music – News on Shuffle

Jukebox the Ghost – Cheers!

I have been a Jukebox the Ghost fan since I saw them OPEN for The Postelles (I think) at Knitting Factory’s Tap Room. They are one of the only bands I have been following for that long and have never missed a new album, each of which always seems to be almost speaking directly to me and where I am in my life at the time. I have watched them grow as musicians and people, and am so happy to see them grow and succeed.

One thing I have always loved about this band is that they make *albums*. Each song and the order they are placed seems purposeful. After 18 years it’s no surprise that this album seems to be about growth and change. Wasted hits particularly hard, especially the chorus:

 We were broke
 We were brave
 25 years in a hurricane 
 We were wild, we were wasted
 Up all night, we’d dream all day
 Almost let you slip away
 We were wild, we were wasted

It reminds me of the early days of my own relationship, broke and dreaming of the future. We’ve come so far and seen so much and made it to the other side.

Of course the songs are plenty catchy too, if you’re not looking for deeper themes. Ramona will probably be stuck in my head for weeks. And what Jukebox album would be complete without Tommy writing about the apocalypse? “Us Against the World” might be about the end times, but it also feels like it could be about the present day. It does it in a way that feels the listener with hope though, rather than fear.

One of my favorite things musically is a good transition, and this album delivers that too with “The Machine (Intro)” into “Everybody Panic”. I also love the mixed sense of comedy and urgency in the line “Everybody panic but one at a time”. This band has always had a way with words, and the new album is no exception.

We get more of the above with “Raise a Glass” into “How the World Began” as well as the fantastic line “Every heartbreak’s just another song in waiting”.

Our journey comes to an end with a “Cheers!” and what could be more fitting than that? “Here’s to more of the every day” and to more great music from this amazing trio. I’m glad this college kid a [redacted] number of years ago made many a terrible decision to write that paper later and go see a show. The only band that has meant as much to me as this one was World/Inferno, and that chapter of my life has sadly come to a close. But here’s to more sing-a-longs and music and facing whatever comes next. This album closes on a hopeful note, and so will I. Because without hope, what’s the point?

The NPCs – Superman (Goldfinger cover)

This past Friday, Sept 4th, The NPCs released another of their socially distanced videos to the masses. 56 musicians participated in this massive project, plus there was a fun cameo at the end to coincide with a certain video game that released…

Per the video description:

What do you get when you take a bunch of musicians from all over the world, mixed with the release of one of the greatest video games of all time? You get a 56 person cover of Superman!

The video game in question might not be my personal preference, but I do like a good cover song every now and then and particularly enjoyed this one. Mixed with some of my favorite people and this video was quite a treat.

Don’t take my word for it. Jump on over to the YouTube to see for yourself.

Backyard Superheroes – Most of All

Backyard Superheroes debuted a new song and video last night during the 7+ hour Supernova Ska Festival: Quarantine Edition. There have been a lot of socially distanced music videos popping up during quarantine, and I have loved seeing what people come up with to make up for the fact they can’t be in a room together. This one was no exception.

First off, I love how it starts with the introduction proclaiming them “the 7th best ska band in New Jersey”. I also love all the background items and in general getting a tase of members’ individual styles. From a Captain America shield on one wall to another wall covered in Funkos, there’s lots of fun nerd stuff to spot. (The tiny Devils helmet was my personal favorite, as I’m originally from NJ and am a huge Devils fan).

I would be remiss if I focused too much on the video and didn’t talk about the song itself. At just over 3 minutes it’s a fast-paced number about all the things they miss in quarantine – but especially their friends. It’s a sentiment I think we can all understand, packaged in a song I could easily listen to on repeat a few times.

The video closes with the announcer proclaiming, “Wasn’t that something with the horns and the beards”

Yes, sir, It was quite something.

Most of All is available to purchase on their Bandcamp. All proceeds are being donated to the ACLU.

Let’s Get Elfed Up

Two blog posts in one week?!? The universe might not be able to handle me posting on a regular schedule, but it’s happening! Got a quick one for you about the Christmas EP that Backyard Superheroes is putting out this Friday the 13th: Let’s Get Elfed Up.

