Good Times Crisis Band

"This tightly wound trio is led by guitarist/singer Bill Corsello, who also moonlights as the general manager of Emo’s nightclub in Austin Tx. Their label aptly describes them as “poppy, quirky and sassy”, and they remind me a lot of Shudder To Think or a less weighty (but still plenty loud) Burning Airlines/Jawbox, with a little Minutemen and Mission of Burma mixed in. Corsello’s guitar squalls are razor sharp and abrasive, yet dreamy and contemplative, and he delivers his arty, poetic lyrics in a voice that recalls Burma’s Roger Miller. Further their music is sturdily anchored by the springy elastic basslines of Steven Mullins and David Hobizal’s hard-hitting drumming. Topped off with hot production, these are 13 attention-grabbing slabs of vigorous, diverse post-punk." The Big Takeover, Brooklyn, NY

Sounds like ‘70s rock as played by a bloodless UK postpunk unit like Wire or Gang Of Four, but from Austin, meaning that they actually sound like a version of Wire or Gang Of Four that you could sit down and have a beer with, and was recorded somewhere wooden and humid. This kinda seems like the type of thing where if it was your friend’s band, you’d listen to the CD and pick out a few interesting things about it that you could tell them that you enjoyed about the record, even though you wouldn’t have bought it or listened to it if it wasn’t your friend’s band—WHICH JUST GOES TO SHOW US ALL THAT THERE ARE NO STRANGERS IN PUNK ROCK, JUST FRIENDS WE HAVEN’T MET, AMEN. I think i saw that on a plaque behind a bar in Howard, Wisconsin once. BEST SONG: “Nose and Chin” BEST SONG TITLE: “Z.Z.Zephyr” FANTASTIC AMAZING TRIVIA FACT: Band’s press kit compares them to Gang Of Four, OK Go, Nomeansno and the Knack. Seriously. –Rev. Nørb (Australian Cattle God)

Before listening to this CD, first cross out the words "Good" and "Times" in the band's name on your CD booklet. Then write out "CRISIS" and "BAND" in all caps. That's because Select a Gather Point is the sound of a world in travail. Bill Corsello plays guitar and handles lead vocals, backed by David Hobizal on drums and Steven Mullins on bass. The sound this trio creates might be called angular by some, although I've never quite figured out exactly what that term means. More descriptively, this is herky-jerky rock where melodies come with jagged edges and rhythms dart around and make it nearly impossible to dance.

These are seemingly intellectual musical exercises, although I can't claim to be smart enough to fully understand them. One titled "Luddites" contains the following opening line: "I'm tooling for an on-off switch, put the rains on the psycho-shifter." I'm not sure what Corsello is so worried about. It sure seems important, though. 

Whatever it's all about, Select a Gather Point is definitely a dude's CD. There isn't a love song in the bunch – unless some of these brainy rants are actually cleverly disguised sonnets. If these are actually romantic poems – albeit without all the hearts and flowers – that's news to me. 

Calling all young, nerdy dudes! The Good Times Crisis Band is singing your twisted song. - Dan MacIntosh

"Good Times Crisis Band’s punk-inflected dirty rock n roll betrays a scathing wit and a groove that’ll make every mom-jeans-wearing cutie shake that ass into next week. mom-jeans optional."