Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
“SKULLDUGGEROUS”
Smitz (Audio Bento)
Five years after releasing their debut album, “Cretin Crossover,” the ska/punk/reggae rockers known as Smitz are back with the follow-up. “Skullduggerous” contains 16 originals and a pair of remakes — one from Bad Manners, the other from Reagan Youth — that suggest the group’s broad musical horizons.
The quartet — Jonny Random (vocals/rhythm guitar), Taylor Rice (bass), Kalani Punani (lead guitar) and Nic Sticcs (drums) — shifts smoothly from one genre to another, accompanied by some studio guests. “Pass on Sight,” a cautionary tale about drunken driving, is aggressive buzz-saw rock. Other songs are so melodic they suggest the mid-1970s music of Kalapana. (Kalapana is among the more than 50 groups Smitz mentions in the liner notes. The list also includes Devil Dog, C&K, Pimpbot and the Squids.)
Punk/ska bands are expected to address social issues and attack posers, hypocrites and/or ex-girlfriends. Smitz gets into other topics as well. “Rose’s Garden” is a straight-up love song, and “Home Without a Heart” is a requiem for a beloved dog.
The Royal Teens reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958 with “Short Shorts.” Smitz gives the revealing garment updated praise with “Booty Shorts.”
Visit facebook.com/SMITZ.
“NEW GENESIS”
SIN73 (Tin Idol Productions)
Almost exactly two years ago, Gerard K. Gonsalves and Tin Idol Productions came out with “The Citadel,” the first act of a heavy-metal rock opera about interplanetary war in A.D. 4157. The second part of the saga, “Hell Hath No Fury,” was released this time last year. “New Genesis” completes the story.
Darren Soliven (bass, keyboards), Gonsalves (drums) and Tin Idol veteran Jimmy Caterine (guitar, vocals) return as the musicians. Sandy “Storm” Essman (Angela), Mark Caldeira (Devin/D3V1N), Kalliyan Davis (Young Angela) and Gabriel Valentin (Young Devin) are the principal voices.
As the story opens, the activation of a doomsday weapon has created a time warp. Young Angela and Young Devin emerge from cryo-sleep chambers and eventually find each other. They fall in love, but their love is threatened by powerful forces they vaguely sense but can’t foresee.
A computer-generated sci-fi film treatment of the story should be next.
Visit reverbnation.com/sin73.
72
