12cent

12cent: Bastard MusicBastard Music (2002)
Olde Tyme Productions

Reviewer Rating: 5

Contributed by: Flatfoot Mike
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on December 3rd 2002Reading this right now, you may be asking yourself "12cent!? Who the fuck are they!?". Well, 12cent is a band from Whitman, MA that's been around since 1995, and has never stopped rocking. So why have you never heard of this band? That's a question I ask myself all the time. I guess sometimes true g.

Reading this right now, you may be asking yourself "12cent!? Who the fuck are they!?". Well, 12cent is a band from Whitman, MA that's been around since 1995, and has never stopped rocking. So why have you never heard of this band? That's a question I ask myself all the time. I guess sometimes true greatness is not always recognized. However, 12cent is probably one of the most loved bands in South Shore Massachusetts, and they even managed to get a spot on the Warped Tour (the first spot, actually. Playing on the Ernie Ball stage for a small crowd of people. I missed their damn set). Okay, so I just went on and on about who the band is. Let me get to the damn album.

"Bastard Music" is without a doubt, one of the most punk rock albums I've ever heard. The songs echo Minor Threat and the early days/2000-era Rancid. My favorite track would have to be "Sox", because it's so incredibly manic, sung by the drummer, Scotty. Here's a sample lyric (actually, pretty much the only lyrics aside from random yelling): "Socks! I love the smelly socks! I throw 'em at the cops! Bust 'em in the chops with my smelly socks!" At their shows, 12cent explains that Scotty wrote this song when he was 16. This kind of juvenile wildness is another thing that makes 12cent great. Two of the songs on the album, "Frankie's Bike Is Cool", a song about absolutely nothing, and "Fight", a song about both fighting assholes and being losers (but not without lyrics like "What's right? Got no lyrics, but that's okay. What's wrong? Still no lyrics to the song"), appeared on the 1997 EP "Working Without Class"; an album that I own, and can proudly state that it is one of the most insane albums I've ever heard.

Many of you might be thinking "these guys sound like morons." Well that may be true, but that doesn't mean they can't write great songs. Tracks like "Metal", "Slater" and "The Irish Song" show how talented they are when it comes to writing music. Just because they write immature lyrics it doesn't mean that they haven't matured musically. If you compare "Bastard Music" to any of their previous work you'll know what I mean.

All in all, my favorite aspect of 12cent would have to be the fact that everyone sings, and they all have a defineable voice. When some actually coherent singing comes through, you know that it's Dan. And when it sounds like the singer is piss drunk, you know it's Tom. This album introduced 12cent fans to the new guitarist: Pete Egersheim, former drummer/guitarist/singer of the Suburban Rejects. He brings a little TSR flavor to all the songs (Two TSR songs, "Whadayameanwhatdoimean?" and "TV Land" actually appear on the album, reworked in classic 12cent fashion), and now him and Tommy can play off of eachother.

So yeah, it's a great album and you should go out and get it.

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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.

Anonymous (January 13, 2006)

I love 12cent !!! I believe PuNkS not dead! It is my favourite bend, but really not popular in my country... I don't know why... I want mend it!!!
my favourite song - super heros ---- COOOOOL !!

Anonymous (January 13, 2006)

I love 12cent !!! I believe PuNkS not dead! It is my favourite bend, but really not popular in my country... I don't know why... I want mend it!!!
my favourite song - super heros ---- COOOOOL !!

Anonymous (September 15, 2004)

ive played with this band a few times since coming onto the scene last year. i am probably about 7 years younger than anyone in the band, but they don't seem to care. great live band. this CD was alright. check out the split with JHC and some of their earlier stuff

gecie (September 12, 2004)

such an awesome band.. Ive liked 12cent for about a year now and bastard music was the first stuff Ive heard from them and its just good music .. very good music.

Anonymous (September 10, 2004)

My band The Emergency Guns have had the pleasure of playing with 12cent something like 10 times, and sometimes when there were barely anyone there we would get a little bummed, but it never matters to these guys, it could be 10 people or 150 people, they always play great and are happy to do so

Anonymous (May 22, 2004)

test

funkisdead (August 10, 2003)

i bet this isn't as good as 50 cent.

