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| The MisfitsProject 19502003 Rykodisc 
  Review by: Adam See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on November 4th 2003 So this appropriately shows up in my mailbox on Halloween. Since I'm quite sure that Rykodisc doesn’t control CanadaPost I'll attribute this to a very fitting coincidence. Now I could make some sort of joke like "here's a band dressed up as the Misfits for Halloween" but the arguments on the merits of the Jerry Only fronted Misfits have been well stated and I have no new insight to add. Coupled with the fact that this is being promoted as a "Misfits-sideproject" instead of the Misfits-proper, we can put that point of contention aside. I'll instead judge this one on what it is: an album of light-hearted punk covers of classic 50s tunes. Think of it as "Jerry Only & The Gimmie Gimmies" and you'll get the picture. Now here's the part of the review where I loose my punk rock credibility: Project 1950 isn't a bad record at all. This year's model Misfits consists of original bassist Jerry Only, Ramones drummer Markey Ramone and Black Flag's Dez Cadena on guitar. Each member professes to adore the source material and it shows in the recording, which is as enthusiastic as one would hope despite some moments of muddy production. Of course, as these were classic and well-loved songs, there's not much risk of them not having that endearing quality. Tracks like "This Magic Moment" (Jay and the Americans), "Dream Lover" (Boddy Darin) and Richie Valens' "Donna" are all quite fun. Blondie's Jimmy Destrie adds keyboards to a few tracks on Project 1950 as well. Perhaps most surprising is the participation of 60s pop singer Ronnie Spector (aka Veronica Bennett of The Ronettes), she adds a good deal of authenticity to the project and her girl-group voice counter's Only's deep warble. Packaging wise this is hands-down one of the better presentations this year. The edition of the album in my hands is in a transparent green jewel-case and features a bonus DVD with 10 videos. The 21-page booklet features testimonials from Jerry, Marky and Dez about the songs they covered, lyrics and other info. Particularly interesting is the 5-page music lesson by Jerry detailing the history of rock chord progressions from the 50s to the punk era. So... here I am ducking rotten fruit thrown by the mob after praising something
from the post-Danzig Misfits. Of course, it's easier when we have Marky and
Dez here and the material is all based on classic, significant songs. Let's
be clear: reforming the Misfits (under that name at least) was a bad idea and the albums released in the
late 90s were awfully dubious. Yet despite the Misfits name on the cover, this
is really has little to do with that band’s legacy one way or another.
This is essentially a capable punk band covering some great songs with lots
of energy and passion. Despite any past history that’s a lot of fun.
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what can i say, i like the band whoever is singing. ya danzig is great but so is jerry ive liked everyone who has been the singer in the misfits First off let me say that danzing is the man jerry is a cunt ass bitch. He is a rich ass fuck face who only cares about his god damn bank acount buy the collections 1 and 2 fuck off First off let me say that danzing is the man jerry is a cunt ass bitch. He is a rich ass fuck face who only cares about his god damn bank acount buy the collections 1 and 2 fuck off Well, the Misfits aren't the same without Glenn Danzig, and this album is not so good. "then why the fuck did they not recird it under a different name and avoid all the bad press" if it is " essentially a capable punk band covering some great songs with lots of energy and passion" then why the fuck did they not recird it under a different name and avoid all the bad press How can there even be a debate at all... This is a MUST HAVE for any Misfits fan that likes oldies music too... ok, i'll admit that i liked this album for what it was... a bunch of cover songs that the band felt like recording and releasing. its a side project and is put out by jerry under the misfits name for the obvious reasons. Jerry should just realize, the misfits werent bout him. HE WAS THE FRIGGIN BASS PLAYER! Without the voice of Danzig and overall coolness of the original misfits, all u have is an average band hiding behind a name. Well, I liked this release. sorry kids, but even though this topic is pretty old, i just read it today, and it really ticked me off about what some of you guys said. To make a long story of analyzing people and making fun of them short, I'll skip to the chase... ken, you are my hero. where have you been all these years? danzig should just turn his back on them the way he did punk and concentrate on the chicks and cash. Only is just a guy with a sense of fun and heart but that's not as cool as popularity and the whole devil thing Glenn's got. maybe danzig should tell the band to stop or else he rips all their heads off. Danzig is about power and has more money and popularity and therefore is better than misfits. Balzac is hilarious and Project 1950 is entertaing stuff that isn't too far a stretch from the 50's and early 60's elements the Misfits exploited since the band was named after a 50's flick and B-movies were a source of inspiration for them and hell that was the whole point of Danzigs Elvis routine. This isn't self important stuff, but it's a good time. Nah Danzig is too fucking pretentious to laugh. He has written off punk and all the fun elements that made the Misfits cool and sold more discs that way and yet punks worship him so maybe he is chuckling a little bit as he counts his cash. ....Balzac? Balzac Rules! And in the end, Danzig gets the last laugh. project 1950 an entertaining cd and obviously a labor of love so it's hard to dislike and exhiliratingly goofy. I personally am not anti-entertainment and think Only did a decent job of putting together an enjoyable