First of all, I love the album title! It’s clever and fun, as is the album art. There’s two tracks on it that are both upbeat and catchy, which makes it perfect for a quick run to the store to buy some eggnog and cinnamon (or whatever else gets you in the holiday spirit). Plus all proceeds are going to Toys for Tots, so you get to listen to great music while also spreading some joy this season. That’s a win all around, in my book.

“So where do I go to purchase this festive music?” you ask… The EP will be available on Bandcamp, as well as Apple Music and Spotify. Personally I love Bandcamp and even use it myself for Lonely Atom Records.

I know you’re tired of the same old Christmas Classics, so don’t snooze on some new holiday tunes to add to your playlists this year.

Backyard Superheroes – Never Give Up, Never Surrender

Editor’s note: This review should have gone up sooner but thanks to technical issues (and other life stuff) it has been held till now. Better late than never, am I right?

The following ares my stream of conscious thoughts (with mild edits) while listening to Backyard Superhores’ latest album, Never Give Up, Never Surrender. Now available on Spotify, iTunes, and Bandcamp (personally I like Bandcamp best for my music-buying needs).

This album doesn’t grab me up front in the same way their previous record did, but it definitely gets me immediately curious. “Where is this going?” I think as two songs later we jump into an upbeat, fast-paced jam that I am all in for. I don’t listen to music at home much, but when I do I’m looking for something I can workout to or that inspires me to get stuff done. While NGU doesn’t immediately start that way, it certainly gets there by track 3 and does a good job of bringing the energy up and down throughout the rest of the album in a way that feels right.

I think my favorite song on the album is “The Weekend”. Not only is it a really catchy ear worm of a tune, but I love the little bit of video game music at the end. The song after it, “Tangerine Drive” isn’t bad either. It’s got a short but sweet horn riff I enjoy that gets repeated a couple times. I also love the way it breaks down towards the end then picks back up again before closing and jumping into the next song. Then there’s “What if,” which asks “what if life were like the comics?” something I ask myself All. The. Time.

Another thing worth noting with NGU is how very ska the horns and rhythm are, but without hitting you over the head with it. I love how they find that balance of being THE MOST SKA but not at the same time. Some bands get classified as ska when they’re really just rock bands with horns. Backyard Superheroes are a ska band, and very much ok with that.

Overall I would say I prefer their previous album, Let’s Get Dangerous, but definitely enjoyed this one and can see myself getting more attached with repeated play-throughs. Listen for yourself, and see what you think. And while you’re at it, think about what your life would be like as a comic book, and leave a comment with what your super power would be. I definitely would want some telekinesis so I could move things from across the room that are too far away from me. Also, the possibility of being able to levitate myself is pretty cool.

Life Happens

Earlier this month I wrote my first post in over a year because one of my favorite shows turned 20 years old and I had to add my two cents on what that meant to myself and the industry as a whole. Writing that article made me realize I had one that was grossly overdue, a review of a comic for someone whose work I usually love. I wrote him an apology email today about how life got busy and I’m really sorry. And then I read the comic and wrote a thing on it and in that one article I came up with two others I should write – this being one of them (the other is a thing is on the current run of Doctor Strange and how much I LOVE it, but that can wait). The actual article I wrote about the thing I was supposed to will be coming out very soon, but for now I wanted to do yet another giant update on what I was doing that kept me here.

Mostly I got a new job that kept me very busy and RELEASED A RECORD.

Yes, Lonely Atom Records, the small start-up record label I work with, finally released our first 7″ record late February. The two bands featured are The Pandemics and InCircles (both bands from NYC/LI). You can either download the songs or purchase the vinyl on our Bandcamp. There’s also stickers and pins for sale, and we’re working on t-shirts.

Between releasing the record, booking shows, and my actual real job(s), I’ve been fairly busy. I honestly love writing on here though, so I’m going to try to pick it up again. I’ve been reading a lot of comics lately, and between that and watching The Wednesday Club every week on Geek & Sundry’s Twitch channel, I will probably want to talk about that more. Don’t worry though, I’ll still have plenty of music musings as well as just general stuff about the news and other random things. The site is called “News on Shuffle” for a reason…

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for the review I just finished and whatever other things pop into my head and scream to be written down into this void we call the internet. And remember folks, when life gets you down you gotta remember to just keep swimming.

