The Explosion

Sick Of Modern Art (2003)
Tarantulas Records

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Contributed by: Scott
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on July 22nd 2003

The Explosion has been through a lot in their rather short existance. They went from a rather large indie [in Revelation Records] to an even larger indie [in Jade Tree], being contractually screwed along the way. They recorded a critically acclaimed full-length [that I've never even heard, so don't ask me about comparisons], toured quite a bit, and then abruptly broke up [or so the rumors go]. Somehow they decided to reunite and lay these five tracks to wax [er, plastic] and put it out on the significantly smaller indie Tarantulas Records. So what does all this add up to?

Well, to paraphrase the band, they're sick of modern art.

These five songs leap out of my speakers with the ferocity reminiscent of the first time I heard "Clash City Rockers." It's lo-fi, it's raw, it's anthematic, and if this isn't punk rock than frankly I just give up.

Admittedly these songs are rough around the edges, which is one reason that this EP took a *long* time to grow on me. But my patience paid off, and now I have as much fun pogoing in my chair as I'm sure I would seeing them live in concert.

There's not really much no-frills punk rock I like to keep around in my collection, but the Explosion has made the cut [as I'm sure they have for many an aging indie rocker across the globe]. Definitely worth your time.

Stream the EP here.

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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 (July 28, 2003)

stiv bators was much better for the dead boys style of songs

Anonymous (July 28, 2003)

thanks for your infinite wisdom yet again big stinky douche.

4131

Anonymous (July 28, 2003)

Rocket from the Tombs were great... Of course, don't expect their versions of the Dead Boys songs to be as good, but the live CD I have is quite entertaining.

-BSD

Anonymous (July 28, 2003)

i gotta get the rocket from the tombs album. the only problem with them is that their version of 30 seconds of tokyo is not as good as the pere ubu version because david thomas's vocals don't fit as well.

Anonymous (July 28, 2003)

Yeah... '77 punk was really a lot more creative than this... This stuff fits more into the Oi! category. Also, I think if the band made a better effort to actually do real tours, their fans wouldn't start losing faith in them. Seriously... the Explosion have never made a song that could top the weakest song off of "Dub Housing". But, hey, its modern punk. Creativity is not to be expected.

-BSD

Anonymous (July 27, 2003)

'77 punk bands? like pere ubu and the talking heads, right?

waste_elite (July 27, 2003)

i used to really like this band but now... eh.

the shit they do is tired.

funkisdead (July 27, 2003)

these guys were great when i saw them with soia in '01. i dont know though, this ep doesn't do it for me like the older stuff.
and bsd seems kind pissy.
calm down.

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

Which TKO bands? TKO bands really don't sound the same at all. Yeah, these guys are way overrated, and I have no idea why hipsters in your area love them, but that doesn't mean you can't just see them for what they are: a no-frills punk band. Nothing great, but really refreshing in an age where prog-rock is somehow creeping into the punk scene.

-BSD

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

all I'm saying is that so much of what the explosion does is already being done by 90% of the bands on labels like TKO and the like, but for some reason, I don't know if its the way they dress or Buddyhead fawns over them or because their bassist used to be in a Boston sXe band, but for some reason this is a band that all the hipsters lose their shit over. I don't fucking get it!
--Cos

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

ive been a huge explosion fan since the first demo came out. i neve thought that id have to say this about them but the new ep really sucks. its just real boring,nothing new, catchy, watered down, old school punk. the fact that they signed to virgin sucks to. i still love these guys old stuff and live shows but if you have never heard them id suggest picking up the old stuff and not this. one more punk band down the toilet. bostons still got the hope conspiracy.

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

"Pretentious indie-hipsters, who wouldn't be caught dead at a US Bombs or Casualties show, doing essentially the same warmed over '77 punk rock. Personally, the appeal of these absolutely aludes me.

--Cos"

Hmmmm. The Casualties sound absolutely NOTHING anything like "77 punk rock". The US Bombs, yeah, they're Pistols rips but they're still good. Personally, these guys sound like a British band from 1979, not 77, the music is way too hard. Cos, one could argue the same thing about every new punk band. Dropkicks sound like Sham 69. Rancid sound like a really crappy Stiff Little Fingers. Bouncing Souls songs all sound like "the Prisoner" by the Clash. More examples. I dont care anymore.

-BSD

Anonymous (July 25, 2003)

501, keep the comments coming. Your ignorance never fails to impress people who know more about music.

-BSD

awaitingyes (July 24, 2003)

this band isn't that great. i bought their old cd cause i heard a lot of good things but i was highly dissappointed. very average if you ask me. haven't heard this though, so i guess i shouldn't give it a bad review but oh well.

501 (July 23, 2003)

Bad review, bad band ( expecially live ). God its bad review day.

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

my, what a terrible review.

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

i wont be caught dead at a casulties show either. Cause that bands a joke. But if i ever wanted to find that joker from good charlotte i know were to go.

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

Pretentious indie-hipsters, who wouldn't be caught dead at a US Bombs or Casualties show, doing essentially the same warmed over '77 punk rock. Personally, the appeal of these absolutely aludes me.

--Cos

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

I love these guys. I really do.

-sickboi

maverick (July 23, 2003)

Umm, because it is? At one time Rev might've been bigger, but the label is dwindling down to barely nothing. Jade Tree obviously has more going for it.

-Scott

jheisel (July 23, 2003)

how do you figure jade tree is a larger indie than revelation?

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

steal this has got to be my fav EP from these guys.

Ramo

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

All their other stuff (esp. Flash Flash Flash) is fucking great so I'll have to pick this up soon.

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

Original Thought is a great song.

FortyMinutesWest (July 22, 2003)

Rock

Anonymous (July 22, 2003)

they didn't go from rev to jade tree. they put out their demo, jade tree signed them and rereleased it as the s/t ep, then they put out flash flash flash on jade tree, then revelation made them release on EP on there because they had the bassist's contract from in my eyes, then they got signed to virgin and started tarantulas records with the money.

anyways, this EP i think is better than the s/t one, but not as good as flash flash flash or steal this. hopefully the full length will be better than this. the sampler is cool, especially because it has unreleased suicide file!

Anonymous (July 22, 2003)

I love this EP.

-BSD

Anonymous (July 22, 2003)

you forgot to mention they signed to virgin.

Anonymous (July 22, 2003)

I thought they got signed to a big label and then started up Tarantula Records. And signed the Bronx

Anonymous (July 22, 2003)

the explosion... in your pants! hahahahaha, i'm so clever