Harder Beat rocks it right…this time
With all due respect, I probably wouldn’t consider the Harder Beat, cutting edge music journalism. Despite it’s mini-alt-newspaper approach, it comes off more as a zine. Maybe it means to. Dunno. But it’s packed with concert reviews, cd reviews, band profiles and whatever else they decide. Although I don’t rely too much on their movie reviews. But now that Tower is gone, I’m not sure where I’ll get my latest copy though. I don’t head to CD Source all that much and that’s not my end o’ town. However, it comes in handy when posting my listings on my paper. Clubs that can’t commit to their website will list in here – something I’ll never understand but hey, whatever works.
Admittedly, none of their issues really stick with me after I’m done but the exception has come with their Dec/Jan issue which is their Best and Worst of 2006. They focus more on the metalheads but every so often they surprise me. But first, the non-surprises and sometimes the ‘huhs?’
- Album of the Year – Paul Stanley – Live to Win.
Yes, THE Paul Stanley from KISS as chosen by art director,Kevin White.
- Surprise of the Year – Skid Row – Revolutions Per Minute.
With the insightful review of “This does NOT suck!” Wow.
Editor Linda Hollar notes as one of her favorite local bands – Queen for a Day. OK, I’ve heard good stuff about them but a Queen cover band? Wait. A COVER band? I should just stop right here.
- Worst CD as noted by writer Ryan Jarcy – Magnum Carnage – Evil Never Dies.
With a title like that (heavy metal generic), I agree. And I’ve never heard the stuff. His review is classic. “Hawaiian metal just isn’t my bag…” There is such a thing?
But big time props to Writer Jason Janik. Only because he and I agree on some of this stuff. Of course. He cited Ghostland Observatory from Austin as best new band. I think they are fairly phenomenal and SO NOT HB material. Best re-released album went to Spoon’s Telephono/Soft Effects. Nice choice Plus, I dig that writer Shane Epting listed Devo and the Psychedelic Furs as one of his best live shows.
I also have to give props to writer Dale Lammers who somehow wrote an almost great article on old 80s hair band Europe and made them sound fascinating. You remember Europe? Right? The Final Countdown? (looking for mp3 now). I thought they had one album and went back to work in the factory. Turns out they made a bunch of albums, have had bunch of European success (go figure) and are about to tour in 2007. Yeah, I don’t care either, but somehow, Lammers made me care while I was reading it. All I can say is ‘bravo’.
Ahhh…even better than an mp3…how about a video?
Harder Beat is very much a zine-like publication. I think the staff meets in Linda’s home for any staff type meetings. The writers are all but volunteers - or very very minimally paid. They lean way over to the metal side of music, but some of the writers like Jason Janik and Mark Beneventi have long fought to get more indie/pop type stuff in the magazine.
You can pick up copies at Bill’s Records and most Deep Ellum clubs.