I am no longer doing reviews.  Please do not send any material.  Thank you to all of you that have over the years!!

False Alarm
"Fuck Em All We've All Ready (Now) Won"   CD (False Alarm Records  2006)

I haven't done a review in quite some time and it wasn't my intention to start now but I got an email from False Alarm band member Brent Alden asking if I'd review their CD.  He told me that it featured Cheetah Chrome of the Dead boys, Rick Wilder of the Berlin Brats and Mau Maus, and De De Troit of U.X.A.  The cover art work was also done by Dee Dee Ramone.  How could I say no to that?  These are people and bands that I grew up on as a young punk in L.A. in the '70's.

The album was recorded in 2001 & 2002 but it just now seeing the light of day.  The album is also dedicated to Dylan Maunder aka D-Rock who passed away in 2005.  Dylan is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the band.

Cheetah Chrome plays lead guitar on 6 of the 14 tracks and sings lead on one.  Rick Wilder provides lead vocals for the New York Doll's hit, "Vietnamese Baby" and De De Troit does lead vocals on one track, "In My Mind".

This is solid '77 style punk with a solid dose of glam punk.  Fans of the New York Dolls, Jeff Dahl, Kevin K and the Dead Boys will love this. Dead Boy fans will also appreciate Cheetah Chrome's big part in it's making and the fact that "High Tension Wire" is covered.  It would be impossible for me to pick a favorite song as each and every one is solid in it's own right.  If you like a basic guitar driven sound with great songwriting that actually have a melody, this will be for you.

This may have been recorded several years ago but it is a sure bet for many 2006 year end top ten honors.  Track it down and get it!! 

--Willy Aadnoy (11/26/06)

Pseudo Existors
"Stamp Out Normality” CD (Overground Records)   

As always, Overground finds the best of the seventies/early eighties punk and creates an anthology of a particular bands output.  This time around is an outstanding collection by the Pseudo Existors.  What can you say about the Pseudo Existors except that they are the very definition of punk rock?  Guitar driven, snotty vocals and a fuck all attitude.  The first four tracks are the classic EP released on Dead Good Records in the late seventies.  This was always one of my favorite discs and I continue to treasure it among my collection.  The band was short lived, only releasing the one EP and a couple of Tracks on the "East" compilation LP.  This anthology includes a couple of additional studio tracks and many live tracks for a total of nineteen altogether.   A must have for fans of 70's punk rock. 

--Willy Aadnoy (4/30/06)

Wolfgang Bang
"What Are You Going To Do?” CD (ESM Records)   

Wolfgang Bang have been reviewed favorably before by the P.I.D.  They have given me no reason to review them any less favorably this time around.  In fact they sound better than ever.  This is punk rock as it should be played - with guitars, driving rhythms, snotty vocals and melody.  There is not a dud track on the CD.  This is solid all the way through and that should be enough endorsement for you all to get this great CD.

--Willy Aadnoy (4/30/06)

Hudson Falcons
"Singles Collection 1997-2002” CD (Street Anthem Records)   

The Hudson Falcons are one of the greatest street punk bands ever.  This collection features out of print, never released and a few original versions from their albums.  If Bruce Springsteen was punk rock he would sound like the Falcons.  Their selection of covers by bands like the Rolling Stones, Devil Dogs, Johnny Thunders, Chuck Berry and Bruce Springsteen is exquisite.  There is the occasional slow song but for the most part this is the Falcons letting loose and doing what they do best - street punk.  New Jersey's finest are one band that you do not want to miss out on and if this is your first introduction to them you certainly couldn't go wrong here.  Street Anthem does a consistently great job in releasing street punk albums.  Check 'em out if you haven't already. 

