Degenerates Of Punk – “D.O.P.”
I reviewed a release by Degenerate Jim recently, the work of Jimmy West Jr., who lives in Western Mass along with Marko Martin, of the now deceased Marko & The Bruisers and Jay Prozac of The Prozacs.
All of whom, that I just mentioned, produce some of the best stuff that enters my ears. And you are well to believe that, I feel a mighty, heap batch of great music comes from these here Western Mass parts.
And even though they might ride horses and wear cowboy hats, these farmland folks fully embrace and enhance and exalt the pure, true punk essence.
Hell, Degenerate Jim, a name after my own heart- ’cause whatever they call me, be it Slimedog, Jim or whatever- the most common adjective is nearly always degenerate, as a matter of fact.
Degenerate Jim produced one of my favorite releases this year and this is his band, and their release was actually available many months preceding his solo work, though I somehow missed it.
Maybe I was distracted by a solar eclipse, or falling stars, or a blackout drunk or my fly or shoelace being undone? Anyways, I missed it. I dropped the ball. I dropped a twenty pound weight upon my balls, intentionally, and someone asked why I did this? I told them- I was just busting balls.
But now that I’ve changed my degenerate ways and fully embraced the holy teachings of Christ. Revoked my given name of Slimedog, legally changing my name to Cassandra, not that I feel I’m actually a woman, I just like how that name rolls off my tongue.
I walk with the knowledge that there are things beyond my control, and that first and foremost, that may well be my bowels.
I now walk in the light of spiritual awareness or at least, I look both ways before I cross the road.
Let’s regenerate from all this nonsense and sample these tunes:
Beginning with guttural, gargling on broken glass Oi/hardcore vocals skateboarding across a Ramones like skate park splurge of sounds and rhythm, “Am I Insane,” also contains some dissonant guitar sparks that shoot out- producing exciting, eardrum ecstasy. I may well be, actually insane. In fact, I’m almost sure of it. But I’m not nearly, clearly crazy enough to not realize, that this is a song that I can’t be more crazy and koo-koo about.
“Coming Out Swinging” comes out like a long, lost classic cut of early British punk with it’s moderate rhythm and brash call and response vocals along with a soaring, succinctly guitar lick slicing in. The low, growl-y vocals are eventually met with some equally intense vocals in a higher register. This cut sounds and tastes like a prime cut slice of filet mignon and ends with the lyric “Now, you’ve been cut.”
“Unclean & Quarantined” roars out full of energy, anger and urgency. “I’m unclean in quarantine. My mental health has abandoned me.” I’ve realized that a lot of young people in the punk scene have trouble with social anxiety and the fact that we have to have “social distancing” is almost a welcome relief for some. “I guess there’s a small part of me that laughs at life’s irony. Who would’ve thought that the world would end up like me?” I’m a friendly guy but can’t deny that what is totally considered fine and accepted in society disgusts me. But I fully embrace such songs so relevant and musically great as this tune.
With a great, echoing, treble guitar lick, “Dirty Ol’ Dublin,” breaks out with such a Pogues-like feeling, that it makes me google the title to make sure it’s not a cover song. “Six hour ride between shots and sleep. I lost my wallet and any pride in me…Hopped on a bus not knowing where we’re going. I fought the shakes and sweats the next morning. Not the type to admit defeat.” I’m hoping this is a true story, I imagine it most likely is. But I know for sure, that this is a great tune with a tricky, time change thrown in. But the emotions and observations aren’t that complicated, just poignant and affecting and true.
I am a degenerate. I am perverse. I’m an unwelcomed, undesired member of society.
That’s actually all true, and all fine by me and I accept that. I mean no harm to anyone unless it might be, solely directed to myself.
But I’ve never fit in with life, with society, and though I’ve tried a few times to do so, it’s always ended up unsuccessfully.
But then I feel a lot of folks reading these lines probably have experienced the same, so I know I’m nothing special.
I won’t try again, I promise. I’ll just live out my life standing on the sidelines, the outskirts of society, looking in- Jotting down words with my pen and that’s fine with me.
But hearing music like this makes up for all the faults and troubles of life. When music like this is so true and raw and real, it shows that life is not that wrong, not so bad, if something so right like this can exist in it.
And as the old soul song goes, not exactly, but something like this-
“If loving this is wrong, then I don’t wanna be right.”
And you may not love life. Hey, that just makes you a bright human being! But when you love music, such as this, then it makes you want to stick it out and absorb the pain.
(Slimedog)
Love it!
