Epoxies

Epoxies: Stop The FutureStop The Future (2005)
Fat Wreck Chords

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: adamAdam
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on May 17th 2005My lasting impression of the 80's (aside from some excellent cartoons based on toy lines) was that it was a pretty silly time musically. The things that were burnt into my then-adolescent brain were the likewise cartoony imagery of bands like Devo or Adam And The Ants, so the recent trend of holding.

My lasting impression of the 80's (aside from some excellent cartoons based on toy lines) was that it was a pretty silly time musically. The things that were burnt into my then-adolescent brain were the likewise cartoony imagery of bands like Devo or Adam And The Ants, so the recent trend of holding up the 80's as some great untapped well of influence has always seemed a bit revisionist to me. It all seems too sterile, too scrubbed and sanitized by face-saving and dreadfully self-conscious indie sponges. The Epoxies, to their eternal credit, embrace the decade by drawing from its sense of kitschy fun, and that's what ultimately sets them apart (and above) all that trendy mainstream dross.

If there's one thing that's driving me crazy as I dredge the net for opinions of Stop The Future, it's that people are lumping them in with the aforementioned dance-rock trend. That's both lazy journalism and flat out wrong. Far from chasing indie rock glory, the Epoxies have gestated for years in the brilliant pool of punk rock that's been (not so) quietly emerging from the Pacific Northwest. These are peers of the Spits, the Briefs, the Minds, Jeffie Genetic and the late Exploding Hearts. The community of bands that revolves around the Seattle/Portland axis continues to deliver some of the freshest, energetic and most pure-of-spirit punk rock in the US.

To see a staple of that scene brought up in the same breath as the Killers and the Bravery just makes me want to tear my hair out.

If you've been on board since 2002's self-titled effort, then you'll find many familiar elements in play on Stop The Future (yes, even the yodelling). FM Static's synths are still front and centre, interplaying with Roxy's android Debbie Harry vocals. Comparisons to Devo's monotone and the Rezillos' pop energy are inevitable and deserved. Make no mistake though that there's a strong punk band under all the retro-futuristic wrapping, and the Epoxies' song structures aren't too far off from the Descendents at times. "Radiation" is one of several punk wave rockers that make up the backbone of Stop The Future. Among these is a high-energy treatment of the Scorpions' "Robot Man," and the band makes the song their own. "Everything Looks Beautiful On Video" reins in the tempo a bit and marks a cool throwback to that brief, optimistic time when MTV wasn't a four-letter word. The band experiments with their songwriting on tracks like the choppy "Struggle Like No Other" and the instrumental title track. The album-capping march "Toys" is simply a beautiful song and maybe the most authentic new wave track the Epoxies have ever attempted.

Like their fellow Dirtnap alumni, there's almost an innocent charm to the Epoxies music. They're building on that mythical early time when punk rock represented something more hopeful: a deconstruction and revitalization of the pop model. It's that period of genuine promise before sad, cynical bastards overanalyzed things and spoiled the party for everyone.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (September 24, 2005)

Today I got this package in the mail with a Fat Wreck Chords stamp on it. I am a huge fan of most of the Fat roster but I was like "WTF I didn't order anything from Fat." I opened it and there was a brand new shiny Fat Wreck shirt. (I needed a new one, my old one was fades to shit.) There were also 2 posters, one of which (the album promotion poster) was signed signed by the band members, and the other was a tour poster. And last but not least their new album "Stop the Future" also signed by the band. It was then that the memory of entering an online Epoxies contest came back to me. The moral is: Free shit kicks ass and so does this band and Fat!

Anonymous (September 24, 2005)

Anonymous (July 16, 2005)

i think their older stuff is kinda boring ..but i gave them a second chance ..and wow..its really good..i dont regret ahaha

Anonymous (May 23, 2005)

Best album of 2005....

Anonymous (May 23, 2005)

I love this album...

allison_le_gnome (May 22, 2005)

Oh, and stop arguing about Jawbreaker. Roxy's makeup is better than Blake's, anyway. Problem solved.

But, just to contribute, I think Jawbreaker's lyrics are pretty good. Take, for example, (and I'm sorry to use Dear You like everyone else) "Bad Scene, Everyone's Fault." The lyrics are simple enough, but I really like them.

allison_le_gnome (May 22, 2005)

"wheres the gnome face...she should be posting here any moment

- jonesy the a bonesy

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com"

Amazingly, I managed to miss this review until now.

