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 | Smoke Or FireAbove The City2005 Fat Wreck Chords 
  Review by: Hein See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
Smoke Or Fire (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on March 22nd 2005
No, it's not like I only receive promos from a few labels out there, but it's just that I have to confess that really great music is often to be found on the same labels over and over again. I'm aware that a lot of youngsters these days consider the label redundant, but you've got to check this new signing by Fat Wreck, Smoke Or Fire, another new revelation from Virginia that previously had an EP, Workers Union, on Iodine Records. The band was originally formed in Boston in 1998 as Jericho, but moved to Richmond and were forced to change their name because of another band from Australia with the same name, a 1970's-era Christian rock band that is now defunct, threatening to sue them. This album, their first full-length, was co-produced by Fat Mike, quite a reference to get a band going.
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This was probably my favourite album of '05.... and then I heard their Workers Union ep. It's even better. AMAZING band. This is not bad, I found the production to be kinda eh though. 1) Really good album. Better than most stuff put out by Fat these days, with the obvious exception of Against Me! i listened to this record four or five times and i just couldn't get into it. Oh that's right, there is a committee at the label and they sit down and decide what the future of Punk will be and then figuire out how mass brainwashing will help them sell more records - JESUS- Their timing is off- they sound like this or that? Aren't the real questions more like does it sound good loud? Does it make me want to throw a chair through a window when I listen to it on a crappy boom box? The answer is yes. So, the question I have for all you punk o' files is - Where do I get my degree? That's so punk rock isn't it. The Jerico EP ripped and this album does too. If you are a real "PUNK" come kick my teeth out if you disagree. smoke or fire is touring this year with planes mistaken for stars. thats going to be amazing. ""These newer so called punk bands like Modest Mouse, the Used, Coheed and Cambria, the Hives, the Killers, Thursday, Taking back Sunday etc.....are just horrible in my opinion. " I find it sounds alot like Samiam at times. My girlfriend really likes this cd "These newer so called punk bands like Modest Mouse, the Used, Coheed and Cambria, the Hives, the Killers, Thursday, Taking back Sunday etc.....are just horrible in my opinion. " I still really enjoy the Fat Wreck/Epitaph sound. To me that is the type of music I look for. These newer so called punk bands like Modest Mouse, the Used, Coheed and Cambria, the Hives, the Killers, Thursday, Taking back Sunday etc.....are just horrible in my opinion. whoops I have a Jericho RVA shirt from their last show as Jericho RVA. Holy shit, I just listened to the mp at the Fat Wreck page...I need this CD NOW. Agree 100%. That's what I was saying or meant to say earlier. I still like Epitaph/Fat Wreck styled punk but I definately don't listen to it as much knowing as my tastes have changed (Trail of Dead, At the Drive-In). That style of music is great however I usually listen to it knowing that it's something I know I won't dislike. I 'm a Millencolin fan but their new CD Kingwood didn't do the same for me that their other CDs did. It was the same of their old and it's good but I can play Millencolin knowing what to expect. There are a lot of other types of good music out and I enjoy hearing about other bands that aren't necessarily "punk" on this site. There are many people who criticize the reviewers for not reviewing something that is not "punk". But I think it's great that I can hear about bands from different styles of music from people that might have the same tastes as I do. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you should shun it. In the punk genre there is so much out there - dance punk, ska-punk, emo-punk, pop-punk, art-punk just about everything is given a punk term nowadays. What is punk anymore? its not an insult to fat wreck to say what was fairly common knowledge. Most of the original fat roster were specifically Southern California influenced punk rock bands. http://www.burningangel.com/archives/music_reviews/smoke_or_fire _top_notch_with_above_the_city.php Anything out of key or off timing is bad. "but overall this band seems to be off timing in a lot of their songs, especially song 4." Upon first listen I don't think this cd is all that great. I thought it would be a bit more catchy ala Wilhelm Scream. There are some good fast songs like song 6 and 12 but overall this band seems to be off timing in a lot of their songs, especially song 4. The guy's voice reminds me of Justin Sane. Usually not a good thing, but the music on "California's Burning" was pretty good so I'll give this a shot. In reference to the comment below, when I say "the bands I listed", I was talking