Review Summary: An album that excels in every aspect, Oh! Calcutta! represents the best of the band, and plays like a true punk masterpiece.
The Lawrence Arms have remained for years in the underground of Chicago’s punk scene, and in the shadow of bands like Rise Against and Alkaline Trio; never getting the recognition they deserve. Now, with the release of their fifth studio album,
Oh! Calcutta!, the band takes a big step out of the shadows and demonstrates that they can stand as tall as any other punk band around.
Something that has always characterized The Lawrence Arm’s music is its great consistency, and this album is no different.
Oh! Calcutta! is a constant display of raw intense emotion, incredible musicianship, and what excellent punk is all about. From pure in your face riffs and vocals to melodic pieces of musicianship, this album has more than enough to keep the listener hooked all throughout.
Oh! Calcutta! is more upbeat and hardcore than its predecessors. In The Lawrence Arms’ previous releases one could see a balance between upbeat songs and ballads, but in this album that is not the case. What we find now is a great line of heavy punk songs that only downs its tempo in a few spots which creates a nice refreshing feeling throughout the album. Even though musically The Lawrence Arms didn’t bring much change for this album, it is for the best. They took the formula they know and that they are good at and worked it in a better more condensed way, creating a better result than in previous albums.
However, one of the changes the band did bring to this album was the duality of the vocals. In their previous releases, the band had normally alternated song to song between Brendan harsher and faster vocals, and Chris softer more melodic vocals. One problem this caused was that people who didn’t like a particular type of vocal would be less likely to like the song that particular vocal lead. In
Oh! Calcutta, the band changed approach and instead of alternating vocals by song, they used the dual vocals in all songs. In some parts of a song one of the guys takes over and the other would provide backup, but mostly they both sing at the same time. A strategy like this won’t work with just anyone, but Chris and Brendan’s vocals blend so well that it makes the songs better.
Like I already mentioned, another characteristic of this album is its heartfelt intense emotion.
Oh! Calcutta! has enough feeling and emotions to keep you awake through a presidential “State of the Union” speech. The listener can easily feel the amount of heart and effort the band put into making this album; they rocked their souls out and in the end it all paid off. What was the result? One of the best punk albums of the new millennium. Every time this album is played it feels like a college graduation party in which you enjoy yourself as much as you can because you probably won’t party like this ever again.
It is a real shame that even after releasing this incredible album the band won’t gain the following and recognition they deserve. The Lawrence Arms are still one of the best kept secrets in the punk scene and although they are more than ready to come out to the light, they haven’t gotten the chance (although they got closer with this album). An album that excels in every aspect,
Oh! Calcutta! represents the best of the band, and plays like a true punk masterpiece.
“I’m like a record player, I keep going round,
with the needle in my arm making someone else’s sound;
and lately I’ve been dreaming of blue and empty skies,
but nothing like that ever crosses red and weary eyes.”
Recommended Songs:
Are You Margaret? Its Me, God
Like A Record Player
Key to the City
Cut It Up
