MxPx

Item: Teenage Politics
Author: Brian Vincent McGovern

Teenage Politics

(1995)

Reviewed by Brian Vincent McGovern

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Label Tooth & Nail RecordsHeaven's Metal #54July/August 1995

pop punk punk skate punk

I've been jumping up and down frantically for two days now. It's not just because Doug bought me some chocolate covered espresso beans, or because I've had to go to the bathroom. I've had sort of an audio sugar rush. Every song on MxPx's Teenage Politics is very fast, very loud, and quite rollicking. The skateboard enthusiast will feel right at home with these sounds. This is no sit-at-home-and-contemplate-life CD. It's more of an I-hate-having-blood-in-my-caffeine-system type thing.

I'd have to say that "Punk Rawk Show," though light-hearted, is the coolest song on the record. "We ain't got no place to go, so let's go to the punk rock show. Darlin' take me by the hand, we're gonna see a punk rock band." This song is also the first track on a new four song seven inch vinyl. "Sugarcoated Poisonapple" discusses sin and how it tastes good but it lies and leads to death. The title track talks about the troubles in the life of a teenager and because of this, it sounds like something you'd expect to hear on the TV show "My So-called Life."

The vocals are very tastefully done, sounding as if Mike, the vocalist/bassist, needs no help exerting himself to get the message across. The BGV's are also well done and are placed wisely. Teenage Politics is full of fun. It's refreshing to review an album in which the artist is very serious about the music, but not too serious to have a good time playing it.