I don't even remember how I got this release from The BCG's. I think it was sent to me by someone I know, but I don't remember who. Nevertheless, I remembered why I liked it, because the first song on this EP called Angel Lust from The BCG's, a song called Sid & Nancy Boi, kicks off with a melodic, very familiar sounding drum riff, and that's because the tone and riff is exactly like the drum tone and riff on Joy Division's She's Lost Control. Matter of fact, the whole EP sounds like a Joy Division inspired piece of Art, and that's not a bad thing when it's done with utter idiot savant like devotion like L.A.'s The BCG's do it with. I like it. :-)

Branding themselves as some sort of dirgish death disco type of band, the BCG's have enough pop sensibilities mixed in with their suicidal thoughts and murders outlook on the futility of Life to make things interesting. Very interesting. Joel on vocals shines throughout these 5 songs as he yells and sneers and speaks disdainfully down on everything and anything, and sounds like a terrifying demented madman while he does it. Very effective stuff and the icing on the cake. The music is likeable, hypnotic, pretty, intriguing, slow, never getting above a slight head nod speed, but it's interesting, fresh, and most of all, catchy. Check out the standout tracks Permanent Uncle and Mutilated Cutters to see what I'm blabbering on about. There's some memorable stuff to be found on here, you just gotta avoid the bombs to find the real bombs, if that makes any sense. The keyboards and guitar work on here are melodic, mischievous, and daring. Very atmospheric. All the vocal histrionics and guitar keyboard magic is piled upon a really tight and catchy bass and drum pair that just put it out there musically for everyone else to either dance to or do drugs to. These songs work in either situation. Yeah, The BCG's have something interesting going on here, and considering this is their 2rd release this year, I'm looking forward to seeing where they take this musically. It'll either make them rich or get them killed from trying. I think the band might be OK with either/or and maybe both. Check these guys out. I think you'll dig them. :-)

Available from Records Ad Nauseam by clicking here. "Like" The BCG's on Facebook by clicking here.

Oh CJ Ramone... you gotta love him. I know I do. <3

You'll never meet a nicer, non-jaded Punk Rock Legend than he. The guy who gave the Ramones a much needed burst of Life and youthful Energy towards the end of their musical career, the guy who sang the best songs off of the Acid Eaters, Mondo Bizarro and Adios Amigos albums, yeah him, well this guy has a new release out, his first for Fat Wreck Chords, and after a few repeated spinnings of this disc I can't find one redeemable song on here! I really tried! LOL Sober, high, drunk, wasted, nothing grabbed me. Everything sounds slow and boring to me, mild paced mid-era Ramones-lite music crammed full of clichéd and very hammy Rock And Roll type lyrics that border on right wing propaganda, but that's his right to sing songs about how awesome owning an AK-47 is, how joining the Military is the only way to be a real man, and how our current President sucks, which, again, I wouldn't mind if it was being shouted out over some 80's thrash Punk noise shit, but over some sugary sweet Pop Punk tunes, it just doesn't work for me. Hell, I love D.R.I. too, but not when they play slow and melodic, and I think that's the problem with this CD. I think I expected a lot more rocking, Punk Rock album from this former Ramone, especially considering he's basically being backed up by the current line up of the Adolescents, fer Christ's sake!

Yeah, I really wanted to like this album. I really really did, but I'm just not that good of a bullshitter. Maybe if there were more songs on here musically like Clusterfuck, I might of dug this album more. As it is, I'm just filing it away under the  'Better luck next time' case. Oh well. Next! 

Available from Fat Wreck Chords by clicking here. White vinyl with black splatter still available, so hurry quick. It's also available via Amazon, iTunes, etc. etc. etc. "Like" CJ Ramone on Facebook by clicking here.