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 | None More BlackFile Under Black2003 Fat Wreck Chords 
  Review by: Aubin See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on June 6th 2003 Have you ever had feelings so mixed that the strain of those feelings threatened to tear your very world apart? Have you ever endured the pain of writing about a record that left you neither glowing nor deriding about it? (This opening is my attempt to bid for the kind of gee-whiz legitimacy and flowery prose that is usually reserved for British music magazines, but I probably won't be able to keep it up for long) In any case, while you probably are loathe to admit it, you're asking if this is anything like Kid Dynamite; that perfect, raw, unspoiled blend of punk and hardcore that seems to exist in spite of all the watered down, tight-pants and v-neck indie rock that was passing itself off as punk? Nope. No. No way. Sorry. Next. The only thing this has in common with Kid Dynamite is the positively amazing vocals of Jason Sevechuck; a voice so damn good they could save almost any band. They save this one. The opening triumverate of tracks is just huge, "Everyday Balloons", "Dinner's for Suckers" and "The Ratio of People to Cake" are punk rock in the classical sense. It's not post- anything. Just loud guitars, melodies and zero pretension. Not too fast as to conjure up memories of previous endeavours, nor too slow to make people wonder what's wrong. Just great songs, and if the band had kept it up for the entire length of the record, you'd have a truly impressive debut. The next track "Never Heard of Corduroy" has more in common with the rest of the record. It ventures into a slower, more unique sound; conjuring up memories of the Lawrence Arms. But as the record continues, it seems that something is definitely wrong in New Jersey. The songs are good, but something seems to have sucked the life out of this band. Everything just sounds tired, like the band went full throttle into the opening songs and slept through the last bunch. It might seem like an abstract complaint, but if you give the record a listen, I think you might agree.
These are good songs; catchy and well-performed. The lack of energy though seems to be bleeding
into my writing, as after it was over, I felt more apathetic about the record than raving. I would
recommend giving it a listen, because there are some great things going on, and somehow I just know
they will just blow people away live, because an injection of energy into this record would make it a hell of a lot better.
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No shit there's something wrong with New Jersey. I'm just kidding. Great record! waaaayyyyyy underrated This album is really quite good. Of course it's not packed with all the energy one would like, but the songs are great (like Aubin said). Even the slower, more laid-back songs play an important and welcomed contribution to the album. I don't know, I think it's a pretty solid effort. i think its a very imnportant pop punk album, because to be honest, its hard to find even somewhat decent pop punk these days, i like this album! I think this album was underrated, I thought it was pretty good. oh yea, and in response to the kid mentioning the track titles being from seinfeld...i haven't seen the show that much, but i know that one of the kid dynamite songs was named after something said on seinfeld....what was it....umm.....oh, the penske file. i think you should have given it some more time. some of the tracks are a little weak, but "drop the pop" and "m.a.t.t.h." are two of the best on the cd, and they're not members of your opening triumvirate. I guess this could be a postive or a negative component for this band (depending on your feelings towards the show) but an inordinate percentage of their songs are named from Seinfeld quotes. Odd? The ones I immediately recognized were: For me, I was found out about none more black before I'd even heard of Kid Dynamite. I think that this album is amazing, and it's in my cd player all the time, but now after listening to Kid Dynamite, I can definatly see how people say there's a lack of energy in the cd, or at least compared to kid d. For me, I was found out about none more black before I'd even heard of Kid Dynamite. I think that this album is amazing, and it's in my cd player all the time, but now after listening to Kid Dynamite, I can definatly see how people say there's a lack of energy in the cd, or at least compared to kid d. cool fast and hard punk rock record. not special but cool Holy shit does this album suck! this cd is so good, the more i listen to it the more i liked it. if never heard of corderoy wasnt on the cd, you would all probably think it was great and not think it lags. personally i dont see what lags about it, i really do like every song on here. call me gay or whatever This is an OK album. Not awesome, but not bad. OK. However, having seen NMB twice, I can tell you they're fucking awesome live. The songs are tight, and more urgent when played in a live atmosphere. Every one of them goes fucking apeshit on stage, it's great. I need to see them again, maybe the next record'll be better. When this record first came out, I had a hard time to getting into File Under Black. But, now