Pure

Generation Six Pack (Mammoth)
by Steve Tremain

Another star in the constellation of alternarock, Pure stands out initially, if for no other reason, with a cover shot of a really cute woman who looks like Calgon is taking her away. Well, that and the fact that they know how to write a good melody. Generation Six Pack starts off with tempestuous rocker “What It Is,” and shows that these Canucks have studied well from the Big Book of guitar heavy pop. A little later on, they pull out their acoustics with “Drugs, Guns, and Booze,” and croon lines like “Tell me stories about the good old days/And I’ll stop shooting at you.” I’m not sure what that means, but it makes sense when they sing it. Also included is a tune called “Popcycle (The Politically Incorrect Medley)” which contains the lovely line “There’s nothing better than a quimsicle.” I had a chance to talk with them while I was in New York at CMJ, where we got drunk at a bar with the suits picking up the tab. At least, I got drunk. It turns out I lost the tape of the conversation, but I remember something about a story where one of them got wasted and ran out in the cold Canadian night naked, yelling “What’s with the price of cheese?!” I’m not sure what that has to do with anything, but it made for a good story.