Guttermouth
Teri Yakimoto (Nitro)
by Scott Hefflon
Punk Rock is not meant to be reviewed. Sure, let’s compare and contrast song structures. Let’s read into lyrics and find underlying messages of social commentary, freedom, and beauty. Using the scientific method, let’s evaluate the quality of this CD within its own environment, in reference to the specific culture since its inception, and in the context of the whole of human history. As is my reviewing routine, I’ve listened to Teri Yakimoto (Nitro) at extreme volumes whilst bouncing around spasmodically; I’ve listened to it on a Walkman while reading a book on a crowded subway; I’ve listened to it, and admittedly sung along with it, while shitfaced and driving at high speeds (PC disclaimer: I wasn’t driving. One of the straight-edge chums I keep around for such purposes was); I’ve listened to it with one finger up my ass, as well as two, and in so doing, I have reached the conclusion that Guttermouth rocks.
Oh, I admit I was hesitant at first. Teri Yakimoto does seem a tad more mature, more subtle, than on their previous release, Friendly People. Punk’s subtlety is about as important as an industrial-strength cleanser’s aroma. It’s welcome to smell of green forests or butterscotch as long as it strips away that slick, slimy residue to show us what’s beneath. So yes, Guttermouth’s Guttermouth, Mark Adkins, is still as poignantly crude as before. The phrasing of sentiments (or sediments) is more clever than the “Fuck you, you dick-sucking pig-licker” of yore, but they’re still pretty pissy.
They still hate homos, hippies, hairspray, hardcore straight-edge, and a whole lot of other things. Mark also has a thing about repeating the word “fun” in a variety of contexts: Guns are fun, drinking is fun, drugs are fun, gambling is fun. Perhaps “Thought-Provoking Sonic Device” says it best: “Filling my face with Tater Tots/TV made me think it was OK to drink/And kill, rape, steal, loot, fuck, cheat, lie, destroy/Motherfucker!” The chorus and fade out is a riot-provoking round of the tired mixed with the battle cry of “Violence, a lot of violence!” The kids are alright, eh?
While many of the chord structures sound similar to those of the last record, I liked the last record. And as previously discussed, who the fuck cares? This is fun music meant to be played loud. If I wanted social or political commentary (which I don’t), I’d watch pretentious panel discussions, out-shout your opponent talk shows, or I’d listen to hardcore. Guttermouth is a celebration of the cesspool that is contemporary culture.
Without resorting to a song-by-song dissection, here are a few sand-kickin’ beach party favorites: the anti-stinky hippie anthem “Trinket Trading, Tick Toting, Toothless, Tired, Tramps…”; the pro-drug “Generous Portions” with its sing-a-long chorus, “I need a lot of drugs!”; the many songs that sound inspired by NOFX, Lagwagon, and the whole Bonanza/Fat Wreck Chords sound; the frightening rock-esque “Whiskey” to which the chorus might as well be, “I can see for miles and miles/Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”; the harmony-laden pissed and depressed punk rebel yell anthem “Lock Down” (I smell a single); and the metaphoric “Casserole of Life.” Deep punk, huh? Who would’ve guessed? The record closes with the stringing together of song snippets, “1-2-3-4.” While parts one and three don’t do much for me, “Food For Thought” has a catchy chorus: “Gotta get gotta gotta get some pills,” and repeats the lyrics in their entirety the way Suicidal Tendencies used to (sorry for the sigh of nostalgia), and “Up Your Bum” is Guttermouth’s Oi parody, similar to NOFX’s “The Brews,” and if it doesn’t get your boots stompin’, your fists swingin’, and your lips snarlin’ “Oi Oi Oi!” ya best switch back to the alterna-lite name brands, ya sissy! And the closure of Barnet’s “Under The Sea” was fun. Rock.
