This album starts off with “A Wall”, and right off the bat I love the sense of urgency to this track. All of the usual elements that usually make Downtown Boys’ music just so lovable are on display here, from the scratchy production to the almost slight Sonic Youth vibe to all of this. While the music of Downtown Boys is certainly wild and Punk at heart, they’ve always blended in elements of Alternative and Indie Rock as well, and here is no different. “A Wall” has these brilliant, impassioned vocal performances that have become so standard in the music of Downtown Boys, and I love how the saxophone sort of flutters outside the track for almost the entire track. Now, as far as a protest song goes, I actually really dig “A Wall”, mostly because of just how creative and well written it is. Overall, this is one memorable intro. Then we have “I’m Enough (I Want More)”, and I continue to go absolutely nuts for just how wild Victoria Ruiz’s performances are. She seems to almost constantly screaming her life out no matter what the song topics are. I love some of the straight up Classic Punk Rock elements to this, mostly due to the band’s focus on Guitar and their “nothing fancy” sound. It’s just such a simple formula, but it works great for Downtown Boys. Instrumentally though, I can’t help but feel like this one is holding back a little. But still, it’s a fine tune. On the other hand, “Somos Chulas (No Somos Pendejas)” from start to finish is absolutely ridiculous. I love the way Victoria Ruiz constantly sounds like she’s on a mission. To be honest, it’s something about her singing in Spanish makes her come off even more passionate than usual. “Somos Chulas (No Somos Pendejas)” is absolutely killer. It’s much more intense instrumentally, making for much more of a Punk track and not just an upbeat Indie jam of sorts. So hell yes, this works for Downtown boys, it’s the sound I fell in love with, to begin with. Then we have “Promissory Note”, and I love how as this album continues on it just gets heavier and more aggressive. To be honest, though, this one really doesn’t hit me as hard, for a few reasons. It’s not a bad track at all, but for some reason, I feel like the sort of Off-Kilter riff on this one doesn’t transfer well to the bands sound. And while I do love some of the lyrics here, sadly Victoria’s performance is her most subdued. Plus, I feel like while some of the earlier tracks here had a slight Classic edge to them, this is a little too much down that road. So much so, that “Promissory Note” almost sounds like a cover.
Up next is “Because You”, and to be honest, I had no idea what to think of this. Right from this intro, we see Downtown Boys going for a much drearier and slower atmosphere. But it’s something that, to be honest, we haven’t really heard from them yet. I will give the band this though, it’s certainly ear grabbing. Also, I love the much more prominent Saxophone parts on this one. But while I wasn’t too sure on what to make of “Because You” from its intro, when it picks up, I love the absolutely sludgy to this. As far as a heavy track goes, this is easily the heaviest and dirtiest thing we’ve heard yet. It may not be the most intense track, but that bass line is just so catchy. Not to mention, those group vocals are a seriously nice touch. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind hearing more tracks like this in the future. Then we have “Violent Complicity”, with another slower intro that shows that Downtown Boys are seriously taking their time with a lot of tracks here. And that alone is commendable. But it’s when this one picks up that things get seriously fantastic. I love the seemingly wailing Sax here, as well as that very simple yet determined riff. Overall, tracks like “Violent Complicity” on here are just so true to the Punk formula overall. Then we have Victoria Ruiz’s performance here, which is once again absolutely stunning. I mean, she constantly sounds like she singing from the heart, and totally invested in everything she touches. By the time we get to “It Can’t Wait”, it’s clear that Downtown Boys know how to write some serious riffs. Not only are these Guys and Gals so fantastic at bringing tracks that are important lyrically, they can make them pretty ear grabbing too. I absolutely love the instrumental on this one, as the sax and guitars buildup almost completely to the chorus, an art that just so many bands have lost over the years. Plus, instrumentally this might just be the most intense track we’ve heard here so far, with some of these breakdowns being absolutely ridiculous. For a short blast of power, “It Can’t Wait” rules. Sadly though, Downtown Boys do seem to lose their fire a little towards the end of the album With “Tonta”, all of the factors that make their music what it is are all here. Victoria once again sounds completely unhinged, and instrumentally this is easily one of the wildest tracks here. But I feel like Downtown Boys are at their best when they’re working as a unit, and “Tonta” doesn’t sound like that at all. I feel like with this one, they tried to focus completely on making this super intense. And while it is intense and wild, nothing else comes to fruition, and it ends up being way too short to be anything special.
