(Single from album, “Stop Drop And Roll!!!”)
I said I'd try to avoid artist doubles, so, is this technically cheating?
Well, if it is, I don't care - Green Day, Foxboro Hot Tubs...whatever you want to call them - they're awesome. Very awesome indeed...
This band are NOT Green Day. Similarly, this band ARE Green Day. Ok, that was a bit jargony...let me start again...the guys who are in Green Day; this is them, the same guys, no extras, no one missing, but under a different name...yes, I know, strange...
However, take a listen, and you'll see why. The raw, punk sounds here would not have fit with the polished rock opera that is "21st Century Breakdown", written during a similar period. I haven't listened to the whole thing yet, but, from snippets, it would seem that this new Foxboro venture is Green Day responding to the true, hardcore fans who never wanted evolution and still carry Walkmans and peeling cassette copies of "Kerplunk!" and "Dookie".
As for the song itself? It's indie punk greatness in its most attitudinal, raw, loud and abrasive state. Starting with the plugging in of an amp lead, the punk song quickly fills in, the first drum/vocal combo verse ripped into shreds by the guitar smacks between lines. Then the chorus attacks the brain with the full force of the sound. Its a very late 70's sensation, with dynamics similar to tracks from The Buzzcocks, The Sex Pistols, and even, in a way, The Jam - but American instead.
Similarly the one, not-available-anywhere-else B-side, "Highway 1", originally on the album, is another interesting little ditty - loud, loud, loud...just how we like it.
This on vinyl. Thats a time machine right there.
Its a great little tune, and though its over in a mere 2:24, like any good punk song should be - a staight punch to the face - the resulting nosebleed will be consistently repeated and refreshed as the 5 B-sides, all, bar one, songs from the album, on the EP play through - that, by the way, is another 11 tracks if you're listening to the album, not the single release.
Amazing value for money, its both understandable and odd that the song failed to chart. The unconventional punk-esque release of half of the album in EP form was, vintage and nostalgic, but stupid - who will buy the single, when for double the money, you get double the tracks and a full album in a plastic case and not just a silly cardboard sleeve? However, this is 2008, and so the UK is already fully digital download as far as the chart is concerned; people should have flooded to the album and just bought the opening track on iTunes - this didn't even reach the top 100 - what the hell?
Maybe then, it might be argued, people just bought the album instead...wrong. It peaked at a 'less-than-wonderful' #37 - basically, the p.r. wasn't good enough...maybe on purpose - it is punk after all...
★★★★
Versions of "Stop Drop And Roll"
Album/Single Version - 2:24