Obits

If you have the first Obits album you already know what to expect from this one as it's no great departure. Straightforward rock n' roll with plenty of surf guitar licks and distinctive vocals. Have to say I don't think this album is as good as the first one. Whilst it does have it's share of catchy tunes there's a few too many throwaway ones on there.The main problem here however is the production. It's good, but has a weird muffled quality throughout which really dampens the energy of the whole album.That said, it's still a good record and chances are if you enjoyed the first record, you will this one. Just don't expect too much.

Obits are a 'supergroup', but to many listeners their previous bands (notably frontman Rick Froberg's Drive Like Jehu and latterly Hot Snakes) are likely to be little more than half-remembered names on a flyer from decades past. Still, it is difficult to take their output out of that context, as Obits seem to provide the dirty, cynical, driving garage rock that Rick's previously penned album cover art seemed to predict.Second album 'Moody, Standard and Poor' takes the template set in their 2009 debut 'I Blame You' for another 12 tracks. Opener 'You Gotta Lose' bristles with an intensity that belies their years, and 'No Fly List' is 2 minutes 30 seconds of motorik, downstroke bliss; aside from a couple of instrumental sidesteps, Obits make as convincing argument as any that disco sucks, and punk rock is forever.And if you like it, Jehu and Hot Snakes await.

That's it... I can't sit idly by and see this album with one review,that in my opinion, lacks substance. Where to start? It rocks...really rocks! Not that watered down stuff called rock these daysthat's manufactured and shoved out into the general public in hopeof making millions. No. Obits are against all injustice in thissick world.. including currency. They told me themselves. This ismusic with heart and swagger. Bands only combine these twoelements in music if they plan on taking over the world and makingit a better place for us all. And this is what this new album byObits achieves. Oh... and the singing is pretty good too.

Okay

It could have been a good album. There are good songs on it. A few - actually most - songs start on a promising note - strong guitar riffs and solos. But then the guys commence singing, or rather screaming as does one of them (the other uneventfully mumbles on in the two songs where his vocals are featured), in an amaturish sort of way, careless teenage-style. It gets irritating. Especially so with the realization of how ruinously this inept singing affected what could have been a very strong album.