about Dillinger Four, None More Black, The Lawrence Arms, and some other newer bands. I said this in the Chixdiggit thread, but it's just as relevant here: I agree with the reviewer here. Very good album overall and it sort of came out of nowhere. Let's see if they can keep it up. Oh yeah, old FAT wreck is good but I think new FAT wreck is better in all honesty just because they seem to be much more diverse than they used to be. I mean Good Riddance and Strung Out are two of my favorite bands but they have both evolved into better bands. Both of their first albums along with Propagandhi where almost like NOFX clones. I know I'm going to get crap fror this but they are much much better now than they were earlier. To me New FAT doesn't have the problem where every band sounds a like even for a while. I'm not saying all the old FAT bands sound alike but in my opinion they used to. Hey Brizzle you sound upset. Maybe you've just realized that people can have other opinions and not be "fucking retards". I'm soooo sorry that I am not as musically intellectual as you. It was an opinion and if you're going to go Jack Nicholson on me then I feel sorry for you. There are other things to worry about in this world than some small insignificant post on some punk website. Poor Brizzle. You need a life. :( "The character of Johnny Appleseed was based on Bill Brasky - except for the apple tree planting and not raping men." Hey Brizzle you sound upset. Maybe you've just realized that people can have other opinions and not be "fucking retards". I'm soooo sorry that I am not as musically intellectual as you. It was an opinion and if you're going to go Jack Nicholson on me then I feel sorry for you. There are other things to worry about in this world than some small insignificant post on some punk website. Poor Brizzle. You need a life. :( Caps lock? Oh snap, shit has just hit the fan. i thought their years as JERICHO RVA were much better They're a lot older than I thought they were, like they were releasing shit back in the 80s. Yeah, Chris Dodge was in NUFAN... They were actually good before they signed with Fat, and their first Fat album is allright. arguing about futile issues = punk You're an idiot brizzle and you might want to actually read my comments. I said that their earlier stuf sounded the same. Early Propagandhi/NOFX/No Use for a Name/early Good Riddance/early Strung Out. I said they progressed a lot and they sound much different now. Or did you forget to read that? Brizzle, D4 only has 1 Fat album. Oh yeah toss Lagwagon in their. But I guess you're right Brizzle, I mean Rise Against DOES sound like Lawrence Arms and they DO sound like Against Me. You might want to get your ears checked. You're an idiot brizzle and you might want to actually read my comments. I said that their earlier stuf sounded the same. Early Propagandhi/NOFX/No Use for a Name/early Good Riddance/early Strung Out. I said they progressed a lot and they sound much different now. Or did you forget to read that? Oh yeah, old FAT wreck is good but I think new FAT wreck is better in all honesty just because they seem to be much more diverse than they used to be. I mean Good Riddance and Strung Out are two of my favorite bands but they have both evolved into better bands. Both of their first albums along with Propagandhi where almost like NOFX clones. I know I'm going to get crap fror this but they are much much better now than they were earlier. To me New FAT doesn't have the problem where every band sounds a like even for a while. I'm not saying all the old FAT bands sound alike but in my opinion they used to. I thought with Bad religion writing "Los Angeles is burning" and so many other " ___ is burning" song titles lately (to me it seems), that the one mp3 on fat's site for California's burning was going to annoy me. I thought it would jinx me ever giving them a fair shot. would getting off my ass pay well? maybe you should get off your ass and buy it. where can i download this? i can't find it on punktorrents or torrentspy who the fuck is Bill Brasky and why was there a 5 minute film done about him here in town? When the fuck will Bigwig give us another god damn update? Also, why the fuck is everyone still bitching about this band's name? I wrote this on some thread somewhere else I'm not going to buy this, but I have to commend the band for keeping their songs short. Too many bands nowadays are coming out with bloated 45-minute albums. I hope I can get this easily in BC, I'm keen to hear it. It kind of reminds me of Love Me Destroyer (probably not a coincidence). I like. Reminds me of pinhead circus. I'm really excited to pick this up from all the bands it's being compared to. WIth the comparisons that this band has drawn, it's totally fine by me that they're not exactly original. Music doesn't always have to be innovative to be awesome. Hopefully this'll support that point. holy lord. i bought this one today, and the last time i was excited enough about a record to buy it on its release date was Mute Print about a year ago. Ive been pumping the two songs off