Customer Reviews

Pure Juice

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since I've been in Santa Barbara for some time now, I kept hearing about a local band called Summercamp, and got curious enough to buy their debut CD... WOW! This is power-pop at its best, with enough hooks and melodies to keep you coming back for more - it just gets better with every listen. With a strong Beatles influence and a great sense for the lyrical side of things (emphasizing relationships a lot of the time), these guys really hit the nail on the head. Since buying this CD I've seen them numerous times in S.B. and am waiting anxiously for their new CD (which should be out in Fall '00, according to Tim, one of the band members). Until then, this one will hold me...

Believe me when I tell you that this band had talent. In 1997, over six years ago, they released this album, and never caught hardly any attention at all. From the start to the end, the album is simply power-pop rock to the second level. I'll run through a quick listing of my opinions and descriptions of the tracks for reference:

1. Drawer - Spectacular. If it were not a candidate for the best song on the entire album, I'd still be raving about its catchy sweeping 6/8 beat and hard-rock pop-grunge aurora. You'll love this song probably no matter what. It hit alt-rock airwaves back in early 1997, and actually made a fairly big splash in some markets, but was quickly forgotten afterward.

2. Nowhere Near - Another great song, though a bit more abrupt and mainstream-sounding (keep in mind this was 1997, however). Very, very catchy, as are most of the tracks, and quite infectious.

3. The Bright Side - A little slower, but still just as top-notch as the first two tracks. At this point you'll probably be too excited to know whether this can keep up much farther into the CD.

4. Pure Juice - The title track, albeit not the first single from the album (that one goes to Drawer). This one's mainly a happy-go-lucky song that grabs you straight from the start. Not too much variation, but the song is of the nature that too much variation isn't really necessary.

5. Should I Walk Away - This song is *awesome*. It's one of the catchiest on the album, and it's very radio friendly (while still maintaining its own unique integrity). It sticks within the groove of the first four tracks, with a quick rhythm and a pick-up vocal part at the beginning. Great song. Check out the preview here on Amazon's page if you'd like to give it a listen. In fact, check out all of the first five tracks' previews.

6. Keep An Eye on You - Another slightly slower tune (like the third track), a bit sadder and more bittersweet than the first few tunes, but still rock-and-rolly with a touch of (modern) pop. There's plenty of variation up through the bridge and until the very last chorus... it's a well-written song.

7. Play it by Ear - A short, quick-rhythm song, one that I would liken most to Pure Juice. It's pretty good, but it doesn't stand out as much as the rest of the album. Still a very good song... so I can't discredit Summercamp here.

8. Ninety Nine - Great song, very unique, very catchy, very pop-grunge. It's a bit more serious and self-loathing in structure, but that's the foundation of a lot of today's rock - there's nothing wrong with that. :) I'm serious here, folks, this is ahead of its time... buy the album if you like what you're hearing in the preview!

9. On Her Mind - Faster, happier, and poppier than most of the album. However, there are enough rhythm changes and other little specks of variation to remind you that you aren't listening to just another 90's pop-rock band.

10. Mountain Size - Opening with a building guitar riff alternating ears, and a distortion guitar "wah" sound underneath, this song doesn't sound like anything else on the album, but it's great. Summercamp, while staying comfortably within their established groove, ventures outside just enough to keep the listener interested. Yet another catchy, guitar-heavy song to treat you alt-rock fanatics. This is pop-rock done *right* - and while I hesitate to use the term "pop" thanks to the negative connotations bestowed upon it by other modern sell-outs, that's really what this is - it's just *good* pop-rock. Trust me.

11. Two Shades of Grey - A hard-hitting, hard-rock tune rests in track #11, and it'll knock you off your feet if you've listened all the way through to this point. This song is excellent. Almost Foo Fighter-ish. Nuff said.

12. With Your Blessing - At first you might think this song will be the slowing point of the album... but you'd be wrong to think that. Complete with a full-power chorus and perfectly suitable guitar solo, this song continues the trend of the rest of the album with style.

13. Thing of the Past - Ironically a fairly accurate description of the band, this song makes me almost angry to know that the band is no longer together. It's slow, it's solemn, and it's great. It's emotional. It's *good* pop-rock.

If you don't take my advice and buy yourself a cheap used copy of this album, at least do something else worthwhile with your money... but do it with the knowledge that you've passed up one of the best unknown pop-rock groups of the late 90's.

Seeing Summercamp play at the Metro in Chicago, I fell in love with the band right away. Not in a strange way or anything, but with the music itself. I relate my personal life with the ones presentes in the lryics of the songs and understand what they are tring to say. Summercamp is a band that puts basic everyday emotions into a great form of music. There is only one cd that i am aware of and I would like to know more about the band and what they are up to. So, if ANYONE knows anything about what Summercamp is up to

Bands like Summercamp are far & few. I wish I could hear good bands like this one on the radio. The radio only plays mainstream, over-produced garbage. I've had this CD for over a year-and-a-half now, and I still love it. I hope they have enough of a following to produce some more good music in the future!

When I heard the first single "Drawer" on the radio, I went out and bought the CD. I'm hooked to "Drawer," and I love the other songs. I listen to this CD a lot because the songs are upbeat and fast. I listen to this CD when I go driving, but when I am home, I turn it up and sing to the songs.

I saw this band open for Toad the Wet Sprocket and it compelled me to run right out to the store and buy Summer Camps debut CD "Pure Juice." The album is filled with raw but catchy tunes. I would suggest anybody to buy this CD.

This is one of those cds that is so underrated, unknown and so full of good punk-pop (some a bit rockish and ballad-like) songs that you truly must buy it.

If you find this page by mistake or whatever, for any reason. If destiny brought you here then you owe it to yourself to own this gem.

You won't regret it, lots of catchy songs ahead of it's time!

I particularly recommend "Nowhere near" "Should I walk away" "Keep an eye on you" "On her mind" "With your blessing".

Truly classics :)!

I am someone who liked Simple Plan, Blink 182, Green Day. Now I like We the kings, Rediscover, Bowling for soup. And others. If you like catchy, melodic punk pop with a bit of rock (but bearable, not hardcore.) this is for you.

Lead vocalist Sean has an incredible range! Songs are consistently strong, and I only wish they had made more music. Hopefully some or one of the old bandmembers will continue to make music. :) Definitely a great deal of talent goin' on there!

i heard "drawer" on mtv one day randomly flipping thru the channels in the 4th grade.every second i loved and immeaditely got the disc."drawer" is easily one of my favorite songs of all time.its so catchy and enjoyable, and the singing is immaculate.i jsut cant even describe how great it is.the rest of the album is ok,nothing to write home about.pretty much the same straight forward modern rock that you would find with old everclear,tonic,and the like."drawer" is an exceptional track, and thats an understatement.pick up this album quickly (it is cheap) and be prepared to be floored by "drawer".

"Pure juice" is a great CD, and it belongs in everyone's collection. Buy it. Good vocals, guitar, and lyrics. The only thing wrong is that it's so hard to come across, and all songs kinda sound the same.