Tom Good
04/07/07, 03:38 PM
Divide The Day – Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys
Release Date: July 7th, 2005
Record Label: Pluto Records
After reading the title of Divide The Day’s newest full length for Pluto Records, I was a little concerned about the extent to which this band takes their music seriously. The album art and title of the band practically ooze the stereotypical hardcore punk rock trap that so many bands fall into. With bands like Saves The Day and Haste The Day, what will make Divide The Day stand out amongst the countless melodic punk bands let alone the crowd of group bands with three word names ending in “The Day”? Honestly, not too much. With a style both formulaic and familiar, Divide The Day do little to distinguish themselves from their counterparts, but the raw energy and emotion put into the songs on Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys more than makes up for any lack of originality.
There is no doubt that Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys is a step up in production and technical abilities from the band’s prior self-released material. The snare emanates a satisfying snap while every note and ride cymbal bell accent is audible over the speedy riffs and screams. Many songs are catchy and sure to be a good time when performed live such as “My Yellow Pages Girl”, the album’s opener is a musical tour de force with a mood reminiscent of the sassy swagger captured on Every Time I Die’s Gutter Phenomenon. Musically, when the band harnesses this dirty rock vibe is when they are at their best. It separates then from the galloping hardcore punk songs that have become a dime a dozen. Unfortunately, a lot of the album is either hit or miss with a big emphasis on the latter. “Totally Outrageous Por Favor” sounds like a Buckcherry song with heavy riffs and laughable lyrics that eliminate pretty much any integrity from the song. More on that later, now back to the good. The twangy guitars give way to an unexpectedly melodic intro on “You Say You Want Space? I’ll Give You The Fucking Galaxy!” a standout song that utilizes pop punk vocals interspersed with screams. Surprisingly, the poppy sound works for the style and does not sound out of place amongst the blistering hardcore that makes up the rest of Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys. Moments like this show that the band is capable of writing some catchy songs but these tracks are few and far between.
Vocalist Joe Nichy’s voice has gotten considerably better since their last release and the enhanced production only helps the band’s cause. The problem arises when taking a closer look at the lyrics. Any subtlety or tact is replaced with blunt vocal lines about sex and toughguy violence; I mean there is even a song called “The Amazing Brobasher 5000”. I can’t tell if there is sarcasm intended or what, but some forehead smacking gems include “So move your ass to the whip of my leather” and “Bring the hookers to an all night jam”, which are only two lyrical examples of the party anthems on Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys. For every moment like these, there are other parts of the album that show genuine sincerity and thought put into the lyrics such as the album closer “Strive”, an acoustic ballad that sheds light on the softer side that Divide The Day are actually pretty good at conveying. Maybe Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys is not the most serious of albums and I’m sure it will find it’s niche, but it is plagued by a tired formula and lyrics that would be more appropriate on a Buckcherry or Puddle Of Mudd album. There is some potential found here, but often it straddles the line between what is safe and credibility. If the band continues to follow the strong aspects of the album, which they show they are capable of creating, they could produce a stronger follow up to Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys.
1. My Yellow Pages Girl
2. Everybody In Florida Wears Running Shoes
3. File This Under Great Ideas At The Time
4. Jesus Is Coming...Look Busy
5. You Say You Want Space? I'll Give You The Fucking Galaxy!
6. !Totally Outrageous Por Favor!
