Punk Dwellings

NY’s Finest Vol. 1 (Dwell)
by Chaz Thorndike

Joy, another punk comp. What’s the gimmick this time fellas? Say, 12 “new” New York punk bands doing one “original” and one cover apiece? Hey, that sounds like The Spandex Experiment (Double Deuce), punk covering “metal” and other genres. And yet again it proves punk bands oughta stick to what they know best, ruining their “own” songs. If this is the present state of punk in New York, boy is the future looking bleak. But perhaps that’s the point, eh?

Yellow Scab opens Punk Dwellings with “My Sharona,” and do a surprisingly good job at it. Even the solos, something most punk bands rebel against, mostly ’cause they can’t play for shit. While the song lacks any real attitude or vitality (isn’t that what punk is? Otherwise it’s just badly played rock), the notes are right, and the sound is punkier. Latex Generation open with their original, then cover Poison’s “Fallen Angel.” Both show that the band plays quickly, sloppily, and can’t even adapt a song smoothly. The singer is flat most of the time, and the guitarist isn’t even as good as CC. Cash Register‘s talent till is empty. The Wretched Ones are old school – slower, grittier, and intentionally dumber than PC punk. Good stuff. The Wives cover the Misfits. So many do, and so few contribute anything new. Yes, they’re fast, they’re snotty, they’re sloppy, and they rock live. U.S. Chaos contribute “For Being Young” and “Last Call For Alcohol.” Yup, they still get the pub shouting along, borderline rioting. This is how it should be done, kids. Electric Frankenstein are top of the garbage heap of new punk. While they don’t really go anywhere new, at least they retread familiar ground well. Newcomers Trauma School Dropouts may ham up the Brit snarl a bit much, but at least they’re active. The best of the new bunch by a long shot. Jones Crusher, new to me, pop in for one of their own and Alice Cooper’s “Under My Wheels.” I’d probably dig these guys live if I was loaded and the crowd was rowdy. The Stallions are so poorly produced, I can’t even tell what they sound like. I don’t think I’m missing much. L.E.S. Stitches are silly and sloppy. They cover The Dead Boys’ “All This and More” reasonably well. The all-over-the-map singer is sometimes right on, often humorously not. Snuka close the CD with the Buzzcocks’ “Orgasm Addict” and “Chow Fun.” I always remember liking Snuka much more than whenever I actually hear them.