The Despondents - The Despondents
- Written by Kenneth McMurtrie
Loud, snotty and apolitical. That's the flavours The Despondents come in. With their influences proudly displayed (Ramones, Action Swingers, Barracudas - you get the picture), they power through 14 short and sharp blasts of dirtily produced rock and roll. You get a bit of misogyny ('You Stupid Girl'), prospective holiday destinations ('California'), obvious drug hymn ('Stoned') and abuse of the NME ('Gotta Getaway (England Sucks)'). Given that last track apolitical is maybe the wrong word to use about the band, or it could be they just hate the weather.
The three Leeds lads introduce some organ on 'If God Exists' to achieve a bit of a nod in the direction of The Monomen then it's time to get down and dirty again on 'Out Of My Head' and 'Talking About Love'. Throughout there are no holds barred and they pound, riff and holler away with gusto.
Rounding things off we get the slow-burner 'So Hung Up On You' wherein the realities of the wider world are shut out by the all-consuming passion for some heartless wench who can't even acknowledge our hero's existence - shame on you missus. The pace returns to hectic levels on 'Advice' and final track 'Grand Theft Auto'. Any album that ends on the sound of skidding wheels and a car wreck can't be bad but this proves it's worth well before that point is reached.
Making no predictions about longevity here but for the moment, this is a thrill-ride you need to get aboard. No room for despondency neither.
