Pseudo Heroes/Down By Law 

Split (Theologian)
by Scott Hefflon

Pseudo Heroes is Down By Law lead guitarist Sam Williams with Kevin Coss and Carlos Collins-Velez. They all grew up together, Coss did two records for Pink Lincolns, and Coss and Williams were in a band called Balance. Williams has a decent, kinda gruff voice, and Hüsker Dü is pretty obviously a reference point. Much more powerpop than punk, the five songs here are pretty solid, though not wholly remarkable. But this, I believe, is their first released material aside from a couple comp tracks.

Down By Law haven’t really done anything impressive since Epitaph’s Punkrockacademyfightsong (their best-seller), and despite Dave Smalley’s pedigree (singing for DYS, Dag Nasty and ALL before forming DBL in 1990), it’s thick-sounding mediocrity like these covers that’ve helped the band fall from grace. These rock standards didn’t need the DBL treatment, and if the intention was to keep the name fresh in our minds, it backfired cuz now we have yet another example of how bad Down By Law has become. Awful takes on “The Kids are Alright,” “Whole Lotta Rosie,” “Safe European Home,” “Surrender,” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”
(PO Box 1070 Hermosa Beach, CA 90254)