PulleyMatters (2004)Epitaph Records Reviewer Rating: User Rating: Contributed by: Chinatown (others by this writer | submit your own) Published on April 16th 2004
Named after their touring van, Matters, Pulley's fifth full-length, marks a new staple in the band's already impressive catalog. As stated by lead singer Scott Radinsky on one of the four videos included in the enhanced portion of the disc, Matters took over a year to write, and it shows. Let me make this clear right now: there is zero filler on this record. If I were to classify the band's sound, I'd call it happy skatepunk. Pulley are much too fast to be pop-punk, yet too soft and clean to be straight-up punk rock. Think of how Strung Out sounded on the bouncier tracks of Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues, subtract just a bit of technical proficiency, add more zeal, and you‚ve got Pulley. Every song on here crackles with energy. "Huber Breeze" contains a fast, wicked solo that conjures memories of listening to my very first punk album, Leche Con Carne! "I Remember" starts off as a blazing but softly-sung song, then becomes downright scary with Radinsky belting out "I know their faces and I know their names/Been to the places and I remember" in the final few seconds in a voice demonized by effects. Pulley also throw in a couple of slow numbers for good measure: "Insects Destroy" and "Immune," both led by anthematic choruses designed to rouse up crowds. These are the kinds of moments that define the blissfulness of music. It's great to see that there still exists bands willing to play no-frills punk despite the growing popularity of supposedly-profound concept albums and the Return of the Synthesizers. The production is absolutely fantastic. Radinsky's vocals meld beautifully with the instrumentation. The fact that his pipes are on par with Jason Cruz's isn't too bad a thing, either. I'm no musician, but to my ears, the drumsticks pound the skins at a frantic rate and the dual guitars of Jim Blowers and Mike Harder crash together in invigorating patterns. That's a good thing. Lyrically, Radinksy is not exactly on the same level as a Kasher or a Schwarzenbach. His lyrics mainly address troubled relationships, "It's only over when you've given up on me"; drug addiction, "Give me all the drugs you have/One more shot and I'll be dead"; and what it is to be a artist, "Time to time I write these rhymes/It takes me to a better place." While not amazing, they suit the overall sound of the band, which is all that I ask for as a listener. Pulley aren't here to revolutionize music or express awe-inspiring ideas: they just want to write and play some awesome skatepunk. My only gripe with Matters comes with its slightly offbeat sequencing. Track 7 clearly contains two (rocking) songs, which is plain weird halfway through a record. Also, there's a twelve-second gap between tracks 11 and 12. That slightly botches the flow of the album. But, those tiny flaws don't conceal the fact that Matters is a timeless punk record. Had it been released in 1994, it would have been just as exciting to hear as it does right now. Frankly, punk hasn't sounded this great in years. Buy this record. It matters. People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
I love it!! Finally some good skatepunk! Return to form after the slghtly off target 'together again for the first time' still not on ar with 'Esteem Driven Engine' or '60 Cycle Hum' but a very good album nonetheless i have 2 pulley baseball cards. give a little respect http://www.los-angeles-casino.com/lanir/casino-directory-2005.htm l i designated this as my 3rd favorite cd of 2004, and i still stand by that. absolutley awesome. 'YSC' has become one of my all-time favorite skatepunk songs. A real good album with real good songs and real good production. would you like me to help you pick up all those names you dropped? this album kicks ass. One of the best punk albums ive heard in a long time. Definetly pulley in top form. this album kicks ass. One of the best punk albums ive heard in a long time. Definetly pulley in top form. De très bonne music ("stomach Aches ....) mais certaine autre impeut tros POP avec un mauvais coté "Good charlotte" qui rend pas enfin bon mais très bon CD avec des bonus bien simpas Somebody down there was talking about how rich scott is. Well, I saw them at the gorge warped show yesterday and he was talking about how they couldn't get on the mainstage with the "millionaires". He made several such comments, and not sarcastically... I'm pretty sure the dude isn't that well off. He made it sound like they were pissed that they've worked so hard and they still have to play on the volcom stage. It sounds like he put his money into charities or investments or something. When was the last time he played ball anyway? I picked up the album two days ago, and i can't stop listening to it. I totally agree with you in this review. This is one of the best records to come out in a long time. Maximo disco!!! mediocre caratula, pero no importa! jeje This album is great, fuck the close-minded people who say that all Epitaph bands are the same, or that Scott's a sellout cos he played baseball - who gives a fuck, it's all about the music, and Pulley rules. This is a great fuckin' album, but all of this hate for the "new" Pennywise blows my mind. I really like From The Ashes. "60 Cycle Hum" is and will always be my favorite Pulley album. "Matters" isn't anywhere close.... But I still give it a 10!! Pulley is a good band ....we don't have to label good do we?! If you don't like it...then don't f'n listen to it. "60 Cycle Hum" is and will always be my favorite Pulley album. "Matters" isn't anywhere close.... But I still give it a 10!! Pulley is a good band ....we don't have to label good do we?! If you don't like it...then don't f'n listen to it. This album was a pretty good one, I've only heard a few Pulley tracks before this but the lyrics on this album Are Really BAD!! "Insects Destroy" is my favorite song but it is so lame and cheesy and cliche that I'm surprised anyone could actually take them seriously. I guess Pulley is okay, they sound alot like Pennywise but better ""When will skate punk, screamo, emo, metalcore, "pop" punk, oi, street punk, and ska just die?" Definately one of the best buys of the year so far... Excellent album, right up there with their self-titled. Definitely one of the best punk albums so far this year. It kills the latest one from Pennywise (they are getting old fast), and I hate to say it but it's more enjoyable to listen to than the newest one from BR (Empire Strikes First). Although BR is great for different reasons. Anyway great album, I will definitely be catching them live on Warped (if they come to Phoenix, that is...) Can't really rate the whole album as I've only heard A Bad Reputation, but it's pretty cool. Can't help but think of Blink 182 when I hear it though *cringe*. I think the last sentence was a typo. The review probably meant, "Buy this album. It's Matters." "When will skate punk, screamo, emo, metalcore, "pop" punk, oi, street punk, and ska just die?" Oh yeah, here's the direct link: http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/radinsc01.shtml Everybody's speculating on what Radinsky made. Well, here's what he made, according to baseball-reference.com, the most kickass site outside of this one: When will skate punk, screamo, emo, metalcore, "pop" punk, oi, street punk, and ska just die? Can't we get some more hardcore punk please? Is it so much to ask? Oh yeah, originality is overrated. I really fucking like what Pulley are doing. "It definitely beats the shit out of the new Bad Religion." you all must realize that a baseball player makes a minimum of $300,000. Thats quite a bit of change. This is a fucking superb album. And it's funny; skate punk has been so completely superseded by the emo/scremo crap, this sounds fresh and different to me now. How times have changed. Praise Allah for Pulley. It definitely beats the shit out of the new Bad Religion. Different and some good songs. However, generally put me to sleep. Slightly disappointed It shouldn't matter, but I've been listening to punk rock since before "Dookie" was even a glimmer in Green Day's eye and I still love good old fashioned California skate punk. It's not arty, it's not terribly novel, and it's not terribly fashionable, but it still makes me want to shred - and that's what's really important. yes, lets argue about whats punk and whats not, cuz that'll never get tired right? The guy below me is an idiot... great skate punk album. its not amazing but they are one of the few bands still around that can pull this sound off w/o it sounding tired (like pennywise sounds now). I'm really picky when it comes to music, so I was happy to find this album contained many fast tracks. I'm also glad their sound hasn't changed. Just more and more fast punk music. Jesse, not all bands need to be experimental, but shit... nice try asshole. I'll choose Pulley over Mars Volta anyday. music doesn't need to be revolutionary to be enjoyable. Pulley did a great job and that's that. Actually, he has glaucoma. Jesse, your a flaming moron. There is nothing special about this band, or any other "skate-pop-melocdic-hardcore-derivative-punk" band. It's a tired genre full of shitty music that has been done before and will be done again. 9.3, dumbass. Yeah, that was far too elevated a score, but Alkaline Trio deserve a 1.0. Pitchfork gave pennywise's "straight ahead" a 9.8, and Alkaline Trio's "maybe I'll catch fire" a 3.2 The problem with TFP's new record is that is has some mid-paced/soft throwaways, like "Rachel Corrie" and "Your World. see, the thing about pitchfork is they lose all credibility when they compare turning japanese to kyoto now. Give me a break. In no way is Bad Religion a "deep, emotional" band. They need to retire anyway, they're just like Pennywise now: no variety. Good.....and Pulley is a decent band....i saw them open for Bad Religion last year in Agoura Hills and they played well....but they are not even in the same building as Bad Religion. How can you compare BR and Pulley....Pulley are fast skate pop punk....Bad Religion are melodic hardcore punk....I mean, only a fool couldn't see the huge difference between Bad Religion and these guys.....most notably in the lyrical content and the fact that Bad Religion records are, for the most part, politically charged, somewhat dark and sometimes wittily sarcastic. Pulley, on the other hand, deliver great music, but nothing on the album really get's inside the listeners head or conjures up anyy strong