More Music

• Cowboy Junkies revisit, re-record 'The Trinity Session'
• Review: 3D effects flesh out U2
• CD reviews: Jet Lag Gemini; RTX; Metro Station; We the Kings

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

The Pleasures of Merely Circulating, "530 Seconds of Pleasure" (Wheelbarrow Music)

This female-fronted trio from Marfa, Texas, delivers garage punk that's raw yet very melodic on this four-song EP. Loud, fast rules, but the tight rhythm section keeps the proceedings from careening off the disc.

The set opens with the rockabilly punk of "Loners," about dreams gone wrong, then slides into "Empire," fast-slow-fast punkabilly. Chiming guitar adds a sinister air to "Sunshine & Drugs," where the band takes inventory of its life. The CD closes with the spiky, punky travelogue "Topolobampo."

The Pleasures of Merely Circulating make the trip up from Texas to play a free show at Burt's Tiki Lounge, 313 Gold Ave. S.W., at 10 p.m. Saturday. Panic and the Roxie Harts share the bill. 21 and over only. 247-2878.

Listen to "Loners"

Mike Got Spiked, "Caveat Emptor" (Conflict of Interest Records)

This Irish quartet, which moved to Philly last year, bills itself as "an Irish punk band." I beg to differ, if just slightly: They're a post-punk band that's more rock than punk. There's a little aggression in the vocals (courtesy of some growls), but the three-part harmonies (as on the punk-soul raver "Aversion") temper the attack.

There seems to be a jazz undercurrent, as on "A Pointless Address," a jazzy meditation on life with a punk ferocity; and the ska-jazz of "5 Second Heaven," about sex. The band members utilize ska rhythms as needed (the quest for fame on "Teen Idol"; the aggro "Speechless"; and "All You Need," which sounds like 311).

The group can also go to extremes, from the aggro-funk of "Yuppie Puppet Epiphany" to the hard rock of "Talkin' to Myself" to the slow-tempo, almost ballad "Broken Toys." But they can punk out, as well ("The Toothpaste Song," which is about uncapped tube trauma). About the only tip o' the hat to their homeland is the "hidden track": the Irish reel "Whiskey for me Tae."

Mike Got Spiked makes its way to the Duke City for a free show at Burt's Tiki Lounge at 10 p.m. Monday. The Ground Beneath and Proletariat share the stage. 21 and over only.

Listen to "Whiskey for me Tae"

Lamb of God, "Sacrament" (Epic/Prosthetic Records)

The guys in this Virginia quintet are not happy campers: This is brutal heavy metal, with vocals delivered in an ominous and menacing growl. Utilizing a dual-guitar attack, the precision musicianship is technically excellent and unrelenting in its execution.

The lyrics and song titles ("Walk With Me in Hell"; "Blacken the Cursed Sun"; "Requiem"; "Beating on Death's Door"; "More Time to Kill" a double-entendre?) are apocalyptic and dark, offering a bleak vision. However, theirs is not despair or remorse, but resignation and a howl at reality.

They take a swipe at (failed) state government and the oppression of life in their home state on "Foot to the Throat." In fact, anything that comes within their sights is fair game: hypocritical evangelists ("Redneck"), living a lie ("Pathetic") or having a crisis of faith, whatever that faith may be ("Descending").

Even L.A. takes a wallop as a hypocritical city on "Forgotten (Lost Angels)":

"I can't write you a happy song.

"I can't write you a song-along.

"The only catchy hook I got.

"Is the one in my bleeding gut."

The band was nominated for a Grammy for best metal performance for "Redneck." They didn't win; maybe that's why they're so angry?

Lamb of God headlines a heavy-metal bill Tuesday at the Sunshine Theater, 120 Central Ave. S.W. Trivium, Machine Head and Gojira open the all-ages show at 6:30 p.m. $25, plus service charges, at Ticketmaster outlets. Call 883-7800 or go to Ticketmaster Smoking and alcohol service in segregated areas only.