The Dirtbombs - We Have You Surrounded - Album Review

Rob Clarke

The Dirtbombs are an interesting odd and mismatched bunch of talented individuals who give you there take on alternative punk-pop, which works very well.

We Have You Surrounded is there fifth album and they've been going since the mid-'90's, so their international emergence is hard fought and hopefully hard won! 

They've even had one of their songs called, Chains of Love from there 2001 album released Ultraglide in Black, in the 2007 independent film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly from the book of the same name.

Anyway, getting back on track this band's anthem Ever Lovin' Man gives you a retro punk-pop beat that you can't dismiss and not love!

The other song is Wreck My Flow, which is another clever and different sounding song. 

In fact, the whole album sounds different, which is good for unpredictability that is rare in modern music.

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Barbara Manning - Chico Daze - Album Review

Barbara Manning is a legend, and is often referred to as the Godmother of the good old fashion DIY scene.

Though Barbara Manning doesn't live a Rock 'n' Roll lifestyle these days, she was around in the late 1980s, which was a defining moment for punk, rock and the mixture of the two created Grunge!

Barbara Manning latest album Chico Daze is a solo effort of a collection of songs recorded between 2004 - 2009; as she had a backing band on past recordings called The Go Lucky's.

What to expect from Chico Daze is a combination of grunge-rock-punk of different volume levels, and a sweetness to her voice that doesn't scream or try to do anything other than convey the message of her songs.

The highlights of Chico Daze is the punk-rock driven two minute and a few seconds song I'm Running, though there are longer driven-rock tracks Island and Sweet Oblivion. Moments of Americana are displayed in How Did You Know and Better by Sounds. Getting slightly experimental on Ladies of the Sea and Wishes Don't Tie You Down featuring great guitar wah-wah licks, and the cheeky Slot Machine song that describes making-out! 

1. Don't Hold Back
2. Reverse Disguise
3. I'm Running
4. How Did You Know
5. Ladies of the Sea
6. Better by Sounds
7. Why, Why Won't You Love Me Back?
8. Slot Machine
9. Island
10. Sweet Oblivion
11. Tape You To A Star
12. Wishes Don't Tie You Down

Chico Daze is available through Bandcamp.