Five years after the release of Compulsive Disclosure, a criminally short collection of songs from a few previously released 7″ EPs, Aaron Cometbus and company finally return to grace the world with three or four new songs, depending on the format you purchased. Being the completist nerd that I am, I purchased both the vinyl and download format.
Let me predicate this review with the fact I love everything about this band. I love that their songs rule. I love that they’re friends playing music for the love of music. I love that they easily could have a larger label release something for them, yet only release music on their friends labels.
The brilliance in Pinhead Gunpowder has always been in their ability to write some of the best East Bay punk this side of late 80′s. That stands to reason for the, well, obvious reasons. Musically, the songs are more akin to their post Mike Kirsch recorded output (Goodbye Ellston Ave, Shoot the Moon, and various EPs) which is fine by me; those records were always my favorite. I’ve always thought that the songs were stunning poppy and catchy works of art, yet what’s separated them from the rest of the pack is their lyrics. Aaron’s lyrics are always consistently good no matter what band he may be in. As much as I like Billie’s other band (what’s their name again), his lyrics in Pinhead Gunpowder always strike a bigger chord with me. More sentimental for some odd reason.
All in all, this 7″ leaves me feeling the same way all their other 7″s do: Appreciating and loving the new songs, but hungry for even more.
Recess Records
remind me to give you the Cletus 7″ and Spears 7″
they were both fun.
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“What’s their name again”, indeed, LOL
I feel the same way about the lyrics, they somehow always seem much deeper to me.
Uhm, you mean The Network?It’s ok.
Actually Green Day is the only band I know with all these side projects:
Besides Green Day(the best punk rock band in history…ever)they created Pinhead Gunpowder, The Network, Foxboro Hot Tubs and I mean, all 3 GREAT!!!
Wow, they do have a lot of talent, don’t they…
I think what gets forgotten is that Pinhead Gunpowder is a group that should be looked at (as with every group) as a sum of their parts. What I’ve always found irritating is that Pinhead Gunpowder gets lumped as a “Green Day” side project. Forgotten is that the other members were in some fairly influential bands. Arguably, had some of those bands never existed (cough…ahem Crimpshrine) neither would Green Day. In actuality the band was started a a side band for all of the members to have fun and write music with one another.
The only thing I knew about punk music was whatever made it to the radio in the 80′s…until I became addicted to Billie Joe Armstrong. My interest in him has led me to travel to the East Bay and to discover many many brilliant writers and great bands whom I really enjoy.
Aaron Cometbus is genius bringing a story to life. He may be writing about his life in the East Bay, but life is the same no matter where you live, making his songs relevant even to an outsider.
This isn’t a review… it’s a fan saying they like the band
Hey bud, if you can do better, the floor is open. As when a band gets heckeled and the singer says into the microphone, “I have the mic” meaning she/he is the one with the with the power; this is my forum to speak my mind. Sure others input is important, but ultimately what I say goes as this is my webzine. With that said, I can review in any style or fashion that I want. You want something to you liking on this, then contribute. I’ve been looking for contributers since day one. It’s time to put up or shut up. Do something creative or constructive…write a zine, help out with your local Food Not Bombs, start a band. Don’t tear others down that are trying to do good.