Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

Whippersnapper

The Long Walk (1999)
Lobster Records

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

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

Published on September 18th 2005

I think it's pretty safe to assume that everyone, at some point or other, has suffered one of their favourite bands breaking up, and maybe have never really recovered. A band that they would do just about anything to hear one more record, or perhaps see live. For me, the band that comes to mind more than any other is Whippersnapper. And this is their best album.

The Long Walk is one of the few discs I own that not only is missing a single track I would ever even consider skipping, but also sounds as fresh as the first day as I heard it. In fact, "fresh" is one of the words I would use to describe it, along with "faultless." Their debut album, whilst amazing, was nothing like on the scale of this: Pretty standard, poppy skate punk really. This, however, is completely different. Every track is loaded with creativity and texture. The strange thing is, this album isn't as instantly catchy as America's Favorite Pastime. What we have here are incredible bass lines played behind, but never out of the foreground and some excellent guitar work and backed up by more than adequate drumming. Add to the mix equally cleverly layered vocals (sung by the entire band) and the result is staggering. As for that bass sound, I have never heard anything like it. It's very deep, rich and toneful. It adds so much to the album.

Oh yeah, in case you hadn't guessed yet, yes, this is one of those reviews where someone basically textually cracks one off to one of their favourite albums. Sorry for that. I will do my best to tell you how it sounds without breaking out into fits of huge appraisal. This is pop-punk, but not pop-punk. It's much more creative than that. Take the lyrics for example. No "love" songs here. The lyrics (mostly dealing with personal struggles) are the sort that are worth picking up the CD insert for, but don't leave the reader clueless as to what the songs are about afterwards. Poppy hooks have been traded in for creative guitar and bass work, which, in turn pave the way for the accompanying vocals, completely lacking in catchiness (especially on first listen) but with a subtle melody. In fact, I would say Over It (another Lobster band) in terms of vocals, only sharper, less emo and with superb, seperate, more melodic backing lines.

This CD is just a joy to listen to; it flows so well and is never boring. Sometimes I put it on to sing along to, sometimes I put it on to appreciate the instrumental side. Take "Clothes Horse" as an example. A wonderful intro, which introduces each instrument in turn, then into a main riff, followed by vocals for a minute or so and then featuring one of the best instrumental sections I have heard, before finishing with a different vocal section. All the way through creative and just damn good. Not to mention that this album sports one of my favourite closing tracks. A fantastic instrumental section which builds up with lead vocals and then backing to a fast octave chord riff as the album ends.

I will end it here; I can't write reviews for shit and I have been debating to write this for literally months because I know I can't give this the credit it deserves. So, another ten then by an "obsessive fanboy." All I can really say is if you appreciate something slightly different but not so different you end up with some crossover disaster genre like grindgospeljazzcore and like albums poppy, fresh and have an ear for amazing guitar and bass work. Buy it. You will love it. For people who already have this; you know what I'm trying to say right? Help me out here people!

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.

casualdlirium (November 18, 2007)

top 3 cd's of all time

JustinUCR (March 29, 2007)

excellent album! I saw them on this tour headlining over a friends band in Chicago and was blown away.
I got the America's Favorite Pastimes record and maybe listened to it once...
This is such a fantastic album that really does defy a good description?!
angular-pop-punk, technical punk rock, I don't know...

this is a record you absolutely cannot go wrong with picking up...give it a few listens and it will sink it's claws deep into you.

pabstboy (September 24, 2005)

Definetely the album that got me into Whippersnapper. I saw them open for my fav band Strung Out and holy moly was I impressed. I do have Appearances Wear Thin in my top 5 all time though.

nikobart (September 21, 2005)

Crazy review for a crazy album

I agree with each of your words

Anonymous (September 20, 2005)

Yea this record is a classic in its own right, but "appearances wear thin" is a fuckin sick record. The drumming alone is worth listening to, not to mention some sick production value on backing vox and a bad ass bass sound. The songwriting has always been there and I think remains on their final disc.

Anonymous (September 20, 2005)

Only Lobster release better than this one...Mock Orange "Nines and Sixes".

AlmostPunkEnough (September 20, 2005)

i've been reborn into my love of this. it's one of those albums that somehow never seems to get old. i think "Appearances..." is just half a step below this, but still incredible. sometimes i think this really may be deserving of a 10.

Lobster should have kept up the every-3-year greatness: 99 - this, 02 - Staring Back - "On"... 2005... nothing anywhere near this good, unfortunatley

is it out of print now?

Anonymous (September 20, 2005)

Ok, first of all, I agree with most of you about the album. The Long Walk definitely tears most records of this genre to fucking pieces. Everything about this record is amazing. The production is great, the arrangements are great, the musicians are great. The only flaw I hear is some kind of weird quick fade in the middle of track 6. Sounds like some recording error or something. Other than that, this is one of my all-time favorite records. Those of you who think Appearances Wear Thin isn't equally as stunning need to give it a few more listens. It takes a bit longer to get. It's a brilliant album though. The production just doesn't touch the others. Give it a spin again with an open mind. Trust me!

Anonymous (September 19, 2005)

Ya lil whipashnapah!

Anonymous (September 19, 2005)

The guitar at the very very end of this cd is awesome. I wish it wouldn't fade out so quick.

Anonymous (September 19, 2005)

Fucking LOVE this cd. Just amazing.

"I think it's pretty safe to assume that everyone, at some point or other, has suffered one of their favourite bands breaking up, and maybe have never really recovered"'

You hit the nail on the head. For me, its this band, and Face First.

-opivy

Anonymous (September 19, 2005)

Whippersnapper was a great band that worked very hard. Besides musicianship and songwriting, I think this album sounded better than their other two because it was done at the Blasting Room with Jason Livermore. I think this was one of the records that really got Jason going in learning how to really use the studio. Now look at the stuff that's coming out of the Blasting Room. He's come a long way.

BTW...I think a few of the guys from Whippersnapper all moved to different parts of the country. Chance of reunion might be slim to none.

Anonymous (September 19, 2005)

who else would bust a nut if whippersnapper did a reunion show/tour with a wilhelm scream as one of the bands?

Anonymous (September 19, 2005)

I agree with this review. Long Walk is still one of my favorite albums and I still listen to it a lot.

And yes, a reunion show/tour would be awesome.