i want to clarify a point.

first, that anybody could ever argue this is punk rock is baffling. it's obviously metal. like, this isn't a serious argument...

but, i could probably enjoy it passively if they'd release an instrumental version. i think i've been clear that i essentially have no patience for this kind of vocal style, so to have me point to the vocals as the primary barrier for enjoyment shouldn't be particularly surprising - i've made that point a million times already and will no doubt make it a million more. but, what's perhaps more surprising is that i'm not willing to give the record as a potential instrumental workout more than a passive approval.

this is brilliant, isn't it? meh...

if this was actually an instrumental record, it'd be full of pointless filler. a good ninety percent of the disc is just a couple of musicians fucking around, as clearly talented as they obviously are. as i pointed out back in 2013, it's actually fairly ordered and patterned, rather than chaotic and loose, but, in context, what that means is that it comes off as emotionless and robotic. it's more algorithmic than chaotic, really. there's a lot of sound coming at you, but there's not much to actually listen to, here.

the screaming should make it unlistenable, for most reasonable people. but, even if you take that out, what's left is really pretty middling.

so, the disc is overrated, and in the sense that it's been influential, what it's influenced hasn't been very interesting, either. it's one of a couple of records released near the end of the century that really did a lot to set rock music in the absolute exact wrong direction.

as an instrumental, i'd give it a C, or something. as it is, i would grade it much lower than that.

i'm pretty sure i remember checking out this band before, but i guess it didn't do much for me because i can't find the review for it. they seem to have gotten more interesting, recently.

i've been arguing for 20 years that i'm too old for emo, but i also realize that these emo kids (and it's true: everybody looks younger and younger as you age) may kind of envy me for having actually had copies of records by bands like weezer and sunny day real estate (and nobody called them emo until years later) when they actually came out, and there was indeed a time when i wasn't too old for it. but, when you're too old for something 20 years ago, you're way too old for it, now. there's consequently somewhat of an annoying block that comes up when i run into a band like this that is musically a pretty tight punk band but is, thematically, just a boy/girl song pop band for kids.

so, i can stand here and say "i wish the lyrics were more interesting", but i know i'm going to generate funny glances from kids half my age if i do that, and i know i'm in a very real sense missing the point, by doing so.

what i like about this are the obnoxious riffs, which can kick some ass at points, and, yes, i do wish it was paired to biting anarchist rants instead, but, hey, it's not my record. and, it might be fun anyways...

https://arcadiagrey.bandcamp.com/

i could do without the horn dog vocalist, guys.

https://sugartradition.bandcamp.com/album/green-machine

got sidetracked with this this morning, and, beyond the eyebrow-raising references to a deaf, dumb and blind kid about a year before tommy, this is a pretty refreshing mix of 60s punk, psychedelic blues and proto-prog. it's just a reminder that, regardless of the era, there's always something you'll like that you haven't heard yet...