--Willy Aadnoy (4/30/06)

Howitzer
"Police State” CD (Hazard Hill Records)   

This is my first introduction to Howitzer.  This sounds like anthemic Oi! music that would be prevalent in the early eighties.  I happen to be a big fan of the genre so I found this album to be quite a treat.  The vocals are gruff, the guitars are right out there in front and they have the style down just right.  Once in awhile they will throw in some lead guitar that gives the song that little extra bite.   I liked this a lot.  I hope to hear more from them in the future.

--Willy Aadnoy (4/30/06)

Various Artists
"Backstreets of American Oi!” CD (Street Anthem Records)   

Street Anthem has collected 53(!) examples of current American Oi! and put it together on this outstanding 2 disc sampler.  It starts out with a gut kick from Roger Miret and the Disasters and barely lets up from there.  Many of these bands I had heard before because of Street Anthem Records but many are new.  It is good to know that there are bands out there continuing to record great music and keep punk rock alive and in this case street punk, a vital piece of the punk genre.  There's way too many songs to even try to pick out favorites or single out any for any reason.  Suffice it to say that this is a truly solid collection that would fit fine in any street punk and Oi! enthusiast's collection.

--Willy Aadnoy (4/30/06)

The Popsters
"The Scene” 7" (It's Alive Records)   

I must say that It's Alive Records has become one of my favorite labels over the last few years.  You can expect a quality disc with quality music and some of the best packaging you will ever see.  Adam Alive, the founder of the label, does it for love of the music even though he probably loses money every release because his first concern is getting a quality product out there at a reasonable price.  So, let's talk about the Popsters.  They are from Italy and as their name implies, they play pop punk.  Although pop punk has fallen into disfavor since the mid-nineties there are still a core group of rabid fans around the world, myself included that melt when they ehar that eprfect pop song.  The Popsters do it better than most as this 3 song 7" will attest.  They do a bang up version of Tom Petty's "American Girl".  They recently toured the U.S. and I wasn't able to see them but my daughter did and said they were outstanding.  Nobody ever comes to Arizona!!  Great stuff!  Get it!

--Willy Aadnoy (4/30/06)

Kitty and the Manges
"Joey's Song” 7" (It's Alive Records)   

First off this has the usual It's Alive quality treatment in vinyl and packaging. The Manges have been one of my favorite pop punk bands since I heard them quite a few years ago.  I've heard the title song before on the great Joey Ramone tribute album put out by AMP records a few years back.  The Manges are from Italy and Kitty is from the band the Kowalskis out of New York City.  So it's basically Kitty acting as lead singer for the Manges in a one off performance.  The songs are pure pop punk including a cover from the movie "The Goonies".  More great stuff!  Get it! 

--Willy Aadnoy (4/30/06)

Nervous Habits and Cheap Thrills
Split 7" (Terminal City)   

A couple of bands from Florida, I think.  They follow in the footsteps of some of the noisier bands going around right now such as the Feelers.  Fans of labels like P.Trash and Big Neck will like this stuff.  Although I've managed to collect quite a bit of this style of music in recent years, it isn't my favorite.  These bands do it as competently as anyone but I prefer something a little less muddy in presentation. 

--Willy Aadnoy (4/30/06)

Jerkoffing Jerks
"To Hell With Your Rules” CD-EP (Self Produced)   

The Jerkoffing Jerks are from Denmark.  I have been to Denmark on several occasions and have many relatives that live there.  It's a great country and this is a great CD.  This is reminiscent of the heyday of pop punk in the mid-90's.  It has a quirky one note guitar lead that permeates most of the songs on here and gives it a unique quality.  The songs are melodic and guitar driven and you get eight of them.  It has a raw feel which is a good thing because slickness would detract from the overall appeal of the songs.  I like it.  Get it. 

