Cheap Buzz – “EP”
I’m drinking Bud Light cans and shots of Jagermeister while writing this review, I mean, while writing every review.
And I’m not sure if that really qualifies as a cheap buzz?
Maybe, more like ‘Gansettes and some Cossack vodka nips from the local packy would be more concise. Better yet, huffing some aerosol spray cans along with hits of skunk weed.
But I’ll stick with my usual, barkeeper please. And remember, a cheap buzz is not too bad. When all of you, eventually, become rich and famous and
can well afford the expensive drink and drug lifestyle- your days of enjoying your lifestyle is often cut short.
Much like what dangles below my abdomen.
Ah, but good things come in small packages, or so they say, but it’s funny- none of the ladies I’ve known have felt that way.
But what I say is- It’s not always easy to make good punk rock.
To kill it!- Yeah, that’s easy. Over slick production, over slick playing, precision over passion, too much aggression and too little energy. But this
band avoids all these traps, adeptly.
Cheap Buzz is a great, new punk band from Maine, joining others like Uncle Spudd, No Good, Phallus Uber Alles and USA Waste from up there.
Hey look!- Brett Threat from USA Waste plays bass and sings in this band.
These folks touch on elements of punk, hardcore, Oi and crust in their style and deliver a sound that is loose and unpolished, but rings true with it’s
promise of passion, power and truth.
Let’s listen and see if they prove me right:
With a low, eighth-note, rumbling bass line and some, subtle drum accents “Doom Room” creates suspense and draws attention like a stick of dynamite that’s
just been lit. Soon a male vocals swoops, echo-ing in while a high-pitched, fearlessly, intense female vocal answers in riot-grrl style as the guitar grinds
out terrifying chords along. The lo-fi feel, the engaging emotion of the vocals all scream out “punk” to me. Punk of the original stream, the ’77 kind, along
with a current twist- of lemon. Which sounds great to me and tastes great along with my Cossack vodka! As this song does, as well- satisfying and
death defying delectable punk!
“Metaphorically Speaking” starts out with a rhythmic introduction that sounds like a drunk stumbling up a flight of stairs. That soon accelerates into
a warp speed hardcore overdrive. The rhythm changes during this song, but the intensity, excitement and fun feeling never falters. In fact, it increases
in overabundance. Creating, what financial analysts agree with me, is a bumper crop of punk. I know the song lyrics are metaphorically speaking and I
believe it’s talking about sex. But unlike that disturbing, disgusting, disgraceful activity this tune is really wonderful.
With a cheap, buzzing, mosquito like guitar and a rushing, driving drum rhythm- “DHS” leaps into the fray with a back and forth, female and male vocals that,
at first, sounds like a wife nagging her husband while the male vocals weekly retorts. Actually, the male vocal is backing her up with the lyrics
“fuckin’ bullshit” which I believe, is taken from a well-known Shakespearean play. There’s an almost headbanging breakdown along with the really great female
vocals, of Joanne Buldoc, leading this great tune to finish, and to Finnish this awesome EP out.
Well, I found some insecticide cans in the garage along with a dirty, white cloth and a half-used tube of glue. I’m chuggin’ Mad Dog wine while smoking
Angel Dust and Andy just gave me a little glass bottle with the words “Rush” upon it. He says he bought in the Combat Zone in Boston back in ’74 and it
appears to give an amyl nitrate/noxious oxide kind of high.
But I must admit, I’m not sure I’m doing so well. The linoleum in my kitchen is now arguing with me about sports while faces of demons keep leaping
out at me around corners. The walls are dripping with melted, Velveeta cheese and coincidently, that cheese seems to be dripping out or every orifice
of my body that I have while I write this.
But never mind all that cheesy stuff! Cheap Buzz is a great new band from the wilds of Maine. They may have a small scene there but it seems to be thriving
with a lot of really potent bands, to boot!
And I listened once again to this recording, after my faculties were cleansed. And have come to this conclusion- this is one of the best releases I’ve
reviewed this year.
So much so I believe, I’ll be inviting them to play TNB’s next Xmas Show. And forget the pizza, this year we’ll be passing out bottles of Rush out at the
door!
Or maybe not. It seems their expiration date has expired- along with mine.
But with this Cheap Buzz I don’t think that should matter and I don’t think you can get anything better.
(Slimedog)
