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Rocky Denis

The Difference Between A Blade And A Pill
2004
Heldwithin

Rocky Denis - The Difference Between A Blade And A Pill (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Jesse
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Published on January 18th 2005

These guys violated rule #1: using the right "you're" or "your." They even use it in a song title. "Now Your Dead." What about my dead? There were a lot of typos in the press sheet too. Like how they lost a guitarist to the "collage monster." So that's a few strikes against them. I demand a certain level of inherent intelligence out of anyone that tries to talk to me, and me listening to your band or reading something you wrote is inherently you talking to me. So already I'm wary of this CD.

Upon listening to it, I'm confronted with very formulaic "dark" melodic hardcore. There is not an ounce of creative talent in this band. The melodies and the high-pitched pretty-boy singing and the screaming choruses, and the trite breakdowns that I've heard a million times before. The palm-muted verse riffs that are, when I think about it, lifted from songs like "Third Engine" from Saves the Day's Through Being Cool. In fact, the whole thing seems like someone listened to that album way too much and tried to make it "harder." I'm not buying it.

The lyrics have the most generic "dark" imagery that I've ever read; "Drinking keeps my mind off. Phone rings explodes through silence. You tell me that you leaving. I swear to god I'm dreaming." I swear to God that this band needs to obey basic grammar rules... "I'm killing you, you murder me. Blackened eyes and shattered teeth control the way we all shall think." Yeah, yeah. Death and destruction. Ooh, spooky.

Musically, the band seems competent enough. I've gotten a slew of bands that weren't even good enough to play on time on their records, and this band seems tight even if it's on record. Or maybe because it's the fact that all their "cool metal riffs" are extremely easy and pale in comparison to actual bands.

I think the real difference between a blade and a pill is that one is made out of metal, and the other is medicine. Yup, I could've answered that one for you. You didn't have to make an EP to explain this fact.






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    Posted by simon_dies on 2005-03-04 01:08:39
    My Score:

    i love rocky denis...nothing any of you grammer freaks say can fucking change that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 6, 2005 at 10:47 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "wow! you are so right. i can't stand tere emo/screamo/metal bullshit." Hey Jesse look at this stupid fuck!!!! "tere"

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 4, 2005 at 1:50 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I love Rocky Denis!!!! You guys rock!!!! don't listen to this fucker! he doesn't know what he's talking about!

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 11:00 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    haha.. I just noticed that fag left all three of those comments. He needs to get a life. Join a new band or something.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 10:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Yeah that guys band must suck. Jealousy is a crazy thing. Man that guys doesnt even have the balls to leave his name. What has Rocky Denis done to you? What did they make your band look like shit when you played with them? Shut the fuck up already you stupid fag. Stop your fucking crying cause no ones listening!!! Im sure everybody wants to hear your cheesy ass punk rock.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 10:49 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Wow someones mad. haha

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 5:17 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    wow! you are so right. i can't stand tere emo/screamo/metal bullshit. there all little yuppies. ever seen them live? don't waste your time or money. i did and i was pretty damn pissed.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 5:16 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i was trying to find a 0.5 score... but there is not any. there should really be a zero. zero is a number!

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 5:15 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    boo

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at 6:49 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    ROCKY DENIS SUCKS ASS! Jesse thanks for laying it out straight. thanks for not being like those pussies at punkrockreviews.com. they on the other hand gave you a "better" review because their philosophy is say something nice to everyone. not because they mean it. trust me.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 30, 2005 at 2:47 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This has to be the worst review ever!!! Is he kidding!!! This guy can suck my nuts!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 12:16 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I LOVE THIS BAND!!!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 9:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Funny how all those losers are talking shit and they havent even heard the music.... Follow Jesse all you fucks he will lead you down the path of perfect grammer.