--Willy Aadnoy (4/9/06)

Jerkoffing Jerks
"The End of the Beginning/The Beginning of the End” CD (Self Produced)   

Ten more songs from the Jerkoffing Jerks from Denmark.  I have to believe that this is a more recent effort than the EP reviewed above.  It is a more polished effort and has lost some of the quirkiness that made the EP so good.  This is still a very good effort but they sound more and more like mid-level pop punk and sound like too many other bands.  The drumming was rather muted on the EP but stands out quite a bit on this CD and that turns out to not be such a good thing.  I really never got into the staccato drumming  style that many bands adopted in the late nineties, preferring a more taridtional style myself.  Like I said, good effort, just not in the same league with the EP. 

--Willy Aadnoy (4/9/06)

Swell Maps
"Wastrels and Whippersnappers” CD (Overground)   

With the sudden death, no pun intended, of the Swell Map's leader, Nikki Sudden, this is one CD that sees a timely release to showcase the brilliance of one of punk's earliest bands.  Now I will admit right from the start that I am more of a guitar and rhythm section type of a guy more than an experimental music kind of guy.  This CD has both styles with a big nod towards the experimental.  What makes this release all the more remarkable is that none of the tracks have ever been released before even on bootleg.  I have in my own personal collection, most of the seventies output of the Swell Maps and my recollection was not of a band that I particularly cared for.  Imagine my surprise when the CD started off with a rousing rocker, Dresden Style,  that I would put up there with many of my favorites of the punk rock genre. Now I know this song was released on one of their singles so I am definitely going to have to go back and give it a re-listen to see if matches any of the energy that comes across on this disc.  Another highlight is "Full Moon-Blam-Full Moon" which also packs a raw intensity.  Most of the rest of the CD is experimental in nature, with a few low key punk tunes thrown in, and those familiar with the Swell Maps should know what they are getting. 

--Willy Aadnoy (4/9/06)

Buff Medways
"Medway Wheelers” CD (Damaged Goods)  

The Buff Medways are led by prolific frontman Billy Childish in one of his incarnations.    When you feel a need to tone things down a bit and still gat a great aural experience, the Buff Medways fill the bill.  Sixties style punk filled with harmonica and jangly guitars and simply great songwriting.  "Karen With A C" is an upbeat rocker and my favorite of the 12 songs featured here.  They can also get bluesy at times but everything seems to work.  There's not a dud here.  This is an excellent album and would be a complement to any collection.

--Willy Aadnoy (3/5/06)

The Vores
"Moment of Uncertainty” CD (Double Duke Recordings)  

The Vores put out a couple of singles in the late 70's/early 80's.  I'm lucky enough to have the first, "Love Canal".  It is a punk rock classic.  It is D.I.Y. all the way and the rawness is one of the appealing factors in making that a KBD classic.  So why would you want to tarnish your legacy by putting 13 of the most boring songs you've ever heard?  Could it be that you think this is  super slick and radio friendly enough to actually get you a record deal and make some money?  Who knows?  But they should have stopped while they had their dignity intact.

--Willy Aadnoy (3/5/06)

Skeptic?
"Nobody Cared” 7" (Self Produced)  

Two things right off the bat.  I love vinyl and I rarely get any to review so send me more!  Second, who would have thought they even allow punk rock in one of the reddest of states, Alabama?  This is the second review of a Skeptic? release and it finds the boys in fine form.  This is reminiscent of early hardcore with a dash of Discharge style Oi! vocals for good measure.  They put enough melody into their aggressive style to make me happy. After re-reading my previous review, it would apply to this release fairly closely.  The Anti-Heros similarity is still there.  I liked it.  Get it.

--Willy Aadnoy (3/5/06)

Nightmares
"Loose and Dangerous” CD EP (Waxvaccine Records)  

Kick ass punk rock outta Portland, OR with tough female vocals courtesy of Gen Genocide. Super driving guitar sound with a nice blend of lead guitar.  There is nothing refined about this.  This is some raw shit just the way punk rock is supposed to be.  They throw in one ballad amongst the six tunes just to change things up a bit but they are at their best when they are rocking out.  It's an interesting looking band too.  Two way hot young ladies with a couple of long haired guys, one of which looks like Oliver Platt.  Highly recommended.

