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My first impression of the Bronx was disappointment. My second was boredom, and my third was well, disappointment and boredom. But for some reason, I decided to give the record a couple more listens and I soon understood where all the hype was coming from. Somewhere behind Matt Caughthran’s Dennis Lyxzén impression Iggy Pop and Spencer Moody were trying to get a word in edge-wise, and deep down below the bombastic rythym section and the crushing guitars was really just a rock 'n' roll record amped up on whiskey and blow.

Needless to say, the Bronx’s first record remains one of my all-time favorites. So, when I heard that Caughthran and Bronx guitarist Joby J. Ford had a side project called the Drips, I was more than a little excited. And I had reason to be: The five-piece, which I would later find out is rounded off by guitarist Tony Bradley (Distillers), drummer Vince, and bassist Dave Hidalgo (Los Lobos), offer an energetic and unique -- if not all that original -- helping of thrashy California pop-punk in the vein of their coastal ancestors Hot Snakes, Agent Orange, and the Descendents.

The whole thing was recorded strictly on two-inch tape in just two days at L.A.’s Wet and Dry Studio (Mars Volta, 400 Blows) and you can tell. That being said, the analog sounds provide a great backdrop for the band’s refreshingly energetic and fun batch of songs. The band falls completely flat on really only a couple of tracks (“Down Brown” and “Wasted Time”) but makes up for it with the irresistible sing-alongs of “I’m Gone” and “Fountains,” somber ballads “16, 16, 6” and “Old Sex” and speedy rockers “Broken” and “Coastline.”

This record, to me at least, is the equivalent of sitting under a pier (or a bridge, or a rock, or a stoop depending on where you’re from) smoking a joint, and sharing a 40 with your best friends. It’s fun, memorable, and makes you fucking shake.



People who liked this also liked:
NOFX - Wolves in Wolves' ClothingLife Long Tragedy / Final Fight - Split [7 inch]Propagandhi - Today's Empires, Tomorrow's AshesAgainst Me! - is Reinventing Axl RoseThe Diffs - The DiffsThe Ducky Boys - The War Back HomeDescendents - Milo Goes To CollegeWestern Addiction - CognicideIgnite - Our Darkest DaysRaised Fist - Sound of the Republic



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    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 19, 2006 at 8:19 AM (EDT)

    i'm so impressed by this disc. glad i ordered it. when i got home from work i was stoked to see a package in the mailbox. i'll be pissing off my co-workers all day today....awesome.
    -TOBB

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, May 15, 2006 at 4:44 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    The Drips is the freshest punkrock album I've heard in years. Brilliant stuff.

    Posted by EyesLikeBombs on 2006-05-11 18:50:52

    haha, mayb, indeed.

    Posted by miff on 2006-05-11 17:28:45

    sorry i take it back i red the rest of the review which mayb i shouldahve done first sorry

    Posted by miff on 2006-05-11 17:27:36

    im not gonna take your oppinion
    no offence but if u dont like the bronx i dont rele think u should be reviewing the drips

    Posted by the_other_scott on 2006-05-11 13:22:46
    My Score:

    haha i guess i can't complain, i've spent years slamming other people's reviews. that being said. i don't really see what's so difficult to grasp about that statement.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 12:44 PM (EDT)

    "somewhere behind Matt Caughthran’s Dennis Lyxzén impression Iggy Pop and Spencer Moody were trying to get a word in edge-wise"

    Yeah, what the fuck is this guy talking about?

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 7:46 AM (EDT)

    somewhere behind Matt Caughthran’s Dennis Lyxzén impression Iggy Pop and Spencer Moody were trying to get a word in edge-wise

    Ummm,what?

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 7:45 AM (EDT)

    thanks for the info about ordering the record. i'll be adding one to the cart momentarily.
    -TOBB

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 3:31 AM (EDT)

    For the guy asking about the Bullet Treatment comparison, two totally different styles, this stuff is way more mellow in the "lay out and get a sun tan mode" as the Bullet Treatment stuff is more "drive off the side of the road at 120 mph". I think there's a new Bullet Treatment record coming out soon with Matt if Im not mistaken. dunno.

    Posted by the_other_scott on 2006-05-10 20:52:36

    http://www.merchlackey.com/thedrips/

    http://www.amazon.com/gp /product/B000EU1LKY/sr=1-12/qid=1147308711/ref=sr_1_12/102-637617 0-1590506?_encoding=UTF8

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at 8:04 PM (EDT)

    Seriously, where can you buy this CD in the US?! Has it been released? Aaaaah!

    Posted by the_other_scott on 2006-05-10 19:55:56

    dude below. i woudn't necesarily call hot snakes pop-punk either, but this cd really to me sounds like a mix of Hot Snakes and early Descendents, so that's hwere it comes from.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at 6:32 PM (EDT)

    i'd hardly call hot snakes "pop-punk"

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at 6:15 PM (EDT)

    hold up.....Los Lobos?????

    Posted by almostpunkenough on 2006-05-10 17:23:31
    My Score:

    such a sick sick record.

    Posted by Dante3000 on 2006-05-10 12:18:27

    Two things:
    1) where is this on sale? Like I see it on their site but is there a place where it's less than $12 or somewhere I can just walk in?
    2) What is that black dude doing to that sea bug?
    -Dante

    Posted by Medley on 2006-05-10 10:38:40

    That's some awesome cover art (which is always my main concern).

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at 9:10 AM (EDT)

    where can i buy this record? any feedback would be great.
    -TOBB

    Posted by Phantom_Maggot on 2006-05-10 00:18:22

    16 16, 6 is a grea great song.

    Posted by gregs on 2006-05-09 21:22:23

    Since you asked, not a bad review by any means. Maybe a tad more detail about the songs such as why they fell flat. Or flesh out what you liked about the good ones a little more. But definitely a sufficient review.

    Posted by dazed on 2006-05-09 20:51:42

    How does this compare to the Bullet Treatment EP with the singer from the Bronx? I thought that was great and I'm definitely interested in this now.

    Posted by the_other_scott on 2006-05-09 20:25:57
    My Score:

    this was my first attempt at a review, and i wrote it in about 20 mintues. i can already see things i wish i would've changed. but i'd love some feedback. thanks.

    Posted by Russe11 on 2006-05-09 20:25:42

    This is so fucking good. One of the best of the year thus far.

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