Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Lullaby

Sleep, where have you gone?
It's been months now
And I'm coming undone
I keep being woken
By screams and tears
Sheer fucking terror
Ringing out in my ears

I've thought about featuring Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes a few times recently, as I think their 2015 release Blossom is really interesting and seems to pop up my rotation quite often. Lucky me! They've got some solid new stuff that's finally given me the impetus to get on with the sharing.

Frank Carter hails from the UK and was the singer for hardcore punk outfit Gallows until he was replaced by Alexisonfire's Wade Macneil. Which, and I have no idea about the details, was probably a great move for him. Let go the screamo!  

You can still very much hear those punk influences with The Rattlesnakes. But there is much more here and it's good. Really good.

I first caught wind of them with their industrial-tactic hit "Devil Inside of Me" (off Blossom) which reminded me of early 90's acts like Ministry and Nitzer Ebb. 

I think that comparison holds, but there is some level of cleverness that comes out in the lyrics and arrangement that makes them stand out. And then there is the polish and quality production, which I think really works.

This is very evident in their newest work. At the time of this writing, they've got two new singles out, "Snake Eyes" and today's TMIS "Lullaby". They're both terrific examples of well-executed genre blending that results in a sum greater than the parts. Their new album, Modern Ruin, comes out in January 2017.

BONUS TRACK - here's the video for "Snake Syes".

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CRX - Broken Bones

Get it before
It goes to waste
Lick on my knife
And honor the taste
Taking my time
Running in place
Leaving the house
Was a mistake

Nick Valenci, lead guitarist for The Strokes, has a new side project, CRX. Their debut album, New Skin, dropped today and it's solid. It has a clean, straight ahead and classic rock sound. Think a bit Cheap Trick, a bit The Cars and a bit The Strokes. Who, by the way, clearly have a solid individual game with Albert Hammond, Jr's stuff being stellar as well.

New skin was produced by Josh Homme, and you can hear his influence on most of the tracks. Good, good stuff.

Oh, and, AWESOME, the word on the street is our very own Donald J. Trump is going to produce The Strokes' next album.

RIYL: The Cars, The Strokes, Cheap Trick and Queens of The Stone Age

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Mainland - Permission Slip

I'm pissed, I'm stripped
Of all my faith in everyone I miss
You talk, big talk
Like your so right and I'm so wrong
But I don't need no permission slip
I don't need no kiss on the lips
I'm doing fine, doing my time
Buying wine and drinkin' all alone at night

California grown Mainland mix a fun and carefree west coast attitude with polished yet gritty east coast heart, style and vibe. Their body of work, as far as I can tell anyway, is limited but very promising. They've got a couple of EPs out, and a few recent singles, which I expect means an album is on the way.

Today's Most Important, "Permission Slip" is a catchy indie rock anthem that brings a terrific "oooh weee oooh" hook to skippy dance beats. If that doesn't do it for you there are other options. Try "Beggars," a polished, sophisticated groove matched with an anthemic hook or "Outcast" for a nice, well-executed and upbeat indie pop cut.

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Gene - Fighting Fit

I can't take it
To much time's been wasted
So come and get my plateful
I am fighting fit and able
I can't take it
When you slide and twist it hurts me
So settle down and let me
I've tasted life
I'm ready

Yesterday's featured band, Blaenavon, reminds me in many ways of one of my favorite 90's bands, Gene. Formed in the mid 90's, they weren't all that well known, but did get some attention, mostly in the UK, and had a solid string of nicely constructed albums, all of which are worth a listen.

They often draw comparisons to The Smiths, mostly due to vocal similarities between lead singer Martin Rossiter and Morrissey. A fair comparison, and I suppose you could make others between the two bands, but, make no mistake, Gene doesn't feel like a Smith's knock-off, rather they're an example of some of the best British rock to come out of the 90's.

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Blaenavon - My Bark Is Your Bite

My bark is your bite, but time after time, I lie because the mind says it's the best thing to do, for you.
The mind says it's the best thing to do, for you, my mind says it's the best thing to do.
My bark is your bite, it's like kind of right, but I lie because the mind says it's the best thing to do.
So I'll take one more chance, I'll dance if you'll dance.
I'll try because, the mind says it's the best thing do.
The mind says it's the best thing to do, for you.
My mind says it's the best thing to do.

I stumbled across Hampshire, UK three-piece Blaenavon this weekend and I think I found a new favorite. Blaenavon is named, I think, after a small town in Wales and while I can't seem to find a whole lot about them, I think it's clear they're a very talented young band on the rise. They don't have much out yet, just a couple of EPs, but I've listened to and I'm a bit obsessed at the moment. 

Every track is solid and it took me forever to pick a song to showcase. From "Prague" which gives off a bit of a We Were Promised Jetpacks vibe to the stellar "My Bark Is Your Bite" (their most recent, and my eventual choice) and the dreamy "Wunderkind" which got me thinking of one of my all time favorite bands, Gene. They also reminded me of times of Foals, Radiohead and Little Comets. So they're in good company. There is so much going on in their music, and I can't wait to hear more. Here's to hoping they've got a full-length coming soon, and, fingers crossed a US tour.

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