Premier Rock Forum

horsewhip wrote:From Impact Press: Not only did this reviewer mangle up the band's name, the album title, and my last name, but he also makes it clear that he didn't even make it past the first song. And we're a "metal" band? WTF.

USS Horsewhip Wants You Dead • self titled • New Regard Media • Now this band has an interesting name, but that's about it. Horsewhip churns out rehashed punk/metal. Lead vocalist James Burn seems to believe that if he screams loud and long enough that some kind of point will be made. The only point he's making is that he screams really loud. Punk/metal can contain melody, but this band seems determined to center itself on a slash and burn sound over any sense of melodic content. (DE)

glueman wrote:
what is a shellsuit?

glueman wrote:Oh, also I guess we call them "tracksuits" here....

IPL wrote:
We also got panned in some Columbus, Ohio weekly....joke's on them...they live in Columbus.

Ben Daure wrote:Outside was the tour manager, THANK GOD. After achieving to arrange an interview with White Rose Movement I head inside to check out Dead Disco.

First thing that strikes me is... it's a girl band. The ultimate hell when it comes to support bands. Now usually I would leave the room straight away after having a dry throated female roaring through the PA system, but to my relief (and I'm sure the relief of others) no screaming (insert happiness here). Dead Disco were a punky quartet that played what is to be perceived as the average support band's music. Nothing that you could honestly say was impressive, and you could tell this by how the crowd stayed well back from the speakers.

The lead singer tried to hit the high notes on several of her songs, but to be honest we all know that the majority of girls can do that and it all sounds the same, it's only impressive if you're a guy as it's quite rare that they can actually hit those kind of notes. All in all Dead Disco were nothing that special but not that bad either.

Ben Daure wrote:Next up we have "Chasey Laine" with the words "sing along FUCKERS" in the background. It sure worked too; the audience was singing so much louder than the band you could hardly hear Jimmy at all. When it got to the "show 'em them titties" part of the song can anyone guess what happened, you have a choice between:

1) We all had tea and crumpets
2) Jimmy sat down and had a tube of smarties
3) Girls got their boobs out

For the idiots of the world it was number 3 (DURRRR). After the song Jimmy told everyone to stop and look at the girl on some guys shoulders. "Show us again. Come on". Now the whole room is looking at this one girl she lifts her top up to reveal... the 8th wonder of the world. Jimmy declares they are the nicest pair he has ever seen. As for Jared, he is so impressed with how we all reacted to them he gets a tube and a funnel and tells us all how he is going to neck some drinks in our honor. "I don't want beer I want something manlier, what have we got. OHHHH Yes" as he pulls out a bottle of Jägermeister and chugs down half of a 70cl bottle. Well done - that's strong stuff.

Consisting of members Austin Stephens (drums), Brian Hagmann (vocals, guitar), Alex Stephens (guitar, screaming), The Purple Cow Story do not have a bass player. Instead, two screaming guitars along with incredible drumming, and vocal tradeoffs make up for it handily. Their self-titled debut release was recorded supposedly at the behest of their fans over a one-year period in bathrooms, rental spaces, living rooms, and the occasional legitimate studio in and around Norman, OK. Consisting of 10 songs TPCS show their influences on this record. Bands like Big Black, Fugazi, The Minuteman, and Sonic Youth are in your forethought. The Purple Cow Story doesn’t copy sounds; they are not trying to return to an era. They sound like they are picking up where the best that American post-punk had to offer. The mixture of post-punk, alternative, and pop make for a great contemporary album and a memorable listening experience.

This band is pretty much top notch. The vocals are divided amongst Brian and Alex; their voices can vary from feminine, to Ian MacKaye, to even Brit pop punk, to D. Boone. The guitars are excellent and full, hard and driving. Both guitars are readily apparent and their roles intertwine well. The drums are the glue, with no bass; the drum’s kick is all that more apparent.

The album starts strong with “A Function of Living,” which features reverse tracked guitar loops, reminiscent of The Frames. Then abruptly the song turns punk with strong hints of Mission of Burma. It is a great hard driving opene. “Full Blown Flu” is a bombastic rocker, complete with machine gun snare and driving guitars. “No More Bleachy Tea” is a bit more poppy but a damn good song. “Folie a Deux” is similar to Naked Raygun or Fugazi. This is a great song, and a definitely highlight on the album. “Drain” starts with a stripped down unclean guitar riff, the song then takes on a Cult-ish guitar tone, along with psychedelic tones reminiscent of The Brian Jonestown Massacre off of their Spacegirl and Other Favorites album. The album ends with another highlight, “Parched Lips,” which starts off sounding like My Bloody Valentine. The vocals are haunting, the melody is sweet, and the drums again stand out all making for another really well written and performed tune.

The Purple Cow Story should easily garnish more fans as well as record label attention with this strong debut. The band plays and soars together like a well made jet fighter. The guitar licks are all poignant and striking, the drums are fantastic, making the lack of a bass an afterthought. The intricacy in their writing and orchestration as well as their creativity make this band stand out on their own. The modern sounds of TPCS should appeal to anyone who “gets” what the aforementioned bands were all about; consequently you should definitely go and get this.

THE PURPLE COW STORY – The Purple Cow Story (PCS) – What’s the story? Who is the purple cow? Who knows? Yeah yeah, I know it’s my job to tell you, it’s not a very dirty job and it is a pleasure to do it and yes I know someone has to so it may as well be us. The never ending challenge of pinning bands down with no more than words, am I stalling here? Looking for an opening line? You see, I like this strangely named story, they’re not really doing anything radically different, they do have a certain compelling style though. The Purple Cow Story are not easy to pin down – good, we like bands we can’t pin down. Some facts then: The PCS are from, well where are they from? I’m not even sure about that, there’s three of them, they don’t have a bass player, they talk of “high-end bass-less noise-rock”. There’s an intense passion here and things that taste of Sonic Youth and Big Black - ah, they’re from Oklahoma and this clearly is a self released labour of love (and yes, no bass player and not much low-end). Fast, scuzzy, creative, urgent, a vibrant alternative new wave bite and a band who for once don’t want to be the Gang of Four. Seems they play every single night of their lives and people were demanding a recording, seems they’ve taken a little time to deliver the goods, seems they’ve been doing it all themselves – you wouldn’t know it, certainly doesn’t sound low budget, sounds just right, Albini would be proud of ‘em. He’d like the attitude, the raw (yet very clear and professional) sound, and the bits that kind of taste like the Cure and the naked fist fights in redneck bars and, ah well he’d just like it. Proper stuff, like Big Back or Jesus Lizard or Sonic Youth and with that much needed bit of identity that’s all the Purple Cow’s own – fine fine earfood, well worth your time and effort.