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A more intimiate Punk album then what you might expect.-
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| Krum Bums: Cut the Noose |
Punk
People Like You Records
August 23rd, 2011
- Population Control - 3:28
- Action City - 2:19
- Poison Myself - 1:32
- Gasoline - 2:49
- Hit and Run - 2:53
- Last to Go - 2:46
- Starving Wolves - 3:15
- Gallows - 2:09
- Cut the Noose - 1:52
- (Get Away) - 1:11
- Injection - 2:48
- Gone Forever - 2:21
- High Highs, Low Lows - 3:14
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| Review Information |
Release length: 32:39
Review posted on June 25th, 2011
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| | Overall Score: 8.5/10 |
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| Discography |
Discography covers all information available up to day of review and is updated if future albums are reviewed. |
| Full-Length(s): |
Cut Into Me (2007) • As the Tide Turns (2007) • Cut the Noose (2011)
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| Review |
Krum Bums is a Punk Rock act that hails from Austin, Texas. The band originally formed back in 2000, and over the years has had plenty of line-up changes, though band members insist the core sound of the group has remained the same. Eventually the band signed a deal to issue their full-length recording Cut the Noose through People Like You Records, and it clearly sounds like this one is personal. Described as a story of collected "years, spilt beers, busted guitars, broke-down vans and disgruntled ex-girlfriends", the album has that Punk angst that is distinguishable right from the start, capturing that pent up anger and rage hat comes from all those topics and more.
But, while this Punk offering does have that obvious anger driven motivation that does feel personal from the lyrics, music, and even the atmosphere of the recording, one of the biggest hang ups to the album is the clearly open-sounding quality of the music and somewhat muffled vocals. At the start of Cut the Noose, the song "Population Control" welcomes us all to the mix, and while the song sounds solid at the start, the guitars simply leave much of the main verses to the song open due to the real lack of solid guitars until the pace picks up and the double bass kicks in for the chorus and some bridges. This becomes an issue with many songs, and it isn't something you can easily get past in this song, and a few others, but as you go through the album, the band offers richer material that keeps these moments to a minimum, like the more intense "Gasoline", and eventually you do just start accepting the somewhat open sound here and there and don't even notice it at times. The vocals, however, always reman slightly muffled, and while it's not an irritating thing, it doesn't help the overall sound of the album as the vocals sound out of place, but with the general Punk music being played, but with the style in general. It's nothing too unique, as it's a higher, rhaspier shouting common moreso with Hardcore albums, but it just kind of borders into a more Metal sound then Punk on many occassions, especially when they kick out some extra energy like with the following track, "Action City".
There are some really catchy tracks on here despite that hollow issue. "Population Control" does bring in a more anger driven sound that can be a bit too hollow to enjoy, but "Action City" has that same kind of catchiness to it, and isn't quite as hollow, being a song that will catch you more for it's in your face attitude. There's also "Hit and Run" which is a much stronger Punk Rock track instead of just being straight forward Punk like the aforementioned tracks, as well as the rather intense and high speed driven "Gasoline". The song has plenty of catchy hooks and some clean gang chants that are harmonized nicely against the music. The ending to the song does leave the listener expecting more though, as it just seems to cut out instead of really coming to a full conclusion. This also happens during "Gasoline" and a couple other tracks. "Last to Go" also has a more personal, somber atmosphere to the track that no other songs on here come close to matching really. The vocals don't change of course, but their rhaspier style still works for the song.
Of course, these are just some of the more stand out tracks. There's plenty of solid Punk and Punk Rock tracks on here. The only other gripe is that some of them feel a little too short for their own good, and often feel like there was more to the song then where it let off. "Gallows" for instance feels like it could have been a little longer, especially given the slightly somber feeling it has to it. "Gasoline", as mentioned, also seems to just kind of stop and leave the listener thinking there was more to the track then what was presented on the recording. But, of all the songs, it's the closing track "High Highs, Low Lows" that really stands out. This track really sums the album up, and again feels like a more personal song that expresses all the positive and negative things that have happened to the band and it's members through the years. It doesn't have a somber feeling, but has an atmosphere that feels more like a sobering realization of the events that have transpired, and with it comes a pretty strong overall sound that is angry and even remorseful, as if it doesn't know which way it should go, an emotional rollercoaster every human has gone through countless times in his or her life.
In the end, the music is great, though sometimes hollow, and while it's nothing unique, it's the more personal touch to the music that makes Cut the Noose a strong album. The music is often catchy and even a sobering realization many people can connect with, though the lyrics and the atmosphere the music creates. Fans of Punk will definitely appreciate all that this album lays on the table, and what the lyrics represent of the group's battles through the years, giving an intimiate look at the group while keeping their general sound and attitude stationary through each track. Sure, sometimes it doesn't work, like hollow music in "Population Control" and the out of place vocals with "Last to Go", but int he end it all seems to work out fine, and perhaps that's what the band's message about themselves is: That everything will work out in the end. If not, then Cut the Noose sure gives off that impression, and it's one that many people will need at the end of the day. Overall, if you're a fan of the style, or just want something relatable, Cut the Noose by Krum Bums is an album well worth checking out.
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