Lost Prophets - The Betrayed

YOURZ

This is another recent purchase I took a chance on recently.  The only thing I knew about this band was that they were from the same town in Wales of Sir Tom Jones, being the wonderfully Welsh-named Pontypridd.  And this is about all Lostprophets and Sir Tom have in common.  Musically, this five piece might have punk rock roots but their sound is from the same school as bands like Rage Against The Machine and Linkin Park. 

But some of the song titles reveal a touch of the emo-branding as well.  Mine mentions one such below and the other long-winded titles (If It Wasn't For Hate We'd Be Dead By Now, for instance) don't do them any favours.  Thankfully, the driving distortion and sharp melodies actually work well, in that MTV rock kind of way.

But when I compare it to favoured bands like Karnivool and Mastodon, unfortunately the Lostprophets wind up way down the list.  Maybe I need to be an angst-ridden post-teen to really get this.  But I'm neither and while I don't mind it, I'm not rushing out to buy anything else by them.

VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN

MINE

Well, this wasn't just disappointing - it was downright infuriating.  These guys can't seem to figure out what sort of music they're playing, going from almost Rage Against the Machine-type songs, through downright U2 ripoffs, one number that sounded a bit like the Killers and another couple that said "Gee, 80's-sounding music is getting popular, maybe we'd better do that?"

Don't get me started on the lyrics.  Banal isn't among it.  I mean seriously, It's Not the End of the World, But I Can See it From Here?

Resolutely mediocre.

VERDICT: THROW IT OUT

For more information go to http://www.lostprophets.com/

Nofx - So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes

MINE

So this is what the fuss is all about.  This is who does the definitive US ska-punk sound.  It's good, in fact it's very good.  But it's a pity that sound gets a bit repetitive to me after a while.

I think it's because most tracks have got that really fast beat, that I know I just wouldn't be able to keep up with after about, oh, two songs?  Even though each one only lasts about 2 minutes!  Anyway, now I know why YourZ likes these guys so much.  It's good music, played and produced well.  Pity I don't really like it.

VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN


YOURZ

First there was light.  And it was smashed by NoFX.  All the pretenders who came after them have been literally left in the dark by these punk stalwarts.  These guys are the real deal, defiantly giving the bird to major labels and MTV and managing themselves and their career without the usual aides and management teams for nearly 30 years. 

Their songs cover everything from politics and religion to domestic violence.  They are unapologetic, opiniated and talented to boot.  They make most other California punk bands look like pussys.  They live and breathe their music and, despite the lineup changes over the years, have become one of the most stable, truly independant acts in the world.

So Long... runs the gamut of their styles, from ska to melodic punk to sneery bursts of attitude all accompanied by their smart and sometimes smart-arse lyrics.  The opener, It's My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite, is a perfect example of both.  Then there is the social commentary of Dad's Bad News, the punk love song, Champs Elysees, sung in French and the full-bore, fists in the air statement that is Murder The Government (no, they don't really mean it - well, not really).  The ska of Eat The Meek and 180 Degrees shows the depth of musical talent they have.  They really could be a truly great ska band, if they wanted.  Thankfully, they don't.

Perhaps the funniest part of the record comes about   seconds after the last track on the album, Falling In Love.  It is a recording of an actually radio show where, obviously, someone behind the scenes is a NOFX fan and had put up a single of theirs for airplay.  The comments from the DJ are hilarious. 

VERDICT: TURN IT UP


For more information: http://www.nofxofficialwebsite.com/