Reviews
Lawrence Arms
Oh! Calcutta!
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Add to del.ico.us.Review Date: 2006-03-23
I don't know very much about The Lawrence Arms, I know that my brother likes them because I purchased a CD of theirs for him a few Christmas's ago. I also know that they are a punk band, which is something that has my interest perked, but I guess with the all encompassing term of 'punk' music these days I still have to be a bit skeptical. My first impressions were optimistic because all my brother had told me was that they were awesome, however I never received a strong recommendation for them from anyone else so I suppose that’s why I didn't seek it out. I tried the album for a shot at winning Track Fu but it didn't pan out, I feel as always that I was robbed.
Now there is one huge thing that I love about the songs lyrical content, mostly because it’s not a twelve track album with eight songs about an ex-girlfriend written with a bleeding heart. This was sort of what I thought would be coming from The Lawrence Arms, I pictured them a lot more emo and a lot less punk as a result of that. Anyways my original assumptions about The Lawrence Arms were way off, they are a pretty rocking punk band and I dig their energy. Some of the songs on the album probably won't be liked by everyone but this is still a respectable saga which most punk lovers will enjoy.
The first track on the album is bitchin', its called "The Devil's Takin' Names" and its a wicked way to start off this album. The whole song is two minutes exactly and if you ask me it’s a perfect package for the lead track of an album. One thing that I've learnt is that The Lawrence Arms are from Chicago, but even more importantly than that they are on Fat Wreck Cords. I love a lot of bands on that label, not all of them because that would be ridiculous, but a lot of punk bands from Fat are just amazing. The Soviettes, Propagandhi, Rise Against, Lagwagon, NOFX, Strung Out, and many more, if you want a sample of the label just grab one of the Fat Music compilations, they have released like six of them so you have several options if you need them. Anyways, this song has a catchy chorus unlike that of most of the tracks on the disc, so it’s probably a decent way to start the disc before going off into other directions. All in all it’s a nice start, I do like this song quite a bit but at this point I doubt it’s my favourite.
Since I haven't heard any past stuff by The Lawrence Arms there is a possibility that this album isn't for some of their diehard fans, but hopefully that statement is incorrect. I would think that a diehard fan would get the album regardless of what I tell them, but it’s great so you shouldn't have to worry. The vocals on most of the songs are amazing, I like that they are rough and unpolished punk vocals, none of that pretty boy stuff with a piercing through the bottom lip in the corner and wearing mascara and shit. The song that I like the vocals the most on is track six, "Are You There Yet Margaret? It's Me God." Now it’s not a religious song, its just one with intense lyrics that I happen to enjoy the sound of, its not really yelling but its not melodic singing so its really hard to describe what I am hearing. I do like what I'm hearing though, the guitar on this one is decent, but like I said its all about the vocals in this track for me.
The third song is pretty badass "Great Lakes/Great Escapes". The lyrics in this song are strong, not necessarily the vocals themselves but the lyrics are just intense. I like the chorus on this song, it comes outta no where which is a neat aspect of it, the song almost blends itself together on some of the songs, overall which is a neat effect. Now even the person who doesn't like punk much may enjoy this album, its definitely not hardcore but its not a polished album that sounds like it had some serious work done to it in the booth. Most of these songs aren't that long at all, there’s only two that are over three minutes. Altogether the album only manages to last a touch over thirty minutes, but that sits ok with me. I think that if punk musicians would do well to create longer albums in track length therefore making their album seem longer, like I mean fifteen songs would make most thirty minute punk albums gain about ten minutes I bet, so that wouldn't be too bad. All I'm saying is that some punk bands could totally do this and I bet be quite successful, I don't suggest the opposite though, creating less songs and lengthening them, that would be the death of punk music.
Track seven is a bit different than your typical song by The Lawrence Arms, its called "Jumping The Shark" and it is probably the slowest track on the disc. Despite its pacing I don't dislike this song at all but I think that its one of the songs that I don't care about as much as some of the others. The song is a more melodic punk, but like a drunken melodic punk if that can make sense to you. I say that because the singers in the song sound like they are just hammered. For the first minute of the song it’s very slow and laid back, like a slow beach song almost, I do feel like I might be lying on a beach in the middle of a sunset half awake. Basically its paradise, any song that can create the illusion of the perfect place that I would like to be is a pretty good song. I can see that not a lot of people will agree with me, in either my opinion of this song or what this song makes you think of, but that’s the beauty of music and how you can interpret that shit any way you want.
The ninth song is called "Requim Revisited" and it is pretty friggin' wicked I say. This is a grade A punk song, one that is supreme to all those that are on the album. I would say this is my favourite song, the guitar is just grinding out something amazing here so I have to appreciate the efforts of the guitarist. The vocals are totally good too, but you can pretty much assume that they are good unless I am complaining about them, at this point The Lawrence Arms have my interest perked in some of their past material. I know that they have about five albums or so, which is an impressive resume, I think I will look to my brothers advice for which one I should listen to next. Anyways like I said this is a bitchin' song and it is my favourite, usually the favourite of mine is a catchy song with sicke amounts of energy and some amazing guitar, yeah that’s a lot to ask for but that’s because I'm high maintanence aka female.
Tracks to hear: Everything I mentioned above is worth hearing, also try these "Old Dogs Never Die", "Cut It Up", "Beyond Embarassing", "Lose Your Illusion"
What did I think of my first journey with The Lawrence Arms?
Will I bother to find out if their past is as successful as the present?
Score: 8.8
Definitely a pretty sicke punk album, worth hearing even if you don't like the genre but I can't promise that you will love it. Anyways the only thing keeping it from a nine were a few tracks that I didn't seem to like, but one thing I can see myself doing is buying this album. I'd say thats a definite.
- Brandon