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I've never heard of this band before now but I have to tell you, I was pretty impressed (and with a battle-hardened punk, like myself, that's pretty hard to do).  With the resurgence in punk and its current popularity, a lot of bands today are claiming the '77 street-punk style! Now, although they may have the look, most of these current groups simply don't have the sound. 

Y'see, back in the '70's, punk rock was a lot more melodic than it's '80's "hard-core" predecessor. You had bands like CRIME, GENERATION X, THE CLASH, RICHARD HELL & THE VOIDOIDS, THE DEAD BOYS, to name a few! These bands played snotty, rebellious and energetic rock and roll in the name of PUNK...!  And that's exactly what I got from SQUAD FIVE-O!! They are so reminiscent of what early punk sounded like and I loved every minute of it! Aggressive rock'n'roll; sloppy and melodic.

"Late News Breaking" by SQUAD FIVE-O is truly punk ROCK. In the '77 vein, the way it is meant to be played....
 

Squad Five-O - Late News Breaking Label: Capitol Rating: official website Listen to Samples and Purchase This CD online

The sophomore full length release from RANCID guitarist, Lars Frederiksen, cuts right to the chase and goes for the jugular. Catchy and powerful right from the start, this album puts Frederiksen on the map. It's HARDCORE PUNK ROCK-N-ROLL the way it's meant to be played. Tough, gritty, and streetwise. 

Although some of the tracks are a bit cheesy (i.e. "Mainlining Murder"), the album MORE than makes up for it musically. It is a diverse blend of hardcore, punk, rock-a-billy, and roots-rock folk music. I recommend it for those UN-interested in Rancid and more interested in Punk ROCK.
 

Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards - Viking Label: Hellcat Records Rating: official website Listen to Samples and Purchase This CD online

This is the debut full-length from the Canadian anarcho-punk outfit, ACTION.  They play blistering hardcore punk, the sound is VERY tight, and VERY solid. The vocals are strong, yet raspy (& dual at times), which makes for a straight-ahead, full-on hardcore assault! 

I did notice a couple of songs that have a similar sound, in comparison to the legendary anarchist U.K. band, CONFLICT. "Man's Law",  "No One Knows", & "Nobody's Fodder" come to mind immediately. The waning guitar solo as an intro is pretty reminiscent of "Tough Shit Mickey" or "The Serenade is Dead". Not to mention the political jibber-jabber over the waning guitar in the MIDDLE of the song is DEFINITELY a CONFLICT staple. In spite of this, this band has a pretty distinct sound of their own. 

The lyrics are your typical  anti-state, anti-war, anti-God tripe that reminds me of  '80's punk bands  such as CRUCIFIX or DISCHARGE. Regardless, if you like it FAST, TIGHT, and LOUD, you'd probably like ACTION.
 

Action - Action  Label: Punk Core Records Rating: official website Listen to Samples and Purchase This CD online

This is the second full-length from the San Diego based streetpunk band, CHEAP SEX.  This band plays hardcore streetpunk with no diversion to the left or to the right. Three chords and a few swills, will help you on your way with this cd. The vocals and lyrics have an Oi! tinge to them in comparison to other bands that  have raspy or "SCREAM-O" vocalists. 

The singer, Mike Virus, has a distinct style to his sound... and damn it, I can't place any comparison too it! But regardless to say, it's pretty unique. 

"Headed for a Breakdown", lyrically, deals with the social climate of today. The song "Reality T.V." is obviously a song about just that; "REALITY TV - Show me something sick, REALITY TV - You know it's all a trick!". 

"Raped by the FCC" makes it's complaint against the Bush administration & the FCC;  "Church and state is his agenda, drop a bomb in a heartbeat but a boob offends ya?????".

Most of the lyrics on here are on a more social level then a political one though; there are songs that deal with the desperation that comes with life and the feeling of loss over dead & gone friends. 

With the mix and range that comes with this album, lyrically, it's no wonder why these guys are headed for a breakdown! Good nonetheless.
 

Cheap Sex - Headed for a Breakdown Label: Punk Core Records Rating: official website Listen to Samples and Purchase This CD online Get it on LP (special edition color vinyl)

Your Turn, What do you think?

Fan Speak:

Posted by me:
cheap sex is awesome, what the hell are you talking about?