The Adjusters
Reckless Relations
Zodiac Killer

Snarky, shameless, sleazy, Bator-bitin’ rock n’ roll from a bunch of finicky young upstarts that, by all accounts, oughtta be playing video games or workin’ some mindless part-time job after school, not signing themselves up for dereliction duty, cursed to mumble and stumble their way through a life of whiskey-swillin’ and ne’er-do-wellin’. The righteous punk rock that drips off of Reckless Relations, The Adjusters’ debut full-length, easily does their homeland proud (that’s England, in case you’re wondering) and will ignite in you a raging flame of hope for rock n’ roll’s oft bleak and soggy future. I mean, just dig all that twinklin’ ivory, man! And those teenage riffs with the blues-infused solos and glam pop hooks. Killer! The Adjusters hand out fistfuls of silk scarf pomp and back alley stomp in equal measures here; name your favourite old school degenerates and I guarantee they sound just like ‘em. But the kicker with these lads is that they also sound like the best part of every decade since the 50s, which includes, but is not inclusive to, Chuck Berry, The Stooges, The Joneses, and hell, even Social Distortion. I don’t think I’ve heard raw, glistening energy like this since Silver’s 2004 debut, White Diary, and that album is fucking brilliant. If they keep this up, The Adjusters are well on their way to being bloody brilliant as well.

Listen to “Kickin’ Down the Doors” from Reckless Relations!

Crazy Lixx
New Religion
Frontiers Records

Crazy Lixx’s 2007 debut, Loud Minority, was the soundtrack to many crazy nights back when I was out of work and livin’ large off of a sweet severance. I don’t remember how most of those nights ended, of course, but I do remember that every single one of them started with a raucous round of “Dr. Hollywood” or “Love on the Run” as I slipped into my leather jacket and crushed a can of Busch. That party lasted for about eight months and wouldn’t have been half the fun it was if it wasn’t for Crazy Lixx’s brand of Swedish sleaze pop and hairspray heavy metal. I haven’t had much chance to visit Loud Minority lately, though, because I’m an old man with responsibilities now and those alcohol-fueled nights are far behind me, but Crazy Lixx have slithered back into my life with New Religion, coming on like an ice cold shot of Jager, and a part of me longs to make bad decisions once more.

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