Hey dudes! This is my Disneyland tribute band, The Cast Members! About six months ago me and my friend Matt began recording and writing songs about Disneyland.
This song is called Main Street USA, the first “land” of the park.
We have one whole album and unfortunately it will probably be our last. We’ll have a bandcamp profile soon!
so much awesome!!!
Holy smokes! It’s been a while since we’ve had a blog post! Happy belated New Year! Here’s some news:
This record is up for pre-order now at Asian Man Records!!!!
The album is a collection of our first few releases, namely ‘Candy Cigarettes and Cap Guns’ and ‘Issue Problems’ (personal fave of the record!), as well as b-sides, 7” only songs, it’s kind of like Lemuria’s “The First Collection” or Off With Their Heads’ “All Things Move Towards Their End”, or The Eagle’s “Greatest Hits”.
To hype the pre-order, the good people at Asian Man Records have assembled some nice pre-order packages to you to peruse, if you feel inclined to. For example, one of the packages includes a t-shirt, a cd and some other stuff (buttons and stuff). Example 2, you can get a package that includes both colors of the record (for you e-bay flippers and obsessive collectors) and a t-shirt. There’s even a sweatshirt package! Pretty cool stuff!
So, if you’re into this idea, check out this link: www.asianmanrecords.com
Quick update on the recording front: Ben and I had our first practice of the new year and played through all of the songs that will be on the next record. They are sounding nice, it’s going to be very fun to arrange them.
That’s about all I have for now, thank you all for reading!
-sean
Here is my look back at 2010. This is one of my favorite things to do, even though I always leave it to the very last minute. Enjoy! Top 10 Albums: 10. Against Me!-“White Crosses” 9. Alkaline Trio- “This Addiction” 8. Murder By Death- “Good Morning, Magpie” 7. Tim Barry- “28th & Stonewall” 6. Titus Andronicus- “The Monitor” 5. The Gaslight Anthem- “American Slang” 4. Fake Problems- “Real Ghosts Caught on Tape” 3. The Menzingers- “Chamberlain Waits” 2. Two Cow Garage- “Sweet Saint Me” 1. Look Mexico- “To Bed To Battle” Top 5 Shows: 5. Broadway Calls, The Flatliners, Cobra Skulls @ The Roxy 4. Brian Fallon @ The Troubadour 3. Andrew Jackson Jihad, Kepi Ghoulie, Partners in 818 @ Che Cafe 2. Frank Turner, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Cheap Girls @ The Troubadour (Recorded for Live CD) 1. Andrew Jackson Jihad, Royal Monsters, Joyce Manor @ The Troubadour Top 3 Movies: 3. Despicable Me 2. Toy Story 3 1. Youth in Revolt Top 3 TV Shows: 3. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations 2. Dexter 1. Eastbound & Down Top 5 Listened-to-Songs: (not just 2010) 5. Bomb The Music Industry- Syke, Life is Awesome 4. The Gaslight Anthem- She Loves You 3. Fake Problems- ADT 2. Frank Turner- The Next Round 1. Andrew Jackson Jihad- Zombie By The Cranberries Top 5 Parties: 5. Katy’s Birthday Camping Weekend 4. Boris/Shivonne/Garrett’s A-party-ment 3. Birthday Bonfire @ Dockweiller 2. AJJ New Years Day Punk Rock Sleepover San Diego Style 1. Menzingers/Cheap Girls Sleepover @ Taylor & Lex’s Top 3 “WTF?” Moments: 3. Changing of Fantasmic/Fireworks times for Winter Peak Season @ DLR 2. Prop 8 overturning AND further appeal 1. SB 1070 This concludes my end of the year list. 2010 was a pretty amazing year…very busy…but I had a great time. Love you all! Jacob
Bomb The Music Industry-A Shine To It: This has become one of my favorite songs…ugh. So good. Listen and enjoy!
Kepi Ghoulie in my friend Jay’s( of grand ambitions) shower. Kepi rocks out and fights mildew!
Oh Shit! My shower’s famous now!
Andrew Jackson Jihad-Mental Health Waltz (People II and Stormy The Rabbit). Amazing amazing amazing version. Check it!
So, I listened to the new Against Me! record, White Crosses, and I have some thoughts on it. I like it, but its not amazing. The main issues I have are based on Butch Vig’s production of the record.
First of all, James Bowman has an amazing voice for backing vocals. You can hear it when listening to Reinventing Axl Rose. Tom and James vocals complement each other amazingly and I love the sound that emerges from that. Even when listening to New Wave, you can hear James clear vox in the background of “The Ocean” and “Up The Cuts.” But the issue with White Crosses is that there are way too many effects slapped on all of the vocals in the background and Tom. It sounds so fake. Mondo even brought to my attention that James is auto-tuned in one of the songs. It totally takes away from the music and lyrics for me. The thing I hated most about New Wave was the stupid fucking distortion on Tom’s vocals in “Animal.” The song sounded pretty good. I was liking the jazzy beat but it was just way too much distortion. Stripped down that would’ve sounded fantastic.
Jon Gaunt, an amazing violin player, came in to play strings for the new record. I am pretty sure that he is playing on “We’re Breaking Up,” but because of the way it is produced it is almost impossible to even hear his amazing string work. Another issue I have with this song, is the weird overlaying dull tone that sounds like its made from what it sounds like is a drum machine. I don’t even know what it is.
I guess the last thing I have is about the writing of the new songs. Tom seems to rely on repitition alot this album. In the past, a lot of the repitition was in the chorus, which makes sense. But this time it seems like he’s put a lot of repitition in the verses as well so when it comes up again at the chorus, it just gets kind of annoying. But, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it quite yet.
I really wanna see them play these songs live. Mondo said that they sounded a lot better live, which makes sense. It’s been the same way for me with a lot of the tracks I didn’t like from New Wave and a few select tracks from their older records.
Now going back to my blog post title: This record doesn’t sound like Against Me! This, combined with the Tom’s attitude (based on his blog entries and happenings within the band i.e. losing Warren) really makes it hard for me to say this is Against Me! It seems like Tom writes the songs, and then the others just play the songs, and then Butch Vig fucks the shit out of with production. Honestly, I don’t blame him…that’s what Butch Vig does. I can’t help but feel that New Wave and White Crosses would be different if produced by someone who produces even mainstream punk records or pop punk records. I feel like Tom is stil writing punk tunes, but when recorded with a rock producer, it changes til its a hybrid that just turns out mediocre.
Don’t get pissy with me. This is just how I think. Any comments?
