Is Undissassembled really a reincarnation of the Young Ones? The reason I pose this question is their new album, “So Assembled”?” reeks of tongue in cheek humor, hormonal rage, and all sorts of questions about life itself. It’s also a rad throwback to punk’s simpler times. The lyrics are simple, the beat fast. There’s no sad bois on this record. Some of my favorite tracks are, “Bread”, “Mama’s Skinhead”, “I’m Not Joe Nazi”, “Out Of Beer”, “In The Gutter” and “I’m Rowed Out”.
When I say Undissassembled is definitely one of Denver’s best and upcoming bands to watch. Do it, so you can say you saw them before everybody else. Or wait for your grandma to buy you a copy of their CD. “So Assembled?” is getting my nomination for the best Colorado release of 2022.
Recorded by Danny Tuggle and Mixed by Russell Artega. Mastered by Vincent Coté. Artwork and layout by Sterio Design.
Record Label – Thousand Islands Records
Favorite Tracks: Running Out Of Time, Demons, Cool Kids Club, Frolic In The Darkness, Please Don’t Crash and Change The Frequency
Sounds Like: Lagwagon, NOFX, The Shell Corporation, These Roving Years, The Pollution, Descendents, No Use For A Name, Suicidal Tendencies, and Authority Zero
Apparently Facebook is down and the entire world has gone mad. It’s likely you won’t even see this review until it comes back. I guess I’m out of the Cool Kids Club until Facebook comes back online. So no matter how it is that you arrived at this post. Let’s talk about San Francisco based punks, United Defiance and their new record via Thousand Islands Records, “Change The Frequency”. We loved their last record from 2018, “Safe At Home”
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I remember when the world locked down for Covid. I remember asking the question, “Where are we going as a civilization? Can we focus more now on saving the environment? Can we focus on human rights? Can we spend more time with our loved ones and not with the clock? The answer is best summed by the first track on the record, “Running Out Of Time”. This skate punk like track has some killer guitar riffs, and a very catchy chorus. We as a people are running out of time. Is it too late to change course?
The next track, “Daemons’ deals with battling addiction. We all face our addictions on a daily basis. It may be alcohol, food, porn, whatever it’s a personal battle and you versus your demons. The intro to this track is an extreme hook for the listener. It crosses that fine line between metal and punk rock. “Cool Kids Club” is up next and holy crap is this an awesome track!
I, like many other people, was singled out at a young age for being different. I remember in elementary school there was a “Cool kids Club”. They were all friends, in sports, or neighborhood friends. Since my family lived in a different part of town. I was bussed in from about 7 miles out. So I was labeled as being, “From a different hood”, “Probably a homo”, “Why did he color his hair? Is he really a girl?”, “Why does he listen to trash music?”
“Welcome to the cool kids club
did you read the sign
you have to be this punk rock to ride this fucking ride
hey there where you going kid and what’s your worthy cause
the new punk rock thing to do is point out all your flaws”
I really wanted to be in that club. Not because I liked those kids, but I thought it would stop the bullying. It was until I hit high school that found myself. I stopped caring what others thought and cared more about my own PMA. Punk rock saved my life. Now this track deals with the “Gatekeeping Of Punk Rock”. Yeah it sucks that there are even bullies in the punk scene. “You don’t have enough studs”, “You have too many studs”, “You like (insert band here)”. It’s time to move away from this crap!
Clinton’s vocals shine on this track. The listener can hear the deep emotional connection he shares with this song. I’m telling you now. Don’t be surprised when “Cool Kids Club” lands on the next big punk rock playlist. “Frolic In The Darkness” is up next. It’s an energetic borderline hardcore rager! The little ska punk riff is badass! I’ll add this to my, “All My Favorite Songs Are Less Than 2 Minutes Playlist”.
