Review:

on 2012-06-23 Crispy_Spumoni Said:

Though The Atom Age draws obvious inspiration from Rocket From the Crypt's brand of wild horn-tinged punk rock, its more aggressive, unrefined overall style initially reminded me of the early punk group X Ray Spex. Ryan Perras' and Peter Niven's vocals and guitars have a rougher edge than John Reis' and combine with infectious saxophone hooks and heavy, primal drum beats to create a sound surprisingly fuller than individual components simplicity would suggest.

The album doesn't have an obvious theme, though most songs are fast paced and incorporate classic punks trademark tongue-in-cheek violence and misogyny (e.g. "Remember who youre talking to / bow down and kiss the ring" or "Stick your hand out and get eaten alive"). Despite the brief cussing on a few tracks, most are radio-friendly, clocking in at 2.5 to 3 minutes each.

Many tracks, including "Bad Girls Go To Hell", "Nothing Ever Changes", "Kiss the Ring", "Eaten Alive", and "The Hottest Thing Thats Cool" have a distinct catchy style that might be described as "caveman rock." The instrumentals and lyrics are so catchy and seemingly simple that its easy to imagine cavemen performing the music while other cavemen stomp and shake their shoulders to the beat. These tracks are deceptively well orchestrated, however, with instrumentals that shamelessly flirt back and forth with vocals and hand-clapping, alternating between mimicry and seamless blending. The gang vocals and repeating lyrics invite enthusiastic audience participation at concerts or in the privacy of the listener's home. After first hearing the album, I found myself humming many of these tunes throughout the rest of the day.

Several songs play with various genres while retaining the bands trademark horns and playful punk feel. "I've Been Thinkin'" evokes 1950s rockabilly songs, decrying a failed relationship with spirited vocals and "Fox and the Grape"-type lyrics ("darlin I know I dont need you anyway!"). "Better Unknown" seems to have more of a hardcore influence than the other tracks, with the hardest and fastest beat, the harshest vocals and the worst language (like much hardcore, however, the lyrics are largely indecipherable). The organ-led "Dead Wrong" is the only slow song on the album, and the kind of track you'd expect to hear at a horror movie monsters ball.

"The Hottest Thing Thats Cool" is a fun, high-energy treat in the midst of modern punks largely self-indulgent offerings. Though many songs are similar, several tracks demonstrate the band's musical development and expansion since their last release. As a fan of classic punk and garage rock, I enjoyed listening to this album repeatedly and look forward to future releases.

Rating: 8/10