Teenage Bottlerocket boldly blasts off

By Eric Jaen
Collegian Editor
February 6, 2008

To coin the phrase, “Punk’s not dead, it just sucks now,” during a time when cotton candy Fall Out Boy knock-offs seem to blare from every naïve teenybopper’s Volkswagen Jetta seems a tad harsh, but an accurate assumption nonetheless. However, much like The Ergs! and Dead To Me, Wyoming’s own Teenage Bottlerocket has rejuvenated the classic pop punk sound in the vein of The Ramones, Screeching Weasel and The Descendents. Their newest full-length for Redscare Records, Warning Device, best demonstrates their no frills, no gimmicks attitude. Not concerned with fashion or current music trends to gain popularity, Teenage Bottlerocket delivers 13 tracks of stripped down, power-chord reliant tunes that are sure to rattle some tympanic membranes.

Warning Device kicks off with the blistering opener “Bottlerocket,” which shows off the snotty, scratchy voice of singer/guitarist Ray Carlisle. On the other hand, his counterpart and fellow guitarist, Kody Templeman, displays a strong vocal resemblance to Joey Ramone, most notably in tracks like “Crawling Back To You.” The combined effort of both vocalists, as heard in “Gave You My Heart,” blends quite well together and brings more depth and vibrancy to the record.

Most will agree that an essential element to a good pop punk band is well-crafted, catchy hooks. And while Children of Bodom won’t be winning any awards in this category anytime soon, Teenage Bottlerocket is sure to be a nominee, especially with the infectious melodies found in “Pacemaker.” The chorus is simply epic by punk standards, as Templeman and Carlisle’s tag-team vocal attack sings, “Days went by, I’m glad I didn’t hold my breath/I felt it in my chest/when you were stepping on me.”

The lyrical content found on Warning Device is fairly simplistic, and sometimes juvenile. However, it’s not necessarily a knock on the band, as it provides the perfect compliment to the straightforward, raw energy of the music. Songs like “Social Life” dive into the feeling of wanting to just bum around and watch TV, and includes some awesome lines such as, “Yea I don’t have a social life/but I’m not hanging out with you ‘cause I’ve got better things to do/I’m gonna watch First Blood Part 2 tonight.”

Aside from sillier songs about monsters living in the basement (“In The Basement”), and acting stupid (“Totally Stupid”), Teenage Bottlerocket can write its fair share of love jams. The lyrics are charming and slightly corny, but not sappy or embarrassing. Even significant others who can’t stand turning up the cheese could get behind a few listens to songs like “Anna’s Song,” with lyrics like, “All I know is I love you more than anything/ and I don’t care if everyone makes fun of me.”

Musically, the song structure is as simple as it gets. The problem with many punk albums is the possible risk of sounding too repetitive, as there are only so many possible combinations of power chords a band could use.

However, there is never a dull moment on Warning Device, as each song grabs you by the face and pulls you in, John Rambo style. Much of the album’s likeability could be attributed to the way each song seems to almost pay homage to the more legendary bands of the genre. For instance, songs like “On My Own” or “Wasting Time” could have easily been B-sides off of Screeching Weasel’s Anthem for a New Tomorrow.

While there may be a fine line between what’s considered pop punk and watered down pop rock, Teenage Bottlerocket is sure to turn a few heads and bring a sense of nostalgia to ‘ol punk purists. The combination of three-chord progressions, booming basslines and all the “ohs” and “whoas” you need makes Warning Device an all-around fun record. It may be too early in the new year, but Teenage Bottlerocket has cashed in its Money in the Bank with its latest effort, and deserves to cause a ruckus on top punk album lists of 2008.

jaene1@lasalle.edu