I first heard the song, Another Girl, off of the first Hawaiian Express compilation. The song is one of the many awesome songs (I love all of them!) by Hawaii punk-pop quartet, The Catalogs. The Queers did a cover of the track and released it on their fifth album, Don't Back Down. But aside from appearing on local comps, the band did also release an album, Viva Los Muertos, with 13 songs of some of the best punk-pop on the island. Some of my favorite tracks on that album include Mail Order Junkie, Cafeteria Woman and their parody of the Ramones song, I Wanna Be Sedated, titled, I Shoulda Graduated. Another favorite is Specimen 32, which was later re-recorded by The Quintessentials (singer/guitarist, Les Hernandez, current project) for their Legends From the Grave (2005) album (I really love the drums on this version). The Catalogs did record for a self-titled 7” in 1997, but only released it recently through Oregon based label, Mutant Pop Records. 

     The record has five songs which include a re-recorded version of Another Girl along with four other tracks. The track, Scrunchy, a love song about a girl and her scrunchy, appeared on a couple local compilations. The other three tunes, Zombie Girl (another zombie-themed love song), Time and Quarter Pounder Hop, are full of raw lyrics and fun melodies worthy of a classic punk-pop status. Nice release considering the late arrival. But it's always, ALWAYS, better than never. Pick up a copy HERE

     Rufio's album, Perhaps, I Suppose..., will be available on vinyl format and pre-orders for it will be taken HERE. It will be released through Company Ink Records. I absolutely love this album to death, definitely one of my all time favorites. I probably would pass on this, but there is a pressing dubbed The Lost Boys Edition, which is a black/red striped pattern reminiscent of the Rufio character from the film, Hook. Looks really awesome. 

     Four-piece from South Wales, Saturday's Kids, release a new record titled, Grey On White. It's a three way split with label's Art for Blind, Bombed Out, and Time As a Color. The two songs featured on the record are a lot heavier than the material on their 2011 self-titled 10". On Grey On White they open with noisy feedback on mid-tempo drumming and some warm undertones. The guitars are heavy throughout the song and later drop into some hardcore riffs alongside a thick low end. Side B features the song, Black Pocket, which opens with a crispy bassline. The drums are constant on the double-pedal action with a lot of buzz bleeding out from the guitars. Their songs really are a nice blend of rock and hardcore. Somewhere in between the smokey madness and chaotic rock lies a fresh breath of originality. I'm really liking this band a lot right now. 

Listen to it on BANDCAMP

     Vultures United released a new 7" not too long ago titled, To Live and Die in Gainesville, through Kiss of Death Records. It features four tracks of aggressive punk and hardcore. These songs were actually recorded in 2009 during the Savages sessions, but released in time for this year's Fest in Gainesville, Florida. The band will again participate (this weekend!) in this year's, Fest 10.

     The new record opens with the title track, which details the band's amazing first experience at Fest. Less than Jake had played before them and the Bouncing Souls right after. Along with two other originals, the record also includes a really cool cover of the Good Riddance song, Heresy, Hypocrisy & Revenge. And speaking of covers, Vultures United are still working on the Girls EP. That release will feature their own musical interpretation's of songs originally from female-fronted bands. It's a really cool idea actually. Let's hope they release that in time for Christmas.


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