light up
‘It’s about time there’s a band out there with some balls. It’s reassuring to see someone stray from the trend and go the proven method of straight-up ass-kicking music. Just A Fire, your music is much anticipated and much welcomed.
Yes, Just A Fire. They’re the most recent musical endeavor that features members of Sweep the Leg Johnny, Hoover, Abilene as well as the long lineage of other bands that have spawned from artists Chris Daly and Fred Erskine.
This has got hints of both mid-’90s D.C. core and Asian Man Records in it. It’s part punk but also sways a bit towards that Police-influenced reggae side like many Asian Man bands do. Whatever, reggae can be cool – especially when it’s infused with screechy vocals and hard guitar rhythms. Conveniently, “Light Up” does that. What luck!
A handful of songs, like the catchy “Snake In That Bush,” – yes, it’s safe to assume that Bush is a reference to G.W., seeing as how the band is rooted in politics – sound directly ripped off of “Regatta de Blanc.” Fortunately, the band does not draw any of its influences from Sting’s solo work.
As you may already have guessed, Just A Fire sounds nothing like June of 44, Hoover, Sweep the Leg Johnny or Abilene. It’s a completely new route that these musicians are traversing together. Sure, the influences of those bands will always stay with them but that link is a bit obscure here. In a sense, this is something more timeless; something that is difficult to assign to a particular decade or scene. As a result, it is equally difficult to say who this album is for. It’s certainly not something intended to entertain adamant Republicans and strong supporters of the man we’ve sort of chosen to represent our country. Anyone else is fair game.
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