later on, I find song after song which are truly amazing. WOW!!! this band BLOWS kid dynamite and paint it black, and lifetime, out of the fucking water, and then shits on their faces! This is way better than what YOU listen to, sorry it just is. fucking bored the hell out of me I've read some really dipshit reviews on this page and felt compelled to throw my two cents into the mess. FILE UNDER BLACK is the best album to come out this year. It has all the urgency of the KD releases, but it's a lot more interesting due to the fact that not every song is played at the same ridiculously fast tempo. Jay's voice has never sounded better and his guitar playing is surprisingly proficient. It would have been really easy for None More Black to sound like Kid Dynamite II, but Jay actually had the balls to venture into new territory. I'm sure he knew it would get him called a sellout by a handful of dipshits(see below) but like a true artist, he doesn't care what you think. And to the people who said Jay's toned down his sound to make some money, you've obviously never been in a band before. Musicians are fucking poor, dumbass. You can make more money being a cab driver. That's why people have day jobs. it shines in spots but is equally dull in others, minorly inspiring albeit not entirely bad. i don't walk away feeling fulfilled after i listen to this album. it is low on the totem pole of kd, lifetime, good riddance, the curse and paint it black albums. file under mediocre. yeah, this IS alot better than Kid Dynamite. First i downloaded "dinner's for suckers", then i decided that this cd was needed in my collection. When i listened to it i was at first a little disappointed by the softer songs. Then i listened to it again, and again, and again, it was then that i started to enjoy the entire cd, from beginning to end. Sure it's not a masterpiece, and no it isn't kid dynamite, but i find it to be a great way to spend 35 minutes. I dont know why so many of you think this is so shit. I think its pretty good. I never really liked KD but I FUCKING LOVED LIFETIME!!!! Can't they just get back together for fuck sakes! if it made you laugh then you are gay "this band sucks balls and if you like them you are gay." though KD to NMB comparisons are just fucking juvenile, and igorant... here is MY honest opinion of that: Ha this is great there is one kid out there with a personal vendetta against this band and he keeps replying to anyone who likes this band. Get over it kid. people that say gay are actually gay, oh and zero-zero is fucking rad, and None more Black is great. Fuck you and your closed minded attitude, retard. lifetime=good this band sucks balls and if you like them you are gay. I'm liking this more and more everytime I listen to it. It's no Kid Dynamite, but just put that out of your head and give it up. They're not trying to be KD2. They're something different and really not bad at all. This album is actually better than Kid Dynamites second.. sorry it just is, it isn't as tired sounding. I like this album a lot and I'm a huge KD and a huge lifetime fan. I'd say that you are a fucking idiot. musically its exactly the same and lyrically it isnt far off. if they put out another album it will probably be all the way there. this album sucks. if you like it- you couldnt possibly have been a kid dynamite fan. This album is NOT the same pop punk you hear on MTV...jesus christ file under sellout i know what you are saying about comparing them to kid dynamite, it is unfair but naturally when a band that good breaks up you hope that something good will come out of it and this album...its just not doing it for me. But the thing that really bothers me is i know jason is better than this. whether you like this album or not its a pop punk album, nothing creative about it, nothing new just the same old catchy "punk" rock, the kind that you hear on MTV. i mean come on, these guys played with a simple plan, might as well play with nsync. If only everyone would just get over thinking it should sound like Kid Dynamite and realize it doesn't. I just ordered this and haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but it seems most of the negativity is about how this album is less energetic than Kid Dynamite, which is an insanely unfair comparison. Paint It Black should be album of the year, though. Wow where is all this misguided hatred from? I think this is a pretty damn good release. Try not to compare it to Kid Dynamite or think that it should be better than Kid Dynamite and you may actually enjoy it. The naacp wants to kick these dudes' asses this album is dogshit. i saw them live and that was dogshit. probably should have seen it coming. fat wreck chords=shitty pop punk faggot music. to the guy who thinks NMB is better than kid dynamite, you are a fucking pussy, and to the guy who thinks they rock harder than black flag...my grandmother rocks harder than NMB. there is absolutely nothing rock about this album. its kid dynamite with no balls at best(or jason trying to make$$) To the guy below me....you have obviously never listened to black flag before. Note from guy below: These guys rock harder than Black Fag could ever wish to. Reminds me of like... NFG mized with Minor Threat and hmmmm Black Flag. Americans music mags are far more flowery