Screeching Weasel Television City Dream (1998) Fat Wreck Chords

There are a few geniuses in punk rock and Ben Weasel is definitely one of them. Whether it's in Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, or his solo shit the man can write a kick ass tune and he has been doing it for years. Television City Dream is a bit of a change for Screeching Weasel. Gone are the Dan's (Vapid and Panic) and on board are Mass Giorgini and Dan Lumley as well as some dude who has not been seen or heard from since. As a longtime Weasel fan I have to say I was a bit skeptical at first since the Dan's have been there for most of Screeching Weasel's best days... but the newcomers do a great job and TVCD is actually a pretty fantastic album.

Another bit of a change is TVCD is a total mix of punk compared to "Bark Like a Dog", their last full length album which was almost all straight up pop punk. With this album Screeching Weasel is back with their fast and furious songs which you will notice right away with the opener "Count to Three". There is also the sequence of "Plastic Bag", "I Don't Give a Fuck", and "Only a Test", all of which clock in at under a minute. But of course there is also the poppy punk that Screeching Weasel made famous. Gems on this album include "Outside of You", "Burn it Down" and one of the best Weasel tunes of all time "Speed of Mutation".

This album is a great mix of songs and has some great lyrics. It's good to see Screeching Weasel back with some bite and attitude which this album provides. While it might not be their best album it is certainly a great album and a solid release.

(Milo)