“Please Don’t Crash” follows up and sounds heavily influenced by Suicidal Tendencies. This is a deep track where the writer is questioning so many past decisions as we all do sometimes. The drums and vocals are the stars of this track. “Empty Advice” is next on the track list. It feels like it has more of a poppy 90’s punk sound. It’s a nice and needed tempo change. It’s also about trying to remain positive no matter what! Don’t forget the Punk Rock Saves Lives motto,
“P-ositivity
U-nity
N-urture
K-indness”.
“Taps” comes in with a raging fire! It’s fast, deep bass lines, and kills it. “Show The World’, is up next. How many times have you rolled out of bed and rolled your eyes? I know I have done it many times, without realizing I was negatively hindering my life and my entire day to come. So “It’s time to rise up and show the world what you’ve got”! So let’s move onto another banger, “Sing With Me’.
Oh and the video above is absolutely hilarious! This song brings out that euphoric feeling you get when attending a live show. That feeling you feel when you and the crowd sing along with the band. For me it’s one of the best feelings in the world. “All aboard all aboard this broken sinking ship, this ship that’s heading straight to hell, there’ll always be a fee, but together we are free so grab a drink and sing along with me”.
Drum and bass take over the next track on, “Change The Frequency”. The guitar hooks and change ups breathe a new life into this song. You’ll be jamming along with this one in no time! “Spy Vs Spy” is what happens when a relationship crashes and burns. Sides are drawn, friends are lost, and an all out war may be on the horizon. This song is killer. The pit will be nuts on this track!
“My Resignation”, is amazing. It talks about those who left us in the dark and those who stayed there for us. It gave me a sense of personal empowerment and hope. The last track on the record is a kickass cover of Twisted Sister’s, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and features Jason DeVore from Authority Zero! This is more of a fun tongue in cheek version, but I think I like it better than the original.
In closing let me say one more thing. United Defiance’s, “Change The Frequency” is by far not only their best album, but by far one of the best punk rock releases of 2021. You can pick it up here via Thousand Islands Records, https://thousandislandsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/change-the-frequency.
These dudes will give you a hug and then destroy your eardrums.
photo credit / AnarchoPunk
Record Thieves are a bunch of incredibly talented goofballs with a killer fresh release and a new label, Thousand Islands records. After listening to the album, Wasting Time, about 1700 times I felt somewhat prepared to launch into a video interview. I was not prepared for the hilarity that ensued.
Amongst other tangents we explore a wild link twixt X-Men and the Olsen twins and a confusing moment when a baguette becomes mistaken for a plastic gem, followed by the music video for Work It Out.
Oh yeah, there’s a story arc AND Carole King! But everyone thinks she’s someone else. It’s a blast.
CPRA is so beyond grateful to Record Thieves for allowing us to film and pester them with questions, thanks guys!
Favorite Tracks: About A Punk (This track is from the album, “BUFO” and kicks ass)
Sounds Like: Op Ivy, Abolitionist, Classics Of Love, Suicide Machines, Mustard Plug, and Street Light Manifesto
Jerkswitch is back again the #CPRAMUSICNEWS headlines with a new video from their track, ‘About A Punk’. This writer is so excited to see new and exciting things from Jerkswitch. I voted their last album, “BUFO” as my favorite release from 2019. The band formerly know as The Skudfux is back together again. They have also hinted via Facebook they are going into the studio!
Denver’s The Frickashinas have released their first new single, “You Seem Fine”. The track was produced by 10 Ft Pole’s Scott Hallquist. This skatepunk laden track will leave you wanting more. Personally I’m hoping for a new EP or album from the band in 2021. Don’t forget to attend the online release party for “”Are we not doing phrasing anymore?” on 12/29/2020 here, https://www.facebook.com/events/421189228919439/.
Favorite Tracks:Your Story, Broken Record, Here We Go Again, Silent Screams, Bitter, Panic, Not Okay, and Burnout
Sounds Like: Save Ferris, Last Reel Hero, No Doubt, Dance hall Crashers, People Corrupting People, Band Manners, Sorry Sweetheart, The Interrupters, and The Transplants
Let’s hop in the way back machine kids. All The way back to 2018. CPRA started our quest to bring you the best music and news reviews for Colorado. We quickly surpassed our Colorado goal and started looking internationally. By pure happenstance I happened to come across skapunks, Millie Manders & The Shutup. Their first EP release, “Shutup”, blew me away. You can read that review here, https://coloradopunkrockarmy.com/2018/10/12/millie-manders-the-shutup-shutup-ep/.