than the British ones. Go enjoy Goldfinger. hmmm, not that bad...not that good... being a huge kid dynamite fan (look at my name:) for a long time i was hoping for a better debut... i say once afuckingain... NMB BLOW KID DYNAMITE AWAY!!! After being a longtime fan of Kid Dynamite and hearing the first NMB MP3 "Dinners For Suckers" I was highly anticipating this release. I must admit though, upon first listen I was somewhat disappointed, but now that's it's been a week it's really grown on me. There are a few tracks that are less desirable but it seriously has grown on me and I really like the album a lot. For all the kids that gave it a bad review and won't give the album a 2nd listen, you always have the KD CD/DVD that'll be released by Jade Tree, to look forward too. i don't have the album yet but "whats inside bone" is a great song. i like it a lot. I think it's perfectly justified for people to not like the album. People! People! settle down. This is there first release. Give them some time to grow as a band. Not ever band can make a kick ass first cd (like Rise Against) Aubin -- great review Aubin - I totally agree with ya. Starts out great - aggressive, forceful and gritty, and then kinda gets comfortable and complacent until a few songs near the end. Still, a very good release, but one that had the potential for greatness. - Jordan Pastepunk. Great band, great movie, great fun...I think you guys tend to over-analyze a lot of cds that are meant for nothing more than a fun listen. Uh, nothing kicks the shit outta Kid Dynamite bro. Nothing. this album is fucking amazing!!! this band kicks the shit out of kid dynamite, and (just going with the members thingy) kill your idols, and paint it black. i'm not gonna give this thing a ten though, cuz of the 500plus albums i own, only 4 are 10 worthy. this is definitely one of my favorite 20 albums, and their live show... wow! fucking great release. jason knows how to write. to the guy below me - nope, no screaming. and how's that new GR album? So I bought the new Good Riddance album instead of this. This score is for that (that being Good Riddance). So... no one answered my question, any screaming? i think this album is amazing .. very reminiscent of the lawrence arm's fat wreck debut. spinal tap is great. if you want a GOOD band who uses a 'tap' reference in their name, check out Amps II Eleven from Cleveland. review says it all, except i think they are actually worse live than on the album and thats pretty bad. the explosions new stuff sucks, now this, what is going on? this album is so dissapointing. i guess i should have seen it coming when they joined fat. nothing against fat but it seems all those bands are all starting to soung more and more the same. NMB is no exception. i cant think of a band id rather see again than kid dynamite, that is why i think anyone expecting a good live performance from these guys will be very dissapointed. i saw them a few months back and i could not believe how tired it sounded. it was the worst show i have ever seen. i figured i would give them another chance since i had gone to the show only knowing one song, "dinners for suckers". i was hoping for more on the album but i didnt get it. its apparent that dan, eventhough he is old enough to be my dad was the one with the balls of KD. jays voice and song writing is amazing but without dan its just not enough. im not impressed with the lyrics on this album. i bought it expecting the music to suck but wasnt expecting jays lyrics to let me down. this album opens up okay, not good, just not bad the falls apart after the 2nd song in my opinion. i think if you are an old KD fan this album can only bring you dissapointment. jay did not bring any of the energy that KD had so much of to his new band, which he admits in alot of his song writing. im not sure why jay is still involved in music. it doesnt seem like he has the love for it anymore. im definitley expecting more from paint it black. all in all this album is horseshit. i think everyone has the same opinion about this album for the most part. some songs are REALLY good, some decent, and some not so good. i've seen them play live before and it's pretty amazing that jay plays guitar and sings these songs at the same time because the some of the riffs are all over the place. hopefully the next record will completely kick our asses. checkmate! sk8punx4evr.............. yeah, like he was REALLY serious about his username, lamewad. REALPUNX4LIFE........... "Jay was a film major. "None More Black" is a Spinal Tap refrence. To the guy below me." Well I LOVE it. I saw these guys live in Chicago. I wanted to like the band, I really did. But man, it's just bad pop punk with gritty vocals. I'll probably destroy any credibility my opinion might have but I have never been a fan of his vocal style and I don't see what the big deal is. His vocal melodies are boring and out of tune. He sounds gritty yet whiny at the same time. And while I haven't heard this album, their live show was enough to tell me I wouldn't care for it. I wonder if this cd goes goes to 11 . . . Jay was a film major. "None More Black" is a Spinal Tap refrence. To the guy below me. by any chance was anyone at their show in Chicago with Rise Against? I shoved my friend into some kids and