Classics of Love

Classics of Love: Classics of LoveClassics of Love (2012)
Asian Man Records

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: JohnGentileJohnGentile
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Published on February 14th 2012"I think a lot about the powers that be," Jesse Michaels dryly announced to the audience at a recent concert in Santa Cruz, Calif. "I fucking hate them." On Classics of Love's self-titled LP, Michaels makes that sentiment in the most direct and energetic way of his entire career. Immediately noti.

"I think a lot about the powers that be," Jesse Michaels dryly announced to the audience at a recent concert in Santa Cruz, Calif. "I fucking hate them." On Classics of Love's self-titled LP, Michaels makes that sentiment in the most direct and energetic way of his entire career.

Immediately noticeable is the hardcore influence of the record where San Jose's the Hard Girls, the band's instrumental section, jack up their own attack and blaze through the album in a tight 23 minutes. Michaels has stated that it's not a hardcore record per se, but in nearly every track, the angular slashing and rapid clipping of bands like Minor Threat, Bad Brains and Poison Idea are evident. At some points, the LP kicks so hard it seems to reference Discharge.

While not every song is a thrasher, not once does Michaels or the band let up on the cracking. On "Dissolve" the bands rips through the minute-long song in raw furor, both heard in Michaels' throaty scream and the band's raw riffs. Yet, on "Band Stand" the band even gives third wave ska a spin (sort of). "Moving Pictures" has just a taste of Black Sabbath low end twisting. Yet, between it all, the youthful spirit of early hardcore permeates the genre flipping, highlighting both the music's optimism and pessimism.

This contrast has never been more evident in Michaels' lyrics. In a recent interview he stated that he was happier than he's been in a long time, yet the entire album is filled with a litany of grievances, from poor gun control laws to big banks stealing bailout money to the vast divide between the poor and the rich. But, in part due to the album's raw energy, these admonishments don't come across as whining, but rather, as targets to be attacked.

The album ends with the call to arms "We Need a Change," where Michaels, in the spirit of early punk, demands that the youth make a change. By dwelling not on the negatives, the band has made something singularly positive.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Qrobur (January 5, 2013)

This album ranked third behind the tedious 'Handwritten' by The Gaslight Anthem and the ordinary 'On The Impossible Past' by The Menzingers in PunkNews' list of the albums of the year. That's a pity as it's a far better record than either of those two efforts.

Fast, fun, shouty and written with some imagination — essential when working in the punk style with its supposedly limited musical palette — this record is definitely worth your attention. It would certainly have made a better no. 1 record in PN's end of year list than either of the other two I've mentioned.

bradc930 (April 13, 2012)

This album is pretty much perfect.

zeagull (March 28, 2012)

Too bad the album cover is poopy.

Sliced-T (March 22, 2012)

Pretty great album. Not one bad track and sounds exactly like something you'd expect from JM.

timahelm (March 6, 2012)

Brilliant record! So far best album of 2012 for me

Amoeba (February 20, 2012)

Ordered !

Good music is rare these days...

Blackjaw_ (February 19, 2012)

"o man, just found a 2004 November Trials Demo CD, I think Classics of Love dudes were 14 or so on that EP"

Send that to me! mitch_@live.ca

It was Pteradon before they turned into Pteradon. Love that band. Get their album from last year, it's free on Quote Unquote.

burntorangepeel (February 19, 2012)

This album is amazing.

still_ill (February 17, 2012)

Now if only the other Easy Bay Jesse would start a band again...

walkingisstillhonest (February 17, 2012)

I haven't been this into an album in forever. Fuck yeah, Jesse Michaels.

9mind8 (February 17, 2012)

Listened to the stream, had energy - intended

davebrave4 (February 16, 2012)

Can't wait to hear this.

chipsahoycookie (February 16, 2012)

Love this.

oldturds (February 16, 2012)

this album is super sick. i was a fan of common rider, which doesn't seem to be something most would brag about, but this is much, much better than that shit. "castles in the sky" is by far my favorite song on the album, and i hope that's not just because it reminds me so much of op iv. further listens will solve that riddle, i hope.

crackpotdemagogue (February 15, 2012)

This is the best straight punk rock record I have heard in ages. Amazing energy, superb lyrics, memorable tunes. Thank ye gods for Jesse Michaels. 10/10.

bryne (February 15, 2012)

Best record of 2012 so far.

Problematiclogic (February 15, 2012)

This is, and was always going to be, amazing. 'Bandstand' sounds like it could be on Energy.

1776 (February 15, 2012)

I didn't care for the e.p., but this is an improvement in every way. Am I the only one who hears Big Rig 2.0 here?

r3vengetherapy (February 15, 2012)

It's been a long time since I've heard anything that sounds like this. I wish that wasn't the case, but it makes this the first thing I've heard from Jesse Michaels that I actually really like.

Maverick (February 14, 2012)

This is what I wish all punk rock sounded like, always. A brilliant record. Without a doubt one of the best of 2012.

-Scott

telegraphrocks (February 14, 2012)

First listen was exquisite, every listen afterwards never had the same feeling.

Blackjaw_ (February 14, 2012)

Hard Girls > Classics of Love

canaandrumzz (February 14, 2012)

Awesome album, I'm really into "Moving Pictures" the sabbath-ish sounding song way more than I though would have been.

thisrespirator (February 14, 2012)

So fucking great. "Castle In The Sky" is probably my favorite song.

Droote (February 14, 2012)

Incredible album, the best I've heard for a while. Without a doubt the best thing Jesse has done since Op Ivy. I like how Asian Man Records have shipped out pre-orders for over a month, although the record was supposed to be released today.

eatdogs (February 14, 2012)

i gotta catch this band live at some point. totally awesome...

vegancraig (February 14, 2012)

Glad to hear such a passionate album from Jesse. It certainly takes me back to the energy (harhar) of the Operation Ivy material, while having a, for the most part, much different sound ("Castle In The Sky" does sound a lot like OpIvy to me). The vocals, though, are undeniably Jesse and that's a major key to the perfectness of this album. Really great from start to finish.

johnnyz77 (February 14, 2012)

awesome album. Jesse has done it again! Mike Park is so proud to release it too i heard.

badastrojon (February 14, 2012)

o man, just found a 2004 November Trials Demo CD, I think Classics of Love dudes were 14 or so on that EP

mclz (February 14, 2012)

Such an amazing record and will easily be in everyone's top 5 by the end of the year.

boxcar (February 14, 2012)

Exactly what I was hoping for after the brilliant ep! Only streamed it once so far and it blew my mind! So good! Now I need to get my hands on that vinyl...

OffTopic: My account on the orgsummit has been disabled, how do I get it back??

oldpunkerforever (February 14, 2012)

oops, forgot my rating-oldpunker-

oldpunkerforever (February 14, 2012)

Brilliant-oldpunker-

Papastar (February 14, 2012)

Sweet mother of Jesus! Just bought it on Itunes after reading the review. The whole thing fucking RIPS!! The world needs more Jesse Michaels.

oldgospelchoir (February 14, 2012)

so good.
now Hard Girls need to come out with a new record.

SloaneDaley (February 14, 2012)

Album is so good, not sure if it is a 4.5 but fer sher a 4.

MN_DrNick (February 14, 2012)

Great album. This is going to be hard to beat as best punk album of the year.