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Pinhead Gunpowder

Goodbye Ellston Avenue (1997)
Lookout Records

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

Published on May 21st 2004

Many people see the band as Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day's other band and from listening to this you cant really argue against that even though he didn't write any lyrics on this record, he sings on every song. The general sound is very much like early Green Day and the general East Bay sound, songs like Song Of My Returning or High Maintenance wouldn't look out of place on Slappy, Kerplunk or even Dookie.

It starts with "Life During Wartime" which is has a catchy hook that is easy to sing along to and even though it only lasts for under two minutes it is one of the longest songs on the album and also one of the best. "Song Of My Returning" is probably my favourite song here and is easily the poppiest one and it actually hits the three minute mark.

Lyrically the song "Brother" is unrivaled its just a bitter angry song and is great to listen to when you're pissed off even though musically it's not that great, but it doesn't need to be with lyrics like " every under dog must have his day, so you'd better stay the hell out of my way, cause this dog's day is coming soon...." Other highlights are "I Walk Alone" and "Train Station" in fact I don't think there's a bad song on here, at least not bad enough to skip the track.

Goodbye Ellston Avenue is probably Pinhead's most pop-like record which is absolutely fine in my opinion, its short, sharp and punchy, a real easy record to listen to. Many people may argue and slag me off for this but it sounds like it could easily be a Green Day EP. Which isn't a bad thing at all. If you've never heard this band before and only heard of them I would suggest you start on this album.

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erff (April 11, 2008)

didnt aaron cometbus write the lyrics to all the songs? so really armstrong didnt write the same song twice.

Anonymous (May 12, 2005)

I Walk Alone is lyrically the same song as Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Wrirting the same song twice = not cool.

Anonymous (February 10, 2005)

yeah good album, good review. Love that song Brother, reminds me of my pal

thatswack (January 7, 2005)

Pretty fuckin good.

Anonymous (June 3, 2004)

billie does sing on every song, not always by himself but he does sing on every song

lushj (May 26, 2004)

PG started out as Aaron Elliot's project band, not Billie Joe's project band. Now it's morphed to the point that pretty much all of them have a hand in writing. It began as music and lyrics all being by Aaron. So it'd be more accurate (but still waaaaay off-base) to talk about these being tunes "not good enough for Crimpshrine" or "not good enough for Redmond Shooting Stars" or whatever Aaron Elliot band you want to name-drop.

Not good enough for EFS!

Anonymous (May 23, 2004)

They're alright but I get the feeling they're playing songs deemed not good enough for Green Day - at least in The Network he's doing something different

Anonymous (May 23, 2004)

Jason was in the band at this point. Bill's singing voice sounds like he's just yelling and it's really nasally. He sing's the part in once more without feeling thats like 'losing your shadow losing your dreams losing everything.'
I think it's once more without feeling at least.

Anonymous (May 23, 2004)

Thanks for making 1 point during that whole review and repeating it over and over again. That's such a great album and deserved to be reviewed in depth.

Anonymous (May 22, 2004)

I miss Crimpshrine.

Anonymous (May 22, 2004)

Oh hell fuck yes.

- Fatty Arbuckle

Anonymous (May 22, 2004)

great album

but, Billie doesn't sing every song.
Him and Bill trade off on this one, as it's before Jason from The Influents/Green Day was in the band.

TheOneTrueBill (May 22, 2004)

Great, great album. Great band, too. I wish they would be a bit more prolific.

Anonymous (May 21, 2004)

dear billie,

fuck you.

-tom delounge

Anonymous (May 21, 2004)

the only time i ever heard this band was on the d4 split 7" from a couple years ago, and that was enough for me. d4 made these guys look pretty average by comparison.