Homemade

Homemade: What Were We Getting Into, BefWhat Were We Getting Into, Bef (1999)
Theologian

Reviewer Rating: 4

Contributed by: CosCos
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on November 11th 2001(Personal Story Review) I'm from Thousand Oaks, a little afluent suburb in Southern California. Thousand Oaks is a strange place, or at least it is to me...probably just because I'm from it. Anyway, we're pretty close to another little town called Oxnard. Oxnard, as some may know, had and has had.

(Personal Story Review)

I'm from Thousand Oaks, a little afluent suburb in Southern California. Thousand Oaks is a strange place, or at least it is to me...probably just because I'm from it. Anyway, we're pretty close to another little town called Oxnard. Oxnard, as some may know, had and has had a strong punk scene since the 80's, with bands like Aggression, Ill Repute, Dr. Know, and most recently No Motiv all hailing from the area.

I guess, just by the close proximity, Thousand Oaks has had a decent sized scene for awhile. Most famous is Strife, the Victory Records hardcore band that all but defined modern west coast hardcore. But we also have some smaller bands like Insurgence (a hardcore band that has since evolved into the pop-rock Hometown Heros, who just got signed to Maverick/Warner and you'll hear them shortly on Tony Hawk 3), Countervail, Surface, and Status Records.

Another, smaller band from Thousand Oaks called Homemade made two albums with Pennywise guitarist Fletcher's label, Theologian Records, and did absolutely nothing with them. No touring, no interviews, seldom any local shows. I bet Fletcher is pretty pissed off. They were good records, and even though they were on Theologian, they didn't sound like Pennywise.

"What Were We Getting Into, Before We Got Into This?" was the band's second and final effort, before breaking up from members living too far away and overall laziness. But everything about this album, aside from the cover art, is wonderful. It starts off with a rocker, "Turn It Off", a song with a good hook and some fun lyrics--"You think you're so concrete because your hair was blue when you were six."--and goes on from there with a good variety of rock and some pretty sincere emotions. Stand outs for me are "Page 9 of My Journal" (the guitar part still gives me chills listening to it) and "Black Curtains", an incredible hardcore song about losing a family member. "Sleepless" may well fit into the category of punk-emo power ballad, and kudos to the group for not editting singer Kyle's gasps for air while trying to sing.

Musically, I'd say this is closest to No Motiv or Dag Nasty, as in punk kids who started playing more rock, with some Hot Water Music and Jets To Brazil influences. It was pretty interesting to see this band progress from melodic hardcore (Of their debut, Punk Planet remarked "Three words: Fat Wreck Chords. And they're not on it") to something with much more depth and diversity. Pity more people never saw them or don't even know they exist.

Now, guitarist Tom is playing with Strife, vocalist Kyle helps out promoting bands in San Diego and sometimes tours with them, like Tristeza, and bassist Brian is hanging out in Santa Barbara and jamming occasionally. Brian is my older brother. So much for objective journalism...

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

KF84 (April 3, 2011)

I really like this band, I blindly bought their "As We Fall" album at Theologian Records in 2008 because it was less than 2 Euro. It was a real revelation, I still play it on a weekly basis.

Anonymous (June 17, 2006)

Oh, my world. It is ok

martin (September 16, 2002)

Yeah this is a good album, track 1 is definately the best song on there but I dont think it is any where near as good as their first album.

Musically amazing, lyrically strong - i suggest checking it out.

Anonymous (December 1, 2001)

i really had to take a leak so i just wipped it out out a was pissing when the owner of the place (bill) came out and started yelling at me for taking a leack on the side of his building. Then he stared laughing, and i was like - "hey what are you laughing at?" and he was like - "the size of you dick, it so small."

Anonymous (November 29, 2001)

Word up Simi Valley! Yeah, after I wrote the review I realized I COMPLETELY forgot Simi Valley with Strung Out, TFP, et al... Remember Budget? Ever go to the shows at the Cobalt? Remember all the ska bands 4-5 years ago? Critics, 24 Elsinore.... Oh, and then there's the rad record store on New LA Ave, the one that sells punk and sports memorbillia..

If you wanna spread the influence wide, we can almost claim Incubus--not that we'd want to--but Calabasas is pretty close...

And I know that Fletcher doesn't own Theologian, but he has lots of influence on the label (see the bands they sign... Deviates, 98 Mute, War Called Peace). Its like saying that Billie Joe (Green Day) owns Adeline. He doesn't (he co-owns with a few other people), but to simplify things, its his label.

--Cos

Anonymous (November 28, 2001)

Cool review. Good band. Liked the first record better. But you should know Fletcher doesn't own Theologian. Marc Theo does.

ColdJuly (November 27, 2001)

I love the entire nardcore scene It's what I grew up on...You have your old-school pioneers like R.K.L, Ill Repute, OYM, and Scared Straight..then you have the new rush of bands like Strung Out, Pulley, Zero Down, Ten Foot Pole and Lagwagon, who is from the Santa Barbara area but are still considered NC. It's not just (Ox)nardcore anymore, it really encompasses the entire Ventura/SB county area. Can;t wait to move back in a few weeks!!!

ColdJuly (November 26, 2001)

Can't forget about Simi Valley..my original hometown...lots of bands from there too.

ETx310 (November 26, 2001)

Damn, I didn't know they broke up. You could tell they had more talent than most bands. I thought their first album was pretty fucking rad. I think they should do reunion shows

Anonymous (November 26, 2001)

good review man! i just might check this band out!