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Tag: Punk

  • Bri Earned the Power of Self Respect by Brianna Carmel

    Bri Earned the Power of Self Respect by Brianna Carmel

    Album: Bri Earned the Power of Self Respect

    Artist: Brianna Carmel

    Released: May 24, 2024; Self Release

    Brianna Carmel is one of the hardest working people in DIY that you might not have heard of.  I think that is a shame. Their roots lay deep in the Sacramento DIY scene and they are a member of the bands “Blooming Heads” and “Little Tiny Knife” as well as having their own solo project. So with the release of their new EP I hope you take a moment to get acquainted with their work.

    This EP is pure Ukulele driven indie rock with a little bit of chiptune and a punk attitude sprinkled in as a treat. It’s a fun listen even if the lyrics get a little heavy at times. The name “Bri Earned the Power of Self-Respect” is a reference to Scott Pilgrim vs the World and it is very fitting for the namesake song as well as the album as a whole. In honor of this, and if y’all will indulge me, I am now going to review every song in this EP as if it were the chapter of a Manga because aside from giving off Scott Pilgrim vibes, the EP tells a story that lends itself well to this style of review.

    Chapter 1- My True Self (Stupid, A Mess, Etc.)

    The story begins and we find our hero full of self doubt, fear and worry. They worry that they might not have what it takes to truly thrive. Things are starting out pretty low for our hero

    Chapter 2- Fool Me Once

    I am not going to sugar coat this one folks, things are looking pretty bleak for our hero. They just ran into a pair of absolute villains who I’ll call the 2 evil dudes and it did not go well. Despite this, our hero did learn some things about themself that will likely come in handy later.

    Chapter 3- Bri Earned the Power of Self Respect.

    This is definitely our hero’s plus ultra moment. They have finally leveled up got the power they need to get control of their life and become the person they always wanted to be.

    Epilogue- One Year Later/Born Again

    Turns out even with a superpower, life is still hard, but now our hero has the confidence and tools they need to work through that struggle. They know that eventually everything is going to be okay. Someday.

    Oh, if you were wondering, my favorite song is the title track. Turns out my praise can be bought with a chiptune, engaging vocal performance, and an empowering message. Honorable mention also goes to “One Year Later/Born Again”. I think it is all too easy and very common especially for the sake of telling a complete and finished story to fall into the trap of pretending that all anyone needs is that one moment of standing up for themselves. After that everything automagically fixes itself. This song manages to avoid that trap by clearly stating the reality that working towards your best life will always be hard. Yet it still ends beautifully on an extremely hopeful note.

    Everything about this EP is top notch! The emotionally raw storytelling of this EP really makes it stand out. It is definitely one of those EPs that you must listen to from beginning to end to really soak it in completely. It is very self reflective and sometimes brutally honest. Definitely the sincerest EP I’ve listened to so far this year.

    This review was originally posted on May 30, 2024 on the former LFDH substack.

  • TRASH TO THE TRASH GODS by Bergie & The Magic Bag

    TRASH TO THE TRASH GODS by Bergie & The Magic Bag

    Album: Trash to the Trash Gods

    Artist: Bergie & The Magic Bag

    Released: April 4th, 2024/ Beautiful Rat Records

    Bergie & The Magic Bag is an interesting mix of indie rock, folk, and punk. So, if you are looking for that sort of thing (lord knows I am) then Trash To The Trash Gods is definitely worth a look. It also has a clearly defined since of humor that comes out through the album that makes it a highly enjoyable listen.

    The first song that I would like to talk about is “FOREST OF LONELY SOULS”. It has a really cool electronic vibe and a super chill melody. The song is about being lonely but seeking refuge in a place where you fit in with other lonely outcasts. Aside from the ambience and serene feelings the music generates that make this a standout song for me, there are a couple of one liners in this song that are unexpected and genuinely hilarious. It isn’t often that a song makes me audibly chuckle, but this song accomplished that on my first listen. “Rockstar (Nothing Like the First Time 2)” features some pretty big piano that really takes over the song in a fantastic way. This song also features the humor of Bergie in the form of a detailed and convoluted story about taking ecstasy at a show.  It is absurd and ultimately pointless and harkens back to American Folk performers like Utah Phillips who were known for telling such shaggy dog stories. I, for one, think that we should bring this kind of thing back. They are little snapshots into the culture of the time that I can not get enough of. The last stand out song for me is “20 For Tie-Dye.” This really tickles the brain of the theater kid that lives inside me. It tells a story of a group of friends having small adventures in a very slice of life kind of way. I can easily imagine this performed as an on-stage musical theater style complete with sets costumes and dance numbers. This song is my favorite on the album because it is very fun entertaining and honestly makes me want to go on a fun little adventure.

    I know that I have spent a lot of words talking about the humor of this album, but I want to be very clear this is not a comedy album. The songs I have chosen to highlight are indeed humorous and that is what I think makes them unique and enjoyable. However, there are so many songs on this album that are straight up amazing bangers. For example, “ALL HAIL THE D-TRAIN” and “MIKE WE NEED TO WRITE A FOLK PUNK SONG” are classic folk punk songs. “(Everybody’s Headed To) BROOKLYN!!!” Is a smooth indie rock bop and “TRASH TO THE TRASH GODS” is a guitar driver rock song with horns about life and the road. As a whole, this album checks a lot of my boxes in really innovative ways that keeps me coming back for more. Every song is a blast to listen to and they are all varied in ways that makes beginning to end album listen throughs an experience that never grows boring or tiresome. Bergie & The Magic Bag’s TRASH TO THE TRASH GODS is every bit a spectacle as it is an extremely well executed musical masterpiece.

    This review was originally posted on April 5, 2024 on the former LFDH substack.