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Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B
A Start

Worst Band Name Ever (2007)
self-released

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on July 20th 2007

Owen divided by 2.5 = Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start

Now, granted, Mike Kinsella's solo endeavor went from recording songs that were typically five-to-six minutes long to finally producing a considerably economical effort with the 8-song, 38-minute At Home With last year; however, everyone's favorite band named after a legendary video game cheat takes that a step further. Up Up Down Down's first proper full-length in some time, the self-effacingly titled Worst Band Name Ever offers 10 completely down-to-earth, pleasant indie pop songs with a singer/songwriter mindset in a mere 22 minutes.

Worst Band Name Ever is over before you know it, but that doesn't mean there's some honest (if not totally vague) songwriting that'll go unnoticed. Up Up Down Down are definitely less lyrically morose than Kinsella, but they layer beautiful acoustics all the same while letting a constant stream of settling, hushed vocals flow over it all. In standout "Gas Station Hair," Up Up Down Down actually find enough time to fit in a type of chorus-type refrain ("You'll talk about boys with their gas station hair / But what you're forgetting is that we've got the wherewithal to choose or to not choose you too"). The most heart-wrenching line might be in "Maureen Kehoe": "And I am the number one fan of you getting married to him / So you can pull one on Uncle Sam." In "Christmas Eve 1993," Steve Poponi asks "Do you remember Christmas Eve 1993? / From my older brother I learned something about me I could not believe / I must sleep for it to leave," and that's the whole song -- one sudden thought that comes and goes.

And that's sort of Worst Band Name Ever's basic beauty. Songs come, make their point, and get out of the way. We're not talking `80s hardcore brevity here, but Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start certainly come close, holding the ability to craft a delicate, pretty pop song in a moment's notice. (And with an 18-track mix tape plus 40 previously recorded songs available with the full-length's purchase, there's plenty more material available.)

I'll Thank You Later
The Red Loop

VIDEO
I'll Thank You Later

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Cos (July 25, 2007)

this name still isn't as good as Tight Bros From Way Back

klonny (July 22, 2007)

This is hilarious. I saw the name, and just as I was thinking 'Worst band name ever!' I saw the album title. Score is for the band's personality.

Rocktopus (July 22, 2007)

I just found the compilation on the cd. Score is for "Lemons are Louder than Rocks".

Anonymous (July 22, 2007)

forgot me score.. 7 just cause it's so short.

Anonymous (July 22, 2007)

i miss the sporatic shouting (not SCREAMING) they used to throw into their songs every so often. made them all the better.. oh well, still a good release......... better than half the bullshit that's being released nowadays.

who else is sick of every single new fucking band having that long straightened hair, sidecombed to one side.. with some bleached highlights thrown in for good measure?

..sickening.

Anonymous (July 21, 2007)

this band was a band in 97. they were touring before half of you probably knew what punk was. you can download their full older catalog here... http://www.worstbandnameever.com

steve and dave also run a recording studio. your band should record there. they've done the likes of the danielson family, the progress, new atlantic, jena berlin. there's more on the site. http://www.gradwellhouse.com

stop the hate. good songs. good band. funny dudes. beards. awesome.

Anonymous (July 21, 2007)

What's up, New York? We're Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start! Are you ready to rock?

That would suck.

Cos (July 21, 2007)

I like the band's name. I will never, ever check out this band's music though.

Anonymous (July 21, 2007)

"i thought this name was a seven year old song by the ataris."

It's the Konami code, which has been featured in a number of video games, most famously all the 20-lives cheat for Contra on the NES.

Terrible combination for a band and album name, honestly. Self-deprecating humor rarely works well.

Anonymous (July 21, 2007)

i thought this name was a seven year old song by the ataris.
or are they just two differnt stories there.
im lost.
but i enjoy.

Anonymous (July 21, 2007)

good record - who cares what the name is - the music is what matters.

SilentStorms (July 21, 2007)

"This 'ironic' album title is not funny. What next, Fall Out Boy naming their next record "We're a bunch of fags"?"

Ahahahahahaha, oh man I hope they do - that'd be hilarious!

Rocktopus (July 20, 2007)

Crikey, I like this band. But this record is over before its started. Good record though, i am enjoying it.

Paris_in_flames (July 20, 2007)

Mike Kinsella's not in this right?

Anonymous (July 20, 2007)

You only need to use "select" when you're playing with two players. Anyone who would use this as a band name probably has no friends.

ike_ness (July 20, 2007)

Wow, way to bite Mercury Rev's "Car Wash Hair". How unoriginal.

Anonymous (July 20, 2007)

This thread is so punx.

Anonymous (July 20, 2007)

They forgot 'select' before 'start. Just sayin...

Anonymous (July 20, 2007)

This 'ironic' album title is not funny. What next, Fall Out Boy naming their next record "We're a bunch of fags"?

Anonymous (July 20, 2007)

I love Contra!!!

T-Rock (July 20, 2007)

Holy shit, I didn't realize they named their record "Worst Band Name Ever." At least they recognize how lame the name is. However, it's hard to give props to stupid people for recognizing their own stupidity.

T-Rock (July 20, 2007)

So-so work, but lamest band name around. Seriously guys, what were you thinking? I get the Konami reference, but still. It's appropriate as an album title, tops.