Another in the why-haven't-we-reviewed-this-earlier series, this time it's teen punks Osker and their raucous 2000 release 'Treatment 5'. We're so far behind in scoring this album that the band split up over a year ago - but the fact remains this is still a brilliant album and if you like your punk rock snotty, aggressive and with an attitude, this is just the ticket. If Green Day failed to sell any copies of 'Dookie', I can imagine Billie Joe Armstrong going down this route - such is vocalist Devon Williams' nasal style. You just expect him to gob at any point to clear this throat (something he probably did quite a lot). This is a kid who's pissed off with the world and he wants to tell you about it - and you can't help but listen.
'Treatment 5' is now nearly four years old and was recorded when Osker were all in their teens. Not that you would know mind, as this is a record full of hooks poisoned by a sneering youngster with issues against the world. Lyrics are littered with references to betrayal and loss, but then what else could you expect with songs like 'Asshole', 'Fuck Me' and 'Shitface'? But the charm is all in the delivery. Williams struts and preens, sneering in a way that just doesn't exist anymore. There's an attitude, a real 'punk' sound, that spits venomously through tracks like 'Dying' and 'Ballad of a Traitor', the latter of which certainly sounds a bit like early-Green Day.
'Alright' is an absolute blinder as Williams blurts "if I knew that this is what friends were for, i'd never made any" alongside a hugely melodic chorus. It's not difficult to see why Epitaph believed they could go on and do big things. Of the 18 tracks there is hardly a bad one; 'Panic' is fast and furious, while the sneering 'Life Sucks' and the three-chord wonder of 'Lucky' stand out for miles. The aforementioned 'Asshole' is just perfect, all drums and palm-muted riffs.
If you're not familiar with Osker, become acquainted with them now. This record is a classic - it's snotty skate-punk at its best. Any disaffected teenager will easily associate with Devon's lyrics, and the songs themselves are melodic punk gems. It's a pity they split up really because 'punk' music nowadays really likes the bite and attitude that this record seeps from every pore. An essential purchase.
Epitaph Records
Paul
