Watashi Wa
Lost a Few Battles... Won the War
Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh
Musically speaking, Watashi Wa fits nicely into Bettie Rocket's creed of "creating relevant music and products for the surf, skate and snowboard scene." But this quartet has more than just sea, snow and sand on its mind. For example, the song "Tomorrow Brings Confusion" includes these vulnerable lines: God where do I go? I admit I am confused again.
Many of the songs were written to fit a "story line" about struggles with "family, relationships and each other," as explained in the album's lyric sheet. "It might seem like we're complaining or whining, but we are only expressing what we have been through."
Although their music includes the requisite amount of snotty singing and ramshackle drumming to qualify for Y2K punk, it also has a strong underlying melodic sense and lyrical sensitivity. If MxPx went emo, they might sound something like this. Like the Rock'em Sock'em robots pictured on this CD cover, these guys fight the good fight.