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Shooting Blanks have been tearing around the Chicagoland area since 2001, promoting drinking and immaturity in whatever venues will have them. After a debut EP and one full-length, they return with a more mature sophomore effort.

But then again, the standards for “maturity” here are pretty low. Sure, they don’t have songs called “Mindfuck” or “She Loves Me Cuz I Rock” anymore, but the lyrics still leave something to be desired. They read like a high school freshman’s journal, or perhaps his poetry homework, despite these guys being in their late twenties (my guess from their pictures). Examples: “Every time you walk into the room, I see you - my heart goes boom” and “To say I’m bitter would just kind of be a lie, but there’s a little bit of truth when I say I hope you die.”

I’m sorry, but I really don’t have much nice to say about this. I mean, it's standard sloppy pop-punk in the vein of old Blink-182 or maybe Guttermouth, but they sound like they’re trying too hard to be gritty and just ending up sounding silly. The vocals are bad, and although they are not going for choir boy vocals of course, they are just irritating, falling somewhere between singing and talking most of the time. The music is good enough for what the style needs, but there is one thing: the guitar solos, which work their way into almost every song, are pretty bad. There seems to be an overanxious quality about them, where the basics are bypassed for an attempt at impressive tricks. There is always at least one note that is either out of key (or at least not a great note to land on with the underlying chord), and there are some funny sloppy attempts at tapping too.

Perhaps they were better being more immature, because then you know at least you’re laughing with them. For example, my top track for the album would be “One Last Thing,” in which he tells the girl who’s rejecting him “So one last thing before we go our separate ways - why don’t you go fuck yourself for me.” And it’s sung with a great hook, which makes it work more. “97 Miles” is also another okay tune here.

These guys work hard and they’re havin’ a good time so I say let them. Not my bag though.






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    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 21, 2005 at 3:43 PM (EST)

    Hey, kids! - it's Hoffman here from Shooting Blanks. It sucks that our music didn't change Greg's life or affect a generation (as was it's intent). Goddammit. Another failure to add to my ever-growing life list. When will the pain ever stop?!? Well, you'll all see who's laughing last when our bassist, Deech, is crowned "The Bachelor" on national television! Fame & notoritey, HERE WE COME, BABY!!! At practice, Deech picks one of us each week to give a rose to, and then we get to fellate him. Fuck this band anyway - I'm off to start a Bluebottle tribute act....

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 21, 2005 at 3:07 PM (EST)

    hey, all these guys (except for one) are doing well for themselves and have good jobs that they hate. What's wrong with playing what they call music in there spare time to help people get out of the house and spend money on beer. We laugh, we drink, we throw shit, we steel shit, then we go home and wait for the next time these retards play in a bar near us. i love you guys, Lisa

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 21, 2005 at 3:06 PM (EST)

    another lousy "punk" bad. god, what happened to punk music. just suburban losers doing what everyone else does. they dont care what they sound like because of the fact they suck! just more "punk inc."

    Posted by bizzlebrizzle on 2005-03-21 14:30:06
    My Score:

    So this is real pop-punk? I mean, the lyrics are supposed to be dumb as shit.

    Score's for the fact that I wanted to start a band called Shooting Blanks.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 21, 2005 at 10:21 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    gee....somebody missed the point. If you are looking for thoughtful lyrics and crisp guitar solos, Creed put out a few albums over the past 8 years.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 21, 2005 at 1:18 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    The reviewers on this website are too busy tossing the salad of California bands and indie label whores to give anybody else a chance in hell..

    If Chicago were somewhere in CA, this review would be vastly different.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 20, 2005 at 11:58 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    well the review says it all........................... But the best group of guys I have ever met......................

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 20, 2005 at 5:06 PM (EST)

    These are pretty funny and nice guys. The music pretty much sucks but it's cool to see they just don't give a fuck.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 18, 2005 at 11:13 PM (EST)

    yeah no shit. these guys are fucking terrible. i think the bass player was on the bachelor as well. DONT see these dipshits live. i dont care who they might be playing with just avoid them.
    worst chicago band ever!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 18, 2005 at 11:27 AM (EST)

    These guys are really funny live, the music may not be anything special, but they are nice dudes. I wish them the best.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 18, 2005 at 1:54 AM (EST)

    These guys are sooooo lame. I see their video on JBTV from time to time and holy shit. This is so wack it hurts.

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