Vaaska
Todos Contra Todos
Beach Impediment (2015)
I've been meaning to check out this Austin, TX-based band for quite some time now (they’ve been active since 2009) but for whatever reason I’ve never gotten around to it. So much punk, so little time I guess. They have released a string of EPs and splits up until this point, but this record is their first official LP. It … Read more
Vacation
Candy Waves
Don Giovanni (2013)
Here at Scene Point Blank we don’t give titles to our work. If I titled my Vacation review, though, it would be named after track ten: “Feedback Got Me High.” Vacation are a punk band but, you know, so were Nirvana (at least on a basic level). The point is this: there’s a lot you can do with those power chords, and … Read more
Vacation
Existential Risks & Rewards
Salinas Records (2021)
I’ve been fighting the urge to just quote John Hoffman from when I interviewed another one of his bands, The Mimes, earlier this year, because I think he described his songwriting style really well in it. Instead, you get a vague, shameless plug, though I’ll circle back after more explanation. On their latest offering, Vacation hasn’t wildly changed. Existential Risks and Returns is … Read more
Vacation
Mouth Sounds #2699
Lets Pretend (2018)
For running with the DIY punk scene, Vacation are surprisingly diverse (not to mention prolific). The band’s latest is the 12-song Mouth Sounds #2699 and its 26-minute span delivers the band’s general sound of fuzzed out garage-punk bangers, but within that general sound they deliver crunchy grunge riffs, pop melodies, and flat out noisy bursts, all within a short-song framework that rarely … Read more
Vacation
Self Titled
Lets Pretend (2011)
First off, forgive me if at some point I wander off and say something about Summer Vacation or Vacation Bible School, and I keep mixing these bands up in my head. Vacation is Cincinnati-based band that sometimes gets the pop-punk label, although I would argue garage-punk if I had to choose one. The band, while using pop-punk structures and a … Read more
Valina
A Tempo! A Tempo!
Joyful Noise (2009)
For a band whose hyperbolic press sheet claims they've played 75,854 shows in their eleven year history (that's only 18.88 per day by my count) you'd think I would have seen them a few times already, perhaps in my living room or local bowling alley. I have no idea how many of those shows have brought the Austrian band to … Read more
Vampire Weekend
Modern Vampires Of The City
XL Recordings (2013)
When the hoax artwork claiming the group’s next album was to be “Lemon Sounds” appeared, it is perhaps unsurprising that so many people were convinced it was real. For the band’s detractors it was confirmation that Vampire Weekend were content to rest on their laurels and produce a Contra II. For fans it meant approximately the same thing; they were just … Read more
Van Dammes
Finally There EP
Rockstar Records (2021)
Finlands Van Dammes release their fifth EP with Finally There. This time it is kind of special. This EP celebrates the first time Finlands football team can join the European Championship. Congratulations with that achievement, Finland!I really do hope your team will fare better than Van Dammes on this EP. The three garage punk tracks lack ideas and hooks. I do enjoy simple … Read more
Van Dammes
The VD EP
Keep Fishin Music (2014)
Though the band is not doing anything that the typical punk rock fan wouldn’t have heard dozens of times before, there’s definite energy and excitement in the four rowdy songs featured on Finnish group Van Dammes’ debut EP. Opening track “(Let’s) Go” kicks the album into high gear immediately, with the sort of singalong punk one would expect from The Ramones, … Read more
Van Halen
A Different Kind Of Truth
Interscope (2012)
Let’s get right to it. I think we can all agree that lead-off single “Tattoo” is a shitty song. And any album that has the opening lyrics of I've got Elvis on my elbow would have any sane, reasonable consumer checking online for iTunes refund policies.* But this is David Lee Roth we're talking about. The man can get away … Read more
Van Johnson
Holiday Tour EP
Independent (2004)
The first time I heard of Van Johnson, I assumed it was a porn star. Immediately when I got home from seeing Off Minor and overhearing a conversation about them, I fired up my computer. It was pornography time for me! (this is also known as "Zed Time") I whipped it out and soon after realized that disappointment was in … Read more
Vancouver / Zatokrev
Split
Get a Life! (2008)
Get a Life! Records brought together two bands on its roster to release a split recording. The twenty minute split features two tracks from each of the bands who have previously released material - Zatokrev with two full -engths; Vancouver with a split and a full length - on Get A Life! This independent label has also released material from … Read more
Vandoliers
Forever
Bloodshot (2019)
There’s a lot to like on Forever, the third album from Vandoliers. They play a hybrid country-punk that’s a bit too upbeat for No Depression and too gritty for traditional country, while pulling influence from a number of Texas musical styles along the way. It’s a six-piece group, complete with guitar, drum, and bass, but also fiddle, brass, and more. Throughout Forever, … Read more
Vanessa Van Basten
Vanessa Van Basten (Reissue)
KNVBI (2008)
Fortunately for all, Vanessa Van Basten is not the name of the latest female pop diva. Instead, they are a two-piece instrumental duo from Italy that draws heavily from the worlds of post-rock, metal, and shoegaze. This recording is the band's debut EP reissued on a stunning two-tone colored 12" LP. The album was previously only available as CD-R in … Read more
Vånna Inget
Utopi
Gaphals Records (2019)
Vånna Inget is a band I almost forgot about. That’s what six year of absence can do. Things have not been completely quiet during those years to be honest. There has been a single and a live-album, but those releases flew under my radar. Seeing the bands name pop-up in the promo-bin re-ignited something for me. I really liked the … Read more
Various Artists
...And Out Come The Lawsuits
Lavasocks Records, Sell The Heart Records (2021)
Rancid’s 1990s catalog is a unique beast. It’s Clash-influenced street punk. On paper it sounds highly derivative, but its heart always shined through making it stand out in a hard to quantify way. Tim Armstrong’s songwriting is the foundation, but it’s his one-of-a-kind drawl paired with Lars Frederiksen’s vocal tradeoffs that makes it shine. It’s also why I was leery of … Read more
Various Artists
A Death Cinematic / Sons Of Alpha Centaurii - Split
Simple Box Construction (2010)
A good split record now and then is a great concept by two collaborating outfits, and even though people might be more familiar with one of the artists or groups more so than the other, such records could (and often does) introduce people to new artists and sounds that hitherto had gone unnoticed; in the case of this split album, … Read more
Various Artists
A.N.S. & Ramming Speed - Split
Tankcrimes (2011)
This is like a new school thrash of the titans album. Both bands have made their names being basically thrash metal bands each with their own slight twist. So you know the basics of what you're getting yourself in for. Heavy drums screaming solos and nasty beer soaked vocals. Both bands bring their best to the table and see what … Read more
