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Just why are we destroying ourselves? Can
anybody tell me that? Well, if anybody can come up with a legitimate
answer, or even take the time to ponder such a poignant question,
then without a doubt, East L.A.'s own "Union 13" have
accomplished exactly what they've set out to do. In building
on the strong buzz that first began with their "East Los
Presents" debut recording, "Why…" takes the
music a step further in that it's designed to raise social awareness,
while maintaining the anger-building momentum they first introduced
shortly before, only with a clearer production and broader attention.
Not unlike what the whole hard-core/punk genre was created to
be, "Union 13's" music is fast, noisy, and loud, and
smothered with enough gang choruses and "whoa-whoa's"
to make The Misfits drop their instruments and look out the window.
What it's not, however, is based upon the
pretty boy image, and "hey, look at me, I'm a wannabe punk
rocker and get on the radio" thing. In fact, there's not
one song of the sixteen on the album that's likely to make it
to mainstream radio any time soon. For one thing, none of them
are long enough, and for another, the music's way too extreme
for any of these "play it safe" Program Director's
to get their hands dirty. "Union 13" is also not the
typical middle-class, white, American boys, raging on about how
tough their life is while they're cruising around in their sporty
convertible. They are, in fact, all from a Latino background,
which in and of itself, makes the disc worth checking out for
the simple fact that it offers a different perspective to a music
that's usually dominated by the former.
The songs blister and burn with a high
degree of three-chord aggression, played with maximum intensity,
while mixing both Spanish and English lyrics, in a hostile tradeoff
that, believe me, won't make much difference at full volume.
And that's really the only way to listen to this kind of stuff.
"Why Are We Destroying Ourselves?" is hardcore punk
the way it was meant to be played and meant to be written - with
hostile intent; to question authority in a world where we are
virtually on our own in favor of political self-interest.
Thumbs up to these guys for bringing back
that underground attitude and sincerity, to a scene that was
fast becoming swallowed up in the corporate takeover, and presenting
a useful release for the rage and anger consistent with what
is an otherwise hopeless situation for many. |