emotion...good stuff stil though. I get really fucking sick of the "skate punk is so '95" crowd..... I bought the TFP record...and I have to say Pulley's effort is far better than TFP's. I thought this record was very boring. finally. epitaph bands take note: this is how it's done. (that includes you, bad religion) the same old shit. "Yes, a 9. This record wipes the floor with the new Bad Religion (which only deserves about a 5 or 6)." This album is full on Sick. This one is great...only one besides esteem driven engine where I enjoy every single song. But hell, it's pulley they could go polka and still get an 8. And I did notice the strange similarities between TFP's never look back and Pulley's Looking back. Pulley doesn't write filler. I can't remember if they ever had. It's been their dynamic patchwork of influences that makes every album interesting and easy to listen to again and again. i don't think i'd like 60-cycle hum as much if every song sounded like Mandigo and Havasu. not as solid as their other albums. wish they had stuck with ryan greene. the sound on their albums with him was better. good, nonetheless. listen to Ten Foot Pole - Never Look Back, and then Pulley - Looking Back. As far as the whole "eptiaph sound" goes this is the best thing i've heard in a while. "I didn't even heard the album" - The last guy. I didn't even heard the album, so the score is for Esteem driven engine, which was their best album. Pulley is probably the best skatepunk band, but it's still only skatepunk...and, even thought you won't like me for saying that, i'm not 16 anymore, neither we're in 1995. Sorry, but i'll keep my 9/10 for something that "matters" more than this. An incredible album, from a great band. Pulley is not about Scott Radinskey. The acomplished players behind him make the band. The layered guitars create a full sound that is only duplicated from a handful of bands, like Strung Out and Lagwagon. Pulley Rules! They deserve better album sales. How the hell did this become a topic of how much money Scott has made playing baseball? For starters, he was a relieve pitcher, so he never landed a huge ass contract. Not to mention, he hasn't pitched since the end of 2000 (For the Indians I believe) and only for the last month or two of the season and it had been awhile since he had pitched before that because he had surgery. No work = no money. I am just generalizing things, but I think you can see how the man is probably not made of gold. Does he have money? Probably. Is it A-Rod money? Not a chance. If I'm not mistaken, Radinsky has invested his money from his baseball career into a variety of projects that benefit his community, including a well-known skatepark. The fact that Pulley tours like any other band that has established a modicum of success is in indicative of the nature of the people in the band. I'm sure Radinsy could pay for 5 star hotel rooms while on tour, but odds are, he and the rest of the band just don't have that kind of warped set of values. There are plenty of people who either have made a lot of money or were born into a lot of money who don't live that particular kind of lifestyle. Geez,the guy's been playing punk rock since 1982....he doesn't even play baseball anymore. I don't see how if he's a millionare it really makes a difference. at least he's doing what he likes to do. if one of your interests led you to a million dollar career and you were in a band... would you quit the band because you make millions of dollars? i saw an interview, i think, where they said they go on tour and just 'scrape' by. well, that's dumb there. Scott Radinsky. Million dollar baseball player by day, punk rocker by night. Who's this fucker kidding. I like this record. Good full sound. Best new record this year so far. There was an article about Jack McDowel in yesterday's Chicago tribune. Read this quote There's enough variety in each and every one of Pulley's songs to keep them sounding fresh and original. "YMC," for instance, has a definite Southern twang, while "I Remember" is pure angst. That is sweet I remember that game. I think Jack Mcdowell has a good rock band to. And this disc rocks by the way. I remember watching a Yankees game a few years back on Fox, and Bob Brenly (pre D-Backs manager era) was one of the announcers. When Bernie Williams, who plays a mean classical guitar, was up, they talked about ballplayers' bands. Including Pulley, which Brenly said would "frighten small children." Then the other announcer stood up for the band, saying that he thought they were pretty good. It might have been Joe Buck, it was one of those Fox play-by-play guys. Whoever it was, gained mad cool points. Bad Religion is the definition of flogging a dead horse. "Had it been released in 1994" "I dunno, a 9?" Radinsky should have been the Dodgers closer that year that Todd Worrell was blowing save after save, I'll never forgive Bill Russel......after every blown save by Worrell he'd go "He's my closer." Best Pulley record to date. The production quality reminds me of LagWagon's latest album, in other words, it makes them sound much better. I dunno, a 9? I cannot believe how good this album is. Still, it should have been on a seperate track... It's the 'Land of the Lost' theme! | Features
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