Anonymous (December 12, 2002)

one of the hardest working bands i've ever met, they truely want this thing to happen and are being incredibly patient and are not giving up, i admire that. they deserve way more than they get and play for any amount of exposure, where's ware? the live shit is amazing and extremely comical, the cd rocks and they shouldnt all still be with their day jobs. props to the real 12cent crew and 12cent women who also deserve way more recognition than they receive. i always appreciate you guys' hard work and efforts, for what its worth. i thank you guys for everything, for enduring that session at my school with bulllll Adrian fag to giving me some of the best memories of my life. emotional jargon and stuff, i wish you guys the best and hopefully one day do your sound way better than that revere fuck. so hurry up and get signed you fucks!!

your friend and fan, Jill :)

Anonymous (December 11, 2002)

yep, they're a cool band

Anonymous (December 11, 2002)

it dont even disserve this one star cuz 12 cent sux

waste_elite (December 9, 2002)

"I said I don't like any punk made AFTER bad brains, stupid ass"

i'm sure that comment is bullshit as i can't see anyone limiting themselves to enjoying music only from a certain time-period.

Anonymous (December 9, 2002)

When Broken Society toured, 12 Cent showed us around Boston and gave us a place to sleep. They are like the east coast brothers we never had. If you don't give this album a 10, fuck you asshole.

Anonymous (December 9, 2002)

Bastard Music is such a good album that even wiggers will like it!

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

HA! you obviously dont listen to good punk rock idiot.

Anonymous (December 8, 2002)

talented at writing music? a punk band? never.

Anonymous (December 6, 2002)

punk, hardcore.....its underground music. good music.

Stupidfatkid (December 6, 2002)

BTW Minor Threat was considered hardcore by punk kids back in the salad days. I got that from my punk rock handbook.

Stupidfatkid (December 6, 2002)

These young men have very large cojones. Not quite as large as mine but I have elephantitis testiculus. In reading the comments Im wondering why a guy who hates all punk since Minor Threat/Bad Brains is reading punknews.org hmmm... Anyways Bastard Music is a good fun album. A good break from politics and other bullshit. So if you wanna have a laugh, smile alot, and get the ladies then you can go out and get fat like me or you can get Bastard Music from 12cent.com

Anonymous (December 5, 2002)

I said I don't like any punk made AFTER bad brains, stupid ass.

Learn to fucking read.

Anonymous (December 5, 2002)

Yeah, they WERE uncreative. In comparsion to Bad Brains.

Anonymous (December 5, 2002)

van halen is uncreative? lol man, read some history before you speak. your mom wish she could sleep with him 20 years ago.

- n'deso

Anonymous (December 5, 2002)

to the PUSSY who said he didn't liked the Bad Brains......you obviously don't know shit about music. I bet you listen to Van Halen or Limp Biscuit orr Motley Crue or GnR or some stupid, uncreative boring tripe. Go get some creativity.

Anonymous (December 5, 2002)

12cent sux

Anonymous (December 4, 2002)

omg your the best u roxxxx omg suck my titz plzzzzzz

Anonymous (December 4, 2002)

what can i say? these guys are the biggest peice of donkey sperm.just kiddin. This band is officially the best band i have heard in so long. everyone needs to buy merch and support them, so they can tour. fuck sheep.
-Ryan VanB

Anonymous (December 4, 2002)

Punk is still dead. And this band still sucks.

So, since I say punk has sucked since the days of Minor Threat/Bad Brains I'm a pussy? That's strange, I didn't know you could tell that much about a person based on their musical tastes.

-Steve

Anonymous (December 4, 2002)

I think it'd be really hard to hate these guys unless it is completely blind, or you just don't like most punk, period. This is one of the ONLY bands that I know of currently who are doing this for themselves, but aren't bitter yet and aren't trying to prove anything. If you don't like their album, or them, it's not gonna keep them up at night because it's just a hell of a lot of fun that you are missing out on. Don't expect them to change the world, but lighten up and just enjoy their brand of musical retardation. And I mean that in the very best way of course.

Anonymous (December 4, 2002)

i think 12cent are FUN!!!!!

Anonymous (December 4, 2002)

fuck off pussy.