Labels: My Trust Records
Review by: Andy Malcolm
I think this is the first release from Bedford since their neato debut album came out. Two songs on here, with muffled production, but it’s the pretty decent emoish pop punkery fun that they are prone to dishing out. Where Bedford stand out against the several million other bands doing this style is through Price’s incredibly cool vocals. For those that haven’t heard, he’s got a kind of Buddy Holly inflection to them, and goes ‘woah-oh-oh-oh’ better than practically anyone else on the face of the earth. “Poison Town” is the better of the two songs, being faster, catchier, bouncier and downright danceable, as all the best Bedford hits are. I just wish Sleboda was still there to scream his lungs out in backup. “Smolder” is slower, and kind of throw away in comparison. Price still croons like the meister he is at times though. Grand band, of that there is no doubt.
Witness meanwhile cram 3 songs onto their side of this clear vinyl. Their production is even more demo level than Bedford. Lyrics are very basic hardcore style things obviously penned by people who are in a band because being in a band is cool rather than for having any actual song-writing talent…”People have their differences and that’s alright, but try to work things out and become friends, LET’S HAVE FUN TONIGHT!!”…yeah man! Vocals are urgently ranted over the muddy instrumentation, and sometimes there are laughable group backing vocals. Um, oh dear. They attempt to redeem themselves with a Simpsons sample. I don’t know what to say. This is just your basic, terrible, hardcore punk band. I guess it might keep them off the streets, but they ruin this split.
One for Bedford fans and Witness’ friends.