Get Your Fix: Album Reviews by the CoolJunkie Staff

September 17, 2008 2:20 PM
by The Junkies

Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball
by: Marcos Colón

Coming straight out of the South is a strong, raw, dark and grimy sound that comes in the form of Athens, Georgia’s newest addition to their growing list of talent, Dead Confederate. Their appropriately titled album, Wrecking Ball, brings in the same amount of balls that southern rock has always been known for. Their no-holds-bar riffs, accompanied by lead singer Harry Morris’ seemingly pain induced vocals, offer a throwback sound that encompasses the modern day melody.

With a sound that’s a bit like Band of Horses, but with more of an edge and vocals reminiscent of Kurt Cobain, Dead Confederate was lucky enough to catch the ear of a prominent music exec that launched the career of other successful acts. Legendary A&R Exec Gary Gersh, known for inking deals with Nirvana and Sonic Youth, happen to take a listen to Dead Confederate’s demo on a car ride home and was moved enough to contact the boys and offered to work with them.

On Wrecking Ball, Dead Confederate combine fire and brimstone guitar riffs, psychedelic melodies and searing rhythm to pump out a debut that’s sure to award them enough swagger to win the attention of the masses. On tracks like All the Angels and The Rat the steady supply of raw power brought in by guitarist Walker Howle and drummer Jason Scarboro brings up the energy on the chorus, but it’s the transition into Morris’ verses that’s the catch. Each track seems to rev up and down like a racecar on the starting line.

Although Dead Confederate isn’t a household name, it’ll take word of mouth and plenty of touring to get them there. By next year the boys are sure to be better known, probably gaining good slots at Coachella and the Virgin Music Festival. For now, it’s time for them to work hard to get their name out there.

Click here to hear more from Dead Confederate.

Gym Class Heroes - The Quilt
by: Damon Dewitt

Gym Class Heroes are back again with their recently released 4th album, The Quilt. The first single on the new album, Cookie Jar, features R&B singer The Dream. Cookie Jar metaphorically plays with a common comparison to woman and sweets, using addiction for sugary snacks to an addiction for sex and cheating, hence the lyrics [I can’t keep my hands out the cookie jar]. Peace Sign/Index Down produced by Miami’s own Cool and Dre, will more than likely be the next single on the album. The beat might just as well been built for Busta Rhymes who christens the third track in a way only Busta Bust can.

GCH defiantly brings some big name backing in their newest effort. Legends such as Daryl Hall of the 70’s sensation Hall and Oats proves he does live on in the appropriately titled track Live Forever. Current sensation Estelle, who recently partnered up with Kanye to put forth the one of the summers biggest singles American Boy, can be found unfolding The Quilt in the opening track, Guilty as Charged. The track has a loaded chorus which Estelle highlights and is matched with some properly placed brass, that could possibly make Guilty as Charged one of the biggest hits this fall.

Click here to hear more from Gym Class Heroes.

Steve Bug - Bugnology 3
by: Michael Maryanoff

Bugnology 3, the latest in Poker Flat founder Steve Bug’s mix series, underscores the quirkiness that makes Steve Bug’s sound so endearing.

One thing that you can surely expect from this album is that it is light years away from being a run down of cheese-saturated hits. It is more of a showcase of the crème de la crème of recent dance music’s intriguing oddities. That being said, while it doesn’t completely fall victim to the extremely minimalist (i.e. boring) style that Berlin sometimes produces, dance fans not accustomed to the toned-down style of Poker Flat may find themselves yawning halfway through the album. That isn’t to say that Bugnology 3 isn’t good, far from it. The album is chock full of wonderful tracks and are a joy to listen to. They range from deep house, to minimal and tech house. Some standout tracks on the album include Kink & Neville Watson’s Inside Out, which is part 808 and part new-school techno, Manuel Tur’s delightfully deep Vabanque, and Two Armadillos quirky down-tempo tribal track Hamlin.

With Bugnology 3, Steve Bug underscores what makes Poker Flat such an endearing label. Don’t expect it to reach a fever pitch or blow your speakers, but it would go great with a 9PM Red Bull and vodka. If you’re a fan of off-the-beaten-path that has been coming out of Berlin and elsewhere around the world (or good music in general), I’d recommend picking this one up.

Click here to hear more from Steve Bug.