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Dennis Pernu
Circle Jerks
Wild In The Streets 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Early L.A. punk was a many-headed monster, birthing everything from the glammy Runaways to the more prototypical Germs, as well as rootsy outfits like X and the Blasters. Even the Go-Go’s broke in at Hollywood punk clubs. Along with Black Flag, the Circle Jerks were at the vanguard of Los Angeles’ hardcore subgenre, and now…
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Dennis Pernu
Donner DST-400
Seeing Green
If the pandemic had a silver lining beyond more time at home with our toys, it was the growth of our hobby, witnessed by the spike in gear sales and learn-to-play apps. But, in weird times, newbs can be reluctant to peel open their wallets. Donner’s DST-400 might be one answer to a burgeoning market…
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Dennis Pernu
Low Rats
Year Of The Rat MMXX
From the Trashmen to the Replacements, Minneapolis has an improbable legacy of untethered garage-rock and punk. Add Low Rats to that lineage. On their debut LP, the quartet distills seedy psychobilly, Heartbreakers hooks, and rumbling surf – and that’s just on the opener, “Ex Crisis.” Elsewhere, “She’s My Witch” is a nugget hinting at Roky…
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Dennis Pernu
Urge Overkill
Oui
Though Urge Overkill’s Saturation was one of the great major-label debuts of the ’90s, just as much ink was spilled on the group’s rock and roll lifestyle, matching velour jackets, and cover of Neil Diamond’s “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon.” With Oui, Nash Kato and King Roeser – UO’s co-frontmen and sole constants since…
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Dennis Pernu
Ronnie Lane
Anymore for Anymore
In 1974, Faces bassist Lane left the rat race of arena rock for the Welsh countryside and recorded his magnum opus. Remastered at Abbey Road and now reissued on vinyl with download codes, in what would’ve been Lane’s 75th year, Anymore for Anymore reveals Lane the polymath, turning in 11 masterful plays on country, R&B,…
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Dennis Pernu
Fender Micro Mustang
Fender’s Micro Mustang is a pocket-sized contraption offering 12 amplifier models including classic Fender, “British,” and “American,” along with 12 time-based effects. It uses color-coded LEDs instead of an LCD screen, so there’s a bit of learning involved, but it’s useful for laying down practice riffs and song ideas, and can interface with digital recording…
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Dennis Pernu
Billy F Gibbons
Hardware
The ZZ Top guitarist once again stretches his Texas legs on this, his third solo LP. While most of Hardware’s predecessors – Perfectamundo and Big Bad Blues – were comprised of covers, this time, Gibbons and his main collaborators, drummer Matt Sorum and guitarist Austin Hanks, dish 11 originals and one cover (Augie Meyers’ “Hey…
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Dennis Pernu
Fender Joe Strummer Campfire
Punk Burner
Punk legend Joe Strummer might not be the first name that comes to mind when the subject turns to “acoustic guitars.” But in fact, all-night hootenannies hosted by the former Clash frontman at the Glastonbury Festival became the stuff of myth. Thus, the inspiration for this small-body acoustic/electric. The Campfire’s outward appearances certainly befit punk’s…
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Dennis Pernu
Buzzcocks
Late For The Train: Live & In Session (1989-2010)
On the punk-rock timeline, some bands haven’t quite received their just acknowledgment. Two Australian bands, The Saints and Radio Birdman, come to mind, as do groups like Flamin’ Groovies and Dr. Feelgood, which though more R&B-oriented, nevertheless influenced punk contemporaries with their presence and energy. Throw U.K.’s Buzzcocks into the mix of bands that have…
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Dennis Pernu
Wilco- A.M. Deluxe Edition/ Being There Deluxe Edition
Wilco’s been around for more than a quarter-century, and this new pair of expanded releases goes all the way back to document the Jeff Tweedy-led outfit as they established their footing and then began expanding their sonic M.O. A.M. tacks eight previously unreleased tracks to the studio LP, including takes on the Bobby Patterson soul…
