The August Spies

(Espo)
by Scott Hefflon

In the fine tradition of fast, angry, indiscernible punk rock, The August Spies release a 23-song, 29 minute CD with many of the songs originally appearing on 7″s put out by Rodent Popsicle. With lyrics you can’t understand (there are lyric sheets included) and group shouts that (probably) are shouting the name of the song (or some derivation of it), The August Spies follow in the long, time-honored tradition of attitude and energy first, production, clarity, and any semblance of accuracy a far second (perhaps more like fifth – a priority in itself – losing out to beer, violence, pissing on and off everything in their path). Old school, sloppy, noisy punk with snarls, “Blaaaah!”s, and fuck-yous a-plenty, the paces stay fast, occasionally dipping briefly into Dead Boys territory, but usually flailing about like spastic, over-caffeinated kids should. Song titles include such radio-non-hits as “You Suck,” “Fuck A Clone,” “Fire in the Hole,” “Jesus Hates Me,” and favorite, “Lemmy and the Rancid Steak” with its yelled chorus “Smash the steak! Smash the steak!” Covers of G.G. Allin’s “Automatic” and The Avengers’ “We Are the Ones” round out this slab of slamming good times.
(PO Box 63 Allston, MA 02134 www.esporecords.com)