THE WHITE STRIPES - Under Great White Northern Lights

Released in March of 2010, Under Great White Northern Lights is both a White Stripes live CD and the name of a documentary film about them. The material was recorded during their tour of Canada in the summer of 2007. We hear many of their hit songs on this album, including "Fell In Love With A Girl", "Blue Orchid", and "Icky Thump". We get to hear the minimalism the two-piece employs (employed?) in their live shows as well as Jack White's unrestrained, raggedy live vocals (though, at times, he is a bit much because while the man's got heart, he doesn't exactly have the pipes). We also see how much energy the band generates during their performances, which is probably the highlight of this recording. The White Stripes aren't playing note-for-note renditions of their studio recordings; these are raw, garage-worthy performances, yet the crowd goes nuts over them. A true testament to the power of a great rock 'n' roll band.

www.myspace.com/thewhitestripes
www.whitestripes.com

PERSONAL AND THE PIZZAS - Raw Pie

As I've discovered, the summer months are not the optimal time for me to review music. Swimming, running and biking, baseball games, and more means I'm not spending a lot of time indoors to listen to some tunes. I've got a huge backlog of music to listen to, and Personal and the Pizzas certainly haven't helped when I do get a moment to put on an album. Why? Because when I do have time to listen, all I want to put on is Raw Pie.

I happened onto this New Jersey band by accident, but I stuck around after hearing "I Don't Wanna Be No Personal Pizza". Once I heard the rest of the album, I knew these guys would forever hold a special place in my music collection. They wear their musical influences (Do I even have to spell them out? Ramones, Stooges (love the album's title nod to the Stooges' third album), etc.) on their sleeve but they are smart enough to know how to do it right. The spoken intros to some of the songs, the high percentage of songs devoted to pizza, and of course, the tight garage rock playing all combine to make one gloriously fun album. This should be the next soundtrack to your late night parties; if it isn't, you're just not doing it right. Happy Pizza Pie Friday, or more appropriately, Happy Personal and the Pizzas Friday!

www.myspace.com/personalandthepizzas
They are members of the 1-2-3-4-GO! Records family: www.1234gorecords.com

THE RIPPERS - Why Should I Care About You?

Ripper I, Ripper II, Ripper III, and Ripper IV are from Sardinia, Italy. Their newest album (to date) packs twelve songs into thirty-three minutes of kick-ass garage punk/rock, a bit of harmonica for some added awesomeness, and Ripper IV spewing out lyrics that are difficult to decipher. They seem like the kind of guys who might spit on you from the stage, then have a beer with you at the bar afterwards and laugh about it. Then somehow they would wind up going home with the girlfriends of you and your friends. They're just that cool.

www.myspace.com/therippersinaction
http://spazioinwind.libero.it/therippers/index.html

COCKTAIL SLIPPERS - Saint Valentine's Day Massacre

This is the third album (and second for Wicked Cool) for the all-female band from Oslo, Norway. They play a mix of powerpop and garage rock with lots of girl-group harmonizing. Some of the artists they remind me of are the girls in the B-52's, Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, and the Pipettes - but the Cocktail Slippers are unlike the Pipettes because they play their own music, and have cooler names (Sugar Cane, Modesty Blaze, Rocket Queen, Squirrel and Bella Donna). Little Steven wrote the title track for the album and also "Heard You Got A Thing For Me" and contributed some bongo playing; this band is also further proof that he picks the coolest bands on the planet for his Wicked Cool label. Awesome!

www.myspace.com/cocktailslippers
www.cocktailslippers.com

WAU Y LOS ARRGHS!!! - VIVEN!!!

