The Jimmies – It’s A Split! The Bittersweet Series Vol. 1 – Review

The Jimmies

It’s A Split! (Bittersweet)
by Jon Sarre

Bittersweet Records has done the Malcontent Nation a favor by releasing this two-CD split showcasing a couple of Portland, Oregon bands who are most-likely-to-succeed-unless-this-neo-punk-revival-thing-blows-over-in-the-next-six-months. The Jimmies and The Weaklings both bash out some pretty infectious punk rock with a dose of pop sweetening thrown in to, you know, “appeal to the kids” (demographically speaking, that is). Luckily, both refrain from the all-too-prevalent tendency to pander to the common taste out in Lollapaloser land (i.e. sound more like Green Day).

The Jimmies kick off disc one with “Hiding in S.F.” and “L-Town,” which are kinda similar: slower tempo Screeching Weasel-type sound (sorry, inevitable comparison), though the singer sure, uh… enunciates better than Ben Weasel ever could. “Bored” is a song for anyone who’s ever been presented with numerous options, but still finds nothing better to do than get stoned and bitch about how much life sucks (if you can’t relate, you’re either insane or a business school grad). Everything clicks on “Catchin’ Up.” Not only is it sing-a-long-able, but it rocks like few pop songs do. I don’t really understand the cover of INXS’s “Don’t Change” and although it’s painful to admit, it’s not as good as the original. “Good To Go ’96” sums it all up in a Ramones-esque manner: “The world shits on me so fuck it.”

Disc two is The Weaklings’ turn. They’ve got less of The Jimmies’ pop sugar-coating, but some of the stuff here approaches redundancy as far as the riffage goes. Live wise, that’s not a big deal, especially if your audience is more interested in downing beer and beating the shit out of each other than they are appreciative of musical versatility. However, removed from the comforts of liquor, girls, and the smell of 200 of your closest friends’ sweat, you realize you can turn the record off any time you want. Still, “Drop Dead Beautiful” (about seeing a gorgeous girl and hating her because she won’t give you the time of day and then still hating her after she does. Don’t ask for more of an explanation), “Guilt Free Tuesday,” and “I Don’t Wanna Be Friends With You” are where The Weaklings make the best use of their power chords. “Sugar Baby” is likewise solid, but it reminds me of this annoying SNFU song (it doesn’t matter which one). I’m sure the Weaklings stole it from someone else first. I’d like to think so. Either way, this split is worth shelling out some dough for and hell, you can check out two bands for what you’d probably pay for one Rancid album. Not a bad deal.