Animal Train - Zebra Crossing - Released 2012 on BHJ Records

Animal Train - Zebra Crossing
cover art by: Kez Bizzare

I recently reviewed a 7” record from Animal Train titled Steel Rail Rider. Apparently the kids in AT were so happy and impressed by my lackluster style of review that they invited me to review their latest album released on BHJ Records titled Zebra Crossing. 

This full length contains 12 tracks; a couple of which (N.R.A, and Drunk, Punk & Pissed Off) can be found on PoDunk radios first free compilation digi-release (as well as the Steel Rail Rider 7”) and are both quality fucking tunes. 

Missed Adventures and Off the Tracks were both on the Steel Rail Rider 7” as well and as previously reported these two songs are great listening. 

The remainder of the tracks on this CD are right on par with the aforementioned tracks. AT has a way of throwing a bit of dirt and grit onto a pop-punk sound and coming up with something that’s well, just plain raw, punk rock goodness. 

CJ covers the vocals on this one, Rich does his guitar thing (he makes it seem easy) while Jeremy bangs out the drums and offers up backing vocals, and Chris keeps the steady bassline bumping along while throwing out the occasional backing vocal as well.

I’m beginning to think that AT isn’t capable of putting out a bad release and the guys at Spitshine Studios did a great production job on this one. 

Thanks for another great album Animal Train. I look forward to many, many more.

Track Listing:

1. Mad Dash
2. E.P.G.
3. Pharmaphobia
4. N.R.A.
5. Off The Track
6. Board On Wheels
7. Global Market
8. Can’t Take That Away
9. Summertime
10. Drunk Punk & Pissed Off
11. Missed Adventures
12. Evil Behind The Wheel

Pick this one up for just $10 bucks here
Find out more about Animal Train at their new website



ji*
podunkradio.com

Album Review - Kramer - Here We Go

Self Released September 1, 2012 There’s these 3 kids out of the Tacoma/Olympia WA area named Brandon, Travis, and Spencer in a band called Kramer. They recently sent me a sweet little nugget of vinyl titled Here We Go; a 6 track E.P.

Kramer - Here We Go E.P. Cover art

Here We Go is the second release for this band; it is a follow up to their full length self-titled album that was released in 2011. Being familiar with the bands music and raw rock and roll sound I was happy as a pig in shit when I got this new E.P. in the mail.

From the get-go the title track of this record starts with big sound and only gets bigger and more dynamic as it plays along. Despite the bands disdain for being labeled, it is clear that these kids are a formidable garage-punk band. You just can’t have out of this world reverb and custom crafted vocals like these kids do without recognizing the influence behind it.
I LOVE this record! It’s just not something that you can sit still while listening to it; it implores you to get up and move. The guitars jangle appropriately, the cymbals crash just when you need them to, and Travis has that bass guitar smoking fucking hot!  

If you’re like me as soon as the closing track of the record, a surf inspired instrumental piece, is over you’ll be flipping this record over to have another go at it.

Overall opinion of this record is that it is damn fine piece of rock and roll with each song complementing the others. Everything just fits on this one. Nothing sounds out of place, It’s just a damn good, fun record to have.

I have just one problem with this record. It just isn’t long enough! I can’t wait until the next full length comes out!

You can pick this E.P. up for free (as well as their full length) over at bandcamp but I  tell ya, this is something you will WANT to pay for! Do yourself a huge favor and order a copy on vinyl! At just 5 bucks you can’t go wrong and they throw in the digital download along with the price of the vinyl - it’s shit like this that makes for a real stand up kinda act!
Give these guys a like on their facebook page and tell them that PoDunk Radio sent ya!

Kramer, Live

ji*
PoDunk Radio

Getting Caught Up

It happens around here more often than it should, we get behind on things. We get WAY behind on things. Well, today we are working hard to get caught up. New songs are being added to the Auto DJ, little things about the look and feel of the station are changing. We are in the planning phases of our next comp. which will be released in February. We just put our last comp. up on Bandcamp. Some albums have been reviewed in the last couple weeks. We really dig the response and feedback you kids toss at us and always your comments to our blogposts and suggestions are always welcome. Got something to say that you don't want to air out in public? shoot me an email.

ji*