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| The QueersDon't Back Down1996 Lookout! 
 Review by: el_provocateur See others by this writer Lookout Records Official Website (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on March 12th 2004 New Hampshire's own gross-out, dumbed down punk heroes, Joe Queer, B-Face & Hugh O'Neill, a.k.a. the Queers, oddly enough actually reach a musical pinnacle with the release of "Don't Back Down," their seventh with Lookout Records. (On a sad note, "Don't Back Down" marks the Queers' last effort with drummer Hugh O'Neill, who died of brain cancer on January 21, 1999.) In my humbled opinion (yep, it's gotta be humbled if I must admit that I listen to the Queers) "Don't Back Down" encapsulates everything musically good about the Queers, even if some of these songs sound pretty much the same. Musically, the Queers are a blend of the Ramones and the Beach Boys, but probably much more ornery, sloppy and banal. Imagine if Green Day got more sloppy with their songs and inserted lyrics like "Shut your stupid fat mouth and hang up those guitars, Quit beating off every night and smoking those cigars." Then you'd be somewhat closer to understanding. You get the snotty, sardonic, biting, witless humor found on most Queers albums from fast screeds like "No Tit" and "I'm O.K. You're Fucked." Yup, words like "She's flat as a board but I just don't care, No Tit, No Tit..." are self-explanatory. But some of that dark humor could serve some purpose: If you're ever just pissed beyond reason and sarcasm, you might relate to words like: "You go mental and you suck, I'm O.K. You're fucked!" Finally, "Brush Your Teeth" is the Queers at their ornery angiest, bursting with laughable-to-near pathetic vituperatives: "I'd love to punch you in the face, I'd love to beat the brat, I'd really like to fuck you, but your ass is fat." Aside from the dark humor, "Don't Back Down" also sports some tender moments, to take it down a notch for the ladies. Their fun-in-the-sun cover of Brian Wilson's "Don't Back Down" takes you to the Queers' "happy place." Another musical gem, "I Can't Get Over You," a cute, poppy duet featuring Joe Queer with Lisa Marr, mixes sugarly, "la la la" vocals with toned-down guitars. Also Joe Queer puts out a few more tender love ballads such as "I Always Knew" and Hondells cover "Sidewalk Surfin' Girl." Nonetheless, the Ramones influence, while noticable pretty much everywhere on "Don't Back Down," reflects most brilliantly on such Queers songs like "I Only Drink Bud," and the cutesy "Punk Rock Girls." "I Only Drink Bud," (a song title seemingly self-explanatory of what you'd expect) churns out a moderately sloppy, clap-along, chug-along, sing-along. So in summation, you get the dare-to-be-stupid punk songs that make you want to buy and listen to a Queers album, and you get the more musically poppy (and possibly more stylistically pronounced) songs that might actually make you want to continue listening to a Queers album.
Oh, the convenient amalgamation! Or simply "The Shit-acular!" Strongly Recommended.
People who liked this also liked:   ![The Queers - Love Songs for the Retarded [reissue]](/images/covers/thumb/the_queers-love_songs_for_the_retarded_reissue.jpg)        Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
"I don't see why people seem to grow out of the Queers. Dare to be stupid indeed. I agree with the people who picked "Love Songs for the Retarded"... Definitely my favorite Queers album... I really didn't like "Day Late..." but I didn't have it for long before it got swiped at a party... "Beat Off" rules too! "Ben Weasel" is classic... i don't see why people seem to grow out of the Queers. "aren't the guys in Anti-flag in theirs early 20s? Hasen't Strike Anywhere been around for only a few years? What a retarded comment. Anyway, I'd rather just listen to "Pet Sounds" by The Beachboys than this crap!" i love that born to do dishes song off this cd, but i was never much of a fan of these guys. i got into them too late, i was like 20 or something when i first heard one of their full albums, by that time i was kinda past this type of punk rock just to follow up on post below, im not saying that these bands "make punk" its just that it seems that someone who just blanketly disses bands that have been represention a good portion of the punk scene for years mustnt have been around for very long Some of the queers stuff is awesome... this is no different. I'm glad everyone (well mostly) seems to be liking the Queers. Ther've been a lotta shittalkers on other reviews of theirs. This band is great. Yeah, so probably the 2nd best (modern) queers record...but i gotta say "Beyond The Valley..." is the epitome of dysfunctional punkitry. I put that fucker on at parties and it can offend almost everyone in the room. Huntingtons pull off the i wanna be a ramone thing pretty well to even this kinda stuff blows. What kind of dumb fuck puts strike anywhere on that list? that dudes list would be good if he took off nofx and strike anywhere. you know you couldnt live w/out fat mike brah this record is not sloppy, but extremely tight. the songwriting on songs like "Janelle, Janelle" and "Punk Rock Girls" is stunning. I proudly sport a Queers button every where I go. That's saying a lot--I'm not much of a button bastard. This album is not sloppy at all. But a badass record. I really like them all. scott, you gotta hear this one if you've heard beat off. This is the only Queers cd I feel glad that I own anymore. i actually have a special fondness for LOVE SONGS FOR THE RETARDED - that was my first taste of The Queers... I love Beat Off, that was one of the first punk records I ever bought. So many memories of being 13 and singing "drop the attitude fucker, drop the attitude dude..." "Janelle likes anything that mentions her name... Janelle likes anything that mentions her name... NICE... Fun album. This is one of those bands I loved as a kid, but just kind of outgrew. The Queers really do the ramones-wannabe thing well, though. aren't the guys in Anti-flag in theirs early 20s? Hasen't Strike Anywhere been around for only a few years? What a retarded comment. Anyway, I'd rather just listen to "Pet Sounds" by The Beachboys than this crap! yet another band that needs to give it up. i'll add it to the list! great album. why did it take so long to get reviewed? I'd say that it's a toss up between Punk Rock Confidential and this record as their most essential. love this cd. i also think "Punk Rock Confidential" is an awesome cd. one of the most fun live acts of the mid 90's. i must have seen these guys 20 times when i was in high school... there was one month alone were we saw them about 3 times. great energy. fun fun stuff. things really went downhill for them after this album. joe, b-face, and hugh were definitely the best lineup this band had. this isn't they're best offering though... i'm a bit partial to love songs for the retarded, suck this live, and grow up over this one. but still good shit. |
