Off Key Melodies,
RehasherThere's a sticker on the front of this release, Rehasher's debut, which states each band member's name and the group they otherwise perform in. Proudly sitting at the top of this list is 'Roger - Vocals (Less Than Jake)'. There's no way Rehasher are letting you forget who's fronting this band. But if you're expecting their No Idea released album to be 'Anthem' part 2, then you'll be very much mistaken. For 'Off Key Melodies' is an album which is pretty full on, throwing in skate punk hooks and fast and furious drums. Obviously there's Roger's unmistakeable vocals too, which will pull in the LTJ purists and completists who are keen to find out what their hero has been up to.
Rehasher clearly don't believe in hype, because - sticker aside - 'Off Key Melodies' hasn't been released in a blaze of publicity. Infact it's actually crept up and sneakily made its way onto the shelves, and good on them for refusing to cash in on their more famous singer's popularity. If you look at other 'famous' side projects, such as Box Car Racer, they usually fall flat on their rear end. But Rehasher are different; they're full or verve and punk-fueled vigour, throwing in vicious three-chord anthems yet maintaining a large dose of pop hooks and melodies. If 'Lift' doesn't get your feet a-tapping, then the likelihood is that the album's title track or the David Bowie cover 'Suffragette City' will.
This is a record which goes back to Roger's punk rock basics. It's not a clever or intelligent CD, more a pedal-to-the-metal skate punk fest which will surprise, yet entertain, fans of his normal band. Not once does good 'ole Roge rely on anything remotely ska-based or LTJ influenced, and this is very much a good thing. In a music world drowing under the weight of its own emo-induced tears, Rehasher have released a record which will make you sit up and listen.
www.rehasher.com
No Idea Records
Paul
