Saturday, March 8, 2008

Ringers - Detention Halls (2007)



Without fear of sounding melodramtic I can confidently say that listening to this Ringers record a lot like the first time I heard Rancid. There has been such an avalanche of "real" punk rock bands that for me all of these bands have started to blend together as Dillinger Four without the good songs. Yikes. To be honest, I haven't liked a new-ish punk band (not pop-punk, not indie-punk, not lo-fi punk but puuuuunk punk) in quite some time.

Remember how the first time you listened to Rancid, you understood why people put them above the rest of the pack during the hey day of Epitaph bands? Well, I have no idea why people have not given Ringers more credit than they have. While it isn't reinventing the wheel, this record takes all the best elements of street punk, beard-rock punk and pop-punk, throw in really good hooks and catchy melodies in every song and it just comes out on top. Although they aren't treading new ground, this record is far from boring. There is an energy here that grabs ya from the speakers and beckons you to turn it louder and louder and louder and louder. Then all of a sudden your girlfriend comes in and says "hey, you know this is really loud, right?"

Yup.

1 comment:

CodyDanger said...

I downloaded this album after reading your review, and i actually really dig it. I'm suprised these guys haven't gotten more attention. and like you said, they aren't cutting edge or anything, but really good nonetheless.