Oot and Aboot,
Real McKenziesIt's very difficult to get me started on The Real McKenzies without launching into a foul mouthed tirade against them. I simply cannot stand them - what they look like, what they stand for and certainly what they sound like. To me Scotish punk rock is just as much a gimmick as a skater chick like Avril, it's contrived rhubarb that serves very little purpose at all. The awfully named 'Oot and Aboot' doesn't really change my opinion all that much. This is a bad record, possibly the worst of the year so far.
According to the press release, The Real McKenzies hail from Vancouver and are "a punk band deply rooted in their Scottish heritage." What I think it means is that the band play middle-of-the-road skate punk, dress up in kilts and play bagpipes over the top of it. Anyone who knows anything about Scotland knows that there is more to life than the kilt, a funny accent and the Haggis. Not even the Rod Stewart inspired opener of 'Cross The Ocean' will convince me otherwise that this lot are taking the piss out of the record buying public. The question begs, is this merely jobs for the boys? Have they only got a record deal because they're friends with Fat Mike? Because I'm not sure which talent scout would have spotted this lot out in a crowd...
The songs themselves are generic skate punk ditties that plod along like a tramp in snow. There's no pace, no choruses and everything is dull and uninspired. But wait, is that some kind of Celtic instrument just plonked in the background? Why yes, so they must be Scotsmen after all! 'Lest We Forget' is a typical example, subliminally punding you with the message "third rate", while 'Dance Around The Whiskey' is about as contrived as it gets. There must be someone out there that likes this, and fair play to them, but I just don't get it. Is it just a big joke or are they simply laughing at us?
This lot are the Scottish equivalent of Flogging Molly, except FM have shitloads of talent and some songs to boot. TRM are boring, turgid and unoriginal, playing NOFX b-sides with a bagpipe overlayed on top. It's so dull that the only way in which you will want to raise your glass to this record is to drown your sorrows. Garbage.
Paul
