Review:

on 2008-05-26 lekwon Said:

For a band slapped into the pop-punk genre, Nashville natives The Pink Spiders have a pretty unique sound. The band is promising in that it delivers the best hearty rock and roll that a musician straight out of Tennessee could possibly bring to the table. The sound of subtle classic punk and rock and roll influences never looked so good either: bandmates Matt Friction, Jon Decious, and Bob Ferrari grace the cover of Teenage Graffiti donning hot pink apparel and white sunglasses. The album is just fashionable in every aspect.

Jon Decious is the sole guitarist of this three-man piece, but he holds a formidable ground with his instrument. Power chords run abundant in all of the tracks, which add to the punk vibe of this album. At the same time, a lot of work has been done with the lead guitar to conjure a rocklike rhythm. Meanwhile, drummer Bob Ferrari maintains simple drumbeats, which seem petty yet indeed add a danceable quality to the tracks. Matt Friction has the versatile chops to fit with the style of music that The Pink Spiders play. He can sound smooth and approachable, as seen in the single "Little Razorblade," but he can also muster a rough yet alluring voice in songs such as "Saturday Nite Riot."

Matt Friction sings about the typical rock star life of girls, drugs, and rebellion. The standout track "Modern Swinger" shows his fullest potential of how eloquent he can be, while others such as "Adelae" is a feeble attempt to show off a more gentle and loving side. However, it is the musicianship of The Pink Spiders that is to be commended more than the lyrics. The band jumps from influence to influence in each of their songs, thus creating a catchy album that radiates with hints of pop, classic punk, and rock and roll. They have done much experiencing with these separate genres, but The Pink Spiders have made it certain that they stand in a unique place in the pop-punk world. Their sound is very hard to forget, and listeners will soon be able to associate the quirky and loud band name with the Nashville trio that just wants to make fun, catchy music.
Rating: 8/10