Labels: Snuffy Smile
Review by: Russell Opie
Snuffy Smile is just such a great label. As far as I am concerned it is possible to buy any one of their releases and it would be great. This follows in the same vein as the bands label mates (Wall, Blew, Lovemen, Navel) in the sense that they play emotional, fast paced punk-rock.
Suppose that I should mention that it says on the Mailorder List that this band are like Dag Nasty meets Propaghandi, just in case anybody reading knows those bands. I don’t, so I can’t elaborate on that aspect of the album. First song “Mechanically” opens up the album in fine style. Emotional lyrics and a melodic hooks make this song great. Next up is “Your Personality” which could quite possibly be the best song on here, and it reminds me of the Lovemen. It has the same song structure of having slow bits, that build up into majestic sounding chunky riffs, that would make you go nuts at a gig.
Some of this album comes across as being quite aggressive. They share the awesome guitar riffs and great hooks that other Snuffy Smile bands produce. This label has quite a cool little roster of bands. “Thats Enough” is exactly how power-pop-punk should sound in the latter half of the nineties (like I have a clue anyway?!?!) – and its just wonderful. Top emotional song “Precious Thing” sings about personal issues and stuff and what an awesome song it is too – with cool little riffs that just make you want to air guitar about the place. To be honest I could waffle on about how great every song is, but then you would soon get bored. So just take it from me, every song is rocking, emotional and melodic.
In short everyones record collection needs a Japanese punk-rock album. If you don’t have any, then you may as well start with this band. If you have some of Snuffy Smile’s other albums already, then you will love this. So either way, buy it. You’ll love it. And all the lyrics are printed in Japanese as well as English, which is cool, because Japanese writing is just so ace.