Darren McLeod
03/06/06, 10:55 PM
The Lawrence Arms (http://www.thelawrencearms.net) - Oh! Calcutta!
Release Date: March 7, 2006
Record Label: Fat Wreck (http://www.fatwreck.com)
Drew: The Lawrence Arms, one of Chicago's finest punk rock bands, are back in 2006 with their stellar new album Oh! Calcutta! Touching on the pop culture of today's world, no one is safe from Toby Keith to Kevin Lyman and his Warped Tour. Because Darren and I love this album so much, we have decided to do this review together.
Darren: That's right, Drew. The album follows the critically acclaimed Greatest Story Ever Told, but does so in a very different fashion from the predecessor. Rather than a collection of songs that focus either singer Chris or Brendan, the two work together to forge a very raw and aggressive album that isn't nearly as divided in sound as previous efforts.
Drew: The Larry Arms start the album with a lightning strike of a song. "The Devil's Takin' Names" is fast, hard, and to the point. giving you a swift kick in the cajones.
Darren: Upon hearing Brendan Kelly's inimitable rasp, those new to the Larry Arms will recognize their sound as undeniably their own, yet comparisons to Jawbreaker and early Alkaline Trio are not uncommon.
Drew: You'll also notice how the Larry Arms flawlessly fuse melody and aggression together in every track.
Darren: Definitely. This is much more aggressive than their previous two proper full-lengths and yet manages to retain all of their pop-sensibilities. I mean, look at the seamless transition from "Beyond the Embarassing Style" to "Are You There Margaret? It's Me, God." Few bands could pull off a smooth conversion from a rocking track like the former to the (comparatively) softer "Margaret," which is one of the catchiest songs that the Arms have ever written.
Drew: I was just going to say that "Margaret" is one of my favorite tracks on this album. Brendan and Chris trade vocals back and forth so well here. The chorus here especially hit hards.
Darren: It's astounding how much the trading of vocals not only strengthens each individual song, but also contributes greatly to the theme of friendship and working together to overcome adversity that they Arms display on Oh! Calcutta!
Drew: Another song we need to point out is the insanely catchy "Recovering The Opposable Thumb." You'll repeating "Recover, recover, RECOVER!" for days.
Darren: I was hoping you'd bring it up. My definite choice for the standout track of the album, as it is really the turning point of the album. Lyrically, it acts as the catalyst that results in the narrators' turn towards better lives: "This is not a celebration of slipping through some crack. This is sloth and devastation and we're the resulting trash."
Drew: They also take their shot at Toby Keith in the song too, which shows the guys humorous side.
Darren: Haha, yeah, popular culture always seems to rear its head in the songs of the Larry Arms. That part is great - Brendan really pushes the speed of his voice and sings blisteringly fast, which is something you don't hear very often
Drew: Yeah, that's also evident in "Cut It Up," another track that gets your blood flowing.
Darren: Definitely. Of course, we can't discuss individual tracks without mentioning the last track...
Drew: Truth, but we'll get to that in a bit. We need to tell our readers about "Old Dogs Never Die," which is one of the hardest songs on the album. Brendan and Chris really let it out on this track, which includes one of my favorite lines from the album, "So just forget all the regrets that keep haunting you. They aren't worth your time." I think those two lines can definitely serve as a thesis for the album.
Darren: Oh, most certainly. The lyrics tie in perfectly with the closing line of "Jumping The Shark," which proudly exclaims "Let's drink to the death of regret!"
Drew: Definitely, The Larry Arms on this album are all about just living life to the fullest and having a great time with your friends.
Darren: Yes, that definitely epitomizes the album, both in concept and in content - one cannot deny the good times to be had with this album blasting.
Drew: It's an album you shout along to with your buddies on a long road trip. Perfect album for that.
Darren: Definitely.
Drew: So, on to the last track....
Darren: Haha, I don't think a review could not mention that final track. Well, "Like A Record Player" itself is one of my favourite tracks, simply a feel-good song with positive lyrics ("When we go all we got is these days that we made, And I don't wanna waste 'em being wistful or afraid"), but the part of it most spoken of is the bonus track that appears after it, which very outspokenly attacks the Warped Tour. And who better to state the demons of the Tour than a band who is never allowed back on it?
Drew: Haha, so true. I love the line "These thieves in their flip-flops and bro attitudes are the very reason we do what we do. When I say "fuck the man," it's what I believe, no matter who that man happens to be..." Such a great line.
Drew: Brendan really gives a good explanation in the interview with you about how the Warped Tour really is hurting a lot of things in the punk community today.
Darren: Oh, he definitely does. Anyways, what's your verdict, Drew? Any negative points you can find in the album?
Drew: Usually I would complain about an album only being a half hour long, but I really can't here. The Lawrence Arms do their thing fast, hard, and to the point, so everything just fits. Basically, I don't think any other punk album will top this in 2006.
