Reviews

The Charlestons are an easy band to compare to others, as you can probably see in every review anyone has ever done of them and even the band’s own promotional materials. I’m not sure its too much of a mystery why, however. They don’t really offer anything distinctive; there’s nothing on this cd that screams “This is a Grabass Charlestons CD and no other band.” That said, I’d like to compare them to some other bands. They sound A LOT like Hot Water Music, and this is usually attributed to the fact that they both came up through the Gainesville scene, but seriously, they sound so similar that it is offputting. They are a slightly faster version with more sloppy transitions. They also have a strong Dillinger Four vibe, combining some pop-punk melodies but doing it so flippantly and fast that it doesn’t feel poppy at all. Think older Dillinger Four here. The vocals also have a strong vibe to old Duane Peters style with the US Bombs or the original Dropkick Murphys style.  They play a fast, energetic, and a little sloppy sounding punk rock with some tinges of pop punk. Their lyrics focus intensely on how much working sucks and alcoholism.  There is a cool Tom Waits cover, complete with horns (Cold Cold Ground) and it sounds like the cd is soaked in beer. All this said, it is a pretty good thing, despite not being very original or diverse.  I definitely think it is worth a try if you like HWM or D4 or if you just like to drink and listen to music. 3 stars.