CD Review: Don’t Be So Cruel [2011]
04/18/2011 Leave a comment
Band: Something Fierce
Release: 4/2011
Label: Dirtnap Records
1. “Don’t Be So Cruel” – B+
2. “What We Need Now” – A-
3. “Future Punks” – B+
4. “Afghani Sands” – A-
5. “Before You Raised the Gun” – A-
6. “When You Hurt” – A-
7. “Ghosts of Industry” – A-
8. “Aliens Two” – A
9. “Bad Choice” – A-
10. “On the Backroads” – A
11. “Dying Young These Days”- A
12. “Empty Screens” – A [LINK TO LISTEN]
Comments: Something FIERCE do what they do well. They play music. Music that I’ll describe as mid-range punk rock with many an eccentrically catchy melody. Nothing real heavy, nothing real wimpy. Weird comparison time: the vocals are sometimes (and I say this because the music is quite different) comparable to that of MGMT vocalist Andrew VanWyngarden. In other words, they stand out…for more so than the typical punk singer! The tunes often take on different shapes with “Afghani Sands,” for instance, in the mold of Mission of Burma era post-punk, “Ghosts of Industry” as a combo of modsters The Jam and power-pop/punk greats Exploding Hearts, and “When You Hurt” in the mold of ’70s pop-rock. The whole album is amassed with very satisfying tunes, but things really start picking up on the B side. I would say things are pretty more straight killa no filla and often this is how I enjoy my rock ‘n’ roll. Side note: Dirtnap has been on a tear lately with awesome releases!
Grade: A- (91)
