Punchline

Punchline: ActionAction (2004)
Fueled By Ramen Records

Reviewer Rating: 3

User Rating:

Contributed by: TheMarcTheMarc
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on March 16th 2004My 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 .

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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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

drankz (June 26, 2004)

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

drummadict (April 26, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 25, 2004)

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

Anonymous (April 25, 2004)

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

Anonymous (March 22, 2004)

I love this cd!

poopypants (March 19, 2004)

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.

Anonymous (March 19, 2004)

the code is good too

Anonymous (March 18, 2004)

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

AdamSocial (March 18, 2004)

Good bands from Pittsburgh:

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

Anonymous (March 18, 2004)

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.

Anonymous (March 18, 2004)

i get these guys and bayside confused with each other.

-greyicewater

esper (March 18, 2004)

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

devildog1507 (March 18, 2004)

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

notaclevername (March 17, 2004)

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

Anonymous (March 17, 2004)

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!

Anonymous (March 17, 2004)

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