I'm so sick of pop punk! Or so I tell myself. That lasts only as long as I'm complaining about sound-alike bands and genre bandwagons. When I pop in a band like Ace Troubleshooter, I have to admit I'm pleased very easily. Give me a good hook, a good vocalist, and a tight band that can keep it together, and you've got me listening.
I've been reading about Ace Troubleshooter as an indie for awhile, and I agree that it was time for someone to sign these guys. The twin guitar playing of Isaac Deaton and John Warne (who also sings) are well placed on top of and alongside each other by producer Bill Stevenson and engineer Stephen Egerton. Check out "Misconceptions." Here's a plethora of metallic leads delivered raw and with punk rawk attitude. "Denise" is another winner, flying and crashing along at 50 hooks a minute. Now, everyone's always comparing any pop punk band that comes down the pike to either MxPx or Green Day (or both). The only similarity I hear is the ability Ace and MxPx have of creating a swell in their rhythms that create building tension in the verses. This is a skill I appreciate (and I don't know how much of it is production or how much is in playing). And, almost as if to show off their talent, the band throws in some emo licks to finish off the album with "Fortress," a melodic instrumental monster.
They're not the best pop punk band in the world, but I'd give 'em a B+.
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Nate BaileyWhen I was listening to this, my roommate walked by and thought I was listening to Craig's Brother (an easy mistake to make). Yet another melodic punk band from the Tooth and Nail/ BEC camp that fails to take any creative strides. Song after song of bland music that does nothing to capture the imagination, is what this album offers. One of the songs, "Denise," sounds so much like a Slick Shoes…ReAL Magazine 2000Reviewed by Kevin D. HendricksI've been following Ace Troubleshooter for the past three years and I've always thought they were a band that fell just short of their potential. Their newest release is another story in that short-of-the-potential saga, but for a band that's not living up to my expectations, they produce a pretty good album. Their new CD is pop-punk, full of strong guitars, hooking melodies, and good-old…Similar sounding releases
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