Star Fucking Hipsters - From the Dumpster to the Grave
Fat Wreck Chords
2011
It’s been a rather turbulent year filled with many transitions for Crust Punk collective Star Fucking Hipsters. They have added a new female vocalist Kelsey to replace the now departed Nico Gallio and perennial punk session musician Mikey Erg has taken his place behind the drumkit. They have also come back to their original home Fat Wreck Chords after moving to Alternative Tentacles for the release of their softmore effort, 2009’s metal heavy “Never Rest In Peace.” This will come as no surprise to those familiar with the Crack Rock Steady bands. Lead singer merry ringleader Sturgeon has always operated as if his bands and the music they created was a creative free for all. There seem to have been more members of Choking Victim, Leftover Crack and SFH than people who saw the last episode of Friends. This has on the one hand kept the bands sounding fresh and exciting but has also found the Crack Rock Steady catalogue sounding rather patchy in places. The only constant has been Sturgeons strained yelp and a penchant for mixing ska, death metal and punk into a heady (and for some rather strange) brew. Will “From the Dumpster to the Grave” be any different? I’m raring to find out;
Intro
As with every previous SFH record there exists a short and entirely useless intro to the record. 15 seconds of gentile guitar strumming that the following song bursts out of like an alien ripping through a chest cavity.
Dumpster to the Grave
The song starts with distorted punk guitars backed by the frantic and frenetic drumming of new member Mikey Erg. What becomes apparent immediately from the ferocity of the beat is that Erg is certainly going to bring something new and exciting to the table and is not merely there to make up the numbers. The song switches to a ska rhythm which will please the fans who found the lack of ska on the last record a little too much to bear. Sturgeons unmistakable gargling with nails growl lets the listener know immediately that they are back in the familiar Crack Rock Steady stable. The difference is they seem to have revved up the tempo and added an air of strained desperation to the vocal delivery, never letting the last word of each line sit for more than half a millisecond. Crust punk seems to have replaced the death metal stylings of “Never Rest in Peace” and sent them to the periphery, at least for the time being. The song details and celebrates the bands dumpster diving lifestyle, the guys proud to be living on detritus and making use of the terrible amounts of wastage generated by a complacent society. A raucous, rollicking and crusty start that made me hum the theme tune to the Wombles afterwards. Win Win!
War Widows Vietnam
The record continues with a much more standard punk track complete with powerchords and handclaps that is pretty sedate by comparison to the barnstorming track that preceded it. Sturgeon’s melodies and delivery make him sound a little like Al Barr. This, coupled with the perhaps overwrought lyrical sentimentality, make the song a perfect fit for the next Dropkick Murphy’s record. It’s catchy sure, but I’m going to have to get back to you on this one.
Death Never Goes Out Of Fashion
This song follows a similar pattern to “Dumpster to the Grave” as the crunchy punk guitars of the intro give way to bouncy, danceable ska rhythms in the verses. The song boasts an immensely catchy chorus that utilizes a male/female harmony for the first time on the record with great results. There is a superbly authentic use of Spanish in the later verses and a changeup when Erg briefly assumes vocal duties. This song may scream single material, or the closest thing you can get to single with Fucking in your band name, but it still ranks up there with one of the best songs Sturgeon has ever written.
The Broken Branches
The song begins with acoustic guitar overlaid by the sweetly melodic voice of new vocalist Kelsey. Her lyrics are complex and poetic lamenting the follies of suburbia; “All the gated up suburban homes/confine the genealogy/Of a skull to fill the catacombs/And hang down from the family TREE!!” On the word tree the band crashes in with pounding drums and buzzing guitars which serve to accelerate the song to a scintillating punk rock pace. Kelsey’s ultra sweet voice provides an interesting counterpoint to Sturgeon’s style and truly offers a different dimension to the songs. Good call SFH!!
The Spoils of War
Provides a full 41 seconds of punk metal thrashing complete with death metal squeals, blistering soloing and pounding drums. Ace Hipsters!
Otra Vez!
SFH’s most skankable song to date complete with Mexican/Western guitar rhythms mixed in with the ska and Spanish/English vocal interplay. Reach for the burritos and the hot-sauce because this is fucking fun! The lyrics on the other hand are a much more caustic and serious meditation on the subjugation of immigrants by Anglo-American society.
Honey I Shrunk the Cops!
Ah! Where would a Crack Rock Steady album be without the obligatory call to kill all cops and “Take on the Boys in Blue?” Such endless repetition of said theme has dulled the shocking impact somewhat but you’ve got to admire them for sticking to their story. Musically it’s standard punk fare; short, sweet, loud and thrashy just like mamma didn’t used to make.
