Screaming and brass? What’s going on here? Frog Stupid attempt to combine these seemingly polar opposites in a fusion bouncy hooks and ska-core driven melodies. So, does it work? Well, sort of.
A quick run-down of the EP would probably include the words “nice attempt”, “interesting” and, when it comes to track five, “oh dear.” It’s the most tacked-on, ill-placed track I’ve heard on a CD for a while and should have been left firmly on the cutting room floor. First track ‘Pickin’ up my teeth with a broken arm’ is the most interesting on the record and is definitely worthy of some praise – it draws on bands such as Farce and possibly even Sonic Boom 6 to create a fantastic variety of guitar-driven shoutalongs. Unfortunately, however, the CD never quite reaches such heights again. The first 40 seconds of second track ‘Way of the world’ are just painful. Actually, perhaps tracks three and four redeem the record in parts – basically wherever the brass is used as a supporting overlay rather than as a lead instrument. It just doesn’t seem to work for them when they switch it around in that respect.
It’s difficult for me recommend this because of the huge variety in quality on here, but I really do like the first track and parts of 3 & 4 as stated, so it’s also hard for me to lay into it too. If the likes of Farse, King Prawn et al are your bag, then this might be worth a wee looksie, else you might want to give it a miss. Overall it’s not a disaster, and there’s stuff to build on here. But seriously, guys, get rid of ‘Money come the morning’ and never play it again. Ever.
Spud