Kepi Ghoulie - I Bleed Rock 'N' Roll (2011) RESTORED

Kepi Ghoulie's latest release, I Bleed Rock 'N' Roll, marks a shift in sound from the pop punk and folk punk for which he has been known in recent years. This time around its just pure ol' Rock & Roll. In the liner notes, Kepi says that the album is dedicated to "Rock 'N' Roll D.J.'s everywhere". He then goes on to explain that "nothing makes a rock show or gets you in the mood to play like a Rock & Roll D.J." And he goes on to list locations around the globe and the bands that the Rock & Roll D.J.'s tend to play there, like Motorhead, The Cramps, The Ramones, and so on.

When California punk trio Groovie Ghoulies disbanded in 2007, frontman Kepi, who had been part of both the original and final lineup, stayed true to the scene, the music and himself by continuing on with his own solo project. That solo project, for which he simply goes by Kepi Ghoulie, has become known for performing and releasing a fair balance of folk punk and punk rock material.

With thirteen catchy Rock & Roll numbers, I Bleed Rock'n'Roll isn't necessarily Kepi's best release to date, but certainly a different sort of release. Not only that, but it is the type of album that begs several repeat listens, as well as the type of album many Ghoulie fans would undoubtedly like to hear more of in the future.
"Rock 'N' Roll Shark" is the album's opener, a short, repetitive song in which Kepi claims that he's a Rock 'N' Roll shark – just as most kinds of sharks will die if they stop swimming, Kepi is clearly of the mind that he would find a similar fate if he was to stop rockin'. After well over two decades of writing and playing music, and touring a great deal, between The Groovie Ghoulies and his solo project, Kepi is not only one of the more admired and respected artists in the scene but also one who's in it for the long haul…proving, like he sings on the new album, "I bleed Rock 'N' Roll. I believe in Rock 'N' Roll". One of my favorite songs on the album is "Nikki Lee", with its sharp, infectious riffs, fuzzed-out chords which go from quick and muted to full strums, and a danceable beat. "Part Time Romeo" is definitely one of the standout tracks, a poppy composition which follows a pretty familiar Rock 'N' Roll formula, with lyrical content about wanting to give oneself to another completely, without all the one-night stands and coming and going of temporary lovers. There are also two acoustic songs on the album – the first, "Unfigureoutable", is a short Daniel Johnston-esque song, while the second serves as the closer, "Hard to Forget", an antifolk type song with a stream of lyrics which focus on getting over an ended relationship. The album's slow song, as such things go, is titled "Cupid is Real". And Kepi chose a single cover song to throw into the mix, and a rather appropriate one at that, Johnny Thunders' "Blame it on Mom".

A good many musicians have embraced the whole solo artist thing when their long-running punk bands were finally over. Joe Jack Talcum of legendary Philly punk band The Dead Milkmen has busied himelf through the years with his own solo project, even though the Milkmen occasionally get together for a show. There are a good many worthwhile others, too, like Joey Cape of Lagwagon, Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, Tony Sly of No Use for a Name, Mike Ness of Social Distortion, and so on. And Kepi Ghoulie unquestionably belongs on that list of notable solo artists. One of the most important lines of lyrics on the antemic I Bleed Rock 'N' Roll album is when Kepi sings: "What the world needs now is Rock 'N' Roll!".

~ James Carlson, Philadelphia Indie Music Examiner

Tracklist:

01. Rock 'N' Roll Shark
02. Nikki Lee
03. I Bleed Rock 'N' Roll
04. The Fever
05. Part Time Romeo
06. When I'm Gone
07. Unfigureoutable
08. I Just Wanted You To Know
09. Love To Give
10. Break My Heart
11. Cupid Is Real
12. Blame It On Mom
13. Hard To Forget

all songs by Kepi except "12" by Johnny Thunders


Produced, Recorded, Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by Denny Muller at The Static Room, Oakland, CA.

• Kepi Ghoulie - vocals, drums, rhythm guitar, tambourine, harmonica
+ Denny Muller - bass, tambourine, acoustic guitar, "heartbreaking" giutar on "10"
+ Dan Potthast - "shredding" guitar on "2-3,9"
+ Rusty Miller - "epic" guitar and keyboards on "1,6,8,11-12"

Release Date: November 29, 2011
Label: Asian Man Records
Catalog No.: AM 227-2