One sentence album reviews (#10)

Electric Wizard - Black Masses (2010): Imagine Black Sabbath smoking a hell of a lot more pot. 4/5

Eternal Summers - Silver (2010): dreamy, jangly lo-fi. Honestly thought it sounded like it was from 10 years ago. 3/5

Forever The Fallen - Narrations (2010): Why do I keep listening to post-hardcore?! I hate 95% of it. At least this one has no electronica 1/5

Midi & the Modern Dance - Make it Easy on Yourself (2010): quiet jangly guitar indie, with a hint of 90s emo influence 3.5/5

Magic Man - Real Life Color (2010): quiet synth-pop indie. Very cheerful. 4/5

Former Ghosts - New Love (2010): Imagine Joy Division doing moody electronica. This is that. 3.5/5

Grids - Kansas (2010): A brutal noise-rock assault by a band that sounds like they listen to a lot of Cursed. 4/5

Hellogoodbye - Would it Kill You (2010): The last time I listened to these guys they were bad electo-pop-punk; now 60's inspired pop. 3.5/5

Ill Niño - Dead World (2010): Old nu-metal band embraces the regular metal sound; highlight: Smashing Pumpkins metal cover 2.5/5

Jim Bryson & The Weakerthans - The Falcon Lake Incident (2010): My new favourite folk-rock supergroup (sorry Travelling Wilburys) 4/5

John Steel Singers - Tangalooma (2010): Excellent local pop, that channels big band music through their use of horns 4/5

Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager (2010): Can someone tell me why there is not more beautifully crafted hip-hop like this? 4.5/5

Killing the Dream - Lucky Me (2010): Very fast hardcore punk with gravelly vocals, like Comeback Kid where the vocalist has a cigarette habit 3.5/5

The Aquabats - Hi-Five Soup! (2011): It's fun, but after time every song is starting to sound the same and the novelty is becoming thin 3/5

Casey Jones - I Hope We're Not the Last (2011): Excellent hardcore album. But really, listen to it for the intro to the song Butt-Hash. 4/5

The Get Up Kids - There Are Rules (2011): It's much heavier than their classic emo sound and may alienate old diehard fans, but not me 4.5/5

Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will (2011): I wish every post-rock album was like this, not just droning & dreary guitars. 4.5/5

The United Sons of Toil - Until Lions Have Their Historians, Tales Of The Hunt Shall Always Glorify The Hunter (2008): this is what happens when 90s-midwest-emo-loving kids grow up, get angry and discover feedback and distortion. 4/5

Lack - Saturate Every Atom (2008): My review of this indie-punk-hardcore band is moot as the first lyric is "behead all the screamo kids" 4/5

Reel Big Fish/The Aquabats

It's not often we get a ska show coming through town, so when we do, I have to cherish it. I get out all my chequered clothing and get my skank on. Even if, like this tour, it's Reel Big Fish coming out to flog the dead horse that is their back catalogue.

Don't get me wrong, everyone probably knows of the ska that is Reel Big Fish. And they have some great songs, generally about drinking and girlfriends. They are a great party band with a tight live show, and it's great to go see with a few drinks for a good time. They've just put out no new material in the last 4 years, instead releasing live albums and what seems to be the same songs recorded over and over again.

But the reason I'll probably go to this show, is the Aquabats:

A ska/pop-punk band comprising of superheroes who are trying to save the world from lame music (and bad fashion, if you watch the video above)! I missed them at Soundwave this year to go see A Wilhelm Scream, so I am looking forward to finally catching their live show.

The biggest ska show of 2010 is happening December 2nd at the Tivoli. 18+. It's an excellent dance floor there, so bring your best skanking shoes and baggy trousers.