It is lovely to hear a UK rock act doing well. Although it is shame our more off kilter acts usually fall somewhat by the wayside (McClusky, 80’s Matchbox, Sluts of Trust). But we have built up a decent enough UK answer to that modern American punk rock sound with the Lost Prophets, Funeral for a Friend etc.. Just wished that some of these kids/A&R listened to a little more Jungle Records over Fat Wreck Chords releases as they were learning guitar/latin.
Keeping Up Appearances has a good stuttery riff laden start, the band throw the works at it and it runs like a V8 into a ska’d up American punk sound that is the same as any band on any stage on any Vans Warped Tour. The sound is formulaic, and this song is tight and credible, the ska upbeat guitar, the drums beating out moshing jumping thumps, the vocal lines are not too whiney. It isn’t bad…
BUT: It is unfortunately like every other Ska-Punk band this side of Philadelphia. Sorry it just is! And can happily be left on the shelf.
1/2
Out today on Fierce Panda
...in telling it like it is. I've never seen why people get so excited about them - except perhaps some kind of punk-patriotism - seeing as they genuinely are doing nothing that hasn't been done before - and done better - by someone from the US.
And I've been bored rigid every time I've seen them live.