package of fun fifties covers and some great clips on the DVD. I loved the snow balls and I agree with the guy who says Balzac dont seem to know English! LOL!! I picked up Project 1950 and am having a blast! It aint Danzig so kissers of his gloomy black clad ass need not listen and pretentious purists punks can stay away, but lovers of a good time with a sense of humor should check this out! It is a FUN fuckin CD! Essentially, yes. You should all pretty much know by now that I am an elitist asshole, who hates when the punk scene gets exploited and watered down by shit like this. Why dull the edge of what could be a useful tool for education and resistance by incorporating vomit like this and daring to call it punk? project 1950 is a good disc. the punk purists clique and danzig lickers will hate it but fuck em. Project 1950 is an entertaining CD which is sure to piss off self-righteous pricks too obsessed with 'integrity' and being elitist patch wearing members of the 'true' punk herd. It's un-cool to like this one since these guys are 'old', and not Danzig (as if he's not 'old'), etc. but if you dont give a fuck about apeasing the herd and are looking for a fun CD and DVD you might want to try this one. Well now. mr. Only (real name Jerry Caifa) has decided to defile the name of a once-great punk band yet again. Sad. What no one in this "band" seems to understand is that the songs/bands they cover on this album are infinitely cooler than the non-misfits (or as I call them, the Miss-shits) could ever be. Seriously. Can anyone argue with a straight face that these washed-up geezers have anything in common with legends like Buddy Holly? No. And that goes fucking double for Marky Ramone. Eat a dick. Your solo band sucks my ass sideways. You can't even play the drums worth a shit. Dez can fuck off with his shitty black flag reunions too. i bought the album as a birthday present for my thirteen year old sister- trust me, it's age appropriate. This is the same crapy album all over again. Don't get me wrong. I think Misfits should quit now they should have quit it after the "American Psycho" album or called them self something els. More original. I think people are missing the point. Yeah, they shouldn't call themselves "The Misfits" but by any other name this would be equally crappy!! Don't get me wronng every member of this band is fucking legend, but together they just sound bad! who cares cares if they are the misfits or not? it has jerry only, dez, and marky ramone. thats pretty cool. If they called the band anything other than "The Misfits" no one would have paid attention to the album. People would have just written it off as 3 wash out punks (because essentially that's what it is). Mr. Only is simply using the name "The Misfits" to try to sell records. they would be cool if they weren't called the misfits i thought it was "up the irons!" oi oi oi up the punx!!! I actually like this. Diana, Donna, This Magic Moment, and monster Mash are all pretty cool I like Graves better without the Misfits and the Misfits better with Glenn. Graves has a new band (without chud) called Gotham Road, they sound alright. www.gothamroad.com P.S. You forgot to mention that the cover art is terrible. I LOVE Graves-era Misfits. He has an awesome voice, and as cheesy B-movie/Halloweenish their 2 albums were, they were solid, well-written, catchy and incredibly energetic. Kind of an insult to the image that the original Misfits strove for (raping dead bodies, killing babies, etc.), but great in its own right. This is so bad I want to donkey-punch myself. I love the 50's and I love pre-1983 Misfits, but together, this just equals crap. Anyways, to beat that dead horse some more, THIS IS NOT THE MISFITS. Jerry, please, we beg you, just give it up, while you still have some pride. Just let all the money you make off merchandising the hell out of the misfits name be enough, and just go. Please. Blech, they shouldnt call themselves the "misfits" anymore! worst lop of shit I've ever heard. No, REALLY. got a question. was doyle also around during the graves era? and what do you guys think of doyle as a guitar player? Danzig was the misfits, all they did when they got Graves was find a guy who kinda sung like Danzig, and he did a horrible job too. to the guy asking about doyle. i belive he left the band because he wnated to spend more time with his family. I bought this because borders was selling it for $9.99. I like it. Moooooother This album is medicore at best. And for real, don't call yourselves the Misfits. Because YOU AREN'T! Regardless of how good an album this is, there is absolutely no reason for this band to call themselves "The Misfits." In doing so, Jerry Only is arrogantly claiming all of the bands work under that title as his own. Change you fucking name, guys. Graves era Misfits is better PERIOD!! I wish everyone would stop praising Danzig like he invented punk rock..Danzig was a great presence and singer, but as far as the music, Graves era totally wipes out the older Misfits. what ever happened to doyle? I'll second the "Come A Little Bit Closer" vote. There's something about that song that borders on obscene catchiness. I listened to the first few minutes of this in a borders one day and walked away disgusted. Ronnie Spector rules. Her vocal style was a big inspiration to some of the more melodic Misfits material. Listen to some of the old shit from the Ronettes and you'll totally hear it. Might check this out now... Don't feel too bad Adam, it's not a bad record. The 50s produced some amazing rock'n'roll, and I know that it's thanks to those bands that we got bands like the Clash. Buddy Holly is still cool; geek rock before they had a term for it. I agree with Adam, not a bad album at all. Only's voice is actually kinda catchy once you get used to it. Got to say I hate the female backing vocals though, her voice is just flat out annoying. Should have covered "Come a Little Bit Closer" instead of "This Magic Moment" (which is a Drifters cover anyway). |
