THE ARCHER ROAD BAND

Artist: THE ARCHER ROAD BAND

Title: In The Land Of Odd

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1978

Songs: 11

Label: Self Released

Style: Rural Country Rock

Don’t judge an album by its front cover artwork is the message here.  With a bizarre psych oriented whacky album jacket, one would think there’s some cool music lurking inside.  Well, not so fast – what we have here is lame rural rock with country twang vibes.  When you take a closer peek at the song titles, ‘Darlin’, ‘Rawhide’, ‘Hitchin’ and ‘Butterfly’ to name a few, the hints become more obvious that this is not psych rock or even anything remotely interesting.  The only redeeming quality is the front jacket artwork.  Beware of dealer and seller inaccurate hype descriptions for this mediocre effort.

EXIT

Artist: EXIT

Title: No Way Out    

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1984

Songs: 8

Label: Entrance Records

Style: Hard Rock

EXIT was a local hard rock band operating in and around San Bernardino, CA.  This looks to have been their lone private press offering.  ‘Do It For Me’ is a mid-tempo melodic rocker with a catchy chorus.  Nice guitar riffing complements the driving RATT influenced ‘I’ll Never Stop’.  ‘Unpainted Love’ is a solid straight up melodic hard rocker that delivers the goods and could have been a single. Nice gang chorus work on ‘Lovers’.

CHINESE GANGSTER ELEMENT

Artist: CHINESE GANGSTER ELEMENT

Title: Self Titled       

Format: 7” Vinyl EP

Year: 1986

Songs: 4

Label: Ted Records

Style: Indie Alternative

Chinese Gangster Element was nothing of the sort – they were a female fronted indie alternative rock outfit based out of the United Kingdom.  Lead vocalist Fiona McBean helms a driving set of four high tempo guitar infused alternative rockers.  Melodic, catchy and well produced! 

ACTIVE JOY

Artist: ACTIVE JOY

Title: Self Titled       

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1985

Songs: 8

Label: CVU Records

Style: Alternative

Active Joy was an indie alternative/modern rock band from Canada.  They had limited local exposure with radio station play and sponsorship.  Crisp guitar playing and prominent drumming are front and center with this quartet’s delivery.  Vocals are excellent, diving in and out of gloom stricken moments and passionate pleas.  An above average healthy dose of period alternative pop rock.  

TOOLS OF ROMANCE

Artist: TOOLS OF ROMANCE

Title: Self Titled

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1985

Songs: 4

Label: Ribbed Records

Style: New Wave

Tools Of Romance were a new wave synth band operating out of Chicago, IL.  This is an excellent set of melancholic synth wave with both female and male vocals.  Gary Numan influences come to mind when you hear the killer ‘Cool Heart’.  The band had limited local market success and received college/alternative radio exposure.    

100 PROOF POP

Artist: 100 PROOF POP

Title: Self Titled       

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1981

Songs: 4

Label: Pop Records

Style: Lounge Rock AOR

A Southern California based lounge / bar rock band that really comprises two members pump out four 1960’s covers, like ‘Walk On By’ (Dionne Warwick) and ‘Groovy Kind Of Love’ (Mindbenders).  The duo obviously gives the covers their special lounge treatment, but it doesn’t resonate.  Their lack of creativity is why this one sank into the bowels of vinyl obscurity – you have been warned.

GO 90

Artist: GO 90

Title: Self Titled       

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1984

Songs: 10

Label: Silent Records

Style: AOR

Behind the colorful presentation of their lone one off album front jacket stands a trio of musicians hailing out of Portland, OR.  The band enlisted session help to round out the album, but it’s the Prophet 5 synthesizer that plays a major role in the High Tech AOR proceedings.  ‘Fatal Attraction’ borders on new wave with its catchy refrain and synth work, while High Tech AOR rules the day on the melodic ‘Paradise’ and prominent drumming/guitar riffing in ‘Outside World’.  Piercing synth stabs keep the attention on ‘Not Like You’.

BURNBOX

Artist: BURNBOX

Title: The Fall Of The House Of Us

Format: 7” Vinyl EP

Year: 1991

Songs: 4

Label: Self Released

Style: Indie Alternative       

BurNBox was an indie alternative rock trio based out of Arlington, MA.  This one and only self release provides sturdy period alternative rockers with big guitars and drums galore. Vocals are shared and they are all competent when their turn comes.  ‘Pull The Plug’ is the most melodic of the four song set and is a standout with its shimmering guitar riffing.