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Shorebirds

It’s Gonna Get Ugly [12 inch] (2008)
Rumbletowne Records

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Contributed by: dlangl4
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on August 4th 2009

This band came and went before anyone outside of the Org noticed them. Well, hopefully some people noticed.

But it’s not too late for you.

Shorebirds were a short-lived pop-punk trio biologically related to the much-loved and not forgotten bands Latterman and Jawbreaker. Despite the potential inbreeding of Orgcore DNA between the parent bands, the birth of Shorebirds should be celebrated for years to come as a successful offspring with the issuance of their first and only full-length album. Unlike other supergroups whom struggle to stay abreast of the hype and reputation of its band members, Shorebirds live up their heritage with ease. In fact, this album is one of the better punk releases since the Latterman's 2006 effort, ..We Are Still Alive. Fans who are still depressed over Latterman’s breakup should consider filling the insatiable void in their humdrum existence with this band’s music.

The sound of It’s Gonna Get Ugly contains little mutation or defect. Shorebirds deliver 12 kick-ass songs that followers of either parent band can appreciate. The genes are all here, ingredients for what should become one of the classic punk albums of the 2000s. The melodies are catchy, faster than Latterman, and scattered abundantly across all 26 minutes of the pop-punk extravaganza. But the emphasis here is less on musical structure and complexity, and more on aggressive simplicity, á la Osker’s masterpiece Treatment 5.

At times, strangely enough, Matt Canino’s voice reminds me of my younger days when I would skate up and down the boulevards of Shreveport, past the glistening lights of the riverboat casinos, listening to Epitaph skatepunk on a CD player in my torn-up backpack. I hated how you could never fit the Discman in the back pocket of your pants. Anyway, the metaphor is that the best songs on the album feature Canino singing in a manner that sounds like a nosegrind on a concrete handrail in the park, and alternatively like a balanced manual across his mother’s hardwood kitchen floor. Actually, I didn’t skate when I when I was little. But that’s what this CD sounds like: speed. Speed dripping with PBR-soaked chords and coarse yelling that sounds oh so pleasant to my ears. How I wish I was 15 all over again. This album would be perfect to listen to while cruising down Copper Mountain on a snowboard, all alone, just me and the Shorebirds.

I rarely go snowboarding anymore. In fact, I’m poor and my parents stopped taking me on vacation with them when I graduated high school (unless I put up some cash). But my imagination is as vivid as ever, and when it’s 104 degrees outside under the burning Texas sun, and I’m sweating even though I’m in my apartment because my windows don’t have curtains and the AC can’t keep up with the heat pouring into my living space, I can just lie back on my couch, drop the thermostat to 65, close my eyes, blast It’s Gonna Get Ugly, and dream.

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It's Gonna Get Ugly

While this album is currently released only on vinyl from Rumbletowne Records, No Idea Records has announced that they will be releasing a CD version at some point in the future for purchase.

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arejayPUNX (May 13, 2011)

I think this album is going to get recognised as an underrated pop punk classic. Give it ten years.

devianter (April 2, 2011)

yes

itsambertime (April 11, 2010)

So has No idea ever released the CD version of this?

happynolucky (August 6, 2009)

awesome, awesome record

almostpunkenough (August 6, 2009)

fuckin amazing album.

Lmnndtlgrph (August 6, 2009)

you can buy this on CD (relased on Germany's Yo-Yo Records) from trafficstreetrecords.com

telegraphrocks (August 5, 2009)

Though I think this full-length is a bore, I do like the 7-inch... so, score's for that (even with the horrid drumming).

skankin_in_the_pit (August 5, 2009)

Oops.

skankin_in_the_pit (August 5, 2009)

And this score is for the Spermbirds. The 80s German skatecore. They rule. Certainly at least 2 points better than this seasons real world.

skankin_in_the_pit (August 5, 2009)

They played some Shorebirds song on the Real World tonight. It was when the token real world nice effeminate gay dude was bringing a guy home.

I don't know what that means about this band or album.

Score is for what i've drunkenly seen of the current real world season.

telegraphrocks (August 5, 2009)

Snooze.

Aside from the songs just being boring, the drummer is fucking terrible.

*middle-finger*

name (August 5, 2009)

hamonrye: no offense, but your migration makes no sense to me haha. i might move to the city for college if i cant afford to go out of state, idk. metairie looks a little too much like mandeville for my taste.

dusticles (August 5, 2009)

For half of this review all I was thinking was "cool story bro"

Cut the life story out and it's not bad.

Score is for this album.

xshoutoutx (August 5, 2009)

...as commented before, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS WAS NOT REVIEWED BEFORE! This easily made my top ten of last year! Anyway, although the latterman void will never be fully filled, I live in brooklyn, and there are sure as shit plenty of bands who come from their ashes, and rock just as hard!

...some to keep an eye out for:
(no need to mention bridge and tunnel)
Thousandaires
Jonesin
Iron Chic
How Do We Jump This High?
Stolen Parts
...and unfortunately Get Bent broke up, their demo ruled!

Also, does anyone know if their is going to be a Thorns of Life release?

icapped2pac (August 5, 2009)

This would be way better if Meg White wasn't playing the drums. Music doesn't need to be complex to be good, but come on.

hamonrye (August 5, 2009)

i wish the jawbreaker reissues and documentary would come out.

name: I'm from New Orleans and now live in Metairie.

SloaneDaley (August 5, 2009)

better than Latterman, twas on my year end list last year.

wearestillalive (August 5, 2009)

Bridge & Tunnel had CD copies of this (awesome) album on their distro table when I saw them. So it already exists, and I assume it'll get a wider release eventually.

120db (August 5, 2009)

Score is for the record.
Didn't really liked this review.

name (August 4, 2009)

"But my imagination is as vivid as ever, and when it’s 104 degrees outside under the burning Texas sun..."

sorry man, i can't read. fuck beta.

name (August 4, 2009)

you still live in shreveport? i live on the northshore, and there's barely any orgers down here.

DarrenMcLeod (August 4, 2009)

My favourite release last year.

preston (August 4, 2009)

This is a fantastic record. RVIVR is good too. I'm pretty sure Mutoid Men will be as well.

baldsteve (August 4, 2009)

Enjoyed the review, love the record. This was way better than Latterman. If you don't agree, you aren't wrong, I just wouldn't want to hang out with you, drink beer and listen to records.

drugmoney (August 4, 2009)

Great review, i know you can't do a nosegrind down a handrail, but hey i could never muster the courage to do it neither. i love this record, just brilliant.

TeaEssAre (August 4, 2009)

wow can't believe this wasn't reviewed...it was one of my top albums of 2008

GlassPipeMurder (August 4, 2009)

haven't heard this yet, but score is for punk skaters like you.

HumanUnkind (August 4, 2009)

This album fill that Latterman void so well. It's just so wonderful from start to finish. It just sounds exactly like a band with matt canino in it should. Also, you can get this album from YoYo Records in Germany, for all you Europeans out there. That's where I got it from. Seriously worth it, also the vinyl's clear. So nice.

inagreendase (August 4, 2009)

This record's a shore thing.