There’s been a lot of water under the punk rock bridge since Pennywise first emerged at the beginning of the nineties, but their ninth album Reason To Believe proves that they’ve not felt the need to jump on any bandwagons to stay relevant.
As one of the definitive West Coast punk outfits, Pennywise have been often imitated but rarely equalled by bands that followed in their wake. Nor have they become hollow imitations of themselves; Reason To Believe may not have the raw youthful grit of their earlier material, but there’s no compromise on pace, melody or content.
Indeed, the content is the most important thing, and stands in sharp contrast to the privileged whining of the MySpace haircut bands. We’re no less in need of intelligent and politically aware bands now than we were two decades ago, but they seem to be thin on the ground, leaving veterans like Pennywise to fly the flag of protest.
And so they do - Reason To Believe is shot through with intelligent and critical examinations of politics and culture. “Faith And Hope” and “All We Need” shine a light through the rose-tinted blinkers of religion; “Nothing To Lose” points out the contradictions of consumerism, and “The Western World” recoils in disgust from burst-media shallowness:
“this is the face of our vanity / the tabloid death of humanity”
Musically, you get exactly what you’d expect from Pennywise. You don’t demand innovation from authentic punk bands; as long as they keep their musical integrity, they’re in the clear, and Reason To Believe has all the ingredients you want with no unnecessary extras. Fast four-chord riffs, galloping rhythms from the drums and bass, straightforward singing with natural unprocessed backing harmonies … it’s a formula, sure, but it’s a formula than works best when it isn’t messed with.
Of course, the irony of politically motivated music is that it’s usually preaching to the choir. But even so, I think it’s good to know there are still bands like Pennywise around who haven’t turned their artistic backs on the world around them. And likewise it’s great to hear older bands matured but unbowed by their age; Reason To Believe is the sound of a band who’ve stayed the course, and who show no intention of giving up any time soon.
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Posted in Music reviews |
Tags: Pennywise, political, punk, Reason To Believe
March 17th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Last time I listened to Pennywise they’d still not managed to get beyond the ‘Fuck Authority’ level of political discourse, which is cool if you’re a 15-year old skater in SoCal, but leaves a bit to be desired if, say, you’ve ever heard a Conflict or Propagandhi song.
I’ve not heard this album so perhaps I’m being unfair, but it sounds like they’re less preaching to the choir and more joining in the chorus (by which I mean they’re making the same old statements a lot of bands, punk or not, have been saying for a long time). Still, that’s better than yet another song about drinking 40s, or how some girl’s a bitch because she dumped you!
March 17th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Some good points there, Shaun. They’re definitely well beyond the “fuck authority” mantras, but I’ll admit the level of political complexity isn’t quite as high as some of the more focused protest bands. I was trying to place them in the (admittedly nebulous and ill-defined) spectrum of modern punk music, and by comparison to the super-ironic Transformers T-shirt brigades they’re way out in front.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I can´t wait for the new album.
March 24th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
“Last time I lisetned to Pennywise” I’m not sure when that was. Pennywise has always been above the ‘Fuck Authority’ level of political discourse. That was one song out of 8 albums that people just can’t get past.
Every album before and after had social and political commentary beyond ‘Fuck Authority’, but it seems no one paid any attention until they used the F-word.
I’ll admit they aren’t the most articulate band out there, but give them more credit than basic 4 letter words on ever track.
March 27th, 2008 at 2:15 am
F* Authority was one song…Geez…give it up people.
They have been, and will always be one of the top 5 punk bands of all time, and I’d fight anyone to the death over that fact. They have always lived up to the hype and given more to there fans than they can ever hope to receive. Thank yo guys, for being my favorite band of all time…
March 27th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
“stands in sharp contrast to the privileged whining of the MySpace haircut bands”
What in gods name is a Myspace haircut band you idiot? Anyway, Pennywise themselves are signed to Myspace Records.
