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Left Alone

Dead American Radio
2006
Hellcat

Left Alone - Dead American Radio (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Ben_Conoley
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Published on October 27th 2006

My biggest complaint with Left Alone’s sophomore effort Dead American Radio is that I got it about four months too late. If I had this record through the summer I would have incurred a lot of tickets for parking my car at the beach and playing Dead American Radio loud enough to hear while going for a swim.

There’s no point in hiding the obvious: Left Alone sounds like Rancid -- a lot like Rancid.

While nobody can accurately reproduce Tim Armstrong’s singing, Left Alone’s guitarist/vocalist Elvis manages to tread the fine line between paying tribute to their musical forbearers and blatantly imitating them. While the moments bordering on imitation sound great if you can get past the obvious similarities between Left Alone and Rancid, it’s when the band takes that influence and does their own thing that Dead American Radio really shines. This is street punk with a heavy dose of Latin American influence (both musically and lyrically, as singing is done in both English and Spanish). One of the best elements of the album comes from Noe, who plays sax and organ and contributes a sense of harmless melody to the music, which would otherwise come off sounding much rougher without it.

A lot of people are likely going to write this album off as just another street punk album. If you're into street punk, that's fine, but it would be a shame for people to miss out on this just because their image reminds you of the Csualties.

While the band and their label place emphasis on the lyrical substance on Dead American Radio, I find it easier to ignore that aspect of the album and focus more on the personal politics the band addresses. You can’t expect to be taken seriously as a political band with a song called "I Hate Emo," can you? Dead American Radio is a fun record that sounds like city streets in the summer time, be it New York City or Mexico City. And that's a great sound.

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Posted by johnnydreadfoote on 2009-10-13 12:44:21
My Score:

All in all I like their other two releases better, but there are some really catchy songs on here. And as far as the Rancid comments go, the sure sound similar but not the same. Besides I love Rancid and this is a great addition to my collection. The only problem I have with them is I haven't seen any tour dates close to me.

Posted by punk_rawk_show on 2008-01-12 20:56:54
My Score:

Just got this cd, and i like it

Posted by jamesthecool on 2007-12-02 21:54:22

elvis is a rapist and an asshole. shitty album, shitty band.

Posted by glasspipemurder on 2007-06-19 20:19:10
My Score:

Great improvement from their first effort...the end fizzles but the rest is damn good.

Posted by keylay on 2007-03-09 12:31:13
My Score:

fuck this guy and his shitty rip off band

fuck him for staying quiet on a rape

Posted by passionisafashion on 2006-11-13 04:14:24

"I Hate Emo" is literally the worst song I've ever heard...ever. Previously it was a song by Deerhoof called "Panda Panda Panda" which just repeated those three words over and over. But, I mean come on, "they look like girls and they smell like ca-ca?" These have got to be the shittiest lyrics ever written. Ever.

Posted by gladimnotemo on 2006-10-30 10:47:20

Quite possibly the worst band I've ever had the experience of seeing.

"We used to be working class, but now we're in a punk band! Don't buy our merch and spend all your money on beeeer." Shut the fuck up.

Posted by Ike_Ness on 2006-10-30 01:35:12
My Score:

This album is kind of hit and miss. Some of the songs are pretty good, but the rest are filled with cheesy lyrics that are played the fuck out. Also, one song on here rips off the solo from "Ball and Chain" by Social D pretty fucking hard. I see this as a step up for a band that's growing. The slap bass on "Done Wrong" sounds cool though.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 29, 2006 at 10:21 PM (EST)
My Score:

hey this is pretty catchy! gotta acknowlege the Tim'esqu vocals, but hey he was just paying tribute to strummer right? the chain continues lol! just saw the music video lol thye look like the punks from the montreal suburbs from which i hail, only about 15 years older! tight stuff all and all, good t see some punk on here.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 29, 2006 at 7:53 PM (EST)
My Score:

great album!

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 27, 2006 at 9:21 PM (EDT)
My Score:

One of the rare CDs that I really liked at first, yet each listen makes me dislike a little more. It's about a 4 now and likely to go lower.

Posted by sirens on 2006-10-27 10:42:08

beach punks!

Posted by Punky_Chips_Ahoy_Oi_Oi_Oi on 2006-10-27 08:43:47

I've read that they name Elvis Costello as one of their big influences. Just because you use an organ doesn't mean you have anything to do with Elvis Costello.

...and just because you name a band as an influence doesn't mean you have to sound like (or in your words "have anything to do with") them.

Posted by Mute98 on 2006-10-27 05:36:50
My Score:

"8 for a great cd. 1 for the idiot who thinks this sounds like rancid."

very well said, this is barely anything like rancid.. left alone rules, very unappreciated band since theyre not orgcore i guess

Posted by kingofsuck on 2006-10-27 03:52:07

the rape thing sounds like bullshit. i couldn't find any hard facts on a case or anything, just internet mumbo jumbo.

No, it's true. He raped me at Warped Tour in Cleveland last summer. Or tried to, at least.

Posted by ilikepunkrock on 2006-10-27 03:06:57
My Score:

I posted the last comment yea me

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 27, 2006 at 3:05 AM (EDT)
My Score:

The phychobilly scene in LA is ridiculously big. There can't be another place in the country that has a phychobilly scene that big. I tried to see Necromantix and Total Chaos at TheEcho and I waited in line for 2 and a half hours and didn't get in. There were about 200 or so people behind waiting to get in too.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 27, 2006 at 2:24 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Sorry, but this shit is horrible. Elvis can't sing, the sax is poorly played, and the songs all sound like they're trying too hard to not be Rancid. I've read that they name Elvis Costello as one of their big influences. Just because you use an organ doesn't mean you have anything to do with Elvis Costello. Shit, The Gadjits sounded more like him than this crap. And when will this whole "oh, let's try and do something to pander to the giant psychobilly scene in L.A." bullshit stop? I'd rather listen to the Voodoo Glow Skulls than this dreck.

Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2006-10-27 01:58:28
My Score:

Score is for the username below me.

Posted by Punky_Chips_Ahoy_Oi_Oi_Oi on 2006-10-27 01:39:00
My Score:

8 for a great cd. 1 for the idiot who thinks this sounds like rancid.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 27, 2006 at 1:08 AM (EDT)
My Score:

this is a great album. Fun to listen to and a refreshing change in the music that's currently out there. I like the rockabilly and ska songs the best though

Posted by MikeStupid on 2006-10-27 00:59:35
My Score:

I can't believe how much of an improvement this is over their earlier stuff. If they keep going, they could be amazing someday.

Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2006-10-27 00:58:01

the rape thing sounds like bullshit. i couldn't find any hard facts on a case or anything, just internet mumbo jumbo.

Posted by SloaneDaley on 2006-10-27 00:46:54
My Score:

I like Rancid a whole lot but hated this bands first Hellcat album and this one isn't doing much better.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 27, 2006 at 12:41 AM (EDT)

score is for rape and since Elvis from Left Alone = rapist, the score is for him.

Posted by Dante3000 on 2006-10-27 00:13:28

As far as Radio themed albums Dead FM kills this.
-Dante

Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2006-10-27 00:07:09

*too

Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2006-10-27 00:06:54

i agree with the score but i don't think this record sounded to much like rancid. there were a lot of rockabilly and country influences and more ska than rancid usually does. Justino and Done Wrong are the best.

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