It would be all too easy - and probably too obvious - to just rip into Spunge. After all, that's probably what most people are expecting me to do. But let's look at the facts - at a time when UK ska-punk was, let's face it, huge, Spunge were up there with the biggest bands around. They've toured the toilets, sold tens of thousands of CDs and, with tracks like 'Kickin' Pigeons', they've had minor video hits that are still played in punk clubs up and down the country. So yes, Spunge are purile and childish and, as they're all 30-somethings, they probably should know better. But while there's still an audience, I guess they will keep doing their thing.
Which leads me on to their new album, they're first for a few years. It's a proper DIY job too, self produced and put out on their own label. They're even booking and self-financing their own tours too. So while slagging the band off for staged between song banter may dominate internet message boards, their commitment to their band cannot be sniffed at. And in any case, when these guys tour have you seen the size of their tour bus?!
'Spunge' isn't as immediately anthemic as some of the band's older material. There are very, very few songs that leap out on first listen - 'Girls' is quite fun in a 14-year-old, booze and fags on a schoolnight kinda way. Let's put it this way, they're not breaking any new ground. So while the haters won't be converted, will old-skool fans of the band enjoy this in the long-term? Well, probably not. Pop-ska of this sort is really anti-fashion nowadays and the band have gone from playing the Astoria to much, much smaller venues as chequered trousers and silly hats have been replaced by back-packs and black floppy fringes. Yet as times have changed, Spunge have seemingly stayed the same. The songs are as inoffensive as ever, some will make you want to sing and dance, some will make you want to press the skip button. They're a band who do what is said on the tin - and this record is no different.
So while I'm sure many people will slag them off regardless, tracks like 'Backstabber' and 'Middle Finger Salute' are good tracks for this type of music. It won't change the world and they won't be your new favourite band, but it's not as bad as some would have you believe.
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