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What is
it about New Jersey that seems to cultivate musical talent? It’s amazing
how many bands can admit to getting their start in Jersey basements and
backyards. Drive-Thru/MCA Records’ Midtown is one such band. Since their
formation merely four years ago, Gabe Saporta (bass, vocals), Tyler Rann
(guitar, vocals), Heath Saraceno (guitar, vocals), and Rob Hitt (drums)
have managed to release both an EP off of Pinball Records and their debut
album, Save The World, Lose The Girl, off of Drive-Thru Records -
not to mention the fact that the guys have been touring non-stop with the
likes of punk favorites Good Charlotte, Blink-182, Dashboard Confessional,
Thursday, H2O, and a plethora of others. And just when you thought that
Midtown couldn’t possibly fit anything else into their jam-packed
schedule, they went and released their sophomore album, Living Well Is
The Best Revenge.
Gabe Saporta was recently quoted as stating, “once they
hear our album, they won’t be able to deny we rock.” As pompous as that
statement may sound, I’m inclined to agree. Living Well Is The Best
Revenge definitely rocks. However, pinpointing its genre to punk
rock, emo rock, pop rock, or purely rock and roll is a somewhat difficult
task. In an era where supposed “punk” bands are shying away from generic
labels, it seems that their albums are becoming more and more a collage of
sounds. With pop tracks such as “Like A Movie” and “One Last Time”
intertwined with the punk sounds of “Become What You Hate,” “You Should
Know,” and “In The Songs,” Living Well Is The Best Revenge proves
to be a prime example of musical convergence. And although this album
doesn’t sound as punk as Save The World, Lose The Girl, old-school
Midtown fans need not worry about a change in lyrical content.
Living Well Is The Best Revenge continues in the tradition of
politically conscious, honest, and mature lyrics about love, friendship,
career choices, and even karma. With insightful lyrics such as “it’s
safe to fall if you just trust the ground that you stand on” (“You Should
Know”) and “know that what you have is not what you are” (“Find Comfort In
Yourself”), it’s evident that Midtown is once again producing intelligent
tracks that anyone can relate to.
There’s definitely no sophomore jinx for Gabe, Tyler,
Heath, and Rob. How do I know? Lets just say that “I feel it in the
songs” (“In The Songs”). And once you listen to this album, I
guarantee that you’ll feel it too!
-Kristal
Austin
Links: www.midtownrock.com
www.mcarecords.com |
They’re back! The Swedish skaters, Millencolin, whom the
punk community absolutely adores, are back in full force with the
release of their fifth album, Home From Home.
Throughout the past decade Nikola Sarcevic (vocals, bass), Erik
Ohlsson (guitar), Mathias Farm (guitar), and Fredrick Larzon
(drums) have stayed true to their punk rock roots by creating
solid music with the ability to evolve and improve with each
passing album. With Home From Home, their fifth
album, Millencolin have surpassed the “soft-core” of
Pennybridge Pioneers, replacing it with “more rock, more
rock,” as Erik states.
More rock indeed! Stellar guitar rhythms,
pounding drum beats, and Nikola’s one of a kind vocals make
Home From Home arguably one of the most energetic albums out
there. Whether you agree with Nikola when he sings, “what can I
do to fit in, kiss up to someone – it will never happen”
(“Montego”) or you simply need to be reminded of the fact that
“after rainy days the sun will shine” (“Fingers Crossed”), this
album is guaranteed to contain lyrics that anyone can relate to.
And as you sing along to the ska-sounds of “Punk Rock Rebel” or
listen intently to the political lyrics of “Afghan,” one thing’s
certain – you’ll quickly fall in love with this album.
So if you haven’t already, go get Home From Home –
“step right in, leave everything behind,” (“Home From Home”) and
embark on a punk rock journey with Millencolin! It’s not one
you’ll soon forget.
-Kristal
Austin
Links: www.millencolin.com
www.epitaph.com |
PUNK - what a small word
for such a vast community! It's amazing how one word can spark such a plethora
of questions. And perhaps the greatest question is that of -- "what makes
a band punk?" It seems that everyone has an opinion on this topic, yet no
one can truly answer it. So what do you do? Well, if you're Sweden's
Millencolin, made up of Nikola Sarcevic (vocals/bass), Erik Ohlsson (guitar),
Mathias Farm (guitar), and Fredrik Larzon (drums), you simply invent your own
genre within the constraints of the punk walls. Mathias explains their
invention: "we're not hard-core, we're soft-core, and the music we play isn't
hard-core punk, it's soft-core." Now I'm no expert on "soft-core punk,"
but I do know that Millencolin's fourth album, named after the English version
of their hometown, Pennybridge Pioneers, is chock full of quick-paced,
catchy, vigorous tunes that will leave listeners reaching for the repeat button
at their conclusion. But my favorite aspect of this album isn't its sound but
rather its lyrics. Pennybridge Pioneers is full of songs about
growing up and discovering your own path. The first track off the album,
"No Cigar" (also featured on the Play Station game Tony Hawk 2) is about being
confident, with lyrics such as, "I won't waste my time fitting in 'cause I don't
think contrast is a sin." Another track, "Right About Now," is about
staying true to yourself and living life to its fullest: "I'm 25 but still
alive, I'll never give up until I reach my goal." "Highway Donkey" is surely a
track anyone can relate to about growing up and discovering that "now I know
where to put my feet, right in my own trail." Pennybridge Pioneers also
marks Millencolin's first acoustic ballad, simply called "The Ballad," in which
Nikola uses his unique, "in your face" voice to sing about that guy in every
class who's "in pain and misery" because he "has no friends to cheer him up."
So if you're looking for the soundtrack to early adult life, I strongly suggest
giving Millencolin's Pennybridge Pioneers a listen. You won't
regret it. -Kristal Austin
Links:
www.millencolin.com
www.epitaph.com |
If there’s one thing you have to give MxPx credit for, it’s the
fact that they have not sold out themselves or their fans.
They’ve remained true to their constantly growing national
audience without abandoning their punk rock creed. A little
over a decade after Mike Herrera (bassist/lead vocals), Tom
Wisniewski (guitarist) and Yuri Ruley (drummer) changed their
moniker from Magnified Plaid to MxPx, the band is still going
strong. Their new release, Ten Years and Running, is
an anthology of what many would argue to be their greatest hits.
Many of the songs are remixed and appear as versions that were
previously unreleased. Included in the album are tracks that
have been around since their early club-playing days, such as “PxPx.”
The band released two new songs on this album. While they
did not exactly blow my mind, “My Mistake” and “Running Away”
certainly hold their own when coupled with songs such as
“Tomorrow’s Another Day” and “Move to Bremerton.”
The album reminds fans of how infectious MxPx’s sound
really is. It contains a motley array of songs dealing with
teen angst, uncertainty and insecurity. Give “Ten Years” one
listen, and you will see why so many new wave pop punk bands have
tried emulating this style. The three kids from Bremerton,
Washington have sustained an energetic feel to all of their
albums. This new release illustrates how they have matured
over their years without losing sight of where they came from.
Although the album does contain many of their classics,
I think it has two demerits against it. One being the fact
that it is difficult to notice which songs they have remixed.
On a considerable number of the songs, I found the remixing nearly
impossible to spot, with the one notable exception being “Punk
Rawk Show.” Also, I found the exclusion of “Party, My House,
Be There” to be almost criminal. However, one could say this
boils down to personal preference. While there are not many
surprises, Ten Years and Running is a solid collection of
songs many MxPx fans have grown to love and will have fun
revisiting. -John Tomas
Links:
www.mxpx.com
www.toothandnail.com |
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