Rat Palace – Woman of the Year
Similar artists: Mannequin Pussy, Pixies, Le Tigre
Genre: Punk, Post-Punk, Alternative Rock
Rock music is not supposed to be subtle. When it focuses on that, it risks being missed by the audience that needs to hear it the most, or worse, it ends up being jazz. No, rock music is just like a political rally. It’s expected that you’ll shout slogans, try to get the crowds to cheer and only occasionally back up your bravado.
But it’s how it should be. Attitudes are rarely changed by people who express their views subtly unless they happen to be wielding an enormous amount of political power. Everyone else has to go down in the trenches, state their claims and slowly make converts. Think of rock n’ roll as preaching but without the promise of hell and damnation.
Rat Palace’s “Woman of the Year” is a strong, angry punk song. It hits its mark by being funny as well as energy-filled. It doesn’t mess about, doesn’t overstay its welcome. And it doesn’t bother with picking up the “feminist anthem” used so often recently. No, this is a revolution of one, the story of someone filled with earnest rage who wants to believe the story will make sense to anyone who will hear it.
Common Crime – Call Of The Rat
Similar artists: PUP, Comeback Kid, Cancer Bats, White Zombie, Mindforce
Genre: Punk, Post-Hardcore
I’ll watch a Charles Bronson movie whenever it is on. I don’t care which one it is. I’m not sure if it really matters which one it is. And I don’t care if it’s good or not. Aren’t they all the same? What I do know for a fact is that if there’s a problem, no matter how big it may seem, Bronson’s gonna fix it all. It’s gonna take a few bruised skulls to do it, too.
Movie genres come, and they go naturally. But if there’s one type of film that will never disappear, it’s tough-guy crime dramas. Sure, the lead character will be wearing a cowboy hat in the older ones and a space suit in future editions. Couch potatoes like you and me, bored with the city pavements and our daily commutes, need folks like Charles Bronson setting the world to right.
Common Crime’s “Call Of The Rat” is modern punk-rock music meant to soundtrack old action movie sequences. You can’t help but listen to it and have fistfights playing in your head. It’s loud, it’s violent and just like the bit from the flick, it’s unlikely to ever be the truth. That, actually, makes it a lot better. It’s a violent fantasy without the guilt. Common Crime are going down to street level and giving you the lowdown in bruising punk-rock form.
