Labels: salinas
Review by: Andy Malcolm
I vaguely recall when I was at school, that to call someone a gibbon was a term of insult. All that changes with this record. It now would be the ultimate term of endearment to say to your friend “you fucking gibbon” when they drop their lunch all over the floor during breaktime.
SO WOAH. Totally the best melodic punk record that I have heard since Midwestern Songs. The Gibbons are on fire on this debut album, firing out 10 songs of spirited punk (plus an acoustic track) in the vein of Leatherface with a bit of Jawbreaker thrown in for good measure. This leads to an abundance of melody, distinctive vocals, and a lyric sheet that you really ought to be reading.
Opening track “Faces and Names” really sets the standard at a ridiculously high level, belting on through energetically, yet the band somehow maintain those levels for pretty much the entire album. The songs have catchy choruses, driving, jagged guitars and ripping drumming. Its all there. And then you get a song like LP standout, “The War on Terrorism Part I” with straight forward lyrics but it hits the right spot – I’m an 18 year old American, and I fund terrorism… – there are times the guitar sound on this one is so reminiscent of Broccoli too (probably accidental, but hey). And while we’re on the subject, I’m fairly sure that the riff at the start of “Competing Dreams” is halfinched from Leatherface. Still, Leatherface!!
And thats about as much as I need to say. Hopefully lots of people will check this out and people into this style of punk will find out about these guys and be impressed. I was. HEY YOU, THIS RECORD IS BRILLIANT.