Remember A Clockwork Orange? Y’know, that flick about that English lad Alex and his friends, goin’ round raping, killing, and terrorizing homeowners? Chances are, if you haven’t seen or heard of this movie, you oughta start by flipping out your blockbuster card.
A Clockwork Orange is one of director Stanley Kubrick’s first films, covering the story of a book written in the 60’s. The movie depicts the darker, more oblique side of rape, and drugs. Also not to be taken lightly, but the movie is a significant milestone in filmmaking and screenplay. Over the long span of some 30-odd years, the film has become a big sort of a cult movie, ranging from spoofs, to look-alikes of the movie’s characters. Also from this, the strange language that is used by the main character’s gang in the movie has been picked up. It’s become far more than a motion picture; now more like a culture people can relate to. It’s definitely something that has to be left up to the viewer, obviously it’s something that can’t be understood until you watch the art of the movie.
In Austin, Texas, in the mid-90’s, another form of a clockwork-abomination arose. The Lower Class Brats is punk rock quartet fueled by the ideas the movie set out in the 70’s. The band’s music is exhilarating and fresh, circling around the same ol’ punk rudiments. Their latest album,
A Class Of Our Own, has to be their best, and more non-stop album, in that fashion. The band comes armed with a crazy vocalist, and some great licks, thrown out there with a certain outfit and fashion of anger that is very difficult to be surpassed today.
One of the band’s big influences is GBH, the brit punk band. If that would give you an idea of what they’d sound like, it’s something very simple, yet something that can become into an excellent tune. The band members, all given not-so-typical one-word names, contribute an element of noise to make the album reach its peak everytime, and encourage a group-led chorus every now and then. The vocalist and front-man, Bones, has raspy aspect of approaching lyrics about individualism, anarchy, freedom, and getting ***faced. In a way, Bones has many voices within one punk. Its interesting to listen to him lead every verse into an ascending blow of gradualism.
It's cold and cloudy out tonight my friends
I know soon the rains will come again
If you got the big, big money I've got the time
I don't go by your watch I go by mine-
Just Like Clockwork
Marty is the band’s guitarist, and the main source of their Clockwork Orange fashion they have. The truth is, waking every morning to put your left eye-lash extensions in place, and wash your derby hat isn’t easy, folks. There’s no denying it, this guy looks cool, and he has the talent and fury to go along with his fashion in the band’s music.
Golden Boy, the album’s opener, contains one of Marty’s best solos, as well as a strong hook. As does
Standard Issue, a more hearty fill of musicianship led by Marty and bassist EVO. EVO is a McMordie spawn. His basslines fuel at least half the songs on here, and he carries the rhythm of every song, on his two or three strings. As well as joining Marty for a great show of a group chorus, he’s also one of the most creative bassists in modern punk. EVO and drummer Clay attack the rhythms in an Adicts-like fashion. Clay stays aggressive throughout the whole album, using upbeats to his advantage, and using the speed that the Circle Jerks and The Adicts have used before. It shows, and eventually it becomes a big part of carrying a song on the album.
The Brats’ sound is not especially unique, but its definitely something worth looking at. The originality in the band’s musicianship is very complex only to an extent, but before getting there, it’s punk bliss. The songs on this album are all unsurprisingly built the same way; yet this procedure is very solid, and has many possibilities. The music is simple, catchy and exhilarating in many forms. As well as using the infamous Clockwork Orange language on the album, the band’s fashion is another great boost. What can I say? Gather ‘round some droogs, and give these zvooks a filly.
Stand Out Tracks:
No Doves Fly Here
Just Like Clockwork
Go All The Way
LCB Roadcrew
The Lower Class Brats:
Bones- Vocals
Marty- Guitar, Vocals
EVO- Bass, Vocals
Clay- Drums
Horrorshow Warbles
4.5/5
