Anyone who thinks nothing good can come from punks is wrong. Not only is the latest album by the Suicide Machines a good product, the band has a social conscience and is pleased to spread messages of goodwill and political stances.
And they do it all in 14 tracks and less than 40 minutes.
The band has been recording since 1996. “Steal This Record” is the alterna-ska-punk band’s fourth major label album. The songs range from reggae-inspired to slower soft-core punk to faster, heavier punk.
This album is reminiscent of their first two, “Destruction By Definition” and “Battle Hymns.” While there are no two-second long songs, like on “Battle Hymns,” or comical songs like “The Vans Song” on “Destruction…,” the musical styles of those albums are revisited on this one.
The style of their self-titled third album, which found the band experimenting with mainstream pop-punk, is barely audible on this album.
However, the group does take on an ambitious cover song — R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).”
When I noticed this was on the album, I was excited because, as a rule, punk music is fast and furious. The original version of the song is sung at a fast pace. When punk bands cover pop music, the songs are usually much faster. How much faster could that song be sung?
Unfortunately, the vocals are not sped up much in this cover. The music is at a faster tempo, but it is not possible to sing much faster. I was impressed, though, by the fact that there are two people singing the incredibly hard vocal line.
Gone is the steady theme of cute songs by a singer in love, and happy punk songs, which dominated the last album. Most of the songs are a call to awareness and social action.
For instance, “Stand Up” says people should “stand up for what we believe in … We got to change the world for our children/ It’ll be them who inherit all our mistakes/ Can you please listen to what I’m sayin’?/ We got to change our self-destructive ignorant ways.”
“Stay” and “Leap of Faith” are the only songs about a relationship on this album. However, they are not written in the beginning, tender stages of a relationship, like on the last album. “Stay” is still a “sweet” punk love song, written more in the stages of being accustomed to love and caring more deeply for the other person.
“Leap of Faith” is less about a relationship than a song about wishing he could have faith and courage, but lyrics do include sentiments about wishing for the faith of his partner.
Distorted guitars, quick drumming and loud, fast vocals dominate this album. Singer Jason Navarro does incorporate some harmonizing and softer, more melodic vocals.
It is good to see the band return to its musical roots, but I would have liked to see some more musical growth. A band is only good if it is able to adapt and change.
However, since the group managed to improve upon its existing styles, I give them an “A-” for effort. I thoroughly enjoyed this album. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fast-paced, socially conscious, upbeat music.
