Archive for the ‘Topper’ Category
Topper, “Punk don’t death…just get through it”
Artist: TOPPER / Title: “PUNK DON’T DEATH…JUST GET THROUGH IT” / Format: CD / Genré: PUNK ROCK / Label: SUPERNOVA RECORDS
One of the perks of the job of reviewing music in my blog is all the free records I get sent from labels and bands and sometimes way early too. This record won’t be in stores until late May, so you can read this review a few times before you decide whether or not to buy it.
Now, before I start reviewing the actual record, there is a few serious points I must tackle first. The first is about the label. Supernova Records is a sublabel to Sweden’s biggest label, Bonnier Amigo, it’s still indie, just fuck-off-big and some people have a problem with that. On the other hand, the same label, Bonnier Amigo, carries some artists with huge streetcred, so it really shouldn’t affect my review of Topper.
Far more serious to some, may it be, that Bonnier Amigo was the company that brought The Pirate Bay before the law. Again, I have no problem with that, I prefer owning my music on a record and I can only say to you who might want to share files that the label might be some very bad apples in your book, but don’t let it affect the band!
That being said, I don’t particulary like this record. It’s not bad, it’s just not my kettle of fish. So, before I proceed, I have to state that in order to give this band a fair review, I must put myself in the mindset of someone who likes this kind of music, overproduced, super-well-played, radio friendly punk/rock and I know that there are loads of people who sees a good thing in all things I find a bit boring, so there will absolutely be people out there who likes this record.
The band comes across to me like a mix between “Give ‘em enough rope”-era Clash, Swedish 80′s rock bands like Sator, as well as early 2000′s yank punk of the Lars Fredriksen-type. The only tracks I really enjoy are “Suburbs” and “Do you love your country”, cos there’s some rock & roll spirit in it that the producer didn’t manage to kill off.
Lyricswise, it’s safe cards like mild social criticism, love and criticism of the trendies. There’s one problem with that, when they criticise the trendies in the tune “Television”, I think they come pretty near biting the hand which feeds them. I think young people with no interest in buying a flight jacket or getting a mohawk, but who like a bit of rebellious rock & roll that comes with no strings attached is precisely the possible fan base of this band.
If young people who like the kind of music I have compared them to should read this, then by all means, buy this record! They’re good at what they’re doing and you’ll like it. Try catching them live as well, cos I think they might be bloody good live, possibly better than on record!
