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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Nashville's Bullets to Broadway is a new band, yet the vocal section is no other than the members of Teen Idols, while there's also members of Rehasher involved, the band that had Less Than Jake's Roger on vocals. Let Roger be the guy who recorded this album, which led me to think this 8-song disc would smoke. Because if you checked some of my earlier reviews of both bands, you'd find out that I like them a lot.

In the end I have to conclude that there's indeed a very nice coalition between the faster-paced, more driving speedy guitars of Rehasher and former Teen Idols beautiful male-female vocal harmonies. I wonder though if Kevin's vocals were intentionally recorded a bit soarer and scrappier than in Teen Idol's days, because they don't sound as squeaky clean as in the old days. In fact, they reminded me of Ann Beretta a lot. Also, I was a bit disappointed in the recording quality, which actually was also my impression with Rehasher's album; it just sounds not polished enough, and although I'm not really into overproduced things, I think Bullets to Broadway is a band that would sound better with some cleaner sound.

But enough of the negativism, because there's at least 3 absolute beauties of songs on this album: "Stickin in the Middle" (which reminded me of Cadillac Blindside), "Paychecks" (a fast sing-along beauty with a catchy hey-hey input) and "Our Club, Our Home, Our Kelly" (a scene-friendly song with the dual vocals at its best in the amazing chorus).

I expected high things for this release, and most of it came through, yet I really believe that better things are still to come when these people spend some more time on their next release. Also props for Red Scare, a fairly new label that has had 2 of the best releases of this year with Teenage Bottlerocket and this one. None of them bring us new sounds, yet the best of the past.



People who liked this also liked:
Teenage Bottlerocket - TotalAnti-Flag - The Terror StateThe Loved Ones - Keep Your HeartThe Briefs - Steal Yer HeartEpoxies - Stop The FutureGreen Day - InsomniacAlkaline Trio / One Man Army - BYO Split Series Volume 5The Falcon - God Don't Make No Trash Or Up Your Ass With Broken GlassRandy - Randy the BandVarious - PROTECT: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect Children



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    Posted by modelcitizen on 2006-09-14 12:28:52
    My Score:

    i'm listening to this right now. i saw btb open for the lawrence arms in lawrence the other night. good time. they had a song called assholes and airwaves which i thought was funny. they also played a new song that was untitled and it was my favorite song of the night. so hopefully they have some recording planned in the near future.

    Posted by warningdevice on 2005-12-19 00:02:17
    My Score:

    alo... 5 stars on Heather and her tits

    Posted by warningdevice on 2005-12-18 23:54:10
    My Score:

    This release along with Red Scare record, and the label's entire roster is the fucking shit! nuff said

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 11:54 AM (EST)

    Man, this thing rocks. Way better than Teen Idols for sure. I can't believe they have only been playing together for about six months!!!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 1:21 AM (EST)

    Score is for this EP. And Heather's boobs.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 7:48 PM (EST)

    How big are Heather's boobs?

    -Will

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 6:56 PM (EST)

    does anyone else think this cover looks like Nothing New by AAA? i always think it is when i glance at it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 9:45 PM (EST)

    I actually got mine on from Interpunk. Turns out you can actually BUY this thing, heh heh. It's good all the way through.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 9:18 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    anybody got this? i liked the "happily ever after" song.
    someone put this baby up for download!

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at 12:08 AM (EST)

    I haven't seen her in a few years, but when I did, Heather was sure hot. I'll check these guys out, I was a pretty big Teen Idols fan, my only problem being the overproduction, as many others have pointed out...
    Are they still sounding kinda Screeching Weasleish? Or is it a more straight ahead punk sound, not so greaser punk?

