The Grubs – “Bad Taste”
The Grubs may be possibly my favorite band, since we started TNB ten years ago, that I’ve never seen play live.
And that may be, because to the best of my knowledge, they have not played in the Boston/Cambridge area during this time.
And it may be that being from Haverhill, MA that they prefer to play more towards that location.
Or it may just be that they have the good taste to avoid me at all costs.
Which means I not only think of them as a great band, but if the latter is the case, a very wise band as well.
This release is called “Bad Taste” as in- “I get a bad taste in my mouth every time I run into Slimedog.”
(Which is understandable, unless, of course that person is driving their car at the time.)
The title makes me think of the great song by The Cramps “Good Taste” and also, that band’s great album “Bad Music For Bad People.”
And listening to The Grubs new release’s mash up of punk/skate/garage and rock’n’roll leaves a very good taste in my mouth.
And quite possibly in all my body parts. (Except for my weenie!)
But before I get too personal here, let’s check out their songs:
“In this crusade let us not forget who we are,” so intones Ronald Reagan from a sample that might have been manipulated, “Drug abuse is a freedom that is ours. You are Americans.” So begins, “Doin’ Drugs In The Driveway” before some reckless, slashing guitars crash in like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre dude, out once again on a killing spree. This song is a great, skate punk/melodic punk romp.
“You’re gone, I’m runnin’ outta cuts. Got no time, it’s just never enough.” Which might be some serious contemplation on the existential meaning of time and existence, but possibly not. I don’t know, you see I’m not on drugs but I am on alcohol! But I’m coherent enough to know that this is a fun, fantastic tune full of frantic, frivolity that finishes with the word- fuck.
In the early eighties I only had A.M. radio in my car and I did listen to a country station, not so much for the music but they were the only other genre, besides punk, that had straight forward, realistic lyrics at the time.
And I remember hearing a song whose chorus went, “And if I tell you that I love you, consider me drunk.”
The Grubs song is called “I Only Like You When I’m Drunk,” which is why I thought of that. Their tune has equally poetic lyrics such as, “Your face looks like crap and you smell like ass…You think that I’m a rat but you’re an upper class brat…I think you’re full of crap, so please stop grabbin’ my ass.”
At first, I was gonna describe this song as The Ramones mixing it up with The Queers but instead I’ll go with Bob Dylan fronting The Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
But oh, wait! I guess that’s because I’m drunk so strike that! But drunk or sober this song is great and is my favorite song on this release.
Talk about Skate punk! “Skateland” skates out like a skater riding a ramp or as a surfer riding a wave. “Do you wanna blast round and round? Out of control, hit the ground. Black and blue can’t hear the sound. Soul is dyin’ in this small town.”
This song is an excellent, energetic, euphoric tune.
“Bad Taste” concerns a bad break up. “‘Cuz it ain’t punk rock until you’re a fucking trend. You analyzed, you criticized, you made me wanna die…I got a bad, bad taste.” I must say there’s some neat, abrasive lead guitar going on here. And I must say, I eagerly devoured every morsel of this scrumptious release that met my high, gourmet expectations only leaving me hungering for more!
I started liking music at an early age and the reason I first liked it was because it was fun.
And though I like a wide spectrum of music styles and genres, some with heavy, intense feelings- I never forget that the reason I first became interested in music was because it was fun.
I’m sure I listen to fifties rock’n’roll more than any other style of music, including punk.
Is it the best music? Probably not, but it’s certainly the most fun for me.
And even though this will probably not be my favorite release of the year, I know it will possibly be the one that is the most fun I’ve reviewed. That will certainly land in my top picks at the end of the year.
But what do I know? I might have bad taste!
When people ask me what type of music I like? I usually say “bad.” And they ask, “Why do you like bad music?”
I say, it’s bad because it’s too loud and played too fast, sometimes off the beat. The music often sounds like a grinding, dentist drill.
The vocals are off pitch and abrasive. The lyrics are negative, anti-society, anti-social, anti-authority with vulgar and profane words.
That sounds like my definition of punk. And yes, I do love it.
I leave out, in my explanation, the parts about it’s honesty, it’s passion, it’s uncompromising art. It’s excitement, it’s wildness and especially, it’s fun!
That sounds like my definition of The Grubs latest release.
(Slimedog)
