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Bionic

Black Blood (2007)
Signed by Force

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on September 11th 2009

It’s been a while since I’ve played the “NOT TRU PUNX!!” card, so gimme a sec to brush mine off.

Oh wow, that’s a lot of blood. And no, that’s not a non-sequitur, Guy Who Thinks I’m Named Jolene and Wonders If I Have Nice Boobs. It’s a segue into Black Blood, the third full-length from alleged Canadian punk act Bionic. I say “alleged” because, like the band’s claims to psychedelia and a Devo-influenced sound, it’s yet to be authenticated. These guys are hereby banned from the Gilman. I’m taking away all of their Dillinger Four records and running a piece in Maximumrockand/orroll about how to disrupt their shows, like an adult. Sure, they can still look at vinyl at Hot Topic, but if they so much as think of an anarchist book store, I will write them a very sternly worded letter.

Remember Blueshammer from Ghost World? Remember how they promised authentic blues music, but really just recycled the same bar band riffs from the last 40 years? That’s Bionic. If I wanted a soundtrack to Steve Buscemi’s tears while I acquire an STD at the local sports bar -- assuming the ska band that does that wicked awesome cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer” isn’t working that night -- Black Blood would work mighty fine. In fact, there are times when I swear this is a joking attempt to out-D Tenacious D. “Freedom Now, Baby!” in particular stands out as either patronizing or silly.

Granted, guitarist Jonathan Cummins did time in the Doughboys, a yesteryear punk act that I think I’m supposed to care about. But that just brings me back to my “NOT TRU PUNX!!” card. This is crappy bar rock. And as we all know, bars are better off just unironically playing Minor Threat.

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Sliced-T (September 15, 2009)

I like the band and hated the review. So, what?
If guy hated the album and wrote a decent review that made sense I wouldn't have cared.

cyanotic (September 15, 2009)

I love how the band's two hardcore fans come out of the woodwork to complain about the review.

Sliced-T (September 14, 2009)

This is a shit review. Guy-who-wrote-it's head would probably explode if he found out the Hellacopters had cred. after he pulled this "recycled bar band riffs" crap for an ill informed review.
This album has a few limp tracks, but over all the musicianship is top notch and JC's vocals are fantastic. It's a really solid slice of punk n' roll, heavy on the blues influence.

teeto (September 14, 2009)

Man you are really off target with your "NOT TRU PUNX" card bullshit. You see, JOHNSON Cummins writes a weekly column in the Montreal Mirror called PUNKASRAUCOUS REX, which is an institution of the Montreal underground music. His column helps get the word out about shows featuring local bands as well as bands from out of town that don't get alot of exposure up here, he even got ONLY CRIME on the cover of the weekly for chrissakes.

I havn't heard the whole album, but BIONIC rips awesome blues riffs live, may be not your taste in punk, but no reason to discredit the band. You see, Johnson grew up when punk was dirty and raw, and hardcore was in its hayday(I played at show where he was playing in a Black Flag cover band with a chick singer). He probably hates some of the shit I like(strung out,FAT shit), but that's his opinion, don't make him not punk.

These guys do alot for our local scene, don't rag on them when you have your facts straight, to not dig the record is one thing, but your "NOT TRU PUNK" car is now a BULLSHIT CARD BITCH.

sexualsunshine (September 11, 2009)

Good review. Nice to see you be mean... don't see that often. Score is for not true punx reviews that are actually right.

Jelone (September 11, 2009)

Mike - I HATE!

mikexdude (September 11, 2009)

Be nice, Joe.

Anyways, "And no, that’s not a non-sequitur, Guy Who Thinks I’m Named Jolene and Wonders If I Have Nice Boobs" -- to be fair, I thought you were a chick at first but did recognize your name was, in face, Jelone. Jelone kinda' sounds like a female name to me.