The Down And Outs – “The Greatest Hits”
As you know, there are many different genres of punk- some that we cover are traditional punk, hardcore, street punk/Oi and pop punk. I know a lot of you have favorites; I do, too. I was around when the original punk wave broke, so guess what? That’s my fave. Do I mind if you like only one kind of punk? No, that’s your choice. But my choice is to love all styles and bands that have allegiance with punk and that truly follow its path honestly. Is this an apology for pop punk? I guess so but only because I’ve heard it maligned by some hardcore fans. That’s okay, I love hardcore, as well, but you should keep in mind such great, classic punk bands as The Buzzcocks and Generation X were basically pop punk, too.
The Down & Outs are from Providence and put on a great, energetic live show and I think are one of the best pop punk bands on our site. And just like flossing daily, I highly recommend you check them out. Let’s check out this CD, now.
The first song is called “Poor As ****,” which could be shit, could be fuck but I want to go with life. “This song is an oldie, alright guys? It’s a blues riff in B, watch me for the changes, and try to keep up, okay?” Flip the switch, then the horses are kicking the stalls and then let out of the gates. The guitars are blaring; the vocals are hey-hey-ing. The drums get a gasp of air but then we’re off again. High buzzin’ guitar riffs keep flyin’ in, melodic vocals but with profanity and passion flyin’ in and the slice and dice, drawn and quartered drums let the guitars scratch and spin to devious delight. This song pushes us against the wall, threatens us with violence, but ends up violating our aural orifices in only the best, most imaginable ways.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01-Poor As Fuck.mp3|titles=Poor As Fuck]A fake out slow start that tries to convince you that a Bad Company cover is right around the corner, then someone yells “Go!” drums are chopping and chomping at the bit, the guitars are blasting and grinding, the drums desperately trying to keep up. Some stops and go’s with aerial dive bombs then the vocals butt their way in to try to get some semblance of order and melody to the proceedings. But the energy is bouncing off the walls, emotions ricochet down lonely alleys and out through the speakers till another punk pop pill of perfection is popped into our mouths.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02-Obligations.mp3|titles=Obligations]This song starts with some ska guitar, which I’m not a big fan of, but then the band kicks in and then, from my perspective, we’re propelled into hardcore land. And the desperation and intensity is there, clear as daylight and at the end of the tune with the energy kicked up, the drums battling for dear life, the vocals oh-oh-ing as were all swept into a vortex into the center of the earth. The energy tips the axis off the world and I find- this is right.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/04-Just The Same.mp3|titles=Just The Same]March 11th must have been a good day or an especially frustrating one ’cause the music just comes out throwing uppercuts and jabs and windmills till my head just pops outside of my neck even before the vocals set in. Careening, carousing, colliding vocals and rhythms leave blood and guts across the aural skylight. The guitar, bass and drums buzz in a cauldron of intensity until it over-boils and explodes into “wooh-oh-oh’s of urgency and pleasure. As fireworks go off across the midnight sky and the energy, the passion is projected through the speakers into the center of your eyes and you have no recourse, no safety- it rips your eyes, heart, soul, anything and everything you hold dear apart but you’re loving every minute of it. Check these guys out; I predict you’ll love every minute, as well.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/06-March 11th.mp3|titles=March 11th]
(Slimedog)
