Customer Reviews

Pennywise

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

 

 

Only 2 reviews???? You gotta be kidding me. When this hit in 91 it was like a landmine. I think the boys blew their load on this first album, but what a load it was! This album never lets up, just furious punk with catchy-as-all-hell choruses. Pennywise take cues from DRI, Excel, Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedys, 7 Seconds and about 100 other bands and produce a great sound, certainly among the cream-of-the-crop of "Epitaph bands". Bro Hymn, Unite & the title track make this album as good as it gets. They've stayed good over the years, yes with changes, but compared to a lot of bands they've stayed pretty true. If you need more convincing, check out the review on AllMusic

This is Pennywise at their raw and agressive stage. This cd contains an extra song but for what its worth its not a great addition ontop of all the other songs on this cd. Also the lyrics for fun and games arent in the booklet. Right after those minor niggles, lets get into the meat of the cd. Theres alot of great tracks on here, The secret, Living for today, Homeless, Bro Hymn and lets not forget the theme song: Pennywise. Basically if your expecting an album that will give you greater purpose and meaning in life, look elsewhere to a BR Cd. However if your looking for something to get you into a punk mood where you just wanna sing and rock out then get this. Its undoubtedly one of pennywises greatest accomplishments.

PW today is quite different that this album's contents. What's the difference: PW introduced some more introspection, a crude critical point of view onto corporations and became more heavier than faster. Albuns until Unknown Road and Full Circle are focused on speed (but they never forgot about writing good lyrics), newer ones are focused on lyrics and strenght. Well, both are good, PW is the same. For sure, Pennywise (and all the others from this band) worth listening. Its great to listen, specially PW, playing so fast and listening to Jim reaching tones he can't do nowadays. Pennywise, About Time and Reason to Believe are excellent for those who want to know this great band. Old School HC Style.

So Pennywise is definitely a cool band, and their first album was a good one to put them on the map with, but let's face it, this album could have been better. I listen to this CD once in a very long while, and when I do I enjoy it, but I can't sit back and listen to it multiple times in the same week, whereas, for example, I'm listening to and Authority Zero CD right now for the third time in 2 days.

I couldn't do that with this CD because there's nothing that really grabs you on this CD. It's a good sound, there aren't really any bad songs, but conversely there isn't anything that makes them stand out as anything more than a straight up east bay nineties punk band. Nothing wrong with east bay nineties, but I need something more. The songs sound similar to each other, with really simple guitar lines and bass that is inaudible in almost every song except for when it plays by itself on "The Secret" and "Bro Hymn." Jim's voice is not too bad, a little high pitched but he was young then, and the lyrics aren't anything special.

I guess there's really nothing for me to say. Good CD but not enough of that special something to keep it in my CD player frequently.

Highlight tracks: "Bro Hymn" is the only one I can honestly say is better than the lot of them.