Toys That Kill
Fambly 42
Recess (2012)
It may have been six years since Toys That Kill put out a full-length, but Fambly 42 sounds like it could have been released immediately after Shanked. The melodies are seamless and the precision between band members sounds like they haven’t missed a beat—maybe that’s because the band plays sporadic shows and the pieces of their line-up comprise a number of other San Pedro, CA bands that have released items on Recess Records in the meantime. Anyway, Fambly 42 is a rocker, and it totally lives up to the wait. “Mobbed by the 3’s” is a quick reminder of what sets Toys That Kill apart from their related projects: the upbeat energy and singalong nature of the songs and the subtle changes therein that alter the progression without hindering the flow. Halfway through most the songs, the listener can already sing along to the refrain, but the songs still avoid feeling repetitive or samey, as singer Todd Congelliere mixes up his versus just enough to throw a wrench into the predictable cycles while the guitars typically throw a changeup as well. Sean Cole steps to the mic periodically, as in “Waltz in a Million.” The new voice doesn’t alter the … Read more
She Said Destroy
Bleeding Fiction
Mas-Kina (2012)
Let's face it: a lot of the music we listen to is just plain ol' forgettable. Of course, every once … Read more
Drivin' N Cryin'
Songs From The Laundromat
New! (2012)
Drivin’ N Cryin’ formed in Atlanta back in 1985 have announced their plans to release four EPs over the next … Read more
Better Than A Thousand
Just One
Revelation (1997)
Seeing how I feel about Youth Of Today (i.e. I do not really care for them at all), it may … Read more
Youth Of Today
Break Down The Walls
Revelation (1988)
Please allow me to drop this little disclaimer here before we delve any further; I am not nor was ever … Read more
