Menzingers - A Lesson in the Abuse of Technology

  by Adrian Huggins

published: 11 / 8 / 2007

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‘A Lesson in the Abuse of Information Technology’ is the debut album from American punks the Menzingers. The band signed to Go Kart records earlier this year and have been working on the album since early March. The band, who come from Scranton, Pennsylvania, play modern punk rock with certain hardcore elements creeping in from time to time, and are clearly influenced by classic punk acts such Billy Bragg, the Clash/Joe Strummer and Operation Ivy as much as more modern bands. They have a really strong sound of their own for a band so recently signed. Kicking the album off with pace, ‘Alpha Kappa Fall off a balcony’ (I assume that’s some American college reference my quaint English self wouldn’t get?) is a fantastic blend of stop-start guitars which is finished off with some full on rocking out, and it gives a good indicator for the rest of the album. ‘Sir Yes Sir’ follows up and brims with a bouncy sing a long chorus that sound like that of a band who have been around forever. The Menzingers seem to have a fantastic level of confidence. Nothing on this album is played safe or done half-heartedly. It’s clear that you’re listening to a band who know their own mind and are sticking to exactly what they wanted to do. There are mellower moments on the album too like ‘Coal City Blues’ and ‘Victory Gin’ showing the depth of this band and that they are no 3-chord throw away punk band. It is this depth and self-assuredness that will set this band ahead of many of their peers. They are similar to well known bands like Millencolin, Jimmy Eat World, the Ataris and early Brand New to name a few. With new bands in this genre I often find myself thinking “this is good, I see what they are trying to do” but with the Menzingers it really feels like they are already there. I am just genuinely impressed at this band and the level they are at despite this being their debut album. Throwing a Clash cover in is another brave move, while so many bands of this status are usually throwing out goofy versions of pop classics or movie theme tunes these guys have been gutsy enough to do their own version of ‘Straight to Hell’ and they do a fantastic job. This band are clearly capable of doing great things. Their only problem will be the amount of other bands doing similar songs, but with this debut they deserve success so much more than many groups already out there.

Track Listing:-

1 Alpha Kaa Fall Off A Balcony
2 Sir Yes Sir
3 A Lesson In The Abuse Of Information Technology
4 Ave Maria
5 Coal City Blues
6 Keychain
7 Even For An Eggshell
8 Richard Corry
9 Straight To Hell
10 Victory Gin
11 Cold Weather Gear
12 Clap Hands Two Guns
13 No Ticket

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