Sadly, “Heroes (Interlude) really doesn’t do anything for me at all. I feel like up to this point, they’ve done such a good job of making this a lyrical “Must Listen”album. But mostly because they’ve been able to get their messages across creatively. But this short little speech really doesn’t do anything for me. On the other hand, “Lips That Bite” is the absolute JAM. As a stand alone single, one to recognize Downtown Boy as this track is unreal. I love the determined instrumentals, as well as that synth line that I honestly would have loved to hear more of. Everything about “Lips That Bite” is just so well performed. Victoria Ruiz’s vocals while still clearly off the all and wild, have such a purpose to it. Not to mention, I love her attitude on this track. It actually has just the right amount of attitude to be honest, just enough that it doesn’t get in the way of writing a catchy tune. “Lips That Bite” is BRILLIANT. But then we get tracks like “Clara Rancia”, which honestly has me scratching my head. I do love hearing Downtown Boys so raw and aggressive. But I feel like as far as structure goes, this track is all over the place. But I do like a LOT of the wild performances, and I once again really think that Saxophone is a great touch. But “Clara Rancia” just sort of falls short overall, especially when all of the other tracks here are so well put together. This album wraps up with “Bulletproof (Outro). Once again, I think it’s a great message and all. But I feel like some of their less obvious and cleverly written political statements just come off so much more powerful, but maybe that’s just me.
Up next is “Because You”, and to be honest, I had no idea what to think of this. Right from this intro, we see Downtown Boys going for a much drearier and slower atmosphere. But it’s something that, to be honest, we haven’t really heard from them yet. I will give the band this though, it’s certainly ear grabbing. Also, I love the much more prominent Saxophone parts on this one. But while I wasn’t too sure on what to make of “Because You” from its intro, when it picks up, I love the absolutely sludgy to this. As far as a heavy track goes, this is easily the heaviest and dirtiest thing we’ve heard yet. It may not be the most intense track, but that bass line is just so catchy. Not to mention, those group vocals are a seriously nice touch. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind hearing more tracks like this in the future. Then we have “Violent Complicity”, with another slower intro that shows that Downtown Boys are seriously taking their time with a lot of tracks here. And that alone is commendable. But it’s when this one picks up that things get seriously fantastic. I love the seemingly wailing Sax here, as well as that very simple yet determined riff. Overall, tracks like “Violent Complicity” on here are just so true to the Punk formula overall. Then we have Victoria Ruiz’s performance here, which is once again absolutely stunning. I mean, she constantly sounds like she singing from the heart, and totally invested in everything she touches. By the time we get to “It Can’t Wait”, it’s clear that Downtown Boys know how to write some serious riffs. Not only are these Guys and Gals so fantastic at bringing tracks that are important lyrically, they can make them pretty ear grabbing too. I absolutely love the instrumental on this one, as the sax and guitars buildup almost completely to the chorus, an art that just so many bands have lost over the years. Plus, instrumentally this might just be the most intense track we’ve heard here so far, with some of these breakdowns being absolutely ridiculous. For a short blast of power, “It Can’t Wait” rules. Sadly though, Downtown Boys do seem to lose their fire a little towards the end of the album With “Tonta”, all of the factors that make their music what it is are all here. Victoria once again sounds completely unhinged, and instrumentally this is easily one of the wildest tracks here. But I feel like Downtown Boys are at their best when they’re working as a unit, and “Tonta” doesn’t sound like that at all. I feel like with this one, they tried to focus completely on making this super intense. And while it is intense and wild, nothing else comes to fruition, and it ends up being way too short to be anything special.
Sadly, “Heroes (Interlude) really doesn’t do anything for me at all. I feel like up to this point, they’ve done such a good job of making this a lyrical “Must Listen”album. But mostly because they’ve been able to get their messages across creatively. But this short little speech really doesn’t do anything for me. On the other hand, “Lips That Bite” is the absolute JAM. As a stand alone single, one to recognize Downtown Boy as this track is unreal. I love the determined instrumentals, as well as that synth line that I honestly would have loved to hear more of. Everything about “Lips That Bite” is just so well performed. Victoria Ruiz’s vocals while still clearly off the all and wild, have such a purpose to it. Not to mention, I love her attitude on this track. It actually has just the right amount of attitude to be honest, just enough that it doesn’t get in the way of writing a catchy tune. “Lips That Bite” is BRILLIANT. But then we get tracks like “Clara Rancia”, which honestly has me scratching my head. I do love hearing Downtown Boys so raw and aggressive. But I feel like as far as structure goes, this track is all over the place. But I do like a LOT of the wild performances, and I once again really think that Saxophone is a great touch. But “Clara Rancia” just sort of falls short overall, especially when all of the other tracks here are so well put together. This album wraps up with “Bulletproof (Outro). Once again, I think it’s a great message and all. But I feel like some of their less obvious and cleverly written political statements just come off so much more powerful, but maybe that’s just me.
Rating: 7.4/10
Give A Listen To: “A Wall”, “Somos Chulas (No Somos Pendejas)”, “Because You”, “Lips That Bite”
Overall Thoughts: This is just another really solid release from one of Punk's fastest rising bands. The production this time around is a whole lot cleaner, and obviously, there are some Political tracks thrown in all over the place. However, they aren't nearly as painfully generic as some of the other Political Punk tunes I've heard this year. It's a really solid album overall, I just feel like Downtown Boys need to stay focused because some of those more eclectic tracks were rough. But still, solid album.
No comments:
Post a Comment