And I don't get the mashed potatoes comment...

I was actually just taking a piss with the second comment. The first one...well, I don't think that punk, in and of itself, can do much of anything. 30 years of the same bullshit attests to that. But, as a tool for politicizing people who would otherwise be moderate or apathetic, punk is truly successful. And yes, some of it may just be trend-hopping, but there are a lot of people who care about the state of the world because of punk. I am not one of them...I could care about anything beyond the various material aspects of the culture. So, yeah.

I'm not trying to convert you. I'm just telling you that thinking of punk as anything more than pop subculture is building yourself up for a massive letdown. Yeah, it means a lot to me. There are bands who make awesome points about politics, and when people present their ideas well, I don't ultimately care if they have gross hair or not. The problem I have is people like you revising music history and buying into the MRR leftist propaganda mythos about punk destroying the system. Even you point out in your reviews how cliche all your favorite band's lyrics are.

And just because I think most political lyrics suck doesn't mean I a) like pop punk or b) like songs about using girls for sex (!?). All I'm saying is that more bands should sing about what they honestly care about. Most crust punk isn't honest. It's vapid traditionalism. Most of the bands have NOTHING new to say, nor do they want to. It's as much bullshit as "posi hardcore" or whatever. Bands like the Vibrators weren't playing off such uniform template. They just sang about what they honestly thought, which was at times kind of at odds with the general consensus of "punk."

And the Ramones aren't overplayed at all if you actually go to DIY shows. You know, it is okay to like bands whose logos don't look like some kid drew it in mashed potatos with a fork.

-Will

Will, you've converted me. I'm going to start my own pop-punk band called...let's go with The Epsteins. All our songs can be about getting drunk and screwing chicks! Whoo! It'll be like a frat party, except with more leather jackets and Ramones covers. I think "I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement" isn't over-played at all. Look for The Epsteins - Living with Yourself EP. Coming soon on Red Scare records.
-feeeding5000

Posted by Sick_Nick on 2006-12-19 23:40:22
My Score:

Saw these guys at Johnson City.... very good band... thier guitarist would allows put the guitar in my afce when he did solos, good group of guys.. stil got it..

"Hmm...I wouldn't this is what punk is about. More like what punk was about in 1977. It's progressed far beyond this kind of stuff. And, yes, the music is good (read: I'm like the album), but the attitude and ideas behind it don't really seem "punk" to me. More like a caricature of punk. Stiff Little Fingers's pre-re-formation records are all much, much better than this, though.
-feeeding5000"

Well you come at punk from a political slant when the most you can ask from it is good pop/rock songs. This is why you'll grow more and more disillusioned with "sell outs" and fake anarchists. Punk rock will never be anything more than another pop culture trend. This is why Crass rallied against it ("Punk Is Dead"). The thing is, whereas they thought kids should all be politicsizing themselves and getting armed for the revolution, I don't think there's anything wrong with good ol' fashion rock n roll with venom. When the basis of your politics is lyrical and musical, you're just asking to be subverted.

Not to mention, crusties smell and metal sucks.

-Will

Wow, i submitted this about 2 or 3 months ago. I was starting to wonder what had happened to it.

And responses to comments...

"""Baby Baby" (ironically about a one-night stand). "

Why is that ironic?"

Because (like i said in the review), the song is sweet sounding and romantic, which i think it's pretty much the opposite of what a one-night stand is.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM.

Total party record, straight-up nasty pogo punk. Makes me wanna go nuts.

Posted by theyounginfluential on 2006-12-19 15:35:55
My Score:

one of my favorite records, definitely. i was sorely dissapointed with V2 and all of their other material, though.

Hmm...I wouldn't this is what punk is about. More like what punk was about in 1977. It's progressed far beyond this kind of stuff. And, yes, the music is good (read: I'm like the album), but the attitude and ideas behind it don't really seem "punk" to me. More like a caricature of punk. Stiff Little Fingers's pre-re-formation records are all much, much better than this, though.
-feeeding5000

Posted by wentz_equals_death on 2006-12-19 11:31:45
My Score:

this is what i meant too

Posted by wentz_equals_death on 2006-12-19 11:31:23
My Score:

i took all my dad's old records about 5 years ago, and this was in the collection. it's great. except i think they say 'yeah' too many times in the song 'yeah yeah yeah,' if you ask me. if it weren't a minor inconvenience with the turntable, i'd likely skip that song.

i also got from my dad: the clash's first record (british and american versions!), never mind the bollocks, and road to ruin. also, every devo record and lots of tom petty. pretty sweet

Damn, this is the score I meant to give.

Posted by -Strewtho- on 2006-12-19 05:16:01
My Score:

Quality early punk album, I agree with the comment about V2 but I find that I listen to this a lot more.

""Baby Baby" (ironically about a one-night stand). "

Why is that ironic?

>little dashes of rockabilly

You meant r&b, right?

Solid album. Reminds me of somewhere between the Ramones and the Buzzcocks.

great album.

but i dont know about their most recent thing,the cover album of old punk songs..and new versions of baby,baby and one or two others of their own,all polished up nice and everything...

Posted by ilikepunkrock on 2006-12-19 01:44:28
My Score:

Better than any crust/grind/metal record ever made. This is what punk is about.

-Will

I agree 100%

I saw these guys in Thunder Bay, ON in May and man they are old, but man can they ever rock still!

I could never get into this band no matter how hard I tried.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at 12:10 AM (EST)
My Score:

Better than any crust/grind/metal record ever made. This is what punk is about.

-Will

this is an awesome cd if you lik early british punk this is some catchy shit.