March 27th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
“MySpace haircut band” is obviously a label effective enough to rouse your defensiveness, so maybe you know what it means better than I do? I could have said “cliché screamo also-rans who focus on image before substance”, but there’s only so many times I can type that without getting bored of it.
And I think you’ll find Reason To Believe is on Epitaph Records. The copy I was sent (and the press release that came with it) certainly suggest that is the case, though I’m happy to be proven wrong if you have the evidence to hand.
March 30th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
The new album is awesome.
March 31st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
“And I think you’ll find Reason To Believe is on Epitaph Records. The copy I was sent (and the press release that came with it) certainly suggest that is the case, though I’m happy to be proven wrong if you have the evidence to hand.”
Reason To Believe was released on Myspace Records in North America, Epitaph covered the European release.
I could send you my copy of the CD which I bought before realizing it was free (if you first have a myspace which I refuse and second add some company which also was rejected in my mind) to show the label symbol but that would take work.
“They have been, and will always be one of the top 5 punk bands of all time, and I’d fight anyone to the death over that fact”
No… The band was great in their prime and I liked the music, but where they are now is just sad compared to then. Their last 5 records have managed to be horrible (I liked Land of the Free best of those..). Musically they change nothing, which isn’t bad if you like that. Problem is, it all sounds like one song, except the lyrics don’t make any sense put together. Actually, the lyrics in each song don’t even have a common theme or message, with contradictions everywhere from song to song.
If the band wants to play their entire career safe, making every song the same except with better recording technology as time passes then that’s fine for people who want to hear the same power chords and tunes over and over. As for me, I actually enjoy when bands try something different, even if on only a couple of tracks.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Pennywise managed to produce a fairly good album with REASON TO BELIEVE. Sure, the musicians stick to the classic punk-rock sound, even though they experience a more modern sound on ONE REASON (2) and THE WESTERN WORLD (6). The latter sounds a bit too commercial for me, even reminding me of Simple Plan.
However, Pennywise gets back to old school lyrics, notably on WE’LL NEVER KNOW (7) and AFFLICTION (12), two songs that remind a lot of their self-titled album.
They’re still pissed off on (INTRO) AS LONG AS WE CAN (1), SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR (4), IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO BELIEVE (10)and BRAG’ EXAGGERATE AND LIE (13), just as we like them.
I never really enjoyed Pennywise’s album conclusions, as I believe DIE FOR YOU (14)ends the record in a flat and tasteless way.
FAITH AND HOPE (3), SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR (4), ALL WE NEED (5) and AFFLICTION (12) definitely stand out by their thoughtful lyrics and melodious, hooky rhythms.
All in all, with REASON TO BELIEVE, Pennywise does not re-invent punk rock and can sometimes sound repetitive (especially if you own all of their albums), but gives us a good dose of energy and meaningful topics to challenge our minds.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I dont know what you fools are talking about…people that are not from the south bay dont even have a clue..you think you know Pennywise??..If you arent from our little Beach cities area then you dont really know anything about Pennywise..I remember they would play in Hermosa Backyard parties I would go to…I know Jim and have met a couple of the other band mates many times and really glad that I have gotten to meet Jim Lindberg because he has always been a real inspiring person to me and always looked up to him coming from Redondo how could I not in the 90’s..and youall need to read PUNK ROCK DAD by Jim..
Tim ANderson
Southbay Local
http://www.southbayprint.com
May 28th, 2008 at 4:05 am
Thanks for this amazing record ! PENNYWISE will always be my favorite band of all time ! and yes I’d fight anyone too the death over the fact that PENNYWISE is on the top 5 of punk bands of all time . ” The band was great in their prime and I liked the music, but where they are now is just sad compared to then. Their last 5 records have managed to be horrible (I liked Land of the Free best of those..). You’re wrong dude ! I love Full circle and Unknown Road but The Fuse ! Land Of The Free? Reason To believe ! are really amazing too! Every PENNYWISE record is really great !