August Premier
Fireworks and Alcohol
Fueled By Ramen
Well, I’d just like to start off by saying that Fireworks and Alcohol has what could be the dumbest looking cover I’ve ever seen. It features two of the band members holding up a bottle full of bottle rockets, preparing to launch them. That’s not the bad part, though. The fact that these guys are so proudly displaying just about every suburban punk rock cliché in the book is what throws me. The blonde band member, who appears to be a regular at the tanning salon, also happens to be sporting a mesh trucker’s cap, studded bracelet, super big earring holes and a set of the pearliest white teeth I’ve ever seen. His partner, on the reverse sleeve, is sporting a wallet chain of nearly three feet in length, hanging from his (you guessed it) sagging black trousers. There’s nothing worse than walking clichés, and it’s like these guys are proud of it.
Nevertheless, I must admit that the music on Fireworks and Alcohol is really catchy and fun pop-punk, in the vein of The Ataris or maybe Blink 182’s earlier work. The melodies are peppy, the drums are explosive and the vocalist has pretty much perfected the whiney voice needed to propel August Premiere to legendary standing in this genre. Lyrically, these guys are pretty immature and their content (save for the quite personal “In Loving Memory”) is basically that of a 14-year-old male mind. I guess I should make it clear that I am not a fan of pop-punk music, in the least bit, which makes the fact that I actually enjoy this a testament to the skills these guys have as hook makers and rockers. This is one to pick up if you’re into this type of deal, but I’m shelving mine until I need a quick pick me up.
Fueled By Ramen: http://www.fueledbyramen.com/