Wau Y Los Arrrghs!!! are from Valencia, Spain and sing mostly in Spanish, though they do have a few lyrics in English as well. They play garage rock, so far this is the best garage rock album I have heard this year! They rock. Awesome.

www.myspace.com/wauylosarrrghs

VOX JAGUARS - Vox Jaguars EP

This is the debut EP from these four Californian boys, two of which are still in high school. They're a very young band and have a lot of room to grow, but their first release shows them as a band that should definitely be watched. It's fuzzy, rough around the edges, lo-fi garage/punk/rock. The singer has a punk-rocker's voice that could be the make-it-or-break-it factor for you. Overall, this EP is a damn good way to spend 15 minutes and 39 seconds.

www.myspace.com/thevoxjaguars

The (International) Noise Conspiracy - The Cross Of My Calling

Their fourth studio full-length album. They're Swedish so my review isn't even necessary; put it on, press play, you know it's gonna be good! But if you need more info, they play rock/pop/punk/garage-punk. Their sound is more polished on this record than it was in the past. Their guitarist is named Lars, the drummer is Ludwig, Inge plays bass, and Dennis is the lead singer. So the majority of them have awesome rock star names. Rockandroll!

www.myspace.com/internationalnoiseconspiracy
www.internationalnoise.com

Eagles Of Death Metal - Heart On

Shit, goddamn...these guys rule. The third album for Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme, they continue their same style of upbeat rock/garage/glam that is most definitely influenced by the records that the Rolling Stones recorded during the disco era. Nothing too serious, just dumb rock music, which means that you should like it. For a good time, play this CD.

www.myspace.com/eaglesofdeathmetal
www.eaglesofdeathmetal.com

Powersolo - Egg

They hail from Denmark and this is their third album; it was originally released in 2006. They play quirky garage rock; if Ween recorded a garage rock album it might sound something like this. They touch on surf, rockabilly, garage, and even country. They even throw in some organ on a bunch of the tracks. All in all, it's a solid effort. My favorite track was "Dans Les Rues de Paris."

www.myspace.com/powersolo
www.powersolo.dk

Thee Oh Sees - The Master's Bedroom is Worth Spending A Night In

Led by John Dwyer of Coachwhips fame, here is garage rock that Frankenstein's Monster would probably play at his next social gathering. The vocals are buried in the mix and difficult to decipher; both male and female vox. Calling them a lo-fi B-52s might work, but it's a bit of a stretch. This band is more likely to appeal to fans of the Raveonettes. They're okay, but still really rough around the edges.

www.myspace.com/ohsees
www.tomlabel.com/theeohsees

Tres Bien - Tree EP

They are a four piece that formed in Florida in 2002 but I think they are based out of Pennsylvania now. All the Florida sunshine has done these boys good. They play wonderful garage rock/pop that is influenced by the British Invasion bands of the sixties. I like these guys a lot. I am excited for the full-length.

www.myspace.com/tresbien
www.touchtresbien.com

Snake and Jet's Amazing Bullit Band - X-Ray Spirit

They're a duo from Denmark. They play (ready for this?!) synth/organ driven garage rock/pop/dance/crazy-awesomeness. So much fun. If you like synths and organs and garage rock, which you damn well should, listen to this. Listen. Like. Dance.

www.myspace.com/snakeandjet
www.snakeandjet.dk

The Okmoniks - Party Fever!!!

Out of Tucson, Arizona, the world's largest hotbed of garage rock, comes this quartet. They bring us organ-laced garage rock with female vocals. Rather fuzzy-sounding, straight from the garage. It's cool. Recommended for those who appreciate fuzz, garage rock, Yeah Yeah Yeahs' older stuff, and The Charms. Rock.

www.myspace.com/okmoniks
www.okmoniks.com
Please note that both links redirect to their Myspace.

The Fleshtones - Take A Good Look!

Formed in Queens in 1976, these guys have been releasing records since the early 1980s. A testament to the fact that being old doesn't mean you can't rock, these guys know how to kick out the jams. Twelve tracks of solid toe-tappin' garage-rock pop goodness, this rocks. Thank goodness for bands like this.

www.myspace.com/fleshtones
www.fleshtones.org