Like a bolt out of the blue, some albums just slap you about and poke fun at you for never discovering the band that created them before. Z/28 are a fine example and it has been difficult to remove this from my CD player since I received it three weeks ago. Trying to describe them is easier said than done, but if I were to mention Elvis, The Clash and The Dead Kennedy’s in the same sentence would it help? Maybe not but let me tell you a bit more this crazy concoction of hillbilly punk.
But first off I can tell you that it certainly won’t be to everyone’s tastes. It veers from the energetic and jagged ‘FBI Man’ to the laid back and lazy ‘Shut Down’ with minimum fuss, but because the tracks are so different in a familiar kind of way it isn’t the smoothest of running orders and can prove a disjointed listen in one sitting. ‘Wrecks from the Highway’ covers the whole fucking lot though. These guys don’t give a shit what they write about and play with a sense of enjoyment that shines through from start to finish. And after finding time for a Dukes of Hazzard cover as well, who can knock them for having a fucking good time?
If punk was alive and thriving in the fifties then Z/28 would have been on the stage encouraging the kids at school discos to drop Buddy Holly and partake in some harmless drunken punk dancing. And daring anyone not to bop along to the electric ‘Another Fine Day’ is a challenge I lay down right now. As I mentioned earlier it isn’t the easiest album to get into however and whatever your first impression maybe, it will probably stick even after umpteen listens, but there in lies the beauty. The impression I get is Z/28 don’t really give a shit what you think and play for the love of it all with the quirky vocals and samples popping up in the most surprising of places (Check out ‘Gun Girl Crazy for cartoon fuelled fun…), while an exert from American Graffiti is without doubt going to rest well with film geeks such as myself.
The guitars are tinny, the vocals western and the band care free. This album is a reason buy a Cadillac and act out scenes from True Romance. Minus the murder. It’s summer punk the way it was meant to be played, gritty, dirty and ultimately fun loving.
Jay
www.thez28s.com