SUBURBAN VOICE (DC Snipers "Missile Sunset" LP/CD, Dead Beat)
When one has to listen to formulaic album after formulaic album (and write formulaic review after formulaic review), something occasionally comes along to break the monotony. The DC Snipers are one of those bands. Guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and slightly nervous vocals. A nervy sound as well, with elements of garage, new wave and what the Minutemen might call scientist rock--that gnarled mid-70s proto punk sound. "All Humans Are Garbage" is a lyrical sentiment I can get behind, as well, even though its one of the weaker songs on the album. That's only in relative terms. Nothing weak about this album.

PEACEDOGMAN (DC Snipers "Missile Sunset" LP/CD, Dead Beat)
Some labels endlessly submit lackluster material for review, seeking abuse like some attention-starved teenager. But the folks at Dead Beat continue to impress with disc after disc of stripped-down, trash-the-joint rock'n'roll sporting just enough edge to quell those feelings of "been there" and "done that".

First off, this band's name is a classic, even if they aren't referring to the snipers in Montgomery County, Maryland a couple of years back that had DC residents hiding under their cars while pumping gas (but I'm sure they are). These guys shouldn't have any trouble gaining notoriety with such an arresting name.

Musically, NJ's DC SNIPER crash through eleven tracks of tight, muscular anthems recalling late-70s four chord barbarians like THE HEARTBREAKERS and ATM-style noodle wavers like THE LOST SOUNDS. The disc is peppered with moments that hint at classic pre-punk slop of (oh, yeah!) ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS. The SNIPERS seem to cook best when charging like a freight train through throbby bass 'n drum groovers like "Electric Chair From Saigon" and "ADF" (which upon first listen sounds like a cover of THE RAMONES' "Commando"). Chris' coyote howls and weird anti-croons crisscross with driving basslines and kooky keys, like your favorite '77 platter reflected in a funhouse mirror. "Straight Razor" may alienate the purist slightly with it's bizarre BOWIE/QUEEN "Under Pressure" vibe, but by the time you get to the finale, "All Humans Are Garbage", you'll have cleared away a special spot next to the Chapstick in your dashboard console for this puppy. It's hard-drivin', primitive, and just weird enough to make it a keeper.

NO FRONT TEETH (DC Snipers "Missile Sunset" LP/CD, Dead Beat)
These guys were one of the show-stealers on the ‘Let’s Have Some God Damn Fun’ comp with ‘Evil’ and I’m hooked on their scatty, spastic blend of garage fuzz and early punk rock. They have a slight Rip Off sound but that’s too easy to say because they have this whole other side that’s totally different. There’s a lot more going on in the DC SNIPERS sound than in a typical garage band. It’s layered, abrupt and arty as opposed to simply stripped-down rock n roll. Sure they’re still raw but it’s a deeper rawness, a complex primitiveness if you like. I like! The spirit of the DC SNIPERS is fantastic... fun and bizarre: ‘Electric Chair From Saigon’, ‘All Humans Are Garbage’, ‘Criminal Dog’, ‘Die (They All Want Me To)... I mean, how can you not wanna hear these guys just from those song titles? Great presentation and artwork too... these guys have got it. This is something to get really excited about and this could easily be my favourite release of the year already.

DUSTED MAGAZINE (DC Snipers "Missile Sunset" LP/CD, Dead Beat)
Five guys from around NYC or Jersey or someplace like that comprise the DC Snipers, pushing a tactless name, a hackneyed delivery, an unoriginal sound, and an agenda of compromised ideals … so why does it work? Ah, because they have learned what separates the men and women of the world from the poseurs and wannabes: they have mastered the art of playing beyond competence but sounding like they don’t care.

The Snipers play punk rock with trad-rock leanings, and they write songs that are really stupid. Stupid in that really awesome way that a lot of bands are too afraid to approach – and rightly so, because stupid can blow up in your face and actually make you look stupid, instead of smart guys knowing how to play stupid. (There’s also the kind of stupid that generates a band like Hoobastank, which defies all logic and reason, unless someone went and wrote some law of logic while I was asleep that says people like to eat what comes out of their bodies, but that, too, does not apply here.) The kings of smart stupidity in rock and roll are the Dictators. The DC Snipers are like that. They have a song called “Straight Razor” that rolls off a ’50s-style early rock riff, backing a chorus of “Straight! Razor! / Stray-ay-ayt! Razor!” It’s a passionate tale of cutting paper. And I can’t get it out of my head. They repeat this trick on “Soviet Union” and again on “Electric Chair from Saigon,” all yelled out with wide-eyed wonder of nothing in particular. They also have a song called “Get Awesome on the Street” and a sweet number called “All Humans are Garbage.” Such dumb sentiments have to succeed on style, and fortunately the way these guys rock is plenty stylin’, and not in the shave-bolts-in-your-head-for-irony, caught-with-a-mouthful-on-the-Internet type of style, but the kind that allows you to wolf down 30 White Castles before they get cold.

