The Union Boys – (CD Review)
The Union Boys are young, loud and snotty- and I think they are what The Dead Boys were thinking about when they named their album as such. This album doesn’t have a name- it’s like a scrawny, lost, lonely alley cat, looking for an empty sardine can tossed astray. But it also has the bite and snarl of that unnamed cat pushed into a dark corner, fighting for a scrap. The Union Boys play dirty, gritty punk’n’roll with snarling vocals; scratching, loud distorted guitars; boisterous bass and driving (drunk) rhythms. They are derelict desperadoes knocking over garbage cans, ‘causing a ruckus, frightening old ladies and displaying awful table manners. Their music may be rude, crude but never obtuse (look that one up).
When I Was Young
Charging drums, a burst of clanging, ringing guitars and then the raspy-throated vocals announce their presence- “Am I doing this right or am I losing again/ Could I get anything right? And it’s all too much/ And I’m losing touch/ With my friends and family and the things that I once done/ When I was young”- chugging rhythms and slashing guitars lead this tale of growing up and sometimes falling down; of moving forward but looking back in a tuneful, reflective, passionate way.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01 – When I Was Young.mp3|titles=When I Was Young]
Till Death Do Us Part
Some ringing power chords as the second and drums tick away ready to pounce like a tiger upon its prey. Then we’re flush into a song about community and camaraderie in a headlong rush that is gone before you blink, before you know it, but not before smashing some spikes of solid sound into your cranium.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/06 – Till Death Do Us Part.mp3|titles=Till Death Do Us Part]
Welcome To Boston
A nice, quiet bass buzzing around leads up into a shout of “Let’s Go!” and a song that will surely be adopted as the Official Song of Boston, someday, starts to play. As the energy is bursting at the seams of this tune and the guitars take us toward the shout along vocals with the insistent drums, blasting bass and yapping dogs in the breakdown all ending with a heartfelt message to the first time visiting college students. “Fuck with us and we fuck with you/ Welcome to Boston.”
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/04 – Welcome To Boston.mp3|titles=Welcome To Boston]
Drinkin’ My Life Away
Though it’s quite unusual to have a drinking song connected to punk rock, especially since so many of our bands are straight edge in the New England scene; and myself, I just get sleepy after a beer or two, so obviously, I can’t relate. But hopefully you will as it is quite the good song as it moves along at a pace to set you reeling. It’s all about the peril of drinking your life away when you could be using your time to do something constructive like… well, I can’t think of anything right now but there must be a million, right? This is another good sing-a-long and quite a rousing end to a punkin’ rockin’ Oi Oi Oi-in’ hell of an album. Cheers to The Union Boys! You did well, lads, now download this album for free on their reverbnation site. And see them live when they play as they are a fun band to hear and watch. Me, meanwhile, I’m trying to get the bartenders attention, my neurons are ready to fly. Dig it, man!
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/10 – Drinkin My Life Away.mp3|titles=Drinkin My Life Away]
(Slimedog)