Since April 2020, we’ve been featuring Millie Manders & The Shutup through CPRA TV on youtube with their new videos for “Your Story” and “Silent Screams”. So today it’s my pleasure to review their new album, “Telling Truths And Breaking Ties”. Let’s start out this review with the first track, ‘Your Story”. I LOVE this song. Millie’s heartfelt and powerful vocals, blazing horns, incredible bass and guitar, and the drums will have you dancing right along.
This track reminds me what it feels like to be wanted by someone who doesn’t love you back. We’ve all been there going through hoops just to play a part in their story. The next track up is “Broken Record’. This one goes out to all those people who sound like broken records. “I’m sorry, I’ll never hurt you again”. We all know that’s bullshit, but somehow manage to let them creep back in. Millie’s vocal range on this song is nuts!
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The next song is “Here We Go Again (Black Dog”. The chorus will have you singing along from the start. The bass thumps deep, while the guitar and sax lend a friendly hand. The track gets gritty and I love it. Before we go onto the next song, I feel it’s important to discuss mental health. This year has been extra hard on all of us and especially those with mental health challenges.
If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide please call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. We don’t want to lose anyone! Let’s get back to the next kickass song, “Silent Screams”. This one is for all of us whomever felt no one could hear our silent screams. Mander’s voice speaks to my inner soul. The lyrical writing on this song is remarkable, while each instrument plays an equally important part.
“Bitter” is the next track and it’s angry. I really didn’t expect this one coming; but I absolutely love the dark bass lines, the guttural almost sinister like vocals, and tribal drums. I think I also hear a theremin in there which was definitely unexpected. Shout out to People Corrupting People for introducing me to the crazy sound of the theremin.
“Poor Man’s Show” follows up with a more old school Two Tone sound. It speaks of the poor suffering while the rich stay nice and warm. This track may be referring to England, yet I feel it relates to the entire world. Here in the states we have so many people laid off and suffering yet our government can’t agree on any sort of stimulus to help us out. Let’s get dark and nasty next with “Panic”. “Panic” speaks on climate change and the dangers of staying on the course we have. Here in Colorado we have historic fires that have been burning for 3 months!
After listening to tracks like “Bitter” and “Panic” it’s hard to imagine going back to a softer tone yet they do just that with “Glitter Mix”. At first listen I thought this might be Adele and actually had to check my phone. This track shows the amazing talent the band holds and Mander’s voice seems to reach new heights. “Not Okay” speeds the tone back up and the skapunk sound fully returns. Here’s yet another track that will make you dance. Were all going bored out of our minds with quarantine so put on this song and make your own dance party. I love the lyrics on this track.
||: I’m not ok I don’t see myself being that way I haven’t been for years But I’ve got masks made up to cover up my tears :|| I’m not ok…”
The last and final track is up next with a great upbeat tempo, “Burnout”. Did you ever think about the bands bringing you music? Many of them struggle to bring you the music. They are working jobs just like you and me and still manage to hit the road. They manage to produce new music as often as they can afford it. That’s why CPRA really pushes underground bands. We may occasionally write on mainstream music, but let’s face it. Those bands already have a massive following. This track is badass!
In closing, Millie Manders & The Shutup’s, “Telling Truth And Breaking Ties”, is an absolute lyrical and instrumental masterpiece. This record is now a nominee for my best album of 2020! I can only see the number of plays on Spotify and other media distributors growing and growing. It’s the perfect gift for the teen you’re trying to get into punk rock. You can check it out here, https://milliemanders.bandcamp.com/album/telling-truths-breaking-ties.