    * I did not use spell check on this so feel free to correct any errors

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 6:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Dont quit your day job Jesse!!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 4:14 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    CALL JESSE'S HOTLINE :
    1-800-2-PUNK-4U

    READ JESSE'S BOOK:
    How to Spell PUNK and Other Cool Words

    COLLEGE CLASSES YOU NEED TO TAKE TO BE AS SMART AS JESSE:
    Punk 101
    Introduction to Spelling
    Spelling II- Winning the Spelling Bee
    Introduction to using a Thesaurus
    Thesaurus Usage II - Making you seem smarter by using bigger words

    Number of people Jesse has influenced by being a good speller and a hardcore punk: 0*

    *Sources available upon request

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 4:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This guy needs to get laid. haha This cd rocks!!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 3:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    How to spell Jesse "F-A-G-G-O-T". I own this cd and i'm missing the point your giving. Punk rock is not about spelling stupid ass. " I demand a certain level of inherent intelligence out of anyone that tries to talk to me" who the fuck do you think you are!! Wow you must not have many friends. This is a very tight band and for a punk band thats rare.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 2:34 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Spelling seems to be the only thing that you're complaining about, besides the fact of Rocky Denis trying to be "hardcore" and it not working. If spelling is all that you can pick on them about, your a fucking loser. Whats up with the "hardcore" thing? Giving someone a bad review because they aren't hardcore enough is pretty shallow. Why can't people just sing and have fun, and not have to worry about fitting into a certain group. Your review was horrible. The least you could have done was be polite about it. Your so blunt and it makes you out to be a total asshole. And making the little comment about the title of the CD seems to be pretty lame to me. "Yup, i could've answered that one for you." i don't know you personally, but you seems like a total stuck up cunt.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 1:23 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Wow!!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 10:04 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    "Jesse is a queer bag". Now thats funny shit. Did these fuckers actually listen to album or the all playing follow the leader. I listened and I really liked it. I better watch my spelling because Jesse might think i not punk enough. What a fag!!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 at 6:29 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Wow!! You should publish a dictionary called Jesse's Dictionary because you have to be the best speller in the world!!! Is that what makes you so punk? You can spell=you are punk. You should launch a site called punksthatcanspell.org for you and all of your dictionary humping friends. Congratulations- you must know how to use a thesaurus too! You must be very resourceful as well, I mean you would have to be in order to review a punk band- all the qualifications of a grammar school teacher- you talentless piece of shit. You sit behind a computer monitor with your dictionary on your dick and your thesaurus up your ass-thinking up ways to insult people who have talent just to make yourself feel better about your worthless existence- congratulations you dolt! Hookt un fonix werkt fer u!!! yippppeee! :)

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 at 1:15 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Is this guy serious? Maybe he should be reviewing the latest Jay Z album instead.... Wu Tang fo life..

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 24, 2005 at 10:51 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    well first of all jesse is queer bag. who the fuck cares about gramar. let me guess you went to catholic school and had to take vocab or your mom would get mad? i think you just never made it in the music world and you are trying to bring everyone down with you.

    now to the record. i like it alot. yeah the band has changed over the last couple of years. but which band hasnt? they played pop-punk, but so did good riddance. listen to FOR GOD AND COUNTRY and than pop in SYMPTOMS OF A LEVELING SPIRIT. its called a progression. if bands didnt do that we would all be listenin to green day now.

    i think those guys have alot of talent and they will continue to improve their musical abilities.

    all you narrow minded fucks can eat my shit

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 24, 2005 at 7:44 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    well first of all jesse is queer bag. who the fuck cares about gramar. let me guess you went to catholic school and had to take vocab or your mom would get mad? i think you just never made it in the music world and you are trying to bring everyone down with you.

    now to the record. i like it alot. yeah the band has changed over the last couple of years. but which band hasnt? they played pop-punk, but so did good riddance. listen to FOR GOD AND COUNTRY and than pop in SYMPTOMS OF A LEVELING SPIRIT. its called a progression. if bands didnt do that we would all be listenin to green day now.

    i think those guys have alot of talent and they will continue to improve their musical abilities.

    all you narrow minded fucks can eat my shit

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 24, 2005 at 6:50 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this guys giant brick of a head makes me laugh.

    -!Greenvandal!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 24, 2005 at 5:25 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I think this site should probably let reviewers listen to records that are similar to their personal taste in music. I checked out the rest of this fag's reviews and most of them aren't even similar to this record. I think new bands should probably skip this site when sending a debut record for review. Just go to absolutepunk.net. They are a way better site. Rocky Denis is actually very talented and I consider them one of the best bands in the new wave of the Chicago punk scene. At least they don't sound like LBC or Fallout Boy.....we don't need anymore of that.....yikes!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 24, 2005 at 2:13 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    They Rock!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 23, 2005 at 1:20 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    To the idiot below me: MDC were being sarcastic just like their ode to the dead Ian Stuart in "Nazis shouldn't drive". If you think Fear is so fucking punk for being sexism and homophobic, why is it that almost every major punk band from Black Flag to the fucking Dead Kennedys, from Minor Threat to Aus Rotten and a million more have repeatedly denounced sexism, homophobia and racism?