    ...evildeadalive

    Posted by aahhhh on 2005-11-15 20:00:57
    My Score:

    fuck, wrong board tags

    score

    Posted by aahhhh on 2005-11-15 20:00:09

    [i]The Teen Idols original singer(I think his name was Keith) was much better than this Kevin guy. I think this band has the potential to be just as good or better than the Teen Idols though. Pucker Up was an outstanding cd it will be hard to match that one though. I wouldn't be surprised if Heather winds up as the lead vocalist in the coming years.[/i]

    i dont think she could be lead. i just dont think it would happen/work well.

    with that said, i think btb (or b2b i guess) are awesome. i saw them in boston and it was alot of fun. i still like some of the teen idols stuff better, but when btb develops their sound a little, i think they'll be amazing.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 7:06 PM (EST)

    Heather is money, but Keith was TERRIBLE. At least he was live. I saw Teen Idols on the LTJ tour and I was floored. Turned out it was the new guy.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 6:29 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    The Teen Idols original singer(I think his name was Keith) was much better than this Kevin guy. I think this band has the potential to be just as good or better than the Teen Idols though. Pucker Up was an outstanding cd it will be hard to match that one though. I wouldn't be surprised if Heather winds up as the lead vocalist in the coming years.

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-11-15 15:09:46

    Uhm Superdude was making things funny, like always.... much like how Will makes things funny with his Wayne The Brain knowledge on punk

    sirens


    hahahhahahahha. that episode of athf is HILARIOUS

    its backstreet boys

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    - fits will perfectly

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 11:35 AM (EST)

    Uhm Superdude was making things funny, like always.... much like how Will makes things funny with his Wayne The Brain knowledge on punk

    sirens

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 11:13 AM (EST)

    Great debut.

    Question for Superdude: how is this is a communist label? You sure it's not just a logo and a name?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 11:03 AM (EST)

    I like this better than Teen Idols.. I think it's mainly because the Teen Idols records I listened to were SOOO overpolished and had the vocal pitch correction dripping off each note sung that I couldn't get past how fake and horrible they sounded.

    This is the first time I've been able to enjoy Heather's vocals, and I do!

    Oh yeah and they put on a good show, saw them with Suicide Machines, Lost City Angels, and Much The Same.. great show all around.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 8:18 AM (EST)

    Kevin's vocals have improved immeasurably since the last Teen Idols record. This is really good.

    Posted by superdude on 2005-11-15 08:15:18

    This review was pretty good, but here's how I would make it better:

    1. Isn't Drink Positive a Good Clean Fun song?

    2. I hope you know this is a communist record label and they want to destroy the American Dream

    3. Keep the dream alive!

    Posted by thirtyseconds on 2005-11-15 05:01:07

    This sounds fantastic.

    Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-11-15 04:28:45
    My Score:

    didn't like it at first, now i don't know what the hell was wrong with me.

    and while this will never be RKL, i don't think they're doing any sort of diservice. (RKL rules).

    Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2005-11-15 02:20:04

    "are these guys worthy of naming their album after an rkl song?

    if not, theres gonna be a whole lotta shankin' goin' on."

    i noticed that too. oh well. i still like them.

    Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2005-11-15 02:02:11
    My Score:

    I love this band! Way better than the Teen Idols, and a lot of fun to see live.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 1:14 AM (EST)

    RKWho?

    Posted by rkl on 2005-11-15 01:09:43

    are these guys worthy of naming their album after an rkl song?

    if not, theres gonna be a whole lotta shankin' goin' on.

    Posted by boldredletters on 2005-11-15 01:06:47

    I saw this band advertised as "ex-Army of Ponch." I hurriedly checked out the mp3s, and realized they sounded nothing like AoP, then cried.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 1:01 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Also saw them with Lagwagon. They were so fun I bought the EP and am loving it.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-11-15 01:00:10
    My Score:

    I really like this musically but can't get past the vocals for some odd reason. And I'm not like that with many bands.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-11-15 00:58:30

    This is such a great band. I've seen them twice already and they were awesome both times. Put this together with their 4 song demo CDR and you've got yourself a damn fine album. Or take it alone and have a damn fine EP.

    Posted by colin on 2005-11-15 00:56:45

    i saw these guys with lagwagon the other night. rocked my fucking face off. good stuff.