Sheer Terror - Standing Up For Falling Down

Malvo here and it's a rainy Saturday afternoon in our area. While Adult Crash is being daddy of the year, I am enjoying a killer mail day. I am now the proud owner of the latest Sheer Terror LP titled Standing Up For Falling Down. Now, I'm a big fan of Sheer Terror, but Crash isn't. But that's okay because I love the band enough for the both of us.

Let me first say that I hesitated in getting this record because I was convinced that it couldn't be as good as their earlier stuff. I mean, it's the first album they've recorded in 18 years! Well, all my worries were put to rest pretty fucking quick with the opening track Heartburn in G. Mama fucking Mia! This album comes out of the gate hauling ass! I'm listening to this record as I work on this entry and 4 songs in and I'm blown away. Fucking great stuff here. I feel like the 15 year old me when I first heard the Thanks Fer Nuthin LP. Just all around killer songs on here. I've always loved how Paul changes up his vocals on some songs. Did You Just Meet Me is a perfect example of that range that he has.

The lyrics are what you'd expect from Paul Bearer, pissed, heartbroken and frustrated. This album sounds so angry that it makes me happy. My lady friend just rolled her eyes at that one. Ah what does she know? While she may not be a fan of Sheer Terror, she can appreciate good artwork and we both love the cover art for this record. Opening the cover up was more of the same. I've said this many times, but I love when bands have cool artwork with their records. I love live shots as much as the next guy, but stuff like this is just different and cool at the same time.

But enough of me gushing over the greatness that is Sheer Terror. Let me throw it over to Adult Crash for his take. I just sent him a youtube clip of the album and he has responded. Surely he will offer up something insightful unlike my lady friend here who thinks it sucks.

"Meh. It's palatable. It's not Just Can't Hate Enough, that's for sure. But you're also asking a guy who doesn't often like bands 20 years after their heydays (with a few exceptions). And I was never a huge Sheer Terror fan to begin with."

Palatable?! Meh?! What in the wide world of sports is he talking about? I'm surrounded by a couple of know-nothings. Unfortunately, one of those know-nothings is my partner in crime for this blog and the other snuggles up next to me all the time. Their opinions on music are officially suspect!

D.C.S.

New Dag Nasty 7"

You know, it's been a couple of years since we got to see Dag Nasty play at the Black Cat. And they have been busy ever since with more shows across the country and abroad. Then we got word that Dischord was putting out a new 7" for them and we were intrigued.



Well, we got our hands on it a while back and I have to say that I like it. A lot! It's only 2 songs, but if they plan on putting out more material like this, then we are all in for a treat. Cold Heart is my favorite of the two, but Wanting Nothing is also killer. In my opinion, this is the best stuff they have put out since Can I Say. That's right, Can I Say. I wasn't a big fan of the stuff after that album. However, I started listening to Wig Out At Denkos recently and I may have to change my opinion on that. For now, I stand by my statement that this is the best since Can I Say. Adult Crash disagrees with me though. Shocking, I know.

Adult Crash here and I have to say that I am a bigger fan of Dag Nasty than Malvo is. He's stuck on one album by them and can't open his eyes to anything else. These two new songs are so much better than the post-Dag stuff they did in the 90's/00's. I have no problem with the Cortner years it's just a different flavor. The second version of "Under Your Influence" is worth it solely for the "12 ounces of courage...and I'm feeling fine!"

If you're listening to anything after Can I Say objectively, it's solid stuff. If you're listening to them thinking "that's not Dave Smalley" of course you're not going to like it. This new 7" has me excited for more new songs from them.

First of all, I am not hung up on only Can I Say. I happen to like the stuff with Shawn Brown preceding Can I Say. (Yes, I realize they're the same songs, but still!) Adult Crash will have you believe that I only like Dave Smalley's vocals, but that's just not the case. I wasn't into Minority of One. I just wasn't into the other albums musically. Having said all that, this new 7" is very promising and hopefully this means they have more new material on the way.

I'm pretty sure they're overseas at the moment, so if they come to your town, do yourselves a favor and check them out. You won't be disappointed. And if you haven't gotten the new 7" from Dischord Records, you're missing out!

D.C.S.