Frenzal Rhomb - Meet the Family

MINE

It's like The Living End, only bad.  Well, not bad as such, just repetitive and repetitive and - did I mention it's repetitive?  The songs are mercifully short, all in the Hi-NRG punkabilly mould, often involving SHOUTING with bad language sometimes randomly thrown in.  I don't mind swearing in a song if there's a reason for it (actually the last track, You Can't Move Into My House has lots of swearing in it but is quite funny) but most of this album is just really juvenile.

It's designed for boys of about 15-25 who no doubt smoke a lot of bongs before pogoing and performing air guitar while this is turned up to 11.

Here's hoping my husband's grown out of that. (YourZ sez: but, but... oh, alright)

VERDICT: THROW IT OUT

YOURZ

This is great Aussie punk from an uncompromising band of ratbags, some of whom more recently found a modicum of respectability with a morning DJ gig on Triple J, Australia's alternative radio station.  The song titles are mostly designed to get young lads guffawing into their hands.  And the song Guns Don't Kill Ducklings (Ducklings Kill Ducklings) gets a vote for one of my favourite song titles, even though the song is fairly ordinary.

But really, Mine is right. (Mine says: was there ever any doubt?)  I have grown out of this.  In fact, I'd grown out of this years ago.  Oh, there's nothing wrong with what they do - they actually do make some relevant points, albeit couched in punk vernacular.  But it's just not for me anymore.

VERDICT: THROW IT OUT

For more information: http://freindsofron.blogspot.com/

The Living End - Roll On

MINE

I'm too old for this.  I mean, I was a mad crazy fan of the Stray Cats many years ago (I've seen them two or three times) and the Living End straddle that rock/rockabilly line with ease.  But that was then, and these days I'll leave the wild jumping-around to the younger set.

It's not that they don't play it well (they do) or the songs are boring (they're not) but just that this seems more like something uni students/college kids can whoop and holler to.  I'll leave it to them.

VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN

YOURZ

It's hard to believe this album is ten years old.  It sounds so fresh and vibrant.  At the same time, there are so many classic references, from both punk and rock.  And it doesn't let up, not for a second.  The energy of this three piece virtually zaps out of the speakers.  Listening to Roll On, I found it hard to sit still.  I wanted to move, to do things.  So I rearranged the spare room, our guest room/study/music room, a job I've been meaning to do for a while.  I turned the music up and bopped around the room as I did it.

But then, as Mine so rightly points out, a youngish middle aged man jumping around his spare room like a young punk is only going to come to grief.  Thankfully, I realised the error of my ways before I fell and hurt myself.  And I got the room changed around to just the way I wanted it while writing this review in my head. Who says a man can't do two things at once?

VERDICT: TURN IT UP but remember, be careful out there.

For further information go to: http://www.thelivingend.com/