Darren: I agree completely. A must-own for everybody, and the first essential release of 2006.
Release Date: March 7, 2006
Record Label: Fat Wreck (http://www.fatwreck.com)
Drew: The Lawrence Arms, one of Chicago's finest punk rock bands, are back in 2006 with their stellar new album Oh! Calcutta! Touching on the pop culture of today's world, no one is safe from Toby Keith to Kevin Lyman and his Warped Tour. Because Darren and I love this album so much, we have decided to do this review together.
Darren: That's right, Drew. The album follows the critically acclaimed Greatest Story Ever Told, but does so in a very different fashion from the predecessor. Rather than a collection of songs that focus either singer Chris or Brendan, the two work together to forge a very raw and aggressive album that isn't nearly as divided in sound as previous efforts.
Drew: The Larry Arms start the album with a lightning strike of a song. "The Devil's Takin' Names" is fast, hard, and to the point. giving you a swift kick in the cajones.
Darren: Upon hearing Brendan Kelly's inimitable rasp, those new to the Larry Arms will recognize their sound as undeniably their own, yet comparisons to Jawbreaker and early Alkaline Trio are not uncommon.
Drew: You'll also notice how the Larry Arms flawlessly fuse melody and aggression together in every track.
Darren: Definitely. This is much more aggressive than their previous two proper full-lengths and yet manages to retain all of their pop-sensibilities. I mean, look at the seamless transition from "Beyond the Embarassing Style" to "Are You There Margaret? It's Me, God." Few bands could pull off a smooth conversion from a rocking track like the former to the (comparatively) softer "Margaret," which is one of the catchiest songs that the Arms have ever written.
Drew: I was just going to say that "Margaret" is one of my favorite tracks on this album. Brendan and Chris trade vocals back and forth so well here. The chorus here especially hit hards.
Darren: It's astounding how much the trading of vocals not only strengthens each individual song, but also contributes greatly to the theme of friendship and working together to overcome adversity that they Arms display on Oh! Calcutta!
Drew: Another song we need to point out is the insanely catchy "Recovering The Opposable Thumb." You'll repeating "Recover, recover, RECOVER!" for days.
Darren: I was hoping you'd bring it up. My definite choice for the standout track of the album, as it is really the turning point of the album. Lyrically, it acts as the catalyst that results in the narrators' turn towards better lives: "This is not a celebration of slipping through some crack. This is sloth and devastation and we're the resulting trash."
Drew: They also take their shot at Toby Keith in the song too, which shows the guys humorous side.
Darren: Haha, yeah, popular culture always seems to rear its head in the songs of the Larry Arms. That part is great - Brendan really pushes the speed of his voice and sings blisteringly fast, which is something you don't hear very often
Drew: Yeah, that's also evident in "Cut It Up," another track that gets your blood flowing.
Darren: Definitely. Of course, we can't discuss individual tracks without mentioning the last track...
Drew: Truth, but we'll get to that in a bit. We need to tell our readers about "Old Dogs Never Die," which is one of the hardest songs on the album. Brendan and Chris really let it out on this track, which includes one of my favorite lines from the album, "So just forget all the regrets that keep haunting you. They aren't worth your time." I think those two lines can definitely serve as a thesis for the album.
Darren: Oh, most certainly. The lyrics tie in perfectly with the closing line of "Jumping The Shark," which proudly exclaims "Let's drink to the death of regret!"
Drew: Definitely, The Larry Arms on this album are all about just living life to the fullest and having a great time with your friends.
Darren: Yes, that definitely epitomizes the album, both in concept and in content - one cannot deny the good times to be had with this album blasting.
Drew: It's an album you shout along to with your buddies on a long road trip. Perfect album for that.
Darren: Definitely.
Drew: So, on to the last track....
Darren: Haha, I don't think a review could not mention that final track. Well, "Like A Record Player" itself is one of my favourite tracks, simply a feel-good song with positive lyrics ("When we go all we got is these days that we made, And I don't wanna waste 'em being wistful or afraid"), but the part of it most spoken of is the bonus track that appears after it, which very outspokenly attacks the Warped Tour. And who better to state the demons of the Tour than a band who is never allowed back on it?
Drew: Haha, so true. I love the line "These thieves in their flip-flops and bro attitudes are the very reason we do what we do. When I say "fuck the man," it's what I believe, no matter who that man happens to be..." Such a great line.
Drew: Brendan really gives a good explanation in the interview with you about how the Warped Tour really is hurting a lot of things in the punk community today.
Darren: Oh, he definitely does. Anyways, what's your verdict, Drew? Any negative points you can find in the album?
Drew: Usually I would complain about an album only being a half hour long, but I really can't here. The Lawrence Arms do their thing fast, hard, and to the point, so everything just fits. Basically, I don't think any other punk album will top this in 2006.
Darren: I agree completely. A must-own for everybody, and the first essential release of 2006.