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Stoked: The Rise And Fall Of Gator (DVD)

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Stoked is a DVD documentary that follows the life of Mark “Gator” Rogowski and tells the story how one of the 80s most talented professional skateboarders is now serving 31 years in prison. This DVD features a strong soundtrack with contributions from such Hardcore Punk acts as Black Flag, Agent Orange, and the Dead Kennedys.

This is a great DVD that tells the story of how skating changed, causing Gator’s popularity to dwindle. This caused him to slowly break down mentally as he could not handle the fact that he was not in favour anymore – he tried to reinvent himself with a name change but this caused people to respect him even less. It was not known of the tragic mental state of Gator until the spring of 1991 when he confessed to a violent crime at the age of 24. This DVD will have you glued as it slowly tells you the life story of Gator through its 80 minute duration, talking you through the good times, as well as the bad times.

In the DVD you learn how a lot of the skaters that had fame at the time also went on to have troubled lives involving prison, and the reason for this is that none of them were given any guidance at the time – they were all just suddenly rich and didn’t have a clue how to deal with this fact. There are interviews with big name skaters of the time as well as with Gator himself through telephone calls from prison.

Whether you are a fan of Skateboarding or not, you will be sure to enjoy this as it is not only a great skate DVD with some great footage, but a cracking documentary too. The DVD also contains over 80 minutes of additional footage such as unseen home movies, Gator’s full confession, and interviews with him. This is one hell of a DVD that you can watch over and over without ever managing to tire of it. There is so much to take from this DVD that with every viewing you will find something new and interesting.

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Rise And Fall – Hellmouth

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Rise And Fall are a four piece band from Belgium that live and breathe hardcore. They really are a heavy band – and I personally love it! Every track on this album is absolutely bursting with hard edged vocals, feisty guitars, blinding bass lines, and fast, raw as hell drumming. Join The Team Player is a fine label for producing some high class acts and Rise And Fall are definitely one of these acts.

At no moment on this CD do the band show any signs of slowing down – every track is heavy and hardcore, and packed with energy. With so much Emo going around at the moment it is truly refreshing to hear a band that are sticking to their routes and remaining a true hardcore outfit. Rise And Fall are most certainly in this for the long haul, and you can tell that for them it is all about the music. The tracks are passionate in their own heavy way and show signs of genius. There are some truly inspirational heavy metallic guitar riffs that just make you want to pick up a guitar and let rip.

Sometimes bands of this genre can just sound like shouting and there is seemingly no talent involved. Rise And Fall are most certainly not one of these bands as they have a definite talent and play their music with great style, and immense energy. I am sure that the band put on one hell of a live show as every track on this CD is just so energetic and full of life. It is not often that I hear what Belgium has to offer, but if Rise And Fall are anything to go by then there is one hell of a thriving scene in the small country best known for its chocolates.

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Nine Pound Note – Go National

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First things first – this album is not perfect, but then again nothings perfect, and it was recorded and mastered in a band members bedroom so I reckon that with this the band have really done a remarkable job. It takes a lot to go out of your way to make an album without being signed to any label at all, and also shows guts and determination to succeed on the bands behalf. Nine Pound Note have almost certainly got a good future ahead of them as a band as they are all obviously very hard working musicians aiming for bigger things. The band actually organised a ‘Go National’ UK tour all by themselves, which again shows their hard work and determination to succeed in this industry. Its very hard for bands to organise a UK tour by themselves so Nine Pound Note need to be congratulated for this.

Ok, now onto the most important matter of all and what I’m sure you’re all dying to read – my views on the album. The CD kicks off with the amazingly catchy ‘Go National.’ This is one of those Ska Pop anthems that you can just visualise a bunch of kids going mad to at the front, skanking their arses off as this track is played. It is an amazingly catchy little number and contains some sublime horn action, as well as some blinding vocals, and perfectly placed backing vocals. It is a great track, but is by no means what the band are renowned for on this CD – whereas this is a leave your brain at home, crazy, fun filled, Ska anthem, a lot of their stuff is extremely intelligently written music that is great to listen to and you can really take in. A lot of their songs have a harder hitting edge, and this sounds great! However, at times the horn section doesn’t sound too pretty and could probably do with some fine tuning, but I’m sure that the band can easily sort this and develop in to a fine UK band. A problem that a lot of bands have when they start is having a horn section that is a bit inexperienced – but with hard touring the players soon improve creating a much more polished sound that is easier on the ears. Most of the time the horn section sounds great, but it is just little mistakes and non fluency in places that spoils it a bit.

There are 12 great tracks on display hear, showing off an array of different sounds – but every one is packed with juicy Ska goodness. The vocals show signs of genius; there are many a fine bass line, some seriously strong guitar riffs, superb drumming, and some definite talent to be worked with in the horn section of the band. Nine Pound Note are a young band, yet they are showing some great maturity here in this music and they definitely have the determination to get themselves to the top, so there is no reason why they can’t achieve this some day in the not too distant future. I expect to see a lot more from this band over the coming year – and if they carry on with this much effort and determination it won’t be long before the band get signed. If you remain unconvinced, then check out some of their tracks on the MP3 page of this site.

