So this is billed as “dub-punk” which immediately turned me off, I’ll admit. I guess I’m not savvy on what this whole “dub” thing is about. I associate it with reggae which is just about the only genre of music that I have seriously burnt out on. The 80s really did a number on me in that respect, I’ll admit. Anyway, this is about Tempo No Tempo which as far as I have heard from two songs and their MySpace page do not represent reggae, whew! What you will hear in ”Medicines” is some nice raw, off-kilter energy, with a heavy bass beat, and lo-fi guitars. I am hoping there’s other tracks on this record like this one even though the smoother vocals and more predictable beat of “The Rat (Part One)” is also a very listenable song. “Line Drawing” on their MySpace page is very captivating, and the song from which the album title comes. I’m reminded of the bass line in many Violent Femmes songs. I guess if they want to call this reggaeton, I’ll have to let them. I just wouldn’ t classify it as that myself, what can I say? It’s funky; it’s got a good groove (watch out middle-aged indie rockers, you’ll hate that, heheh) Tempo No Tempo say they’re reinventing themselves and their sound. I’ve no idea what they sounded like before, but this is good stuff and if they were coming to Chicago I’d definitely be in the audience, xoxo

pre-order Waking Heat here, directly from the band

tracklist:
1) The Rat (Part One)
2) Pole Position
3) Kilometer
4) Kindercare
5) Get Down, Stay Down
6) Lay Your Magnets Down
7) Medicines
Line Drawing
9) Get Young
10) Half Asleep

Tour Dates
9.27 : The Off Center Café (Salem, OR)
10.1 : Amnesia w/ French Miami (San Francisco, CA)
10.3 : UC Irvine w/ Railcars (Irvine, CA)
10.4 : Que Sera (Long Beach, CA)
10.8 : UC Davis (Davis, CA)
10.16 : Chestnut Hill (Boston, MA)
10.17 : J.R.’s Bar (Philadelphia, PA)
10.19 : Goodbye Blue Monday w/ Jon Shina (Brooklyn, NY)
10.20 : Velvet Lounge w/ BLDGS (Washington, DC)
10.21 : Terrorbird Day Party @ Cake Shop (New York, NY)
10.22 : CMJ Showcase TBA (NY, NY)
11.5 : Rickshaw Stop w/ Maus Haus (San Francisco, CA)