The News Review:
- X Serves Up Nostalgia for the Good ld Days of Punk and Poverty
- Punk rock: 30 years of subversion
- Any way you cut it hair band’s sound is not punk
- Readers recommend: short songs
- Fictional punk rock band documented
X Serves Up Nostalgia for the Good ld Days of Punk and Poverty
New York Times – Aug 18, 2006
It was a nostalgia trip no doubt. But it reaffirmed the value of some nostalgia trips. Skip to next paragraph… The records show that all four members pulled equal weight but Wednesday’s gig made it clear how the band boiled down to two remarkable teams. At front was the Doe-Cervenka harmony machine as well as their marriedness within the context of the music: all the references to “we” in the image-jumble lyrics. It’s been 20 years since they were married but for the purposes of the set they might still have been. There was still the gliding in and out of harmony between the different voices: Mr. Doe hitting his pitches squarely Ms. Cervenka indicating hers and then sliding off with an edge of complaint.
Punk rock: 30 years of subversion
BBC News – Aug 18, 2006
When punk rock emerged a depressed American public was still reeling from the Vietnam War and was living through a recession. “I felt punk rock had to come along because the rock scene had become so tame that bands like Billy Joel and Simon and Garfunkel were being called rock and roll when to me and other fans rock and roll meant this wild and rebellious music. RenewalMusic journalist Paul Trynka believes that by the early 70s rock and roll had lost the “basic primal energy” that defined acts like Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones. The rebirth of rock and roll was taking place underground in cities like Detroit with bands such as the MC5s Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop.
Any way you cut it hair band’s sound is not punk
St. Petersburg Times – Aug 18, 2006
Rock and pop I'll buy. But punk? This is a pop band. Anyone related to punk music the punk scene or anything that even resembles punk would eat glass before listening to Talk Dirty to Me or Nothin' But a Good Time. (Sure they might eat glass anyway. )And Americana? That's a form of alternative country popularized by such artists as Steve Earle and Whiskeytown. Every Rose Has Its Thorn people is not Americana… (Sure they might eat glass anyway. )And Americana? That's a form of alternative country popularized by such artists as Steve Earle and Whiskeytown. Every Rose Has Its Thorn people is not Americana. It's a fine karaoke number sure. And it's a perfectly fine song for your wedding reception provided the reception's at Wal-Mart. But it's not Americana.
Readers recommend: short songs
guardian.co.uk – Aug 18, 2006
Which 50s classic to choose? That’s All Right Mama? Rave n? How about Summertime Blues? It’s one second shy of two minutes. Teenage kicks 1959 vintage. Art-school punks Wire scorned needless repetition. “It was a process of elimination” explained singer Colin Newman. Their Pink Flag album contained 21 punk haikus. Field Day for the Sundays is the briefest. A brisk attack on life-wrecking tabloid exposés in 28 seconds.
Fictional punk rock band documented
Jam! Showbiz – Aug 18, 2006
The metaphors are obvious. Pepe-Fulton deftly exploit these possibilities leaving us as haunted by the ideas beneath the surface as we are intrigued by the offbeat story. BTTM LINE: While there is too much punk music the film works both for thrill seekers and for artsy types who want to delve into the emotional depth of the story. (This film is rated 14-A).