Pirates Press US Vinilo y CD

Review: The Aggrolites formed in 2002 and brought together two different Los Angeles reggae and ska bands in the Vessels and The Rhythm Doctors. They started as a backing outfit for Derrick Morgan but soon went on to do their own thing, uncoiling this debut album from 2003. It was laid down in just one day, with each track being done in one take and lyrics being dreamt up on the spot. The results are compelling and take in high speed riddims, swaggering dubs and even a cover of a nursery rhyme.

Review: Originally known as The Cretins before altering their moniker to DeeCracks in 2007, the Austrian-born Vienna-based pop-punk bruisers have become legends of the underground over their past two decades of tenure, which is precisely what 20 Years: A Frantic Effort commemorates, celebrates and self-critiques. Spread out across 3x10" green marbled vinyl LPs, this retrospective compendium of the band's personal favourite cuts has been revitalised with studio magic to add additional finesse, riffs, keys and even vocal harmonies to bring the tracks up to the members' increasingly rising artistic standards, while two new cuts in the form of 'Burnt Out' and 'Where We Belong', top and tail the compilation.

Review: Recorded in the spring of 2001, 'Live & Loud', is a snapshot of Rancid guitarist Lars Frederiksen's side-project at their most energetic and unhinged. Not long after the release of their self-titled debut, the band would hit the road with a riotous bevvy of anthems detailing street life, drugs, alcohol, youthful debauchery and lustful, dumb love. Repressed on hot pink vinyl, and boasting all of the best cuts from their aforementioned debut full-length, including the dynamite renditions of Billy Bragg's, 'To Have & To Have Not', and, 'Leavin Here' by Eddie Holland; take a fly on the wall earful of turn of the century punks at the height of their promise and attitude.

Review: The Liquidators is a streetpunk band from Santa Cruz. Back in the nineties they roamed around the local scene and recorded some tunes that are well worth hearing. This 7" on Pirates Press features two compositions that sit right up there with the best you can expect from this genre. 'Long Time Again' is a lo-fi ska and reggae fusion that swaggers back and forth with 60s guitar riffs and a dusty sense of soul. It's beautiful. 'Soul Steppin' is a much more upbeat and dance floor focussed tune with punchy street soul and another great set of male and female vocals. This particular 45rpm comes with its own comic book to enjoy while you get lost in the music.

Review: Originally released in 2008, the B Sides & C Sides compilation would mark the first new release of any sort from California punk legends Rancid following their hiatus in 2004, whilst re-establishing momentum for the following year's true return to form Let The Dominoes Fall. Made up of a bevvy of B-sides spanning from 1992 to 2004, as well as previously unreleased cuts from studio recording sessions of 1998's Life Won't Wait, contributions to film soundtracks and compilations for labels such as Epitaph and Kill Rock Stars, this collection is a fanboy completionist's dream, with these slept on cuts finally arriving back on wax courtesy of the beautiful folks over at Pirates Press.

Review: New York City ska and reggae institution The Slackers have been doing their do for some 30 odd years now. Their latest release 'Kill You', though, shows no signs of staleness with plenty of fresh and futuristic perspectives. Recorded during the sessions for Don't Let the Sunlight Fool Ya, the A-side here is an epic at over seven minutes, while the B-side features a dub mix of 'Statehouse' from the band's Sunlight long player. It is a tune with a long and winding backstory that first saw it as an updated version of 'Wrongful Suspicion' which the band's frontman Vic Ruggiero co-wrote for Rancid back in the 90s.

Review: Originating in Manhattan in the early nineties, The Slackers have long retained their place as one of the quintessential ska-punk acts, fusing elements of rocksteady, reggae, dub, jazz and punk to incomparable effect. Respected and adored for their highly prolific nature, their 2008 eleventh full-length Self Medication came hot on the heels of the previous year's more faithfully rooted (no pun intended) The Boss Harmony Sessions LP, and re-instilled much of the garage-rocksteady dub-punk inflections that won over listeners more than a decade prior.

Review: Southern California, Iggy Pop approved, punk n' roll wonder, Suzi Moon, is set to follow up her two exceptional EPs, 'Call The Shots', and, 'Animal', with the much-hyped debut full-length, 'Dumb & In Luv.' Promising a combination of the punk anthemics of her initial release and the melodic-leaning tendencies of its successor, as well as drawing deep from the well of sun-tinted pop-punk that she grew up on, citing the likes of Social Distortion, Rancid, Green Day, and Weezer as intrinsic influences, it's safe to assume that this incoming big batch of Californian bangers will throw Miss Moon's name firmly into the circle of modern punk saviours. Stay tuned.

Review: Often referred to as "Ramones-core", "Weasel-core" and "leather jacket punk", Wyoming mainstays Teenage Bottlerocket have amassed a sincerely devout and faithful cult following thanks to their retro influences and effortless ability to re-purpose their old school influences for a modern audience. Following up their 2021 debut full-length Sick Sesh! with the snappy four-track 7" So Dumb feels like a brief moment of self-therapy and catharsis, with the lead title-track taking aim at people's ignorance and refusal to work together during the covid pandemic, while the B-side opener So Stoked balances these frustrations with the signs of community that were evident. Here the band asks for ten minutes of your time to look at both sides of the coin with a reliably urgent batch of bouncing, classic pop-punk.