Under The Radar: Squad 5-0

Squad Five-O really split the faithful down the middle on this one; half the fans thought it was a logical progression towards a more commercial pop punk sound, and the other half hated it…for the very same reason. (Ah well, at least everyone was on the same page in some way.)

I loved the record – I thought it combined all the elements of classic punk and glam with modern production and an infectious energy that never seemed forced or phony. This was no preening, choreographed Fall Out Boy posturing – this band wanted to rock for all the right reasons and was able to capture that on a studio disc.

Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. Poof! Adam and Dave moved along to become Marah’s guitarist and drummer, respectively, in what was probably that band’s best lineup to date. Of course Marah being Marah, the Bielankos cleared the personnel decks on the eve of the tour for their latest album, and…that was that. Adam and Dave (along with another ex-Marahite, Kirk Henderson) now have Bloodline (I’ll be linking to my review as soon as it’s published) so the odds on Squad 6-O are probably slim to none.

None of that affects just how good this record is, so whether you hold out hope for a reunion or light a candle to the past, give it a shot. Here’s my original take five years ago when I rated it my #2 album of 2004, just behind Green Day‘s American Idiot…

They only gave themselves three stars

LATE NEWS BREAKING (Capitol)

Matt Wallace producing your band means you get the big rawk sound made for radio and – better yet – your record will probably get a spin on the airwaves to see if it can survive. After years of grassroots punk touring, the Squad takes their shot with a major label to see if they can outrun the Rancid/Clash tag they’re been stuck with. Truth is they’re all over the map on this new release, from the Urge Overkill nod in “Always Talkin’, Never On The Run” to the country-via-Del Lords “Train Of Shame”.

Naturally there’s the requisite ska-punk dalliances and the throaty vocals of yelper Jeff Fortsun, but it’s drummer Dave Petersen who really sells every song (and what do you expect from a guy who played in a Ramones tribute band – lethargy?). Overall, some great stuff – dashes of glam and Izzy Stradlin, driving bass lines hammering my favorite track “Left Alone” – even their overlong closer “Everything” could be forgiven as being anthemic. So let’s hope the jocks see the Matt Wallace imprint, pop it in and let it ride. Regardless, you can go to the store and cast your vote monetarily. 

Buy a copy at Amazon.

Squad 5-O discography.

Visit their MySpace site for a listen.

Savor the moments.

T.G.I.F. – Ten Song Phil Spector Edition

Lawyer Tip #1: Always Look Normal

Guns N’ Roses

The Clash

Elvis Presley

Frank Zappa and Sting

Bee Gees

Johnny Cash

The Kingston Trio

John Mayall

Alice Cooper

Cher

Please Don't Make Me Be Your Baby

Under The Radar: Time Again

Time Again: Darker Days

HellCat Records
Darker Days is thirty minutes of non-stop adreneline, with Oren Soffer’s machine-gun basslines making you feel like you’re hearing Black Sabbath records played at the wrong speed. How drummer Ryan Purucker and guitarist Elijah Reyes don’t burst into flames trying to keep up is a mystery. With barely a breath between songs, Time Again rips through a mosh-pit platter of anthems like the Clash lighting the Pogues catalogue on fire.

Daniel Dart’s raspy, shouting vocals aren’t any different than you’ll find in most decent street punk bands, but much like Social Distortion and the Dropkick Murphys, the magic is in the attitude – Dart compels you to listen. Although red-hot anger is one way of making a point, (“You’re Going Down”), Time Again is much more effective when they drape their anthems with a big hook and chant-along chorus. “Soon It Will Be”, “One Way Or Another”, “Outcast” and “TvStatic” are very impressive tracks, considering this album that was completed start-to-finish in six days. And on the seventh day, I doubt these guys rested.