Cinema Beer Nuts
(Hopeless)
by Chaz Thorndike
The third of Hopeless Records’ video compilations (Cinema Beer-Te and Cinema Beer Goggles being the other two), thus wrapping up yet another fun-filled year of punk rock. As with any mixed bag of nuts, some are savory, some are a bit bitter, some are almost candy sweet, and a handful can be swallowed without really noticing any taste. The Vandals‘ “It’s a Fact” starts out this video comp the way it closed out the Glory Daze video. Is it mandatory to have this song/video on any and all comps? I guess I didn’t get the memo. But hell, it’s a good song with a video about smashing things. MxPx‘s “Doing Time” comes up next, and the cute, sensitive punk schtick isn’t nearly as nauseating as “Chick Magnet.” Mustard Plug‘s “You” is next, and really shows why this band is one of the hottest ska/punk bands out there: melodic, not overly-simplified, and just plain snappily-dressed, talented guys. Ditto for Less Than Jake‘s “Automatic (live).” Ignite’s “Embrace” has a distinctive, almost yapping vocal which takes some getting used to, but this is the emotional hardcore variation of caring-guy punk. Gritty black & white live footage and some really great chops save this from being a Greenpeace informercial. Lunachicks‘ “Don’t Want You” is practically the only theme video here, and I shouldn’t have to tell you the Tattooed-Freak Barbies® can do no wrong. The Queers‘ “Don’t Back Down” is traditional surf party fun. The Nobodys‘ “A Girl Like You” is fast, self-deprecating, and has cute punk chicks. Any questions? Hi-Standard‘s “Fighting Fists” kinda throws me for a loop ’cause they smile and dance and look happy through it all. If there’s a style of punk I have more trouble accepting than cute-boy-pines-for-girl, it’s happy, dweeby Asian dorks smiling and leaping around like rag dolls. Voodoo Glow Skulls‘ “Bulletproof” does that gangska thing. But Assorted Jelly Beans‘ “No Time” reminds me of what it’s all about. Fast, punky, and ska-flavored without being punks playing lame ska, they’re sarcastic, energetic and just plain fun. Think of the Vandals if they weren’t so stinkin’ rich, and you’ve got talented, vital punk. AFI‘s “He Who Laughs Last” reminds me I never did understand where this band was coming from. Fast, angry, punk. Strife‘s “Blistered” is hard, baby, hard. While the vocals are as non-diverse as Earth Crisis’, boy can they roar. And write a song to inspire your ass to fuckin’ move. Takes a moment to accommodate the vocals (especially in this company), but a great song is found beneath. Goober Patrol‘s “Biggest Joke” is another theme video. But this one sucks. Shades Apart‘s cover of “Tainted Love” is a puppy-love theme video that doesn’t suck, despite the overwhelming odds. Shades Apart is just too good to fuck up. The Marshes‘ “The Girl on the Bus” and Horace Pinker‘s “Pop Can Park” both lose me for the same reason: overweight guys repeating choruses about getting spurned by girls or littering public parks just don’t grab me. Not that I have anything against round-bodied people, I just can’t really sympathize and the songs aren’t very good. Seeing The Marshes duct-taped together and pelted by eggs thrown at point blank range by black-clad girls was rather interesting, however. Link 80‘s “Verbal Kint” is everything I dislike about skapunk. It’d be lame three-chord punk if it weren’t for the horns, and even with the uninspired horns, it’s just lame three-chord punk with uninspired horns. Millencolin‘s “Lozin’ Must” is confusing visually, but it’s a catchy-yet-forgettable song. I usually like these guys, but this ain’t their best. So there it is: 19 videos of19 different bands playing different styles, all for $12.
