12 March 2011

Anchors

Bad JuJu

Record label: Independent release

Release date: out now

Review by Brock Devlin

Coming out of a very crowded punk scene in Melbourne, ANCHORS have found the best way to stand out; release one of the best debut albums possible. This may very well be one of, if not the best Australian punk release of 2010. Mixing the mid 90’s melodic sound of punk pioneers MID YOUTH CRISIS and the current crop of punk rockers such as STRUNG OUT and A WILHELM SCREAM, ANCHORS’ Bad Juju will please the newcomers and old-timers the same.

Considering that Bad JuJu, clocks in at just under thirty minutes for nine tracks plus a bonus track, the songs on this album are just as you’d expect those of a great punk record to be; fast, aggressive, catchy and flawless, each song melting effortlessly into the next. The flow of the album is most apparent on the opening track Stay Frosty which, before you realise it, turns into the Feel Good Hit Of The Summer, which has all the elements to be just what its name suggests.

While the length of the tracks of this album leaves the listeners guessing (most tracks on the album are under three minutes), the shortness of the tracks ensures that ANCHOR can deliver a level of intensity very rarely attempted by the Australian punk scene which puts Bad Juju into a category of its own. The songs aren’t redundant; the album is fast, fresh and accurate, proving ANCHORS’ undeniable ability to translate their musical genius from the stage to the studio. 

With Stay Frosty as their weapon of choice, ANCHORS couldn’t have chosen a better song to set the tone for their debut album. Heavy guitar introduction, marching band-like drums at the start, listeners know what they are in for. As it melts into the Feel Good Hit Of The Summer, it becomes obvious that the first two tracks of Bad Juju are a must have on summer roadtrip mixtapes all across Australia.

The album is filled with archetypal punk rock anthems that are sure to make the listeners raise their fists in the air and sing along. Stand out tracks for me are We Are Oscar Mike, the title track  Bad JuJu and Crush Syndrome which are sure to please the listeners and bring many noisegasms Australia-wide.

In closing, this truly is a special release and well worth getting your hands on. Even better yet, it’s a completely DIY album, entirely written, performed, recorded, produced and distributed by ANCHORS. A band capable of writing such good songs, putting them out the way they want to and, as the video clip attests, a band who doesn’t mind sharing a laugh especially at their own expense is worth stretching your attention span for half an hour to experience the pure punk rock experience that Bad Juju is.

Anchors

http://www.myspace.com/anchorspunk