Single Mothers
Self-Titled 7” EP
Track Listing:
1. Christian
Girls
2. Hell is
My Backup Plan
3. Winter
Coats
4. Baby
Let me start off by saying Touche Amore has never been my
cup of tea, so I barely raised an eyebrow when their singer announced that he
was starting a label and that he had already signed a band. What did pique my attention was when I found
out that the band was from my one-time hometown of London, Ontario and that
they were punk/hardcore band that kept getting compared to the likes of the
Hold Steady. So I finally decided to get
off my lazy ass and check out what Single Mothers was all about.
First off, I am embarrassed that I slept on this band for
even the short period of time I did (this EP is their first official release,
although they have a Wild Party EP
that’s worth checking out). Single
Mothers plays an interesting mix of melodic hardcore and catchy punk rock that
is glazed over with a general “I drink, smoke, and fuck too much” sense of
bravado/regret. As an aging asshole I’m
always skeptical of this hard-living brand of punk sleaze, but the music and
lyrics both seem too honest and earnest to ignore or discount. This EP has an impressive energy that runs
through it, especially given its short length and stylistic variety, and should
appeal to punk, hardcore, alcoholic kids alike.
Having said all of this, the most impressive part of this EP
in my opinion is vocalist Drew Thomson’s ability to describe London,
Ontario. As a former Londoner, I can
personally vouch for his portrayal of London as a place littered with coked-out
university kids, a desolate downtown, and a winter bar scene that is populated
predominantly by women freezing to death in mini-skirts. The only other song that I can think of that
comes close to Thomson’s description of
this frustrating and enigmatic place to live is Brutal Knight’s “Worst City”,
but whereas that song is a strict condemnation of London, Single Mothers seems
to use the city as a backdrop/foundation for debauchery and self-reflection. Alright, I know everyone who isn’t from
London is about to tell me to shut the fuck up, so I will. Just go buy this record, no matter where you
are from.
No comments:
Post a Comment