Posted on March 23, 2010 - by Editor

EP Reviews: Hearts Under Fire/ The Famous Class/ Gecko/ Shag Nasty

Letters EP

Letters EP
Hearts Under Fire

I saw this young all girl band play during last year’s summer and despite some enforced line-up changes since, the band has maintained a similar hard rocking melodic punk sound which I first heard. What appealed to me at the time, live at least, was that they didn’t enforce stereotypes; an all-girl band could easily invoke pop punk nightmares, but they are far more diverse and with solid vocals to boot, not the usual screeching or raspy sound so many female fronted bands have within the loose genre of punk rock.

The opening track ‘Liquid Luck’ is a good number with the guitars and tempo changes dictating the song. The four track EP is impassioned and melodic and without doubt the pending first single “It’s Not Me, It’s You” is the highlight. The faster drum intro and the gang vocals supporting the lead on the chorus add a good layer to the whole sound. It’s catchy, simple and driving and the slower tempo towards the end could be avoided but the straining vocals and power of the final chorus saves the song for a big finale. ‘Light My Way’ again has a good chorus but it suffers from a lack of deviation in build up and the guitars sound a bit too similar. The final song ‘Animal’ is arguably the second best on the EP; again the band proving they know how to write catchy melodic songs with break tempos building up the songs and releasing energy at the right moments.

The soaring driving guitars and solo’s (Nicky Day and Steph Forrow) on this EP with the nice blend of pace and power (maturity too belying their age) is all pulled together by the great vocals of Mary O’Regan but the engine room steadily maintained by Lexi Clark. If anything the EP at times lacks some aggression and I think the backup vocals/gang vocal approach could be used with more regularity but again it’s a tick in the right column for the band’s evolution.

Make Or Break EP

Make Or Break EP
The Famous Class

This four piece pop punk band sits unashamedly within the pop punk genre and there is nothing wrong with that but to overcome the glut of pop punk bands who play catchy harmonious and infectious songs (which The Famous Class do),  bands needs an extra something to survive and the opening track ‘And Then‘ starts with some synths before kicking the song off with the apt lyrics ‘Make or break.’

The band reveals it’s in the vein of New Found Glory/MXPX but not necessarily sounding overly, but still inspired by, Americanised vocals which is shared by Stoo and Justin on guitar and bass respectively. They also thankfully avoid the cheesiness that was McFly but the themes remain par for the course in pop punk; girls and teen romances.

The first single and the stand out catchy but excellently executed song is “Emily” which I’m sure will garner radio play a plenty with its super catchy chorus and gang vocals and subject matter. It really is a catchy as hell tune but I’m not sure the other tracks come as close.

The remaining tracks are all good but the material is a bit formulaic (besides some shift tempos in the choruses) and a good memory rattler of five chord pop punk. The songs are fun and are positive and uplifting which by all accounts was the intention of the band so it’s hard to knock them in that regard. This is a band having fun and enjoying themselves, and there will be as many people jumping on the band wagon to have another pot-shot at a pop punk band as there will be kids who will thoroughly enjoy their material.

Stop, Look, Listen EP

Stop, Look, Listen EP
Gecko

There is pop punk catchiness and then there is something I feel is far more sincere and uplifting, reggeafied and up my street, Gecko is a sound you can effortlessly enjoy.

The mix of King Blues and Jamie T (and a whole lot more) with a healthy sunny disposition led by an acoustic  guitar and ample percussion support with engaging vocals led by Will Sanderson-Thwaite means the upbeat tunes are seemingly simple but catchy, innovative but so refreshing like a slap in the face of cool Caribbean air.

There are sadly only four tracks on the EP, and you will find yourself quickly reaching for the repeat. From the onset with the uplifting but big chorus ‘What You Gonna Do’ with backing vocals sweetly lifting spirits to the very witty lyrics on ‘Woke Up’ being backed by excellent instrumentals and piano mid-song, raising tempo and cheek bones. It’s so honest and charming and honestly a long list of other positive adjectives.

‘Falling Down” with its angstier vocals but still maintaining a hint of innocence has the uptempo and soaring music intelligently or ironically answering the call of the lyrics by lifting the singer up and preventing the mood from falling down.

The final song ‘I Got Time’ is lyrically again smart and heart warming and touching. The backing vocals are purposefully more female fronted on the song but it still remains jam packed with hooks and melody.
Its without doubt one of ht best EP’s I have had come through the letterbox and has the ability to  inspire, reinvigorate and enlighten your lives, your love for music and the hope that charming, creative and intelligent music can still succeed, change moods and raise pulses.

Broken Britain EP

Broken Britain EP
Shag Nasty

Shag Nasty are one of the original class of 77’ bands and have stories to make any fan of punk envious, borrowing money from Joe Strummer to buy the equipment to get the band going back in the day. Decades have passed and the band recently released this EP as a  guide trace the bands evolution from then to now.

Sound wise the five track EP evolves immensely and the current line-up consists of Riff Starr on Guitar and Vocals, Newcomer Phil Starr on Drums, and Straka Starr on Bass Guitar and Vocals. The EP carries a sound in similar vein to many early punk bands, simple three buzzing chords, simple choruses and a whole lot of attitude.

The opening track ‘No Bullshit Just Rock ‘n’ Roll’ was recorded in 77’ (and you can hear it), its old school and simple and raw. The lyrics are stripped down but quite funny.

Looking for Love (77’)is a bass heavy number that sounds similar to the UK Subs and again rough and raw but the title and chorus great.

Move forward three decades and the quality of production improved tenfold with ‘High Speed Punks’ (2009) but the core sound of the band has shifted little.

‘Power’ (2008) is the most complex and is a working class tribute song, venting anger and frustration, energetic and far more in your face, political and still possesses great buzzing guitars ending with “Oi England” chants.

‘Stranger In The City’ (2008) wraps up the EP and is far more furious and the pace means it adds a bit of aggression too. Thrashing guitars and swearing add to that feeling as well.

The band has still got tunes to offer for fans of old skool punk; raw rough and ready and still (despite all these years) with something to say!

Shag Nasty has a free donwload of a new track available, called ‘Punk Anthem ‘77′ from their MySpace.