None More Black “This Is Satire” Review
Through ups and downs in bands there comes a time, occasionally, when a change of sorts leads to a positive rebirth for certain members. Such has been the case for ex-Kid Dynamite frontman Jason Shevchuk. On an artistic journey which detoured into art school and made stops with multiple band members in multiple bands he now seems to find home with the latest version of None More Black. A solid line-up has been collected, rounded out by guitarist Colin McGinniss, drummer Jared Shavelson and long-time bassist and member of Kill Your Idols, Paul. Released on the popular punk-label, Fat Wreck Chords, This Is Satire blazes unlike a traditional Fat Wreck album and more as a surprisingly consistent rock n’ roll testimonial.
The album serves as not only a reintroduction to a band but to the idea of what is considered modern punk. This Is Satire comes across in an unbelievably strange way, falling somewhere between punk rock ethos and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s strength. The final track on the album, “Majestic,” is nothing if not a punk rock campfire sing along. It is a slow song that compels a swaying motion in its listeners before the guitar quickly picks up and fades away. Though any number of the solid songs could be examined, “Who Crosses State Lines Without A Shirt,” targets the theme of the album, and perhaps, the band. When the song goes through my mind, it says to me I’m going to live my routine, going about my life, and if I come across as popular, a deviant, a saint or worthless, that’s fine with me. I’m going to live my life the way I want to with my friends by my side.
That’s an important theme to keep in mind, especially when connecting to the CCR reference (Quickly: please don’t confuse a CCR/punk reference with any number of the horrible “Bad Moon Rising” covers available…). Creedence went through a number of problems with the band, though sticking with a theme and holding steady a hard grained identity before ultimately breaking apart. Likewise None More Black has had band member issues but all the while consistently plays the same brand rejuvenated type of unrelenting rock. Both bands played with little emphasis on riffs, little emphasis on who gets spotlight time and more emphasis on the band as a whole, and the results are evident in the overall consistency of many recordings.
With few exceptions, including the slow, unnecessary “I See London,” the album is a strong look at what aging punk may very well be turning into. Let’s hope so because it’s either that or going the route of the never-say-die, grow old while living in the past, still dyeing my hair when I’m 50 punk rock. And None More Black would be better off following its current course as I think John Lydon has that latter well covered.
None More Black “You Suck! But Your Peanut Butter Is OK” [MP3]
None More Black “Under My Feet” [MP3]