Street Drum Corps

Street Drum Corps: Street Drum Corps [CD/DVD]Street Drum Corps [CD/DVD] (2006)
Warcon Entertainment

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

Contributed by: AubinAubin
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on March 17th 2006Street 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 les.

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

Anonymous (April 6, 2006)

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.

Anonymous (April 6, 2006)

fox82 (March 20, 2006)

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

Inspection12e (March 20, 2006)

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

Anonymous (March 20, 2006)

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.

Anonymous (March 19, 2006)

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

Anonymous (March 19, 2006)

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

Anonymous (March 19, 2006)

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.

homie (March 19, 2006)

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

Anonymous (March 18, 2006)

is bert mccracken in this band or only 1 song?

mediocregenerica (March 17, 2006)

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.

indie_is_better_than_punk (March 17, 2006)

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.

hypervioletsucks (March 17, 2006)

mind you.

Anonymous (March 17, 2006)

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

Anonymous (March 17, 2006)

Scorn is nothing like this.

Anonymous (March 17, 2006)

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

givemeamuseumandillfillit (March 17, 2006)

Score is for the most openminded review on here ever.