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October 10, 2004
CD Reviews - SLF, Descendents, Swingin' Utters, Redheaded Yetis
Stiff Little Fingers
Guitar and Drum
Kung Fu Records
What’s wrong with Stiff Little Fingers? Don’t they know that at their advanced age, they should either be gumming cold mush in some gloomy old folks home or recording three-hour concept albums based on The Bhagavad Gita?
It’s a good thing that they still have their teeth, because I like this album. It’s full of good, fast, catchy songs with plenty of bite. There is also some bile and some backwash, but in a good way. My favorite songs here are “Guitar and Drum”, “Strummerville”, “Dead Man Walking”, and “Who Died and Made You Elvis?”
It’s all pretty good. It’s not as hard hitting as “Inflammable Material” but what is? It certainly beats a bowl of cold mush.
Descendents
“Cool To Be You”
Fat Wreck Chords
They sound just like they used to, unless you listen to the words and delve for recurrent themes. About half of the songs here (I didn’t count) mention grown-up, domestic type situations like relationships, marriage, and parenthood. They’ve always been pretty autobiographical in their songs and I’m glad they still are. It’s good that they’re keeping in touch with their own demographic and original audience.
Don’t worry – they haven’t turned into The Ozzie Nelson Orchestra or anything. They still write songs about farting (“Blast Off”) and being school misfits (“Mass Nerder”) so younger Descendents fans will not be left out.
Note: The song “Merican” sounds almost exactly like Bad Religion – all it needs is a couple of two-dollar words.
Swingin’ Utters
“Live in a Dive”
Fat Wreck Chords
More rock. Less talk.
(cover art not available)
Redheaded Yetis
(Demo)
Six songs in seven minutes and twenty-three seconds – this is good stuff. Not amazingly innovative or original but that’s what I like about it.
“Gasoline is the Devil’s Blood” is not only the best title on this demo CD, but it’s quite possible the best song title of all time.
Write them letters and tell them they’re great:
Redheaded Yetis
PO Box 2469
Fort Collins, CO
USA 80522
Posted by Big Kev at October 10, 2004 4:40 PM
