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| Swingin' UttersDead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones2003 Fat Wreck Chords 
 Review by: moldy See others by this writer Fat Wreck (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on March 28th 2003
In the scene today it seems that many bands are making songs that sing of heartbreak and sorrow but are emotionally empty. When I listen to these groups I can tell that the tears and Jr. High poetry are for show and money, rather than an expression of real emotion. But this does not apply to the latest offering from San Francisco’s Swingin’ Utters, the slower songs on Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones tell stories of loss through death and relationship breakups from heart and are able to convey the pain that the singer feels. People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
the utters and the souls are two of the best punk bands of today in my opinion. go ahead and disagree if you want, we all have different tastes. anyone else think koskis guitar solos are just nothing short of fucking amazing? im not talking about difficult or technical. theyre simple, but so good they are great nothing else to talk abot. either you got a good taste or .... I disagree. Average means middle-of-the-pack and while these guys and the Souls might not have the most distinctive sounds ever, they produce high quality music, raising them above average. This band is soooo average kinda like the bouncing souls. Lets see who disagrees "If You Want Me To" is incredible. "Promise To Distinction" was written by Darius Koski, which is pretty obvious, because the guy's family background origin is from Finland (I Think). That's where I think the Utters got all that crazy influences of folk/country/acoustic sound. "Juvinile Product" was a very good album too, because I thought it had alot of very good melodies mixed in with a fair share of Acoustic Driven songs, and of course plenty of good street punk. I thought that album was a huge leap from "Streets Of San Francisco". hmm. i really want to hear this. i thought "juvenile product..." was amazing, but no one here has mentioned it. their next, 'five lessons learned' was real good but more experimental. the s/t album i was very very disappointed in. and huber was a really good songwriter. did he write 15th and T? thats their best song in my humble opinion. and who wrote 'promise to distinction' thats another classic. this is a relief from the axis of evil (simple plan, newfound glory, good charlotte respectively north korea, iraq, and whatever the 3rd country was). I don't know, to me "Dead Flowers" was just straight forward stuff and not at all comparable or as diverse as "5 Lessons Learned". Not only did "5 Lessons" album have good old fashion street punk in it, but they used plenty of different exotic insruments like Brass Horns, Organs/Electric Pianos, and a freakin' Mandolin for god's sake! And you know what? It was damn good...So good, that the song "A Promise To Distinction" made me cry (Well not literally, but it's one my Favorite Utters Songs, and yes, it's a brilliant tune). That's what seperates the Utters from every other mediocre street punk band, they were experimental songwriters...They used and played differnt stuff no other regular punk band can dare do and make it even sound decent. Not to mention, Koski's guitar work and solos were as talented as ever. I just got this album in the mail yesterday, and I think it's got everything that made me love the Utters. Good street punk (ala Juvenile Product), along with their detours into folk/country/traditional music. I think it's pretty cool that they thank Max in the liner notes. Maybe he'll be back someday, but for right now, I think they are doing fine without him. I am seeing them tommorow in Cleveland, I just wonder if they are going to rock out Accordian style there. I've been waiting 6 years since I was 15 to see them. I can't wait. Fuck yeah, Filthy Thieving Bastards know how to rock it Unplugged!! If ye be wantin' some good old fashioned Utters-style acoustic songs: Filthy Thievin' Bastards are right up your alley... and up yor arse! har har har.. Hey Pope_Schlomo on April 8th, ya might be eatin' your words. I'm Sorry, but this is just got to be one of my least favorite Swingin' Utters albums. After listening to the S/T and thier split w/Youth Brigade albums, I was expecting alot more creative slow tempo/acoustic driven songs that made me loved this band so much, but instead I found most of it to be just regular simple street punk. It's just me, but I think the Utters are way more capable songwriters than this. I miss Max Huber.... Very good review. Dedicated bands deserve your money. yes, and all bands that right about heartbreak and sorrow are frauds and sellouts. dumbass. i just can't get into this band... i love this band, love this record, and i'm seeing 'em tomorrow at the fireside Solid, not great, not bad...i think it could've benefitted from a bit more of the utters country/folk flava...Pretty straight forward street punk...-bigjerk woah, idk about best fat wreck chord of 2003, you are totally forgetting new NOFX, Lagwagon, MFAGG, Mad Caddies, etc. fat is churning them out this year. amazing amazing album... anyone else think that "Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones" sounds alot like "The Broad Majestic Shannon" by the Pogues? i love this album so FUCKING much. as much as "five lessons learned". i thought the S/T album was disppointing but the utters came back and beat the shit out of my ears. next sunday swingin utters....beware. |