Just in case anyone was wondering, I love love love this album. I would say "Struggle Like No Other" is probably my favorite song as of now. Also, the only thing I dislike about the first album is that you can barely hear the guitar half the time. The songs seem more guitar-based this time, while the synth is definitely still present.

And, Adam is correct, X-Ray Spex comparisons are a very good thing.

Anonymous (May 22, 2005)

its great

Anonymous (May 20, 2005)

goober patrol and tilt are amazing so bleh to you.

Anonymous (May 20, 2005)

Got the record, good stuff.

sickboi (May 20, 2005)

I used to not like this band, this album changed that.

Anonymous (May 19, 2005)

I didn't like their first album at all, I doubt I'll get this. Once bitten twice shy and all that lark.

EMOHOLOCAUST (May 19, 2005)

Using a device called the Omega Beam, the planet Rann was transported across the Universe to hide it from its enemies. Upon its return however, a saboteur altered its destination, sending it to the star system of the warlike Thanagar. The resulting gravitational strain sent Thanagar hurtling into its sun, leading to planetary Armageddon. Now Thanagar’s refugees are living on Rann, the very world that destroyed their own. As tensions run high, Rann’s defender Adam Strange seeks allies for the conflict he knows is to come.

Anonymous (May 19, 2005)

I dislike the Epoxies and NUFAN, but not as much as I HATE chinatown.

GET...A...LIFE

You are pathetic.

RiseAbove (May 19, 2005)

I didn't like their song on the Rock Against Bush comp. so I think I'm gonna pass on getting this cd, not my type of music.

Anonymous (May 19, 2005)

This band are okay, but they grate after a while.

Joe

lushj (May 18, 2005)

If this record's a tenth of their live show or 50% of their first record, it's gonna be in the year's top 10. More proof that Ken Wisconsin/Dirtnap/Green Hell (Portland) has an ear of gold...

Added bonus for Roxie Epoxy being a hockey player!

aubin (May 18, 2005)

centre is the british/canadian spelling, and center is the american spelling.

Actually, I think it's supposed to vary by the context. A city centre is at the center of the city. That's the way I was taught anyway.

My Economist Style Guide tells me to use a synonym instead though.

Cos (May 18, 2005)

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that the "steady fuck" line came from Oyster, but the way I wrote it, I can see where all the confusion came from. This board is not the best place to fuck up on your syntax...

--Cos

Anonymous (May 18, 2005)

"2. The Scorpions had another song besides "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Winds of Change?"

For sure, they have written the super-hair-metal-ballad "still loving you" but that's all I think...

Anonymous (May 18, 2005)

Yeah, Jones and Chinatown comment on everything, it's really annoying, for a fee they'll follow you around for a day and comment on everything you do.

Anonymous (May 18, 2005)

NUFAN suck s so hard. geezzz

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

This band slays. Does Jones comment on everything, even when it has nothing to do with what is going on here?

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

Wow, I guess lots of people hated the fact that I brought up a superficial yet simple comparison to two bands that are salient today when I wrote the review for AP. Good to know. Either way this album is inexcusably boring and bland and completely forgettable.
--RM

adam (May 17, 2005)

I was able to rip it with no problem.

-adam

TheOneTrueBill (May 17, 2005)

And has anyone had any trouble importing this onto a computer? I've tried three times and it freezes up my iTunes and makes me end the program.

TheOneTrueBill (May 17, 2005)

Am I the only person who likes this better than the first album on first listen?

Crookedsuperhero (May 17, 2005)

""Oyster" (If you offered me a million bucks, all i wants a steady fuck"...come on)"

Those aren't even lyrics to that song, smart guy.

Sorry, it's Million. And yes, i do realise that was a really stupid mistake, so i'm stopping this argument since i have been discredited.

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

""Oyster" (If you offered me a million bucks, all i wants a steady fuck"...come on)"

Those aren't even lyrics to that song, smart guy.

jamespastepunk (May 17, 2005)

centre is the british/canadian spelling, and center is the american spelling.

I know. I'm just poking fun.

