Teenage Bottlerocket - They Came From the Shadows
Rating
RIYL
The RamonesScreeching Weasel
The Huntingtons
Release Date
09/15/2009
Label
Fat Wreck ChordsTracklist
1. "Skate or Die"2. "Don’t Want to Go"
3. "Bigger than Kiss"
4. "Do What?"
5. "Not OK"
6. "Forbidden Planet"
7. "Call in Sick"
8. "Fatso Goes Nutzoid"
9. "Without You"
10. "Tonguebiter"
11. "Be with You"
12. "The Jerk"
13. "They Came from the Shadows"
14. "Todayo"
Users RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
Your RatingCreate an account or log in to rate this album |
This is my prediction for what most people will do when they first hear Teenage Bottlerocket’s new album They Came From the Shadows: they will hear the first song (and best on the album), “Skate or Die,” and will happily digest the four-on-the-floor drumming, Ramones-esque handling of power chords, catchy and simple guitar leads, and smooth and silly lyrics about skateboarding. People will love this song and go on to the next one, “I Don’t Want To Go,” and they’ll say, “Hey! This song is great and also sounds like the Ramones.” Then they’ll move on to the next song and say the exact same thing.
Sadly, as great as those songs are, they will have heard all there is to hear on They Came From the Shadows’ 14 tracks in the first three songs. It isn’t hard to enjoy Teenage Bottlerocket. They utilize the most basic of all punk rock tricks, creating 14 tracks of upbeat, fun, and short rock songs. The drums are always moving at a brisk pace, and the guitars keep it simple with nothing more than power chords and bare melody lines on the guitars. The band utilizes two singers, so if you get tired of the smooth, Smoking Popes tones of the singer of “Better than KISS,” you only have to wait until the next song to hear the gravelly whine of the other half of the vocal attack. The lyrics are a nice collection of bitter love songs and silly songs about skating, KISS, and aliens.
But as easy as it is to enjoy They Came From the Shadows, it is hard to love it. It’s a nice album, and will make great background music, but there just isn’t enough going on to hold anyone but the biggest Ramones / Screeching Weasel fan’s attention for the entirety of the album. It isn’t expected that every album be the next Pet Sounds or Takk, but the discerning music listener needs something more to hold on to and dig in with. Unfortunately, Teenage Bottlerocket doesn’t give us that experience.
They Came From the Shadows isn't necessarily a bad album, but there is just too much of the same thing, which creates an overwhelming sense of boredom. While the album is well crafted, oozes energy, and is a fun listen (at least the first time through), there just isn’t enough in this album to keep most listeners coming back for repeat listens. I understand that this is probably what the band was aiming for, but your enjoyment will most easily be gauged by how many Ramones songs you can listen to without turning to something else.
--Stephen Harris
Comments