This
half-hour of pop punk is over in 182 blinks. "What I Believe"
has predictable progressions and forced singing. "Makes No
Difference" is one sweet step away from the Rembrandts. Searing
surf metal and immature vocal lines fight the drummers attempt
to mimic a "Machine Gun." The sudden appearance of 30-second
Oi punk in "THT" is encouraging, but in this context seems
like a novelty. A patronizing nod to Angry Samoans? The drum
solo during "Summer" is actually a welcome break. Something
unexpected in a light, Goldfinger influenced tune.
In
"Second Chance for Max Headroom" they may be reading too much
into the show. "You can’t afford the amass of denial / Don’t
explain it, you can’t arcane it too." Wow, where did
these profound lyrics suddenly come from? That still doesn’t
justify the cute harmonies. A little ska shows up with the
"You’re too proud too mention" line paraphrased from Adam
Ant. Musically, it’s repetitive and redundant.
A
little better is "Dave’s Possessed Hair." It’s fast-paced,
accusatory and pointed. Shows intelligence if not originality.
"You think unequalism makes you dignified." The ripping AC/DC
metal riffs and Run DMC rap are unexpectedly enjoyable. After
this shining point, the band slips back into barracuda guitars.
They are great at smooth change ups.
The
dirge-metal intro to "Another Time Around" transitions into
off-kilter punk rhythms. The vocals are nice snotty and sloppy
Spot 1019 style. Sum 41 tries different things, just not all
of them work. How do you marry Beach Boy harmonies with Motley
Crue metal breakdowns?
The
songs "Grab the Devil By The Horns and *** Him Up the ***,"
"32 Ways to Die," and "Ride The Chariot To The Devil" all
sound like nothing. They are mysteriously absent on my disc.
Must be a promo thing.
-Ewan
Wadharmi
Track
Listing
- Grab
the Devil By The Horns and *** Him Up the ***(missing)
- Machine
Gun
- What
I Believe
- T.H.T
- Makes
No Difference
- Summer
- 32
Ways to Die (missing)
- Second
Chance for Max Headroom
- Dave’s
Possessed Hair / It’s What We’re All About
- Ride
the Chariot to the Devil (missing)
- Another
Time Around
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