9/11 ‘till Infinity
Ah the song that will divide a nation!! Or at the very least facilitate some bitchy exchanges between geeky strangers on message-boards. Standard SFH instrumentation is accompanied by dun dun duuuunn...rapping! Now usually I’m the first person to want to gouge my own ears off when I hear a homie laying down a fresh beat (Fo’ shizzle!!) but surprisingly this isn’t as hideous as it sounds. In fact I would go as far as to say I rather enjoy the premise. The instrumentation and the rapping aren’t treated as separate entities - as is usually the case with rap rock fusion - but instead work together so that no one thing takes prominence. Never once does it feel gimmicky. The rhymes are provided by Boots Riley of The Coup fame and he does a bang up job. There is even the closest thing you will ever hear to a punk-rap vocal style delivered by Sturgeon near the songs climax. Bust it out dog!
Ana NG
A ska punk cover of a “They Might Be Giants” song. To quote a discerning Youtube user: “Sweet Zombie Jesus...this is great!”
Rapture, Rinse, Repeat
A menacing intro made up of distorted guitar and Mikey Erg’s kick drum gives way to the first and only truly death-metal infused song on the record. An unrelenting thrasher that sounds as if it was culled from the “Never Rest in Peace” sessions. The riffs are positively grind-core at times and the vocals strain to an anguished bark that is not for the faint of heart or young children with nervous dispositions. Heavy as fuck!
Drowning Out Another Year
The record ends on a pretty standard punk rock note that sees the Hipsters at their most uplifting thanks in no small part to a huge chorus complete with gang vocals that beg to be sung along to.
Verdict: Sturgeon has once again delivered a solid Crack Rock Steady record that may be his most fun and upbeat to date. The record boasts curve-balls and variety in abundance that gives me heart that this particular creative juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down. The record benefits immensely from the decision to push the death metal grind of “Never Rest in Peace” to the periphery making this album less of a trudge to listen to than the aforementioned record. This record is a perfect length and never feels like its outstaying its welcome. The mix of styles and approaches coupled with some well appreciated additions in the musician department make this the record that sees the Hipsters finally hit their stride!!
8/10
For Fans of: Crack Rock Steady, Leftover Crack, Amebix, Crust-Punk
'BadIdeaDan' at mlm
2011
It’s been a rather turbulent year filled with many transitions for Crust Punk collective Star Fucking Hipsters. They have added a new female vocalist Kelsey to replace the now departed Nico Gallio and perennial punk session musician Mikey Erg has taken his place behind the drumkit. They have also come back to their original home Fat Wreck Chords after moving to Alternative Tentacles for the release of their softmore effort, 2009’s metal heavy “Never Rest In Peace.” This will come as no surprise to those familiar with the Crack Rock Steady bands. Lead singer merry ringleader Sturgeon has always operated as if his bands and the music they created was a creative free for all. There seem to have been more members of Choking Victim, Leftover Crack and SFH than people who saw the last episode of Friends. This has on the one hand kept the bands sounding fresh and exciting but has also found the Crack Rock Steady catalogue sounding rather patchy in places. The only constant has been Sturgeons strained yelp and a penchant for mixing ska, death metal and punk into a heady (and for some rather strange) brew. Will “From the Dumpster to the Grave” be any different? I’m raring to find out;
Intro
As with every previous SFH record there exists a short and entirely useless intro to the record. 15 seconds of gentile guitar strumming that the following song bursts out of like an alien ripping through a chest cavity.
Dumpster to the Grave
The song starts with distorted punk guitars backed by the frantic and frenetic drumming of new member Mikey Erg. What becomes apparent immediately from the ferocity of the beat is that Erg is certainly going to bring something new and exciting to the table and is not merely there to make up the numbers. The song switches to a ska rhythm which will please the fans who found the lack of ska on the last record a little too much to bear. Sturgeons unmistakable gargling with nails growl lets the listener know immediately that they are back in the familiar Crack Rock Steady stable. The difference is they seem to have revved up the tempo and added an air of strained desperation to the vocal delivery, never letting the last word of each line sit for more than half a millisecond. Crust punk seems to have replaced the death metal stylings of “Never Rest in Peace” and sent them to the periphery, at least for the time being. The song details and celebrates the bands dumpster diving lifestyle, the guys proud to be living on detritus and making use of the terrible amounts of wastage generated by a complacent society. A raucous, rollicking and crusty start that made me hum the theme tune to the Wombles afterwards. Win Win!