And really, that’s about it. No song here – even the ones that reach four minutes – wear out their welcome, as they’re performed with heat and take themselves just seriously enough to remember that the songs have to be catchy and memorable as well as snotty and tossed-off. In 27 minutes, it’s over, and you put it on again. That particular thrill hasn’t happened around Casa Mosurock in a long time, so this is as much a recommendation as a cause for celebration. Next time you see me, I’ll be getting awesome in the street

TERMINAL BOREDOM (DC Snipers "Missile Sunset" LP/CD, Dead Beat)
....Stunning debut full length from these DC Snipers dudes. The split single they did last year only hinted at their chops and songwriting skill. They assault the punk genre from many different angles here, coming up with an assbasket full of catchy tunes and choruses. There are a ton of things I like about this: (a)"You Disappear Me" sounds like a piss-take on The Ponys. (b) Some of it sounds like an alternate universe version of Fugazi (like if a bizarro Mackaye & Co. had an actual sense of humor and liked cheap intoxicants), taking Gang of Four-ish post-punk with a small bit of hardcore and mixing in some punk-garage highlights and clever and funny lyrics. (c) The wrote a catchy and upbeat number called "All Humans Are Garbage". (d) Great rhythm section. (e)There's a moron-core tune called "Soviet Union" in which those two words are the only lyrics as far as I can tell. (f) "Get Awesome on the Streets" and "Electric Chair from Saigon" would make killer A-Sides for singles. (g) They made me think of Rat At Rat R for some reason. I'm not saying they necessarily sound like Rat At Rat R, but they made me think of them. Which must be good. (h) I think one of them has a beard. (i) They sneak in some keyboards, which I was unprepared for, and which kind of got me mad, but you really barely know they're there. Nice show of restraint there, guys, thanks a lot. See, you can have a keyboard in your rock band and not put it all over every fucking song. Anyway, before I digress too much further, this band is terrific and this record is one of the best things Deadbeat has ever put out. I'm gonna have to strip the title of best NYC band from the Shop Fronts now though. Paddy, give up the championship belt and hand it over. Scum stats: I'm sure Deadbeat pressed a few, but there is a collector scum edition of 28 with hand drawn covers by Mike Sniper.(RK)

TERMINAL BOREDOM (DC Snipers "Missile Sunset" LP/CD, Dead Beat)
An excellent follow up to their side of the split 7" with The Shop Fronts, New York's DC Snipers seem to be one of the best NYC punk bands going today. They can write everybody-sing-along songs just as easily as songs that make you focus on the singer and draw you into his mind. The tunes go from bouncy poppier punk to driving punk and all seem to know how to make tasteful use of keyboards, which is always a plus. The A-side is a bit more straightforward than the B-side which has more keyboard use and more group vocals. "Die" is definitely my favorite track of the album and others like "All Humans are Garbage" and "Straight Razor" are not far behind. A solid album to start off 2006 with. I expect it will hold up pretty well througout the year. Hopefully I'm right! (JC)

NOW WAVE (DC Snipers "Missile Sunset" LP/CD, Dead Beat)
I wasn’t sure if I was gonna like this record or not, but I fuckin love it.

The DC Snipers rip through their debut record at a tad over twenty-five minutes, and it’s all very raw sounding but still remaining very, very catchy. I don’t think there’s a bad song on here. I really like the songs “Note to Self”, “You Dissapearrr Me” (yes, three r’s), and “Straight Razor”. And I love the songs “Electric Chair from Saigon” and the final song “All Humans are Garbage” definitely sums up how I’ve been feeling lately, ha ha.

The keyboards add to the DC Snipers sound in a very cool and un-distracting way. I’d like to say this is similar to the Dead Boys, but not in their sound, just more in their simpleness and rawness. I don’t know what else to compare this too. When it’s raw and catchy I just think Dead Boys as that comparison should be good enough.