Review by Dick Nothing
METHADONES
/ COPYRIGHTS (Transparent Records)
Ah, I’m sated! It’s been a while
since a good split L.P came out. Here, two
of the most prolific pop-punk bands of today
team up to share a disc of substantial length
and more or less perfect results.
The first leg of disc proves that although
the Methadones army is practically the old
granddad figure to the Copyrights, their musical
artillery is as fresh and pumped up as ever,
as they blitz through their set with a tenacity
equal to any “young man’s band”
from today’s punk camp. The first offering,
“Imperfect World,” is continuous
to the theme and feel of “Getting Older/Losing
Touch” off the last record, as Schafer
writes about the jaded realization that the
idyllic twenty-something fantasies he once
had were just a daydream after all. The song
isn’t typical of the band’s usually
fleshed out repertoire, but rather a nostalgic
nod of the head to an old school era, and
that’s just fine by me. The Weasel-ish
abruptness of track-length and Mike Dirnt-style
elasticity in the bass lines echo How to Make
Enemies and Irritate People – a route
which more modern bands should follow, because
the formula is a veritable winner every time.
“Follow The Skyline” is another
song that stands out as one of my favorites.
The main chunk of the song is merely the title
repeated over a stirring yet strangely calming
sound of whooshing, guitar leads and smooth
magnetic drumbeats. “Easter Island”
is another hit, where the lyrics are sung
with such anthemia, I’m sure even the
meanest of punkers won’t shy away from
the gorgeous flow of “Oh wheeeerre is
Easter Iiiisslaaaahhnd…?” It must
be noted that the short, mid-way guitar solo
is one of the most beautiful noises I’ve
heard in 2008. ‘The Most Boring Song
on the Album’ is going to have to be
awarded to “What Do You Believe In?”
But not to worry, because by then it’s
time for the Copyrights’ to step in
and square up to the old farts, showing them
that they don’t need endless years’
of band experience to match their efforts…
“I know it’s snowing outside/but/the
weather/gets better…” and chug-chug-chug,
bumph!-thwack! and bang!-bang! My fears of
this band going on a creative burn after an
album full of flawless ditties are dead! With
an amazing deal of conciseness, their usual
hard-rocking, blink and it’s over inaugural
formula is more prevalent here than ever before.
I mean, shit, what a satisfying song. Lyrical
positivism is the key in “Trapped In
A Reel”, and so are kick ass extended
choruses – which are crammed full of
the endearingly “so pop-punk”
HEY!’s and climatic pauses. I wish I
could say the same for the following tune
“We’re Not Gonna Make It,”
but it’s catchy enough. The Copyrights
seem to me to be a mixture of cliché
and originality. Bog standard high octave
leads and gang chanting are in abundance,
but so are more diverse inputs such as the
pure rock ‘n’ roll riffs in “Flooded,”
– which must be noted are similarly
championed by another great band called the
Retarded, fans of which will enjoy what’s
happening on this here ditty. Adam and the
gang put a new twist on this varied release
with the arms in the air, swingy jingle of
a closer “Locked Outside a Motel Without
Shoes…” Sometimes I have to wonder
if I’m listening to a male fronted version
of some girly pop-rock band when I hear this
song, as the layers of bouncy, “squeaky”
leads reflect the wave of “doot doot
doot dah dah doo doot” filler vocals,
best known in this modern age of underground
pop to belong to Hallie from the Unlovables.
This is all excluding the part where Fletcher
spouts some odd drivel involving zebras bathing
in flesh, or bathing in zebra’s flesh…
I seldom pay much attention to anything outside
the classic themes. You know the classics
I’m referring to - being her boyfriend,
fighting for Uncle Sam, kissing her on the
lips, the woes of coming to the realization
that you are in fact a bonehead, but still
cool in the sense that you’re on the
band’s guest list… If you don’t
know at least one song that revolves around
all of these things, you probably shouldn’t
trust this review and/or these bands aren’t
for you. Just kidding, these guys should be
colossal in the eyes of everyone.
So, sure, there’s the occasional moment
of redundancy amongst some of the bands’
greatest songs yet, but nothing can alter
the fact that this release is a clear, promising
indicator of exactly what the Methadones and
the Copyrights probably will achieve with
their next albums. Woah, trust me when I tell
ya - the possibilities are endless. I wouldn’t
trust this split not to sell out in the very
near future, so grab it while you can and
enjoy a wonderful summer with this hearty
and fun sing-a-long CD!
CD Reviews 
