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Smackin' Isaiah

The Champagne of Bands (2002)
Fork In Hand

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on May 14th 2004

A Wilhelm Scream is one of those underrated gems that soon will see the limelight. However, just in case you think this band started making great tunes, think again. Under their former name of Smackin’ Isaiah their EP, The Champagne of Bands, have enough passion, dynamite, and flair to blow you to kingdom come.

Picture it if you will…Hot Water Music having sex with Bigwig on a front porch. That pretty much sums it up for their sound: loud, scruffy and infectious. Nuno, the lead vocalist, can sing from pop punk to hardcore screams in a millisecond. “Friendly In The Shit” opens with what can be a mix of genres and a great introduction of what this band can do. “Temper, Temper” is when things really pick up when the band plays aggressively (like Propagandhi) in 2:18. “Clear As Mud” comes back to the first song of the EP as being loose with lots of metal like riffs and group singalongs. “Hell and High Water” may be one of my favorites on this EP with Nuno just delivering the goods with Trevor (guitarist, songwriter) backing him up. Last song “Desperately Seeking Booze”, is a song on what the guys do on a Friday Night.

If I can sum this EP up it would be the word “fun”. Just plain fun is what these guys have set on their minds, and I don’t blame them. Stuff like this proves to me that music can still be fun.

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Anonymous (May 1, 2006)

This shit rules more than anything by AWS. Fuck I love Send Off in particular... Google video search Smackin' Isaiah and be witness to the awesomeness. Pure sloppy style, don't give a fuck punk with a hard edge. Loves it.

Anonymous (July 28, 2005)

I will continue to buy any and all records with any songs by these guys. This is definitely not a dying genre, just one that got entirely too watered down. Speedy melodic punk rock will make it's comeback very soon, just watch.

Anonymous (May 20, 2004)

This score is for the comment below. it's been waaaaay too long since the last time I heard something punk that evoked more than a 'meh' reaction (although the Faint are pretty incredible). But most of the good bands today are just rehashing what other bands already did.

Anonymous (May 20, 2004)

1.) This CD is just the crap they rejected from "benefits", so it's not going to be that good. "Hell or Highwater" is the weakest thing I've ever heard from them by the way(i.e. this review sucks)

2.) Wilhelm is a good band but the only reason they're being hyped up so much is because "punk" music in general is being watered down and sold out and steadily becoming "the new pop". Of course they're being hyped, look at their competition!

they're not the saviors of a tired genre, more like one of the last stands of a tired tired trend that wants to go to bed.

Anonymous (May 18, 2004)

people are mad that wilhelm scream are doing pretty good. yes theres a hype of them, you know why?! cause they fucking rock. if you've ever seen them live, they will blow your balls off. that's right. gay style and all. that's how good they are.

Anonymous (May 17, 2004)

Ramo and sickboi are ice cold.

Anonymous (May 15, 2004)

Guy below me: get used to it.

Anonymous (May 15, 2004)

enough about this wilhelm scream shit

Anonymous (May 15, 2004)

"Hahaha...Ramo and I did reviews....what is the world coming to..."

so true.

Ramo