Pickled Dick (3 Track EP),
Pickled DickNo sooner has I reviewed the first Pickled Dick EP than the next falls into my lap. Ah, tough work this, listening to punk rock all day. On with the show! This was recorded sometime after the last, and the first thing to say is that the sound quality is far superior, but it could just be the headphones.
Opening track 'Wet Blanket' came as a bit of a surprise. Synths?! In this day and age? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a bit of innovation, but I just don't think they really suited the PD mode of punk (fast, melodic, faster!). It was a relief when it became evident that it just a passing flirtation with such electronic fancies, since the majority of the song sits firmly in the 'melodic skate punk' camp. I've commented before on just how good the vocal harmonies are on the first release and I was most pleased to find that they're still present and correct. Musically, it's very '1039...' era Green Day, with some funky basslines underpinning the more basic guitar, and never fails to work well.
'Champion' comes next, and is a perfect exercise in yer common-or-garden, get-to-the-end-as-fast-as-possible punk rock. And that, my friends, is just how I like it. It's not doing anything especially new or innovative, but it just works so well. There's a definite sense of passion within this track, the vocals seem to have an added weight behind them, giving a more visceral edge to Pickled Dick that is most welcome. I think this song gives an indication of the kind of band they'll develop into - impassioned yet vulnerable, technical yet not over-complicated. Yum.
Finally, 'Street Cred' rolls around and serves as a gateway from the CD to the real world. And surprise surprise, it's hardly a radical departure from anything else they've done. Funnily enough, it still manages to sound fresh and new. I'm a sucker for a good drop, and they're here aplenty, giving a sense of urgency to the song. The vocals on this track are my favourite for all the PD songs I've heard (including Suck It And See), with the Bad Religion-type harmonies augmenting the fluidity of the song.
So what are you getting on this EP? Nothing really new, but the fact remains that what you do get is of extremely good quality. Pickled Dick aren't going to usher in a new era of new-styled punk rock bands, but they take a familiar template and add their own ingredients to create a recognisable, but individual sound. Solid.
Link: www.pickleddick.co.uk
Email: pickleddick69@hotmail.com
