Useless ID - The Lost Broken Bones
Record Label: Suburban Home Records
Release Date: October 21, 2008
Who?
One of Israel's most successful punk rock outfits, if not the only successful one (well, them and Man Alive). Useless ID was a Kung Fu Records staple for several years, releasing three critically successful full-lengths (and a split with The Ataris in 2000) before moving to Suburban Home to record their latest disc, The Lost Broken Bones. Born from the same pop-punk sound bands like No Use For a Name and MxPx came from, it's evident the 1990's skate-punk revolution has yet to die with these dudes.
How is it?
Produced by Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore (Less Than Jake, NOFX), the album has many darker elements compared to their work with Kung Fu. The band is obviously making some adjustments in their sound and not just in their personnel -- and these changes are more than welcome, bringing serious depth to their pop-punk-friendly sound. "Isolate Me" will introduce unfamiliar ears to a band that is confident with their style, presenting lyrics on alienation & claustrophobia, combined with some killer riffs. "Killing a Ghost" destroys with a devastatingly addicting chorus, while "Blood Pressure" boils up a bucket of paranoia & faith, all with blinding fury ("It's the fear of the dark when you're all alone and someone is watching over you"). The vast progression in sound from 2001's Bad Story, Happy Ending is assisted by Stevenson's rich production value, and also by Horin's songwriting, revolving around heavier thematic material (even the artwork is modeled in a darker fashion than past records). Focusing on the insecurities of human nature and the hope that eventually comes from investigating one's self, The Lost Broken Bones may not be as solid as 2005's Redemption, but you could certainly do a hell of a lot worse. For this price, it's well-worth the discovery and a pleasant revisit for old fans alike.
dude i am so glad someone reviewed this record. i think it is freaking fantastic and i LOVE redemption too. more people need to know about this band. i was just playing this for my best friend last night because he hadn't heard it yet.
its, good, but i liked "redemption" much more. I like their bigger, hookier, poppier material verses this more dark and slower material, but its still solid. Kind of lacks variety though, the songs all blend together moreso than on "redemption". Their sound is very akin to NUFAN although this album kind of has a No Motiv type vibe to it, whatever their last album was called.
i thought of that split with the ataris when i saw this post on the news thread. pretty cool that they're still plugging away, and that new song on myspace is sick.
its, good, but i liked "redemption" much more. I like their bigger, hookier, poppier material verses this more dark and slower material, but its still solid. Kind of lacks variety though, the songs all blend together moreso than on "redemption". Their sound is very akin to NUFAN although this album kind of has a No Motiv type vibe to it, whatever their last album was called.
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