Album Review by Mark Bayross
After years languishing in the toilet-gig scene of Southern England, and with only their debut KICKING PIGEONS EP to their name, ska-punkers [spunge] have spent the last few years releasing a veritable salvo of records. THE STORY SO FAR is their third album, and, as the title track suggests, it finds the band in reflective, self-referential mood.
With Blink 182 and Sum 41 flavour of the month at the moment, now could be the time for these hard-working lads to break through, as the chart placing of the first single from the album, JUMP ON DEMAND, attests. Certainly, there’s nothing on here that wouldn’t go down a storm with the nu-punk kids.
Tracks like SKANKING SONG and GIVE IT TRY are practically band manifestos, while forthcoming single ROOTS is a friendly warning to their comrades – and possibly themselves – about making it big then forgetting their friends.
So, not exactly Nietzsche – or The Clash for that matter – but there are no ballads or Iron Maiden references here, just bouncy, upbeat tunes played with proficiency and, in the case of closer DOTTED LINE, a Hammond organ and a load of drum solos.
All good, clean fun.
