Review Archive: P

Really bad packaging-photocopied and folded paper; I can barely read the song titles (hopefully it's just the promo). The music sound like progressive rock (like Rush or King Crimson). I admit I still like Rush, but I can't say I like Pandora's Lunchbox.

This New Jersey quartet play a brand of urgent "emo" rock with somewhat of a Get-Up Kids twist, minus the melodic hooks and anthemic choruses. Instead, Penfold grab the listener with some tricky bass work, calculated changes and an urgent feel to the guitar sound. Each song clocks in just over four minutes, and is interesting and mature enough to keep me interested and entertained throughout. Good first effort, Penfold. Bonus info: The guy who put this out (his name's Kyle) was Jason Lee's personal assistant on the set of the movie Chasing Amy. [Brian Tunney]

Full Circle  

Another really good album from Pennywise — quite possibly their best. There's only problem with it: it's nothing new. It sounds almost identical to Unknown Road and About Time, both in musical style and lyrical content (which is summed up with an Abraham Lincoln quote in the liner notes: "The better part of one's life consists of their friendships"). The only slow song on Full Circle is a piano instrumental hidden at the end of the CD. The others have Pennywise's now-trademark sound: fast drumming, loud guitars, and Fletcher's umistakable voice (as easily recognized as Fat Mike's). Highly recommended for fans or first-time buyers, but casual listeners need not rush on out to get it.

I first saw New York's ska/funk/punk band Perfect Thyroid when they played a show at UMass Dartmouth a couple years ago. There was only one band that popped into my mind: Fishbone (the singer/trumpet player even had a mohowk to complete the comparison). A band like this, with its mixed musical influences, is constantly changing things up over the progression of the album — and often during the course of a single song — from fun, peppy ska right into horn-backed hardcore and back, with some funk flowed here and there. "Marella", "Blah Blah Blah", "Pear-o-Noya" and the Joe Jackson tune "Got the Time?" are the best cuts off Musical Barnacles.

The Great Surf Crash of '97  

Sit back and let the Phantom Surfers tell you all about the Great Surf Crash of '97. (I don't know if that's true: I thought ska and/or techno was going to be the Next Big Thing? I better go read Rolling Stone and find out.) The Phantom Surfers are (one of) the originals in the world of surf-revival — or, if not reviving, at least keeping it alive. They're also one of the best, too. They have the fun of the Ventures, the speed of Dick Dale...and probably their recording equipment, too. My only complaint: it fails to capture the full effect of the PS live experience. How — or if — that can be done, I don't know...

Very Emergency  

Ever heard of "happy music"? I didn't either, that is until I experienced the third full length effort from the midwestern pop sensation affectionately known as the Promise Ring? Let me explain.

The Promise Ring began as one of those damn, pardon my use of the word, "emo" bands. Their first record (30 Degrees Everywhere) was a bit slow, somewhat intense and lyrically confusing. That formula made for a damn good record, and eventually everyone and their mother copied this formula. Suddenly, there were 30 Promise Ring type bands in the continental U.S. alone.

Next came Nothing Feels Good, the second full length. A new formula: bouncy pop music with enough do-do-do's and ba-ba-ba's to get anyone singing along. No rip off's following behind this time though; just a change in musical direction. This was happy at times and melancholy at others.

And now, amid the CMJ chaos that the end of September brings, is Very Emergency. Now I'm not sure if the Promise Ring intended to strike up a different formula with each record, but I'm pleased with the progress made at pioneering "happy" music for the new millenium. Contained within are 10 songs, and only one could be construed as saddening. Choice songs include "Things Just Getting Good", "Deep South" and "Happiness is all the Rage". These are all deeply infectious pop songs that will crawl inside anyone's head and leisurely vacation at your brain's pleasure centers. Plus the lyrical content is actually understandable at times. And beyond that is a costume party photographical depiction of the band that breaks away from the standard "Jade Tree look" of the record.

In all, I'm glad to see the Promise Ring constantly breaking the preconceived mold of their past and exploring new avenues of music, lyrics and even record appearance. If you've never heard the Promise Ring before, this is a wonderful introduction. Or of course you can scour your old Props videos for some of their older material. (See Road Fools 3 for one of their bouncier numbers at the Bethlehem stop.)
[Brian Tunney]

Less Talk, More Rock  

This isn't a new album, but I only recently picked it up. Less Talk, More Rock definitely has more rock, but no less talk: the lyrical content is both intelligent and thought-provoking (the cover sums up the content: "animal-friendly, anti-fascist, gay-positive, pro-feminist" — one could also add pro-anarchy anti-capitalism). Plus the CD booklet includes several essays to expand on what they weren't able to fully get across in the songs. Their "fuck everybody" attitude, coupled with the snotty vocals, turned me off to their first album How to Clean Everything...but I later came around to love that record for the same reason I originally disliked it — even if you don't totally agree with everything Propagandhi has to say, you have to admire their ferocity.
   But back to the rock: Less Talk, More Rock has a fuller production and louder, twangier bass; but it also lacks some of the lightning-quick guitar from their last album. Still, their latest is every bit as good as How to Clean Everything, and they continue to have some of the longest song titles around: "The Only Good Fascist is a Very Dead Fascist," "...And We Thought the Nation-States Were a Bad Idea", and "Apparently, I'm a P.C. Fascist (Because I Care About Both Human and Non-Human Animals)".

Esteem Driven Engine  

What happens when you mix members of Ten Foot Athlete, face to face, Strung Out and No Use For A Name? You get Epitaph's first Fat Wreck band! Does the world really need another band that sounds like this? Why the hell not? It's decent stuff; nothing original or shocking, but they play this style of music well — fast, energetic and catchy tunes ("Lifer", "Silver Tongue Devil"), good production, and on the verge of overdoing the backup vocals. The only break from the action is "Four Walls," which is a slow, alt-rock tune that sounds too much like Weezer.