Crusi****s - Wisconsin
From what I'm reading I'm just expecting some good punk music.
Track 1: Intro 1 (1:44)
Guitar sounds ****ing kick ass. This is a little different than I expected, not the straight up punk rock that I was expecting which isn't really a bad thing seeing as I like this a lot. Good start.
Track 2: The Mountain Song (1:23)
Yeah this is more like what I was expecting. Really nasally high pitched singing which is a style I'm fond of.
Track 3: Washington (2:08)
Man this is a great song real catchy. I appreciate the incorporation of the hand claps in the verses; it just works really well for some reason.
Track 4: Resurrection (2:03)
Usually phaser ridden guitars sound cheap, but they sound great in the context f this song. I'm really enjoying this so far, and it's not even the most unique album I've ever heard, but man the songs are kicking ass.
Track 5: Earth by Invitation Only (1:06)
I think this is a sort continuation of the last track, but faster. Still great.
Track 6: Laws Against Laughing (1:55)
Singer sounds like if Geddy Lee wanted to be a whiney punk vocalist the result is a little funny, but it completely works. Simple, but very effective.
Track 7: Pig in a Blanket (4:30)
Loving that opening riff. Something about this feels very grand in scope. This is an album that I'll need to look up lyrics on subsequent listens because I'm sure I'm missing most of it. I liked the use of the backwards vocal sample they just kinda threw in the middle. I have a feeling this is concept album.
Track 8: When the Top Comes Off (5:01)
The intro was really spacious before it kicked off into the main part of this. Really wish they would change up the chords during these weird passages in this song, but the guitar more than makes up for that. Woah what the hell is happening? Oh this is ****ing awesome, great lyrics right there too,
Track 9: Concession Stand (4:21)
Weird guitar tones going on. Mostly just a jam song, they aren't bad musicians so I don't really mind it.
Track 10: Wisconsin (2:26)
Acoustic guitars, that's different. Same sort of chords though. That was pretty alright.
Track 11: Artificial Competition (3:19)
He's changing up his vocals a little bit here gives a bit of variety. Song is catchy as hell let me tell you.
Track 12: Holiday Parade (1:39)
The riff/melody is absolutely undeniably the ****. By far my favorite song on this.
Track 13: The Savior (6:32)
The acoustic guitar sounds much better on this song than on Wisconsin. I'm loving the lyrics on this song; completely charged with anger. Great album, oh wait there's more. Oh I love this so much, BEAUTIFUL upright piano they should've used that more. Disappointed that ended so quickly, now it's just back to the normal guitar driven punk. Actually getting a Big Star vibe from this song, and I love me some Big Star.
Final Verdict: Man this is some great power pop/punk that I've never even heard of until now. The songs are solid all the way through, they're catchy, great playing, interesting structure to some of the songs. Not much to say other than, it's a great album that I really enjoyed a lot.
8/10