7. Jeff Mechie...You Son Of A Bitch!
8. East Willock Road
9. Vegas Baby Vegas
10. The Amazing Bro Basher 5000
11. Those We Love The Most, Never Truly Leave Us
12. The Annexation Of Puerto Rico
13. We Don't Mean To Impose, But We're A Hit In This Week's Gossip Column
14. Strive AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/artists/showlink.php?l=2611&catid=searchresults&searchid=1430712) | Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/dividetheday) | Purevolume (http://www.purevolume.com/dividetheday) | Pluto Records Site (http://www.plutorecords.com/)
Release Date: July 7th, 2005
Record Label: Pluto Records
After reading the title of Divide The Day’s newest full length for Pluto Records, I was a little concerned about the extent to which this band takes their music seriously. The album art and title of the band practically ooze the stereotypical hardcore punk rock trap that so many bands fall into. With bands like Saves The Day and Haste The Day, what will make Divide The Day stand out amongst the countless melodic punk bands let alone the crowd of group bands with three word names ending in “The Day”? Honestly, not too much. With a style both formulaic and familiar, Divide The Day do little to distinguish themselves from their counterparts, but the raw energy and emotion put into the songs on Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys more than makes up for any lack of originality.
There is no doubt that Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys is a step up in production and technical abilities from the band’s prior self-released material. The snare emanates a satisfying snap while every note and ride cymbal bell accent is audible over the speedy riffs and screams. Many songs are catchy and sure to be a good time when performed live such as “My Yellow Pages Girl”, the album’s opener is a musical tour de force with a mood reminiscent of the sassy swagger captured on Every Time I Die’s Gutter Phenomenon. Musically, when the band harnesses this dirty rock vibe is when they are at their best. It separates then from the galloping hardcore punk songs that have become a dime a dozen. Unfortunately, a lot of the album is either hit or miss with a big emphasis on the latter. “Totally Outrageous Por Favor” sounds like a Buckcherry song with heavy riffs and laughable lyrics that eliminate pretty much any integrity from the song. More on that later, now back to the good. The twangy guitars give way to an unexpectedly melodic intro on “You Say You Want Space? I’ll Give You The Fucking Galaxy!” a standout song that utilizes pop punk vocals interspersed with screams. Surprisingly, the poppy sound works for the style and does not sound out of place amongst the blistering hardcore that makes up the rest of Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys. Moments like this show that the band is capable of writing some catchy songs but these tracks are few and far between.
Vocalist Joe Nichy’s voice has gotten considerably better since their last release and the enhanced production only helps the band’s cause. The problem arises when taking a closer look at the lyrics. Any subtlety or tact is replaced with blunt vocal lines about sex and toughguy violence; I mean there is even a song called “The Amazing Brobasher 5000”. I can’t tell if there is sarcasm intended or what, but some forehead smacking gems include “So move your ass to the whip of my leather” and “Bring the hookers to an all night jam”, which are only two lyrical examples of the party anthems on Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys. For every moment like these, there are other parts of the album that show genuine sincerity and thought put into the lyrics such as the album closer “Strive”, an acoustic ballad that sheds light on the softer side that Divide The Day are actually pretty good at conveying. Maybe Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys is not the most serious of albums and I’m sure it will find it’s niche, but it is plagued by a tired formula and lyrics that would be more appropriate on a Buckcherry or Puddle Of Mudd album. There is some potential found here, but often it straddles the line between what is safe and credibility. If the band continues to follow the strong aspects of the album, which they show they are capable of creating, they could produce a stronger follow up to Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys.
1. My Yellow Pages Girl
2. Everybody In Florida Wears Running Shoes
3. File This Under Great Ideas At The Time
4. Jesus Is Coming...Look Busy
5. You Say You Want Space? I'll Give You The Fucking Galaxy!
6. !Totally Outrageous Por Favor!
7. Jeff Mechie...You Son Of A Bitch!
8. East Willock Road
9. Vegas Baby Vegas
10. The Amazing Bro Basher 5000
11. Those We Love The Most, Never Truly Leave Us
12. The Annexation Of Puerto Rico
13. We Don't Mean To Impose, But We're A Hit In This Week's Gossip Column
14. Strive AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/artists/showlink.php?l=2611&catid=searchresults&searchid=1430712) | Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/dividetheday) | Purevolume (http://www.purevolume.com/dividetheday) | Pluto Records Site (http://www.plutorecords.com/)