Bil McRackin

I Am the Eggman (Shredder)
by Scott Hefflon

As one of the most prolific punkpop bands, it seems the McRackins are now releasing solo albums to collect the spillover of creative outpourings. Singer/guitarist Bil (one of the eggs, the other is the dog) wrote, played, recorded, and produced I Am The Eggman in February ’97, and it has the McRackins’ signature sound written all over it. Cleaner than Screeching Weasel, less bubblegum and/or apathetic than either the Queers or the Riverdales, Bil McRackin races through the punkpop paces combining touching lyrics with layered harmonies and distinctly Canadian enunciation. It’d be hard to describe the vocal tone (“Pawn Shop Love Story” sounds a lot like Upper Crust, surprisingly enough), but once you hear it, you remember it. The danger of over proliferation is, of course, loss of distinctiveness. But no one ever criticized Elvis Costello or the Beach Boys for writing too many great songs. While we’re talking a different league here, I gots no problem with a million and one specially-priced records (Shredder’s doing this for you, kids!) that are all extremely listenable and likeable.