Customer Reviews

Mediocre Generica [Vinyl]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Times are tough for all the punks these days. Every crappy little SoCal band thinks they're political geniuses just cause they hate Bush, The Dead Kennedys turned into a parody, The Ramones are being used to market everything from cell phones to Pepsi, and the few good bands left are just making the same albums over and over again. So, in the new millenium, my hope hanged on two bands that were putting out genius music: McLusky and Propagandhi. Well, McLusky broke up, and Propagandhi turned into a metal band. Just when I seriously considered slitting my wrists and calling it quits, a friend of mine slips me an album by a band called Choking Victim. The front cover intrigued me, and when he told me that part of the album was a kind of death metal, I was sold. I quickly put it into rotation, and I was not disappointed. Not the greatest album, but still damn good. So, next he gives me Leftover Crack. Now, I had heard of these guys before, and after The Unseen and The Casualties, I wasn't interested in another "Street Punk" band. But, when he told me some of the same guys were in Choking Victim, I gave it a listen.

Wow. At first I didn't rate it up there with "No Gods/No Managers." But, as I listened to it more and more, the genius began growing on me. Part of it is that it doesn't fall into any neat category. And I don't mean that to sound like every God-awful alternative/metalcore band that ever breathed, I mean these guys are legitimately original. The songs are a glorious mix of metal, punk, ska, reggae, dub, hardcore, and classical. It could have been a disaster, it could have been boring, but Stza pulls it off. He isn't talented enough to pull it all together and make it boring, but he is talented enough to keep it from falling apart completely, and it's that fine line that makes this album so great. It stays true to punk form, in it's apathetic violence, but never goes off and preaches. At the same time, no one else is doing music like this. No one. And while LOC's second L.P. didn't quite match up to this one, it still was pretty good. If there is a band right now that could pull punk up out of the current funk it's in, Leftover Crack is that band. An undisputed classic.

30% punk, 30% ska, 30% metal, and a 10% discount at your local record retailer. Leftover Crack may be eclectic, but the elements constructing their energetic crossover punk rock juxtapose as logically and naturally as caffeine and Mondays. Their songs are typically short and simple, but their variation (Classical interludes abound) and attitude more than compensate. Stza's vocals are, well, limited, so he resorts to a witchy shriek similar to any given black metal band. Stangely, this vocal style fits all the various musical elements Leftover Crack explores, due to the fact he tones the knife-gargling scream down to rough singing on less vicious songs. Some would call his vocals obnoxious, but I'm pretty sure that's intended.

Interesting songs? Atheist Anthem is notable for the coolest and probably only anti-straight edge chorus ever. I think the awesomeness of Stop the Insanity speaks for itself; "Let's kill the cops, the CIA, the FBI, the PTA, The NFL, the MRC, let's kill you and let's kill me!" With The Sickness is an odd grindcore experiment, clocking in at just under a minute. Born To Die is probably the catchiest song on the album, with an infectious ska feel and upbeat bass outro. Finally, the pleasant diddy Rock Steady Beat ends Mediocre Generica on a fun note, with island-possessed guitars, organs, trumpets, and even a harmonica.

I can't really conclude this review. It's a good album, I liked it, listen to it.
- Thus says the Pellington

left over crack is pretty much undescribable to someone who has never heard them. imagine the fury of grimple, the blast-beat drumming of dillinger, and the political critique of DK combined. the result is a sound unlike any other. if you tire of the worn-out, half-assed "punk rock" thats becoming popular, try out loc and try not to get too in to it. its pretty much impossible. enjoy!

So after a very, very, VERY long time of playing lots of shows on a 7" and a demo tape...Leftover Crack put out the much anticipated "Mediocre Generica". Besides the long battle over the title, artwork, lyrics, song titles, and everything else the hell-cat entrepreneurs could do to sabatoge this release, you still have a great recording. Many Re-Recorded tracks and Choking Victim leftovers. Highlights include Atheist Anthem, Gay Rude Boys, and Homeo-Apathy. The music is still catchy, crusty, evil, and fun. If you don't have it get it and anticipate the next album. It should be out soon and I think it will destroy any critics. Fans of Operation Ivy, Against All Authority, The Clash, will not be let down. Fans of Nausea, Death, Incantation, etc. If you want to smile while you slaughter things you'll like this too.

i can't stop listening to this album. i got it so long ago and Gay Rudies is still one of the greatest songs ever. highlights are...the whole album, Gay Rudies, Crack City Rockers, Born to Die, The Good, The Bad, And The Leftover Crack, and Homeo Apathy. i don't think any other release could live up to this...f*ck world trade was meaningful, musically better, and very good altogether...but it just didn't pack the PUNCH. it's still good though, if you have the cash pick that up as well.

The only thing wrong with this album is that there isnt enough songs. i have almost all the songs from Leftover Crack except for maybe two and i have to say i can listen to each and everyone of them over and over again. i cant wait for the next album and hope the songs will be as diverse and their other ones. Choking Victim was great, but their songs all sounded similar, Leftover Crack is very experimentel. Check out their songs they did with F-minus(another great band), their really good. and if you, like me, cant get enough of that crack rocksteady beat check out these bands: choking victim, morning glory, no-cash, INDK, Distraught, hopeless dregs, team spiderm, and asstroland

OK, everyone agrees that under the name "Choking Victim" these guys realeased some mighty fine music. No Gods/No Managers was one of the best albums of the '90s, not to mention one of the funniest - a real black-comic funhouse. Just the concept of Death-Ska is enough to carry this band for as long as they keep making it. Mediocre Generica is less interesting than No Gods though(understandable, as it's made up of a mix of remade old tracks, stuff that the band wrote but didn't come up to scratch for recording, and space-fillers made into whole tracks like "interlude" and "gay rude boys instrumental). There are still some really good tracks like Gay Rude Boys Unite, the new version of Crack City Rockers and S.T.I. but there are definitely just a few too many fillers.

Worth a buy if you want more of the good leftover crizzack to unite the nations but the move from black metal to harcore as a second influence just doesn't quite do it for me.

I have seen leftover crack many times and i don't think that this cd represents their raw style. This cd is way too overproduced and engineered. The first few tracks are excellent but then compared to their 7" and demo they lost a lot of their hardcore style. Its a good cd to own but don't expect too much. Their Choking Victim CD and 7"'s are so much better... and then you can see how born to die was suppose to sound. Other suggested cds are vindictives, indk, no cash and stockyard stoics.

Who said you had to agree with a bands views to enjoy their music? Think about that before you go endlessly bashing this band because of their political views and lyrics (which, agree or disagree with them, are quite good).

I was pretty surprised when I heard this CD, since I had heard some of "No Gods No Managers" and I own "F*** World Trade." THis is a bit different from either of those. Of course, it's still great, full of energy, and quite fun.

The music is largely based on simple guitar riffs, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. It also uses quite a bit of dissonance at times (ex. guitar solos to "The Good The Bad and the Leftover Crack" and "NC") and some noise (listen to the intro to the album). Of course, they incorporate some ska into their music, much in the vein of Operation Ivy and (well... duh) Choking Victim. Add a couple of death metal-like songs to that and you have an insane, fast, hard-hitting album.

"Crack City Rockers" and the updated version of Choking Victim's "Born to Die" are the two best tracks of the album.

Everything about this band is sweet, their sound and lyrics. Ignore the guy who called them moronic. He doesn't know what he's talking about.