--Willy Aadnoy (1/28/06)

Various Artists
"Anti-Society: Anarcho-Punk Compilation Vol. 3” CD (Overground Records)  

This is the third in the anarcho-punk collection put out by Overground Records over the last year.  As the title suggests, these are songs of disillusionment with society in general.  A society that left many behind at the time and seemed obsessesed with war (sounds an awful lot like today, doesn't it?).  It includes songs by such "name" bands as Oi Polloi, Icons of Filth and Icon AD as well as a wealth of underground bands.  The majority of the songs are balls out rockers and raw as hell.  If you're looking for raw energy, this is it.  There are a few  melodic tunes which nicely fit in in the midst of the fury.  Punkers and those of more hardcore bent will find much to love here.  Get the whole series.  This is some really good stuff. 

--Willy Aadnoy (1/28/06)

Hudson Falcons
"La Famiglia” CD (Street Anthem Records)  

Merry Christmas to me!  What could be better than getting a promo of one of your favorite bands?  This is the third release for New Jersey's working class heroes.  They have still have that devastating attack on quite a few of the songs but have interlaced more softer moments and a bit of a country twang than on their first 2 releases.   That does not diminish the impact of the songs.  They play with an earnestness that shines through and makes you know that these guys are no poseurs.  They play a brand of political working class street punk that is unrivaled by their peers.  The Hudson Falcons will be touring extensively over the next 15 months. Catch one of America's greats.

--Willy Aadnoy (12/25/05)

Disco Students
"My Black Girlfriend” CD EP (Yeah!Yeah!Yeah!)  

The U.K.'s Disco Students have released a mixed bag of seven songs ranging from straight ahead rockers to 80's style new wave to disco rhythms to some experimental tunes.  It probably won't come as any surprise that I really enjoyed the two rockers and didn't particularly find the other 5 tunes much to my liking.  They do have a good sense of humor as you can probably figure out from the disc title.  They sing songs about "nice little busts" and "my secretary" as well as "my lesbian sister".  If you're looking for punk, you'll be disappointed.  If you're looking for a bit edgier, this may be a good find for you.

--Willy Aadnoy (12/25/05)

Various Artists
"The Ugly Truth About Blackpool - Volume One” CD (JSNTGM Records)  

I really like this concept. Pick a city and pick the best punk songs since 1977 and play them in chronological order.  There are 3 songs from the 70's including an early Skrewdriver classic.  Andy Higgins has done a superb job of choosing the bands to be included here.  Standouts include "Jerusalem" by One Way System,   "Official Hooligan" by Antisocial, "Honey, This Ain't No Romance" by the Genocides and "Cock Suck America" by King Mob Echo.  Most of the songs are clearly in the punk realm although a few tunes stray into lighter or more adventurous moments.  All in all I would have to say that Blackpool ain't too bad of a place to have been raised on punk.   

--Willy Aadnoy (11/27/05)

The Disrupters
"Gas the Punx” CD (Overground Records)  

On first listen, the first third of the album sounded to me like pretty much run of the mill early 80's anarcho-punk.  However, by the time the CD was done I was firmly a fan and subsequent listens have grown on me.  There are several "poems" a la the "Oi! The Album" comp from about '80 or so if you're into that sort of thing.  About song 8 or so ("Animal Farm"), the sound becomes fuller and the songwriting becomes a bit crisper.  If you are enjoying the anarcho-punk series also released by Overground, you will definitely enjoy this.  This is guitar driven, gruff vocaled and clocks in at well over an hour so you know you get your money's worth as always with Overgroun.  Recommended.     

