Kicking Heroin (original art and stories) by Sam North Kickstarter

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Uncle Critic

I don’t normally post kickstarters and shit, at least not on the site but fuck it. Sam the guy that was behind Traffic Street Records kicked heroin and started doing art therapy, now he wants to do a book of his art and writings. He’s a good dude and this stuff rules, back it.

 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/5amnorth/shoot-cops-not-heroin-original-art-and-stories

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REVIEW: Rational Anthem: Bread Line

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Uncle Critic

Sarasota, Florida’s Rational Anthem is back with some new punk tunes for the world to enjoy, this time it’s a four song EP, their first non-split EP since their self titled a few years back. This is the follow-up to their split with Billy Raygun that came out last year, that split set the bar really fucking high, and was going to be a hard act to follow. I wasn’t sure if Rational Anthem could top what they did on that record, however I was wrong. I’m glad I bought this on CD and record (because I’m a giant Traffic Street Records nerd); because I was able to pop the CD in and listen to it on repeat driving in my car for two or three hours. With an EP that is just under ten minutes you’d think you would get tired of hearing it after that many times over and over, but nope, this doesn’t wear thin in the slightest. I’m not sure how many times I’ve listened to this thing at this point but it’s still just as incredible as it was the first time around. I have everything that this band has put out and they just keep getting better and better, the sound, the song writing, all of it is just some cream of the crop stuff. This very well may be the best EP you’ll hear this year. Rational Anthem makes me want to move to Florida in hopes that I’d be able to see them more than once a year. Out on one of my favorite labels ever, Traffic Street Records!

‘(The Weight of the World is) Shitting On My Shoulders’ This motherfucker will get stuck in my head for days on end, but it’ll be done without any complaint from me. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve listened to this song already. One of the best songs I’ve heard about how shitty life is.
‘Blackout Magic’ This song is almost my new favorite song by the band. There’s not anything I can say that would convey how great this one is, you just have to hear it for yourself. I fully expect them to play this every time I see the band from now on.
‘Idling’ Perfect middle song for this EP, but that doesn’t mean it’s a filler song this can stand on its own legs. The title sums up the song pretty well.
‘Customer Complaints’ The intro reminds me of a Pulley song, but that’s where the similarity ends, it quickly breaks into a Rational Anthem song, one that’s a fucking great bookend for this EP.

1. (The Weight of the World is) Shitting On My Shoulders
2. Blackout Magic
3. Idling
4. Customer Complaints

Get Bread Line from Amazon HERE

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REVIEW: The Transgressions/The Credentials Split

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Uncle Critic

Traffic Street Records has released another split, which means the punk world has something to get excited to listen to. This time it’s for great reason because it’s two of the label’s best bands on one record. First up is really in the top ranks of Traffic Street’s stable, the Transgressions with three songs of what they do, gritty slimy fun pop punk. After that we’ve got Credentials with two songs to follow up their great album that came out earlier this year. Five fucking songs that you’re straight up retarded if you don’t own. Both sides of this record are fucking killer, it’s really hard to say which one is better, but I think the Transgressions might slide in by a dirty hair. Although they do have the advantage of having an extra song. This split is easily one of the top five best things that the label has put out to date.

‘Baby, I Love You (But I Need Someone to Talk to About The Ramones)’ What’s a pop punk band without a song about the Ramones? The sing title is long as fuck, just saying it is about half the time of the song, but that’s ok because even being under a minutes it’s a great pop punk song.
‘Sleazeball’ I think this is my favorite song on the record, about being, well a sleazeball. Being a dirty motherfucker sounds pretty great in song form.
‘I Don’t Even Care Anymore’ A very close second for best song on the record. Fuck it, who cares? I’m just going to listen to this song instead of doing anything.
‘Mark Reznik Takes 30 Guys to Beat Contra’ Despite the title this doesn’t seem to be about Contra at all! But that’s ok because it’s a fucking fast fucking awesome punk rock song.
‘Nametags & Hairnets’ Life’s shitty sometimes, a lot of times but somehow you get through it. Growing into it or just not caring. Another great damn song from these guys, I hope they put out more tunes soon.

Transgressions:
1. Baby, I Love You (But I Need Someone to Talk to About The Ramones)
2. Sleazeball
3. I Don’t Even Care Anymore
Credentials:
4. Mark Reznik Takes 30 Guys to Beat Contra
5. Nametags & Hairnets

Get The Transgressions / The Credentials from Amazon HERE

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REVIEW: V/A: Dangerous Intersections VII

Posted on November 12, 2010 by Uncle Critic

There are some compilations that are pretty good, mostly they suck and every once in a while you’ll get one that’s really good. However Traffic Street Records has done something great, they’ve consistently put out a great series of compilations, and the secret may be keeping these to four song, seven inch record installments. I’m not sure what the real secret to this is but I hope they keep it up. Here with the seventh installment of their Dangerous Intersections series is one of the best and maybe even the one I was personally most anticipating. With three of my favorite current pop punk bands on here, it has hit written all over it. I think the Transgressions win this installment with ‘17’, although the second best song is a three way tie. This thing is really too good, if you don’t own it don’t even talk to me. This one is just over seven minutes long so that means it’s a lean mean punk rock record.

’17′ Opening it up is one of my current favorite bands, the Transgressions. I’m always up for more Transgressions songs; this forty five second gem is everything that I could hope for. No one does songs about wasting your life and being lazy like the Transgressions do. Just because you’re a lazy slob doesn’t mean you’re a good for nothing.

‘Flashlight’ Billy Raygun is a great band that just continues to get better; this song continues their incline to being better and better. The longest song on here almost reaching three minutes is a great punk pop song.

‘Heterosexual Lion’ Vacation is a band I’ve only heard a few things from but so far I’m into them, they definitely lean more on the punk side of pop punk than the other bands on here. “I don’t care cause in my head I am a lion” I think the opening line sums it up better than I could.

‘No Spark’ New Creases is one of the best bands on Traffic Street, like the Transgressions I’m always excited to hear something new from them. This song doesn’t disappoint, it’s actually one of the band’s best songs.

  1. The Transgressions – 17
  2. Billy Raygun – Flashlight
  3. Vacation – Heterosexual Lion
  4. New Creases – No Spark

Get Dangerous Intersections VII from Amazon HERE

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REVIEW: Jonesin’: The Dream is Dead

Posted on October 23, 2010 by Uncle Critic

Traffic Street, Dirt Cult, Muy Autentico, and No Breaks teamed up to put out what should have been Jonesin’s last record. I say should have been because somewhere down the line the band decided not to break up. So what we have here instead of Jonesin’s final 7″ is the band’s debut EP, put out by, yes four labels. Not only four labels but four great ones. Each one has a different variation color of the record so be a nerd and go get ‘em all. As for the contents of the record all four songs are fucking awesome, start to finish this record shreds. I’m really decided the band decided not to break up and not to let this record slip into the never released abyss.

”Lone’ A pretty good thirty second build until the heavy vocals drop in on you. It’s hard to keep punk down dirty and still be catchy, this song pulls it off well.
‘Nothing At All’ Even better than the last song, it’s even got some background whoa-oh’s. Actually, best song on here.
‘Just So You Know’ Slightly slower, like an angry gritty Hot Water Music, without as much duel vocals.
‘(Take Me to the) Antique Roadshow’ Another one sort of reminds me of Hot Water Music, or at least Gainsville, but with more of a punk attude to it.

1. ‘Lone
2. Nothing At All
3. Just So You Know
4. (Take Me to the) Antique Roadshow

Get The Dream is Dead from Amazon HERE

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