Review / 200 Words Or Less
Mi Barrio
Good Job

Panda Empire (2008) Jason

Mi Barrio – Good Job cover artwork
Mi Barrio – Good Job — Panda Empire, 2008

I'm stoked that bands out there are gluttons for punishment and seek me out to do a review of their album. That's cool. However, I have a meager complaint from now on; no more CDR copies of your release. If it's a full-length like Good Job it gets the 200 Words or Less treatment. EPs will probably be ignored completely or sent to new intern...writer Zach F. to review. This has nothing to do with Mi Barrio personally. So for the love of Pete don't be offended. I just need more to look at than a slip case and little note.

Anyhow, Mi Barrio is a New Jersey punk/hardcore outfit whose influences range anywhere from The Jesus Lizard with all the quirky stops and starts to bang your cranium destruction ala Today is the Day. Needless to say, this is a bit bizarre but very interesting. The songs shift, stop, break, spin out of control, and then out of nowhere come back together in feral stomp of crushing guitars and manic rhythms.

I have no idea what the lyrics are about because... yeah read above. So I can't comment on that. I can tell you Mi Barrio is a good nutty slap in the face.

7.5 / 10Jason • February 11, 2009

Mi Barrio – Good Job cover artwork
Mi Barrio – Good Job — Panda Empire, 2008

Recently-posted album reviews

Pure Intention

Pure Intention
Independent (2026)

Pure Intentions is a hard hitting punk band first emerging in the Chicago scene in 2020. Since its formation by Joe Asshole and Tommy Volume, they have since added Judson Jones in 2024 to become its current standing trio. During that time, these guys have spread their gritty sound by touring the United States while gaining a strong following along … Read more

Exhumed

Red Asphalt
Relapse (2026)

There are few bands in extreme metal who understand their own lane as well as Exhumed. For nearly three decades, Matt Harvey and company have made gore feel theatrical, technicality feel fun, and deathgrind feel almost celebratory. Red Asphalt doesn’t rewrite that formula but weaponizes it, straps it into the driver’s seat, and floors the accelerator straight into oncoming traffic. … Read more

The Dumpies

Lub Dub
Dirt Cult (2026)

Ok full disclosure, I sung backups on (allegedly) three of these songs and one song is a cover (albeit a stretch lol) of a song I co-wrote. What can I say tho? I was a fan of The Dumpies from the get go, before we all became very close friends and constant tour mates! Dub music diehards might be a … Read more