Reviews

Realizing that this is punkbands.com, I’m extremely weary of admitting that my liking for punk music often comes and goes in waves.  Some days I find myself completely absorbed in it; in the culture, the history, the politics and the sheer entertainment.  Other days, I crave something more.  Lately, the former has been the case.  With superb new releases from Big Wig, NOFX, The Loved Ones and now None More Black, punk is taking a defiant stand so far in 2006.  Their second full length album and first full release in three years, “This Is Satire” is a solid release that bears striking similarities to bands like Against Me! and The Loved ones but no resemblance to Kid Dynamite whatsoever so anyone who still makes this comparison is bananas!
 
In its finest moments, this record is about the struggle of being in a band and making music, but using that very music as leverage towards perseverance.  Lines like “I’m counting on the music to get me through the day,” and “Would you exist without all the fists the music clenched for you?” are examples of this.  “We Dance on the Ruins of the Stupid Stage,” is a dangerously catchy punk anthem of sorts with the line “It’s a struggle, but we’re going,” repeating and repeating towards the end.  The simplicity of those words and the truth that they hold are felt with fire by those who have followed this band for the past five years as well as those loyal to the other bands these four have been involved in which include Kid Dynamite, Paint It Black and The Hope Conspiracy. 
 
“My Wallpaper Looks Like Paint,” talks about the need for something to fight for, “With The Transit Coat On,” is a masterfully crafted pop-punk tune with pint sized breakdown towards the end and “”Opinions and Assholes” is well, self-explanatory.  After going through the record six or seven times, you start noticing all the little thing; the “Hey Hey Hey’s” and the “Hurrah Hurrah’s” thrown in at just the right moments.  The music is carefully crafted and genuine; making sure to take some risks but not to go off on a tangent at the same time. You may then realize that this record is a punk record; which stripped down, says a lot in this ridiculously complicated age of “post-melodic-dresser-drawer-rock” or “pre-post-punk-backyard-barbecue-influenced-hardcore.” Punk music is like a summer vacation home: it’s okay to say goodbye for a little while, but you still have fun every time you come back and nothing ever really changes.