“We are the new kids / we’ve got our heads / we’ll keep on fighting / til the old ways are dead” – 7 Seconds, “Clenched Fists, Black Eyes”
What if MxPx had a sloppy, rowdy, more pissed-off younger cousin? That’s what Slick Shoes feels like. Slick Shoes, who, yes. Got their name from that Goonies clip.
Slick Shoes, as I’ve said before, are anti-abortion religious freaks. I assume that applies to more than just lead singer Ryan, anyway. Or whomever writes their lyrics, I assume Ryan, since he’s the only constant member of the band. They had more members over their run than most Youth Groups. Ryan was, like, slightly a jerk to me at Warped Tour 2003, but I don’t super fault him for that because the crowd for their set sucked. It doesn’t help my memory of them, though.
These guys did have the Favorite Band Title Belt for a while—they took more musical risks than MxPx and were degrees nastier. They never got as popular as MxPx, which I assume contributed to all the lineup changes. This record of theirs feels like Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo to me (both came out in 1998), in a way that’s hard to explain beyond “they sound self-assured while still being punk.” I expect have a few good times with this re-listen and then immediately go back to never thinking about them again.
For Better For Worse
Hell yeah, this is how you start a punk album. Speedy palm muted guitar riff, catchy but yellable chorus, get out in under three minutes. I might actually enjoy this.
East on Tracks
No delay pedals here! This was before Explosions In The Sky taught every mediocre guitarist to cheat on 32nd notes instead of developing a right wrist. Gah this song rips.
Fitting that the video I found is them playing in Orange County. The hotbed of SoCal fascism, it’s a perfect spot for the Onward Christian Soldiers of punk bands.
The Last Round
The verse totally doesn’t live up to the intro. Like at all. Deflating feeling, like when your gender reveal party burns down the forest behind the megachurch.
Fool Me No More
Cliche-ridden, stock riffs and progs. Punk bands in the 90s were always like “you don’t know me.”
Late Night Showing
Musical tone and lyrical content mismatched, which isn’t usually a big deal. Here it’s kinda rough tho. Only adds to my perception that these are people who don’t really know what’s going on most of the time, like they’re bringing baseball cleats to soccer practice, come on.
Away With You
Shades of things I would like later, here—long, winding guitar intros, half time bridge, smug “I’ll be here when you’re ready to be cool for once in your life” lyrics.
When Does It End?
Opening drums rock. Also love the half time, riffy prechorus—forgot about it and almost spit on my computer typing this sentence. I’m back in, we’re having fun again.
Responsible
That harmonized guitar intro! Derisively yelling “RESPONSIBILITY” as the first lyric! That harmonized palm muted guitar solo! Hell yeah, that’s how you appeal to 16-year-old Chris.
Call for Ambulance
Youth Group Christians are always telling people “there’s still time to change” but they really mean “come to this altar call.”
Fulfilling
Pretty awful chorus and then brutal, take a drill to my temple to get it out of my ears hearing Ryan do a spoken word second verse. I had decent hopes after those intro chords, and now I’ll need another 18 years of not listening to this band to get that second verse out of my mind.
Clenched Fists, Black Eyes
This 7 Seconds cover makes me want to listen to 7 Seconds.
Why doesn’t Slick Shoes yell TUBULAR in their version??!
Parting Ways
Yeah, we’re back to doing cool things on both guitars. This chorus still gets stuck in my head.
Learn To Unlearn
The bonus outro here softens my stance on the whole album. What is that cover, Scorpions? I’m downloading Shazam just to find out.
Goddamnit, Shazam just told me I was listening to “Learn To Unlearn” by Slick Shoes.
What Scratches This Itch For Me Today:
Nostalgia is embarrassing, because do you really like music or were you just happier when you were 16? One answer is depressing. The point of looking back at records I liked in high school is to see where I am today, too.
There’s shades of what I’d start to like, here. Which is kind of a way of saying I listen to better bands now. Slick Shoes probably led to Before Today. Just because I expect them to be closet Trump voters doesn’t mean I don’t owe a little bit of debt to them. Still—listen to Polyphia or something if you want a dual guitar attack in minor keys.
Verdict: Solid record but
I’m kinda telling you not to listen to this record.
Shoutout to anyone who’s ever gotten an abortion, abortion providers, pro-choice advocates, the Substack by Jessica Valenti, politicians who fight for abortion rights, people who escort people to abortion clinics during protests, people who escort people to abortion clinics when there aren’t protests, abortion counselors, Sum 41 for saying “the doctor said my mom should’ve had an abortion bortion bortion bortion” in the bridge of their most famous song, and anyone else who understands abortion is not a sin, it’s healthcare.
Sorry you got an email,
Chris