--Willy Aadnoy (11/27/05)

The Jerks
"Jerk Off” CD (Overground Records)  

This is a re-release of the 1997 album that Overground originally put out.  The Jerks put out two singles in the seventies which are represented here minus "The Strangest Man of All" although I'm not sure why it didn't make the comp.  The Jerks' first offering with the classics "Hold My Hand" and "Get Your Woofing Off Me" is included here, lyrically probably two of the most minimalist songs ever recorded.  The early stuff has 50's style rocker with a punk beat written all over it.  I love this stuff!   "Woof, woof , woof, woof, ....  Get your woofing dog off me!".  Classic stuff.  Somewhere along the way they must have decided to get "serious" and the lyrics become more sophisticated and synthesizers sneak their way into the music.  This isn't to say that the songs all of a sudden become bad but the thing that made them so appealing early on gets a bit lost in the translation.  I remember being excited when the second single came out with "Come Back Bogart" and being equally as disappointed after listening to it that it had not lived up to the first single.  What I would say is that the best stuff is so good that I would buy this in a heartbeat and the lesser stuff is still pretty damn good so do yourself a favor and get this.

--Willy Aadnoy (11/27/05)

Various Artists
Diggy Diggy Dead!” CD (Rubble Records)  

This album is made up of some really good shit and some not as good shit.  The really good shit is really good and the not as good shit is really shitty.  This is a 2 CD set so you get 33 songs for your money.  There are a bunch of Texas bands, a few European bands and a few Japanese bands.  Punk rock'n'roll is the order of the day for the most part.  There's a triple shot of really shitty Austin band songs followed by a really shitty Swiss song (now notice I didn't say the bands were shitty only those songs on the comp).  CD 1 ends with a double shot of really outstanding songs by Rickshaw and the Unlovables before destroying the momentum with a pretty bad Monkey Buzzness song.  CD 2 starts out with a song that sounds like wailing cats from a Japanese band called Madame Cats before the Deadites bring respectability back to Austin, TX.  The Japanese band, Goggle-A, does an outstanding song called "What A Way To Die".  Greece sends a surf tune that is pretty forgettable before we get a nice female vocaled tune from a Japanese band called Flowermulu.  Switzerland gives us Reverend Beat-Man and his deeply religious ode called "Fuck You Jesus Fuck You Oh Lord".  Can you say "Uwierz" by Slowa We Krwi?  Me neither, but this Polish motherfucker rocks with some screamy vocals.  The highlight of the album is "Butter Me Up!" by On Parole.  Just shit-kicking punk rock.  Who needs more?  Well, even if you don't need any more, there are still 7 songs to go and Galactic Inmate from Chicago show us that they can rock out up north too.  The remaining songs are all pretty good with particular emphasis on Chupacabra Jr. and Derita Sisters.  There's more than enough great music on this 2 CD comp to get your money's worth.  I  have no clue how much it cost since it was sent to me free to be reviewed.  I hope whoever sent it got their money's worth from me.

--Willy Aadnoy (11/27/05)

Higgins ++/Sick56
"Split” 7" (JSNTGM Records)  

I'd have to say that this is probably the best stuff I've heard by both bands.  I have reviewed both before which you can search down through this page if you are so inclined.  Higgins++ is Andy Higgins of JSNTGM doing his thing with his support band.  He sometimes goes it solo on electric guitar and then it's just "Higgins". This song rocks!   "Got A Revolution" is political.  Andy Higgins is political.  Punk is political.  Punk was born of giving the finger to the man.  Anybody that tries to tell you differently ain't punk.  Sick56 gives more politics and more '77 style anthemic punk.  This is one of the best 7" records of '05.  Get it before it's gone.  On yellow vinyl. 

--Willy Aadnoy (11/27/05)

After the Fight
"Basura Solamente” CD (Boner Records)  

The band name brought images of emo or speed metal to mind.  The first song didn't help matters much either because I thought I was going to get half an hour of early 80's hardcore.  However, once we got past the name and the first song, this turned out to be a pretty good CD.  It's pretty much straight forward melodic punk rock with driving rhythms and snotty vocals a la the Anti-Heroes.  Definitely worth a listen.   

