Over the past few months I have almost eliminated all hardcore and street punk from my musical collection and replaced it with poppy albums chock full of songs about girls and so fourth. However one album that never left my collection was The Resistors last album "Damaged Ugly & Loud" and when I found out they were self releasing a new album I couldn't have been more excited.
Once I got it and put it for its inaugural spin I was immediately wowed by the amazing bass line that opens the first song "American Empire". As I continued to listen this album proved to me that almost every song is a hit; each in its own way. All containing intelligent, fun and amusing lyrics; exceptional musicianship, and catchy sing a long melodies that are in most cases are complimented by tasteful backing vocals. With each and every song being as good as it is you really can't loose with a kick ass album like this. The only thing I can't figure out about this album is which song actually is my favorite. (Might be either "Tequila Has A Way" or "Walking Ruin") But no matter what you choose as your favorite song this is one album you need to own.
I’ve always been a person who
kept my politics and my punk in two separate piles. It may sound contradictory
to the music’s revolutionary roots, but I’d rather hear a song about a girl than
about Bush. Saying that,
What
I respect about this band is the fact that they're not just trying to be the
next Anti-Flag (not that I dislike Anti-Flag, they're just an example)
musically. They share the political edge, but take inspiration from all the old
punk and heavy metal guitarists (early Kiss, Ramones, New York Dolls, Blue
Oyster Cult as mentioned - all from or formed in New York, an interesting side
note!) whilst having enough fun to lighten the weight of some of the more
serious themes on display - "Walking Ruin," involving the dodgy combination of
the government and pot, is a direct opposite to the twanging carefree mood of
delinquent romance in "Tequila Has A Way," a song which, in a truly pop-punk
fashion, relies on leads, leads, leads as the main hook. As you should know by
now, leads are very important to me, "Tequila Has A Way" being my favourite
Resistors pop song.
However, not everything is perfect. The Resistors have hooks, sure, but it seems to me that they are not evenly distributed to all twelve tracks. This can be forgiven in the case of certain songs ("Dear Mr Bush"), but when it comes to relatively good ideas in an intentionally fun track such as "Nowhere Fast," there's just not enough there. Three minutes with a killer guitar solo, but somehow even after repeated listening there's little else to fill the void between one hook and another. This is only a minor grumble with an otherwise enjoyable listen! If these dudes exhibited their talent more often with a few more numbers in the vein of "Long Long Time Ago" and "Tequila," they would become a force not to be reckoned with. But as it stands, I think the Resistors should re-consider their priorities and start producing more concise material such as E.P's and singles. But what the hell, this album is a bargain ($5/around £2.50)
In Columbus Indiana
