VCR

Greatest Hits [7-inch] (2014)

Alex Ward

VCR is a bunch of psycho punks from Toronto and they just want to sprinkle their vile confetti all over your unsuspecting, expressionless face. Their Greatest Hits 7-inch was released in late 2014 by Barfbag Records, but it’s just now oozing its way out of that funny-money fun-town called Canada.

First we’re kicked in the face with “Beer Shit Night,” then it’s just a relentless carnival of fuzzy demons all the way until the end of “Slap Your Mammy!” But, God, once you hear it, your only reaction will be to slap your Mammy, even if she’s the kindest, saintliest woman you’ve ever known. VCR has established a sort of niche sound with the use of keyboards and nontraditional percussion like tambourine and cowbells, and it mostly works.

The songs teeter between sweet sugar punk candy and “okay, just stop” territory. The vocalists spews constantly, often just releasing exasperated “ahhh”’s, and, yeah, that gets old. Songs like “Bugs Bugs Bugs” nearly drown in these aforementioned “ahhh”’s, and are only saved by the periodic keyboard slides that would bring a smile to even the most jaded punk fan’s ears. Maybe it’s pretentious to call an “ahhh” pretentious, but maybe a few “yeah”’s and “oh”’s would help balance things out. You know, keep things grounded a bit.

In a way, it’s almost like this 7-inch is buried beneath an image; the band’s name, VCR, invokes an old-school 1980s vibe, and the album cover shows you exactly what VCR wants you to think they look like: crazy, grinning, rejects wearing 90s Nicktoon-esque outfits. It’s not the most fresh image to go for, but it’s still cool.

VCR’s Greatest Hits has some hits, and “Pizza Party” is probably the greatest. It’s worth picking up, and it’s yet another indicator that weirdo punk is sincerely well on its way back to fold. For better or for worse, it’s the exact kind of crazy shit you’d expect from a Canadian band called VCR.