Darren McLeod
05/02/06, 03:57 PM
None More Black - This Is Satire
Release Date: May 2, 2006
Record Label: Fat Wreck Chords
It’s been said that to know where you’re going, you have to look at where you’ve been. Such a statement might not apply in None More Black’s case – looking back at Kid Dynamite’s catalogue, the former band of singer Jason Shevchuk (not to mention 2nd family to guitarist Colin McGuiness), will not give you much of an idea of what to expect on This Is Satire. Rather than the lightning-quick hardcore punk of Kid Dynamite, None More Black plays bouncy pop-punk, full of hooks and big choruses. Shevchuk’s gritty voice manages to fit in perfectly with the style, and J. Robbins does a great job on production to keep the record sounding sharp and full of energy through its 12 songs.
The album opens strong with “We Dance on the Ruins of the Stupid Stage,” and manages to be quite consistent (its consistency is something I’ll delve into later). The band keeps their music fun and interesting with plenty of background gang chants that make for some catchy choruses and memorable moments. “Who Crosses State Lines Without a Shirt?” is a perfect example, with a memorable riff carrying the verses until the chorus chant of “I’m sink-sink-sinking on soul I couldn’t sell to Satan.” The next track, “D Is for Doorman (Come On In)” is equally appealing, with the “whoas” of the chorus perfectly complimenting Shevchuk’s voice.
Some songs may sound similar at times, but it is rarely a problem for the disc; the main dilemma of the album lies in track 7: “I See London” lies as the transition point of “Side A” and “Side B” (as labelled on the back of the album), yet it is extremely slow and middling, and really doesn’t seem to go anywhere. It seems out of place in the middle of the disc, and kills some of the momentum that the album has going for it. The band can handle slow songs, the brilliant closer “Majestic” proves this point, yet this song seems to be stuck
But, that’s just one song, and considering the brilliant recovery they have with the next few songs, and strength of the whole disc itself, this flaw is more than forgivable. The band has put forth a very strong collection of songs that should satisfy anyone's thirst for catchy punk rock.
The Lawrence Arms, Kid Dynamite, The Loved Ones, Against Me!
Release Date: May 2, 2006
Record Label: Fat Wreck Chords
It’s been said that to know where you’re going, you have to look at where you’ve been. Such a statement might not apply in None More Black’s case – looking back at Kid Dynamite’s catalogue, the former band of singer Jason Shevchuk (not to mention 2nd family to guitarist Colin McGuiness), will not give you much of an idea of what to expect on This Is Satire. Rather than the lightning-quick hardcore punk of Kid Dynamite, None More Black plays bouncy pop-punk, full of hooks and big choruses. Shevchuk’s gritty voice manages to fit in perfectly with the style, and J. Robbins does a great job on production to keep the record sounding sharp and full of energy through its 12 songs.
The album opens strong with “We Dance on the Ruins of the Stupid Stage,” and manages to be quite consistent (its consistency is something I’ll delve into later). The band keeps their music fun and interesting with plenty of background gang chants that make for some catchy choruses and memorable moments. “Who Crosses State Lines Without a Shirt?” is a perfect example, with a memorable riff carrying the verses until the chorus chant of “I’m sink-sink-sinking on soul I couldn’t sell to Satan.” The next track, “D Is for Doorman (Come On In)” is equally appealing, with the “whoas” of the chorus perfectly complimenting Shevchuk’s voice.
Some songs may sound similar at times, but it is rarely a problem for the disc; the main dilemma of the album lies in track 7: “I See London” lies as the transition point of “Side A” and “Side B” (as labelled on the back of the album), yet it is extremely slow and middling, and really doesn’t seem to go anywhere. It seems out of place in the middle of the disc, and kills some of the momentum that the album has going for it. The band can handle slow songs, the brilliant closer “Majestic” proves this point, yet this song seems to be stuck
But, that’s just one song, and considering the brilliant recovery they have with the next few songs, and strength of the whole disc itself, this flaw is more than forgivable. The band has put forth a very strong collection of songs that should satisfy anyone's thirst for catchy punk rock.
The Lawrence Arms, Kid Dynamite, The Loved Ones, Against Me!