October 7
I admittedly don’t know much about Buckled, aside from the fact they are allegedly pretty fucken good and one of the members is good mates with my housemate.
Which is enough reason for me to give their debut album a listen…
Firstly, I love the way it has been presented via Dropbox. C.L.L.W Side A and C.L.L.W Side B, which, quite obviously, suggests this is being released on vinyl.
I found out later that stands for Champagne Lifestyle, Lemonade Wages which, incidentally, is the name of the album.
Things start with a bit of a gang chant that sounds like you are at the footy before the guitars kick in and away we go!
This is up-tempo party music from the start, the type that would make your Grandmother fall off her perch.
It’s fast, aggressive and fuelled by enough punk nastiness to get you excited.
The first track (Rooster) starts off singing about alcohol – always a winner – but really catches my attention when they mention Chartreuse. This is a rare breed of alcohol known only to the most discerning piss head, and one that is seldom mentioned. So much so that I actually had to retrack the song to make sure I heard right.
Yep, there it is again. If you have never tried Chartreuse I suggest you do and go for the Green variety. Guaranteed to put hairs on your neighbours cats’ ballsack! Buckled are already in my gang after that reference.
It actually reminds me of the Romper Stomper soundtrack so far, and that can’t be a bad thing.
A couple of cheeky guitar solos split up the chaos, but this is good stuff. Old school-type punk, which is something you don’t hear often enough these days.
The next track (Novak) kicks into gear with an “Oh no, silly me” before taking aim at the medical profession seemingly, and encouraging people to actually think for themselves.
Which can’t be a bad thing.
This one features gang vocals for effect, which work well. You can almost feel the spite coming from the lyrics, and I make a mental note to make sure to catch these guys live. Which, incidentally, you can when they do the national support soon with No Fun At All.
I kind of like doing a review this way when I don’t have access to any of the song titles or the members names or roles. It makes it all the more interesting…
When the track ends with the words “There’s no cure for being a cunt” I’m sold.
Buckled rock like fuck. Coz there isn’t a cure. I would have found one by now if there was…
Another monologue spitting venomous intent introduces the next track (U.F.T.W) before a guitar run speeds things along in a short, sharp stuttering chant that encourages us to “fuck the world”.
Okay. But only with consent…
This song is catchy as fuck and full of energy. Any time a new band or new music gets my feet tapping and my head banging is a beautiful thing.
The next track (Addict) is a bit slower in execution. You can actually understand the words without having to listen. If that makes sense.
Things soon return to normal and although all of these songs follow the same basic structure, they don’t all sound the same. Read that again. I had to…
The song talks about being an addict and inheriting bad habits, which is something I’m sure most of us can relate to on some level.
The next song (Who Am I) says “I’m not sure who I am” early on and judging by the acoustic intro, the band are talking about themselves.
They figure it out in time to spice things up considerably, and the angst returns in spades.
There’s a definite Henry Rollins vibe going on here, which I’m sure many of you will call bullshit on, but have a listen and tell me I’m wrong. This song reminds me of TV Party by Black Flag in parts and I haven’t heard anything like Black Flag since, well, Black Flag.
A rock kind of breakdown towards the end only enhances the material, and kudos to Buckled for having the brass to change things up a touch.
A bit of a speel from a British guy who sounds pissed off provides temporary respite, but I definitely don’t want to meet whoever it is in a dark alley. He sounds pretty scary.
Then that’s it for Side A and I find myself very much looking forward to the goodness the opposing side will bring.
A massive drum roll sets things in motion next (E.K.W), before a whirling maelstrom of guitars carries us into the lyrical component of the song.
It’s doom and gloom again with the singer bemoaning “I don’t like who I was, now I don’t like who I am”. Poor guy must have been a cunt at one stage of his life.
The following track (Mary Go Round) starts with a female voice giving the guys a hard time about vaccination before a drum roll reacquaints us with the band, and it’s like they hadn’t left at all.
It is delivered with rapid fire vocals that seem to be targeting some form of keyboard warrior.
What I love about these songs is they all tell a story using minimal words, but still have meaning. Try that at home.
That one finishes almost as quickly as it started before an extended guitar solo fires things up again, leading into a more measured rack vocally. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still punk as fuck, but the vocalist seems to have a couple of speeds and delivery styles – all of which perfectly fit the style of music.
I notice that Buckled swear almost as much as me, which is kind of disconcerting. I can only imagine the conversations if ever we meet for a beer…
It’s hard to tell where one song finishes and the next starts sometimes, but I’m pretty sure a new one just started. Or maybe not.
This one is talking about “Horses on the merry-go-round” which could be code for anything.
The next song (Peaches) does start now, with a laid back almost blues type swagger to begin with and remains throughout somewhat. If this is Buckles’ ballad, I wholeheartedly approve. It sounds kind of like a sex song, so would fit the ballad style. When the singer starts suggesting we “fuck the pain away” I find my interest peak a little. I am actually in a small amount of pain right now…
The next song (Cherry Red) kicks back into punk mode with a sleazy guitar riff suggesting some of the band are still in pain.
I said it earlier but shall say it again. This is pure, old school madness and should be enjoyed LOUD.
There’s enough modern style inspiration like voice offers and monologues to keep the cool kids happy, but this is definitely an album for the punk at heart.
Which I wouldn’t say I am usually, but music like this doesn’t give you a choice.
The next one (Kick Ons) talks about partying, which is my kind of language. The bass player gets his time to shine here with a couple of groovy as fuck runs that isolate the chaos considerably.
Of course, the guitarist can’t let the bass player have all of the fun so throws his hat in the ring a couple of times, but if this was a user-friendly competition, my money goes to the bass this time.
A bit of feedback and dropping of the mic moments bring this track to a close before some form of static noise takes over, and now we are playing guess that sound.
I’m giving up before it takes up too much of my time, but it could be a good party game.
Someone tells us we’re shit before a dog barks in the background, and then a mess of noises and voices allude to someone talking footy before fading into nothingness and Side B comes to a close.
This is a seriously good album, Buckled. Thanks for sending it in!
