Bad Movies – “Take One”
So this is punk like punk was before hardcore. I love hardcore, no worries, but I was loving punk long before hardcore raised its pointed little Mohawk head. This sounds more like the original punk to me and no, I don’t call this Oi. But I do call this guts and emotions played and laid upon the edges of a disk that explodes like a hand grenade into your heart, mind and soul negating any critical reaction.
Sounds good to you? It sounds good to me. The vocalist, Linnea Sturdy combines, I believe, a little bit of Gwen Stefani with a bit of Courtney Love in her own style, the latter being, in my opinion, one of the best female vocalist of our time. So she can sing but she also has the guts and balls or whatever female genitalia you want to insert here to do this. Technically great, emotionally sound and kick ass to the max complimenting the boys who flail away as strong and as passionate on their instruments behind her.
There are so few punk bands on our site that spark a feeling in me that make me connect them to the essence and core of the original punk bands. I still love all our bands but I’d estimate that there are five or less bands that hit it for real for me as do the early punk bands and this is one of those bands. This is The Germs, This is The Screamers, This is The Avengers. Do they sound like them? No, not really. But their attitude, execution, concept is pure and real as those bands of the past.
So do I like this CD? Do I like this band? Enough with the silly questions, let’s check out a few tunes.
Some loud arpeggiated chords slowly lead off “I Hate You, Buddy,” but by the time the drums thud the battle cry in the guitar and bass is frothing at their mouth and leap forwards with growling fangs. Of course, the vocals are snarling right along tenaciously ripping into the heart of the song. “Well, I said I’m not your little buddy,” she sings with venomous poison shooting from her throat, “I’ve always hated you. I hate you buddy.” Either telling off a close personal “friend” or an unusual dislike for Buddy Holly- I can’t tell. I can tell you this- this song kicks major ass- up, down, left, right and sideways, up the block and back from Monday morning to Sunday night and beyond.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/I Hate You Buddy.mp3|titles=I Hate You Buddy]
“I know you wanna hit me/ I can see it in your face/ I know you wanna kill me/ You wanna put me in my place.” So starts their theme song, “Bad Movies.” “So what are you afraid of? What are you waiting for? What are you waiting for?” She taunts the combatant in a relationship gone bad, or maybe Buddy Holly- I can’t tell. I can tell you this song moves along with aggressive instrumentation, energetically, passionately, without hitting hardcore warp speed as the vocal spits out its intense epitaphs. “I know you want to hit me. I want to, too!” If I got it right, she’s not asking for violence but she’s equally mad at herself for putting up with the likes of this joker, enough to hit herself. This song rips your mind, heart and soul out and throws it on the ground in a display of passion, courage and guts.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/Bad Movies.mp3|titles=Bad Movies]
Some slashing chords start off “Road Rage,” before the groaning “Oh-oh-oh,” vocals come in then “Dream on, let’s go.” “I’m gonna run you down/ Why can’t you fuckin’ take it?/ I’m gonna bring you to the ground/ I’m gonna put your fuckin’ face in it!” Another song inspired by the enlightened hippie age of the sixties by such gracious artists as Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills and Nash. “I’m gonna hunt you down/ I can’t fuckin’ take it.” As the Woodstock generation blooms once again the guitars and bass grind along in a voluptuous volume as the drums pound away goading them on. A little breakdown towards the end where the intro is revisited but there’s no respite from the bile, disgust and annoyance till the vocals stop to let the guitars take it out as Buddy Holly’s ghost is pummeled in an alley way.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/Road Rage.mp3|titles=Road Rage]
“Jennifer’s Room” starts with four chords bursting with volume and energy until the band kicks in and the vocals spew forth eagerly once again. The rhythm, while never hardcore, sparks energy into every corner of the speakers while the vocals lay low until the moaning, distraught chorus- all chaos breaks out towards the end. The passion is spent, the volume recedes, the emotion rings true in the air. Buddy Holly steps out of the shadows, gives a little wave goodbye, then walks down a black and white corridor with a streetlamp above, into the night.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/Jennifers Room.mp3|titles=Jennifers Room]
Bad Movies is only true to their name if you take the more modern turn of “bad” meaning good, maybe “bad ass” is more fitting. With vocals that are hard as well as melodic and music that is tough without going overboard they put forth a great style. This band knows what they should do, knows how to do it and completes the scenario. Not by being so competent or calculating but by laying their hearts, blood and guts out on the line. I only wish I could do an inch of what they’ve done on this CD in my review. Now, that would be something.
Naw, I think I’ve missed by a mile.
(Slimedog)
I think the writer, and I use that term loosely, is incorrect in the lyrics to “Road Rage.” I believe it’s “Bring it on. Let’s Go.” Otherwise, i highly approve of the sentiments expressed in his review.