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Left Alone

Dead American Radio (2006)
Hellcat Records

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

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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johnnydreadfoote (October 13, 2009)

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.

punk_rawk_show (January 12, 2008)

Just got this cd, and i like it

jamesthecool (December 2, 2007)

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

glasspipemurder (June 19, 2007)

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

keylay (March 9, 2007)

fuck this guy and his shitty rip off band

fuck him for staying quiet on a rape

passionisafashion (November 13, 2006)

"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.

gladimnotemo (October 30, 2006)

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.

Ike_Ness (October 30, 2006)

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.

Anonymous (October 29, 2006)

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.

Anonymous (October 29, 2006)

great album!

Anonymous (October 27, 2006)

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.

sirens (October 27, 2006)

beach punks!

Punky_Chips_Ahoy_Oi_Oi_Oi (October 27, 2006)

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.

Mute98 (October 27, 2006)

"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

kingofsuck (October 27, 2006)

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.

ilikepunkrock (October 27, 2006)

I posted the last comment yea me

Anonymous (October 27, 2006)

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.

Anonymous (October 27, 2006)

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.

GlassPipeMurder (October 27, 2006)

Score is for the username below me.

Punky_Chips_Ahoy_Oi_Oi_Oi (October 27, 2006)

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

Anonymous (October 27, 2006)

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

MikeStupid (October 27, 2006)

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

GlassPipeMurder (October 27, 2006)

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

SloaneDaley (October 27, 2006)

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

Anonymous (October 27, 2006)

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

Dante3000 (October 27, 2006)

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

GlassPipeMurder (October 27, 2006)

*too

GlassPipeMurder (October 27, 2006)

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.