Teenage Bottlerocket
Mutilate Me
Fat Wreck Chords
2011
I think at this point it would be fair to say that Teenage Bottlerocket is a band with a growing reputation in the punk world; a reputation that is based upon a near faultless discography of quality Ramones-core Skate Punk. Teenage Bottlerocket are never going to be a band that reinvents the wheel and are a band that are happy to tread a path so well worn it has become a ravine, but what they do they do exceedingly well. After some 3 albums on uber indie label Red Scare industries “Fat” Mike Burkett was quick to add them to the already impressive Fat Wreck Chords roster.The band subsequently released “They Came from the Shadows” in 2009 to much critical acclaim and scene kudos. Songs like “Skate or Die”, “Be With You” or the title track were perfect nuggets of beefy pop punk that recalled the halcyon days of 1990’s pop punk. The release saw a band clearly at the top of its game, ready to skate, drink and generally have more fun than any other band. Fast forward to 2011 and with a new album currently in the works, Bottlerocket have released “Mutilate Me”, a three song EP that will hopefully whet the appetite of insatiable fans until then. Here is a track by track run down of what to expect from this release:
Mutilate Me: Teenage Bottlerocket start things off in predictably catchy fashion with the barnstorming title track. The band fairly crashes into the song without the need for an intro. Choppy guitars, pounding drums and sweetly harmonized yet punky vocals let the listener know they are back on familiar ground. The lyrics are a fun tongue in cheek take on sexual fetishes and domination that begs to be sung and laughed along to. There’s nothing subtle about this whatsoever and that’s the way Teenage Bottlerocket like it. I smile at the thought of punks around the world singing; ‘I want you to...Dominate Me! / I want you to...Mutilate Me!’ It’s kitsch and catchy in all the right kinds of ways.
Punk House of Horror: This is another slice of pounding, mercilessly fast, three chord punk rock that is over in a blink of an eye and leaves your head spinning. The drums keep the pace relentless, the guitars are suitably distorted and the band constructs another catchy, well harmonized melody complete with woah’s and shoutalong moments.
Henchmen: Bottlerocket pays a great homage to Bad Religion with this well observed cover that was omitted from this year’s tribute album for reasons beyond obvious comprehension. The band rounds out the edges of the melodic hardcore classic but the best thing about it is they don’t change very much at all, even adding Greg Graffin’s little watcho thing at the end. Excellent.
Teenage Bottlerocket continue to do what they do best on this tantalizing little release and manage to distil all that’s great about them into a mere 5 minutes. Like I said before Teenage Bottlerocket won’t reinvent the wheel but fans of 3 chord punk will find plenty to enjoy. Plus it’ll make those kickflips look gnarly dude!!!
For Fans of: The Ramones, The Marked Men, 90’s Skate Punk
Score: 8/10
'BadIdeaDan' for MLM
Mutilate Me
Fat Wreck Chords
2011
I think at this point it would be fair to say that Teenage Bottlerocket is a band with a growing reputation in the punk world; a reputation that is based upon a near faultless discography of quality Ramones-core Skate Punk. Teenage Bottlerocket are never going to be a band that reinvents the wheel and are a band that are happy to tread a path so well worn it has become a ravine, but what they do they do exceedingly well. After some 3 albums on uber indie label Red Scare industries “Fat” Mike Burkett was quick to add them to the already impressive Fat Wreck Chords roster.The band subsequently released “They Came from the Shadows” in 2009 to much critical acclaim and scene kudos. Songs like “Skate or Die”, “Be With You” or the title track were perfect nuggets of beefy pop punk that recalled the halcyon days of 1990’s pop punk. The release saw a band clearly at the top of its game, ready to skate, drink and generally have more fun than any other band. Fast forward to 2011 and with a new album currently in the works, Bottlerocket have released “Mutilate Me”, a three song EP that will hopefully whet the appetite of insatiable fans until then. Here is a track by track run down of what to expect from this release:
Mutilate Me: Teenage Bottlerocket start things off in predictably catchy fashion with the barnstorming title track. The band fairly crashes into the song without the need for an intro. Choppy guitars, pounding drums and sweetly harmonized yet punky vocals let the listener know they are back on familiar ground. The lyrics are a fun tongue in cheek take on sexual fetishes and domination that begs to be sung and laughed along to. There’s nothing subtle about this whatsoever and that’s the way Teenage Bottlerocket like it. I smile at the thought of punks around the world singing; ‘I want you to...Dominate Me! / I want you to...Mutilate Me!’ It’s kitsch and catchy in all the right kinds of ways.
Punk House of Horror: This is another slice of pounding, mercilessly fast, three chord punk rock that is over in a blink of an eye and leaves your head spinning. The drums keep the pace relentless, the guitars are suitably distorted and the band constructs another catchy, well harmonized melody complete with woah’s and shoutalong moments.
Henchmen: Bottlerocket pays a great homage to Bad Religion with this well observed cover that was omitted from this year’s tribute album for reasons beyond obvious comprehension. The band rounds out the edges of the melodic hardcore classic but the best thing about it is they don’t change very much at all, even adding Greg Graffin’s little watcho thing at the end. Excellent.
Teenage Bottlerocket continue to do what they do best on this tantalizing little release and manage to distil all that’s great about them into a mere 5 minutes. Like I said before Teenage Bottlerocket won’t reinvent the wheel but fans of 3 chord punk will find plenty to enjoy. Plus it’ll make those kickflips look gnarly dude!!!
For Fans of: The Ramones, The Marked Men, 90’s Skate Punk
Score: 8/10
'BadIdeaDan' for MLM