Hello Folks. John from AWKWARD THOUGHT here. I have been getting a lot of Email lately about the subject of record reviews. Why do bands seem to rely on what a review says and why would kids base their buying habits on a review. Get over it –a review is just an opinion. We do not really care what a reviewer thinks. Sure it is nice to read a good review but who really is the person reviewing the record. Do you know them? Do you like what they like? Do you also like all of the same food they like? All of the same colors? Clothes? Movies? I highly doubt it. So there is no point getting upset over a bad review. As for the good reviews I also do not live by their words. What does any review mean? It means that you should listen for yourself and form your own opinion. People always ask me to describe AWKWARD THOUGHT. I say listen for yourself. OK so then you ask why do we have reviews on our website??? Simple answer - because we can (and that was how the original web designer set up our website). But don't love us or hate us based on something you have read.



AND NOW HERE ARE THE FACTS.

Fact #1 -MOST PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE AWKWARD THOUGHT (or insert your underground Hardcore/Punk band here). Yes this is true. If most people liked us then we would be on K-rock, the cover of People magazine, and sipping tea with Brittney Spears on Television. We are not! (not yet anyway!).

Fact #2 – MOST PEOPLE ARE MORONS. Sorry but that is just the facts.

Fact #3 - WE DO NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT A REVIEWER MAY THINK. We write music to please ourselves. You want us to write music to please the masses then start forking up the cash and we’ll write you a nice lullaby you can sing to your children. Any questions then read the lyrics to our song "Take your music and shove it" on the RUIN A GOOD TIME CD.



Now lets have some fun.

Dug up for your pleasure are some reviews (and yes they actually did appear in fanzines in the past). If you want to judge a record or band on a written review then I am sure you must agree with ALL of the following reviews:

CRO-MAGS – AGE OF QUARREL LP.
I thought the demo was OK but this album sucks. Way too overproduced for my liking. They lose the raw energy. Another band who seems to be crossing over into the metal scene. Oh well maybe their next record will be better.
ALL THIS AND THEN SOME Zine.


AGNOSTIC FRONT – ONE VOICE LP.
The third Warzone album comes to mind while listening to this album. Its not bad metal but it’s very bad hardcore. Roger’s on too much Slayer vibes to do the group any real good. Lyrics cover a wide range of topics such as: Being in jail, new jacks, being hard. A real thinking mans album.
RADIO RIOT Zine.


MENTORS – YOU AXED FOR IT LP.
This album is a steaming heap of shit. I think this has to be a joke band… nobody could be this bad. One of the most boring albums I have ever heard. The only good thing about it is the sometimes funny Lyrics. It sounds pretty cool when you put it up to 45 rpm though A waste of money!
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION Zine.


AGNOSTIC FRONT – CAUSE FOR ALARM LP.
Great music. As for the inept lyrics and the unemployment lines is give it back to the Indians.
FAMOUS HARDCORE OF PUNKLAND Zine.


LIFES BLOOD – DEFIANCE 7”.
Abrasive hardcore not mosh and not totally 1982 Black Flag, somewhere in between. Not distinctive enough for me.
FLIPSIDE Zine.


MINOR THREAT – OUT OF STEP.
A full length record if you could call it that because of the short length. These guys have been stirring up the DC scene for over a year now but I do not see what all of the underground hype is about. They are not very tight or talented and the vocals come off like a screaming cat that was just hit by a truck. Subjects range from straightedge to frienships. Typical! Spend your money elsewhere.
PRESSURE RELEASE Zine


TOKEN ENTRY - READY OR NOT EP.
Pop metal with a definite 70’s metal influence. Those with musically dry feet will be vulnerable. I’ve heard most of this before.
FAMOUS HARDCORE OF PUNKLAND Zine.


SHEER TERROR – JUST CAN’T HATE ENOUGH LP.
Heavy hardcore on the metal side. These guys can’t figure out what they wanna sound like. The singer's poor excuse to sing opera style on certain songs is only worsened by the fact that the music doesn’t seem to have a direction. Metal or hardcore either way this is bad. Save yourself a trip to the store; if this is hit or miss then this record is definitely a miss.
STOMP BOX Zine.


NEGATIVE APPROACH -TOTAL RECALL.
A collection of songs from the bands history. Total garbage is what this should have been called. Live songs that sound like crap and studio tracks that do not sound that much better; who gave these guys their instruments should have taught them how to play them.. Songs like “Ready to Fight” prove this macho bullshit will never die. What’s the point? More bad music repackaged to feed to the idiots.
DIVISIONS Zine.


THE BUSINESS - THE TRUTH THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
The latest from the Rolling Stones of Oi! The first time I listened to this I hated it, but after a few more tries some of the songs grew on me. Musically it's heavier than any of their previous recordings, nothing like metal but just heavy oi. The worst thing is the singing, or rather lack of. Remember great Business classics like Get Out Of My House and Welcome To The Real World, when Micky used to actually sing? Half of this new album is him shouting and trying to sound like a NYHC tough guy. The music and lyrics reflect the same influences as well. Some of the songs are good Oi!, like Southgate, others leave you wondering just how many tours they've been on with Warzone and 25 Ta Life, like No Time 4 U, and still others combine the two styles into a confused, horrible amalgamation, like Spirit Of The Street. I half expected to hear shouts of "yo biatch, DMS in da muthafuggin house" after some of the songs. Could be worse I guess, but this is definitely not The Business of old. 14 songs of which only Blood Ties, Justice Not Politics, Death To Dance, Crime Of The Century and Southgate and a couple others are worth a damn. But all you 14 year old punk girls will be happy 'cos the guy from Rancid produced it. Who knows, maybe we'll be seeing The Business in the buzz bin.
UNITEDSKINS.COM


STRIFE - ANGERMEANS
Well it looks like those rumors were true, Strife is back together and here is the CD to prove it. Although there is a problem; the CD is not good. I was really exited when I saw this in the mail I couldn't wait to get it into the CD player. I have to say I was disapointed, very disapointed. Strife is one of my favorite bands and I really wanted to like this CD. But I could not. The songs seem long and forced together with no real flow. There are WAY too many effects on the vocals, and the whole CD seems to be recorded very low and muddy.
HARDCORESCENE REPORT EZINE.


BLOOD FOR BLOOD - OUTLAW ANTHEMS
This is the biggest disapointment of the year. This CD is a piece of shit! What the fuck are they trying to do? I was hoping for something better then the Livin' In Exile CDep. What I got was one good song which is the first song on the CD which is really the second track after that way to long stupid intro. And another thing for all bands...please print your lyrics if you are going to print anything. I do not really need to read about your feelings and reasons why you wrote the songs. Just stick with the fuckin lyrics!!! If you need something to satisfy your appitite for blood then pick up the WASTED YOUTH BREW CD instead. Don't waste your time with this one.
EAST VS WEST HARDCORE EZINE.


AC/DC - BACK IN BLACK.
What we have here is lightening trying to be captured twice. Well it's sad to say that this once great band has not captured anything here worth mentioning. The loss of their original singer has left them lifeless. Sad to say but I do not think any of these songs will make it to the airwaves. Stick a fork into them.
SOUL SURVIVOR Magazine.


Still believe everything you read?



Enough Said. Now Piss Off!!!