Reviews

Ahhhh. Fat chords, bouncy beats, a Ramones lover vibe, and intelligent lyrics. Thank you The Methadones.  Based (supposedly) around the classic Michael Douglas fall from grace film Falling Down, Not Economically Viable is a thick record of pre-emo pop-punk. Plus we like it because we think we need more concept albums.  
 
The Methadones play music as if the last five years of increasingly sucky punk hadn’t happened, as if it were still 1994 and the Queers were the be all and end all for melodic punk rock. It makes sense that Dan Schafer ( aka Dan Vapid of Screeching Weasel, Riverdales) is at the front of this project, because every Methadones song comes equipped with a glimpse of all that has happened in the short history of punk up to now, as well as a bright blast of personal present tense success and confidence.
 
Not Economically Viable is awash in great tracks, no throwaways here. Track two - “Mess We Made,” and track six -”Million Miles,”  are both perfect pop songs, the kind that would be all over the radio in a perfect world (read: not this one). “Suddenly Cool” asks the question we’ve all been wondering; “When did you become suddenly cool / I saw you last year you were such a tool / dyed your hair black bought horned rim glasses to match and a whole new circle of friends.” The final standout track, “Annie,” is a melodic message in a bottle to a girl boxed in by work and beaten down by life. At first you write it off as an ode, a simple love song, but the questions asked, “Annie - I just don’t understand,” reveal a deeper meaning, a questioning tone present in most of the twelve tracks.
 
This is great music to listen to, no matter what you do. Hang out? Listen to the Methadones. Driving? Listen to the Methadones. Skating? Listen to the Methadones. Moshing? Better pick up some old Throwdown and lose your head. As the album closes on “Straight Up Pop Song,” you realize that you’ve just been listening to a straight up punk album. In some sense we’re all recovering heroin addicts; now we’re hooked on The Methadones.