Jackets with a Sex Pistols tee sewn on the back, studded belts and Dr. Martens laced up high. I would see that in high school, and even today and think those people take so much time to get dressed to make a statement; punk. Yeah, most of their clothes are from Hot Topic, so the idea of their $4.99 “anarchy” patch is a bit silly, but to each their own. It doesn’t change the fact that they believe in something, and would give anything to spend a day with Sid Vicious or Billie Joe. That all came to mind after listening to Pounders’ Hard Dirty And Fast. Its mall punk style reminded me more of MXPX and Good Charlotte than The Clash with its radio friendly style.
Just like with the mall and the stores that you never have to go into (Things Remembered, why are you still around?), there were songs on Hard Dirty And Fast that needed no further attention. “Until I’m Dead” and “Dead Man” both met their maker and didn’t give me that “let’s listen to it again” feeling. I almost felt the same way with “The Friend Zone Anthem” but then I found myself singing along and had only one note to make, I wish it had been about getting out of that zone.
Not all were like Things Remembered though, the songs that reminded me most of the Madden Brothers were the best on the record. As gross as “Vomit On The Floor” sounds, don’t be alarmed, it’s a cheer like song that would have anyone a fan of uber pop punk jumping along. Another reason Pounders screamed GC was due in part to the daddy issue slow treat “Me Against The World.”
Pounders isn’t that super punk rawk band that’ll make you think of bashing guitars onstage. They’re more the punk that’s ready for crossover radio. If you haven’t guessed by now, Hard Dirty And Fast is for fans of Good Charlotte in their earlier years, and MXPX. Hard Dirty And Fast is out now, so get it and then go crash the mall or something (bonus points for whoever knows where that’s from).
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