War Widows Vietnam
The record continues with a much more standard punk track complete with powerchords and handclaps that is pretty sedate by comparison to the barnstorming track that preceded it. Sturgeon’s melodies and delivery make him sound a little like Al Barr. This, coupled with the perhaps overwrought lyrical sentimentality, make the song a perfect fit for the next Dropkick Murphy’s record. It’s catchy sure, but I’m going to have to get back to you on this one.
Death Never Goes Out Of Fashion
This song follows a similar pattern to “Dumpster to the Grave” as the crunchy punk guitars of the intro give way to bouncy, danceable ska rhythms in the verses. The song boasts an immensely catchy chorus that utilizes a male/female harmony for the first time on the record with great results. There is a superbly authentic use of Spanish in the later verses and a changeup when Erg briefly assumes vocal duties. This song may scream single material, or the closest thing you can get to single with Fucking in your band name, but it still ranks up there with one of the best songs Sturgeon has ever written.
The Broken Branches
The song begins with acoustic guitar overlaid by the sweetly melodic voice of new vocalist Kelsey. Her lyrics are complex and poetic lamenting the follies of suburbia; “All the gated up suburban homes/confine the genealogy/Of a skull to fill the catacombs/And hang down from the family TREE!!” On the word tree the band crashes in with pounding drums and buzzing guitars which serve to accelerate the song to a scintillating punk rock pace. Kelsey’s ultra sweet voice provides an interesting counterpoint to Sturgeon’s style and truly offers a different dimension to the songs. Good call SFH!!
The Spoils of War
Provides a full 41 seconds of punk metal thrashing complete with death metal squeals, blistering soloing and pounding drums. Ace Hipsters!
Otra Vez!
SFH’s most skankable song to date complete with Mexican/Western guitar rhythms mixed in with the ska and Spanish/English vocal interplay. Reach for the burritos and the hot-sauce because this is fucking fun! The lyrics on the other hand are a much more caustic and serious meditation on the subjugation of immigrants by Anglo-American society.
Honey I Shrunk the Cops!
Ah! Where would a Crack Rock Steady album be without the obligatory call to kill all cops and “Take on the Boys in Blue?” Such endless repetition of said theme has dulled the shocking impact somewhat but you’ve got to admire them for sticking to their story. Musically it’s standard punk fare; short, sweet, loud and thrashy just like mamma didn’t used to make.
9/11 ‘till Infinity
Ah the song that will divide a nation!! Or at the very least facilitate some bitchy exchanges between geeky strangers on message-boards. Standard SFH instrumentation is accompanied by dun dun duuuunn...rapping! Now usually I’m the first person to want to gouge my own ears off when I hear a homie laying down a fresh beat (Fo’ shizzle!!) but surprisingly this isn’t as hideous as it sounds. In fact I would go as far as to say I rather enjoy the premise. The instrumentation and the rapping aren’t treated as separate entities - as is usually the case with rap rock fusion - but instead work together so that no one thing takes prominence. Never once does it feel gimmicky. The rhymes are provided by Boots Riley of The Coup fame and he does a bang up job. There is even the closest thing you will ever hear to a punk-rap vocal style delivered by Sturgeon near the songs climax. Bust it out dog!
Ana NG
A ska punk cover of a “They Might Be Giants” song. To quote a discerning Youtube user: “Sweet Zombie Jesus...this is great!”
Rapture, Rinse, Repeat
A menacing intro made up of distorted guitar and Mikey Erg’s kick drum gives way to the first and only truly death-metal infused song on the record. An unrelenting thrasher that sounds as if it was culled from the “Never Rest in Peace” sessions. The riffs are positively grind-core at times and the vocals strain to an anguished bark that is not for the faint of heart or young children with nervous dispositions. Heavy as fuck!
Drowning Out Another Year
The record ends on a pretty standard punk rock note that sees the Hipsters at their most uplifting thanks in no small part to a huge chorus complete with gang vocals that beg to be sung along to.
Verdict: Sturgeon has once again delivered a solid Crack Rock Steady record that may be his most fun and upbeat to date. The record boasts curve-balls and variety in abundance that gives me heart that this particular creative juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down. The record benefits immensely from the decision to push the death metal grind of “Never Rest in Peace” to the periphery making this album less of a trudge to listen to than the aforementioned record. This record is a perfect length and never feels like its outstaying its welcome. The mix of styles and approaches coupled with some well appreciated additions in the musician department make this the record that sees the Hipsters finally hit their stride!!
8/10
For Fans of: Crack Rock Steady, Leftover Crack, Amebix, Crust-Punk
'BadIdeaDan' at mlm