Mike Waterhouse Jim Wilcox Allen White Fred Bear Chad Gilbert
Favorite Tracks: Sacrifice
Sounds Like: TBR, Nofx, Sunset Silhouette, Descendants, MxPx, The Unindicted Co-Conspirators, Authority Zero, All Out Helter, and Boldtype
One of our favorite small labels, Thousand Islands Records, just got a little bigger with their addition of Denver’s new punk rock supergroup, Record Thieves. The Record Thieves just released their newest single, “Sacrifice” a few days back. I personally cannot wait for their debut album, ‘Wasting Time’ out November 24, 2020.
I love the guitar solos, drums, vocals, in fact everything about this track hits home. By listening and not knowing one may think the Record Thieves were a 90’s Fat Wreck band. So be sure to download this now through your preferred format,https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/recordthieves/sacrifice. I’m hoping there will be a vinyl release!
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Dan Achin (Drums), Mike Ruggiero (Bass), Bob Meder (Vocals), Steve O’Brien (Guitar), Steve Diaz (Guitar) and Louis Ramsey (Guitar).
Favorite Tracks: Culture Vulture, Not the One, Positivity Anthem
Sounds Like: Strung Out, Protected Left, Early Cro-Mags, Chew Thru, CHASER, and PULLEY
Photo by Joel Gelin
It’s been a year since we checked out Corporate Citizen’s last release ‘A Brief Moment Of Sanity’. I still listen to this record on a fairly regular basis. So to my excitement and pleasure the band dropped a new EP back on 5/20/2020, ‘Six Minute Meeting’. If there’s anything we need now more than ever is more hardcore punk rock! This EP is only 3 tracks, yet full of anger, energy, and everything you need for a quick skate sesh.
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The EP starts out with “Culture Vulture”. The intro bass line has got me hooked. The little metal riffs and insane drum work is brillant. It speaks of the dangers of materialism and us all becoming Corporate Citizens, just like Joe Strummer warned us all about. The next track, “Not the One” is by far my personal favorite on the EP. While retaining a hardcore edge it slows, not by much, to the melodic side. Check out the video below!
The last track is “Positivity Anthem”. I can’t stress how important the message in this track is. We MUST especially during this ongoing pandemic encourage and promote positivity towards one another. See an article that’s really sad on Facebook? Don’t share it. I know it’s hard. We all want to feel a part of something right now since we can’t go to shows. This track is not only unexpected, but reminds me to share positivity more and negativity less.
Overall, Corporate Citizen’s, ‘Six Minute Meeting’, is 3 tracks that will leave you begging for more. One can only hope these tracks will be added to a full album release sometime in the near future. This EP also reminds that punk rock, even though often political in nature, can still provide messages of hope and love. I strongly suggest you pick this one up here, https://corporatecitizensd.bandcamp.com/album/six-minute-meeting
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Mike LeDonne (vocals), Jesse Stopnitzky (bass/vocals), Bill Hockmuth (guitar) and Davey Guy (drums
Sounds Like: Good Riddance, Sick Of It All, Strung Out, JFA, Bigwig, and The Faction
Legendary socal skatepunks Chaser have announced a new 7” ‘Look Alive’ to be released on 9/4/2020 with 100% of the profits going to Equal Justice Initiative, Educational First Steps, Crisis Aid International, and Surfrider Foundation. As COVID continues to rage across the world the band hopes they can help keep up the good fight.
“Our proceeds from the record will be donated to 4 carefully handpicked charitable organizations: Equal Justice Initiative, Educational First Steps, Crisis Aid International, and Surfrider Foundation. 2020 has been a year like no other. In the face of such unprecedented crises, one’s impact feels further minimized. However, if we have learned anything from these experiences, it is that we are all in this together and have a responsibility to do our part. At the minimum, manage what we can control.”
After their 2018 amazing album, ‘Sound The Sirens’, the band continues on 20 years later with main stage invitations and a desire to give back to the community. Be sure to stay tuned for that pre-order link!
***We are currently running very behind on reviews and doing our best to catch up to the demand. If you donate your review will be pushed to the top***
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