The Thing That Ate Larry Livermore

So you may remember JS-NYC and special guest star Eric posting up at the (one of the) release show(s) for this 2012 compliant version of The Thing That Ate Floyd comp that Larry released 11 records into the Lookout Records run. While that comp repped mostly for the Bay Area Gilman set, the new version reflects LL's post-Lookout Brooklyn existence and the bands therearound.

The Thing That Ate Larry Livermore culls 16 new tracks from the arguable best of the pop-punk crew of today and comes courtesy of Green Day adjunct label Adeline. Some known JS-NYC favorites like The Dopamines and Dear Landlord make appearances,  as do some new favorites like City Mouse and Mean Jeans. On the hater tip, I'm pleased to find that Emily's Army are decent enough, albeit pretty unremarkable, despite their comparatively young ages. Certainly better than any of the recent Green Day output. If you like any of the bands here, you are not going to find a bad track, so step lively to the Adeline web presence here and get yourself a virtual or actual copy.

R

Dopamines - Vices

Straight-edge warriors everywhere are no doubt rejoicing far and wide that everyones favorite drunken weasels have knocked together a new Dopamines record for their combined disdain and displeasure. Again coming courtesy of It's Alive, Vices serves your earholes up ten songs in just a bit over twenty minutes, resulting in probably the best Dopamines record yet. Figures, as there are ominous rumblings about the band not touring on the regular after the set of dates they are undertaking behind this new release. Think Green Day, if they were from Ohio and hadn't lost all self-respect (or at least hadn't put out a fucking musical) and you've got a good place to start.

Returning Dopamines fans can rest assured that The Two Punk Jons are in damn fine form on Vices, even taking the time to stretch the new songs closer to the three minute mark than they ever have before.  The odd fake ending and subsequent reprise on Don't Mosh The Organ aside, the Vices songs sport girth as well as length. And its not just padding, so get ready for hook after hook of canned beer fueled, basement friendly punk rock. Vocals are a little more layered than usual, bringing things more towards The Copyrights/Dear Landlord end of things than ever before, but you can still put safe money on things getting drunk and shambolic live. Maybe we can blame their tour guitarist on that, but don't hold Mikey Erg against them. Hie your ass hither to get yourself a virtual or actual copy of Vices, aka your soundtrack to an awesome Summer.

R