To give you an idea of what they want to get across, DESTROY LA take an image that is either The Creature From The Black Lagoon or The Monster of Piedras Blancas attacking the Staples Center. For those who have no clue, The Monster of Piedras Blancas is the thing on the front of "Back From Samoa" by THE ANGRY SAMOANS, but I'm pretty sure this is The Creature From The Black Lagoon. Musically, this is not similar to THE SAMOANS. It's more of the same fast hardcore that seems to be the rage these days and kinda pales compared to other bands past and present playing this style. Sure, if I was still 16 I would be stoked. But, I'm 32 and this does little for me from a listening standpoint.

I understand that originality is not a valid gauge for this sound. It's all about the relationships and networks and are they cool people, etc. etc. But, it's important to me. It matters when I have to decide what stays and what goes as far as punk 7"'s go because I already have way more than enough of them (about 700-800 or so) and I have a girlfriend who doesn't want our house ruled by records (one room is enough). It matters when I have spare cash to spend and decide to buy new release records. I could go on and on about points where it matters. And, without having seen this band live or met them personally, I probably wouldn't buy this record.

See, the cool thing about hardcore and punk is that a band could suck on record and be awesome live. This might be the case here but I just don't see it. It just reminds me of bands I know that I think are great people but I wouldn't listen to their records twice if you held me at gunpoint. It's usually the modern "fast" bands. They just seem to be writing to play fast instead of writing good songs that just happen to be fast. The litmus test is comparing them against stuff that isn't fast. I can't imagine this coming on before or after something slower - either way, you'd want to skip past it.

I guess what I'm saying is fast does not equal heavy or intense - it's just fast. And unless you are presenting something more than the usual two-chord shuffle, it's all the same. Bands who did this sound years ago still had a good edge to it, but over the years the style has gotten duller and duller until it's just one long monotone blip, like the sound of the wind passing your ears when you roll the windows down on the freeway. One static, hi-speed drone with nothing to make you listen.

- Two Tub Tony

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/fasttunes

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