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Angel City Outcasts

Deadrose Junction (2006)
Sailor's Grave Records

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

Published on August 29th 2006

I'm sure on paper somewhere the Angel City Outcasts are classified as a street punk band, and that's such a disservice. Put any two songs on Deadrose Junction behind you and it's quite clear that this act has the skill to write massive pop songs. Even more than on Let It Ride there's a hugely anthemic quality to these tracks, and despite all the usual punk comparisons, this falls somewhere between good power-pop and, dare I say, hair metal in terms of sheer addictive sing-alongs. I'm certainly not the right person to name names from those genres, but Cheap Trick keeps coming to mind (not to mention that the ACOs covered Kiss on their prior record). Of course, the Outcasts are likely more comfortable being listed alongside Social Distortion and the Dropkick Murphys, but their joyful guitar riffing and gigantic choruses say otherwise.

Deadrose Junction has the good sense to slow down at times, and that only helps make the breakneck speed of barnburners like "Rev It Up, Turn It Loose" more striking. The instrumental "Bleeding Heart Saloon" that leads into the galloping "Horns'n'Halos" is a nice bit of sequencing from a band that's often too content to rush though anthem after anthem. Both songs wouldn't be out of place on the soundtrack to a particularly insane spaghetti western. The bulk of the ACO's material remains mid-to-fast tempo melodic punk tunes. They have a habit of over-constructing their songs a bit, and the multiple refrains, solos and extended intros pull most tracks to around the four-minute mark. To their credit, the nearly hour-long record doesn't feel nearly that long.

One still gets the sense that the Angel City Outcasts are having too much fun to fit into the typical punk mold. There's just very little angst here, and the band's few forays into politics and social commentary (like the media-critical "Cutthroat") still manage to wrap up with some glorious guitar solo and a huge call-and-response chorus. The band sounds far more comfortable on their shameless fluff material anyways, and it's hard to deny how much fun songs like "Where I Belong" are. Alex Brugge's proved he can carry the punk anthem, so to hear him tackle such obvious pop songs as "Ten After Midnight" and "No One Alone" is quite cool.

It almost feels like the Angel City Outcasts have taken their characteristic punk sound as far as it can go. After two records proving they can do the street anthem better than anyone, I'm increasingly drawn to their outright pop material. The Outcasts are going to need to toy with the formula on their next full-length if they want to keep from becoming stagnant.

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Anonymous (September 12, 2006)

Deadrose Junction is the best Rock album of 2006.

Anonymous (September 8, 2006)

If you don't love ACO you fear ACO.

Anonymous (September 6, 2006)

This album is really amazing. Surprised these guys aren't on a bigger label. They could be the next GNR..... hopefully with less cocaine and in-fighting.

Anonymous (August 31, 2006)

gunes huh?

Anonymous (August 31, 2006)

skulls, hearts, gunes, snakes.

lame.

Anonymous (August 30, 2006)

How many bands have Angel and City in their name? doesn't it seem like a million or is Lost CIty Angels the only other one?

Anonymous (August 30, 2006)

I'm a huge old punk & hc guy from the way back and I can honestly say that ACO, aside from being really great guys are one of the most talented punk bands I've ever seen.
Great songs, great music, great stage show. And while Deadrose is a little more rocknroll, Let It Ride is absolute barn-burner of a punk album.
I think they're gonna be huge.

Anonymous (August 30, 2006)

Hitler,

That's exactly what I'm saying.

-Guy who thinks ACO is the most talented band out today.

Holy_Hack_Ben (August 29, 2006)

Kick ass album. Kick ass band. Kick ass drinkin' music. I'm gonna go kick some ass... or get a sandwich.

hitlerbadzakgood (August 29, 2006)

if youre saying that all those releases are worse than this, i strongly encourage you to stop posting.

Mute98 (August 29, 2006)

i wouldnt say MOST talented but theyre easily WAY up there, this band rules so much

Anonymous (August 29, 2006)

no cigar,

You're right I should stop posting, you are obviously a top authority on musical talent......

Latterman
...We Are Still Alive (2006)
Deep Elm

Minus The Bear
Highly Refined Pirates (2003)
Suicide Squeeze

The Offspring
Ixnay on the Hombre (1997)
Columbia

Bouncing Souls
The Gold Record (2006)
Epitaph

Limp
Guitarded (1999)
Honest Don's

Bad Brains
Bad Brains (1982)
ROIR

Teenage Bottlerocket
Total (2005)
Red Scare

Millencolin
Life On A Plate (1996)
Burning Heart

The Lawrence Arms
The Greatest Story Ever Told (2003)
Fat Wreck Chords

Blink 182
Dude Ranch (1997)
Cargo

You're an idiot.

-Guy who still thinks ACO is the most talented band out right now.

p.s. - eat a dick.

SlowStupidHungry (August 29, 2006)

And plus, it's better than that annoying trend of "____ and ____" album names.

Like "Broken hearts and broken homes" or "Camcorders and Cumbaths."

Hair metal? Yuck!

shindo (August 29, 2006)

JayTree: What's your point exactly? I can't believe how hung up some of you are on band names, to the point where you say "I'm sure they're great and all BUT...."

Really... who cares?

-adam

JayTee (August 29, 2006)

I'm sure theyre great and all, but how many band names these days have "somethin - city - somethin" for a name? I honestly don't for the life of me remember which sounds like what.

Anonymous (August 29, 2006)

This CD seriously kicks my ass. It's so f'n good. Rev it up, Turn it loose was meant for cruising the summer with your windows down. My #2 album of the year so far, right behind The Gold Record. Still waiting to hear the new Falcon before I keep it at #2.

american_666_jesus (August 29, 2006)

One of the best records of the year so far. Right up with The Loved Ones and Damone.

nocigar (August 29, 2006)

Most talented band out right now.

HAHAHAHAHA yeah right...just stop posting please.

Anonymous (August 29, 2006)

Most talented band out right now.

dietcokeofpunk (August 29, 2006)

this album is awesome, if you get a chance to see them live do it.

Frankff (August 29, 2006)

Great (yet underrated) record. I could listen to "Bleeding Hearts Saloon"-"Horns N' Halos"-"Cutthroat" all day long.

The artwork is hilariously cheesy though.

Mute98 (August 29, 2006)

i wouldve given this either a perfect score or a 9-- i find this cd to be so fucking good, just so much fun and amazing songwriting

in my top 3 of 2006, easily

ilikepunkrock (August 29, 2006)

Sailors Grave Records is tied with BYO Records with being my favorite label around. Virus Nine, U.S. Bombs, The Ducky Boys, and Far From Finished. I haven't heard this band but I'm guessing they are good.

almostpunkenough (August 29, 2006)

Mute98 says:

this record brings me to full orgasm.