Civil Rats

Get Outta Here! (Dummest Records)
by Scott Deckman

Philadelphia’s Civil Rats waste no time on Get Outta Here! And why should they? Time is money and money is hard to come by, that’s why the band released an old-school ’76 fun punk record with 10 songs lasting just under 16 minutes. Even if you don’t like a song or find something clichéd on the release, there’s no fat, and, like, wait a minute, you might like the next number. This is for fans of Blondie, Ramones, The Kowalskis, or maybe that record Fred Schneider released in 1996. Opener “Your Dummest Friends” and “Real Excuses” feature real punk riffs, and so does “Awkward Conversation,” which evokes the Heartbreakers’ L.A.M.F., and even Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” There are only so many chord progressions and melodies, and nothing’s new under the sun. Shut up. There’s a surf and retro vibe on “Bummer Summer.” Guitarist Molly trades vocals with bassist Dale on the record, and if you close your eyes and lie to yourself a little, the band harmonizes like X on “Couch Rats.” Single “Pool Party” shows that the group can be a bunch of whiners, though. You wanna swim? Get off the couch and head to the Delaware River.