Smoke Or Fire - The Speakeasy
Rating
RIYL
Strike AnywhereThe Lawrence Arms
Against Me!
Release Date
11/09/2010
Label
Fat Wreck ChordsTracklist
1. "Integrity"2. "Monsters Amoung Us"
3. "1968"
4. "Sleep Walking"
5. "Neon Light"
6. "Hope and Anchor"
7. "Honey, I Was Right About The War"
8. "Porch Wine"
9. "Everything Falls Apart"
10. "Expatriate"
11. "The Speakeasy"
12. "Shotgun"
13. "Utah"
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Smoke Or Fire are back with their new record, The Speakeasy. After a few lineup changes, it seems the dust has settled and Smoke Or Fire have solidified as a band. Joe McMahon and guitarist Jeremy Cochran are now joined by Darkest Hour drummer Ryan Parrish and Avail bassist Justin Burdick. The Speakeasy is also helmed by one of my favorite producers, Matt Allison. Allison is responsible for most of Alkaline Trio’s records, and his ability to focus in on a vocal track amidst a flurry of other things going on is perfect. This album is fairly short, coming in just over 30 minutes, but it’s a great compact listen for those that like good punk records in the vein of The Lawrence Arms.
The Speakeasy is as topical as one would expect from most Fat Wreck Chords releases. Though it does touch on a variety of subjects, from corporate America in “Monsters Among Us” to racism in “1968,” it is not bogged down by muddled politics. From the opener, “Integrity,” McMahon sets the tone for the entire record by utilizing his ability to fuse his feelings about the world into his thoughts regarding the deceptions found within it. McMahon’s shout-sing melodies are poignant and fit well with the great guitar riffs and excellent drumming.
Yes, there are similarities to Against Me! strewn throughout the record, from the acoustic twang in songs to the working man lyrics, but don’t dwell on this fact too long; Smoke or Fire are a breed of their own. My personal favorite song is “Honey, I Was Right About the War.” It is a flow of conscious reminiscing about the state of war and the futility of it all. McMahon has a firm grasp of crafting lyrics that require a keen ear in order to pick up on all of the historical references. With a wry sense of humor and intellect Smoke or Fire are a very basic punk band doing a great job where many have failed.
--Corey Mack
Comments
Green Brook, NJ
this album isn't really that good. this band has gotten progressively worse with every album. there's only 1 song on this i really love, and a couple others that i tolerate. the title track is the best part about this album.