Recess released the Cheap Wine of Youth EP from Rivethead in the early 2000s, and it was the first rumble in a soon-to-come avalanche of refreshingly fantastic pop-punk bands. The fucking thing was released on 12” format at 45rpms instead of the regular ol’ 7” at 33rpms. This slab o’ vinyl was amazing inside as well as out, too. I fell in love, and just before I could see the band live they petered out. Needless to say, I was bummed. So a short time later, when Recess released an EP called Hospitals and proclaimed that there were a few members from Rivethead in the band, I forked over the dough and bought a copy.
This EP was a different beast than that which was Rivethead. It was a bit less Screeching Weasel-y and the lyrics far more dark. At the time I was working a horrid day job; a job that was stressing me the fuck out and made me hate life. I put the CD in and played it over and over during that monumental hour-long commute to work that morning. The lyrics of track one literally and figuratively sung to me that morning:
Related Posts
“I’m not gonna go to work today
I wanna feel the sun shine on my face
and pretend like everything’s okay
I won’t let anything get to me
My morning coffee and cigarettes to blaze
Out on the porch with my insanity
I’m gonna be a bum and sit out here all day long.
I’m not gonna go to work today.”
If it wasn’t for the fact that going back home would have taken me yet another hour-long trek, that song would have been enough to do so! Smacked me upside the head, and good, that EP did. And I was sold. I followed the band through I don’t know how many seven-inches and comps and albums — even worked with them a couple times on a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
Now, their Epitaph debut sits in my hand, and I’m trying to keep my brain blank. I’m trying to keep my fan-boy biases at bay while I keep my “holy shit this sounds so polished” DIY snob self behind closed doors. With those two freaks locked out of the computer room, what do I think? Honestly? It’s still Ryan and the boys doing what they do best. Play their shit and play it well. The lyrics are just as dark and gloomy as ever, the backing vocals and harmonies still kick ass, and the pop-punk sensibilities are still hanging around. They named one of their songs “ZZYZX.” The only difference is that I can hear all sorts of little subtle noises and layered how-did-they-think-of-that guitar licks that seemed absent in previous recordings. Having four times as much time in the studio to make sure everything you want in your album shows up can be a blessing at times, no?
The photographs on the layout are splendid, and help set the mood in a weird way. Epitaph’s first smart signing in at least a decade. This band’s entire discography is highly recommended. Go out and buy it all…well, the shit that’s still in print, that is.
(Epitaph Records, 2798 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026)