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United States

Divorce Songs (2006)
Iron Pier

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on July 4th 2006

I would need a crate of appendages and a team of well-skilled surgeons in order to count on fingers and toes the number of post-Fugazi releases I've gotten in the mail this year. While none of them are particularly bad, there's a few standing up and poking their nose out of the rest of the crowd. One of those is United States, whose 8-song debut full-length is also the most authentic-sounding; you'd swear this came straight from the Dischord catalog circa early `90s. While some might take that and read it as accusations of a dated sound being produced by US, it's actually a pretty cool trait.

Again, yes, there are a mere 8 songs here, but they total out at just under 33 minutes, which means United States provide very little filler and instead a tight, small collection of jagged, rough and tumble post-hardcore tunes. One of the especially notable moments would be towards the end of the opener and title track, a raucous and repeititve but surly chant of "there's a reason / why I'm tense!." It's moments like these that really propel the disc, even though their quieter, more sedated offerings provide the necessary counterpoint ("Grand Stand").

Thing is, even with how time-specific Divorce Songs seems to be, United States definitely bring out their Cursive influences at points. "Thanks for Nothing" surely seems like that band's early-to-middle era, coughing up bags of gravel with every yell and guitar squalls at every corner.

We talk about bands being influenced by other bands, but record labels are definitely influenced by other labels, and if Iron Pier continues a developing nod towards Dischord as it marches on, punk/hardcore fans will be all the more grateful.

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SlowStupidHungry (July 6, 2006)

I plain don't see how this review makes them out to be Fugazi clones. Yeah, they mention late 80's Dischord and such that you know the influence is there, but Cursive is also namedropped.

Anonymous (July 6, 2006)

"Is it because stealing from certain genres is more acceptable or what?"

1. Yes. Certain styles invite more copies than others and certain styles are more okay to copy than others. Frankly, if your band is doing a 100% copy of INFEST, I'm gonna be way more down with it than a band that does a 100% copy of Screeching Weasel.

2. Obviously, there is an element of personal taste in the above claim, as there is in any jundgement of a band's worth.

-Ken

Deadpan (July 6, 2006)

Yeah, but that's not the point. I don't take issue with bands wearing their influences on their sleeves. Fuck, that would just be stupid.

The whole reason I even bothered commenting in the first place is not because of that. Whether it's the review or whether the band really do just sound like a Fugazi clone, this review gives the impression that they're nothing more than a carbon copy, and I take issue with this. Like I said, why are people so quick to jump on certain bands or certain types of bands for being lame rip-offs, and not others? Is it because stealing from certain genres is more acceptable or what?

SlowStupidHungry (July 5, 2006)

Quit pretending you listen to music because it's "original" and not because of how it sounds or the meaning behind it. By that token I could say, "fuck Fugazi, just ripping off the Ruts and the Stooges"

Deadpan (July 5, 2006)

Yeah, because ripping off a different source means they're waaaay legitimate. Duh.

SlowStupidHungry (July 5, 2006)

"Although, this all depends on how heavily this band lifts from the Dischord bands/Fugazi/whatever sound, but really, if they do as much as your review suggests, then they're no better than FallOut Boy."

Yeah, if they're influenced by post-hardcore, whereas generic pop punk bands are influenced by pop punk, they must be just as bad. Genius.

Anonymous (July 5, 2006)

Clever artwork.

- Kirby

Anonymous (July 5, 2006)

People overseas hate this band.

Deadpan (July 4, 2006)

Ok, so I haven't heard this, so I'm not sure how well equipped I am to comment on it, but why is it that when a band rips-off a more well-loved, perhaps artistically credible and less mainstream sound than say... pop-punk, everyone eats them up? I mean, how is this really any better?

Although, this all depends on how heavily this band lifts from the Dischord bands/Fugazi/whatever sound, but really, if they do as much as your review suggests, then they're no better than FallOut Boy.

hitchchops (July 4, 2006)

You may ruin your reputation by giving actual decent music and good review...I can almost guarantee you no 15 year old will like this

mpc (July 4, 2006)

The 2 songs (the middle link didn't work) are great... they definitely have that early 90's Dischord sound you mentioned, and that is never a bad thing.