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I feel like there's a lot more to this disc than meets the eye, and for some reason I just can't see it. Blueline Medic is obviously a talented foursome from down under who carries a deep appreciation for the melodicism and lyricism Jawbreaker made famous in the mid-nineties. The band has studied the aggressive-yet-kind form of pop-punk well, utilizing it on tracks like the upbeat opener "Sleepyhead." They're also not afraid to downshift for a time, showcasing their balladry on "Loss" and "Scotch In The Clown." These could have very well been Jawbreaker songs circa-Dear You, only with an Australian accent providing the vocals.

So I listen to the album and can pull out these little analogies and comparisons, but for some reason I still feel distant to this disc, like I can't make a connection to it. I don't know if my ears just tune out the fairly repetitive sound as the CD wanes into it's final tracks. I'm not sure if it's because of the lack of real, honest-to-god hooks throughout the album, leaving me with nothing to really latch onto [dangerous territory in this style of punk, to be sure].

Whatever it is, it frustrates me, because I really feel like I should like this album a lot more than I do. It's enjoyable, but doesn't really hold much of a replay value for me - it tends to just turn into white noise in my mind as I go about my daily business.

Maybe it's just not for me, but if you really dig the style of emotional pop punk that Jawbreaker helped forge, check out Blueline Medic. Hopefully you can crack the code of this text bomb before it blows up in my face.

MP3
Sleepyhead



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    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 2, 2003 at 11:55 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I fucking loved 'a working title in green'. after that, BLM got... well... SHIT.
    and irrelevant kick arse you tasteless fools.
    -Lunk
    PS. thanks again for the CD punky.

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2003-04-28 21:08:41
    My Score:

    The only good thing I've ever seen with regard to australian bands was the way that singer guy from Midnight Oil used to flail around like he had whole-body parkinsons. When I was 8, I honestly believed his bed must've been burning, what else would explain it? This score is for flailing in general, especially to music.

    Posted by pope_schlomo on 2003-04-28 15:22:54
    My Score:

    this score is for the insincere one. especially rhyming count with amount.

    Ramo

    Posted by insinceredave on 2003-04-28 14:52:30
    My Score:

    I've lost count of the amount of great Australian bands!

    insincere dave

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 28, 2003 at 12:14 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    MISTAH T HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RANCIDPUNX, SUCKA FOO'!

    - Mr. T (NOT rancidpunx)

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 27, 2003 at 8:46 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    RancidPunx goes away and Mr. T shows up... Odd.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 27, 2003 at 12:40 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I like Sex Bomb better.

    Posted by Strewtho on 2003-04-27 02:40:22
    My Score:

    Day of contempt is shite, anything must be better than shoddy metal.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 27, 2003 at 1:55 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Holy shit. An entire weeks worth of reviews and not a single perfect score. Congratulations punknews.org. Maybe the unbiased reviews will continue.

    Blueline Medic are alright.

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2003-04-26 10:56:02
    My Score:

    punky punky punky, go fart in a puddle

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 26, 2003 at 8:19 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    punky, shut-up, Irrelevant sucks!!

    Posted by rayjay on 2003-04-26 05:30:56
    My Score:

    irrelevant suck now and australian punk is dead.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 26, 2003 at 5:28 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    im digging that song Sleepyhead, i gues im just a sucker for Dear You type stuff.

    Posted by punky on 2003-04-26 03:20:19
    My Score:

    There are better bands from Australia, like Irrelevant, Mindsnare, Toe to Toe, Day of contempt, The Killchoir Project, I killed the prom queen...

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2003-04-25 20:43:47
    My Score:

    I like abusing furniture.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 25, 2003 at 7:53 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i like the cover art

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 25, 2003 at 7:26 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Actually, I've gotten to the point where most of the reviews bore me. I just look at the star rating, listen to one or two of the mp3s and then I read the review if I'm really interested in the band.

    But you're right, I am retarded. RETARDEDLY IN LOVE WITH YOU. LET'S MAKE BABIES.

    Posted by waste_elite on 2003-04-25 18:18:48
    My Score:

    are you retarded? read the review, they're from australia.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 25, 2003 at 6:11 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Is that vocalist from a foreign country? He kinda sounds like he has a slight accent.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 25, 2003 at 6:07 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    its not as rocking as the last one, but it's growing on me. wyzo

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 25, 2003 at 5:13 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i don't know man, i really enjoyed this album a lot. They mixed the sound from their last album with some upbeat rock say a Foo Fighters. Sometimes you just amaze me maverick. However opinion are opinions. My opinion: Best FBR release of 2003 (unless Teen Idols come back strong).

    Ramo

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 25, 2003 at 4:55 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Yeah Scott, what bands do you like?

    Posted by seek on 2003-04-25 16:16:57
    My Score:

    Anonymous, do you really don't know how to speak English, why do you comment on punknews.org anyway?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 25, 2003 at 2:52 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Scott, do you really don't have any taste, why do you write for Punknews.org anyway?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 25, 2003 at 2:16 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    This is incredibly bland jibba-jabba!

    - mr. T