North Side Kings "A Family Affair" CD
[Thorp]
I don't why, but this band just doesn't do it for me. I just think they're boring. They play straightforward heavy hardcore with some punk influences, but I can't really get into their not-very-humorous sarcastic attitude and they've yet to nail down a proper recording. Most of these songs are short and to the point with plenty of changeups from moderately paced chord progressions to solid mosh parts with burly vocals screams all the while, but the recording is muddy and ineffective for this style of hardcore. The drums are flimsy, the guitars don't have enough definition, I can't really hear any bass, and the vocals are just sort of there. There's not enough clarity or depth to any of the tones. Musically the only real standouts are "People", which goes in a much more punk direction, and "For You" (an Anti-Nowhere League cover). And those aren't even the best songs on the disc, so... it's just not that interesting. The layout's not bad. I like the fonts and the colors a lot, and some of the imagery is okay. I could have done without the cheesy illustration of the band members and a slew of their friends in the center spread, but whatever. Most of the lyrics are just about day to day bullshit, some are more lighthearted and about having fun, and some are bitter attacks on corruption and things like that. "Choke On Your Blood" is a bullshit anti-Afghanistan song that really pisses me off with its blind patriotism and knee-jerk jabs like, "Your country is worthless, You all live like rats, Scumbags with no moral cause... You fucked up, now you're gonna die, Americans are waving you goodbye, Fuck Jihad, fuck your bullshit ways, You fucked up and now you're gonna pay!" That shit really ruins it for me, it's not even amusing. They didn't win me over last time, and they've made no headway since. Call me crazy, but I just don't see what this band has to offer that hasn't been done better several times over already. They're not terrible, they're just... whatever. (5/10)
Running time - 29:11, Tracks: 13
[Notable tracks: No More Regrets, This Thing of Ours]
Thorp Records - http://www.thorprecords.com

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