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Keane – Bedshaped

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It seems like Keane have run out of singles already to be honest – this track is nothing more than average and isn’t the kind of tune that would make a band stand high above the rest at all – in fact its more the sort of slow paced music you would skip past if you heard it on the radio or on a music channel. I really think that the band have messed up on this one as I have been a fan of their previous singles, but have never bought their album in fear of being disappointed – this single seems to prove that I have been right not to buy the album in fear of disappointment as it really is nothing special.

I have never really got in to this track – I have tried to give it a go but I really can’t find a place in my heart, or indeed in my CD player for it. It’s nothing new, nothing interesting – and the whole idea of having a pianist instead of a guitar seems to be running a bit thin in all honesty. They are no longer a novelty, but more of an annoyance and this track is really where I draw the line with this band. Chances are, after today I will never again listen to this track again, unless it comes on the radio – in which case I will change to another station.

This is one for the die hard Keane fans really as I don’t think that it is going to gain them any new fans with its slow pace and uninspiring sound. This track has been a real disappointment for me as I had been expecting great things, having been a fan of the bands previous work – but after listening to this single I was nothing but disappointed.

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4ft Fingers – 40 Years Of Misery EP

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Ok, I haven’t actually heard this band since ‘At Your Convenience’ was released on Jamdown, other than the few tracks played on Sky TV. This band are exactly as I remember them – Cheltenham’s Beer Skate Punx show no signs of slowing down, they are still playing fast, catchy Punk Rock music that you can dance, and most importantly get drunk to!

There are 2 versions of track ’40 years of misery’ on display here on the EP, as well as live versions of the ‘At Your Convenience’ classics, ‘Brickwall,’ and ‘Sense Of Direction.’ These live tracks really brought back memories of a few summers ago when I saw the band pumping these tracks out – they sound just as good live now as they did back then! ‘Sense Of Direction’ is a great track, that has a good old fashioned chorus that’s great to sing along to once you’ve got a few drinks inside of you. Although it was great to hear the classic live tracks being played on this EP, new track ’40 years of misery’ raised the biggest smile on my face. It was good to hear that the band are still producing high quality, good sing along tunes that would almost certainly go down well at a gig. The track has some amazing guitar licks, super bass lines, demon drum beats, and the obligatory perfect vocals. There is nothing better than a good 4ft Fingers track, and ’40 years of misery’ is a classic example of one.

If you haven’t already seen this band live yet then try and get to see them live soon because they really are a class act and if you don’t see them then you are definitely missing out in my opinion. Cheltenham’s Beer Skate Punx are still going strong, and by the sounds of things we won’t be seeing the end of them for quite some time yet!

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Ciccone – Look At You Now

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There are a lot of strong female fronted Rock bands coming through at the moment and Ciccone can definitely be named as one of them. Front woman Rebekah Delgado has an extremely strong vocal talent with every single note she sings powering through your entire body. On this track, male backing vocals on the chorus saying ‘Look At You Now’ create a strong backbone and further the appeal of the track.

Ciccone are a good band making exciting music, which is full of strength, style, and charisma. I really feel that this band will go far in the industry as everything about them just sounds so good – great drumming and guitarist skill is shown as well as these tremendous vocals I have already spoken about. Although there is only one track here there is enough going on in the one track to keep you happy for a good while, it is really hard to tire of this track as it is just so amazing, and interesting to listen to. The band have frequently been played on Radio1 as well as their video making it onto both MTV and Kerrang – this is no surprise as they really are a talented band and truly deserve to get this great exposure.

I cant wait till I get my hands on the bands new album – it should be really great to listen to if this amazing single is anything to go by. I am sure that this single will lead the band to further success as it is intelligently written, and ever so fun to listen to. It is one of those tracks that when coming on the radio you will stop whatever you happen to be doing at the time and just listen to the track in amazement.

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Beastie Boys – Triple Trouble

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Ok, this is not one of the band best tunes but after a six year hiatus it’s just good to see them making material again really. This single guest stars ‘Sasquatch’ and the band state that he is the reason for their absence as he has been keeping them in his cave. When you first listen to this track you will automatically realise that it is the Beastie Boys as they have definitely not changed their sound at all.

This track contains some great mixing, and some really cool vocals and is definitely not a bad tune – just not as good as some of the stuff that the band have done in the past. I really enjoyed listening to this one and would urge you all to check it out purely because it’s a Beastie Boys track really, but saying that I would probably urge you to check it out even if it wasn’t as it is quite a cool track. This is the first single to be taken from their ‘To The 5 Boroughs’ album and definitely gives you reason enough to go out and buy the album – it is fast, contains amazing mixing, and those legendary vocals that the band are renowned for. If you have ever been a fan of the band then you will probably want to check this one out, it’s definitely worth your while and will most probably put a smile on your face.

This is not classic Beastie Boys, but then again they never release a bad tune so you can’t really go wrong with them. On first listen I was not too sure about it, but the more I listened to it – the more I realised that this is a good track, and the band are definitely not going stale as the years go by.

