Whalien – I’m Going Vegan
Genre: Punk
Similar artists: The Offspring, The Stooges, Bad Religion, Streetlight Manifesto, Titus Andronicus
Protest songs are supposed to be preachy. Even when they’re funny, these tunes made by folks with big brains, and large social conscience, want to change the way that you think. Everyone seems to want to do that to you these days. But, you expect better intentions from your rock stars than from your big pawed politicians.
The world isn’t going to change by itself. And, you’re unlikely to change it by yourself either. But, in a world where so little is up to you and your way of thinking, having some control over your body and over your decisions is a wonderful thing. You’d better stop the war! You’d better stop killing animals! You’d better consider global warming! Or, don’t, of course, but don’t pretend that those problems will go away by ignoring them.
Whalien’s I’m Going Vegan is the tale of a mean punk-rocker opting for a better way. It’s a comedic tune, but how else are you going to get people to listen? There’s something in the vocals captured for this. It sounds like Fat Mike suddenly opting for a healthier lifestyle. It’s hard to imagine they came easy to this decision. Whalien is fighting the good fight and bringing the tools that are available, namely good intentions, comedy, and punk rock. Give peas a chance!
Hoorsees – Cream & Onion
Genre: Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Garage Rock
There are few faceless bands in rock music. There are few who have accrued a number of radio hits without the general public actually know what the band members look like, what their opinions are, or what other products they are looking to sell. Radioland is not full of Bostons and Foreigners, and, usually for good reason.
For the most part, the careers of rock musicians are built on some kind of personal charisma. It doesn’t even have to fit a particular bill either. From the rebels to the would-be cult leaders, from the poets to the silent types, this world has a place for you as long as you can get eyes and ears on what you’re doing.
Hoorsees’s Cream & Onion is chock-full of charisma to the point you’d assume that the band and its tunes were put together by some all-knowing Svengali. But, the Monkees are not. Instead, they’re a group of talented, bored teenagers, writing about old comedies, and being led by the great vocal talent of their singer. Hoorsees, in other words, are nailing many of the ingredients for success that have carried some of rock’s other charisma giants.