--Willy Aadnoy (10/16/05)

The Copyrights
"Nowhere Near Chicago” 7" (It's Alive)  

The Copyrights hold the distinction of having last year's number 1 7" on tje P.I.D. year end list.  They take up right where they left off.  Another four pop punk gems from this Illinois band.  Influences are bands like the Lillingtons and Riverdales.  It's Alive has some of the best packaging you've ever seen, thick ass colored  vinyl options and give you the choice of getting a CD-r version of the disc for a buck when you buy a 7".  

--Willy Aadnoy (10/16/05)

Antagonziers/Main Street Saints
Split CD (Street Anthem Records)  

I love this CD!  This is what street punk/Oi! should sound like.  Both bands are excellent.  The Antagonizers from North Carolina provide us with buzzsaw guitars mixed with great lead guitar,  anthemic songs and loud, angry energy.  They do a convincing job on the old Angelic Upstarts' tune, "2 Million Voices".  "I'm OK" is an instant classic that will having you singing along.  The Main Street Saints are unfortunately no more.  These songs were recorded before their demise in 2001.  7 songs of driving guitar rhythms with gruff vocals.  They have the great ability to sound like they are having a party while they play and at the same time sound like they are pissed at the world.  This is a great CD that will get major rotation in my CD player.

--Willy Aadnoy (10/16/05)

The Underhills
"Get Smart EP” CD-EP (Cabana 1 Records)  

These guys fall squarely into the mid-90’s pop punk genre made famous by the likes of the Queers and Screeching Weasel.  And that’s a good thing.  These 6 songs compare favorably to some of the best of the genre.  Buzzsaw guitars, catchy melodies  Mass Giorgini produced half the songs so you kind of know what you’re getting in advance.

--Willy Aadnoy (9/25/05)

The System
"...Is Still Murder” CD (Overground Records)  

If you didn’t know anything about this band, you would guess that this was recorded in the early 80’s.  You would be right.  They would fall firmly in line with bands like Anti-Pasti, GBH and the Exploited.  There are several songs that have dual versions on the CD which is OK as this is intended to be a complete history of their ’80 to ’83 run.  The CD includes their two singles, their contribution to the “Wargasm” compilation album and 13 demo tracks, of which 10 are previously unreleased.  The songwriting is solid, the vocals are pissed off and the musical presentation is hard hitting. This is anrcho-punk at it's finest with political lyrics.  You know you will always get your money's worth with Overground.  There are 21 songs over this 70 minute disc.

--Willy Aadnoy (9/25/05)

Kill the Hippies
"Erectospective” 2xCD (Rock-n-Roll Purgatory) 

This 2 CD set, which I’m pretty sure compiles everything the band has done, contains a whopping 77 songs!!  There’s nothing refined about this band.  They intend to beat you over the head and do so quite effectively.  Lead vocals are shared by male and female singers (PP Envy and Morte Treehorn).  They even manage to add a bit of an arty edge to things with the inclusion of a synthesizer on “Sierra Madre Cinco”. Their style evolved (devolved?) over time from a thrashy lo-fi sound to a more artsy style.  It's almost too much to digest in one sitting so you'll just have to digest it for yourselves.

--Willy Aadnoy (9/25/05)

Reno Divorce
"Naysayers and Yesmen/Laugh Now Cry Later” CD (Street Anthem) 

It’s not hard to tell where the influence comes from for this band.  The lead singer has his Mike Ness nasal whine down to a tee and the music follows suit.  This album contains  their album, “Naysayers and Yesmen” and their 6 song EP “Laugh Now Cry Later” plus two bonus tracks compiled into one 19 song CD.  Although the Social Distortion comparisons are hard to ignore, they are not total clones.  They do use country influences to good effect and they seem to have no use for ballads which is just fine by me.  Another solid release for Street Anthem.

--Willy Aadnoy (9/25/05)

The Businessmen

"Live From Space City” CD (Interchange)