Casanatra

The new Casanatra CD has begun to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It has been mastered and is in production now. I believe there is a release show date booked, but unannounced at this time. Smart idea since a band should never, ever announce a CD release until they have discs in their hands. Hear that.......DON'T ANNOUNCE YOUR CD RELEASE UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO RELEASE! The long-awaited recording was started over a year ago and has fans chomping at the bit to get their grubby little hands on it. I've heard some of the material during some recent live shows of Casantra's and I can assure you, there will be no disappointment. The band has grown over the years and it shows. There is even a song featuring Jer Fink on lead vocals. That will prompt some green-eyed jealousy among the scene when bands find out that Casanatra harbors two singers in the band better than their one.

The 11-song gem was recorded and engineered by Jeff Halland of Houston fame. Halland simply doesn't do anything short of awe-inspiring work. He and the members of Casanatra are good friends, so I can only deduce that he has treated this recording as his own. No doubt this release will be his business card for a long time to come.

Jeff is also reportedly doing some writing and recording of his own. His work with Houston changed the face of Minnesota rock and has been an inspiration to many. As of now, he's "getting some stuff together", but doesn't have any particular plans to perform it live. We'll just see about that, Mr. Halland. Once the angry mob of scenesters come looking for you with pitchforks and molotov coctails, I'm betting you'll be booking the first open date over at the Triple Rock.

Back Here Again

So I tried to start up the blogs in wordpress on my own site. Well, after trying for months to get everything down, I decided to flush it and come back here. I'm too cheap to buy hosting at godaddy and they refresh the screen every 10-15 seconds and each time it does, a banner of theirs adds onto the others. So, you end up seeing the top half of what you're typing unless you scroll down. Fuck that. I'm back and I'll get to business right away. I'll begin with some live show and CD reviews. If I hear of any music news, I'll post that too. In the interim, you can go check out Punko Daily. It's my daily newspaper filled with bullshit and brutal truths.

Down And Above - Hold Your Breath for a Rising Tide

Down and Above - Hold Your Breath for a Rising Tide


I had to go to myspace, and listen to the songs for this review. I didn't get a CD, but it's just as well. I think I got everything that I need to do this properly. So, here it goes.

The first thing I noticed is the production of the CD. It's nothing short of major label ready. Of course, I'm just listening to mp3's, but that doesn't matter. I can hear what is, and isn't at this level. It's really, really clean. I can't hear anything that seems out of line. You can hear everything, and it sounds like a professional recording all the way.

The vocals are basically perfect. Dave is a great singer, and totally professional. Never once leaving the hint of being out of key. Apparently, Dave was a sailor.......I don't know, he said it.(The Highwayman 1:29) The harmonies are dead on, and fill everything out nicely. The guitar work is completely workable. I mean, nothing stands out as some kick ass riff, but it generally supports the vocal melody as well as anything could. The bass is well done, and has some nice lines independent of the guitars. It's also good and punchy, and placed in the mix properly. The drums I'll just have to add the same type of praise. Good solid performance, and doesn't overplay.

Song structure is built completely for the masses. I could generally pick out what was coming next on the first listen. People seem to like that. Predictability often leads to sellability. They did rip out the DNA signature "progressive" riff section thirty seconds into "Molasses". I think this might just be the "ass-searing" rock they talk about in their bio. If I was an executive at a record label, I'd sign them in a second. It's a very pretty sound and with major backing, this could be the favorite of every 14 year-old wanna-be suburban rebel girl in the U.S. It's dainty with sprinkles of heavy rock which makes it safe, but could make the rubber spike wearing drones run to the mall to pick up the album because it's "rock". That is, if the kids buy music these days. Maybe I should say they "share" with that one kid that still buys shit.

Overall, I'd be very excited if I was a record executive. Everything is in place to put Down and Above on every "Z" station in the country. It could be played, and sold at every Hot Topic in every mall across the expanse of the U.S. The fact Dave says "I was a sailor" kills me. It's just so fucking funny. Anyway, I'm going to make this short because I listen to whatever I'm reviewing the whole time I review it, and I'm losing testosterone by the second here. So, I'd say good job on being mainstream. It's absolutely ready. For my personal taste, I'm just about ready to tear my ears off the side of my head. Maybe just go beat the shit out of my wall, or break something. I can't get into this kind of thing. I'm a dude past 30 now, and I look for some more interesting in my music. The performance, and song writing are top-notch for radio. I hope I never have to listen to it again. I heard nothing that would push along the art in rock. With that, I must go and put some A Second From The Surface in to counteract the soft, delicate "rock" I just had to endure.

Goodnight,
Punko

Eat it.

Okay, it's been a while. I have a fucking life. Am I going to start reviewing some shit? Yes, yes I am. Not like anyone is holding their breath, but yea, I'll put a review together for you.

Punko

Want To Be Reviewed By The Best?

If you want a real answer to why you are great, or why you suck, let me review your music.
I might tell you to quit playing, and save the world from the misery of your buttmusic. I might shame the whole world for not recognizing your talents. Maybe my review will just say that you're right where you should be.......in the suburbs playing for a room full of mullets.

IF you have the balls, email me a link where I can DOWNLOAD your music. I'm not going to sit in front of the computer, and listen to it. You can email me 3 of your songs directly also. I just want to be able to put it on my iPod, and listen to it. Don't email more than 3 songs. I'll get the idea of what you're like before then, and it won't fill up my box. There will be other people who want to get reviewed too.

EMAIL YOUR LINK OR YOUR THREE SONGS TO: senor.punko@gmail.com

Among the cretins........................

So, to join the millions of idiots who think their opinions actually matter, here I am. There will be reviews of bands CD's, and live shows. In addition there will be my personal rants, and reviews of random things.....Which will be my rants in the form of a review. I will be brutally honest. If you don't like it, then don't read it, Sally. If you disagree, then you're probably wrong. I won't steer you wrong. It's not my fault if you have bad taste.

PUNKO HATH SPOKEN~