May 8 Releases, 2012

By: Cassie Whitt, Blogs Editor

It has all come full-circle, folks. This is my final "Drop It Like It's Hot" post as Blogs Editor for my beloved ACRN. I would get all sentimental, but there's a coincidence here cooler than anything mopey I could say to make you guys cry.

The first time I wrote an entry for this blog, I  gushed about the then latest release from Amanda Palmer. Much like that first time, I am writing about Palmer again because I can, for continuity's sake and for the sake of bringing finality to this segment of my life.

Of course, the record doesn't actually come out until September and, as (former) Blogs Editor, I know that's not the point of this blog, but--well--the Kickstarter project for it debuted last week, and it's pretty revolutionary. Seriously, check it out:

This is the future of music. Brilliant, AFP.

Now, onto the albums that are actually coming out on May 8, 2012.

Also a beautiful coincidence for my final entry: one of my favorite artists (second only to My Chemical Romance), Matt Skiba debuts his newest project Matt Skiba and the Sekrets with Babylon.

In my head, Skiba, 1/3 of Alkaline Trio and an outstanding solo artist, can do no wrong (see my ACRN review of his rough-cut 2010 Demos for evidence.) His Sekrets project does not change my mind about that, at least not from what I have heard, and considering 4 of the tracks are refined Demos songs ("Haven't You," "Olivia" [Formerly "Nausea (Cruel and Unusual)"], "How The Hell Did We Get Here?" and "Angel of Deaf"), I have complete faith in the album.

Check out track 1, "Voices," below.




All the more reason to expect great things: Matt Skiba and the Sekrets also includes Hunter Burgan from AFI and Jarrod Alexander formerly of A Static Lullaby (though he's often credited as being a member of MCR--that's just not true. MCR does not currently have a permanent drummer and have said many times that they do not see themselves acquiring one any time soon, funfact kthnx and get it straight, please.)

Also releasing this week: Neck of the Woods by Silversun Pickups. I chose to look into this album particularly because I wanted to rip on mediocrity.

My disdain radar for the complacency with unremarkable music of late beeped wildly when I saw the name "Silversun Pickups;" as, I leveled them with that Kings of Leon crowd who have been putting out the same song for the past few years, getting huge from it and consequently pissing off the hip kids who used to be their fans.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by the album and even revisited their "Lazy Eye" song that bothered me senseless a few years ago.

Neck of the Woods has the rising intensity and vague creepiness I crave in music. You win this round, Silversun Pickups. I was wrong.

For a change of pace: OFF!'s OFF! --- Ooohhh, yes. The longest song on this throwback hardcore-punk album is 1:36, which translates to: "it's perfect." Plus, it sounds like it was recorded in 1979. Black Flag fans, Keith Morris' latest will not disappoint you.

Not bad, May 8. Not bad at all...

And, with that, I conclude my final "Drop It Like It's Hot" post.
Never let them take you alive,
c.