THE SPIRIT OF '76 REVISITED!
October 2004
Subculture –
From the Garage to the Streets
Perhaps in-keeping with the vitality of the punk ethic, the main factor
that Subculture’s debut highlights is the reality that, as the cliché
goes, punk is not dead. Naming their debut album after their very
transition from the rehearsal room into the public domain, the band
applies its DIY attitude with a passion. In fact, along with the
prominent Spirit of ’76 that informs the music, this DIY approach pretty
much engulfs the record, giving it an edge that reflects the band’s
vintage punk roots as much as it does the flashes of alt.rock and
sporadic metal undercurrents present into the mix!
The band’s weapon of choice works quite well for them too, capturing and
reflecting both the essence of their influences and the core of their
inspiration. Armed with their punk riffs and social conscience,
Subculture plough through 34 minutes of largely upbeat numbers; Simone
wielding the lyrics with intention while JP, Steve and Il-Bahri take
care of the rest. The album’s leading track has to be Listen to the
Voices, which packs the twin punch of having a pulsating rhythm and an
anthemic chorus. In similar fashion, the songs Black/White/Yellow/Red,
Captured From The Wilderness and Human Germ represent the band's best
form. Hard To Be Happy on the other hand, has an effective chorus but
could have fared better with some more attention to detail. Subculture’s
music, though openly influenced by the original wave of punk, is much
more than just a nostalgic throwback. It’s a contemporary revision of
the precious element that punk brought to the music world – a purpose! !
Recommended weblink: www.reciprocalrecords.com
