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Various

The War On Terrorism
2003
Salinas

Various - The War On Terrorism (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Jesse
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Salinas Records (link)

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Published on May 11th 2004

This record made me remember what we all really need: more shitty political punk bands. This record delivers it. It has four tracks: Caulfield, Mumbler, The Gibbons, and Megan Kott.

Caulfield's contribution to this album made me smile. It has been so long since I've been lost in my pretentiousness that I had forgotten how truly enjoyable shitty punk is. This track, "Stolen Voices," reminds me of a less technical NOFX. Straight up, fast, in your face punk with borderline tongue-in-cheek lyrics. "Our voices have been stolen/just like a rigged election." Genius.

Mumbler impressed me a lot more compared to their 6 song release I had just reviewed ten minutes earlier. On this track they demonstrate a varied style of shitty punk. First off, it's a slightly slower temp, and second, they utilize the beauty of the rest. A band has finally matured when they realize that silence is just as important to a song as power chords. The song is called "They Hate Our Freedom," which basically tells you what the lyrics are going to be just from the title. Such gems as "This is going to be a record fiscal year/Propelled by this climate of fear" and "Can't touch the likes of Chomsky or Zinn/Because garbage like that gets you labeled Un-American."

The Gibbons went overboard on this one. They used a 3/4 intro/breakdown. This is almost a no-no for shitty punk. But they pull it off well. Really well. This is probably the best written song musically on the album, and the vocals are snotty enough to make lyrics like "Were you proud as the tanks rolled in?/Like there was any doubt over who would win/Congratulations boys, another country's sage/For TNCS and free trade" sound like audio butter: delicious and fattening.

The last track is by a girl named Megan Kott. It's a drum-less electric guitar and bass jam, featuring some of the tastiest girl vocals I've heard in punk music. Not only are they gritty and fierce, but you can definitely sense a real pool of talent and a hint of sweetness in her voice. My favorite line of the song would have to be "Cause I'm coming to get the tell all biography/Retitled from 'A Lifetime of Hiding Behind Bushes'/To 'I've Got My own Throne Now, So Don't Fuck With Us.'"

Although this brings me back to the glory days of punk and politics when bands like Screeching Weasel and NoFX dominated my airwaves, I still have to say that no matter how you look at it, it's still shitty punk. And that, my friends, is truly the bottom line for this review.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 14, 2004 at 2:15 PM (EDT)
My Score:

The Ramones weren't generic at first...then they reproduced their frist record over and over until they ran out of steam.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 14, 2004 at 1:49 PM (EDT)
My Score:

http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=56705&

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 9:13 PM (EDT)
My Score:

What ever happened to good old fashioned breakneck speed punk rock? 90% of the punk rock albums now available in my local record stores (I live in new zealand which most of you will probly confuse for Australia) are generic and unimaginative. so in my opinion, Jesse cuz, you hit it on the head. Punk rock used to be more than just 200 BPM with a 'hardcore' or 'emo' breakdown as a bridge. That shit is tired, Theres sod all origanality left.

Posted by Icapped2pac on 2004-05-12 21:34:59
My Score:

Shut up street team jerkoff, I hope you break your ankle skanking.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 3:21 PM (EDT)
My Score:

New LEFTOVER CRACK record "Fuck World Trade" fucking ROCKS!

Posted by Jesse on 2004-05-12 13:04:49
My Score:

I meant generic in the 3-4 uptempo way. Man, I am just dropping the ball on trying to define these terms...

Posted by inagreendase on 2004-05-12 08:40:53
My Score:

Wait...I'm so lost...I could understand Screeching Weasel but...how are the Ramones generic?

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 6:03 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Or that Scott guy. He's pretty hated.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 4:59 AM (EDT)
My Score:

I don't think you were ever even close to being the most hated megan. How about Eddie or Pat41? Now that's hated for ya.

...evildeadalive

Posted by Jesse on 2004-05-12 03:14:16
My Score:

Shitty punk doesn't necessairly mean it's bad music. Shitty punk is just my way of refferring to generic punk music, say like Screeching Weasel or The Ramones.

Posted by littleblackridinghood on 2004-05-12 01:17:38
My Score:

Dear Jesse, (if that is your real name)

i'm only gonna say this once, so pay attention. 'ooh, if i write like i'm really arrogant and a smart-ass prick, people will think i'm a real badass and fail to notice that i don't know shit on shit' is not only an unoriginal, tired approach, but its painfully transparent, immature, and a waste of everyone's time. that this attitude seems to be the only one to prevail on punknews, is why i don't post very often. supporting the scene, building up, rather than tearing down has gone out of style, along with open-mindedness, sincerity, and intelligence. pretentiousness is now firmly in charge, and the reigns are yours.

now, i've never heard this cd, and it may well suck, but i would never know from having read your review because you didn't say shit. in 5 years, you will review the music you listen to now the same way, because thats how pretentiousness works, ad infinitum.

you'll probably dismiss this entirely, and thats your loss, but at least i got a chance to say what i know is right.

sincerely,
richard

Posted by megan on 2004-05-11 21:53:07
My Score:

Jesse,
you fuck. how dare you take my position as most hated.
i'm going to start writing reviews again just to get it back.
you bastard.
you're no longer welcome in my closet when you move here.
love and kisses,
Megan

Posted by Haggard on 2004-05-11 19:46:25
My Score:

Jesse is the fucking man.

-Justin

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 7:11 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Jesse, please stop writing. k-thanks.

Posted by Jesse on 2004-05-11 17:29:33
My Score:

And I thank you for your username. That shit makes me laugh everytime.

Posted by Icapped2pac on 2004-05-11 17:27:52
My Score:

I don't care, dude, I think your reviews are a good read, if only because more bands deserve to be ripped on. In fact, you've ripped on at least a couple bands I really like, but so fucking what? You're the anithesis to the douchebags who do shit like rate Mae a 10, so for that I thank you.

Posted by Jesse on 2004-05-11 17:20:27
My Score:

I think I might have actually taken 1st for most hated reviewer on punknews. Hooray for me.

Posted by Jesse on 2004-05-11 17:14:27
My Score:

"and no matter how you look at Jesse, he's still a shitty person"

I love how my personal merit is starting to be attacked.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 5:03 PM (EDT)
My Score:

horrible review, your fired. you owe me 2 minutes of your life for wasting 2 minutes of mine. what exactly is shitty punk or good punk, you pretensous asshole.

Posted by inagreendase on 2004-05-11 16:34:43
My Score:

My favorite female punk vocalist has to be the girl in Thought Riot, she screams like there's no tomorrow. This score is for Sketches of Undying Will.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 4:19 PM (EDT)
My Score:

and no matter how you look at Jesse, he's still a shitty person.

Posted by slippy on 2004-05-11 16:10:53
My Score:

The Gibbons are way, way more than shitty punk. They don't sound like Nofx at all.

Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2004-05-11 16:06:56
My Score:

booooo