Crookedsuperhero (May 17, 2005)

Hell, i've got all Jawbreakers albums, but i just don't really see it. Yeah, Dear You was the poorest lyrically, but the rest wern't overly amazing in the lyric department in my opinion.

And the lyrics you posted for Oyster aren't good at all.

phdecontrol (May 17, 2005)

Crookedsuperhero

I noticed that you're only citing lyrics from Dear You...maybe instead of attempting to attack a fucking amazing lyricist, you take a listen to most of the material, or at least find a website with all of Jawbreaker's lyrics and read them. Just because you don't like the way it sounds, does not by any means make Jawbreaker any less brilliant than they are/were.

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

Screw this band. When is Fat putting out the new Soviettes cd?

adam (May 17, 2005)

Ken: I suppose Stop The Future is predominately mid-tempo stuff, but there's some variations on both ends of the spectrum ("Struggle Like No Other" and "Toys," off the top of my head).

-adam

Cos (May 17, 2005)

"Save Your Generation" and "Oyster" are both lyrically amazing songs. "Save Your Generation" is a great skewering of the grunge scene and "slackers". And "Oyster"?? How do you fuck with that?

"the world is an oyster locked in a shell/You like the taste of it, can't take the smell". That's so great. Its simple, but genius. And we've all just wanted a steady fuck. Blake is just verbalizing it for us.

--Cos

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

Fell in love with the epoxies by getting the Synthesized single first.

Was totally dissappointed with their eariler full-length (because I already had the aformentioned single).

Question to Adam and crew: Is this stuff up-tempo and danceable, or is it mostly mid-tempo like the first LP?

-Ken

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

but how is the new system of a down?

Crookedsuperhero (May 17, 2005)

"Save your Generation"

"Oyster" (If you offered me a million bucks, all i wants a steady fuck"...come on)

I'll think of more later....

SkolarX (May 17, 2005)

i tried listening to this cd last week. i made it through 2 songs. barely

fistchode (May 17, 2005)

centre is the british/canadian spelling, and center is the american spelling.

tahoejeff (May 17, 2005)

How can anyone say that Frenzal Rhomb is one of Fat's worst bands? Anyone who says that, I would be willing to bet, has only heard their stuff on comps.

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

OK, i like Jawbreaker, but some of Blakes lyrics are just terrible.

He really isn't the lyrical genius hes cracked up to be.

Name me one Jawbreaker or JTB song that isn't lyrically impressive.

-Chinatown

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

Actually, I never meant to put it that way; I was defending NUFAN as a separate entity. I think the Epoxies suck due to: Roxy's monotone voice and her yodelling, her lyrics, the really lamed-down, crunchless punk sound (I whole-heartedly agree that they sound nothing like The Bravery or the Killers), and the technology gimmick, which I find in no way amusing.

Just for the record, I've yet their entire first album, and one song from this one. If the opener ain't good, it's usually not a good sign....

-Chinatown

adam (May 17, 2005)

"Translation - unlistenable shit."

See, while I completely disagree with him I can respect Crooky's right to his own opinion. However "the Epoxies suck because NUFAN writes good lyrics" still makes no sense.

-adam

Dante3000 (May 17, 2005)

Just to clairify, I simply used the NUFAN comment to tell Chinatown that he/she/it/tranny should learn about the Epoxies (besides radiation which is clearly the only song he/she/it/tranny have heard by this band). But yeah...Thanks for all those pages of quotes. I guess I always could have check the liner notes on the albums. Just because I think their last few albums suck doesn't mean I don't own them (I liked a handful of tracks off each one thought it was worth buying, I now feel I was wrong about that). But I suppose this does have little to do with the Epoxies. Who are clearly way more rad than you will give them credit for. And that's fine.

Crookedsuperhero (May 17, 2005)

'eclectic Pacific Northwest punk/new wave revival'

Translation - unlistenable shit.

adam (May 17, 2005)

You guys never cease to amaze me. Responding to the rabble:

1) Centre is a perfectly valid variation of center, but I'll change it to make you happy.

2) Spoilt is a perfectly valid variation of spoiled, but I'll change it to make you happy.

