Review Summary: The debut release of State Radio, this album is catchy and filled with rock and reggae-influenced jams.
In 2002, Chad Urmston broke from Dispatch and resurfaced with a band called Flag of the Shiners. He later changed the band name to State Radio, but left the EP name the same. Flag of the Shiners is the first State Radio EP, as well as State Radio's first official release. If there is any way Urmston could have wanted his new band to debut, this was definitely how it should have been. Flag of the Shiners is filled with two main genres, rock and reggae. This EP ranges from fast, hard songs to slow, stomping tracks. This is a definite pick-up for anyone who is in need of some good music.
Flag of the Shiners begins with the hard, distorted electric jam, Mountain. From there it only picks up pace with State Inspector. Gunship Politico is the obvious highlight of this EP, and at over 6 minutes long, it is the perfect rock/reggae politically charged statement. Urmston's lyrics are extremely clever, and will have you singing along to the "Gunship, Gunship" chant. The album loses no speed with Uncertain. This song has a very familiar chorus and leads right into Ill Advised, a similar sounding rock song with very nice lyrics. The Legacy of Margaret Brown is the perfect ending and my favorite song on this release. It is a very dark song which begins slow, but picks up pace, and slows down again during the outro.
When Flag of the Shiners finishes, you wonder who this State Radio band is, and where you can get more of them. Some may be angry because it is only 30 minutes long, but it's just an EP. This is my favorite State Radio release, even though it is also the shortest. Any State Radio lovers will love this, and this is a great introduction into State Radio's music if you have never heard them before. This is a definite pick-up.
