| :: North
American All-Stars
This is the best pop-punk band you've never
heard. They're probably a quarter of the age of the Queers,
and yet they sound just like them, if not better. With the
Ramones dead, Screeching Weasel defunct, the Queers sober,
the Huntingtons Christian, the Lillingtons… hey whatever
happened to the Lillingtons?, the Travoltas too European,
and Dr. Frank now channeling Elvis Costello, our last best
hope for fun, peppy, Ramonesy pop-punk is JSP. Find this
album and bop around to it. -
Mark Hughson
If listening to suicidal adolescents from Long
Island has lost it's appeal, leave your Kleenex behind and
stomp around to this brilliant pop-punk band instead. While
the formula is familiar (three chords, a sense of humor
and snotty attitudes), the trio's energetic delivery is
as original as it is fulfilling. (BN)
Greatest band name EVER! C’mon, you know Uncle Jesse
was a big part of your life too! Opening North American
All-Stars is a quick instrumental ditty racing with a pulsing
guitar and crashing drums. After that you’re sucked
into Ramonesland for another seven songs. Is there any sound
in punk rock as over used as this? I don’t think so,
but how come it still sounds so good? Everything about this
is textbook Ramones, Queers, Screeching Weasel material.
Much like the Huntingtons, Methadones, Riverdales, all of
the music is played carbon copy from the forefathers, even
the cliché lyrics are sung in the exact same manner
that Ben Weasel pours his voice into the mic. Somehow the
majority of the time these bands still manage to turn out
not half bad and the John Stamos Project is entertaining
enough to warrant a few listens. You’ve made up your
mind already. You either have this, hate this, or want more
of this. -Puckett
:: Take Your Best Shot
Holy crap, these kids rule! They haven’t even shaved
yet, and they’re writing better tunes than the Queers!
This is total light-hearted fun pop-punk a la golden age
Queers (Love Songs & Move Back Home). But the cool thing
is, they write about young teen crushes and it isn’t
creepy because they ARE young! It’s not like MTX where
your enjoyment of the love songs are overshadowed by the
fact Dr. Frank is pushing 40 and singing about teenage girls.
Anyhoo, JSP are one of the best new bands around. Definitely
get a hold of their album! Best lyrics: (From “An
Ode To Billy Joel”) ‘Cuz Billy Joel sucks so
much / I wanna punch him in the crotch / Them maybe he would
shut up / Oh yeah") - Mark Hughson
People who are still mourning over the passing away of Screeching
Weasel should definitely have a look at this 3-piece "Project"
from Long Island, NY. What's more, I even like them better
because they manage to throw in Queers' styled three-chords.
If I listened to "Date From Hell" before, I would
have sworn it was taken from the Queers' "Later Days
and Better Lays" album. And it doesn't end with this:
also more fresh sounding poppy songs like "Hands and
Knees" and "8/26/99" and high gear songs
like "Wally's Mom..." are fitted in on the disc.
A good collection of styles to get you off your feet if
you ask me. The only criticism I can come up with is that
the main vocals could have been a bit more steady, but add
in some nice back-up vocals on most songs and you end up
with a disc that is by no means testifying about a bunch
of highly skilled musicians, but nevertheless is a relief
for everyone who has gotten tired of the unendless stream
of new-styled poppunk. It's far from original, but this
is punkbasics guys. And I love it.
- Hein Terweduwe
I remember someone once making a joke about how many distortion
pedals Karl Hendrix must have. My guess is The John Stamos
Project is racing to claim that distinction for themselves.
Damn is this guitar overblown. Mostly, this is puerile pop-punk
that is saved from obscurity by the bands' gigantic balls.
For starters, everything is loud. Damn loud. The voice often
reminds one of the Dead Milkmen, especially on "Date
from Hell," but maybe that's the theme of the song
that sounds reminiscent. When they want, they harmonize,
but somehow avoid the cheesy Blink-182 manner of harmony
-- maybe it's the phrases they choose to sing together:
shunning the chorus and instead singing "Shut Up!"
in harmony. Songs fly by in a blur. Excitable pop-punk for
people from drearier climates than California.
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Once you get past the stupid band name, bad cover art, and
bad back cover band photo, you get one rocking pop punk
disc here. In the vein of the Queers and Weasel, this is
fueled by raw production and a goofy attitude on destined
to be classics like "My Mom Still Thinks I'm Straight
Edge". A fun raw romp circa 1991. (RL)
Decent name, decent music. For a pop-punk band,
they are quite tight, catchy and somewhat aggressive. The
vocals are on the lighter side but complement the music.
These guys are worth looking into. (DM)
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