3) The perceived depth of No Use For A Name lyrics has really nothing to do with this record and it troubles me that it's even in discussion here. You're basically saying then that "because this band is on Fat they need to live up the benchmarks set by Fat Band X that I really like." When it comes to the Epoxies, who play eclectic Pacific Northwest punk/new wave revival like several other bands from the area, I really don't see why the need to even compare with the lyrics, production or songwriting of NUFAN. It's two totally different bands with two totally different sets of goals. Whether you like it or not (and that's up to you), the Epoxies have accomplished their goal here. NUFAN (or any other Fat band) has absolutely nothing to do with it.

4) X-Ray Spex comparisons are a good thing, of course.

-adam

johnny_k (May 17, 2005)

"Let's hear it for Fat's worst band! "

Dude…Frenzal Rhomb? Goober Patrol? TILT!?!

Oh man, these guys are light years ahead of those jokers."

The Epoxies are great. But saying Goober Patrol is Fat Wreck worst bands is ignorance at it's worst. Vacation is a killer album.

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

I think Tilt remains the best female fronted band on Fat. 'Til it Kills is a great album.

Crookedsuperhero (May 17, 2005)

OK, i like Jawbreaker, but some of Blakes lyrics are just terrible.

He really isn't the lyrical genius hes cracked up to be.

Crookedsuperhero (May 17, 2005)

Shitty....sorry Adam.

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

killyouridols: If you knew how to pay attention to anything at all, you'd see that my post was merely a rebuttal to an earlier one made by Dante3000. Anyhow, who are you to tell me shut up? Go suck on an uncooked mild Italian sausage you wanker.

-Chinatown

killyouridols (May 17, 2005)

we all know you like nufan chinatown, now shut up about it.

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

Fucking hell, I thought Chinatown and Jones Bones were gone . . .

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

Oh, and BTW, this band obviously has struck some sort of SOMETHING in you since you spend so much time bashing them. Even if you hate them so, they sure do seem to have you under their thumb.

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

" they actually seem to be semi-serious about it"

HAHAHAHAHA! I'm rolling on the floor with this one. Are you kidding me?

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

I literally didn't intend to be so bold at the end of my post....

-Chinatown

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

That was me just below. If you've (or any of you NUFAN-bashers) actually bothered to read the lyrics to the last NUFAN album, you'd see that Tony has improved greatly in the lyrical department. He's managed to approach relationships (which, yes, is the primary focus of his lyrics [though he does have a few political songs]; and, no, not solely sexual relationships, but the various kinds of relationships one encounters during a lifetime) from a more personal--and thus more compelling--angle.

Feels Like Home: It's never easy to understand/
Why memories hold our hand/But people let go

Pre-Medicated Murder: Looks like your soul is connected to the wall/A photgraph stands by the bed/
Of better times, when we crumbled with our spine/
But lived the next day...and put the malice away

Undefeated: Over and over just like a broken toy/
Heard all exuses, what makes you do it?/You pedal back for miles, just to claim your prize/Here is the exit to your home built on lies

Nailed Shut: Stopped feeling insecure with what was said/Indifferent to the voice attatched to the head/
"What we will become, is how we choose"/Fight like a dumb man when you make him think/You stay afloat for now, but surely you'll sink/With synthetic friends/Now I conclude, I won't confide in you/Hypocrite please, you know the truth/
You're just to "happy" to decide it/Like repetition in a nursery ryhme/To shut me up you'll have to wait a whole life time

The Epoxies, on the other hand, sing about electronics, gadgets, "radiation from your TV screen," and other gimmicky tech-oriented stuff. And, unlike the Aquabats, they actually seem to be semi-serious about it. Just awful.

-Chinatown

REALPUNX4LIFE (May 17, 2005)

I love the Epoxies. When I saw them last summer it was a very fun time and worth the almost two year wait. Then I heard "Radiation" and was upset that the new record wasn't looking to live up to the almost three year wait. I'm glad to hear from someone below that it's the worst song on the record. I'll go pick it up first thing tomorrow.

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

"Dumb Reminders" was NUFAN's single; it's only logical that they make it suitable for airplay. Anyway, Hard Rock Bottom featured some pretty nifty lyrics, notably in the song "Solitaire":

I can pretend for you, that I mean every word said; it's true
That I'd probably rather be like a stranger in disguise
And act as if nothing ever..

