BANQUETS – Top Button, Bottom Shelf (Black Numbers): Fast n’ furious melodic punk rock with a great feeling for texture. The band’s GASLIGHT ANTHEM influence isn’t a surprise since the group features a former member of LET ME RUN, but it’s just an influence and not the whole story. Well sung vocals are interwoven into every song, and the band is more than capable of busting out an anthem or two. “Forever Bender” is an ultimate toe-tapper, and some of the guitar hooks on here bring a lot of heat. At 25 minutes in length, Top Button, Bottom Shelf, is a short, but very satisfying meal.

ENABLER – Year One (Creator Destructor): Subsequent to the release of Year One, ENABLER’s rhythm section splintered and FALL OUT BOY drummer Andy Hurley entered into the picture. If you’re asking yourself “why?”, you’re probably not alone. Year One is about as one-dimensional a full-length as I’ve heard in a long, long time, despite the fact that’s actually a remastered collection of the band’s two prior EPs. I imagine the inspiration for ENABLER was, “FROM ASHES RISE broke up. Fuck. Let’s start a band and sound just like them“. Year One stretches on for only half an hour, but I feel like I’m caught in a never-ending loop of crustycore that’s hitting of all its expected spots, but missing a beating heart. (Note of eternal optimist: the CD packaging is pretty awesome).

Various Artists: “Mixed Signals – A Run For Cover Records Compilation” (RFC): The unchecked ambition of Run For Cover Records is something to marvel over. Fifty releases in a just a few years. A fearless approach to signing up-and-coming, live-tested bands, and building buzz in every crevice. “Mixed Signals” celebrates release number 50 with a collection of new, exclusive and unreleased recordings from some very promising and popular bands. POLAR BEAR CLUB’s “Killin’ It” is an extremely appropriate opener, while BALANCE AND COMPOSURE’s follow-up “Seahorses” is a perfect compliment. HOSTAGE CALM, THE MENZINGERS, TIGERS JAW, DAYTRADER, and especially MAKE DO AND MEND all add their own flavor to this release, which comes with a 28 page detailed booklet in its CD version, and 32 page for the vinyl. It’s the original “Punk O Rama” compilation (cheaply priced, many exclusive songs) for a whole new generation with entirely different tastes, and every song is a winner.