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Detention Halls
2007
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Ringers - Detention Halls (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Justin
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Published on May 1st 2007

Who are Ringers and why don't they put an article in front of their name? Good questions. Ringers hail from Boston and play a nice blend of pretty much every mid-to-late-`90s punk band you could ever want. Their sound reminds me of the halcyon days of East Bay punk via the grime-covered walls at 924 Gilman, a basement show in Minneapolis with some half-clothed larger-than-life men and the times I spent wandering around Boston, freezing my ass off listening to what I like to think of as "old bastard rock and roll."

To be straight, I just queued up the opening track "Two Weeks" after listening to some tracks from Midwestern Songs by D4. It flows perfectly. It's a bit more laid back and features a bit more rock and roll, but overall it's a match. The guitar tones, the snotty vocals, the feeling of depression mixed with a smidge of hope that pokes through in the singalongs and choruses.

As the album goes on there's some verses that call upon Tim Armstrong's off-rhythm cadence from early Rancid albums. There's also guitar lines that remind me of Mung, old Ducky Boys and the feeling of cold, New England rock and roll, kind of what Avoid One Thing touched on in their short time together. Then there's the song "Back Bay," which might as well be a Billy Bragg tune from Back to Basics.

Detention Halls shows a band wearing all their influences on their patched-up hoodies, but rather than annoy with their desire to supplant the existing bands, they seem like they'd rather fit right in with the gang. It's hard to step back from a release like this sometimes and judge it on its own merits but it's the tradition that it's so steeped in and connected to that gives it the appeal that it has.

I almost feel like Ringers have come just a few years too late. Either that or I feel like they should move into the apartment downstairs from me and practice in my hallway. Either way, here's another band putting out some honest punk rock being supported by a great label. What else can we ask for these days?

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 10:45 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Boston and it's bands are boring.

Posted by 8dollarclarinetsolo on 2007-05-08 09:42:43

as a self proclaimed d4 dick sucker, when they get referenced all the time, and for no reason, it demeans the whole thing. a lot of stuff sounds like d4, find a new way to describe poppy punk

Posted by TenderBransonX on 2007-05-06 22:19:36

Yep, when I reviewed the last album I gave it a much higher score, I did also note in it the Tim Armstrong influence. I didn't knock them for lack of originality; I listen to punk rock, originality is a take it or leave it talent in my tastes.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 2:42 PM (EDT)

You can listen to the first for songs on the record at http://www.myspace.com/1234gorecords

Posted by JaredK on 2007-05-03 13:40:13
My Score:

This shit sounds good...I live in Boston and I have never heard of 'em and they are hard to find any info on....

Score is for the Nothington/Blue Bloods/Pug Uglies line-up this Friday at the Baseball Tavern

Posted by fuzzy on 2007-05-03 12:49:05

Sure thing Steveo, I'll see you at the super-awesome house show on Friday....oooh wait. Have fun at Bamboozle!

Posted by 1234go on 2007-05-03 05:38:25

I'm calling you out Justin. Let's fight for like 10 seconds next time we see each other and then get beers.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at 9:39 PM (EDT)

Understood, Fuzzy. However rational your ratings scheme may be, though, most people seem to work on a 1 star/rocks or 4.5 stars/OMFG UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Anchors, Brian, Jesse, Aubin--I point the finger at yall for making scoring on this site 100% meaningless and relative with your histrionics.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at 8:57 PM (EDT)

The whole "I'll review a record thats over 15 years old and give it a perfect score" thing is pointless and should be stopped

Posted by 1234go on 2007-05-02 02:58:43

Justin when I start writing my column in MRR you gonna get it!

Posted by fuzzy on 2007-05-01 20:10:53

Overall though, you're right. Our scores are all over the place.

Posted by fuzzy on 2007-05-01 20:02:31

I have decided that as far my scoring goes it's basically this:
1 - Nice try, take your ball, go home.
2 - Getting there, lots of flaws
3 - Nailed the sound, need some innovation
4 - Classic for the band, could be the best they ever do.
5 - Classic for the genre. Perfect.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at 6:59 PM (EDT)

Scoring standards on this site are way messed up. People (especially the editors) need to stop giving either fawning or totally dismissive reviews so scores like 6 from a reviewer who ostensibly liked the record will make sense.

Posted by icapped2pac on 2007-05-01 18:29:25
My Score:

Score's for the word "halcyon".

Posted by ericheartsu on 2007-05-01 16:42:48
My Score:

this is easily one of my favorite records of the year. and they are all amazing dudes to boot.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at 3:44 PM (EDT)
My Score:

things are seriously amiss when Fake Problems gets a 9 and Ringers gets a 6.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at 8:51 AM (EDT)

dear ringers,

come to australia

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at 7:12 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Ringers rule, and so do Boston basements