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Screw the mainstream if you really want to get your rocks off you have to go to the underground. That's just what we plan to do with this series, take some of the best emerging bands that are out blowing away hardcore fans on the underground music scene.

Punk Spotlight Special

We have not one but three reviews for you from the underground! Check out this explosive new punk releases!

• The Reunion Show
• River City Rebels
• Common Rider

The Reunion Show � Kill Your Television
Label: Victory Records
Rating:
by antiGUY

The Reunion Show have hit upon a winning formula with their full length debut "Kill Your Television." That formula is an effective mix of 80's new wave and modern alt-pop. A sound that borders on what some call punk-pop, but before go screaming off proclaiming, "I hate punk-pop!", read on because you won't mistake The Reunion Show for the likes of Sum 41!

Think Weezer meets Elvis Costello meets "London Calling" era Clash meets The Romantics meets The Cars meets Jimmy Eat World. So it's classic new wave mixed with present day alt-pop, all done in prime fashion. You don't get the lame nasal tinged vocals or weak guitars of the mainstream punk-pop bands, instead you get a great collections of songs that aren't afraid to breakout of a restraining formula and actually rock and deliver unforgettable melodies that follows more in the pattern of Weezer than Green Day but still has more of a punk edge. The vocals are more in the true tradition of punk and new wave on most songs and then fall into Weezer territory on others. The music itself has a mix of punk, new wave keyboards and modern alt-pop riffing. In other words, it's a grab bag of sound that could have easily missed it's mark but fortunately for The Reunion Show and fans it hit on all cylinders.

Mixings different styles of music together to come up with a unique sound is a difficult task, even for the most accomplished musicians, but The Reunion Show make it seem so effortless. This is a great disc from beginning to end that should have a wide appeal. This is definitely a band to check out and keep an eye on!

River City Rebels - No Good, No Time, No Pride
Label: Victory
Rating:
by Greenmuse

When most people think American punk rock, the states of New York and California usually spring to mind. They don't think of the poor lonely state of Vermont, but that's where these guys hail from. Maybe it's the weather that pissed them off, because they sure deliver shovel loads of anger and nihilistic energy!

The best way I can describe the sound of the CD is "London Calling" era Clash meets the Dropkick Murphys. The River City Rebels's songs are fast and powerful song with real catchy sing-along choruses with a slight skaish undertone from the sax and trombone players in the band. The horns aren't prominent enough to make them a proper ska/punk band but do add a nice background for the guitars and drums. The vocals by Dan O'day are excellent and are delivered from the heart. His vocal style kind of reminds me of Roger Miret from Agnostic Front, but minus the deep growling delivery that Miret gives, not that this is a bad thing.

The River City Rebels are gritty, honest and very listenable. This CD could very well live out its life as the soundtrack to many a drunken sing a long. The River City Rebels are a definite asset to modern punk music.

Now that I've used plenty if catch phrases here to describe this disc, I expect Rolling Stone to knock at my door any day now for copyright infringement of some sort or begging me to write for them (God knows they need to do some decent punk coverage �ed), but if I were writing this for Rolling Stone I might have to include that this CD is 2002's roller-coaster thrill ride of punk music, check it out! There we go, that's more of Rolling Stone style� All kidding aside, the album is great.

Common Rider - This Is Unity Music
Label: Hopeless Records
Rating:
by Greenmuse

Common Rider's sophomore release is honestly one of the best things I've heard in quite some time. This album seems to have a bit more of a "punk" sound than their previous release "Last Wave Rockers", but it still retains the ska roots and the message of unity that has made Jesse Michaels(vocals and guitar) the legend he is today.

The lyrics are fairly straight forward, but at the same time are written in a nifty metaphor laden style. With song titles such as "Blackbirds Vs Crows" and "Long After Lights Out one can easily grasp what Michaels is talking about, yet the songs also work on a whole other plain of existence. Perhaps best of all, the album never comes off as "preachy" despite it's social commentary backbone. Plus the songs are all very catchy. Catchy isn't a bad word in this case, if your familiar with Jesse's work then you know his brand of catchiness and to use Martha Stewart's phrase "its a very good thing". This album lacks nothing; I know that's a bold statement to make, but it's true!

Now we have the requisite Common Rider/Op Ivy comparison, it must be a law you cannot mention Common Rider without bringing up Op Ivy in the same sitting. So here it is for this review: It can't be done, they are two different bands, from two different era's, sharing only a frontman and some of the same influences. I can only hope Common Rider doesn't go the way of Operation Ivy because I cant wait to see what Jesse and company have in store for the future.

Its hard to really write anything other than "its good, its good" like some kinda drunken football announcer, but it really is that damn good. Fans from a wide spectrum of interests would more than likely find something to like about this album. Needless to say, I think I've found my pick for album of the year, unless The Clash reform and release an album of the caliber of "London Calling" then there might be some competition.