The Treblemakers Versus the Doomsday Device! (Dionysus)
Supersuckers The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World (Sub Pop/Warner)
The Discords Spank It (NDG Records)
Errortype:11 The Crank EP (Crank/Sonic Unyon) Considering the typical indie/emo-core packaging, I was ready to file this under "Braidblakesunnydayrealestatepromisering" retread but brutha, ya coulda knocked me over with a feather. It's refreshing to hear emo-core made for people with pubic hair and car payments. The John Agnello (Chavez, Jawbox, Redd Kross) production also gives it accessibility, without giving too much away. But more importantly, The Crank EP does everything a good EP is supposed to do: leave us watering at the mouth for the full length. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Molasses You'll Never Be Well No More (Fancy/Alien8) A sprawling local outfit whose membership overlaps from Godspeed You Black Emperor! to the Snitches, Molasses is the bleary-eyed vision of singer and chief songwriter Scott Chernoff, who controls this crawling country-noir as it collapses into clang and then ambiance. Despite a chaotic veneer, the music is as crafted as Chernoff's lyrics ("Poe is in the thicket/With the thistle and the mice"), melding banjos and cellos with Chernoff's thin, urbane voice into a gnarl resembling the crash of Chilton in Big Star's Third into murder balladeer Nick Cave. Beaut handmade package, too. 8/10 (Chris Yurkiw) Launch at Noize (3697 St-Laurent) this Friday, Aug. 27, 10pm, free, BYOB
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At long last, local louts the Treblemakers land a spot on the roster of their dream label. You can tell they felt obligated to deliver a first-rate spread of meaty retro raunch (with a side order of foolish comedic hijinx), earning their place next to the finest of today's new... excuse me, wave of surf 'n' turf instrumental cases. Some samples: "Freakshow" is a theme for Frankenstein at the circus--on crack; "Squarewave" and "Exploding Bikers From Hochelaga" detour onto a dirt road ruled by biker fuzz-lord Davie Allen; "The Lonesome Cretin" is a touching tearjerker (accent on "jerk"). The addition of Farfisa-man Richard Girgis has pulled the focus back from the guitar twang, allowing for a more complete sound. A lot of talent and creativity went into this disc--as did a lot of beer. 9/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
A minor point: the Ramones hold that title. In the deluded, drink-muddled minds of Eddie Spaghetti and band, however, the crown has been usurped. It's that kind of mule-headed megalomania that's needed to fuel this chrome-plated, country-fried, nitro-charged punk metal potpourri, a "best of" from this gang of professional assholes in faggy-looking cowboy hats. There's some genuine classics within ("Creepy Jackalope Eye," "Born With a Tail," "She's My Bitch"), as well as drive-by contributions from Steve Earle and Willie Nelson. And, of course, the "Suckers" compelling rendition of Ice Cube's compelling "Dead Homiez." Plus, the cover art's by my hero, Mitch O'Connell. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
Who says you can't teach old dawgs new tricks. After a hiatus of nearly 15 years, the Discords are back and punk as fuck. Listening to the oi singalong chorus of "1234" is like traveling back in time to finer moments of the Strength Through Oi! comps. The now-legendary "NDG" and "Kill the Rich," off their 1983 single, are reworked here, crisp production supplying extra punch. Original guitarist Dave Valente takes over the lead vocals and successfully pulls off a Lemmy impersonation that makes Spank It the perfect companion to a pint of Guinness. 7/10 (Johnson Cummins)