They Came From The ShadowsTeenage Bottlerocket
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Released: Sept. 1, 2009
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
Review by: Bill Jones
Since the band’s inception, Teenage Bottlerocket has been subject to the criticism that they aren’t really doing anything more than what The Ramones did more than 30 years ago with their special brand of three-cord pop-punk. It’s a hard criticism to combat, because at the core of it all, it’s true. But the question punks have to ask themselves is – is Teenage Bottlerocket’s reliance upon and perfection of that sound such a bad thing?
Fat Wreck Chords must have seen something worthwhile in the formula, picking up the Teenage Bottlerocket’s latest, They Came From The Shadows, for the band’s first release with the label. The Laramie, Wyo. quartet does little to reinvent the sound, with 14 three-chord pop-punk tunes, and it doesn’t help matters that the inside album photo that features them in a row, decked out in leather. But that’s just the way we (the non naysayers) like about these guys.
Teenage Bottlerocket starts thing off with an homage to the skate culture in “Skate or Die,” declaring, “We’re gonna fight, we’re gonna win / We’re gonna make skate a fucking threat again.” Over the next 13 tracks, they don’t deviate much from the battle plan – driving drum beats with lots of cymbal rides, three-chords giving way only for brief guitar solos, and passionate vocals with plenty of hooks – save for the lyrics which…well, there are actually more than three lines to a lot of these songs, which can be cited as new ground for Teenage Bottlerocket.
While the change may ring false for some, citing the simplicity as part of the charm, Teenage Bottlerocket succeeds because, as it turns out, the boys can write ‘em. “Bigger Than Kiss” marks one of the funniest songs they’ve written to date, slamming Kiss and imagining being bigger rock stars than the Detroit natives.
“Be With You” is another standout on the album, with its catchy chorus…
The production of Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore at the famed Blasting Room is ace as always. But let’s face it - Teenage Bottlerocket could have recorded this in a garage and it would likely be just as endearing. They Came From The Shadows definitely doesn’t come close to breaking the mold. Teenage Bottlerocket doesn’t use its jump to Fat Wreck to reimagine themselves, but fans wouldn’t have it any other way. No oh oh!
Fat Wreck Chords must have seen something worthwhile in the formula, picking up the Teenage Bottlerocket’s latest, They Came From The Shadows, for the band’s first release with the label. The Laramie, Wyo. quartet does little to reinvent the sound, with 14 three-chord pop-punk tunes, and it doesn’t help matters that the inside album photo that features them in a row, decked out in leather. But that’s just the way we (the non naysayers) like about these guys.
Teenage Bottlerocket starts thing off with an homage to the skate culture in “Skate or Die,” declaring, “We’re gonna fight, we’re gonna win / We’re gonna make skate a fucking threat again.” Over the next 13 tracks, they don’t deviate much from the battle plan – driving drum beats with lots of cymbal rides, three-chords giving way only for brief guitar solos, and passionate vocals with plenty of hooks – save for the lyrics which…well, there are actually more than three lines to a lot of these songs, which can be cited as new ground for Teenage Bottlerocket.
While the change may ring false for some, citing the simplicity as part of the charm, Teenage Bottlerocket succeeds because, as it turns out, the boys can write ‘em. “Bigger Than Kiss” marks one of the funniest songs they’ve written to date, slamming Kiss and imagining being bigger rock stars than the Detroit natives.
“Detroit couldn’t rock itself out of a paper bag / Gene Simmons looks kinda cool / But Paul Stanley kinda looks like jag / Ace Frehley can play guitar / But he ain’t no fucking Kerry King”
“Be With You” is another standout on the album, with its catchy chorus…
“I don’t want to be be be with you / No I don’t want to be be be with you / I don’t want to do what you want me to do / I wanna do what I want to”
The production of Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore at the famed Blasting Room is ace as always. But let’s face it - Teenage Bottlerocket could have recorded this in a garage and it would likely be just as endearing. They Came From The Shadows definitely doesn’t come close to breaking the mold. Teenage Bottlerocket doesn’t use its jump to Fat Wreck to reimagine themselves, but fans wouldn’t have it any other way. No oh oh!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment