So what's the deal with Tooth and Nail Records and MxPx soundalikes lately? They've recently signed seemingly thousands of punk bands, and with a few exceptions (The Deadlines, Off the Record), all of them seem to be trying to sound just like Mike Herrera and company. And now Slick Shoes, a band that already has two fairly original albums under its belt, comes out with Wake Up Screaming, perhaps the most dead-on impersonation of MxPx that I've ever heard.
This is getting very depressing.
Don't get me wrong: Slick Shoes knows how to play their instruments for sure, and the production, done by Stephen Egerton and Bill Stevenson of All/Descendents fame, is impeccable. However, there's an unmistakable feeling that the whole album's been done before - probably because it has. Wake Up Screaming is a poor 2000 version of MxPx's 1998 magnum opus Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo. In fact, the first time I heard "Constancy," I immediately began singing Buffalo's "Invitation to Understanding."
There are a few differences in the two albums. For one, Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo contained Herrera's best lyrics to date, from the bitter "What's Mine Is Yours" to the poignant "Tomorrow's Another Day." However, chief Slick Shoes lyricist Ryan Kepke seems to have graduated from the college of cookie-cutter punk lyricism:
And when I fall asleep, your [sic] all that I see
Your [sic] in my thoughts and all my prayers
I wish I could mean all that you mean to me
My angel without wings
(From "Angel")
You are so special to me
You bring so much joy to my life
I can't imagine what it would be like if you were not around
Only by the grace of God can I enjoy your precious friendship
(From "Elisa")
So, if MxPx's latest release The Everpassing Moment wasn't enough fake-British-accented pop-punk for you, you might consider picking up Wake Up Screaming. The rest of us would be wiser to move onto brighter fields.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Travis PersaudTooth and Nail. This album was recorded and produced by Bill Stevenson (Descendents/All) at his studio in Colorado. This is the Orange County, CA band's third full length release for Tooth and Nail Records. Disappointment is one word the comes to mind when I think of this album. Slick Shoes is a new school punk band, that is known for its extremely fast drumming, quick and intricate guitar solos…ReAL Magazine 2000Reviewed by Jesse N.Why wouldn't a person like punk rock music? Because of the monotony of the super-fast off-beats typical of that genre of music? Possibly because of the lack of cool guitar riffs and abundance of power chords? Or maybe they just expect punk rock to have bad vocals and lyrics full of angst and hatred. Many people have come to expect very little from punk bands, including myself, but occasionally a…Bandoppler 2000Reviewed by Earl CampbellThe most apt description of this album, the third full-length by SoCal's Melodic Punk darlings, was stated earlier today by a local scene queen. "Just sounds like more Slick Shoes to me." Simplistic, but right on the nose. If you are not familiar with the group, Slick Shoes is known for tight melodies, youthful yet smooth vocals, creative guitar work, and speedy deliveries; and to a certain…Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco PovervestThis is the fourth CD-release of this pop-punk band. I don't know their previous albums so I can't compare. The only Slick Shoes song I've heard before is Last which appeared on the first Songs Of The Penalty Box sampler. At that time I liked the song really much. On Wake Up Screaming this band plays punk rock in the vein of MxPx. Vocally the similarities are clear. But I wouldn't go as far as to…Similar sounding releases
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