I predict a riot, hey, hey hey!
How can you even start to describe a band like Buck Brothers? Named after a porn company that the guitarist used to work for (although in what capacity it is unclear), this cheeky trio take Pop-infused Rock and add a good solid dose of Punk, whilst all the time having great big dollops of fun.
Opening song, 'All I Want To Do' is fast-paced, spitting out a tasty guitar lick whilst singing out, "Life is cruel, religion sucks // All I want to do is dance!" Just like some of the other bands with three members there are the big guitars in the chorus and a strong bass-lines in the verse. However there is enough variety in the musical structure that keeps the band exciting and unique. 'Are You In?' is a catchy little ditty in the vein of Keiser Chiefs, whereas the band have their tongues firmly in their cheeks with former single, 'When I Look at You (All I Think about Is Sex)', a song that showcases the band well – catchy, hard-rocking but with a dirty grin plastered on their faces.
'All The Things' is another slice of Pop/Rock that gets into your head, and it is obvious that these guys have the same ability as Ginger from The Wildhearts, at coming up with catchy songs that are able to be hard and heavy whilst not compromising on great melodies. Then things shake up in the symbol-thump swagger of, 'Heartfelt By Numbers' before that band turn it up to eleven with the fantastic, 'No More Yesterdays'. Here are majestic riffs that jump around like a hyperactive go-go dancer with sailor tattoos, whilst Andy's vocals rip out of the speakers with no apologies.
It is, however with songs like, 'She's Not Wearing Any', and 'You're So Good, Good, Good You're Great' that I notice the band could well be a hybrid of The Ramones, The Clash and Kaiser Chiefs. Whilst there may not be any, "Hey Gabba Gabba!" anywhere, I could imagine that if Joey Ramone was to be thirty years younger and growing up in Camden Town, then the Punk legends may well sound somewhat similar to this! Both songs are slightly throwaway lyrically, but when has that ever mattered? It's sugary Pop/Punk with heavy emphasis on the latter Punk rather than the former Pop. 'Remission' pulls no punches, before the surprise Punked up cover version of the 1979 hit, 'Pop Muzik' by the band M. This is a great version. Things come together nicely with the last song, 'Deeply Shallow' which is anything but, spewing out catchy rock, like the contents of a teenagers stomach after their weekly drink-binge, and a great conclusion to this musical offering.
Buck Brothers are a band that pull no punches, with a sound that has a Punk ethics but mixes up a hard-nosed Indie-influenced Rock with Pop/Punk. This is the band's second album (after the debut, 'Me') and has great depth with songs that blast out and never let up on the tempo. I'm sure that we will be hearing a lot of these guys in the future, if not that it would be as real tragedy! Great stuff!