Dublin based rockers Mixtwitch come back into the limelight with their E.P “All Bets Are Off.†which one presumes to be a warm up release before their up and coming album, hopefully out in the next few months. Following up from their last major release in 2002, “Smile For The Money Shot†on Moon Ska Europe, the touring from that record catapulted the Irish lads across the Atlantic for stints in the U.S where this new E.P was recorded.
“All Bets Are Off†contains 4 tracks of mature pop-punk. Where as some bands will pull this sound off with a rough around the edges approach, Mixtwitch now into their 7th year of musical life have moulded a polished and experienced sound, which to me is rather disappointing. Personally, this record would have sounded just as good, if recorded in a cheap back street studio in London. Of course that’s a matter of personal taste, but one which I’ll stick to. I’m more a man of dirty, garage pop punk and this E.P is just too clean and shiny.
Opening track “All Bets Are Off†is a fairly solid opener, but I feel distinctly misses a one line lyric to give it sing a long status. It has the potential to be a classic and have kids reciting the words for days, but as it stands, is probably not going to go down as an all time great. Track 2, “Lets Go†has a fair amount of bounce in it, not enough to justify a previous reviewers comment on the band, “(Mixtwitch) have more bounce and energy about them than a bunch of coked – up monkeys on trampolines,†but enough to reward it as best song of the E.P. From the previous review comment, I’m starting to wonder whether or not Mixtwitch have lost their way after America. Nothing about this E.P is enough to prove to me some of the things this band have achieved are justified, and a record 7 years into a bands career should be underlining their worth, particularly one which has worked with Moon Ska. The final 2 tracks, “Fourth Times A Charm†and “Brighter Side†aren’t anything more impressive than the early tracks.
In short this E.P is musically well written and performed. To some people, the production will make everything, to me it over shadows what’s actually being played, which to fair is simple pop punk. Maybe I’ve come across a little too negative. I imagine fans of the band will lap material up due to the fact it’s been so long since the band did anything else. For me, Mixtwitch have still one person to win over.
www.mixtwitch.com
Pete