Wax Watchers: Direct-from-vinyl Review of Jokes for Feelings' Ska/Punk Too Much Too Hipster 7-inch EP (NEW COLUMN)
I'm proud to present to you, my trusty The Witzard disciples, a new (hopefully) recurring column to be tentatively entitled "Wax Watchers," which will, for the time being, at least, chronicle physical reviews of physical media, such as: full-length vinyl, 7-inches, cassettes, and CD's. This first introductory installment of Wax Watchers will showcase a freshly-pressed 7-inch EP from Bay Area Ska Punks Jokes for Feelings (JFF) entitled Too Much Too Hipster. Last October, I was "cold sent" a pre-release digital single from JFF called "Sweet Song," which was slated to appear within the band's then-upcoming 4-song EP to be released at the top of 2018. Last month, Jokes for Feelings played an EP Release Show at notorious West Berkley Punk/Hardcore venue 924 Gilman St. AKA Gilman, along with Mustard PLUG, Buck-O-Nine, Neverlyn, and Shark Punch—awesome band name; just about a week or so ago, I received my characteristically checkered press copy of Jokes for Feelings' Too Much Too Hipster 7-inch EP by mail, which I'll be reviewing track-by-track down below the break! Get your moshin' shoes on and brace yourself for the inaugural installment of The Witzard's Wax Watchers column. Jokes for Feelings' Too Much Too Hipster EP is currently available to stream or download on Amazon, Apple Music, CD Baby, Soundcloud, and Spotify or on 7-inch vinyl directly from the band themselves.
Too Much Too Hipster EP opener "Camphill Lane" sounds something like early 2000's Euro-Ska/Punk, i.e: Gogol Bordello or Balkan Beat Box. It features playful violin-accented lyrics, as well as Gypsy-Punk-esque stylings. Around the 1:30-minute mark, "Camphill Lane" gets characteristically more Jokes for Feelings with accents of Berkley Ska Punks Operation Ivy/Rancid. Sample lyrics: "Hungry Hungry Hippos, where did they go? I miss my Barrel of f***in' Monkeys!!!" The track reverts to its previous Euro Ska/Punk-evoking vibe, before closing.
"Sweet Song" was the first single/teaser I initially heard from the EP back in October 2017. It features a vocal delivery vaguely reminiscent of New Found Glory frontman Jordan Pundik. "Sweet Song" is a slow burning Ska/Punk "love song," which features an incredibly infectious hook, by way of: "never gonna get nowhere until you take a chance with me..." "Sweet Song" additionally, showcases Jokes for Feelings' extremely talented then-horn section of trombonist Dice and trumpet player Angela, as well as a top-notch shreddin' guitar solo from either Bill or Josh Raphael. New trombonists Allie Miller & Noah Ortiz, as well as as player Michael Booker have been added since the EP's recording sessions. "Sweet Song" closes out Side A.
"The Muppet Show with My Bro" sounds something like an old pre-Enema of The State Blink-182 jam. Lead vocals reminiscent of ...And Out Come The Wolves-era Rancid are accented by 2 Tone Ska-evocative horns. It consist of silly, youthful lyrics, such as: "he was tough as hard nails and he crushed up all my snails." "The Muppet Show with My Bro" is brimming with cartoonish lyrical references to "Saturday morning cartoons" and memories of watching The Muppet Show "on the couch with my bro."
Too Much Too Hipster EP Side B closer "Vitamin Girl" instantly comes in with the rather anthemically-posed question: "won't you be my vitamin guuu-rrrrlllll?" Harnessed within is a classically-composed Punk/Hardcore ripper reminiscent of Alien Ant Farm, Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, and Sum 41. "Vitamin Girl" even contains a few Techno/Electro-sounding bleeps and blips with references to staring "through the smoke-filled laser beams." However, for the end-all-be-all review, my beautiful fiance Caroline added: "it's so '07; I love it... but I feel like I'm 17 again!"
