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The Code / Whatever It Takes

Split (2003)
A-F Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: KirbyPuckett
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on March 26th 2004

Recently Esquire magazine rated Pittsburgh, PA as #1 in their poll of “Cities That Rock” within the United States. Many of us Yunzers were confused by this achievement. First off, New York and Los Angeles were not included on the scale, but how did we still manage to beat out Cincinnati, Denver, Minneapolis, New Orleans and San Francisco?

The article cites the Clarks, Modey Lemon, and Rusted Root for our lucky fortunes. The latter has broken up and were really the only band to “make it” out of the Steel City. Vaguely mentioned in the article though is our deeper underground scene where the talent pool is being agitated. The Vacancy are ready for a national tour bringing along Sixtyfour, who have a brand new E.P. under their belts, Better Off Dead would fit well in the current Hardcore upsurge, and the Camera are beginning to make a buzz with the Indie kids. A-F Records rounded up two of Pittsburgh’s finest in Punk Rock and that point is strongly emphasized on this collection.

The Code, the areas finest politically charged Ska-Punk ensemble handles the first half of this split. Despite this band’s sound being heavily derived from Operation Ivy the first two tracks “In Hope” and “Revolution Now” are more of a straight-up 3-chord Punk Rock songs with gang vocals calling out “What we need is a revolution to break the chains of this disillusioned system that’s fucked so put your fist up and revolt!” It took two songs for the band to settle into their custom fit, but finishing up their effort is the Crack Rock Steady intense “What’s It Gonna Take,” which highlights their half of the split.

Anti-Flag might be the most famous Punk band to rise out of Pittsburgh, but deep down in our hearts Chris #2’s side project Whatever It Takes was the most loved. The three tracks served up here by WIT prove why our hearts were let down with their demise. In a pattern that mixes the best of Hot Water Music and Lifetime the guitars roar on “Both Can’t Survive” supported by backup vocals via Will Perza (Better Off Dead) the band rises to new heights on the most memorable song on this disc. Brawny guitars and drums arrive again to guide “In The Orchid” whilst “Lips Surrendered” vocally demands you hear this band out.

These six tracks originally appeared and sold out on a rare 10” vinyl put out by Spent Records, but due to an overwhelming response A-F Records has decided to remix and remaster them for a re-release on CD. If you too are scratching your head as to why the Three Rivers received a better rank than your city I urge you pick up this split as it’s a perfect example of what Pittsburgh Punk Rock is all about.

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Anonymous (March 24, 2005)

StateYourName (October 11, 2004)

they broke up!....sucks

toonscribe (April 1, 2004)

They broke up right after i found out about them. I wanna say last fall?

-BS

Kirby, you're never online! I can't wait to hear that song. Thanks again for the offer...

Anonymous (April 1, 2004)

when did whatever it takes break up?
oh well, i never got around to listening to them anyway.
saw the code a few years ago with anti-flag. not bad.

andrew13 (March 31, 2004)

kirby and poopy:
hey guys what's up?
my names andrew and i like like 60 miles from pitt... it's a shitty ass place known as clarion county...
i love a-f and just started to check out some of their bands... i like go to a lot of crap up here when we have stuff, which is almost never...

are either of you guys going to see the show at mr smalls with a bunch of local bands like the 10th i think? finster, a decent band from butler, is playing it... you can dl 2 of their songs on my website
i'm gonna try to go... i'm deffinately going to see a7x at mr smalls the 9th... might see you guys there... contact me on aol... my sn is visforvlad13 (i was on a max payne 2 kick at the time...)
talk to you guys later,
- andrew13

Anonymous (March 31, 2004)

My score is for Rusted Root breaking up!

Anonymous (March 31, 2004)

The Code is the suck.

poopypants (March 30, 2004)

scores for the pens. ryan malone went to my highschool and played on a line w/ one of my friends!

scores for mario coming back next year

scores for the pens trying their best to not finish last despite reducing their chances to get ovechkin

scores for being the best team in the league down the stretch after fucking blowing 18 games straight almost setting an nhl record

toonscribe (March 29, 2004)

Adam, what kind of surprise? ;-)
Do you know the dates for whatever this surprise is? I'd love to book it. :-)

If you wanna get indie music cheap, go to eMusic.com. You get 192 VBRs of any Mordam, SideOne, Epitaph or BYO band (essentially any indie punk label except Fat Wreck) with no copy limits. It's 40 tracks for $10, 60/$15 or 90 for $20.

Anonymous (March 29, 2004)

Score's for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They're coming on... Might not even finish in last!

...evildeadalive

poopypants (March 29, 2004)

hey sup adam, this is paul. scores for pittsburgh...

AdamSocial (March 29, 2004)

Anyone that likes WIT songs such as "Lips Surrendered", "Write for your Life", or "Post-Marked Yesterday" is in for one hell of a suprise later this year.

8dollarclarinetsolo (March 29, 2004)

anyone know of a site where i could hear mp3s of either of these bands? im hesitant to buy something solely on reviews without hearing it at all

lieutenant (March 28, 2004)

I have yet to pick this disc up, though I am sure I will. It's used 2 blocks from me, so if I am wise I'll max out my VISA 6 dollars more before it's too late.

I am a bit hesitant, though, because from what I've heard I'm not entirely in love with the band's harder direction on this disc, while I cannot get enough of the LP, probably one of my favourite discs from recent years. I find the harder WIT songs to be a little too reminicent of Chris #2's A-F songs. And that is just about my life story. Updates at 11.

Anonymous (March 28, 2004)

This score's for pittsburgh.

kirbypuckett (March 28, 2004)

Toonscribe, IM me on "KirbyPuckett" and I'll hook you up.

- Kirby

toonscribe (March 27, 2004)

It's a solid album. I really like both bands, and I hold with the above the WIT is way better than A-F and it's a shame they are gone. They're double-album disc (Fistful/Stars) is a bit too emo compared to this disc, where they are in their prime (Not to say the LP/EP is bad).

One question, can someone please send me a 192 VBR of Lips Surrendered? I bought this disc through eMusic, and they mislabelled the widely, freely available In the Orchid as Lips. I'd like to hear the song. Please post back if you can help (my email is the same as my login @nvbell.net).

Thanks a lot. I agree that Chicago has some awesome bands (Rise Against, Much the Same), but so does Gainsville, Huntington Beach/Greater LA, Boston, etc. That does not discredit the talent of both the Code and Whatever it Takes. Go nominate this disc at filthawards.com =)