago. They have the beat, the style, and the feeling behind every song.

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Sabertooth Zombie: Human Performance II by Josh Tabak
Every so often, you discover a band that grabs a hold of you like no other. Sometimes you have to listen to a record a few times to really get into it, and other times, you can feel the songs flowing down your veins immediately. Sabertooth Zombie’s second installment of their “Human Performance” 7 inches adds to an already long discography of compelling, technical, and powerful brand of hardcore punk that truly leaves a unique signature. They are one of the few bands that are almost impossible to mistake for another, and this new 7” lives up to their legacy.

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Seth Smith: New Problems by Ryan Gallant
I've listened to a lot of really neat albums in the last few years. I've come across a lot of online mixtapes, and plenty of really interesting acts on the intra-web, but none made me want to burn a CD faster than New Problems by Seth Smith. Filled to the absolute brim with ambient slow-rock and weird (almost too weird) moments with spoken audio, Smith takes a lot of interesting and bizarre chances by splitting the album in to two parts, and making both parts play in to each other. This compilation was made up of recordings from his home studio, and a noise jam he did with Nancy as a tribute to a good friend that they lost. Certainly a well executed idea, and it really plays well with the overall sound that Seth Smith is going for.

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Shotgun Jimmie: Still Jimmie by Ryan Gallant
If you've ever taken that little ferry, than you'll know that there's nothing more amazing than the hypnotizing movement of the waves and the smells of everything (and everyone) that comes flooding into the small compartment. This was the scene as I made my way to Margaree, Cape Breton last summer with a few friends of mine, ready and willing for a week of relaxation, tourism, and gorging of great food. All the while, on this 8 hour ride through nowhere, we were accompyanied by a seasoned veteran to a mellow sound that matched our trip better than we could have asked, and this crooner was Shotgun Jimmie.

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Shotgun Jimmie: Transistor Sister by Ryan Gallant
In his new CD, Jimmie takes us through a story of here and there, and words you heard your parents say, but with a couple of new twists. Jimmie has an added element to his new CD which is the use of transition tracks between a couple of different songs, and the use of some pretty “out there” instruments. However, with all the new elements added, Jimmie still manages to shine far above average in the lyric department just as well ( if not better) as his last recording. His brutally honest lyrics use stories and that-one-time's to get the listener to a very common ground. He sings about that last beer, walking around feeling like a king, and doing “stupid things, because you're young”. Certainly all things we can relate to, if not recall with painful detail. That's always been the selling point with me and Shotgun Jimmie, and that's his ability to tell a story in such a way that you recall moments in your life that might not have anything to do with the story. I like people like that.

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The Sleepless Nights: King Diamond by Ryan Gallant
The Sleepless Nights have brought something perfect for the dancer and the crooner in your heart. Their new release of King Diamond had me hooked the second it started with the perfect mix of dance-till-your-feet-bleed beats and sing-your-hear-out-anthems. This blend makes a picture perfect half and half adventure really, without making you feel like you're buying an album from two different bands.

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Stay Home: Cake EP by Heather Grant
Most people wouldn’t expect a college town like London, Ontario to have a thriving punk rock scene but you’d be surprised how many awesome bands that city has generated. Stay Home is one such band. They have been steadily making a name for themselves around Ontario and I, for one, hope to see them making their way around Canada soon. Okay, I’ll be honest. I’m pretty biased because these guys are good friends of mine but regardless, I think these dudes show a huge deal of promise. They definitely deserve more attention and the Cake EP, their very first release, is proof that they’re off to a great start.

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Top 10 of 2010 by Heather Grant
Welp, it's about time for an end of the year list seeing as it's the final day of the year. Heather Grant joined the JUNNNKTANK team in 2010 and she's back at it again counting down her favourite records of the past year. Heather has seen and listened to a lot of rad bands over the past year, including a trip to this little known festival in Gainesville, Florida called "The Fest" --ever hear of it? She also lists off her top five singles/7"s and EPs! So damn rad! It's been a heck of a year. The following list is in no particular order.

CLICK HERE TO READ TOP 10 OF 2010

Vennt: Self Titled by Daniel Bay
Remember Abruptum? How the vocals sounded like someone reacting to knife-wounds and salt? (For good reason, apparently. But that's a story for another day.) Anguish pain horror. Right? The end result of Vennt's vocals is comparable. Reflecting hateful energy, too, of course. The reverb and delay only serve to increase the effect of the vocals. Drawn from some subterranean space, pulled up livid raw bloody. The atmosphere: shiver-inducing in its calculated surging relentless assault. Everything---every instrument, every sound---woven into a shroud: everpresent suffocating. Vennt achieves, with this disc, a sort of apotheosis of this distinct melding of underground music genres; they have filtered the genres for the best parts---the most expressive, the strongest, the most intense, the most harrowing---and homogenised them into a clear direct statement.

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York Redoubt LP by Dylan Chew
This record is really impressive. It's full of interesting and explosive riffs, drum parts, and vocals. And to balance out all of the chaos there are beautiful harmonies, breaks, and outros. There is never a boring moment on this record. Every song is arranged specifically to keep your attention. Your ears get hit by a wall of sound and then spared again for the next track with a softer melody. Although there is so much sound coming at you at once, it's all done purposefully. Every sound counts. Sliding on guitar necks, bending strings, crunching of things in the background. That's what keeps you glued.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL YORK REDOUBT REVIEW