Much like the Blur guitarist’s last solo outing, Graham Coxon’s new album, The Golden D, is a noisy affair. On it, Graham mines hardcore and industrial terrain more thoroughly than ever before. Though nothing ever quite reaches thrash-pace, the opener “Jamie Thomas” (an ode to Graham’s favorite skateboarder, the press packet tells me) comes close. The surging metal-tinged guitars and drums pound through the song and subside only slightly during the verses to make room for Graham’s distorted vocal. The second track, “The Fear” continues the ruckus with a more punk rhythm and vocal. Graham reaches quite successfully into the territory of punk bands from the 80s who blended punk aggression with heavier sounds. This homage is evident in the two cover songs chosen by Graham for The Golden D. Graham covers two songs by Mission of Burma, “Fame and Fortune” and “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver.” Each is brilliantly executed and instantly memorable.
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Holy Fuck.

Punk rockers have for decades been trying to do with their voices what they do with their guitars. The sharper, the better. Gritty voices just emphasize the point a little better. And my God, do the Distillers have one fucking hell of a voice in Brody Armstrong. Within the first four seconds of this album, it’s evident that this is a larynx to be reckoned with. The amount of snot and tar and bile in her throat could choke a horse. (more…)

Everything Stephin Merritt does is incredibly stylish and Future Bible Heroes is no exception. Though all the music is done by Christopher Ewen, Merritt’s distinctive voice colors every song.
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