Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

Enemy You

Stories Never Told (2004)
Red Scare

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

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

Published on December 3rd 2004

I must admit I have a soft spot for Enemy You. They were the first live band that I ever saw when I saw them open up for NOFX nearly six years ago now. After that show I was constantly listening to their first album Where No One Knows My Name, released in 1999, as I walked down my high school halls with my headphones on giving me the excuse of avoiding talking to all those people you always say “Hi” to but you couldn't actually care less about. I really loved that album and could not get enough. Sadly for me, all Enemy You had released since WNOKMN was a few songs on comps and two seven inches. Needless to say, I was very excited to hear an entire album of new material.

Stories Never Told starts off with the one minute and nineteen second blast "Your Way," an anthem about non-conformity, and never looks back with the 14-track album clocking in at just over 24 minutes. Standout tracks include "The Only One," a mid-tempo song about living in a cold, concrete city, and "Failing," which is about sitting around on a Friday night.

The album sticks with the traditional sound of Enemy You, which is one that is comparable to early Bad Religion or skate punk bands like NOFX and Guttermouth, complete with fast beats and vocal harmonies. If you enjoy this sound you'll love Enemy You, just don‘t expect any crazy chords or the second coming of the Pixies because the music is very straight ahead in style.

The trademark of the band has always been their lyrics and the songwriting capabilities of lead singer and guitar player David Jones. The album deals with the themes of feeling alone, growing up, social commentary and politics. The songs are moody, but never to the point where you want to cry out "Goddammit just get over yourself and stop whining!!!" I’d offer sample lyrics but I hate those in reviews so it ain’t gonna happen in this one.

There are a few poppier tracks on this album than on their first release ("East and West," "Something New"), but they grew on me and I find myself enjoying them now. The only gripe I have with this album is that the bass is mixed a little low and sometimes this makes you feel like you're just hearing the two guitar tracks, drums, and vocals. This being said the album is still very solid.

After waiting nearly six years I was not disappointed at all by this release and I recommend it to any whom like fast, melodic music, with good lyrics.

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

ebel (February 15, 2009)

Perfect.

Anonymous (February 17, 2006)

What a fucking CD.....Thank you!!!
Chris

Anonymous (February 17, 2006)

What a fucking CD.....Thank you!

Anonymous (August 18, 2005)

Honestly, I think you're totally crazy. I got this album when the buzz for it was highest, and found it to be universally dissapointing. Generic pop-punk with slightly better-than-average subject matter. Unfortunately, that subject matter is presented in a bullshit pop-punk fashion. Dissapointing.

hein (March 21, 2005)

This great piece of music was worth the many years of waiting. Damn good classic melodic punkrock! As someone said before here, I love it when bands stick to what they're good at. It's energetic, sometimes a bit poppy but always catchy punkrock. I like 'em that way... a lot. OK, maybe a 10 is somewhat too euphoric, but for me it definitely was a 9

thatswack (January 7, 2005)

Oh hell yeah.

DriftAway (December 7, 2004)

These guys sound good.

I like this sound much better than the crybaby shit that is out now.

What is the thought of kangaroo testicles doing in your mind?

SilentStorms (December 7, 2004)

I certainly don't buy cds by bands of this genre anymore, but for what they do they do it damn well.

Anonymous (December 5, 2004)

this is a 5 star record for sure, the score's a keeper and so is this record.

Anonymous (December 5, 2004)

Woah this band is awesome!
Just picked up there last release
Sound like the classic skatepunk sound of the mid 90's sounding like old skool Pennywise and Bad Relgion
Super cool

Anonymous (December 5, 2004)

I love this band. I met David Jones when they played at this little place called Koo's Cafe in Anaheim, really nice guy.

Their sound, whatever you wanna call it(fast, melodic, skate, whatever) is exactly what I like my punk to sound like.

Anonymous (December 4, 2004)

"these guys suck kangaroo testicles"

you're only allowed to post something this dumb in one review. got it buddy?

Anonymous (December 4, 2004)

these guys suck kangaroo testicles

Oh come on, like you've never given fellatio to a marsupial!

-notfeelingcreative

inagreendase (December 4, 2004)

Walter-

if you need the score changed, just say the word.

8dollarclarinetsolo (December 4, 2004)

after school special was awesome, this band is good. i liked where no one knows my name

bowzyjoe (December 4, 2004)

these guys suck kangaroo testicles

Anonymous (December 4, 2004)

I used to listen to Jones's old band After School Special, way back in the day, but never checked out Enemy You. hmmf