that got a pit going, but it was a ska pit. Everyone in it (including me) was skanking! this is a true story. Kind of weird if you ask me, becouse i really wasn't hearing much ska. my friend's second cousin is the lead singer in this band. that was probably the worst review i've ever read. I would hate to get a spinal tap. I love Spinal Tap. that was probably the best review i've ever read on this site - props to ya bra I listened to it and it is good pop punk. Good pop punk is hard to find these days boy-o crap, don't know what happened there oh and their website is incorrectly linked i think this album is pretty good Hahahahah, that motherfucker said TRIUMVIRATE Not a bad cd...not great either. I think the jury is still out. Like alot of others here....its starting to grow on me. There are a handful of great songs on here....as for everthing else its not bad its just that some of the songs really dont jump out at you. jesus! naw, turdcorn, I think you're right on. I was thinking the exact same thing while listening/analyzing this album. I was pretty sure that Dan wrote all the KD songs and Jay did the lyrics, so obviously the style of NMB is different from KD. I think it has some great songs(I really enjoy 'Banned from teen arts'), with a few songs that are under-par. 'Never heard of Corduroy', I thought should've been near the end of the album. I also think the guitars could've been more distorted and beefed up, and the bass a little heavier, but all in all I think they have potential and I can't wait to see them live. I'll still buy it anyways, probably tonite. Is there much, or any screaming on here at all? That boy can scream... fuck this...everyone go buy the new majority rule record! scott- before you go and throw it in the sell on half.com pile consider throwing it on the send to jeff pile. This record is taking allot of heat on here. I'm not going to defend it cause it isn't a masterpiece, but it's tolite paper either. 14 tracks, of about 10 are good, 7 of those ten are VERY good. 4 are outstanding. It's very natural yet unfair to compare them to Kid Dynamite. Dr. Dan wrote almost every song in the KD catalog and Jay did the lyrics. This time Jay is writing, singing and playing guitar. The only similarities this band shares with his previous endeavor is his vox. That's all. I think allot of people wanted that "scream 'till your red in the face" style that Kid Dynamite had and when they didn't get it, they were not pleased. There is no doubt that record has it's flaws, I think it could have used more distortion. They could have Phil Specter's it up a little. It felt really hollow and thin at some points. They relied waaaay too much of the dynamics of Jays vocals too. They should have pulled them back a little on the board and brought the bass up, made it a little thicker, a little heavier maybe. These are just my opinions, I'm probably way off here. But I would have given it 3 or 3.5 i'm still probably going to get it. good album, but not great. its solid, as ahve been all fat releases this year. it sounds like a half assed dillenger 4, with more abstract lyrics, less politics and a bit more technical musically. sometimes they sound a bit like teh lawrence arms too. fat mike seems to be haveing a trend of signings, larry arms, d4 now these guys, to bad they don't quite measure up. go buy a d4 album or larry arms apahy and exhastion.. when will jason sevechuck and tom petta form the metal-hardcore punk hybrid and take over the world? what's so different about the bad songs? Paint It Black sounds pretty cool, but the vocals can't top Jasons. Well... with this depressing news, I guess we'll all just have to wait for the Fall when the new (old) Kid Dynamite record comes out. yeah, the beginning of this album is great, i love the first few songs. but after that it just falls off. jasons vocals are great, but all in all it just makes me miss kid dynamite. the first few songs really are great though... It's starting to grow on me but I don't think it will be nothing more than just average. in other news, I'm listening to Avail "4am Friday." Now that's an album to be proud of. Disappointing to say the least. On a more positive note, I bought an Employer,Employee album and it slays. I like the review. I've noticed a lot of bands seem to phoning it - or part of it - in these days. It really hurts the emotional authenticity of the album when half of it seems so, uh, bland/scripted. They sound NOTHING like the good stuff. If this album had been an EP, it would have been epic. Yeah, I mean, I only heard that one song Fat had an e-card for, but how how bad can these bad songs be? Hmmm... I heard a track off of it online somewhere and it was pretty good. Man, those Jason's got some pipes. But what I heard, as well as (I have to go here) Kid Dynamite didn't lack energy. So, what's the deal with the "bad songs" on this record? This one is slowly growing on me, the good songs are REALLY good (i.e. "Nods for Nothing", "Everyday Balloons", "Dinners for Suckers", "The Ratio of People to Cake", but the bad songs are REALLY bad. I agree completely with this album - it just couldn't keep my attention at all. There is absolutely no energy in these songs, at least on the CD [I ain't gonna bash their live show unless I see their live show]. |