Died or faded away, got lonelier with age
And time isn't on our side

I'm sorry to take the thoughts that keep you awake
And make it seem like they're overrated
You certainly talk about me more when
I fall down
And when I get up, my time is never enough
Loved in front, behind my back hated
I guess it has everything to do with luck

I can defend the truth
But I sound like white noise to my friends
As I raise my glass to you
In a stupor we speak words
That couldn't be more honest

Lies we lived before are fights without a war
I'm dead when it's in your head

I'm starting to think that all the buoys we sink
Are cutting our chances of being saved
I see that the end is all we have to let us know
I'd like to believe in something more than a dream
For when the will to be one has faded
I guess the truth will soon be deceived
My friend that isn't there,
My solitaire.

Alright, so they might not be Schwarzenbachian in quality or scope, but at least they strive for originality, which is to be commended nowadays. I'd rate NUFAN as the third best band on Fat in terms of lyrics (after D4 and the Larry Arms).

Psychoos231 (May 17, 2005)

Golden Axe has nothing on Turtles in Time. now that was awesome

Cos (May 17, 2005)

Three things coming to mind:

1. From the album cover pic, the girl is doing a good job of looking like Siouxsie (sp?). And Siouxsie was pretty hot.

2. The Scorpions had another song besides "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and "Winds of Change?"

3. Streets of Rage DESTROYS Golden Axe. And Streets of Rage 2 makes Golden Axe 2 look like an aborted fetus.

--Cos

Dante3000 (May 17, 2005)

It's no confirmed that Chinatown officially knows nothing about music. So you've heard the one song they're streaming off the album, good job. That's probably the weakest song on this album. And NUFAN may have better production but they also have more money and backing. But better lyrics?! Are you kidding me? "International You Day"? "Dumb Reminders"? The last two albums? C'mon. I know you may not like them, but at least get some point of reference before you make some bold comment about them being that bad.
And Scott, like you read these, I understand you can like what you like, and maybe "Stop the Future" ain't your deal, that's cool. But you liked "Make Believe"? C'mon there must be some meter stick here for these emotions!....I'm sorry, that's not fair of me...I only hit you cuz I love you Tina.
-Dante

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

By the way, Golden Axe > Streets of Rage

-Chinatown

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

Dude…Frenzal Rhomb? Goober Patrol? TILT!?!

Oh man, these guys are light years ahead of those jokers.

I guess I should have specified that my comment applied to Fat's current roster. I haven't even heard anything by Goober Patrol.

-Chinatown

ubershep (May 17, 2005)

also, its "spoil" adam.

ubershep (May 17, 2005)

She sure does have a nice can.

Good album.

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

I dig Roxy's Milla Jovovich-in-The Fifth Element-shirt, if you can call it a shirt.

Jesse (May 17, 2005)

"Let's hear it for Fat's worst band! "

Dude…Frenzal Rhomb? Goober Patrol? TILT!?!

Oh man, these guys are light years ahead of those jokers.

maverick (May 17, 2005)

I tried to like this record; I really did. It just didn't do anything for me.

I still think their song on Rock Against Bush is the tits, though.

-Scott

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

NUFAN is a million times the band the Epoxies are or ever could be. Much better lyrics, production, and songwriting.

"There's radiation inside my head!" The epitome of corniness.

-Chinatown

stevejonestherealbones (May 17, 2005)

wheres the gnome face...she should be posting here any moment

- jonesy the a bonesy

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Dante3000 (May 17, 2005)

People rip on this band too much. I got this album about two weeks ago (for review, I don't have a time machine) and I haven't stoped listening to it. It's so damn catchy it might as well be called HPV (oh, a snappy little STD joke for ya). It's not groundbreaking but it is a hell of a lot of fun. And anyone who looks forward to the next craptastic No Use For A Name album ought not to speak ill of any band.
-Dante

Inspection12e (May 17, 2005)

Adam lay off the pipe.

Psychoos231 (May 17, 2005)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, G.I. Joe , Thundercats etc... i miss the 80's ...

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

I hear X-Ray Spex when I listen to the Epoxies. Whether that's a good thing or not is up for debate.

jamespastepunk (May 17, 2005)

The great spelling debate rages on. It's not centre, its center.

:)

Anonymous (May 17, 2005)

Let's hear it for Fat's worst band!

-Chinatown