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Pulley

Esteem Driven Engine (1996)
Epitaph Records

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

Published on August 23rd 2001

When Ten Foot Pole kicked Scott Radinsky out of the band In late '95 because he wasnt spending enough time with the band because of his baseball obligations, he found himself with no band.

But Scott quickly got back to work, calling on some old friends for help. Mike, (Scared Straight, OYM) Jim, (Strung Out, Frankenstein, Zero Down) Jordan, (Ten Foot Pole, Strung Out) and Matt from Face to Face to form an all star punk band called Pulley.

Their first effort "Esteem Driven Engine" is by far the favorite of most fans. The music was fast, melodic skate punk that pretty much appealed to any fan of any kind of punk In those days.

The album starts off with a song called "cashed in" which is an excellent song to kick it off with...that way it gives you a good idea on how awesome the rest of the album will be. Then on to amazing songs like "crawl" "wok inn" which is an old ten foot pole song, and probably the best loved and most recognized pulley song "no defense".

Truthfully this is one of the very few albums on which I really like every song. Its not the same old repetitive beat whiny vocal punk you hear today. The song and lyric structures are very diverse, each song is so different, and some of the most well written songs I have ever read. And Scotts' vocals are so unique and different, Practically unmistakable.

Pulley didnt really garner recognition from the punk world until a few years after this was released. What recognition they had was from opening up for bands like NOFX, Lagwagon, NUFAN, and others, but as more and more caught on to Pulley, Most instantly became fans.

This is a band that is still epitomizing what fast melodic skate punk is all about, and definitley is a punk force to be reckoned with. I'm confident in saying while all the Pulley albums are really great, this album just blows the others away. I can't praise this band enough.

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snakefist (March 28, 2002)

This is one of the best punk albums to come out of the ninties. Jim cherry matt riddle scott mike jordan=good.The so called skate punk sound is evident but skate punk doesn't define this album. The melodies are great and guitars,bass, and drums are decently complicated thanks to the talent of the afformentioned band members. Standout songs for me are "four walls", "no defense" and "cashed in". Not all the songs are great but most of them are.

Anonymous (August 27, 2001)

Hey guy two posts down! you said: "fuck all you halfhearted gotta be told what to listen to punks. you fucking suck." What? Saying you listen to NOFX and rancid isn't exactly breaking the mold. Grow up.

coldjuly (August 26, 2001)

Yeah I agree...you can like what you want...even though I despise sum 41 (obviously) and NFG...(i can handle blink ok) if its what you wanna listen to...go right ahead. I like all kinda os punk...but I i hate a band I will tell you what I think.

Anonymous (August 26, 2001)

this cd does kick ass and to all you who think that just cuz you like one style of punk doesnt mean you cant like others fuck off i say like what you want. i like blink and nfg but i also like rancid nofx and all that . fuck all you halfhearted gotta be told what to listen to punks. you fucking suck.

punky (August 25, 2001)

Yeah this is by far best of all three CD's.But still I would'nt give it a perfect score.Silver tongue devil and She are a great songs...

Anonymous (August 25, 2001)

this cd kicks ass!

Anonymous (August 25, 2001)

oh yeah, pulley kicks. one of the few bands on my 'to see' list. all their albums get a score of at least 9 in my book.- fathead

Anonymous (August 25, 2001)

i m a great pulley fan but this album ... is good, but it hasnt got a lot of cool tunes ... its a bit boring ... i prefer 60cyclehum . more anger . oh well, this album is surely better than a lot of shit around today like blink , sum41, nfg, and all that crap -