    Why is it so fucking punk to belittle the already marginalized? Isn't that just like jocks picking on weaker kids in high school...the same treatment that drove many of us to punk in the first place?

    Fuck off.
    -Ken

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 22, 2005 at 12:42 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    score is for the tool who wrote about Lee Ving:

    "pretty much offended everyone in the club" with his "banter."

    I got news for you champ, THIS IS PUNK. Go see one of the other 300,000 PC emo shit bands you might think are punk.

    What's next, MDC are racist assholes cuz they used the word "nigger" in the song Dead Cops?

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 20, 2005 at 11:23 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "Lasagne" means lasagna in French. So maybe now you can claim to be bilingual.

    This review was pretty funny. But, Jesse, if you're going to disrespect artists because of typos and faulty grammar, you need to take a long hard look at the liner notes of "Real Gone."

    -Chinatown

    Posted by greg0rb on 2005-01-20 17:51:10
    My Score:

    Woops. Lasagna. Yeah, that. Spelling is hard.
    -Greg

    Posted by greg0rb on 2005-01-20 17:50:16
    My Score:

    Oh boy, I laughed out loud at "collage monster". That's hilarious. Also, I want some lasagne now. Yum.
    -Greg

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 20, 2005 at 1:57 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    "Fear had a song called "Now Your Dead." They're the only band allowed to do that."

    Dude Lee Ving is a sexist idiot. I don't give FEAR any room to breathe based on that fact alone. He played a show around here and pretty much offended everyone in the club with his retarded banter.

    Score is for sexism.

    Posted by Jesse on 2005-01-19 21:20:22
    My Score:

    Because Brian said, "Hey, Jesse. Bump up Rock Denis to the top of your review list."

    And I said, " That's a big 10-4 Bossman."

    Posted by Imposs1ble on 2005-01-19 19:19:23
    My Score:

    Good review Jesse, although I'm wondering why it even needed to be reviewed.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 at 4:12 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    my old band played with this band about two years ago. they were totally pop-punk at the time, fenix-tx shirts and all. glad to see theyre hardcore now. dorks.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-01-18 21:23:03
    My Score:

    Fear had a song called "Now Your Dead." They're the only band allowed to do that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 8:17 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "your" refers to posession. ie: Your lasagna is getting cold. "You're" would be used in place of "You are". ie: You are going to eat cold lasagna.

    Posted by Jesse on 2005-01-18 20:00:55
    My Score:

    I think I described how it sounds pretty thoroughly.

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2005-01-18 19:23:09
    My Score:

    The sad thing is, most of the people who read/write on this site don't have any idea why "your dead" is the wrong way to write it. I mean, if you didn't learn THAT in school, what DID you learn? Not much, apparently. I'm gonna go diagram some sentences.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 7:00 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Fuck this fucking gay ass latino band!

    (x_x) Q('-'Q)

    1337, n0?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 6:55 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this band should be called "Lance The Drug Dealer In Pulp Fiction" instead.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 6:41 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this score is for having to see Cher's ass in that one video. ugh

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 6:34 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Eric Stoltz is God

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 6:15 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    what do they sound like?

    wyzo

    Posted by Jesse on 2005-01-18 16:41:07
    My Score:

    The movie was called Mask, and was known as "Sharkboy," although he was the lamest shark-boy ever.

    Posted by TheMarc on 2005-01-18 16:34:18
    My Score:

    Jesse is on fire lately!

    Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2005-01-18 16:03:01
    My Score:

    "Isn't Rocky Denis the main character in the first mask with Cher in it. You know the guy with the deformed face. In fact, I'm almost positive that's what his name was"

    Yeah, exactly. Terrible name for a band.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 3:51 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    First of all, I also have a dead. Secondly, I've also been captured by the collage monster.

    Posted by SethCohen on 2005-01-18 15:44:56
    My Score:

    Isn't Rocky Denis the main character in the first mask with Cher in it. You know the guy with the deformed face. In fact, I'm almost positive that's what his name was

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-01-18 15:28:14
    My Score:

    Fun tidbit: this was produced by Mr. Preicision himself.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 3:00 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    rocky penis?

    Posted by sickboi on 2005-01-18 14:25:36
    My Score:

    Hahahaha....good review.