Southern California 'pop punk' became the official soundtrack to mainstream skate / surf culture in the early 90s. It's now 2001, and you'd think such a limited style of music would have evolved or died already. Unfortunately, the trend for a lot of these bands seems to be a move towards "rock" that is basically just slower, toothless punk (see recent releases by MxPx, Bad Religion, etc.). This is where Hangnail come in.
Yes, they're tight and competent, with hooky melodies and harmonies, and good production fueling the mid-paced palm-muted strums and strong rhythms. They've also thankfully left behind the MxPx and Slick Shoes imitation that held back their '99 debut CD. But their woefully under-used metal riffing and guitar solo prowess (fused with 'pop punk') was their key to the musical kingdom on their first disc. Dual guitarists Matt Wendt and Nick Radovanovic only cranked or wailed a few times, but it was hoped they'd be smart enough to let it break loose this time. No such luck — the metal influences are nowhere to be found.
Listen up, guys: talent to spare in one's inbred genre of choice is not enough these days. You need something different. Without those hot 80s metal solos to turn heads in this world of redundant chords, you will fade into the crowd.
Suggestions for greatness aside, the best moments on the disc are actually when Hangnail slow down and strike a bit of melancholy mood, layering guitar parts, and allowing the taut tones to smoke and bleed a little distortion (like in "Close-Mouthed Concern"). If they do more of that and add plenty of crazy lead metal guitar, Hangnail will be great . . . or at least noticed.
Their lyrics deal mostly with frustration over shifting morality in the culture and the casualties it inflicts even among Christians. They're very open and honest about their failings, and their desire to push through the sin tangle to find grace.
I was ready to dismiss the album as unnecessary, 'pop punk' for soccer moms, but by the middle the songs and words both caught my attention, and had me caring about the band and their music. This is a much matured group that shows promise for the future — they just need to dance the fret board like we know they can do. The world needs new guitar heroes, and nobody will expect them to come from a 'punk' band. They'll never know what hit 'em.
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2001Reviewed by ChrisWhere do I begin? How about by saying only a few bands can craft an album this consistently enjoyable, which makes it even more incredible that this is their second album; Hangnail has laugh in the face of the "sophomore slump" concept, and then proceed to kick its feet out from under it and push it down a flight of stairs. Facing Changes is a fabulous punk-influenced pop/rock record that is…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Olin JenkinsHangnail is back. It's a double volume, Facing Changes and Hangnail Acoustic, and I'm having trouble figuring out which I like better -- the punk or the acoustic CD. BEC will divide the two volumes and sell them separately after the first pressing has run its course. If you enjoyed the sound of "Worthless" or "Making History," from its first self-titled 1999 project, get one of the first 5,000…Similar sounding releases
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