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Street Drum Corps

Street Drum Corps [CD/DVD]
2006
Warcon

Street Drum Corps - Street Drum Corps [CD/DVD] (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Aubin
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Published on March 17th 2006

Street Drum Corps is often described as a "punk rock STOMP," referring to the popular found-percussion-based performers, and released their first official track, a cover of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" on the recent Taste of Christmas compilation. The reaction was mixed, but that had less to do with the band itself than their celebrity vocalist, Bert McCracken of the Used and their choice of an anti-war John Lennon anthem. Between McCracken and the subject matter, little attention was paid to a band that actually boasts a significant amount of creativity and initiative.

The description as a “punk rock STOMP” is fairly accurate mind you; the band takes a mixture of found instruments, samplers and random chanting, yelling and assorted noise. In some ways, it's an hastily organized version of the kind of street performers that adorn city streets every summer and despite the sheer simplicity of it, it's actually quite compelling.

This kind of project isn't exactly without precedent mind you, in fact, Napalm Death drummer Mick Harris embarked on a similar, though more refined path in the early `90s with his Scorn project. Like Harris, the drummers in Street Drum Corps do understand that drummers can actually carry a band, and thousands of years of traditional African music might suggest the same. Of course, it's remarkably tough to make something like this interesting and the Corps' debut is gracefully short; seven actual songs is what you get, plus a disc full of live performances which actually fleshes out the package nicely.

Despite the creativity demonstrated in the few songs, which focus heavily on rhythms and simply chanting, there are some small problems with the recording, though far less blame can be placed on the performers and far more on the producer. Even though the percussion is clearly the most important part of the album, the production is thin and completely lacking in bass; music like this needs to be felt in the chest, and the shrill recording of the rhythm is disappointing.

Thankfully, the live disc doesn't suffer from this weakness, and in a lot of ways, is definitely the saving grace of the package. The immediacy of the live performance combined with much better sound makes it the highlight of the package. I have no doubt that this band is a blast live.

Overall, Street Drum Corps has composed a solid release, sadly hindered by lackluster production, but is redeemed by a indisputably fun live disc. It's not songwriting in the conventional sense, so that may throw some people off, but it's a lot of fun and worth checking out.

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 9:46 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Adam, Bobby, and Frank are brilliant! They kick ass live and to top it all off, they're hot. Anyone who doesn't like this obviously lacks an appreciation for good percussion from an innovative group that isn't just like every other "punk" band out there.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 9:45 PM (EDT)

Posted by fox82 on 2006-03-20 14:39:43

Instead of buying this, you could just go to a big protest and you'll pretty much get the same thing.

Posted by Inspection12e on 2006-03-20 14:15:51

Aubin's review made me give it an honest chance but it's definitely not for me.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, March 20, 2006 at 11:25 AM (EST)

The record is horribly boring. All the percussion is extremely simple. Maybe it works as a live thing, but on CD it is god awful.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 19, 2006 at 9:43 PM (EST)

actually its pretty easy to see that simple plan has a pretty big black flag influence

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 19, 2006 at 6:15 PM (EST)

I would rather listen to the blue devils fart out "ditty" onto my face than listen to this album.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 19, 2006 at 2:37 AM (EST)

If you're going to dabble in the found item instrumentation field either have a real strong mager element to your concept( Tom Waits being able to write good songs) or do something really interesting and gimmicky like blue man group don't just half ass it and say that it's punk. Plus why buy the cd or go to these guys show when you can just go out to the local busker festival and essentially see the same show for free if you're prick or for a bit of spare change.

Posted by homie on 2006-03-19 00:53:29

To compare this to Scorn is like comparing Simple Plan to Black Flag.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 18, 2006 at 12:55 PM (EST)

is bert mccracken in this band or only 1 song?

Posted by mediocregenerica on 2006-03-17 19:47:16

I saw these guys open for the Deftones, and it was really lame, they dressed up in some mad max bullshit costumes, painted their faces and yelled at everyone to cheer for them. It was kinda depressing, but they did come out during Rx Queen and play, if you are a deftones fans you know that it fit pretty well. I can't say that i've listened to the album but i can't imagine chilling or even driving to this type of music. I guess you can't make banging on hub-caps and garbage cans intresting.

Posted by indie_is_better_than_punk on 2006-03-17 16:07:25

this is a cool idea for a band but they are completely uninteresting. i really don't that they could possibly execute their concept any worse.

Posted by hypervioletsucks on 2006-03-17 15:25:28

mind you.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 17, 2006 at 2:18 PM (EST)

3 and a half stars now come on thats making this album, look almost listenable!

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 17, 2006 at 11:45 AM (EST)

Scorn is nothing like this.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 17, 2006 at 10:36 AM (EST)

is it just me or does Warcon have the WORST bands?

Posted by givemeamuseumandillfillit on 2006-03-17 10:35:30
My Score:

Score is for the most openminded review on here ever.

Posted by steveman on 2006-03-17 05:52:06

Good review..

Too bad the actual cd is a boring piece of crap.

Posted by druhol on 2006-03-17 02:26:39

Neubauten, goddamnit.

Posted by OzmanX on 2006-03-17 01:21:19
My Score:

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 17, 2006 at 12:21 AM (EST)
My Score:

holy shit my ass is bleeding. Thanks SDC!

Posted by tristan on 2006-03-16 23:56:27
My Score:

I've got to disagree with you, man. I thought this was one of the most uninteresting, masturbatory things I've ever heard.