Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3) discovered Estradasphere, a six-piece from Santa Cruz, CA who utilize classical, rock, and ethnic instrumentation.
Crucial music for when you’ve got a head full of coke, a bellyful of beer, and a desire to run in circles in the opposite direction to break a nose or two.
Pretentious sounds derogatory, but it used to be pretentious to use a cello. This rips from beginning to end, even if they pander to duplicate their last album.
Well-played and aggressive as shit punk with the intensity of ’80s hardcore and something that’s distinctively their own. Only three songs apiece here. Sort of a waste. I think split CDs should be four songs each, minimum. This ain’t a 7″, hoss. Load that thing up.
The Vladimirs are dark and heavy like a beatnik, y’all. While “She’s Been Worshipping the Devil” is one of the funniest death-rock moments since, well, ever.