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Tag: Punk

  • Disappearing Act by Annalies Tang

    Disappearing Act by Annalies Tang

    Album: Disappearing Act

    Artist: Annalies Tang

    Released: January 31, 2024, Ska Punk International

    Spotify

    Disappearing Act is the first sonic offering from Ska Punk band Annalies Tang. The EP consists of 4 songs and each one is a musical treat. Classic Ska guitar, catchy horns, lyrical storytelling and fabulous vocal performance makes each song an experience.

    I really cannot say enough about it other than, “do you like vengeful ghosts?” I sure do! and “Emilio” delivers a haunting and rather charming story about the song’s namesake, a ghost who brings blood curdling justice to shitty dude bros for their toxic dude bro behavior. Annalies sings of various torments while spunky drumbeats, chipper ska guitar and the swankiest horns on the album accompany her. The juxtaposition of the grim lyrics and the music make it clear that you aren’t supposed to be scared but instead enjoy the spectacle of it all in a horror comedy kind of way. The song ends with the line: “May she [Emilio] rest in peace cause she’s a cool ghost” and I definitely agree. Emilio is very cool. This song is easily my favorite on the album. “Jasmine Tea” brings the best showcase of Annalies’s vocal performance. Her voice is powerful yet ethereal. A combination that is stunning and beautiful. The horns throughout the song work hand in hand with the vocal performance to add even more power to it. The song’s narrative is about Annalies’s struggles with the stereotypes of Asian women that are often thrust upon her by men. However, this is not a woe is me song. The power of the vocals and in music make it clear, this is a call out song. If you’re the kind of guy featured in the song, you have been put on notice. The message of self-healing, perseverance and love, found in “Crystals and Herbs” is super meaningful in today’s current social landscape. Towards the end of the song, Annalies does this little lyrical trick that I am hoping is intentional. During the song she sings “I love you” and then repeats herself but the second time she says, “We love you”. The result is this moment where the listener feels drawn into a sense for community and belonging. This is a great punctuation to the end of the song, as it continues to completion continuing the themes of belonging and community. This song brings a lot of joy to me, and I can’t get enough of it.

    Annalies Tang’s Disappearing Act presents a level of maturity in sound and narrative storytelling that greatly surpasses expectations. In fact, I would say the way the music and lyrics work together obtains a cinematic feeling that elevates the storytelling to some of the greatest found on any modern ska album in recent years.  

    This review was originally posted on February 23, 2024 on the former LFDH substack.

  • Songs Offline by Eichlers

    Songs Offline by Eichlers

    Ablum: Songs offline

    Artist: Eichlers

    Released: February 01, 2024; Self Released

    Spotify

    If you are anything like me, you have probably said to yourself something along the lines of “man, Ike seems like a cool dude. I bet we would have a great time sitting around a campfire making s’mores and singing songs”. Songs Offline gives listeners a taste of that experience albeit parasocially. It is Hyper Ska superstar Eichlers, acoustic guitar in hand, laptop powered off, and raw in a way that is unique; yet still filled with all the wit and charm for which he is known.  

    First off, this album features a brand-new song called “3rd Ring”. It is a great song about loneliness and the anxiety of reaching out for connections. It is a real sleeper hit that leaves me torn between wanting a hyper ska version but also not wanting one because it is hard to imagine that this song isn’t perfect as is. The rest of the album at its root is a selection of previously released songs given the acoustic treatment but leaving it at that is doing it a grave injustice. For example, “Nickel City” as originally released is an earnest and sincere celebration of youth spent with friends. However, the tone to the acoustic version is much more somber. It leaves you with a longing for the good times long past, not in a regretful way but rather in a joyful sadness kind of way. It really pulls at the strings of my old, jaded heart. The next song the really suck out to me on the album was “My Checkered Future”. The Songs Offline version obviously still has the same self-deprecating humor and upbeat attitude that led me to declare it my theme song. I have spent countless moments belting out the words. What you get from this version is a reduction in tempo that makes the song infinitely singable and with a chilliness that makes it so cool. It has near perfect vibes if I am being honest. My only real criticism of the album is the lack of Reade Wolcott in “2 of Us”. Given the scope of the album, it makes sense that Ike would go in solo on the song, but without Reade the song lacks the duet aspect that really made the original something special. Perhaps there is potential for redemption in this department at the next Badtime Records Show. A team-up between Ike and Reade live on stage for the acoustic rendition of this song would be truly epic. Oh, one last thing, in “Oh My God” when the piano hits it is amazing. I kid you not when I first heard it, I bit my lip and inhaled. It took me aback that much.

    Song Offline is a definite hit that really showcases the range and talent of Eichlers. I honestly hope that this album is not one off and that we can expect more original and revised acoustic songs from Ike in the future.

    P.S. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Evil Eichlers please contact me. Only you can keep the scene safe from mythical tricksters.

    This review was originally posted on February 17, 2024 on the former LFDH substack.