Mest
Destination Unknown
Maverick
I really thought that this thing would be a total piece of crap, judging by the front cover. The four guys in this band look like the biggest bunch of punk rock posers I have ever seen in my entire life. The leads singer’s tattoos are so idiotic and corny looking that I needed to concentrate so as not to let how moronic that guy is to influence how I review this record. That being said, these guys are actually a lot better than most of the bands in their genre.
The genre of which I speak is corporate punk rock, that is punk rock owned by major labels, and therefore no longer being punk rock at all; examples of this are Green Day, Blink-182, and Sum 41. The music on Destination Unknown is actually much better than anything these bands have done, with exception being given to Green Day’s Dookie, which is just wonderful! Keep in mind, though, that I don’t think Destination Unknown is good, by any means, because it isn’t. I hate it from beginning to finish, but it’s better than what their peers are doing.
To give reason for my hate, I will provide example in the form of the song “Cadillac;” not only does it have the corny megaphone microphone effect, but it actually has scratching turntables, which is something completely unacceptable. Whoever came up with the idea to mix California style punk rock with scratching on turntables should be tortured, mercilessly… forever.
Anyway, this album is terrible and stands for everything that is not punk rock. Yes, these guys are sell-outs. No, their spiky haircuts and standard issue punk rock clothes do not make them punk. No, their sticky sweet pop punk is not good, not in the least. But, yes, this is a far better record than anything ever done by Blink-182, Boxcar Racer, Sum 41, and the majority of output from post-_Dookie_ Green Day. For God’s sake, how can be on Madonna’s record label and pretend to be punk? P.S. This record was produced by Young M.C., of “Bust A Move” fame!
Maverick Records: http://www.maverick.com
