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Release Date: Original Release July 19, 2019
Format: Digital & Physical
Label: Mom’s Basement Records
Distro: Mom’s Cellar Dwellers
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Current Lineup: (Per Facebook)
Josh The Jerk Bass/Vocals
Matt Brown Guitar/vocals
Josh Howard Drums/Vocals
Favorite Tracks: Suzy Is A Bonehead, Atomic, Goodbye Sonia, JERK!, I Killed The Prom Queen, F*ck You Moron, I Hate Guys Like You, Just You, Mr Metalhead and Radical
Sounds Like: Ramones, Follow Ups, Teenage Bottle Rocket, Lillingtons, The Corps, and the Queers
Right now more than ever. We need new music that not only helps us cope with this new world we are living in, but music that makes us happy. It seems everyday we get more and more bad news. Last week my favorite local venue, 3 Kings announced they were closing for good. My heart sank as I knew this would be a blow to the community. I needed a boost of serotonin and decided to check out JERK!’s new reissue of “Panic Attack”.
The reissue is brought to us by Mom’s Basement/Mom’s Celler Dweller Records. Mom’s is quickly becoming one of my favorite independent record labels. We seem to love just about everything they are releasing. So what about JERK!’s “Panic Attack” record makes me happy? So let’s take a look in track by track fashion. The first track is “Invader Of My Mind”. This is a wicked introduction to the record, The drums are powerful, chords ripping, and seems to bring light with a Ramonescore sound. If something or someone is in your mind and you want it out. Put on this track.
My personal favorite track is next up and called, “Suzy Is A Bonehead” this seems to be a spin on“Suzy Is A Headbanger” by the Ramones. This track is lyrically addicting, and fun to sing along with. My second favorite track follows, “Atomic”. Both of these tracks are simple in beats and measures, but call out to the youth inside me. When listening I feel transported back into the 90’s when my worst fear was failing math.
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Another kick ass track is next with “Goodbye Sonia”. This is “Break Up Punk” at it’s finest. If there’s one thing most breakup songs leave out. Sometimes breaking up a relationship is indeed the best thing for everyone involved. So instead of crying along with Sarah Mclachlan’s, “Angel” put on this track and feel better about yourself. This track seems to have too many influences to mention.
“JERK!”, follows and is full of some awesome skatepunk. Everything goes into full on turbo mode. Personally I really wasn’t expecting hardcore since most of the tracks follow more of a Ramonescore sound. “In My Dreams” returns a melodic more feel. This is an optimistic love song with some fantastic bass and guitar lines. “I Killed The Prom Queen” is next and the theme is from the Halloween movie series. This track cracks me up, yet kicks ass. “I killed the prom queen, she was no Jaime Curtis, I stabbed her in the back”. The guitar lines are amazing.
Josh’s vocals remind me of the legendary Joe Queer on this one. “Hey Bud Let’s Party” follows and it reminds of the Ramones track, “Rock N Roll Highschool”. This track will be my theme when we can finally break out from quarantine land. “Freak” is next and comes in rolling hard. It almost has a rockabilly feel, while maintaining a true punk rock sound. Man I need to listen to more JERK!
“I Hate Guys Like You” is next and I love this track. Have you ever had a close friend screw you over or act like they are more “Scene” than you? The next song is “F#ck You Moron” and is the perfect remedy for blowing off some steam. The hardcore is strong with this track. This song is about being yourself in the eyes of the opposition.
“Just You” is a love song. This track makes me feel young again. I’d really like to see this track get played on Punk Tacos! “Mr. Metalhead” follows and is hilarious while it also shreds. Good luck getting this out of your head! We’ve come to our final track, “Radical”. When I was a teen I was known for my mix tapes. Yes I was a music nerd. Music was my gateway to expression. This love song should definitely end up on your “2020 Love Playlist”.
Overall, if you’re looking for something to help you out of this COVID hole, this record is the one. JERK!’s, “Panic Attack” is a romp of good old fashioned Ramonscore punk rock, saddled with some great hardcore skatepunk tracks. I highly recommend this record and will be adding it to the nominee list for Best Album of 2020! You can pick it up here, http://www.momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/
Track List (Per Bandcamp)
Invader Of My Mind
Suzy Is A Bonehead
Atomic
Goodbye Sonia
Jerk!
In My Dreams
I Killed The Prom Queen
Hey Bud, Let’s Party!
Freak
Hate Guys Like You
F#zck You Moron
Just You
Mr. Metalhead
Radical
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerkpunkrock
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerk_punkrock/
Bandcamp: https://jerkpunkrock.bandcamp.com/
CPRA Youtube Review Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAHReU2iGck3MJt3v-V9CRGp9iEdodsy6
Mom’s Basement Records/Mom’s Cellar Dwellers Info
Email – Momsbasementrecords@gmail.com
Webstore – www.momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com
Facebook – https://m.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords/
Instagram – @momsbasementrecords Twitter – @momsrecs