the jericho site for over a month or so and those two songs alone made me a bit wet for this to come out. it definatley does not dissapoint. i actually bought this and the Voice in The Wire cd at the same time and this one destroys that cd. the songs are catchy, well-written, and very passionate. the only gripe i think i have with it is that some songs are just too friggen short! if they would have added an extra chorus to the end of "Filter" for instance, it would prob be on my top 10 list of punk songs ever. but hey, its still fucking solid and very well-done throughtout. its funny that you mentioned "saves the day" as being in there Brian because at one point he sounds EXACTLY like that dude. During the acoustic song he also happens to sounds EXACTLY like the dude from lucero. but overall, id have to say its a solid mix between Against me, loved ones, and D4. pick it up. Bill Brasky is the father of everyone on this message board. this is great early year album that shouldnt be forgotten when it comes to albums of the year. pretty good and dang catchy. awesome You know brasky? Let me buy you a round! I can't wait till Fat 7. What's everyone's favorite comp? Mine's 5 for sure. I can't believe someone mentioned Buck-o-nine. Saying Smoke or Fire outclasses Hot Water Music is like saying Buck o Nine outclasses Operation Ivy. The comment below is just ignorant. What is punk without the message? "Why are there so many songs about California burning or falling into the ocean or whatever?" i don't understand why everyone thinks this is such a bad name. i mean it's not great but it's not horrible. all the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) and the sky is grey (and the sky is grey) I got down on my kneeeeeeeeees and began to pray Score is for California Dreaming. "New Fat is good but I really can't stand people who only listen to new Fat bands... to the OC: This band actually did name themselves, Jericho. They were Jericho for 6 years before they were going to get sued over the name. The new name is weak, granted, but I'm sure it wasn't easy just dropping their only identity for the whole life of the band and have to come up with a new name in 1 week. Regardless, if you don't think they can write, read the song lyrics even if you don't listen to the CD and I bet you'll reconsider. And the record is fucking amazing by the way... They'll only get better. Plus they are a joy to see live. If you put the needle of a record player on Brasky's nipple, it'll play the Beach Boys "Pet Sounds." i like this band. now can we start a pog thread like the one on the Emanuel - Soundtrack To A Headrush [2] review? after against me, larry arms, d4 and none more black, hell, even rise against, i feel i can pretty much trust fat mike that this band kicks ass. every description i've read has thrown in a hot water music comparison also, so this can only be good. i will def. be getting this Sounds like this'll be good. Fuck the naysayers; Fat's a great label. ""A band that couldn't even name itself... how the heck am I supposed to respect their song writing?" i like the song on the fat page. Good album, but they are FAR from outclassing HWM. "A band that couldn't even name itself... how the heck am I supposed to respect their song writing?" A band that couldn't even name itself... how the heck am I supposed to respect their song writing? Mist or Water.... ??? after against me, larry arms, d4 and none more black, hell, even rise against, i feel i can pretty much trust fat mike that this band kicks ass. every description i've read has thrown in a hot water music comparison also, so this can only be good. i will def. be getting this This is one of the best records i've heard in years. Who gives a FUCK about the bands name?! This band are awesome. Not quite as good as Only Crime though. I can't wait to get this tomorrow. Sounds like I'm going to love it. The generic Fat Wreck sound is what I love. Why are there so many songs about California burning or falling into the ocean or whatever? Props to the first band who has a positive song about California. Oh SNAP! fatwreck should be working on a new lawrence arms disc instead. 4.5 stars my left foot. Pretty good. I've heard some songs, nothing insanely special, but quality punk rock. bad band name? maybe. bad album art? looks to be from here. fatwreck should be working on a new lawrence arms disc instead. 4.5 stars my left foot. I like this name. The mp3 that Fat put on their website blew me away, much better than the stuff they did while they were Jericho, I wanna see them alive. sorry, but their name is just too shitty to justify a listen. Hahah, alright. It just seemed like a weird way to start a review to me. Oh well. OneTrueBill: Nope. See for yourself. Is there supposed to be another paragraph at the top? This really is like a vast profile of modern punk. I can hear everything from early Saves The Day and latter-day Anti-Flag to Dillinger Four and A Wilhelm Scream in this, so while it ain't crazily original, they're at least not ripping off one band in particular. Still a crappy name. |