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Razorlight – Vice

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I have had the Razorlight album for some time now so have been able to listen to it a good number of times and have become rather familiar with it. I know for a fact that ‘Vice’ is not the best tune on the album, and is of course nowhere near as catchy as single ‘Golden Touch,’ but it does have a lot of positive points about it. The fact is, Razorlight never seem to pen a bad song – they have a whole album of tracks that they could quite easily release as singles without them looking too out of place. So, although I was surprised to see that this track had been chosen as the next single to be taken from the ‘Up All Night’ album, there is no doubt in my mind that this track can be a success.

The track clocks in at just over three minutes, but in its three minutes running time it sure does a hell of a lot to impress you as a listener. There are some cracking vocals that you come to expect with Razorlight, super drum beats, crunching bass lines, and some truly amazing guitar licks. Razorlight always sound perfect in their tracks – they really do have a lot of talent, and passion for their music and this really comes through in their tracks. I have not seen the band live before, but I bought the album with the bonus Live DVD – and on this the band came across really well and you could tell that they were really enjoying playing live to their fans. There is so much passion conveyed in their music – it is truly remarkable, and a joy to listen to. This track powers on, and the further you get in to the song the more you begin to enjoy it as it seems to gather momentum as it goes and become stronger and stronger throughout its three minute duration. There are some really great lyrics on this track, with vocals that are amazingly passionate which really help to carry them off with impeccable style.

If you liked ‘Golden Touch’ then you will probably like this track as well. Although it is not as good in my opinion, it is still a cracking tune and well worth a listen as it is strong, passionate, and full of energy. With all these qualities going for them, I see no reason why Razorlight wont go down in history as legendary – and I can see their music influencing many a generation of musicians to come.

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Mixtwitch – All Bets Are Off EP

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I had not really been too impressed with the album that the band released on Moon Ska a few years ago as I found it to be a bit average. However, when I saw that the band had taken it upon themselves to record a CD with producer Ryan Greene (NOFX, Lagwagon etc) I realised that this would not be another CD of mediocrity. On this EP, the band really shows that they can cut it, and can make Punk Rock music just as well as any of the top American bands of the genre. Judging by what I have heard on this EP, their album will be something really special when they have found a label and can make it happen.

This is a 4 track EP, and in its 4 tracks it really does put a massive smile across your face. The band have some strong vocals, and amazing guitar riffs that really help to make the music what it is – good, strong Punk Rock. The band have worked with the average tracks of old and have created 4 tracks here that are fun, catchy, great to dance to, and just a general joy to listen to. Right from the offset of this EP you can tell that the band has produced something really quite special as it jumps straight into the action and automatically the fun begins. My favourite track on this EP is probably ‘Fourth Time’s A Charm’ as it is a really catchy little number that as you listen to, you just cant help but visualize a load of happy kids jumping around to this tune. It’s a bouncy tune that could quite easily sneak into the Top40, yet keeps all the credibility of being a good rock song at the same time. Mixtwitch are really onto something special with this one – it would make an awesome first single to get people into them before introducing them to the heavier, more sophisticated music that the band can produce.

If you were not a fan of the band in the past, then still make sure you check out this EP as I was also not a fan of these guys but on the ‘All Bets Are Off’ EP the band have really upped the quality and produced a fine CD of Punk Rock greatness. You really have to hear it to believe it, but listening to the band on this EP is like listening to a whole new band as they are just so much more special than they were on previous material. The band will be coming to England some time over the next few months so make sure you look out for them and be sure to check them out if they come to a town near you.

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Yellowcard – Ocean Avenue (Single)

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I didn’t really know what to expect from this one as I had liked the bands single ‘Life Of A Salesman’ but had not been too impressed with ‘Way Away.’ I was glad to find that the band had again released a good single as ‘Ocean Avenue’ really is quite a good song – its not going to change the world, but its certainly fun to listen to and easy to dance to. Yellowcard are a good Pop Punk band and this track really shows that – it is fast paced, fun, and full of energy. It is no wonder why this band is so big in America – they are a fine example of good Pop Punk.

On display here are some catchy guitar hooks, some amazing bass lines, great drum beats, and super strong vocals. Sometimes this kind of music can lack power, but there are some tremendous guitar hooks here that really power the song on and help it keep its momentum. If you are a fan of Pop Punk then you will almost certainly love this Yellowcard track, because the music that they create here is pure gold. Everything about this track is really strong – there is nothing to fault about it at all, it’s all glued together perfectly to make a masterpiece of a track.

If you are looking for a good, fun band that are not afraid to write a powerful song then look no further than Yellowcard. No, this isn’t the most original style of music around but it’s done so well here that this doesn’t really matter and you just enjoy the music for what it is. The violin in the band certainly adds to the whole atmosphere of the music and makes them that extra bit exciting, and interesting to listen to. This single will be released on September the 6th so you’ve got a good amount of time yet to hear it on the radio or see the video on TV and make up your own mind about whether you like it or not. If you are at all in to Pop Punk then the chances are that you will like this track and will want to listen to it more. Don’t just go downloading it on Kazaa or something – buy the single, support the scene.

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