This CD has been sat with me for a few weeks now, whilst people pile all sorts of crap on my desk, and I tend to direct it towards the nearest dustbin, this is one of the few CD’s I’ve had to review in about 6 months which is worth far more than a place in someone’s CD rack, clocking up the occasional listen, let alone, my computer desk.
Fact is this: I’ll put my balls on the line and say 3SH are probably the most underrated pop-punk band in the U.K. They have all the ingredients to turn an average gig into a memorable night, a simple song into a long lasting sing-a-long, a gathering into a party and plain bog standard punk music into youth inspiring energy. And if you check out one of their shows then you’ll know exactly what I mean. Their 7 track E.P, released on Kidsmoke Records is an amazing debut and it’s blatantly obvious they are cut above the rest from the first 5 minutes worth.
Opener “Maybe Next Time” is classic sing a long, but it’s raw guitars take it away from anything that may drag it down into Busted’s world, and as the E.P moves onwards, “My Poinsettia” with its warm keyboards and relaxed mood shows the bands diversity and their ability to want to produce a record that isn’t just them playing the same 5 chords in different ways. The same piano features at the end of the E.P in “Someone” where the band almost re-define themselves and begin to cross genre into a very soul seeking emotional sound, very Stray light Run. 10 on 10 for this feature, it’s certainly a breath of fresh air, and originality in amongst a genre that so many bands think they can pull.
This isn’t just four guys who are making their first steps beyond Green Day covers, nor is it 4 guys who wear their guitars by their shoe laces and their caps side wards to look cool, in fact this isn’t even four guys who started a band to get the girls (actually, that’s arguable…) 3SH are the epitome of DIY, and they are a perfect working example to any young musician who is turning around to people like me, website owners, labels, promoters and other high industry bigwigs saying “Why isn’t my band doing well?” 3SH cut the crap, get in a van and give you a good show, and then drive solid for 12 hours, and do it again. Watch this band grow.
Pete Punktastic