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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

My friends and I often joke about something we call a "genre cap", which is similar to a salary cap in sports. The genre cap simply dictates that there can only be so many bands with roughly the same sound. After about 25 bands sound somewhat the same, no one is allowed to form a band that sounds even remotely like the pre-existing ones. If you've been to a local show recently, you'll notice the "bands that sound like Glassjaw" genre is not only full, but reaching ridiculous proportions.

Obviously, this kind of limitation is ridiculous when you view people's musical tastes as subjective: Sure, the band I like may be a derivative of a derivative of a derivative, but dammit, it makes me happy, so leave me alone. The lack of originality may be frustrating and even insulting to some, but if an 8th-rate Finch knockoff can move somebody, so be it.

That being said, Punchline's latest full length album "Action" is here. While it may be yet another snowflake on the out-of-control avalanche that is pop-punk, it's still a pretty catchy release with some pretty memorable hooks. Sure, the multiple high-pitched vocals, broken-heart lyrics, and high energy pop punk have been done many times before, but songs that are as catchy as "The World" and "Heart Transplant" demand repeat listens. "Battlescars" is a fun sing-a-long ballad that will make you want to play air guitar and synch-jump with the guy next to you. The album's strongest effort, "Why Is He Right?” is pretty much essential listening for fans of the genre. Sean O'Keefe (Motion City Soundtrack, Fall Out Boy, Spitalfield) and his crisp radio-ready production combined with higher profile tours and mad Purevolume listens could provide this band with their first considerable blip on the mainstream music radar.

Pop punk is all about catchy hooks, and Punchline delivers them in droves with "Action". It may not be anything you haven't heard before, but if you like Fall Out Boy or New Found Glory, you could have a winner here.






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    Posted by drankz on 2004-06-26 10:41:10
    My Score:

    This album is really good. Somewhat catchy yet severly addicting.

    Posted by drummadict on 2004-04-26 09:24:54
    My Score:

    awesome cd, i saw them w/ less than jake on saturday at a free concert put on by lehigh university, this is def. an awesome cd

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 25, 2004 at 8:31 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I love this album, period. Don't be rude and post offensive comments.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 25, 2004 at 8:30 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I love this album, period. Don't be a rude and post offensive comments.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 22, 2004 at 5:46 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I love this cd!

    Posted by poopypants on 2004-03-19 09:18:51
    My Score:

    yea the scene in pittsburgh kinda sucks, but it has a strong punk ethic too it, you don't get a lot of pop punk or screamo bands in it. and pittsburgh itself kinda sucks, yes this is true. punchline contributed to the crappy scene and it is a crappy scene.

    teddy duchamps army was good, as is the code. there was a band called shill that broke up that were better than a lot of screamo bands out there that made it. my band rules, but i'm honest w/ myself, i'm doin it for fun, were not that good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 19, 2004 at 2:25 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    the code is good too

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 18, 2004 at 11:43 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Better off dead is great. I saw them once and picked up thier lifeline cd. There are some good songs on it.

    Posted by AdamSocial on 2004-03-18 19:53:16
    My Score:

    Good bands from Pittsburgh:

    Sixtyfour
    Better Off Dead
    Voice in the Wire
    The Vacancy
    Anti-Flag

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 18, 2004 at 4:59 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Too bad being nice doesn't mean you can write music worth shit.

    Just proves, once again, Pittsburgh's "punk" scene is absolutely terrible. Then again, not much about this city really screams awesome at you, either.

    Question of the Day: Are Punchline a simple victim of a crappy music scene; OR are they a contributor to it? Discuss.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 18, 2004 at 4:42 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i get these guys and bayside confused with each other.

    -greyicewater

    Posted by esper on 2004-03-18 12:16:16
    My Score:

    lets face it, these guys a bunch of pussies. this band is horrible.

    Posted by devildog1507 on 2004-03-18 04:40:18
    My Score:

    arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

    Posted by notaclevername on 2004-03-17 23:00:20
    My Score:

    weird coincidence: the newest guyana punchline album is called "direkt aktion"

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at 8:38 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    you have to spend time with the record. at first certain songs strike you but with more listens you end up liking the songs you didnt like better than the ones you did originally. awesome job!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 at 12:56 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Amazing album from the first to the last song. It sounds even better live!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 11:11 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This record is a good record and I see these guys everywhere. Light years ahead of their ep.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 8:28 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Awesome! Someone finally got around to reviewing GUYANA PUNCHLINE's newest record "Direkt Action"....oh wait....

    Who the hell are these dudes? Why are they stealing other bands' names and album titles?

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-03-16 17:27:21
    My Score:

    Nice guys, terrible music.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 3:24 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This score is for the review. This score is also for bands like SOJH and Over It which are making fun pop-punk that doesn't sound like NFG or Taking Back Sunday.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 2:15 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    yeah the band is pretty average pop punk, but these are some of the nicest guys i have ever met. They're writing their music all DIY, and they're out their having a a great time trying to make a living doing it.

    props to nice hardworking bands.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 11:59 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    wow its that mxpx/rolling stones/motley crue cover again. fuck these guys, i remember them pimping their damn cd's every show i went to in pittsburgh.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 11:43 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    these guys blow goats (and themselves from what i've heard).

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