Presenting: Narc Twain

You may have heard me talk about a band called “Jukebox the Ghost” here a few times. They’re one of my favorite bands and some of my favorite people of the musical persuasion. One of their members, Tommy Siegal, has two other projects he’s involved with. One is “Drunken Sufis,” who are weird but fun. There’s not much else to say there; you just have to experience it for yourself. The other band he’s in (and what I’m here to talk to you about) is “Narc Twain.” When I talked to Tommy about Narc Twain, he seemed real excited about them. It’s a little something to direct his creative energy towards when what is coming out doesn’t fit the mold for JtG or Sufis. Hearing him talk about it got me excited for him, so of course I’m also excited I now get to review the album and share it with all of you.

If you like dystopian rock tunes, this self-titled album should make it to the top of your list. It has some of the more interesting lyrics I’ve heard in awhile (and this is coming from someone who practically breathes punk rock). It’s not just the lyrics though; the instrumentation also takes some fun leaps and turns at points in the music. I found myself sitting with anticipation at where the songs would go next. There’s only 6 songs to soak in so far, but that should be good for a short trip. While I liked the album as a whole, I think track 3 was my favorite. The chorus is super catchy. It’ll be a nice earworm to knock out the Gogol Bordello song that’s been stuck in my head for a week now.

If this short little album isn’t enough for your hungry ears and brains, then perhaps you want to see them live and in person! Well then you should join me tonight at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn for their show tonight. (While you’re there check out the pizzeria that’s across the street; it’s one of my favorites). Get there early though, because you don’t want to miss any of the show! Doors are at 7pm, and the show starts at 8pm. Knitting usually has good pre-show happy hour deals to enjoy as well, for those who care about such things. Eat, drink, and be merry, and rock your dystopian hearts out with Narc Twain.

Shayfer James EP Release @ Rockwood

Here’s photo post #2 of the day for you. It’s Shayfer James’ EP release on Stage 2 of Rockwood Music Hall, September 19th. He had a great turnout where everyone sang along to songs that had literally just been released. It was pretty amazing to witness. He’ll be playing Rockwood again Oct 13th if you want to witness the magic for yourself.

Nerd Night Out @ Bell House

First of all, I’m sorry this took so long to post. The show actually happened Sept 12th, but it’s been a crazy month and I haven’t had a chance to really think straight let alone make updates on this thing here. Fear not, however, for you are getting two photo posts today from shows I had the pleasure of attending over the course of the month. The first is Nerd Night Out, a music/comedy tour with Molly Lewis, Joseph Scrimshaw, and The Doubleclicks! It was a great night full of laughs and shenanigans. I hung out after the show to chat with Molly Lewis (which I posted a picture on Twitter with her), bought some merch, and even got a CD signed by The Doubleclicks. It was a great night and if you ever get a chance to see even one of these performers, I say do it!

Backyard Superheroes – Let’s Get Dangerous

Before I begin I want to give some back story on this one. The ska scene (like many other scenes in the world) is a small place. Pretty much everybody knows everybody else. Since I’m dating a ska musician, it means that at least half the ska reviews I do are people I’m friends with or are on friendly terms with. So yeah, I’m a little biased. I was specifically told to give constructive criticism on this one though, and that’s what I’m gonna try my best to do here.

First thought with the intro (other than how much I love when bands do intros) is how it gives the album a big feel, like the band is getting a big introduction before they go play the hugest stage ever. When you think about it, that’s what happens when you put your music out into the universe these days. You are essentially jumping on a stage that the whole world can see, especially with the Internet as your major distribution platform. It makes me happy that these guys might not be headlining a stadium, but it definitely sounds like they put everything into the music they’re delivering to your eardrums.

Second thought, as I continue listening, is how tight everything sounds. The horns are ON POINT and all the songs seem to flow into each other really well. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, folks: I love it when people make full albums and not just a bunch of songs that can be listened to on shuffle. I know that’s how a lot of people listen to music now, but I still like putting on an album and listening from start to finish. It makes me happy to see a band take the time to really think about song placement and how the album as a whole is going to flow.

I know a said I was going to try to give constructive criticism, but my only complaint is that the album is too short at 17 minutes long and flies by. I want more music! Still, this definitely got me pumped and made me want to go to one of their shows soon. If you feel the same way, you’re in luck! These guys are going on tour. You can find a complete list of tour dates on their Facebook page as well as ticket links to all the shows. And if you just want to listen to their music from the comfort of your own home (including this album) then Bandcamp is the place for you.