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I can't believe this is a band that began
when they were in eighth grade-only four years ago!? So now they're
high school seniors? Man, that's discouraging. Now I'll be thinking
the whole time I write this review, "why didn't I stick
to playing the guitar." They're pretty up there with the
best of old school punk, but it makes you wonder, how when you
consider their youthfulness. "Sound Formula" takes
that formula that first popularized the aggressive early eighties
style of hard-core and punk music, recreated by a bunch of kids
who weren't even born yet! Oh, by the way, Kevin, pull your pants
up man. And a sound formula is what you'll hear after popping
this disc on-nothing original, mind you, but then again, how
many bands can be anymore? Right from the onset, the pace lets
loose and wipes out any misconceived notions of bubble-gum modern
rock/pop in disguise. Hell, they're from Detroit, so they've
got quite a bit of history to live up to when rock and roll's
the game-The Stooges, MC5, etc. Social Scare's politically minded
in most cases where tunes like "Keep Us Free" and "Blind
Hatred" speak out against bearing arms and racism. I've
got to admit the racism thing's getting old a bit quickly though
so let's get on wit' it! "Garrow" goes on about misuse
of governmental power. They are kind of young to really be as
opinionated or maybe "aggravated" is a better word,
as they come across in their lyrics but they're guided by good
intentions. You almost get the idea that they head right out
to the basement after school, throw around some ideas that developed
during an earlier social studies class, then start poundin' 'em
out. A convenient method if that should be the case-"Fifteen?"
All the while, the music's pounding you with a pent-up rage storming
forth in a wall of overamplification and a caustic drum beat
before letting up when, unexpectedly, "Sound Formula,"
the instrumental makes its way. Their views are sincere if just
a bit jaded but they play exceptionally well and all questions
aside, they let the music do the talking, while each of them
takes their turn at vocalizing. You know what does it for me
when I set on to listen to a new punk album? It's got to be loud,
fast, and so noisy that I can't understand a fucking word .
Social Scare spews forth those humble qualities
while adding a pinch of profanity and dash of discontent in the
creation of their latest formula of fright. And they're right,
detention hall is boring as hell! |