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22 December 2023
If our current president leaves behind one legacy it will be that he managed to piss off a lot of people. More than any president I can remember. This year I’ve seen more art and heard more music expressing a genuine distaste for the dude than ever before. Everyone’s unhappy with this guy. Especially Pennywise.
Of course, Pennywise has been unhappy about things for as long as I can remember. And they haven’t been unhappy, so much as really fucking pissed. Their new record, From the Ashes, continues in their tradition of verbal and musical disgust with the state of the world. Christ, the second track is called “God Bless the U.S.A.” and they aren’t exactly in a blessing mood, if you read what I'm writing.
The thing about Pennywise is that they have this habit of making albums that are song-for-song amazing and intense, and other albums that are just pretty good. This one’s pretty good. Between the bursts of blood-knuckled ferocity (“God Bless the U.S.A.”, “Salvation”, “Falling Down”) there are one or two-song stretches where my attention can’t help but wander. I think the reason is, they don’t really break from their typical sound and style at all until “This is Only a Test”, which took me totally by surprise. Kinda like that beautiful piano solo buried at the end of their 1997 record, Full Circle.
Listen to it, though. It’s the kinda punk record the little pop tarts on MTV don’t make. They’re saying something relevant, which is something punk used to do. Plus, “Holiday in the Sun” kicks my fucking ass.
GET SOME PENNYWISDOM HERE.
PURCHASE THIS OR SIMILAR ITEMS
Of course, Pennywise has been unhappy about things for as long as I can remember. And they haven’t been unhappy, so much as really fucking pissed. Their new record, From the Ashes, continues in their tradition of verbal and musical disgust with the state of the world. Christ, the second track is called “God Bless the U.S.A.” and they aren’t exactly in a blessing mood, if you read what I'm writing.
The thing about Pennywise is that they have this habit of making albums that are song-for-song amazing and intense, and other albums that are just pretty good. This one’s pretty good. Between the bursts of blood-knuckled ferocity (“God Bless the U.S.A.”, “Salvation”, “Falling Down”) there are one or two-song stretches where my attention can’t help but wander. I think the reason is, they don’t really break from their typical sound and style at all until “This is Only a Test”, which took me totally by surprise. Kinda like that beautiful piano solo buried at the end of their 1997 record, Full Circle.
Listen to it, though. It’s the kinda punk record the little pop tarts on MTV don’t make. They’re saying something relevant, which is something punk used to do. Plus, “Holiday in the Sun” kicks my fucking ass.
GET SOME PENNYWISDOM HERE.
PURCHASE THIS OR SIMILAR ITEMS
artid
1599
Old Image
6_1_pennywise.jpg
issue
vol 6 - issue 01 (sep 2003)
section
entertainmental